A Crazy Party...NOT Thrown by Us!! :)

 

So You Think They're Related?

What If?

"Suppose God wants to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased"--are you ready to be offered up like that? Are you ready to be not so much as a drop in a bucket--to be so hopelessly insignificant that you are never thought of again in connection with the life you served? Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister?"

— Oswald Chambers

Little Momma

Lately my little girl has begun mimicing me. When I tell her brothers to do something she will chime in with "Yeah, you do it!" Or "Go!" or she will simply copy what I say, adding an extra amount of oomph to whatever I said. Will has taken to calling her "little Momma" and if it wasn't so funny and she didn't know it was so funny, I would be horrified! But man, it's just hysterical to see this chunky little bundle of energy thinking she is a momma in training, which is exactly what she is!

How Safe are Our Kids?

Reposting: Parenting Resources

This was first posted last spring after I spoke for a group, these books though are still my favorites on motherhood, parenting, and our role as home-keepers. I hope it benefits!

I was lucky enough to have the great privilege of speaking at a local MOPS group for a friend of mine on campus. We discussed the reasons for discipline, whether or not the Lord disciplines and how he disciplines, what is the heart of discipline and how we're to get at it. It was a wonderful time of learning and transparency on my part especially since whenever I share on this subject I am brought lower because of my own weakness in this area. So when others ask me "I just seem to yell all the time." I can honestly say that I yell at my kids too. They often hear "What are you doing??!!" with a large dose of impatience and anger mixed together. I can honestly speak to this topic of discipline because it is always happening in my home and in my heart. Very often when I rebuke my son for impatience with his brother, in my heart I am rebuked by the Spirit for my own impatience and lack of love for the members of my family. At the end of the evening I went over several books that I had brought with me to recommend to these wonderfully real women. I decided to make a list here and post it for everyone's benefit and reference.



Teach the Diligently By Lou Priolo

If for no other reason you must buy this book for the charts and indexes in the back of the book. Definitely family changing and informational, great tool!










Withhold Not Correction by Bruce Ray

A good publication by Presbyterian and reformed publishing that is a great encouragement to continue being diligent in shepherding your children toward the Savior.






The Mother at Home By John S.C. Abbott

Great and practical ideas and encouragements and even rebukes in teaching children what is right and who is the Lord. Very good just a chapter at a time when you need some much needed encouragement and fuel to continue this season.








Shepherding a Child's heart By Tedd Tripp

Okay, so this is probably the best parenting book out on the market today! You have to read this very wise and very gentle minister to know that his words are truly guided by wisdom, grounded in scripture and centered on the cross. You must have this book in your own personal book collection and you must read it. There are also videos you can purchase which are so profitable and encouraging even for the price, which is a little much, but well worth it!!! Great, great book!!







Where's Mom: The High Calling of Wives and Mothers by Dorothy Kelly Patterson

This book is super short and super encouraging. Mrs Patterson is such a wise woman and very clear on the role of a woman and her invaluable importance in the home. It was such a good balm to my heart which is often discouraged, especially at times of weakness. Get it, read it, profit from it!







"Don't Make Me Count to Three!" BY Ginger Plowman

This book was recommended to me by a very close and trusted friend, who has been such an encouragement to me in my mothering, and is probably my favorite of all because she is so funny and easy to read and very real and practical. Now it does need to be often reread because our memories are so short so often and it takes a long time for truths of scripture to become truths in our everyday lives. This book is wonderful, even for a father who needs some good advice and encouragement.







Wise Words for Moms By Ginger Plowman

This is a chart of all the sins our children basically have, us too for that matter, with heart probing questions and also scriptures to reference to your children. Very pithy and essential. Great buy for a small price.







My ABC Bible Verses By Susan Hunt

As I have recommended before this book is wonderful in family devos, but also in reinforcing the truths you have already been planting. Great scriptures to get to the heart of your child and you! Read and enjoy the cutting that His word will do in your heart and your child's.







Peacemaking for Families By Ken Sande and Tom Raabe

This book, which I have only read a little of, is a guide to resolving conflict in the home. Between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters. It is a good way of giving us a godly way to argue and disagree without sin and more importantly with repentance and forgiveness. Read it!








Later I will add a list of books that we have worked though as a family in our devotionals. We have had some great times going through some neat books! Have a great afternoon!

Blessings!

Is Our Nation Christian?

One day I was attending one of these prayer meetings when a young man stated that he felt very definite and earnest prayer was needed for England. at the end I took this young man aside and asked why he had brought the subject before the Christians.
"Don't you think that England needs praying for?" he asked.
"Yes, but not as if it were a heathen land, because after all, it is a Christian country."
"But are they having blessing and revival?"
"I do not know."
"They can't be. If they were we would know it--in the midst of all our famine, war and suffering. England, the land that sent us the Gospel, is worshipping other gods."
"What do you mean?"
"To them sport, film stars, wealth, amusement--all are far more important than God."
"But how do you know all this?"
"From the papers. I will bring you some to prove it."
A little later he handed me a bundle of Chinese papers, and when I read them I understood the burden of his prayers. Every item reported news from England, every picture, was concerned with a film star, or a sportsman, or a horse race--not one mention of God. England, seemingly so prosperous while other countries passed through terrible suffering at the hands of Communist domination, had forgotten what was all-important--the realization that God mattered in the life of a nation no less than in that of an individual.

--Gladys Aylward: the Little Woman by Gladys Aylward with Christine Hunter

Did you know that the United State is the 4th most unreached nation in the world? That more then 3000 churches close their doors every year?

That being said...what do you see most in the news these days? Where is the gospel heralded in our nation? Even many Evangelicals have taken a back seat to their calling to go...in their own nation.

This has really been on my heart of late with everything going on in our nation. I hope that you pray and go....Our nation is perishing for want of a Savior! Go and Tell!! Are we experiencing revival? Why ever not?

Must See!

I was looking on The Gospel Coalition Website last night (click here to visit that awesome organization!) and found the link again to Pure Church blog. I have visited his site some, but not often. I was there last night because Anyabwile is a member of the gospel coalition and a very godly pastor and gospel centered believer! I found this amazing video that you must watch! It was such an encouragement to have a real home in the midst of ministry. Now I know some of you are saying, well my husband isn't a pastor, professor, missionary, minister (fill in the blank) or I'm not any of the above....But hear me. You are a parent or grandparent or you are influencing the lives of people around you and this video, although a more biographical clip of a theologian Will absolutely loves to read and greatly admires, can encourage your heart toward the gospel, encourage you to study your bible more deeply and love your family more Christ-like and be more aware of the need to look through the cross at all those we meet. I hope you watch this video and profit. I so much admire the heart for the gospel that is in these men. I hope if nothing else you are encouraged to be more focused on the essential doctrine of the Gospel, for without that what have we????


And a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE JENN!! We love you very much!