Funner, Part 4, Mess Investments

Published by lizziejank on November 4, 2014 in From (Rachel) Lizzie. 13 Comments

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Our children are in the middle of what is well and truthfully known as the “formative years.” This is the time in their lives when it is still hard to tell the difference between nature and nurture. They are learning all the important lessons about God, love,  family, life, purpose, joy , and sacrifice right now – and they will carry these things with them for life. We know this to be true! How many of us spend years trying to unlearn things that were taught to us incidentally when we were children?

Even though we know this, we think that our children will hear what we say and learn from that – and never think through what kind of belief system we are acting out for them. They learn far more from our behavior than they do from our words – and ideally those two things act as one. Continue reading ‘Funner, Part 4, Mess Investments’

Let Us Do That For You

Published by Nancy Ann on November 3, 2014 in Mothering. 34 Comments

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If being a stay-at-home mom to raise your own children is such a demeaning, unfulfilling, and unimportant job, then why is our government so eager to take it over for us? I will tell you why.

Because the sooner they can get their hands on your children’s minds and hearts, the sooner they can shape their thinking and mess with their faith. Everyone knows (whether they admit it or not) that the mother has the most important job in the world: bringing up the children God has given her. The hireling does not care for the sheep the way the shepherd does. The shepherd lays down his life for the sheep just like a mother will lay down her life for her children all day long. The hireling does not and cannot love the sheep the way the shepherd does (John 10:11-13).

Apparently K-12 is just not enough time for the government to indoctrinate the kids, so the push is to get a hold of them sooner. It sounds so thoughtful: let us take care of the little ones while you go Continue reading ‘Let Us Do That For You’

Marriage Troubles

Published by Nancy Ann on November 1, 2014 in Marriage. 2 Comments

In the big world of marriage troubles, God’s Word provides the only real solution. Divorce is always an easy answer, but God hates divorce, and it ought to be a last resort reserved for cases of infidelity or other sins of similar magnitude.

But living in a state of long-term misery is no solution either. So let’s just consider a few principles that might produce some measure of improvement. At least it will be moving you in the right direction. It’s always easy to make things worse, so let’s think about how we can make things better. Even if you can’t change your husband, you can change your own heart and attitude. So let’s start there.

1. Think about what you could improve rather than only focusing on what your husband could do better. Confess your own sins rather than his.

2. Consider his perspective. What is it like for him to be married to you?

3. Do not harbor resentments. Love covers a multitude of sins. Ask God for that kind of love.

4. Once you’ve forgiven something, don’t bring it up again. God doesn’t do that to you. Continue reading ‘Marriage Troubles’

All His Works

Published by Nancy Ann on October 30, 2014 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 6 Comments

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We all are taken up with our own work, as we should be. But think about what makes our work meaningful: God Himself has prepared our own specific work just for us. It has His autograph on it. Work is good. God invented it. In fact, He works harder than all of us.

Consider these few verses in Psalm 111 that refer to God’s works. But before we look at them, look at the opening to this psalm: “Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.” And the psalm ends with more praise: “His praise endures forever.” So what is sandwiched in between that praise? In this particular psalm, it’s a whole lot about God’s work.

Verse 2: The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.

Verse 3: His work is honorable and glorious, and his righteousness endures forever. Continue reading ‘All His Works’

Life on the Altar

Published by Nancy Ann on October 28, 2014 in Daily Devotional Thoughts. 2 Comments

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I’d like to look at the content of the familiar text of Romans 12:1. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

First we must see that Paul is pleading with us, begging us to do something. He is very earnest about this, and he bases his appeal on the mercies of God.

What are these mercies of God? They are His tender mercies. He loves us in Christ, He has adopted us as His own children, He has extended forgiveness to us in Christ, and He has transferred us into the Kingdom of His Son. Not only that, but He has plans for us, plans that are good and acceptable and perfect.

Based on these mercies, what is it Paul is urging us to do? He wants us to give our bodies to God as a sacrifice. Not as a sacrifice to be slaughtered, but as a living sacrifice. He wants us to live on the altar of God. And when we give Him our body, our mind and spirit come along with it. Continue reading ‘Life on the Altar’

Here Comes Halloween

Published by rebekah on October 19, 2014 in Family Stuff and Uncategorized. 37 Comments

Bel Halloween

Once upon a time when we were living in England, I kept hearing this one particular song everywhere I went. I think it was around Christmas, so I was out shopping a lot – and the song was everywhere. It had a great vibe and I liked it, so I downloaded it and added it to the mix. My dad had taught me early on that you should always read the lyrics so that you know what you’re singing along to . . . and that’s a habit that has stuck with me to this day. As an aside, that habit is especially important as a parent – who wants to find out later that your kids have all memorized something filthy that you’ve been playing around the house every day? Anyway, I remember that I had looked up the lyrics to this song and they were completely nonsensical and poetically unimpressive, but there wasn’t anything problematic about it in that way. And it was a great song to cook to. I always love it when the music is turned up and everyone is in the kitchen helping, and like I said, this song had a great vibe. So it was definitely having a presence around the homefront as well as in the Christmas sales around Oxford.

After a week or so, apropos of nothing, I looked up the band. It wasn’t a group that I was familiar with, and so in a moment of curiosity I googled them. Continue reading ‘Here Comes Halloween’