Meek and Humble?

Women are called to be meek and humble -- gentle and quiet.

So opposite of the examples of the daughters of Zion in Isaiah's day (verse 3:16-26) :

"...Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts.'

In that day the Lord will take away the finery: the jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.

And so it shall be: instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. Her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit on the ground."

Are we haughty?

Do we walk with outstretched necks?

Are we all about what we wear on the outside?

Do we have wanton eyes?

WANTON---adjective:

-	done, shown, used, etc., maliciously or unjustifiably: a wanton attack; wanton cruelty.

-	deliberate and without motive or provocation; uncalled-for; headstrong; willful

-without regard for what is right, just, humane, etc.; careless; reckless: a wanton attacker of religious convictions.

-	sexually lawless or unrestrained; loose; lascivious; lewd: wanton behavior.

-extravagantly or excessively luxurious, as a person, manner of living, or style.

A daughter of Sarah or a daughter of Zion.....

which one are you?

Such as Queens and Empresses

Mothers and daughters, wives and sisters, remember that you have the making of the future of this great country, and rise at once to your high and holy duty. Remember that you must make that future, whether you will or not. We are all what you make us. Ah! Throw away your weakening follies of fashion, and soul-famine, and rise to the level where God intended you should be, and make every one of your homes, from this day, schools of true politeness and tender affection. Take those little curly-headed boys, and teach them all you would have them to be. They will be just such men, and will go forth to bless the world, and crown you with a glory such as queens and empresses never dreamed of. Exercise your power now, and you shall reap the fruit in your ripe age.

-Excerpt from Daughters of Destiny by Noelle Wheeler

Modern American Dating

Modern American dating is no more than glorified divorce practice. Young people are learning how to give themselves away in exclusive, romantic, highly committed (at time sexual) relationships, only to break up and do it all over again. God never intended for His kids to live like this. And instead of stepping in and doing something, many Christian parents simply view these types of relationships as a normal and necessary part of growing up. Unless your child is wiser than Solomon, stronger than Samson, and more godly than David (all of whom sinned sexually), they are susceptible to sexual sin, and these premature relationships serve as open invitations.

-Voddie Baucham, Jr., Family Driven Faith

Prayers For Our Children

Jesus prayed to His Father. Jesus prayed for His disciples. Jesus prays for you and me. How much more should we pray for our children.

I will pray for my children:

1. That they will know Christ early in life. Psalm 63:1; 2 Timothy 3:15

2. That they will hate sin. Psalm 97:10

3. That they will be caught when guilty. Psalm 119:71

4. That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives; spiritual, emotional, physical. John 17:15

5. That they have a responsible attitude in all their personal relationships.
Daniel 6:3

6. That they will respect those in authority over them. Romans 13:1

7. That they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. Proverbs 1:10-11

8. That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17

9. That they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20

10. That they will learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances. James 4:7

11. That they will be single-hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:1-2

12. That they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them. Hosea 2:6

You can see there are 12; one for each month. Within a year, you will have consistently prayed this entire list or you could also just pray for all twelve daily. Print this out and keep it somewhere you could pray for them---in your Bible, on the fridge, etc.

(Source by Carl and Audrey Broggi)

Knighthood for Boys: International Reform

My husband and I were recently inspired as we watched Geoffrey Botkin's 6 part DVD entitled 'Father to Son-Manly Conversations That Can Change Culture', to start a special life-directed journal as Mr. Botkin had done for his own children. With great excitement I add that this is not just any journal---but can definitely be a profound tool in raising boys to be godly men and used in connection with your consistent daily discipling.

This journal is easy to create using a simple composition book, with a table of contents written in by hand--here were some of the challenging entries he included for his young 15 year old son:

Dad's Maxim's (Encouragement)

What I Want for my Wife

What I Want for my Children

What I Will teach my Children

My Messages (that I will teach when I'm older to other young men to help them)

My Sin's and Weaknesses

My International Reform

Who I'm Discipling and How I'm Discipling

Prayers for the Church

Books I Have Studied

Entrepreneurial Ideas

This was just a glimpse of some of the titles Mr. Botkin used in his sons journal. This man is wise, for he knows that he can change the world through his children and he actively disciples them to do just that. These type of topics enforce and absolutely benefit boys as they get their thoughts flowing in the right direction about their futures and Gods will for their lives. It is also delightfully 'father-directed' as Mr. Botkin eventually goes over these subjects together with him after his son fills in the blank pages, so he is gaining invaluable guidance from his father while using the Scriptures to help direct his answers.

Did you notice that one of the topic's were 'My International Reform'---- now how many teens do you know are thinking about how to reform the world let alone just waking up in time for school? Many teens today are distracted and unwittingly focused on themselves much to their demise--they are not thinking about tomorrow, let alone the future. This journal is an exciting tool to help guide the young souls onto right paths and develop and cultivate a strong Biblical worldview.

What's even more exciting is that as they fill in these journals over the years they live in their fathers home they later take them with them when they leave or marry. They are able look over what they had learned, what they resolved and desired as a young man remembering what Dad had taught them in the past. These become even more valuable as Dad passes away and/or when they one day share them with their own sons.

When we created my own son's journal, we added in a few extra personal topics for him to consider and study, tailoring it just for him. Before we presented it, my husband and I both wrote personal notes to him on the front page--here is what my husband wrote:

To My Son, Stephen Josiah:

As you journey through this life I want you to remember one thing above all else, "Guard your heart!" for it is with your heart that you will serve the Lord, protect women and children, and fight the Great Dragon. You are a warrior in the Lord's Army. Fight Well!

May this journal help you to this cause.

Fighting the Dragon for you, Dad (he then drew a symbolic sword next to his name)

Isn't that just beautiful?

My son's eyes welled up as read it.

My prayer is that God would use the power of His Word, our consistent training and discipling, and this humble little journal---to help grow a little boy who is learning about being on mission for the Lord into a man who will one day fully be on mission for the Lord.

I also pray that this was helpful in giving you one more idea of how we can train our sons and prepare them to one day live victorious lives for the God we serve.

Have a blessed day!

Reaching the Ninety Nine

"Of one hundred men,

one will read the Bible;

the ninety-nine will read the Christian."

— Dwight L. Moody