It's About Family

Last week was a whirl of events landing us in the hospital with my five year old son, Joshua having swollen glands in his neck with the potential to close his windpipe and an infection growing in his body, all caused by a simple cold.

After six days of being hospitalized, he is finally home!!! We are so happy to be together as family again and so grateful for those all of you who prayed and supported us through this time.

Today Joshua's grandma is making a huge Thanksgiving feast that we are especially grateful to be a part of this year, especially since the doctor's thought we would still have to be in the hospital for the holiday. We are so grateful to enjoy family being together, the love we share and of course, a little of this:





Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!

The Mission Field

So oftentimes we think of the mission field as some far, far away place, full of foreigners--a harvest waiting to be harvested.

But I propose to you to rethink that notion.

Have you viewed your home as a mission field?

We are told to set our sights for missions abroad and internationally--and we very rightfully should. But mothers, I am calling all of you to look carefully at your homes.

The mission field of the home is an often neglected subject. The topic is vitally crucial because the neglect of the home leads to the demise of a nation. Mothers can get very distracted with the here and now and forget the bigger mission at hand---to share the gospel with their very own children.

"I'll leave that up to their Sunday school to tell them---aren't they the experts?"

It is tragic when parents forsake the precious responsibility given them from the Lord to share with their very own children the very words of life that will save their children from the eternal flames of hell. It is tragic when we don't even think for ourselves but allow the world to dictate how we should live as families. It is tragic that we have set up so many idols in our lives that even if we wanted to share, we are too absorbed and seduced with our 'toys' and responsibilities that we don't bother and say we don't have the time. It is tragic that we uphold the the role of the missionary who travels far away and despise the role of the mother and father who is a missionary in their own home.

It is horribly tragic that when we are too busy at church and doing ministry there and don't have time or care to disciple our own children.

We have become a nation of laziness. Overlooking true needs and fulfilling our own desires. It has permeated our culture and now leaks it ways into the walls of our home. Complacency fills our halls and the children are left neglected. Johnny is running free on the streets and little Suzy is finding her way into all kinds of trouble since she has become part of the wrong crowd.

This is the generation that knew not the Lord.

"And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord" Judges 2:10

But mothers, we need to turn that around.

Have you shared the gospel with your children lately? Have you held up the free gift of salvation and made it readily available for them? Have you showed them He who is the light and the truth and has the ability to change their life and forgive their sin now and forever?

Don't delay--take this day to change that around. Holdfast to the eternal and forsake the temporal. Invest in those precious little faces around you. Mentor them and disciple them, this is your life sacrifice of investing in those most dearest to your heart. Don't leave it for others, but take up this sacred responsibility with zealous joy and fervor. What is more precious than leading your very own child to the Savior? What is more important than seeing their lives changed forever?

Here is a poem that touched my heart:

A Missionary's Vision

After marriage God called me to the mission field -
A little bundle needing all my care,
A disciple in touch with my life, obedient to all he hears.
Then came some more all in a row.
Everywhere I went, six little arrows in tow.
God had to call me again to His mission field.
I answered, "To China, to Africa, to Israel, oh where?"
His voice was clear, soft and gentle. My ministry arranged -
"My child, you are to polish our arrows,
Preparing them for My call to spread my
Words of life for other nations to see."
"Lord," I cried, "Loneliness surrounds my soul,
No other woman stands with me answering your call.
The sacrifice is great."
Women give way to another's voice, pulling them away
from their home, far from the quiver."
Once more I pleaded, "May I go too, Lord, I feel the call
To share with the lost, Life giving words,
To feed the hungry a satisfying meal."
"My child," Jesus replied, "You share with your
children salvation and truth.
Feed them meals under your roof.
Discipline them, train them and then lie down in peace,
For sacrificial love have you given to make the world right.
Arise in the morning, open My book,
Teach them into My eyes they must look."
"Yes, Lord, I replied, "But should I serve you in a more obvious way?"
"Child, my sweet child," God spoke once more.
I anointed you to do this work - the high calling of Motherhood.
To show our children the need for my love."
"Lord,", I sought out, still not fully convinced,
"Should I sew for those in thread barren clothes, a Dorcas, a Martha?"
"Sit at my feet, my child, listen to me.
Your daughter needs dresses, your sons warm shirts,
The button of your husband's coat still lies on the table.
Pick up your mantle, the rod of Aaron.
Lead my women back to their home.
"Yes, Lord." Filled and content, I took my position in God's mission field.
Hungry faces graced my bedside.
Clothed in God's mantle, children at my side,
I prepared breakfast.

----Paula Muller of Brodnax, Va

A Delightful Princess Tea Party

This past weekend was a lovely weekend for our family. My daughters and I visited our first Maidens of Virtue meeting and we had great fun enjoying breakfast and an encouraging Bible study on being an organized woman and tea-party-invitation-making with other mothers and daughters. At the same time my sons went to a Men of Valor meeting and got the privilege of shooting potato cannons (isn't this every boys dream?) with other fathers and sons.

And yes, I said potato!!!

But the best part of the weekend was that my sweet little princess, Joy Noelle, turned seven. We were excited to host another tea party for her:

The Princess Tea Party Table

A Close Up

There were also pink balloons and streamers hanging from the chandelier but you can't see that in these pictures.

The Princess Maiden in all her glory!

Fruit-kabobs handmade by the maidens

Here are some of the finger foods, punch, cheese and crackers, tea party cookies made with love and we had a princess cake that both older sisters made for her that was pink and topped with a tiara, princess necklace and earrings.

The little girl maidens got to make mini-birthday cakes out of oreo cookies, frosting and sprinkles and got to take them home. Naomi made all the namecards and read this poem which I copied and printed and included in their giftbags as well:


Why God Made Little Girls

God made the world with towering trees,
Majestic mountains and restless seas.
Then paused and said , "It needs one more thing...
Someone to laugh and dance and sing.
To walk in the wood and gather flowers...
To commune with nature in quiet hours."

So God made little girls
With laughing eyes and bouncing curls,
With joyful hearts and infectious smiles,
Enchanting ways and feminine wiles.
And when He'd completed the task He'd begun.
He was pleased and proud of the job He'd done.
For the world, when seen through little girl's eyes
Greatly resembled Paradise.


Afterwards, Janai played a beautiful piece of music on the violin (it sounds like this) and her special friend Jasmine sang some songs to her that she wrote herself. We also got to talk about how God is good and how He made them special and how one day they would also do tea parties with their own daughters.

We played games of London Bridge, hot potato, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and later after Joy opened her gifts they played dolls and used Joys new strawberry tea set to make their own doll little tea party!


And, oh yes, we couldn't forget the toilet paper game!

I am so proud of my little girl, she makes me so happy and is truly a JOY to be around! And what is a birthday without a little tree climbing?

We hope you enjoyed viewing pictures of our Princess Tea Party!

Click here to view our Christmas Doll Tea Party!

The Two Temples

A Builder builded a temple,
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pilllars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
"It shall never know decay;
Great is thy skill, O Builder!
Thy fame shall endure for aye."

A Mother builded a temple
With loving and infinite care,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None praised her unceasing efforts,
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple the Mother builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.

Gone is the Builders temple,
Crumpled into the dust;
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust,

But the temple the Mother builded
Will last while ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple

Was

a

child's

immortal

soul.









-Hattie Vose Hall

Twilight--A Christian Mom's Review

Twilight has taken the nation of teenage and preteen girls by storm--glossy posters fill movies rental stores, bookstores and even family friendly places like libraries. Another seemingly harmless movie for our young ladies it seems---but so far from it.

As mothers who watch over our homes, we need to always be careful about what we put before our children. I personally am very picky about any reading material or movies that I place before our children and Twilight will never be one of them.

I am alarmed to find that even Christian mothers are not careful about such things. They do not realize the repercussions of putting such unfitting literature in front of our daughters as not only time-wasting but it also sows harmful and unnecessary seeds in their lives to desire things which they should not.

A Christian young girl/woman should not be fantasizing about intimacy with a vampire. They should not be lured into the sexual, lustful temptations intertwined with occultism. This is wicked and evil and even worse, parents should not be promoting it. Daughters are easily deceived and can carry much naivety in the romance department--why tempt them in the ways to fornication? They should not be wasting their precious time on such unnecessary and harmful literature and films. These are the precious and important years of their youth. How can we use this time better?

This is a wonderful time to teach our daughters femininity and the Word of God. It is a time to educate them biblically, academically and domestically. There are so many woman today who cannot cook, sew, know their Christian or historical roots. They cannot balance a checkbook, manage a home, or know how to care for children. We should be using these years to teach them life skills and godly character. We need to teach them servanthood and be busy in serving those close and far from us. We need to teach them to be prayerful. These are the things that will benefit them. We should give them literature and movies that promote such and not waste our time on movies that will lead their minds away from purity and godliness. This will take prayer and time examining entertainment materials from the parents but in the long run, well worth the investment. Here is our measuring stick:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -
think about these things.

Phillipians 4:8

This is why Twilight is banned from our home among other similar writings/films. My prayer is that as mothers and fathers that we would closely examine any material we put before our children and weigh it's benefits and not just follow the world in its patterns and desires for ungodly entertainment.

Contentment In the Palace

I think it is pretty hard for women today to find contentment because of all the temptations of this world. The rush is on to have the best, the newest, the latest and the trendiest. Advertisements seduce us from all sides against our better judgment.

A simple woman who wants to live a simple life finds it so challenging to turn her eyes away from all that the world has to offer. She is tempted to think that she needs material possessions in order to have joy when in reality---she possesses it all along.
In fact, she is overlooking the truth: that she possesses great treasure that mere money cannot buy.

See, money cannot buy eternal life in Christ or the riches found in Him.
Money cannot buy the new work God is working in you.
Money cannot buy the forgiveness you have been freely given.
Money cannot buy godly character.
Money cannot buy a godly husband.
Money cannot buy that sweet little baby growing inside of you.
Money cannot buy all those sweet little children that live in your home.
Money cannot buy the love of a family.
Money cannot buy true friends.
Money cannot buy a happy home.
Money cannot buy true peace.



You can take all these things from us and still, if we possess Christ, we are RICH.

We are happy and give thanks for the simple:

Food and clothing.

(1 Tim 6:8)

People would laugh at that today, insisting the newest technologies guarantee happiness.

But Christians know THE TRUTH.

And we will walk in that truth.

Because we are not bound by the world and its strongholds.

It is mandatory that we not allow let the lusts of this world dictate how we govern our homes, finances, and thought life. Worldly contentment is only happy with the here and now, but we fix our eyes on the eternal,
not the temporal.

Let us truly live our lives as such.


Matthew Henry (1662-1714) had this to say about discontentment:


“Discontentment is a sin that is its own punishment and makes men torment themselves;

it makes the spirit sad, the body sick, and all the enjoyments sour;
it is the heaviness of the heart and the rottenness of the bones.

It is as in that is its own parent.
It arises not from the condition, but from the mind.

As we find Paul content in a prison,

so Ahab discontent in a palace.”








Can we be content in any situation? In any circumstance?

Or are we worldly minded,

and find ourselves

discontent in our palaces?

The Biblical Family Under Attack

Because the family is so central to building up a godly society, it has always been under attack by unbelievers and is in particularly great danger today.

At the root of outright hatred of family bonds lies sinful man's craving to be independent of God and his fellow men so he may do as he pleases and not be burdened or restrained by any responsibilities or obligations. Such individual anarchy and selfishness among ever growing numbers of people eventually leads to the breakdown of society at large. But this is not the end: the most ruthless and selfish people will usurp the government and enslave the rest of the people to serve their own ends. He who will not serve God his Creator invites human tyranny, as history shows.

As C. S. Lewis wrote, "Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and [civilization) slides back into misery and ruin. Because the family is so central to building up a godly society, it has always been under attack by unbelievers and is in particularly great danger today.

At the root of outright hatred of family bonds lies sinful man's craving to be independent of God and his fellow men so he may do as he pleases and not be burdened or restrained by any responsibilities or obligations. Such individual anarchy and selfishness among ever growing numbers of people eventually leads to the breakdown of society at large.

But this is not the end: the most ruthless and selfish people will usurp the government and enslave the rest of the people to serve their own ends. He who will not serve God his Creator invites human tyranny, as history shows. It seems to start up all right and runs a few yards, and then it breaks down. They are trying to run it on the wrong juice [instead of on God Himself]. That is what Satan has done to us humans." (Mere Christianity. p.39).

Modern enemies of biblical Christianity have attacked the family on the grounds of evolution, denying the biblical creation account (for instance. Sigmund Freud). The vituperative attack on the family by Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's co-founder of Marxism-Communism, was based upon evolution. For him, the monogamous family was founded upon enslavement of the woman by the man, and original group marriage was replaced by individual marriages inevitably accompanied by adultery and prostitution. His idea of marriage was that of a contract based only upon physical love, which could be easily broken. Likewise Engels looked upon private property not as a trust under God, but rather as theft from communal ownership of all things, and to be abolished, as it is today in Communist countries. Consider that Communism dominates about half the world today and bids fair to conquer it all by invasion (Afghanistan, Tibet), subversion, and by confluence with New Age thought in the anticipated one-world state of the near future. "Communal ownership" means administration by the state/government, and in practice by the ruling elite.

Because the biblical family protects true cohesion and love, and points to the God of Scripture and His true freedom in Christ, it is especially under attack in today's "post-Christian" world. One line of attack is to confuse the difference between a true family and "people living together" no matter who they are. Another is to take over the education of the children. Another is to discriminate against biblical families by peer pressure (as against families with more than two children). by tax disadvantages, and by contempt against "homemakers" in the name of feminist "self-esteem," "self-fulfillment," etc.

Enemies of the biblical family also suppress the lesson all `History teaches, namely, that breakdown of marriage and family has always been a sure precursor of the breakdown of an entire society or state.' Ancient Greece and Rome are perfect examples of this historical fact.

Because the family is God's basic social institution,

to abandon or destroy it

is to destroy

society.

-The Creationism Website