Meet my animals...

I thought ya'll might like to see all of my critters:

Angel, my Shih Tzu

Annie

Lindsay

Wallace

(like William Wallace)

Bruce

(like Robert the Bruce)

Joy, a Jersey

Elsie, a Jersey

(like Elsie Dinsmore)

Vision

(Elsie's calf)

Have a blessed day, everyone!

A Giveaway...

Hello, everyone!

I wanted to let ya'll know about a giveaway over at Raising Homemakers! They are giving away a set of three wonderful items that I have thoroughly enjoyed over the years- So Much More, Strength and Dignity for Daughters, and What our Father Taught us About Boys! So go register here before it ends!

Teddy Roosevelt on Education

"To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society."

Quote from Teddy Roosevelt...

"It is better to be faithful than famous."

Patrick Cleburne on the War

"Every man should endeavor to understand the meaning of subjugation before it is too late... It means the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy; that our youth will be trained by  Northern schoolteachers; will learn from Northern school books their version of the war; will be impressed by the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors, and our maimed veterans as fit objects for derision... It is said slavery is all we are fighting for, and if we give it up we give up all. Even if this were true, which we deny, slavery is not all that our enemies are fighting for. It is merely the pretense to establish sectional superiority and a more centralized form of government, and to deprive us of our rights and liberties."

- Major General Patrick Cleburne, January 1864, writing what would happen if the South lost the War Between the States

Remember those who fought for your freedom! Happy Memorial Day!

Rich Christiano's New Film

My family and I have enjoyed watching Rich Christiano's feature films, Timechanger, and Unidentified, and were excited when we heard he had made a new film! We recently bought and watched Rich Christiano's
 newest film, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry. It was really good! I would encourage you all to see it- you'll be blessed!

A Great Quote from Teddy Roosevelt

" A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."

Update

Hello, Everyone!

I just wanted to thank all of you who have been praying that we would find somewhere to move! We now have a piece of property, and are looking for a used doublewide to put on it. I would ask that you please continue to pray with us for guidance and wisdom (especially for my Daddy) as we clear a place on the property for a trailer. It's beautiful land!! I am so excited, and really enjoyed picking Huckleberries there Thursday! :)

I don't know how many of you knew it, but I tutored a young lady in math from the end of January until this past week, and it was such a rewarding experience! I've always loved math, so helping her was really enjoyable. It was definitely a growing experience, though, too- I'm not very organized,  :) so I had to learn to prepare ahead! It made me really appreciate all that work my Mamma did when I was in school!

I am also VERY excited about the upcoming Baby Conference in San Antonio, Texas! It is only a month away, but you can still register if you'd like to go. Let me know if you're planning on attending-- I'd love to see some of you there!

Before I go, I would encourage all of you young ladies to visit my friend Sierra at Feminism to Faithfulness and read her wonderful post on modesty- Candles Among Gunpowder. I am sure you will be blessed!

I'm Back!

Yes, I'm back after two whole weeks!

We have been very busy around here, trying to find a trailer to live in (we have some land now!), and this past weekends' Homeschool Conference, as well as just everyday life! [Notice I didn't use the word 'normal' to describe "everyday life" :)]

Well, our Homeschool Conference was amazing! It was a time of wonderful fellowship with old friends, and a few new ones! The guest speaker this year was Voddie Baucham, and he gave several wonderful messages, including a couple on the effects of Feminism on the Culture and the Ministry of Marriage.

By the Way, if you haven't seen Jasmine's recent re-post of Should Young Women Go To College, it is excellent! :) I, for one, can relate to much of what she discusses, as I used to want to be a doctor, against my parent's will. (Up until just a couple of years ago!)

Thankfully, the Lord turned my heart towards home and my father, and set me in a different path! As I look around me at some young ladies I know who went down the college path, I am struck by the grace of our Savior, that I am not in the same places they are, yielding the same fruit!

As some of you know, the commitment to go counter-cultural in the area of "higher education" can be extremely difficult, and it can be a very lonely path, because most young women are more willing to sacrifice God's design for them, rather than face opposition from the world.

For those of you who are on the same path as myself, I know how difficult it can be when it seems that the barrage of questions will never end! But, dear sisters, these questions serve to grow us in His Grace... so every time someone asks you, "So, where are you going to college?" , "Aren't you wasting your brain?" or "But what if (your husband dies, your father dies, etc.)?" take heart, and know you're not the only one answering those questions, and that God is building character in us!

And, after all, it is kind of funny to see how people react when I answer the question, "What are you going to do with your life?" with "Well, I'd really like to be a wife and home-educating mother someday!"

For those of you who would like to learn more about the question, "Should young women go to College?" I would recommend Making Wise Decisions About College,  So Much More, and The Return of the Daughters.

April's Best Books

First of all, I have to admit that I didn't read a single fiction book last month! Out of all the books I read last month, though, I think the best was a book I recieved for my birthday from some friends, Politics of Guilt and Pity by R.J. Rushdoony. While it took me a while to read this book, it was definitely worth it! While I do not agree with everything he writes (he was a fallen, sinful man just like you and me), I believe he had one of the best perspectives on Christianity in culture and dominion. I would highly recommend this book! One of my favorite quotes from the book is one I've heard Mr. Doug Phillips say for years: "Culture is religion externalized."

However, another book you all might enjoy was Preparing for Marriage: The Premarital advice of John Calvin, which was edited by Mr. Scott Brown.

See this New Western Film!

I wanted to let all of you know about a brand new Western film short, Wanted! I just saw it Sunday for the first time, and I thought it was really good. Watch the film here, and let me know what you think about it once you watch it!

Poem from Rudyard Kipling...

I've really enjoyed several of Rudyard Kipling's poems, and I wanted to share this one with you, that I just heard recently on the Great Authors Webinar. It's called The Gods of the Copybook Headings.

As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race,
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market-Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.

We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision, and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.

We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market-Place;
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.

With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch.
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch.
They denied that Wishes were horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings.
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed they sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbor and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said:"The Wages of Sin is Death".

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."

Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew,
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four-
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man-
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began:-
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wobbling back to the Fire;

And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing, and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will bun,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!



Isn't that good?! Have a blessed day!

Last Day to Save!

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to save on Vision Forum's sale! This a great time to stock up on some of Vision Forum's best products, like the R.M. Ballantyne books, John Calvin's Commentaries, or the Moody Science DVD Collection-- all of which are on sale!

Kathleen Norris on Home

"Home ought to be our clearinghouse, the place from which we go forth lessoned and disciplined and ready for life."

- Kathleen Norris, author of Mother

Now Available: The 2010 European Online Tour!

I'm excited to tell you all that Vision Forum now has available the 2010 European Online Tour & MP3 collection! If you, like my family, simply couldn't afford to go to Europe this year, why not do this? If you are interested, find out more here.

"To stay at Home is Best"

"Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest;
Homekeeping hearts are happiest,
For hose that wander they know not where
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best."

-Longfellow

More Reccommendations

I thought I would share some more of my "favorite" products from Vision Forum:

Another of my favorite books is Glory, Duty, and the Gold Dome, just published last fall by VF. It is a wonderful story about a home-educated young boy who works alongside his father in the defense of life and liberty. I read it in one night! (It is that good!!)

Also, I'm sure that most of you have listened to Jonathan Park before, but if you haven't, they are really good! I have been an avid fan of the audio series for many years now, and when I took Biology, I would tell my Mamma, "Oh, I knew such-and-such, because it was on Jonathan Park!"

As far as films go, VF sells many films that my parents and I have enjoyed, like The Widow's Might (produced by Christian, Independent, Home-educating filmmakers),The Return of the Daughters, and Homeschool Dropouts. However, probably The Mysterious Islands would be my favorite, though. If you haven't seen it, the film chronicles the journey of a 16 year old young man (Joshua Phillips) to the Galapagos Islands with his father and other Christian men,like Dr. John Morris who show that Darwin was wrong, and that the islands are not a "labratory for evolution", but rather a "showcase for creation". It is REALLY good! :)

A few Reccommendations...

Hello, everyone! I thought since I told you about the Vision Forum sale, it would be a good time to reccommend some of the VF products that I have so thoroughly enjoyed in the past, and still love. So here goes...

Probably one of the best (and easiest) books I've ever read is John Calvin: Man of the Millenium. An old book that has been edited and expanded by Vision Forum, it was published last year in honor of the Great Reformer's 500th Birthday.

Recently my parents and I have been going through the Reformers and Revolutionaries dvd series and it is very good!! I really enjoyed the dvd on John Knox- "Spare No Arrows".

Continuing on the reformers, last December my parents and I were blessed to be able to attend the 2009 Sufficiency of Scripture Conference by the NCFIC (National Center for Family Integrated Churches) in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was amazing! The cds and dvds from the conference are available at Vision Forum, both individually and as a set, and they are definitely worth the price... it was an amazing conference. I particularly enjoyed Dr. Joe Morecraft's talks (I attended them all), but everything I heard that week was inspiring, encouraging, convicting.

Courage

"Courage inspires courage. Lack of courage inspires timidity."

-Doug Phillips

Save on Vision Forum Now through April 30!

As many of you know, the Lord has greatly used Vision Forum to impact my life, and change my heart in many areas. In fact, if it were not for the influence of Mr. Doug Phillips and many VF products, such as this, my blog would not exist, and if it did, it would look very different!!!

That is why I am so excited to let all of you know that Vision Forum is having a wonderful sale now through April 30, where you get a $50 gift certificate for every $95 you spend! To see some of my recommended products, click here, here, here, here, here, and here!

And, don't even think of mentioning that I'm slightly addicted to Vision Forum products! :)

God Bless, and happy shopping!

God's Will...

As last night marked the end of Mrs. Victoria Botkin's Monday Evening Webinars, I wanted to share with all of you what I consider to be one of the best statements she made over the course of her nine-week webinar:

"God's Will is more important than your will."

Over the past nine weeks, I have been encouraged, as well as convicted, and have learned so much! This webinar was timely for me, and helped me get my priorities straightened out, because it is so easy for me to sidetracked, or shortsighted, and lose sight of a true, godly Vision for my life. Even worse, it's so easy for me to slip back into the old paths of disrespect towards authorities, and an independant, feministic attitude! Thankfully, our God is a gracious and merciful God, who is always there to guide our steps, and send people into our life (whether our moms, godly women in our church, or people like Mrs. Victoria Botkin) to encourage us, and set examples for us!

My Favorite Hymn

Okay, I wanted to start this post with a question:

What's your Favorite Hymn?

If you are anything like me, that can be a tough question! There are so many hymns that contain wonderful doctrinal truths, and personally, I just like hymns!

But there is one hymn I love more than all the rest. It speaks so well the words in my heart. And it is...

Be Thou My Vision

In case some of you've never heard the hymn before, it's an Ancient Irish hymn, with a beautiful Irish tune, and here are the words-

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart-
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night-
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word-
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son-
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise-
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart-
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of mine own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

So, what's your favorite hymn?

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty!

I've been thinking alot lately on the words of this hymn, by Joachim Neander, and wanted to share the words with all of you.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!
O my soul praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temle draw near;
Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee!
Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee;
How oft in grief
Hath He not brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings for to shade thee!

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life, and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again:
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Modesty and Christians

I know that modesty is a difficult issue in modern Christian churches (as a whole- there are some exceptions). Recently, I read a couple of excellent articles on modesty and Christians, and wanted to share them with ya'll. Read them here and here and here.

If you are interested, some other resources I would highly reccomend can be found here and here.

May we all become modest daughters, who reflect the beauty of our Heavenly Father!

Joyfully at Home's Giveaway!

Jasmine Baucham, over at Joyfully at Home, is hosting a giveaway on a full set of What He Must Be Conference DVDs! Click here to register for the giveaway, and let her know I sent you!

I'm still here...

Most of you have probably figured out by now that I'm not a consistent blogger!! :) So, I thought I'd just tell you all what I've been doing lately.

We've been doing the Evenings with Victoria Botkin webinar, which has been very good, and we just started the Great Authors Webinar, as well. (see banner above)

But I've also been doing alot of reading. ALOT! Recently I've been reading things as varied as J.C. Ryle, Nutrition books, with a little bit of John Calvin, Louisa May Alcott, and (smile) Driver's Ed thrown in, too!

I've also been busy researching different doctrines of the church. I have learned so much, but I think the most rewarding thing has been discussing different Confessions, Scriptures, and viewpoints with my parents, particularly my Daddy.

I thought I'd share with everyone my family's "Hymn of the Month", too-- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson.

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tounges above;
Praise the mount- I'm fixed upon it-
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer-
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee:
Prone to wander- Lord, I feel it-
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart- O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Isn't that a great hymn? It is so convicting when I read that section of the last verse where it says, "Prone to wander- Lord, I feel it- Prone to leave the God I love". What a great reminder that I must daily give my heart to both my fathers- Heavenly and earthly!

Oh, and by the way, I passed the Driver's Permit exam! :D

Definitions are Important

"He who defines, wins. He who defines the language, defines the culture."

Doug Phillips

Why Poetry Matters

Last night we gathered with some friends to listen to the first of the Great Authors Webinar Series. This first webinar was given by Mr. Doug Phillips, and was entitled, Why Poetry Matters, and was an overview of both his book, Poems for Patriarchs, and Poetry as a whole.

Something Mr. Doug pointed out that I had never thought of before, was that “Poets, as artists, are motivators of culture. A great poet carries a lot of weight, not only because of the words of the poem, bu because they are theological in nature. Poetry is designed to be theological in nature. It is a form of communication of the poets’ religious beliefs.”
He went on to say, "The absence of manly poetry trivializes manhood." And daughters, when the manhood of our fathers is trivialized, the family is compromised.

This has a trickle effect-- and we daughters don't escape!

Mr. Phillips pointed out some characteristics of Good Poetry:
... it inspires manly bravery.
...it points us to God.
... it inspires a love of our nation.
...it can inspire the godly love for women.

Poetry always inspires a love of something.

Mr. Phillips even went into some of the foundational elements of poetry:
-Theme
-Theology
-Lines & Stanzas
-Rhyme Scheme
-Meter
-Illiteration
-Exaggeration
-Similes
-Metaphors
-Idioms
-Symbolism
-Mood
-Tone

God Bless!

Ah, the Life's Giveaway!

Ah, the Life! is having a giveaway on the Great Authors Webinar, and I wanted to let all of you know about it! To register for the giveaway, click here, and let them know I sent you!

Click here to find out more about the Great Authors Webinar.

The Baby Conference!

My parents and I are looking forward with great anticipation to Vision Forum's July 2010 Baby Conference in San Antonio, TX, and I wanted to let all of you know about it!

Click here to find out more!

Quote on Daughterhood

"Love your daughterhood. Rejoice in it!"

Doug Phillips

Biblical Daughterhood

One of the messages Mr. Doug Phillips gave at the 2010 Father and Daughter Retreat was A 21st Century Vision of Biblical Daughterhood. This message really made me stop and think about the sad shape our families and churches are in (and that's why our country's in the shape it is in!)

First, Mr. Phillips pointed out that we are the first generation...

... to have MORE mothers in the workforce than in the home.
... to have professing Christians choose not to have children if it is "inconvenient".
... to have conservative Preachers who are advocates of androgyny in Church leadership.
... to see the presumption of Christian parents to prepare daughters for singleness.
... to have Marriage now validated for "Adam & Steve", not 'Adam & Eve'.

What is truly sad is that "our culture is a reflection of the things we love", because "culture is religion externalized". And, unfortunately, because "fish don't know they're wet", we often have humanistic and feministic mentalities, that we didn't even know we had.

"How can we rebuild the Church of God with rebellious families? We must first experience family reformation."

Mr. Phillips then went on to cast a Vision for daughters, by stating that "the Picture of Biblical Daughterhood has never changed"

... we have.

He exhorted us to have a Vision...

... for rebuilding the culture of the Christian family.
... for the expansion of the ministry of our father's house.
... for reinforcing the infrastructure of the local church, so we can be free from slavery.
... for defending the culture of life in the midst of a culture of death.
... for modeling the virtues of femininity and womanhood in a culture of androgyny.
... for perpetuating a multi-generational vision of faithfulness.
... for learning and communicating God's Providential history so the Kingdom work of God will be known and perpetuated.

He also gave the 7 Biblical Missions of the Christian Home:

-Worship
-Industry
-Education
-Evangelism
-Hospitality
-Culture
-Care

God Bless!

True Heroes

"How desperately we need true heroes! The influence of example can hardly be overestimated."

Joshua Harris

About a Giveaway!

I wanted to let everyone know about a giveaway over at Content in Christ for a purse and half apron... So skip over there now and enter for the giveaway! God Bless!

March's Best Books

It's so hard to believe that March is over! It seems like I was just posting about the best books I read in February... time sure does fly!

I don't know how many of you are fans of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Series,or have seen the film, but the Best Fiction book I read this past month was Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. (It was a first edition copy, too!)

And I've been having a hard time trying to decide the Best Non-Fiction book I read in March. I finally got it narrowed down to two books, and so I'll just tell you about both. They were The Sermons of Robert Murray M'Cheyne (All those quotes didn't give me away did they?!) and Leading Little Ones to God by Marian M. Schoolland.

I had never heard of R.M. M'Cheyne before I read the book of some of his sermons, but he was a truly amazing and inspiring man! Although he was only 29 when he died, he had great insight and wisdom into the Word of God.

The other book was, as the subtitle called it, was "A Child's Book of Bible Teachings". It explained in simple language some basic points of Christianity (such as salvation, baptism, etc.), without being "dumbed-down".

Have any of you read any of these books? If so, what were your thoughts on them? Anyway, I'd love to hear about what ya'll have been reading!

Be a Visionary!

"We have big dreams and big aspirations, but we have a big God... Think big. Think beyond yourself."

-Doug Phillips

What it Means to Have a Father

I am back from the Vision Forum Father and Daughter Retreat! It was a wonderful weekend, and I wanted to share with everyone a little bit of what I heard over the next few days.

I'd like to start by sharing with you some notes from one of Mr. Doug Phillips' messages, What it Means to Have a Father: The Glory and Privilege of Daughterhood.

The first thing he said that was very thought-provoking was that, "If you do not know what it means to be a daughter, or do not embrace your earthly father, you will not embrace your Heavenly Father." He went on, "Your father is a gift from God, and the way you react to Him is the true test of daughterhood." Unfortunately, I don't always react (or interact) very well with my Daddy.

Mr. Phillips listed 10 things you have when you have a father. They were:

-A Model to Point you to God.
Mr. Phillips pointed out that "the way you look at your father is the way you look at God. Daughters who do not have a father do not know how to relate to God."

-A Provider to Give to You.

-A Protector to Care for You.

-A Priest to Disciple You.

-An Intercessor for your soul.

-An Example of Manhood. He said, "Girls today are looking in all the wrong places for love. They are very confused."

-An Instructor to Teach You. This one was very convicting! He said, "If you do not listen to Your father's instruction, you despise your Heavenly Father."

-A Comforter to Show you Proper Affections.

-A Friend to Rejoice with You.

-A Shepherd to Lead You.

He spoke on the importance of Fathers, and even on what God says about fathers, for instance, in 2 Corinthians 6:18, "I will be a Father to You, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Mr. Phillips pointed out that "the Father-Daughter Relationship is so vitally important, even multi-generationally, that God says when all else is crushed in life- He will be there as a Father for you."

He asked all of us young ladies- "Do you realize how blessed you are to have a Father?" And I don't think any of us really do. Think about this:

More than 350,000 children in Haiti no longer have Fathers.

Mr. Phillips really got me thinking when he said, "Children must have Fathers! Fathers bring order and provision, so when you have no father, you have devestation... Be a daughter. And be thankful for being a daughter."

May we all become grateful daughters, and have a blessed day!

R.M. M'Cheyne on the Believer's Life

I thought this was a wonderful, thought-provoking passage from the pen of R.M. M'Cheyne:

"A Believer is to be known not only by his peace and joy, but by his warfare and distress. His peace is peculiar: it flows from Christ; it is heavenly, it is holy peace. His warfare is peculiar: it is deep-seated, agonising, and ceases not until death...Coming to Christ takes away your fear of the law; but it is the Holy Spirit coming into your heart that makes you love the law. The Holy Spirit is no longer frightened away from your heart; He comes and softens it; He takes out the stony heart and puts in a heart of flesh; and there He writes the holy, holy, holy law of God... the law of God is sweet to that soul... Oh that all the world but knew that holiness and happiness are one! Oh that all the world were one holy family, joyfully coming under the pure rules of the gospel! Try yourselves by this. Can you say, "I delight", etc? Do you remember when you hated the law of God? Do you love it now? Do you long for the time when you shall live fully under it- holy as God is holy, pure as Christ is pure?"

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Good Friends...

Good friends know enough about you to be dangerous, but love you enough to not tell anyone what they know.

Unknown

Praise God

"Believers should praise God for what He is in Himself. Those that have never seen the Lord cannot praise Him. Those who have not come to Christ have never seen the King in His beauty. An unconverted man sees no loveliness in God. He sees a beauty in the blue sky- in the glorious sun- in the green earth- in the sparkling stars- in the lily of the field; but he sees no beauty in God. He has not seen Him, neither known Him; therefore there is no melody of praise in that heart. When a sinner is brought to Christ, he is brought to the Father. Jesus gave Himself for us, "that He might bring us to God." Oh! What a sight breaks in upon the soul- the infinite, eternal, unchangeable God...Oh! Praise Him then for what He is. Praise Him for His pure, lovely holiness...Praise Him for His infinite wisdom that He knows the end from the beginning. In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Praise Him for His power- that all matter, all mind, is in His Hand."

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

As I read this, it made me think, "Do I praise God 'for what He is'?" Too often, I don't. It's easy to praise God for the beauty He has created in the world around us, but it's not always so easy to praise God simply 'for what He is'. To be truthful, I don't usually give much consideration to God's holiness or wisdom. But I should. I really like what Michael Billings had to say about this-

"Did you notice that the seraphim don't just say that God is 'Holy'? Nor are they content to say that God is 'Holy, Holy.' But the heavenly song that celebrates the character of God declares that He is 'Holy, Holy, Holy'- the superlative degree. Nowhere else in Scripture is any other attribute elevated to the third degree. The Bible does not say that GOd is 'Love, Love, Love'; or 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'; or 'Justice, Justice, Justice'; but that He is 'Holy, Holy, Holy'. This is a dimension of God that consumes His very essence."

WOW!

Today's Quote

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on!

Keep thou my feet! I do not ask to see the distant scene- one step's enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now, Lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and spite of fears, pride ruled my will: remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on,

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,

And with the morn those angel faces smile will lead me on.

John Henry Newman
(1801-1890)

Quote from Kathleen Norris

"Peace- that was the other name for home."

Kathleen Norris, author of Mother-Buy it here

Notes from "All About the Proverbs 31 Woman"

I know that it's Friday already, but I wanted to share with everyone some of my notes from Mrs. Victoria Botkin's Monday Evening Webinars.

I'd like to start out with a definition Mrs. Botkin gave- "Sin: Disobeying God’s instructions to us". I don't know about the rest of you, but I sometimes think, "Oh, I don't sin too much...I'm not nearly as bad as (fill in the blank)." I was so convicted about my sinful tendency to think far better of myself than I ought to. It's like what Robert Murray M'Cheyne said, "God is a sovereign God. Do not cry to Him to convert you, as if it were a debt He owed you. There is only one thing you can claim from God as a right, and that is a place in hell. If you think you have any claim on God, you are deceiving yourself.” Ouch!

I know many of us can get caught up in the question of "What defines Biblical Femininity?" and I thought Mrs. Botkin's answer was excellent: "Biblical femininity is about women helping their husbands." (And I would add that it is also about daughters helping their fathers.)

She also encouraged wives to be frugal, as that was a way of helping their husbands. As a young lady who hopes to be married someday, this was something I hadn't thought about before! But it's true. When we as daughters are not frugal, it places a burden on our fathers that we can help lift when we are frugal. This was so interesting to me, that I looked up the definition of "frugal"- characterized by thriftiness and avoidance of waste . Even more than this, though, Mrs. Botkin pointed out that when we are not frugal, we are being discontent. Here's what she said- "When we are not content with when God has provided, we are finding fault with God- even despising Him." Ouch again!

God Bless, and have a great day!

Monday Evenings

I don't know how many of you have been doing Mrs. Victoria Botkin's Monday evening webinars, but if you aren't already, it's not to late! They have been a tremendous blessing to me already, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next six weeks, and re-listening to them after that!

To register or find out more, click here.

Quote from R.M. M'Cheyne

"Every one of you have your work to do for Christ where you are… The smallest twinkling star is as much a servant of God as the mid-day sun. Only live for Christ where you are.”

-Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Quote taken from Sermons of Robert Murray M'Cheyne, a book I read recently. A great reminder to be content right where I am, and to joyfully serve Christ the way He's called me to! :)

The Father & Daughter Retreat

The Lord has used the Vision Forum Father & Daughter Retreat (and Vision Forum as a whole) to draw me closer to Himself and my Daddy over the past five years, and I am looking forward with great anticipation to attending our fourth retreat in two weeks! I was just curious, are any of you going to be attending? If you are, I would love to meet you there! Even if you are going to be unable to attend this year's retreat, if you have been there before, please leave me a comment and tell me a little bit about how the Lord used it in your life. It would be a great encouragement to me, and others as well. :)

If you've never heard about Vision Forum's Father & Daughter Retreat, click here.

Today's Quote

"Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can."

John Wesley

What is Prudence?

Last summer a friend encouraged me to read through the Book of Proverbs and take note of characteristics that were repeatedly praised, and to study these characteristics. So after reading through Proverbs, I decided on a characteristic that I really didn't know anything about: Prudence. If you had asked me six months ago what prudence was, I would have guessed that it was synonymous with wisdom. But it's not!

In Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, Prudence is defined as, “Wisdom applied to practice.” And "prudent" is defined as "cautious; circumspect; wise; careful; foreseeing; frugal; intelligent." One verse used by Webster to define this word is Proverbs 19:14- “A prudent wife is from the Lord.”

This intrigued me, since one of the things I desire most is to someday be a wife and mother! So I began to read through Proverbs once more to find out what the Scriptures had to say about prudence. Below are some of the verses in Proverbs that speak of prudence:

“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 18:15


“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
Proverbs 17:28

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.”
Proverbs 10:19

“A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor.”
Proverbs12:16

“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly.”
Proverbs 13:16

“A prudent sees evil and hides himself, but the naïve proceed and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 27:12

What aspects of our person is associated with prudence?
1. The Mind
2. The Lips
3. The Eyes

Did you realize that control of these three aspects of our persons are the ones most contested for by our Lord Jesus Christ and his arch nemesis, Satan? The Scriptures continually address the great pains we should take to control these “organs” for Christ’s Glory.

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious,and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart,this man’s religion is worthless.”
James 1:26

“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and cast it from you, for it is far better for you to lose one of the parts of your body,than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Matthew 5:29

While the Book of Proverbs speaks mainly in the “neutral” term of ‘men’, it does specify wife in this instance. It is essential that a wife (or future wife) be prudent! Let’s look one more time at the characteristics of the prudent, and apply it specifically to a wife’s role.

First of all, it says that “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and …seeks knowledge.” This implies that the prudent are consciously seeking out knowledge. This doesn’t mean that you just lackadaisically “drift” into knowledge-- it means just exactly what it says!!! But why would this be of importance to a godly wife? God does not call us to an idle, blind faith. Rather, we as daughters of the King of Kings, are to “search out a matter.” We are to be careful though; it is not God’s desire or design for us to puff our selves up with knowledge only. God desires women who truly seek after Him and gladly share all they know with others, not women who simply fill their brains with facts that they lord over others! But which do we practice most often in our own lives?(I know I do the latter far more often than the first) Think of it this way, “What is a wife and mother’s role?” A help-meet and teacher! If we are too proud to share our knowledge with others, we will be unable to, Lord willing,someday help our future husbands raise our children in the fear and admonition of our Creator and Savior God.

Second, we must have our priorities and authorities right. If we are consumed with getting a perfect score on the ACT, or becoming the world’s ‘best’ whatever, God is not pleased with the condition of our heart. For it says in Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” We can not succeed if we don’t fear Christ. For if we don’t know and fear Christ, our hearts are in no condition to learn. And guess what? No matter how how widely respected Charles Darwin may be, according to Scripture, he is a fool, simpleton, and scoffer! “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22) What a lesson we should learn! Our authorities should be our God-given ones (our father or husband), and our priorities should be to forward their God-given Vision. That is why it is so important to take “every thought captive”.

Thirdly, in Proverbs 5:2 it says, “That you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge.” Did you realize that Scripture says that “the power of life and death are in the tongue”? What a powerful statement! It’s no wonder then that both Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 speak of how the godly woman uses her tongue! “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” This little body part called the mouth must be really important! Have you ever seen the influence a woman wields over her father or husband, simply with her tongue? That old rhyme, ‘Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is simply not true. Words, both written and spoken, are powerful. That perhaps, is why the psalmist asked the Lord to “place a guard over my mouth”. We can either encourage, or discourage; respect, or disparage; bless, or curse; build up, or tear down the authority figures in our life-- simply by the way we speak to or of them! Isn’t that unsettling?

Also, did you realize that one of the characteristics of the 'strange woman' or adulteress that Proverbs notes the most is her speech? That is amazing! We will be known by the way we speak, because our speech is a form of identification, either with the godly, or ungodly.

Today's Quote

"Next to faith, this is the highest art: to be content in the calling in which God has placed you."

Martin Luther

More Notes...

Earlier this week I shared with you some things I learned from Mrs. Victoria Botkin’s first webinar session, All About Eve, and I wanted to share with you some things I learned from her second session, All About Sarah: Biblical Submission and how Godly Women Do It.

One of the first things Mrs. Botkin addressed was the question, “Is there such a thing as virtuous Christian feminism?” She pointed out that “we are all feminists at heart. Clear back to Eve. It’s just the way we are.” But feminism is a clearly ungodly mindset for women. She quoted Colossians 3:19- “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (This is applicable for the Father-Daughter Relationship, as well)

Mrs. Botkin gave two tips for practicing submission: 1) Taking every thought captive, and 2) Hoping in God to do His Will. My Mamma has said before that it is much easier to develop submission before marriage than after. Mrs. Botkin indicated this as well in the following quote:

“Get on board with your husband’s vision right at the beginning. This is really at the heart of submission…you submit your will and your vision to the will and vision of your husband.”

To be able to someday “get on board” with my future husband’s vision at the beginning of my marriage, I need to practice now, by submitting myself to my Daddy, and furthering his vision, rather than my own. The thing that really pricked my heart while I was listening, though, was this- “God’s will is more important than your will.” (Doesn’t that hurt!?!) Too often, I feel as though I must defend my will, rather than submitting to my God-given authority’s (aka, my daddy) will. When I do that, I sacrifice God’s Will, in an effort to get my way!

A Great Quote

"The greatness of man's power is the measure of his surrender."

William Booth

Evenings with Victoria Botkin

My Mamma and I are doing the Evenings with Victoria Botkin webinar with a dear friend every Monday, and I wanted to share with everyone some notes I took from her first session, All About Eve.

The first thing that stood out to me was that, "Wives (and daughters) are helpers, and by created nature must help men, and will help their husbands (or fathers) for good or bad." Mrs. Botkin also pointed out that Eve's temptation in the Garden of Eden was to be autonomous... the thing we as daughters usually struggle the most with!

She also stated that "Women are subordinate to men, but no less influential." In fact, she went on, "Women have great influence over their husbands and sons." Why else would so many great men speak so highly of their mothers? Benjamin West even went so far as to say once that, "A kiss from my mother made me a painter."

I don't know about the rest of you, but I struggle alot with the attitude of "I really know better than you do" towards my God-given authorities. Mrs. Botkin had a wonderful perspective on this attitude--

"If a wife (or in our case, daughters) is truly more spiritual than her husband (or in our case, our father), she will be submissive and respectful to him, in faith that she's doing what's right and that God will take care of the rest."

Today's Quote

My prayer journal has quotes printed throughout it, and as I opened it today, I saw a quote I hadn't read in a while, but that was so good!

Do any of you ever find it difficult to differentiate between God's leading and your flesh's inclination? I often struggle with this, and I find that it is so easy to confuse God's Will with my will, especially in our society that encourages girls to cast aside their femininity, and embrace the opposite of God's Will. I believe, also, that we, as daughters, are especially susceptible to this, and need to admit that, and ask our Heavenly Father to give us wisdom, and ask our parents to hold us accountable.

But, anyway, here's the quote that I found so encouraging this morning! :)

"Waiting times are growing times and learning times. As you quiet your heart, you enter His peace... as you sense your weakness, you receive His strength... as you lay down your will, you hear His calling."

Roy Lessin

A Great Quote!

"One life yielded to God at all costs is worth thousands only touched by God."

Oswald Chambers

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”
Psalm 116:15

Perhaps this is a little morbid, but I sometimes wonder, “If I died right now, what would people remember about me and say of me at my funeral?”

(Does anyone else ever ask themselves this question?!?)

- Would they remember that I complained a lot?

-Would they remember my disrespectful attitude?

-Would they remember my self-centered outlook on life?

That’s not what I want! But all those things are true about me...

The week before last one of my Dad’s uncles died, and his funeral was such a blessing. He was a pastor with a real heart for the sick; he and my aunt would spend hours at the hospitals, visiting and praying with the sick and their families. I know, because they often visited my grandparents when they were sick and dying.

But anyway, as I sat at his funeral listening to the minister preach and speak about the impact of Uncle Joe’s life, I thought- “That’s what I want at my funeral!” Another thing I thought of was the story of Michael Billings. Some of you may be familiar with his story, as it is set forth in the book, Life is but a Vapor: The Life and Legacy of Michael G. Billings.

As I read the aforementioned book (which I would list as one of the five most influential books I’ve ever read), I was convicted as I saw the number of people who were touched by Michael’s life, and who genuinely loved and admired him. Would people have any reason to write or speak of me the way they did of Michael Billings?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. I would not want any little girls to travel down the paths I was once on. I have many regrets from my past, as I am sure we all do.

But I want the answer to the above question to be yes. It is my desire to leave a legacy of godliness-- particularly godly womanhood, to the next generation.

Yet my heart is so prone to wander from the God I love, as the hymn says, and from His paths, as well.

Even though when I die I will never know what others will say about me, I want them to bring glory to God. And that’s what matters, I suppose. It’s not what others say about me that matters-- it’ what they say about what God did in my life!

I want to be remembered for being Christlike. But to be remembered that way, I must live that way!!!

Relying on God

"Relying on God has to begin all over again everyday as if nothing had yet been done..."

C.S. Lewis

What do you Love?

This past Sunday Mr. Bruce Rogers spoke, and it was so good, I wanted to share with everyone a little bit of what he said! His main Scripture passage was Psalm 139-

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all...Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me; and lead me in the everlasting way."

I was so convicted because this went along so well with what I have been thinking on since we listened to Mr. Doug Phillips' Identity Theft cd. When we left church, one question Mr. Bruce asked was stuck in my brain, Does God loathe what we love?

This week as I meditated on Psalm 139 and thought back to those messages, I continued to ask myself, What do I delight in? What do I love? Are my priorities in life straight?

Unfortunately, too often I am like the Israelites-- I forget what the Lord has done for me, and I wander back to Egypt, in my words, attitudes, etc.

Something else that pricked my heart was when Mr. Bruce pointed out that nothing we do is hidden from the sight of God. Not even a thought is hidden from God's all-seeing eye. In fact, Scripture says that He is "intimately acquainted" with all our ways! Anytime I slip back to feminist thinking- even just in my heart- God Knows!

What were the best books you read in February?

By doing the 52 book challenge I have been reading lots of books, which has been very rewarding for me! I thought I might share with everyone the "Best Books" I read this past month, so I divided them into two Categories: Fiction and Non-Fiction.

The "Best" Non-Fiction Book I read was actually a book we read as a family- Tithing and Dominion by Rousas John Rushdoony. It was quite convicting, and I don't believe you could ever look at Tithing the same way again once you read it!

The "Best" Fiction Book I read was The Last Sin-Eater by Francine Rivers. I read this book while I was sick a few weeks ago. Nothing like a good book to make you feel better! :) I was impressed with the clear Gospel message presented, as well as the intriguing story that kept me turning pages, even though the movie is already one of my all-time favorites!

Alright, now I want to hear from all of you- What were the best books you read in February?

Happy Birthday, George!

Since today is George Washington's Birthday, I wanted to post an excellent quote by him...

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

And while I'm at it, a quote on the smaller "world" we all are part of: the Family :)

"The family is God’s incubator for children.”
- Tony Pogue

More on the Tongue

Yesterday at Church my Daddy gave a very interesting talk on the Apostle Paul and his life and work, and Mr. Trent Hendrix gave a wonderful (and very convicting/encouraging) message on how we are supposed to use our Tongues! One of his main Scripture passages was Ezekiel 2:3-8.

"Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' As for them, whether they listen or not- for they are a rebellious house- they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..."

There were things that stood out to me in this passage:
1.- Several times it mentions "speaking" the Words of the Lord. It made me think, Do I know enough of what God's Word says to incorporate it in my speech?

2.- I realized one part of this passage was very necessary to the rest: "listen to what I am speaking to you". I have to heed what Scripture says! I can't make Scripture say what I want it to-- it can only mean what God wants it to mean!! Even when it's difficult.

3.- Fear Costs! Fear is death wish to anything. And look at what God tells us not to fear! "neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles are with you and you sit on scorpions" How often does fear keep me from being a witness to the Lord with my life?

4.- "Speak My Words to them whether they listen or not" How discouraging this can be! It is so hard to apply this, especially with family members you love. For me, it's hard to keep on keeping on when the person your heart wants to help doesn't seem interested AT ALL!!!

5.- Last of all, it is sooo easy (at least for me) to fall back into old ways of thinking, ways of thinking that are worldly and anti-God. And look at what God says here: "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..." Rebellion is especially hard for me... I want my way NOW!!! (What a terrible attitude!)

Another Scripture he used was Galatians 4:6- "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

He asked all of us, "Are you "full of grace" or are you a "salt shaker"?" He pointed out that neither are right if not properly balanced with the other! If you are always kind and full of grace in your speech, but you don't share the Truth of God (which sometimes hurts) it's no more right than being "too salty"-- speaking the Truth of God, but with no love or grace towards others! One thing that I noticed was the ending of this verse: "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". That is so true. When we speak God's Word,with Grace, we can answer in a godly way, that points others to Christ.

I hope this encourages all of you as much as it has me! Do any of you have any tips for keeping our tongues in submission to Christ? If you do, I would love to hear them!!

Quote from Doug Phillips

"Don't talk about leadership. Do it."

The Tongue: A Deadly Weapon

One of the things the Lord has been teaching me lately is how powerful my tongue is. As Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” And that's true. We have been given the power to build up or tear down others simply by our words!

“No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison…so also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!” James 3:8,5

Do any of you have trouble controlling your tongue? I do! As it says in the above passage, the tongue “is a small part”, yet I often find it to be the most difficult to bring into submission under Christ!!

A passage I found the other day sounds terribly like myself:

“…Grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining advantage.” (Jude 16)

After doing a little research, I found something very shocking. What do you think is the characteristic of the “strange woman” of Proverbs described most? Her speech! Over and over we find passages like the ones below:

“To deliver you from the strange woman, from the adulteress who flatters with her words.” – Proverbs 2:16

“For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech.” – Proverbs 5:3

“The woman of folly is boisterous, she is naïve and knows nothing.” -Proverbs 9:13

Do you know that three of the seven things that the book of Proverbs says that God hates and are abominations before Him deal with the Tongue?

“Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil. A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” - Proverbs 6:17-19

One of the things I seem to struggle with the most is “babbling” on with nothing edifying to say, or simply blurting out things that are hurtful to others (even if they might have some truth to them). Scripture speaks clearly to this:


“The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined.”
-Proverbs 10:8


“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” -Proverbs 10:19


“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” -Proverbs 25:11


“A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.” -Proverbs 18:2


“As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” -Proverbs 11:22

One of the other things I battle the most is Pride, which naturally overflows into my speech! When I read what Proverbs said about this…ouch!

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” -Proverbs 27:2

I think we, as daughters are often careless with the great responsibility of edifying others with our speech. There lies before us a great decision: Will we identify with what the Scriptures call the ‘Strange Woman’?

“She is boisterous and rebellious, her feet do not remain at home.” -Proverbs 7:11

Or the ‘Godly Woman’ of Proverbs 31?

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” -Proverbs 31:26

As Thumper says on Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” President Calvin Coolidge said it this way, "I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say."

“Even a fool when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered wise.” -Proverbs 17:28

Who Are Your Heroes?

A month or so back I listened to the first half of Mr. Doug Phillips' cd set, "Identity Theft". On it Mr. Phillips asked the questions: What kind of films do you watch? What kind of songs do you sing? What kind of books do you read? Who are your heroes? Who do you try to emulate?

Do you ever listen to a cd and for some reason your toes start hurting??

Mine were. But it wasn't because I was convicted for reading grossly immoral things. Rather, I was convicted about my carelessness. As Proverbs 19:16 says, "He who is careless of conduct will die."

The reason I was convicted was because it is so easy to drift back into old mindsets, and we must constantly be on guard against this. And unfortunately, I tend to fall very easily into the trap of thinking, "Oh, I don't think I'd ever think that way again." And sooner than I think, I'll have a thought or will say something, and I think, "Where did that come from?!" It came from an unguarded heart and a thought that was not taken captive. As David Brainerd said, "I have ever found it, when I have thought the battle was over and the conqest gained, and so let down my watch, the enemy had risen up and done me the greatest injury."

This is so important! I want my children (my daughters, especially) to have very different heroes from some of the ones I had when I was a little girl. I don't want my daughters to look up to Condi like I did! I'd much rather my little girls look up to Sarah Edwards with admiration, than to Sarah Palin!

I am so thankful that the Lord has worked in my life, and has given me a new heart, filled with new hopes, and new heroes. But it is still hard work pulling up the remaining weeds of feminism (and there are lots of them!).

One of the things I've realized is that the world is full of people who want to be our heroes. Another thing I've realized is that our heroes have an incredible sphere of influence over us. We must seek out people who are worthy to be looked up to, but they can be found. The people I look up to the most are the people who point to Christ with their lives. That's the kind of person I want to be.

So, who are your heroes?

A Quote for Today

"We are all missionaries... wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ."
- Eric Liddell

Finding Joy in the Little Things

"...God loves a cheerful giver."
-2 Corinthians 9:7

For many years I thought this meant that God just wanted us to give. But I've come to realize that you can either give grudgingly, or cheerfully. Joy is what makes the difference.

I have a terrible habit of giving outwardly, while inwardly (sometimes outwardly... well, alright, alot of times) complaining. The Lord has greatly convicted me. He has revealed that what He desires from me is true joy when serving those around me.

We recently watched a film called Saving Sarah Cain. While it had many wonderful truths in it, one of the most convicting was when the oldest daughter, Lydia, said, "Dish-washing has never been a chore" (paraphrased). WOW! Can I say that? Ouch...

This young woman had found Joy in the little things, serving her family cheerfully, in preparation for someday having her own family.

Sadly, I am often too caught up in desiring to achieve "great things" that I fail to realize that the thing I can do to bring the most glory to God is to find Joy doing the little things!

It's been so long...

It's been a little while since I've posted, so here's one more great quote...

"If you want to grow, you must be willing to stretch."
- Anonymous

A Quote For Today

"Remember always that tomorrow is the devil's day. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions are if only they are determined to be done tomorrow."
-Michael Billings

More on Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!"
-Philippians 4:4

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a very hard time implementing this in my life! When things get difficult I'm the first to whine and complain. I stomp my foot and demand that God give me my way. NOW!

What a wrong attitude! Rather than informing God that this is not how I wanted my day to go, I ought to be thanking Him for being at work in my life.

How quick I am to rejoice when things are going good- but how slow I am to rejoice in pain or disappointment!

A verse I've been really thinking about lately is not only an encouragement, but also a great conviction:

"For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
-Romans 8:28

And because this is true, I need to learn to find Joy in all things, all the time!!!

One More!

If you haven't already realized it, I have a terrible weakness for quotes! :) So here's one more...

"Do not waste your youth. Take on mighty challenges."
-Scott Brown

If anyone has any quotes they enjoy, I'd love to hear them, so drop me a comment!

Today's Quote

"Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ."
- William VanderHaven

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength

After taking the "Joy Challenge" I told everyone about several days ago, I thought I'd share a few verses on Joy, as well as some of my thoughts.

"Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; and let them say continually. 'The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant.'"
-Psalm 35:27

"Rejoice always: Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's Will for you in Christ Jesus."
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Sing for joy in the Lord, O you upright ones; praise is becoming to the upright."
-Psalm 33:1

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice!"
-Philippians 4:4

"Now the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you might abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
- Romans 15:13

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face..."
- Proverbs 15:13

"...God loves a cheerful giver."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
- Proverbs 17:22

Something that struck me as I began searching my Bible for references to Joy, was that so many had OUTWARD evidences of the INWARD Joy! Look over the verses again: "shout for joy", "sing for joy", "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face"!

One verse I've been meditating on the past day or two has been Proverbs 17:22- "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Perhaps it might have something to do with the fact that Mamma's been sick this week!)

Just recently have I realized that the attitudes of those around us affect us, especially when we're sick. If you are not feeling well and those around you are complaining and griping, does it make you feel better or worse?? WORSE!

I need to make an extra effort to allow the Joy of the Lord to be at work in my life when those around me are sick.

I have been so convicted when I think of how often I complain rather than joyfully serving those around me who are sick. How selfish! Yet I want those who serve me to be nice, and kind, and JOYFUL! But I know the only way I can change this in myself is to rely on the Strength of the Lord, which is my Joy (see Nehemiah 8:10)!

I would really appreciate your prayers as I struggle with not only expressing Joy to those around me, but more importantly, having the Joy of the Lord in my Heart.

A Quote from Today's Birthday Boy

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
- Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan would be 99 today!

Quote of the Day

"Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation."
- Andrew Murray

Hope I didn't overwhelm everyone with that last post!

Deo Vindice?

For those of you who are interested, Deo Vindice means "The Lord will Vindicate". It was the Motto placed on the Great Seal of the Confederacy, reflecting their faith in the Sovereign Providence of the Lord. If you can't tell already, I'm a big fan of the Confederacy :)

Just to show the mindset of the people, here's how the motto was changed from Deo Duce Vincemus (Under the leadership of God we will conquer) to Deo Vindice--

"The word ' duce' is too pagan in its signification, and is degrading to God, because it reduces him to the leader of an army; for scarcely does the word 'duce' escape the lips before the imagination suggests 'exercitus,' an army for a leader to command. It degrades the Christian God to the level of pagan gods, goddesses and heroes, as is manifest from the following quotation; 'Nil desperandum Tenero duce.' This word duce is particularly objectionable because of its connection with the word 'vincemus'--(we will conquer). This connection makes God the leader of a physical army, by means of which we will conquer, or must conquer. If God be our leader we must conquer, or he would not be the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, nor the God of the Christian. This very doubt implied in the word 'vincemus' so qualifies the omnipotence of the God who is to be our 'leader,' that it imparts a degrading signification to the word 'duce' in its relations to the attributes of the Deity.
"The word 'vincemus' is equally objectionable because it implies that war is to be our normal state; besides, it is in the future tense --' we will conquer.' The future is always uncertain, and ,therefore, it implies doubt. What becomes of our motto when we shall have conquered? The future becomes an accomplished fact, and our motto thus loses its significance.
"In addition to this there are only two languages in which the words will and shall are to be found--the English and the German--and in those they are used to qualify a positive condition of the mind and render it uncertain; they are repugnant to repose, quiet, absolute and positive existence.
"As to the motto proposed by us, we concur with the House in accepting the word 'Deo'--God. We do so in conformity to the expressed wishes of the framers of our Constitution, and the sentiments of the people and of the army.
"The preamble of the Provisional Constitution declares that 'We, the deputies of the sovereign and independent States of South Carolina, etc., invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain,' etc.
"In this respect both our Constitutions have deviated in the most emphatic manner from the spirit that presided over the construction of the Constitution of the United States, which is silent on the subject of the Deity.
"Having discarded the word 'duce,' the committee endeavored to select in lieu of it a word more in consonance with the attributes of the Deity, and therefore more imposing and significant. They think success has crowned their efforts in the selection of the word 'vindex,' which signifies an assenter, a defender, protector, deliverer, liberator, a mediator and a ruler or guardian. 'Vindex' also means an avenger or punisher.
"No word appeared more grand, more expressive or significant than this. Under God as the asserter of our rights, the defender of our liberties, our protector against danger, our mediator, our ruler and guardian, and, as the avenger of our wrongs and the punisher of our crimes, we endeavor to equal or even excel our ancestors. What word can be suggested of more power, and so replete with sentiments and thoughts consonant with our idea of the omnipotence and justice of God?
"At this point the committee hesitated whether it were necessary to add anything further to the motto 'Deo Vindice.' These words alone were sufficient..."

-Quote taken from www.civilwarhome.com

149 Years Ago Today!

149 years ago today, delegates from the six seceded Southern states (South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) met and began drafting a Constitution, creating a new repulic, the Confederate States of America, dedicated to the principle of State's Rights. Below is the preamble...

"We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity — invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God — do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America."

Five States later joined the Confederate States of America: Texas, Virginia, Tennesse, Arkansas, and North Carolina.

Hooray for the Confederacy!!! :)

Have you Heard About the Joy Challenge?

If you haven't heard about the "Joy Challenge", visit the Feminine Farmgirl Blog, by clicking on the link in my Recommended Links!

Today's Quote

"Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God's plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins. God's love is still working. He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously, working out His wonderful plan of love."
- Eric Liddell

Pray for the Rescue of Haiti's Children

I and my family have been praying for the survivors of Haiti's Quake, especially the orphans, and have been following the updates on Doug's Blog. What a blessing to have a Christian reporting about the work down there!

For any of you not familiar with Vision Forum, here's an article by Mr. Doug Phillips posted on his blog about a week ago:

In less than 24 hours, I will be boarding a plane on an important mission bound for Haiti. I am writing because I need your help.

Here is the story.

My mission to Haiti is four-fold: First, I will be establishing one of the only distinctively Christian reporting operations to tell stories of both the present crisis and the work of Christians on behalf of the sick and the widows and the orphans in the midst of Haiti’s present horror. Second, I will be working to facilitate the rescue and delivery of orphans to Christian families in America. Third, I will be identifying specific families that need direct support from the people of God in America. Fourth, my team will be providing specific relief to people in distress.

My starting team is seven individuals, including an experienced medical doctor, a logistics crew, and a film production team for news reportage. I should be joined by additional team members in Haiti including a driver, translator, and possibly more physicians in the days to come.

I believe that I can play a special role in getting important stories out to the people of God in a timely and meaningful way. I also believe that I can be effective in helping some of the most important Christian ministries to get the attention they need. I believe that we can be successful, by God’s grace, in meeting urgent medical needs of the sick and wounded in the wake of the recent disaster, documenting the needs of orphans in crisis, and helping to facilitate a plan to connect orphans with the very best families who can care for them.

Our camera team will document the story, and I will be posting regular video updates and written commentary on our outreach to Haiti as it unfolds. You can follow these updates on my blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. My staff will also be making them available through YouTube to the general public. WorldNetDaily has agreed to publish articles I write on Haiti as exclusive commentary on their website to help maximize the reach of our message. Our goal is to reach a broad audience with the details of our ministry in Haiti, and the outlet through WND will help in accomplishing this.

As I’m sure you know, the devastation in Haiti has been overwhelming. More people have died as a result of this earthquake than died in either the Nagasaki or Hiroshima bombings at the close of WWII. Already, the death toll from the earthquake ranks it among the top five most deadly natural disasters in the last century and the top twenty in recorded history. And the death count only continues to climb.

Our goal is to be ministers of Christ in the wake of this enormous disaster — to help rescue Haiti’s children — and we would solicit your prayers and support for this enterprise.

Here’s where things stand: Our transportation to Haiti has been secured. A private jet has been made available for our use to the country. We have transportation and an interpreter who will be guiding us through the disaster zones. We have a clear plan in place to make the most of our mission.

But we need help with the expenses including our technical needs, satellite broadcast feeds (which are expensive), equipment, supplies, and air transportation back through the Dominican Republic to America, in the likely circumstance that we are unable to get out through Port-au-Prince.

I have had to move quickly: I have made the decision to go even before all the funds have been provided; but I would sincerely ask for your consideration in supporting us on this important project. I would appreciate your support, be it prayer or financial assistance, for our mission. Donations to help our effort can be made online. Click here to donate.

Please stay tuned for our broadcasts and articles. May the Lord be pleased to use our humble efforts at this time of intense crisis.

Your friend in Christ, Doug Phillips

Another Great Quote

Alright, I just can't resist!!!

Here's another great quote from Howard Phillips:

"You will be the same person next year you are now, except for the books you read and the people you meet."

Quote of the Day

"If you want to be a leader, you must be a reader." - Howard Phillips

52 Book Challenge

A few weeks ago a friend from San Antonio encouraged me to take the 52 Book Challenge, where you read a book every week of the year. I accepted, and thought that some of you might like to join me.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I start a lot of books, and have a VERY hard time finishing them! :) This Challenge has been a great motivator to get me to finish books! It's nice to look back over the week and see the books I've...COMPLETED!!!

If you want to join me, drop me a note, so we can keep each other encouraged!

Quote for the Day

"Strive to choose not that which is easiest, but that which is most difficult."
-St. John of the Cross