Jul. 5, 2009 - Tying Heartstrings with Your Children
I am recently learning a lot about love languages. My husband and I went to A Weekend to Remember together, which I highly recommend for every married couple. I was really surprised to find out the root causes for some of our relationship struggles. We took a love language test. My husband had, for more than fifteen years focused on loving me through Acts of Service. Guess where that was on my list? Last, bottom of the list. So, I guess that is why I never felt my love tank filled by him. I had tried to meet my husband's needs by spending quality time with him. Guess where that was on his list? Very near bottom of his list. So, he didn't feel his love tank filled. We were two trains passing in the night. Once we identified what we were doing wrong, it was like an answer to prayer. My husband could see that my number one love language was words of affirmation. He admitted to almost never doing this because he said it was hard for him to verbalize. I realized that my husband's needs were physical touch. That was something I hated to do because of my past childhood. So, we found out we were meeting each others needs so our love tanks were always empty. This workshop really opened our eyes. It was like one of us speaking Greek and the other Italian. We just were not understanding one another. Since then, we are working to improve meeting each other needs. This lesson has also taught us about how to meet our children's needs.
Discuss, with your husband, what he observes with the children. What do your children like to do in their spare time? What do they ask to do with you? Watch them interact. What do they do with one another? The five love languages are: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch. However, my husband and I, noticed that we could go bike riding for an afternoon with our oldest son Sam, but he would be left feeling emotionally empty, even though his love language was quality time. He would tell us that he didn't spend time with him. However, when we spent time building models, walking together, working on projects, his love tank did get filled. So, it seemed that his love language alone was not just spending time, but spending time with his learning style being kinesthetic (doing something with his hands).
I am wondering if there is a connection between love languages and learning styles. I noticed when we made the I love you jar, the children put in the items that pertain to their love language. In doing this activity, watch what they write down as their favorite things to do. It can be really eye opening. For instance, Hannah's favorite things to do are to put puzzles together and having mom read aloud while painting (visual with quality time). Sarah, on the other hand, are: listening to stories and telling stories, jokes to me. She is very auditory. However, with either of my girls, if I just speak their love language, they won't feel their love tanks are filled unless I consider their learning style. Hannah doesn't just visual things alone, puzzles, but quality time. She wants to do puzzles with me or dad to get her love tank filled. Sarah doesn't just want to tell stories, but she wants to hear affirmations from me. It is really important to her to have feed back about her stories, what I like about them, and what I really enjoy about her. Filling her love tank seems to be both Verbal Affirmations with auditory learning considerations.
Thus, I think, or am drawing conclusions, that the love languages tie together with the learning styles. Although, my children aren't all one style or another, they are mixed, I have noticed that they seem to favor, or show a strength in certain learning styles. Learning styles are: Kinesthetic, Visual, and Auditory. I am starting to journal about the children's different love language and learning styles. Here is what I have found in my experiences and observations iwth my children. Perhaps, a few of my reflections on my children, will better demonstrate this connection that I am finding.
(Sam)
Kinesthetic Learner & Physical Touch & Acts of Service.
Favorite things to do:
1. Mom making a special breakfast for him
2. Playing Legos, Lincoln Logs, Soldiers together with mom
3. Model building with mom or dad
4. Rubbing backs, snuggling with reading (just mom and him)
5. Wrestling with dad
(Sarah)
Auditory Learner & Words of Affirmation
Favorite things to do:
1. Read a book together as a family
2. (Hearing encouraging words) cooking together
3. Playing Scrabble
4. Who, What, Where Game (reading and drawing funny sentences- draw cards for a noun, verb, and adverb...A bunny jumping in an elevator)
(Hannah)
Visual Learner, Quality Time & Gifts
Favorite things to do:
1. A special gift from the grocery store (even small pack of gum or new hair bow)
2. A special gift of a favorite book.
3. Love notes left in special spots
4. Putting puzzles together
In conclusion, I am finding that the importance of tying heart strings from my heart to my children's hearts is best connected when I consider my children's love language and learning style. Keeping a journal to write my observations and realizations is helping me to learn how to help them feel like I love them. I think we, as mom's, can easily think that if we love them from our own love language and learning style that they should feel loved. It would be the same mistake my husband and I made with each other. To think that my husband would feel loved by my language and learning style when his language and learning style is different is like expecting him to speak Greek when he speaks Italian. So, tying heart strings to each other hearts means that we respect how God made us and our children differently by selflessly going out of the way to meet each others different love language and learning style (tying heart strings).
Jun. 16, 2009 - Balance Training, Discipline, and Joy
As a past public school teacher, disciplining and training 28 children for six hours a day, and a mom of six children (today under thirteen), I have found it really important to balance training and discipline with joy. I have by no means "gotten it all together" or anything, as I still have to stay on my knees in prayer for daily problems that arise, but I hope to bless someone today with what I have learned from my experiences and God's guidance.
I remember teaching 28 children each day for six hours. The job is enormous and hard in a culture of me-ism, self indulgent children mixed with many neglected and abused children. I knew that no school preparation prepared me for what I would experience (some schools could only keep a substitute teacher for thirty minutes). The system seemed doomed to fail. However, there were a few teachers who did thrive and do well. I knew that I needed to learn from those who I could see were so effective and loved by their students. I spent many, many hours asking permission to watch other teachers in their classrooms before I had my own classroom. I kept notebooks full of all the things I learned from observing. One general thing that seemed to run as a common thread was a balancing of discipline and joy.
I learned that those teacher who were most effective made their rules and expectations clear with the boundaries established from the beginning. They had discipline for those who broke the rules. They were very consistent in the consequences, not allowing the children to whine their way out of them or act out a temper tantrum. They would even put an entire first month aside to do nothing but this. They made sure to focus on the relationship with the children before they tackled the academics, perceiving the academics as less important than the discipline and respect. They also made sure that they had a lot of fun. They made sure to laugh with aloud readings of funny books, fun craft projects, games, act a bit goofy at times (being a kid themselves to play). These teachers often gained the respect of the children, and were often nominated as the favorite teacher in the school, although they were also known as the strictest. I suspected that they were Christians because of their behavior, so I really think their credit goes to God. I also think these teachers learned the basic necessities of of balancing the discipline and training with joy, through God's wisdom. I still appreciate what I learned from these teachers because I apply those same basic principles of discipline and joy with my children. How does what I learned in balancing discipline and joy apply to home?
I have learned that a home is not a happy home when children don't have boundaries. Although there are times when rules have to change and be flexible for different reasons and seasons, in general there should be clear boundaries and expectations for children. There are times when I have done poorly at this (when my health hasn't been good) and times when I have done well. Children need to know what is expected of them. For our home it is that they are to be up with their teeth brushed, clean clothes, and chores done (weekdays this has to be done by 8:30 and weekends by noon) For your home it might be different times and different expectations. The important thing is that the expectation is clear and the consequences are given without lectures and emotional entanglement (speaking from past failures and successes in this). I have, in the past, failed in trying to talk too much after the infraction of breaking the rule, which has hurt their hearts, the best results are to give with a quick consequence. In short, expectations and boundaries are clear and consequences are given quickly and consistently Mom should never wait to deal with it later. Children are happier when they know what to expect.
When do your children get alone time with you, or do they have to demand your attention all day to get it? If children know that they get to look forward to alone time with mom once a day at a scheduled time then they won't be as demanding during the day (especially toddlers). Just as you might do a date night with your husband, make date times with each child. My oldest daughter and I do a teen bible study (Parables co.) and a morning walk before anyone else wakes up. My toddlers do best with me meeting their alone time with mom in the morning when they first wake up (and the older children work on their independent studies). Just sitting on the floor of the room and playing with Mighty World or Polly Pockets fills their love tanks. Find your child's love language and meet it doing something together. Make sure to schedule it in. If each one knows when they get mom time, it is easier for them to hold off with the need for attention at the wrong times. You can do this in many ways, I combine mine with the children having a prayer journal in which they write secret notes to me, and I respond (written encouragements or needed listening time later during our alone time). Joy in the home happens when we put aside our busyness and put our children as a priority in the day. But, don't forget dad.
Do your children have their hearts knitted with dad? Do they have to demand his time after he comes home exhausted from work? If you put aside the time in dad's day then the children won't overwhelm him when he gets home, demanding his time. Ask him if he will put aside an hour before the children's bedtime or an hour after he comes home from work to spend with them. Have a time for him to establish a routine with the children, whatever time he chooses and then ask him if he will commit to it regularly. Joy in a home happens when the relationships with the children and dad are healthy. Dad also needs one on one time with the children. Ask your husband if whenever he goes on an outing to the store, if the children can take turns going with him. Ask your husband to share his home projects with a child (my oldest son loves to help dad with his home projects such as working on the car or something). Let dad decide, with the childrens' input, what to do. Set times and stay consistent. You will be amazed at how this cuts down on any fussies. And, the fussies steal the joy in the home.
Do you have a problem with the fussies? Do you act happy or grouchy during the day? What is the tone of your voice? Being overwhelmed and feeling unsuccessful will kill your joy. If you don't know where to start in examining why you feel grouch, write down your self talk during the day (the conversations that go on inside us). This will help to pin point what makes you feel so unhappy, and without joy. Our attitudes reflect what is going on in the inside. If we are trying to just do too much all the time, our attitudes can get sour. Trying to driver here, do six loads of laundry there, while we are also trying to do the bills and make a meal will overwhelm. So, make a schedule or routine for yourself I know from my experiences that keeping myself on a schedule helps me not feel like a failure. When I finish the time (not the actual job) then I am done until the next scheduled time. This relieves the pressure, and this helps me not feel as much like a failure in the never ending laundry pile. Don't have unrealistic goals to get everything done, but just be sure to do a certain portion in a certain time frame. For instance, take care of the bills on a scheduled afternoon will prevent you from getting edgy or upset with the children for interrupting an important moment on the phone or writing the checks. Try to keep errands on one day (not always possible, but the effort pays off). By making all plans in advance, such as: doctor office visits, music lessons, library visits, you won't wear yourself out with running around in an exhausted state. Exhaustion kills joy. So, make sure you are on some type of schedule. .
Do you get so busy that you forget to just have fun with the children? Discipline without relationship will steal the joy in your home. In order to remind myself, I schedule in a time to use an idea from the "I love you jar" (like pajama day in which I announce that no one is to get dressed-we do school in our pajamas; funny hat day-the kids thought this was a hoot; school at the park, bake cookies in afternoon,desserts for breakfast, swimming or bike riding with mom after school work is done, etc.). A little bit of spice of unexpected puts joy in the home. I have, at other times, done this with my index cards. Regardless of which way you choose to organize, the scheduling helps so that the spice of fun doesn't get put off because of busyness. In addition to scheduled spicy activities, be sure to schedule, or create routine with a family time, including dad (playing tag outside, reading aloud books...). Do you give your children a time of rest from all the fun and activities?
Children can get overspent and exhausted just as much as we moms can. They also need a time of rest individually and as a family? I sometimes give the children unexpected breaks when I see them a bit tired. I also give them scheduled breaks within their school time. (This is easier to do with the homeschool tracker because I can print out their schedules each day with scheduled breaks for reading or playing piano, etc. times. The computer does it for me). What about a family rest time? Do you commit to a routine time of rest? We have recently, as of this year, put this time aside because we kept putting it off, unfinished work ran us exhausted. Exhaustion will kill joy in your home. Now we have a specific day as our sabbath. We don't do any work on this day. We just rest and play with one another. However, when we didn't schedule this into our time, establishing it as a routine, we became too busy and put it off because the labor never seems to end, and those needy things would scream too loud.
What are your interactions with your husband like? Do you get a case of the grouchies with him, or an unpleasant tone with him? It is easy to get so busy with the children that a husband and wife can overlook each other's needs. Schedule in a romantic time together to go to a Family Life conference to learn about each other's love language and communication building. Put time aside when the children go to bed to put a puzzle together, play a game, do a paint by number set, or work on a project together. Keep the tv off. The tv is a relationship killer and joy killer in the home. Go to lovingyou.com and get some ideas to romance him and feel special. Set aside a weekly date night when you go out to a coffee house, bowling, or something.
Do you feel like you can't do this mom thing? Trying to balance it all can be overwhelming. It is a hard job. Give yourself a break, emotionally and physically. Give yourself a break emotionally by understanding that God doesn't expect you to get it all perfect so you shouldn't either. God gives us things that require us to seek Him on our knees. So, be sure to make sure to set aside some time to talk to him, be inspired by His Word, and get answers from Him on how to solve your problems at home. Open your bible and read Nehemiah chapter three. Nehemiah's task to rebuild the wall was so enormous that his enemies laughed and mocked him. Yet, he knew his source of strength in getting it done and done well was relying on God. He completed the impossible because he learned to rely on God. God knows your short comings. It doesn't scare Him. He isn't caught off guard. Perhaps, you have scoffers like Nehemiah. Know that your weaknesses and shortcomings only give room for God to show his glory through you just as he did with wall building. When the scoffers scoff and ridicule you know that God is using you to show Himself big. But, don't forget to give yourself a physical break. If our bodies are worn down, it will be hard to have joy in your home. Schedule several breaks a day several times a day. Read a good book, take a fragrance shower in the middle of the day, drink a cup of tea and read your bible, knit or crochet. This refreshing time will really help to have joy in your home. It will also give you a strength to stand against those scoffers.
Lastly, to keep joy in a home, make sure that you don't allow your children to talk in wrong tones to one another (respect toward one another should be demanded by mom), don't allow bullying of any kind (physical or verbal), and teach the children scriptures which show correctly putting other siblings before themselves (selflessness, kindness...). I have never allowed bullying in my classroom, and my children know I don't tolerate it at home. It is a very serious infraction in our home. This is partly due to my bad memories of other children being bullied in public school when I was a child (I will never forget the girl in fourth grade that was bullied to tears). Because this is so important to me, my children don't fight because it never gets that far. I stop it at the wrong tone or wrong attitude with one another. As Jesus says, address the heart. If you do this it will never get to the aggressive physical actions. Your work in this area will give peace and joy to your home. The fruits are well worth the work, tolerating bullying will steal joy in your home.
A neighbor girl approached my nine year old daughter to ask her if she fights with her brothers. My daughter was horrified. "Why would you fight with a brother?" The girl said she always fought with her brother. My daughter was aghast. She ran home and told me how horrible these words were to her. She wanted me to explain why the girl would ask such a thing. She wanted me to explain why the girl would hurt her brother by fighting. Why would she ever consider fighting with her brother? This really upset my daughter because she didn't see it in our home. Although, my daughter does have experience with a difference of opinions with her siblings, she is expected to respect her other siblings differences (and wrong tones are not permitted-they find ways to work together or do different activities). Grandma and grandpa saw the fruit of the children, and they would brag about the childrens' peaceful interaction so much to my husband's sisters, that we had to confront them, thanking them for the kind words but requesting them to refrain from talking about how peaceful our children worked and played together because it was causing bitterness and anger with my husband's sisters. So, in short, if you work hard in not allowing bullying and correct interactions, the fruits and rewards are really well worth the efforts. If you work on this, you, too, will enjoy the rewards. If you have struggled in this area, just confess to your children that you want to ask their forgiveness - that you have neglected this area and tell them how you want to change it. Put the clear new rules down and don't focus on anything else for a month (push aside all other things to make it a priority). Children respect parents when parents are authentic and honest. I have, so often, and regularly, confessed my sins of selfishness or disobeying God's word to them, asking them to forgive me. Children are more able to imitate what they see.
Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
*The Joy of Training by Michael Pearl dvd (I don't recommend the book but this dvd is excellent).
*www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com
*www.titus2.com
*Lies Homeschool Moms Believe from www.familymanweb.com).
*bigoven.com is a great way to keep your family meals organized, freeing up your time (mine is on my phone and refrigerator ready for grocery store).
God bless you all,
Missy
Jun. 1, 2009 - Dangers in Children's Children's Meals
www.seedsofdeception.com
May. 5, 2009 - Host a Russian Orphan this Summer
There is a wonderful program to help Lativa, Ukraine, and Russian orphans. If you have a heart that is burden to help here is a link to check it out. These children are also needing a loving family to adopt them. The scripture that is brought to my heart is that true religion is taking care of orphans and widows.
New Horizons
donate to help a family
testimony
A Story of a Family Called to Help the Orphans
Compelled to Help-a story
Dec. 29, 2008 - Cultivate Humor in Your Home
I love to get my Above Rubies magazines (donation based magazine). I reread them so much they fall apart. I also love to visit the Above Rubies website. If you enjoy this article as much as I did, you might want to check out all the other gems over there. Above Rubies website.
In the sanctuary, a little boy joyfully handed his mother the Mother's Day card he had just finished for her in Sunday School. On the front were the letters M O M in glitter. The dear woman laid the treasure on the pew. When the pastor called all the mothers to the front to honor them, she heard laughter throughout the church. She assumed some sweet child had done something funny. What she didn't realize was that she had sat on her card. Across the back of her navy skirt read W O W.
At our wedding reception 22 years ago, we circulated among our guests in the church basement. I realized I had been away from my beloved's side for about 30 minutes. He was standing in front of a circle of friends who were seated. I came up behind him and slipped my arms under his. On tippy toes (he's 6' 3") I put my chin on his shoulder and nuzzled his neck. I noticed a look of horror on our guests’ faces and realized I was affectionately snuggling my husband's brother!
A sense of humor is certainly essential for enjoying motherhood. If you recognize the value of humor in your family life, you can actually increase the laughter in your home through a few simple steps.
1. Turn mistakes into humor. This is an invaluable tool to teach your children not to take themselves too seriously or be devastated over every error they make.
My little daughter and I were vigorously exercising in the living room one morning. I looked over at her and smiled as I thought about how much I enjoyed her company and what a "bonding" moment this was. Pretty soon she said, "Mom, when I exercise with you…" I thought, "Ah, she feels the same way." She jerked me out of deep thought as she finished her sentence: "When I exercise with you... the whole house shakes."
2. Draw humor from your own life situations. While it is not wise to laugh at others, it is always safe to laugh at yourself, and everyone will love you for it.
3. Put up your antennas for humor. Funny things happen to funny people. Once you determine to introduce more laughter into your home, you will notice many amusing things around you that might have annoyed you before.
A three-year-old boy was entertaining himself by drawing pictures. When Grandpa asked him what he was drawing, he said it was a picture of Grandma. "It doesn't look much like Grandma to me," Grandpa replied. The boy answered, "Guess I'll put a tail on it then and call it a cow." Sometimes I think God sends children to deliver new batches of humor to earth for us all!
I was riding in the van with one of our children one day. The discussion turned to how daddy and I met. I seized that teachable moment to eloquently describe our courtship and how much we love each other. The little sweetie inquired: "Were you pretty when daddy asked you to marry him?"
4. You cannot be too self-absorbed if you are going to have a good sense of humor. If you worry excessively about how you look, or how people are treating you, you will notice plenty about the faults of yourself and others, but you will miss the joy of many good laughs. A good sense of humor also helps you develop the wonderful characteristic of being unoffendable.
"Joy isn't the absence of sorrow, it is the presence of God."
5. Humor often disappears with burnout. It is like the warning light on the dashboard of your car indicating the oil is low. I call it "getting grim." It happens to me when I have made my circumstances bigger than my God. I can see my problems very clearly but I have lost sight of God.
6. Keep a humor journal or file. You WILL forget many great stories that will entertain your children and grandchildren if you don't write them down.
We homeschool our children. There are no report cards or glowing accounts of our children at parent-teacher conferences. When someone compliments us, we have to live on that compliment for a long time. One day my son told me I reminded him of Einstein. I thought happily to myself, "I am glad he has finally recognized my superior intellectual ability." He continued: "You remind me of Einstein because he had trouble with his hair, too."
Homeschooling has been a wonderful adventure, but there are some problems. Everyone is always home to mess the house up, and although we are with our children 24 hours a day, we still don't know their names! I always have an excuse to talk to myself, however. My children think I am having a parent/teacher conference!
7. Enjoy the fellowship of funny people. Teach your children to value and encourage a sense of humor in their friends. If you usher laughter into your home, you will find yourself LIVING with delightfully funny children. It is good for them to learn what jokes are appropriate and the proper time to be funny. They WILL enjoy the wonderful success of making the family laugh.
Humor is good for your health and helps us cope with humdrum days. When I lose my perspective (as I often do) I think of one of my favorite stories:
A man was determined to take his wealth with him when he died. He prayed until the Lord finally gave in. There was one condition: he could bring only one suitcase of his wealth. The rich man decided to fill the case with gold bullion. The day came when God called him home. St. Peter greeted him, but told him he couldn't bring his suitcase. "Oh, but I have an agreement with God." the man explained. "That's unusual," said St. Peter. "Mind if I take a look?" The man opened the suitcase to reveal the shining gold bullion. St. Peter was amazed. "Why in the world would you bring in pavement?" A warped view of heaven caused a warped view of earth. Sisters, we get bent out of shape over the smallest things! Ask yourself, "Am I packing pavement here?"
In stressful moments, there are four additional questions I ask myself:
- Is this incident more important than my RELATIONSHIP with my husband/child/mother, etc.?
- Will it matter in 10 years?
- Will it matter in eternity?
- Is God still on the throne?
Occasionally, I find there is a window in time when I literally have to chose whether to laugh or cry. After one particularly grim day, dodging five children and a toddler all day, I decided I must succeed at one endeavor: getting the meal fixed on time. After bustling through preparations with humorless determination, I turned to my 10-year-old daughter and said, "Please go check on your little brother."
"What do you mean?" she replied. Now I thought, "How hard can that be? Little boy. Blonde hair. Toddles around." Calmly, through clenched teeth, I repeated my request. "Go check on your brother."
Bewildered she said, "Mom...you're holding him." He had been on my hip so long that I didn't know he was there. I almost burst into tears. I honestly had to choose whether to laugh or cry. Laughing won. My advice to you is:
When in doubt, choose to laugh.
MARTHA RUPPERT
P.S. Try playing farkel with your family this year while you sit back and enjoy the holiday. It is an easy fun game.Dec. 29, 2008 - New Beginnings Start with the Lordship of Jesus Christ
This link will encourage you this New Year. It will certainly bring you hope and joy.Take a few minutes and watch. Then, leave a comment.
http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/
P.S. I just found out that Vision Forum has a liquidation sale from 30-70% off end of the year clearing shelves. I sure love their materials. I always feel encouraged to stretch to a higher walk in serving God as a mom and homeschooler with their materials. Here is their link: Vision Forum
Sep. 20, 2008 - Nurturing Poem for Moms
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.
By PAULA MULLER
Brodnax, VA.
*To find more poems like this or other encouragement go to ABOVE RUBIES
Jul. 16, 2008 - Treasures
Here is a wonderful poem that was passed around at an Above Rubies camp. I thought it might really encourage you.
TREASURES
Some folks I know,
when friends drop in To visit for a while and chin,
Just lead them round the rooms and halls And show them pictures on their walls,
And point to rugs and tapestries,
The works of men across the seas;
Their loving cups they show with pride,
To eyes that soon are stretching wide
With wonder at the treasures rare
That have been bought and gathered there.
But when folks come to call on me,
I've no such things for them to see.
No picture on my walls is great;
I have no ancient family plate;
No tapestry of rare design
Or costly woven rugs are mine;
I have no loving cup to show,
Or strange and valued curio;
But if my treasures they would see,
I beg them softly follow me.
And then I lead them up the stairs
Through trains and cars and Teddy bears,
And to a little room we creep
Where both my youngsters lie asleep,
Close locked in one anothers' arms.
I let them gaze upon their charms,
I let them see the legs of brown
Curled up beneath a sleeping gown,
And whisper in my happiness:
"Behold the treasures I possess."
by Edgar A. Guest
Jun. 18, 2008 - Nancy Cambell's Encouraging Words
STORING UP TREASURE
1 Timothy 6:19, "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
The above Scripture encourages us to lay up in store for the time to come. In the context, it is actually speaking to those who have riches in this world, exhorting them to be rich in good works and generous to the needy. But I do believe this message is for all of us. I think it is one of the greatest exhortations we can have, don't you?
Every moment of our lives we should be "laying up in store" for the eternal kingdom. We cannot take any material possessions out of this world. It is all vanity. 1 Timothy 6:7 says, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." We will only take what we lay up in heaven.
We need to remind ourselves again of Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will you heart be also."
I have always been challenged by the statement,
"Life is a dressing room for eternity."
Everything we do and say, either builds for this world, or for the eternal world.
I think we will have a lot of surprises in heaven. I remember reading about a man of God who had a vision of the eternal realm. He said that he saw that the people who were closest to the throne of God were mothers and intercessors. Our liberal society does not have time for these ministries. Even the Christian world does not always affirm them. They don't receive the limelight. But they are powerful in God's eyes.
Dear mother, I want to remind you that as you sacrificially pour out your life for your children, as you mother and nurture them in the ways of God, as you pour out your heart in prayer for them--you are laying up treasure for eternity! Your mothering is never wasted. It builds for eternity. You are preparing your children for the heavenly realm. And you lay up heavenly treasure for yourself as you do it.
You may feel inferior because you think you are wasting your education as you lay down your career for motherhood. You may feel sorry for yourself because you are not making money like your neighbor who is choosing her career over motherhood. You may feel insecure because you don't feel that you are accomplishing great things in your home.
Don't listen to these deceptions and negatives. As you mother your children in your home, you are in the perfect will of God. You are building for eternity. You are laying up store for the time to come.
You are building a big mansion for yourself up there! This is certainly not a waste of time!
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
"Lord, please help me to put value on the eternal things, on the things that you put value on. Help me to remember each day that motherhood is building for eternity."
AFFIRMATION:
I have given up hoarding for this world: I am hoarding up treasure for the heavenly kingdom.
Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.
If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward
*You can get encouraging emails from Nancy by going to Aboverubies.org
Jun. 15, 2008 - Need some ideas for charity work
Do any of you bloggers have charities that your children do to reach out to your communities, helping them learn about love of God through service? I have found a crochet or knitting group that does things for the homeless. I am thinking of doing that with the children, as soon as I figure out how to crochet or knit (our goal for today). Yesterday my husband and I were teaching our children to mow grass. Perhaps, there is a needy elderly person in this area that doesn't know Jesus. That might be a great way to share the gospel. Any other ideas or suggestions?
Have you checked out stuckatprom.com? There is a duck tape duct tape prom contest in which you can earn six thousand dollars for college. I found this out by a fellow homeschool mom whose graduates were attending a homeschool prom. I had so much fun looking at the pictures. It was amazing and impressive to see these prom outfits made out of duct tape.
Oh, I can't wait to go to Joyce Meyer's conference this Fall in St. Louis. Have any of you been? I don't know if I cry or laugh more. But, I do know that I get inspired and encouraged. I heard this year's conference is about loving your neighbor, which Joyce is really good at (her ministry does a lot for the homeless, prostitutes, etc in St. Louis not to mention all the orphanages, etc.). I can't wait to go. I am starting to count down the days.
P.S. I just found out from a fellow blogger that Bob Schultz has passed into heaven due to a heart attack. His daughter wrote a beautiful post on www.iche.org website. Here is the address to send money to help ease any financial difficulties
Great Expectations Book Company
Att: Betsy Schultz
PO Box 2067
Eugene, Oregon 97402
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