Part Two of the Room Redo and Fun Things I Made

I have one last pic to show you.

It was Santa's workshop around here for about three months but I seem to have gotten only a little bit done. Here are the promised pics of what I did get done.

A sock monkey named Lumpy for a spider monkey named Titus. :)

An ornament for a very special couple.

Unfinished Christmas ornaments I made for the kids.

A wool candlemat I made for a friend and Lumpy on his special quilt!

I also made the little girls a flannel play mat and bought them felt letters and shapes to decorate it with on one side and put a road on the other side for them to drive their cars on, however, I think they are still a bit to young to appreciate it. When I was little I thought it was a pretty amazing thing that felt stuck to flannel. In fact, I still do. :)

I wish my pictures were of a better quality, but all I can say is, they aren't. Sorry. Don't fuss.

The Littles' Room Redo!!! :)

Yesterday my friend, Darlene, came over and hung up the beautiful glittery stuff she's been working on for months. I took pictures but they aren't very good because of the light. The girls LOVED it!!!

To be continued...

Ah, Yes, I Have Two!!!

I was thinking in the shower the other day...(BTW, I think that showers are the place where the original idea of a "think tank" must have come from, don't you? Anyway...) I never mention that I have another Grandmother that I love DEARLY. I can call her and visit with her just about any time and the only time I get to visit with Mawmaw Ila is when I tell you all about her. :)

My "Other" Grandma, Daisy, is also an inspiration to me, AND she has been a huge encouragement to me my whole life. She is very talented as well and was born into a family full of talented women. (Her life story needs to be made into a book really, maybe I might do that one day?) I have several examples of her mother's ability sitting on shelves in my living room, a fact that brings me much joy. :)

Not only were/are my grandmothers talented ladies, but they invested time in my life and the lives of their other grandchildren. I enjoy certain things because they taught me to enjoy those things. I cook special dishes because they taught me to cook them. I have certain attitudes about life because I observed them in the lives of my grandmothers and I appreciated them and wanted to emulate that.

I am a very blessed woman and I. KNOW. IT. I was given extraordinary grandparents who loved me and WONDERIFIC parents who love me,protected me and raised me to be a responsible citizen. I am so thankful, and yet sad and aware that other people have not been blessed in this way. I think we need to do our part in encouraging the parents and grandparents around us. Those are the most important jobs ever given to man and it doesn't hurt to remind people of that occasionally.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me the kind of parents and grandparents that had a pretty good understanding of the magnitude of the task and never backing down and never giving up! :)

Working on Christmas Projects

Hi Friends,
I have been super busy these last few days working on Christmas projects. Since most of my project time has to be during naptime and after the Little's bedtime I don't seem to get much done; but I AM a happy little elf! I am just excited to actually be working on something this year, last year I wasn't EVEN willing to consider doing any handicrafts and honestly, if not for my dear daughter the neighbors would have gone without. (Gasp!)

I hope to upload some pictures soon of this year's completed ornaments and also some Christmas "pockets" that I'm making for family and friends.

I look forward to seeing you all at some point this holiday season!

Peter's Quilt Top

Threads in the Floor

As I was finishing up Peter's quilt top tonight, I was busily picking threads off of it as I worked. The task itself had me thinking of little Ila, my sweet Mawmaw.

I have so many memories of her house and her threads...the smell, the threads strewn about, the excitement she had as she laid her blocks out on that old fake chenille bedspread in the guest room, the swish of her scissors, and the old quilt frames in the living room taking up all the space...sigh.

What wonderful memories I have of her working on some project: crochet, dolls, needlepoint or crewel. Her favorite, though, seemed to be quilt making. I wonder if it was because it brought back memories of her own childhood when quilts were a necessity AND a reason to be sociable.

She loved nothing better than getting together with the church ladies and quilting (unless it was cooking Sunday dinner for everyone--yum!). If I remember correctly it was always HER idea to do it. "Well, the preacher needs a friendship quilt." or "Their house burned, we need to make them a quilt." Maybe that's my legacy, too? All those ladies are gone to heaven now, but we do have a fresh batch.

Anyway, as I think of the musty old house with the threads on the ancient rug in the back bedroom floor, I smile and I cry. I am thankful and I am sad...I miss her, but she left me with beautiful memories that I will treasure forever. AND, she left me with the notion that it's a good idee to make beautiful memories! I love you, Mawmaw.

link practice...

The Modest Mom

Raising Mighty Arrows

Raising Arrows

I'm not advocating skirt wearing by sharing these links. I wear skirts most of time and that is MY choice. Everyone has a right to choose. I am sharing these links (I hope) because that is what I was reading and I like these blogs and thought you might too. It just depends. :) Be blessed!

Modesty

I have been reading lots of things about modesty on different blogs: The Modest Mom, Raising Arrows and Raising Mighty Arrows (I'm still not sure how to add a link???) and all that reading brought to mind a paper my oldest wrote when she was sixteen. I want to share it with you here. I hope you enjoy it as much as do. She has a lots of quotes from books she's read and those books are all cited at the bottom.


Modesty: What Message Are You Sending?

What is modesty? “[Modesty] is a state of mind or disposition that expresses a
humble estimate of one’s self before God. Modesty, like humility, is the opposite of
boldness or arrogance. It doesn’t seek to draw attention to itself or show off in an
unseemly way. Modesty is an element of Christian character, and our dress should make

the same ‘profession’ that we do” (Jeff Pollard “Christian Modesty and The Public
Undressing of America”pg.19). Regina Franklin in her book titled “Designed by God”
says, “Contrary to what many may think, modesty is not about hiding our bodies because
they are shameful; it’s about covering them because they are valuable. When we dress
modestly we send the message that our bodies are not cheap.”(pg. 45) “As you might
guess, the modesty--or lack thereof--in our hearts is manifested not only in our clothes
but also in our behavior. It is possible for a girl to be dressed irreproachably but to be
shamefully immodest in behavior—by flirting, being loud and boisterous, by attracting
the wrong kind of attention to herself in the wrong way” ( “So Much More” by Anna
Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin pg. 84 & 85). Your self-image when immodest in apparel and
actions can lead to an identity which is not pleasing to God.

You send messages to everybody in the way that you act, look, and dress. Most of us
don’t think about the message we are sending to the one that is most important—Christ.
What is God seeing: modest or immodest heart issues? Are you submitting to His will
and giving Him what He deserves? “God doesn’t expect us to do something that can’t be accomplished. If we are determined to walk in His beauty, He will give us the ability to
be modest…When God cares about something, He doesn’t just tell us what to do, He
enables us to do it. If He cares about modesty, He will provide the wisdom to make godly
choices in what we wear…Remember, modesty is defined by our heart, and the things we
treasure indicate the condition of our heart: ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also’ (Matthew 6:21)” ( Regina Franklin pg. 51).

How does a godly woman dress & interact with others? Paul tells us in 1 Timothy that a
woman is to “adorn [herself] in godly apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (1
Timothy 2:9). “A virtuous woman’s dress must glorify God(Regina Franklin pg.
84)…The theologian Henry Van Til accurately observed that culture is religion
externalized. In the same way that culture is a nation’s religion revealed, clothing is an
individual’s religion revealed (and every person is religious). Clothes make a statement.
They proclaim to people who you are, what you believe, what you are worth, to whom
you belong, what you admire, what you aspire to, what you are for, and whether you are
protected or cheap…We need our own messages to declare exactly the opposite [of the
world’s]—I am loved, I am cherished, I am protected, I am a woman of virtue, I am
submitted to God, I am part of a civilized society, I am worth more than rubies, there is a
part of me that is not to be stared at by strangers because it belongs to my future
husband( pg. 82 & 83)…we are ambassadors of the most High King. For His glory, we
should dress in a way that is worthy of our high calling. Our appearances have to glorify
God, though, and not ourselves.(pg. 87)”(Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin). Therefore, a
godly woman should dress like she is submitted to God and belongs to God.

A godly woman should not only dress modestly but act modestly also. Anna Sofia and
Elizabeth Botkin give this example “A godly daughter is her father’s graceful pillar,
fashioned for a palace (Psalm 144:12). In her daddy’s palace, she is beautifying,
supportive, and hospitable. When outside the walls of her daddy’s palace, she is his
ambassador, representative, and “arrow in the hand of a mighty warrior” (Psalm
127:4&5). Through her countenance, carriage, and demeanor, she leaves the world in no
doubt that she is a girl submitted to her father’s protection, the daughter of a king, a
princess worthy of honor. Amidst a generation of giddy, silly, loud, boisterous,
undignified, clumsy teenaged girls, picture a girl who radiates dignity, regal serenity,
respectfulness, grace, a gentle and quiet voice, poise, discretion, self-command, sincerity,
quality.”(pg. 80 &81)

Modesty is very important in reference to guys. “When a girl dresses in a way that leaves
an unfinished picture, she invites others to think about what they’re not seeing. A bra
strap leads to the bra, the underwear waistband leads to the underwear itself—and both
lead a guy to think about the body parts they’re covering. We can avoid this by making
sure our underwear stays under what we wear—that’s why it’s called underwear”
(Regina Franklin pg.49). “Immodest clothing causes others to be distracted and tempts
them to sin. It’s wrong for us to dress in a way that tempts men to think of us in a way
other than ‘as sisters, with all purity’ (1 Timothy 5:2). Matthew 5:28 warns, ‘But I say
unto you, that whosoever looketh on woman to lust after her committed adultery with her
already in his heart.’ Adultery is a serious sin, and tempting men to commit a serious sin
is seriously wrong. Yes, men are responsible for keeping their own thoughts pure. But
when we do our brothers harm by tempting them to sin, we are sinning against them and
against God” (pg. 85)… “Solomon was the wisest man in the world, Samson was the
strongest man in the world, and David was the most righteous man in the world. But one
thing that was strong enough to defeat them all was the femme fatale, the fatal woman.
We, as women, can wield a very dangerous kind of power, and that kind of power can be
twisted into something very ungodly. Unfortunately, we may enjoy that feeling of power,
and this is a dangerous feeling for us.” (pg.86) ( Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin)

Men say, “Our eyes give us men the means to sin broadly and at will…we have a visual
ignition switch when it comes to viewing the female anatomy. Women seldom
understand this because they aren’t sexually stimulated in the same way…Because women can’t relate, they seldom have little mercy on us and rarely choose to dress
modestly…But visual sexual gratification is no laughing matter in our fight for sexual
purity…Even Christian girls push their wardrobes far beyond modesty, sporting short
shorts, tight t-shirts, and bare midriffs.” (Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike
Yorkey—“Every Young Man’s Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual
Temptation”)

Not only does the way we dress effect men, but also the way that we carry our body. This
is a HUGE stumbling block for men. “Clothes affect behavior. If you wear something
cute, you feel cute; if you wear something comfortable, you feel relaxed, likewise, if you
wear something sexual (even though it may be underwear you don’t intend anyone else to
see), you feel sexual. When we feel sexual, we send off sexual signals. You may not even
intend to act in a teasing way, but clothes that make you feel sexy will cause you to be
more flirtatious than usual or push past boundaries you don’t intend to overstep.”
(Regina Franklin pg. 49). We need to be VERY careful of how we act in front of men.
Bending over with our backside to men, bending over where they might see down our
shirt, walking like you think you’re cute, and running with your breasts bouncing, are all
BIG stumbling blocks for men. You can be covered from head to toe in clothing and still
be sensual and cause a man to stumble.

When you dress immodestly you tear down your wall of protection. “A destroyed
wall brings shame because an exposed city lacks strength and identity. The world tells
you that showing skin makes you beautiful, but it really makes you naked and
vulnerable… Obedience to the Lord is often costly and lonely. At times you may even be
mocked for not looking like everyone else (pg. 53)…When you value God’s opinion above all others, you will begin to see the true beauty of modesty (pg.54)…Finding our
beauty in Christ is like restoring the temple, but the rebuilding doesn’t end there. We still
need a wall of protection. Being a young woman of true beauty requires the protective
wall of modesty. Building a wall of modesty is no easy task, but neither was rebuilding
the wall of Jerusalem (pg.52).” (Regina Franklin).

When you dress immodestly you’re sending messages of rebellion to your parents
(unless, of course your parents don’t have high standards in dress and don’t dress
modestly themselves). “In the same way that [your parents] are responsible in keeping
you from making a foolish vow or commitment, they are to protect your character and
reputation, and to protect you from making a mistake by revealing yourself. If your father
(or mother) is concerned about the way you dress, you are blessed! You have a parent
who loves you enough to want to protect you. We need to ask our fathers to set standards
and make guidelines for us, instead of resisting them or pushing their limits. Because our
fathers are men, they know what other men would find a stumbling block. They also
know how they want their ambassadors to represent them.” (Anna Sofia and Elizabeth
Botkin pg. 91 & 92)

We, as Christians, are witnesses. We are watched by the people around us. We set
an example. We shouldn’t want to set a bad example for the believers and God by the
way we dress. 1 Timothy 4:12 says this, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin have this testimony of a girl in their book, “I can
remember several examples of people talking to me about Christianity before I was
saved. I remember several girls in school who said they were Christian, but who behaved
no differently than any of the other girls in the school. They would dress immodestly, go
out with boys, use bad language and many other bad things. In fact, the only way I knew
they were Christians is because they would occasionally talk about attending church or
activities with their church youth group. Now these girls were exactly like me, they
dressed the same, they talked about the same things, and yet the fact that they were just
like me wasn’t a reason for me to listen to them talking about their religion; it was a
reason for me not to listen to them, precisely because it seemed to me that they were no
different. This religion they were talking about couldn’t be a big deal if its followers
seemed just like everybody else! Besides, why would I listen to ‘advice’ from people
who seemed to act just like me—what could they possibly teach me?” (pg.83 & 84)
What message are we sending to those around us?

What about when we go to the store or anywhere? What message are you sending
to the strangers and/or “perverts” around you? Are you sending the message that you are
protected and you value yourself enough to cover yourself and build a wall of protection?
There are many cases of rape in the world. This is because this is the area where women
are most vulnerable. The men take something away from you that is very special and
meant for only one person. Once that very special gift is taken, we will never be able to
get it back and we will suffer the pain of the experience for the rest of our life. We need
to dress in a way that will keep the men around us from thinking impure thoughts about
us and our body as best as we can. True, there are “dirty old men” out there that will
think things no matter how we dress, but they are responsible for that, not us. “To
become the woman God designed you to be, you must guard the wall of modesty that
protects the temple of your body. Overtime, little things like minor compromises can
weaken your protection. Our bodies were created to worship, not to be worshipped. We
were made in God’s image, and modesty indicates that we recognize our value and our
need for protection” (pg.54 & 53)… “When we value the powerful sexuality that God has
given us, we choose to clothe our bodies enough to cover them. Pants that are too tight
are just as immodest as a skirt that is too short…Remember, we want people to be drawn
toward our hearts as they convey our love for God, not our bodies as they call attention to
our flesh” (pg.48) (Regina Franklin)

It is in a man’s nature to enjoy a woman’s body. I believe God created men this
way so that they might enjoy the wife God gives and “be fruitful and multiply”. We
cannot expect men with loose standards, professing believers or not, to treat us with
respect just because we are women. The culture that we live in has not created many
gentlemen. Television, movies, magazines, fashion and peers all seem to be working to create a generation of crude, disrespectful men. Therefore, we must take responsibility
for our part and dress modestly, and act modestly and graciously as we deal with men of
all types and ages, constantly aware of their “wiring”. But, if they are Christian, have
high standards for themselves because they fear God, and keep a pure heart and mind,
then they have more ability through Christ’s strength to turn their eyes when they see a
woman dressed inappropriately. Job said, “I have made a covenant with mine eyes, why
should I then think upon a maiden?” Job turned his head because he was righteous but he
also reveals something to us here. Apparently there is a definite connection between
what a man sees and what he then thinks. We MUST be responsible in our choices and
make sure that what he sees when he looks at us is not our flesh, but our godly attitude.
HE is then responsible for what he thinks.

What about the message you are sending to yourself? I quoted something earlier
Regina Franklin had in her book, “Clothes affect behavior. If you wear something cute,
you feel cute; if you wear something comfortable, you feel relaxed. Likewise, when you
wear something sexual, you feel sexual.” (pg.49) Do you feel insecure about the way you
look? “What we wear sends a message, and we’re often unaware of what it is. We are so
accustomed to immodesty, we seldom think about it. But we should. If we don’t value our bodies by being modest, neither will others (pg.46)…Putting on an outfit
communicates more than your sense of style; it communicates the condition of your
heart. If our hearts are positioned toward the world, we’ll dress to fit in. But if our hearts
are positioned toward God, we will dress to please Him. Our value is not determined by
what we wear, but what we wear communicates what we think our value is. Pants that
ride too low, shirts that show too much, or clothes that are too clingy send the message
that we think our bodies are not worth protecting (pg. 45 & 46)…Dressing immodestly
indicates that you care more about fitting in with peers than reflecting the image of your
Creator. You put your faith on display whenever you put your clothes on—or take them
off(pg. 51).”( Regina Franklin) Not only are you sending messages to those around you
about what you believe, you’re sending messages to yourself about who you are. Is your
body valued enough by you? “When you value God’s opinion above all others, you will
begin to see the true beauty of modesty…Which do you value more: the approval of the
world or of God? To whom are you more obedient—the world that doesn’t know you or
the God that created and formed you? (pg. 54)...Modesty isn’t just about choosing what
to wear—it’s about knowing who we are: the temple of the living God.” (pg.55)(Regina
Franklin)

Modesty—or a lack of—speaks a message for you to others. What statement are
you making?





Works cited—
“Designed by God” by Regina Franklin

“Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America” by Jeff Pollard

The Bible 

“So Much More” by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse

Toddlers: The Father's Helpers

I wish that I would take the time to write down everything that I learn about myself and the Lord from my little girls.

Just now I gave them some ice cream that was supposed to be a treat yesterday. They have done nothing deserving a treat but I gave them some ice cream anyway, because I love them and wanted them to have it. DD1 says to me, "Ooo, is this for a good girl?" I said, "No, it's because I'M a good girl." BAM!!

Do I have anything because I'm a good girl? No. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, because HE IS GOOD.

Earlier I told her that she needed to put her sippy cup in the sink, please. I walk out, walk back in and she's closing the dishwasher. "I put my sippy cup in the dishwasher," she says so matter of factly. "Take it out and put it in the sink NOW," I say so demandingly. :) "You do not know best. I do." (The lid WAS still on the sippy cup after all.) BAM!! It was as if the Lord spoke to me using my lips. Sigh. In case you missed it, He told me through my own words and thoughts that I sometimes do not obey Him because I think I know BETTER what to do! Oh, me. Just how stupid is that anyway?

I hope that I am through learning from her bad behavior, I really do.

Titus, Our Grandbaby

Our little grandson:

Riding a Mommy airplane:

Our Journey Into Foster Care

I've wanted to share this for a long time and so, now I am sharing. This was a testimony given to the ladies at my church last month. I hope you enjoy it.

As most of you know, our family is a fostering family, and although we have only been a foster family of eleven months, we’ve learned a lot.

I was asked to give my testimony about how this came to be and as I was praying and preparing I realized that I have a lot to say about it and hopefully all of it will glorify my Lord.

I heard a preacher give this example recently, he was referring to a worship leader but I think it applies to anybody that is standing before people wanting to give glory to the Lord. He said, “If you are in any large city where people are walking on the sidewalks and you stop and look up, very soon other people will stop and look up too just trying to see what you’re looking at.” As people who are testifying to God’s goodness in any form, that is our job, to look up and cause others to look up at the glorious Lord who saved us.

Erin and I have talked and prayed about fostering or adopting for years, over ten years. We never felt that the time was right and we never felt that we had been given a green light from the Lord. A few years ago I called the Winn parish office to see about taking some classes. She was going to get us signed up, but she couldn’t find us. We live in one parish but our mailing and physical address is out of another parish address so we were no where to be found in her “system”. We considered the door to be closed to us. However, not long after that, our neighbors began to foster-to-adopt their niece and nephews so I knew that if the state needed to, they could find us--but we waited.

Last year I saw an announcement on the bulletin board in the church corridor advertising a meeting the LBCH was doing. It was all about fostering and adopting and we wanted to go but couldn’t, so I called the Children’s Home and talked to Mrs. S. She was so excited that I had just called out of the blue because they were starting a new program and they hadn’t even advertised that yet. We both felt that the Lord was at work and as soon as I gave her the go ahead she got us scheduled to take the state required classes. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

There are some kids that attend our church that had been on our hearts. There is especially one child that we just want to help, but that desire to help him got us started thinking about all the other children in the state/nation/world that have nobody to love them. And then I read Amos and he really meddled in my business. (Of course, it was the Lord speaking to my heart through Amos, but we know that already.) Here’s what Amos said that knocked me out of my dreamy couch:
“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.” Amos 6:4-6

Because of a lack of time I want to paraphrase this for you, this paraphrase is my own personal lesson: Woe to you who lie around and waste your time on frivolous entertainment, eating and drinking and filling your own belly with the finest things and ornamenting your body with all the best “ornament” and yet are not grieved over the pain of others.

If we are true believers in Christ then we are called to a sacrificial obedience. God’s wrath rests upon all the children of disobedience and Christ came so that we might be freed from the penalty of our sin: God’s wrath. As you know, we don’t become saved because we choose to be saved, we are saved when a miracle takes place in our life and God performs a heart transplant. When that happens, WE are adopted children ourselves; children adopted into His family because of the blood of Jesus Christ. He loves us and chose us to be a part of that family. Once we are adopted, we are empowered by His Holy Spirit to obey His commands and love Him most and our neighbor as ourselves. Well, I want to do that, I yearn to do that, but I can’t do it, only through the Spirit can we make any headway. Scripture tells us repeatedly that there are three groups of people that the Lord wants us to care for: the widows, the poor and the fatherless. Through fostering and adoption we can reach one and sometimes two of these groups. As Christians, we owe a debt of love to the world because of what Christ has done for us.

So, we were scheduled to start MAPP training in June. The teachers try to get you to quit from day one. It’s not that they want you to quit, it’s that they don’t want to waste their time and yours for no reason. There were several people in our class that never turned their paperwork in. (I guess they didn’t have time to count their freckles?) Anyway, we had six weeks of classes on Tuesday nights from 6-9 in Monroe. Lots of nights Erin would drive from Shreveport and meet me in Ruston and we’d get home a little before 11. There was one scene I remember distinctly from the classes. They used lots of visuals and you act out skits, etc. but this was a music video they played. The video showed several families where the children were being abused and this little boy was standing there visibly “heart hurt” while his Daddy screamed ugly things at him, that was bad enough, but then his daddy turned the burner of the stove on and grabbed the little boy’s hand and started to drag him over there. It hurts me now to think about it, but this is the kind of thing that happens all over the world everyday. These are the reasons children are pulled out of their homes. The children are hurt, angry, confused, and wounded in many, many ways and foster parents have to try to put them back together as best they can for the brief time that they have them. Who better to do that than God’s people? Who else is equipped for the task but true believers in Christ? Other people can, if they will, teach the children to function but they can’t offer them any true and lasting hope.


We did spiritual battle the whole six weeks of class. I did battle with my flesh, dying to self. Erin went from a week on/week off job to 80-90 hours a week. My grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, had surgery and started treatment. Erin’s grandmother died and I found out that I was to be a Grandmother myself. I do not mind being honest and telling you that I wanted to quit! I tried to quit. The Lord just would NOT let me.

“But Lord, so many people need me!” I reasoned. However, He knew there were two little girls who needed me more. They had no one else to take care of them. Mamaw had Moma, Catie had Nick and her gift from God of a mother-in-law (and still me), but these girls had not a soul.

We got done with training in July and I was able to take Mamaw to her first treatment while we waited for our home study to be finished. We are licensed by the state but certified to foster by the LBCH. (And let me just put in a little plug for those people. They work with the children that we don’t want to fool with, troubled kids, kids that nobody else can handle. They counsel, they have a mobile crisis pregnancy unit, they have a maternity home, they have two foster homes on campus where they take state kids but the state doesn’t support them, the Children’s Home does. They are good people and I love working with them. They need our support and if we can’t give monetarily, we can always pray for them. They are active and always finding new ways to minister. www.lbch.org )

So, our social worker called us one afternoon at the end of August and said, “Well, I have two little girls here who need a home for about a month or two. Can you do it?” We hopped in the kid wagon and took off to meet her in town.

When we picked them up they were dirty, wet, hungry and had three shoes between the two of them and none of them fit. S0, off we went to Walmart to buy some more clothes (they had brought some and the children’s home had given me some), diapers, hairbrushes, etc.. There we were with two dirty little brown girls the oldest calling Erin “Daddy” already. Here we are 11 months later with the same two little girls. The state has had to take the case and we do not know what the outcome will be, but we know this…we have been forever changed.

This “job” is the hardest thing I have ever had. There were times in those first few weeks that all I could think was, “I QUIT!!!!!” I clung to the words, “only a month or two” like a life preserver I’ll tell ya. I would fall into bed at night hoping for a few hours of rest before one or the other of the girls woke up with night terrors or a lost “pacie”. I would stagger back to bed like a drunk person hoping for some more rest before I had to get up again. I say this NOT so you think, “Oh, poor dear,” but for your consideration. I am actually asking you to consider doing this yourself, or offer support to someone who is doing it.

We think this way, “Well, Christ has called us to life abundant” and He has, but at the same time He has called us to die. We are dead in Christ and yet, we live. The life we live is in Christ and although Meredith wants to read, sew, even milk a goat on a crisp Autumn morning in a flyless barn, the new creature that I am has to be obedient to His call. He is my Master, my Lord, my Father, my King. I have the privilege of serving the King!!! He has asked me to do that by making motherhood my priority and for now, that means mothering children I did not give birth to as well. These little girls have taught me more in 11 months than I could have learned after a lifetime of reading books. This “school” they have brought to me has a great reward system though. I get kisses and hugs, songs and smiles, and I get to hear I wub you, Moma dozens of times a day. They are precious little souls encased in beautiful little brown bodies. They have hearts that are easily broken, and they will spend an eternity somewhere. It’s our PRIVILEGE to point them toward the kingdom of Christ and pray that they will seek Him and find Him because He first sought them.

I would like to close with this parable that the Lord spoke to me about a couple of years ago. When He did, I cried because I had made an idol out of pleasing my flesh—maybe you have to?

“Will anyone of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table?’ Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink?’ Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.’”

I am an unworthy servant, forgiven of terrible offenses against my pure and holy God, I have not yet done what is my duty. I pray God gives me breath and life to do my duty.


http://www.dss.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=211

Hmmm. Long time--no blog. :)

Well, I haven't had the opportunity to blog lately. If you could live with me, you would know why. The phone rings even now....Okay, I'm back. ;)

Our garden "burnt up" and all we were able to harvest was a few delicious cucumbers, very few tomatoes and some squash, but what we had was nice. Due to the generosity of some distant neighbors we had some peas to put in the freezer and also some tomatoes. They sure will be good come this winter--well, actually, they sure were good last night!!

Discouraged...Encouraged

I was on my way to church this morning listening to Kutless. Their song "Taken By Love" was playing and it's a favorite of mine because it speaks for me. There are a few excerpts below.

Until we are "captivated" by Christ and determine that nothing is more important in this life than HIS glory we will not be able to walk as we ought. "He's taken us by love, He's taken us by grace"...what more could we want than a Lover of our Soul, who loves us so deeply, so completely that He would willingly lay down His life for us? His life and His blood is worth so much that it was able to pay for all the sins of the world--big ones and little ones. It has paid for ours if we will believe. Whoa. What a thought. :) Thank you, Lord and Saviour.

In light of His immeasurable love, how can we, His enemies when He died for us, ever grow weary of loving Him back? We must daily appropriate the gospel, Jerry Bridges tells us. I agree, because if we remember daily Who He is and what He has done and is doing then we can also remember who we are and what He alone could do and did for us. We can then pray for the strength that we need to walk in obedience and hopefully, the 'fullness of Christ'.

The question that has been plaguing me is this, are we teaching our kids this? For example, do they understand who they are in relation to Him or do they see Him as a "Bud", a peer, someone to take or leave? Have we shown them from His word that in Him and through Him all things exist? Have we shown them His holiness by looking into the Law? Have we done what we've been commanded to do and taught them to do what they've been commanded to do?

We worry so much about their self-esteem. In my not so humble opinion, they do not have a problem with self-esteem. They seem to like themselves just fine. We need to teach them that they are sinners in need of a Saviour. We need to preach holiness and obedience. We need to show them the truth from scripture. Their very life, eternal life, depends upon it.

These are the ramblings of a discouraged, but encouraged woman. Discouraged because the job seems too big and it seems too late, encouraged because my God never changes and nothing is impossible with Him!!

Tests from 1 John

This lesson was based on a sermon by Paul Washer named "A Sermon That Has Angered Many".

2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John assorted verses

We must test ourselves in light of scripture rather than comparing people to people, we need to look to God for our testing. If we fail the test we must repent and cry out to God until the work is done!

According to some SBC stats, 10-15% of the professing believers are probably actual believers!! That is a sad statistic! Just think in small terms that won't be accurate for a minute, in a church with 100 in attendance, 10-15 of them would actually be following Christ if these numbers are close to correct. (I've heard/read lots of similar stats lately.)

In 1 John 5:13, John tells his readers that the reason he wrote the letter was so that his readers might know that they have eternal life.

We must compare scripture to our "secret life", the life that only we and God know about.

There are some tests in 1 John that we can look at to see if we "know that we know Him". Test number one is found in 1:6: If we say that we are saved but walk in darkness, we are lying. If we harbor or enjoy sin then we are walking in darkness. We all sin because we are still in the flesh, but we shouldn't be enjoying it or having sin as a lifestyle.

2.) 1:8, Are we sensitive to sin or desensitized by the things we allow into our lives? If we push God out we will not be sensitive to sin and if we allow the acceptance of sin, we will not be sensitive. We don't "fall" into sin, we slip into little by little.

3.) 2:3-4 Do we keep the commandments of the Lord? Keep is present tense meaning keep on keeping, or persevere in keeping--a lifestyle.

4.) 2:6 We ought to walk as Jesus walked. How did He walk? In complete obedience to the Father.

5.) 2:9 Do we hate our brother? (brother=believer) We need to love the brethren in a practical way.

6.) 2:15-17 Are we in love with the world? What is the world? Everything that contradicts the attributes of God or the character of God. If we love the things/sins of the world, we love the very things that nailed our Saviour to the cross! Sin is such a big deal. We are saved because Christ bore our sins and all the hatred that God has for sin was poured out upon His only begotten Son. He was crushed for our sins, forsaken by God to pay for our sins; the very things we laugh about and love.

7.) 2:29 Righteousness is everything that conforms to the nature and law of God. Righteousness can and should be reflected in every decision we make and thought we have. As we strive to walk in righteousness we may be called legalistic. Legalism is death:OBEDIENCE is life. We must guard against those who would tell us that nothing is required of the Christian. That goes against scripture after scripture.

8.) 3:3 Purify yourself. What are we doing to purify our lives? We strive after holiness while resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

9.) Whoever has the Son has life. Do we have the Son? Do we love Jesus? What/who do we think about most? Who or what we think about most is usually who or what we worship!

Sometimes people work and trust in their works for salvation, but that is totally wrong. We have no works worthy of Christ, all our righteousness is as filthy rags! However, once we are saved we will work for Christ, through Christ and by His strength. Fruit is the manifestation of the love He has for us and we have for Him because of the love He has for us. James said, Faith without works is dead. So, although we don't believe in a works-based salvation, we do believe in a salvation that produces work!!

May God Bless!!

You Might Want Me to Go Back to Watching TV?

I have pretty much quit watching tv again. There is nothing on television that doesn't glorify some sin and I don't need to watch stuff that glorifies the sin that my Lord hates. I consider that disloyalty to Him. Since I am not watching tv, I've got to do something with my time ...hehehehe. Here I am!!

Hebrews 5:9-14 [Jesus Christ] being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

(This is just ONE of MANY passages that says something like what it says up there in that first sentence...Jesus became the author of salvation to all them that obey Him (Emphasis mine). That sounds so different from, "Jesus became the Savior of whoever said a prayer asking Him into their hearts and He remains that Savior no matter what the person's life choices have been. They are saved because they have been added to our church roll, they must just be backslidden.")

I wonder about the phrase, "dull of hearing". The NIV says, "it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn". It is hard to explain all these amazing things that Jesus has done because you are slow to learn. Is it that we are slow to learn or is it that we don't want to learn? I think it is that we don't want to learn. We don't seem to have any problems learning other things, like football stats and schedules, work related information, which restaurant has the best steak or fries the best catfish, etc. to infinity AND BEYOND!

As a mother who teaches at home I know that my children learn what they are interested in and the rest has to be force fed. They WANT to know about the things that are on their hearts. We have learned about lots of things, but what they like to talk about and meditate on is what is on their hearts. I'm the same way, aren't you?

I think what the writer of Hebrews is saying here is that the things of God and Christ haven't been on their hearts and even the fundamental things really need to be re-taught (next verses). Why was this the case?

Well, he goes on to say that some people aren't even saved!! Chapter six verses one thru three says (my paraphrase) let's move on past these elementary doctrines on to REAL life in Christ. Let's really allow Him to work in us and do some things for His glory!!!

But then, he goes right on to talk about people "falling away" and "produc[ing] thorns and thistles" and the end He has for these. :/ It's like he's saying, "Hmmm, y'all aren't learning and you aren't growing. You don't understand the elementary principles of the faith. Let's get past this if God permits. The problem might be that you aren't truly saved, you heard about Christ and you made a profession of faith but there are no fruits in your life to show that you are truly His. None."
"
Friends, where are we? Are we moving toward maturity or are we "dull of hearing"? It would be wise to ask the Lord to speak on this issue, to our own hearts. If I am "dull of hearing" I better find out why!! Our salvation does NOT depend on one thing that we have done. If we put our faith in a prayer that someone might have even tricked you into praying we are putting our faith in the wrong thing, our works. Salvation is a work of the Lord and our faith is in HIM. We can't know who is saved and who isn't, but examining our own fruit and the fruit of others (especially those in leadership roles) is not sin, it's a command of scripture. We are to examine ourselves and light of scripture and we can know the WE know.

Next post will be more on the subject of testing our faith to see if we are IN the faith at all. And then, if we are, we need to be busy learning how the Lord wants to use us to bring Him glory.

Armor of God

These Sunday School lessons are being posted for MY Tonia!!! (Not because she asked...hehehe (: !!) We miss you.

Ephesians chapter six is probably one of the most familiar chapters in the bible, but I felt that the Lord wanted me to teach it to my tiny class and the youth a couple of weeks ago.

The point I think we need to go home with is this: Be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of His might. Put on GOD'S armor so that you may be able to stand.

1 John 3:8 says that Jesus came into the world to destroy the deeds of the devil, but He won't be doing that completely til the end of all things. That means that we have to do battle IN Christ's armor and strength in this life. If we are not "wrestling", then we are not engaged in battle. Like good soldiers we must remain prepared for battle at all times.

As Christians, our goal is to bring glory to the Father (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11). This is not an easy task, in fact it's an impossible task if we try to do it in our strength. (The Spirit does the work,and we work with Him.) We seem to think that we have no responsibilities as Christians except to avoid the "big stuff". We don't act at all like there are any "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". We think,"it's all good". We are wrong if we think that. We must always remember that there will be battles.

Verses 13-18 give us a clear picture of our call: stand. Stand in the strength and might of God, but STAND. We are told to stand in God's truth, stand in righteousness, stand in the readiness given by the gospel of peace, stand in the faith, and stand in salvation. The only defensive weapon we have is God's word--our sword.

Now, if we were in a battle that is "seen" and we were given armor and told to stand we'd want a weapon. (By the way, standing is the opposite of falling and retreating.) We'd also want to know how to use that weapon effectively. How many of us know how to use the only defensive weapon we've been given? How many of us don't even believe it to be important to know the weapon or believe the weapon can help us? We are told to pray at all times and keep alert with all perseverance, but if we don't have our weapon and all God's armor we won't be able to stand.

We are bombarded by the fiery darts of the enemy daily whether through television, music, books, friends, teachers and even our own flesh (thought life, weaknesses). If we are going to STAND then we must daily put on the armor of God and be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of HIS MIGHT. We must do what He has told us to do. He is our Commander in Chief and He has given us a directive, through Jesus and all the apostles particulary Paul, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:13)

So, prepare for battle through prayer, bible STUDY and submission to Christ and His commands. We wouldn't be very good soldiers if we didn't prepare for battle, would we?

God Bless you as you stand.

Our Family Is Growing

By God's grace our family is growing!! Catie is due on the 19th of THIS month and the doctor told her yesterday that he doesn't really expect her to go over her date much if at all. :) We are all so excited and yet at the same time it seems surreal. My baby is going to have a baby. AH! What happened to the time?

We have two precious little toddlers of "our" own to love and train. It will so exciting for them to have a little baby to love on. They are typical little girls and love the babies. :) I'm sure that they will be jealous too, but they will learn.

Anyway, I am so proud of Catie. She has been very disciplined during her pregnancy and tried to eat healthy foods and take care of herself. Her sweet husband has taken very good care of her as well. :) I told her doctor that she could be an advertisement for pregnancy as she has been so blessed as to not even have been sick!

Please pray for them. They want to do everything as naturally as possible and it is just common practice these days for the doctor to schedule the birth. You really have to stand against the current if you want to wait on your own body to dictate the time. I understand that it helps the doctor and it helps the mother to schedule her "vacation" from work, but it makes it hard for young parents who want to let their body (and the Lord) do the decision making. SO, please pray for strength for them during this time.

Consuming Love

I have had the opportunity to witness up close a couple of romantic courtships recently. I have come to the conclusion that these guys must have been thinking of their "friend" a lot during these courtships because there's a whole lotta talkin' goin' on.

Sidewalk Prophets has a song called You Can Have Me. In it they say, "When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming?" Wow. If you really stop and think about that, isn't that SUCH a good question? (Or two questions...)

If romantic love can consume so much of our time and our thoughts, then certainly the love that we share with our Saviour should consume at least a little time. NoT! He is a jealous God and wants all of us. After all He is our life, it is in Him that we live and move and have our being. !!! What is wrong with the American church? Why isn't this love the driving force in our lives? Shouldn't it be? Yes.

In Ephesians, Paul shared two prayers that he was praying for them. I'd like to put one prayer here:

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the LOVE of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 2:14-21 (emphasis mine)

It sounds like Paul knew something about consuming love and was praying that the Ephesians might know it, too.

In this epistle he is teaching the Ephesians about being IN Christ and about God getting the glory for everything. When our love for our Lord, who saved us from bondage to sin, is not consuming, are we dishonoring Him and His atoning sacrifice?

We may have the answer in Revelation, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." And to the Ephesians He sent this message, "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first."

It is good to read these verses in context...it makes me think, "What ARE we doing?" A CONSUMING love is NOT lukewarm or cold. It moves us to action. What is better than being in love?

A consuming, moving, zealous love, that is what I desire.

A Couple of Quotes to Ponder

"It is more comfortable to have no children than to beget and breed children for the Devil."

"[Children] have an everlasting happiness to attain, and it is that for which you must bring them up. They have an endless misery to escape, and it is that which you must diligently teach them. If you do not teach them to escape the flames of hell, what thanks do they owe you for teaching them to speak and do? If you do not teach them the way to heaven and how they may make sure of their salvation, what thanks do they owe you for teaching them how to get their living a little while in a miserable world? If you do not teach them to know God and how to serve him and be saved, you teach them nothing, or worse than nothing."

These two quotes are from Puritan Richard Baxter

Update...

If you keep up with my infrequent posts you know that my Grandmother has cancer. Today is her birthday and she found out a couple weeks ago that she is in remission. Praising the Lord for this answer to prayer!!

Catie is due the 19th of March and she could be the poster child for pregnancy. She has been so blessed with her pregnancy and we are also praising the LORD for this!!! :) Please continue to pray for them as they start this new journey.

The beautiful girls the Lord has given us to raise for a time are doing well. They have settled in for a long visit.

God's Word is Important

John Piper: "Nothing apart from God himself is more important and powerful than his word."

If this statement by one of my new favorite authors is true, then how can we be so flippant in our treatment of God's word? How can we possibly justify the disregard for certain plain words/commands or the principles it teaches? Yet at the same time we cling to the grace so freely spoken of so we can make it to heaven?

God's word is a special gift that we've been given. In this country we take this gift for granted so often because we have so much of it so available. In other countries, however,the bible is actually outlawed and people risk imprisonment and/or beatings just to own a portion of the Word of God.

I recently read in the Randy Alcorn book, Safely Home (great book!), about a woman in China who so revered the scriptures that she saved the box the bible came in and stored her treasures in it. She valued the BOX that had contained God's word because it had contained God's word!!!

Do we really understand who we are and who God is??? CAN we understand and still treat His word with disrespect? I do not think so. There are accounts in the Old Testament of the Israelites standing all day with their children to listen to the scriptures being read. The LORD commanded Joshua to meditate on His word day and night, the Psalmist in Psalm 1 says the man who does this is blessed. David says over and over in Psalm 119 how he treasures the words of God. In the New Testament, Timothy is told to study the scriptures, bishops are to know the scriptures and use them. Timothy's mother and grandmother were commended for teaching Timothy the scriptures from childhood. We are told that the sword of the Spirit is God's word and that it is quick, powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword--a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart! Quick means living...Jesus is the word made flesh, the Word of life.

Knowing this how can we edit it, manipulate it, change it, cast a shadow over it, etc. to suit our desires or just disregard it altogether in lieu of our own "wisdom"? I don't know which is worse because it is all based in the exaltation of SELF. We have no wisdom apart from Christ, and we have nothing eternal or temporal to offer anyone outside what can be found in God's word. Would we be like Jehoiakim and take a penknife to the word or burn it because we don't like the message? We certainly don't have to literally do these things to have the same effect in our hearts and the hearts of our listeners.

I submit that if we truly understood our utter WOE-fullness then we would agree with what the Lord has to say to the Israelites in Ezekiel 36:31-32, "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations....be ashamed and confounded for your own ways".

If what my all time favorite author says about His own Word is true (and it is) then shouldn't we be treating it with the respect that HIS Word deserves?

I would just like to say "Thank You" to the men out there who would rightly divide the word of truth so that their hearers have opportunity to hear the true gospel. To those who don't, Paul says, May you be accursed.

Hmmm.

I wish you could all hear the two year old say, "Hmmm." She makes me think of Mawmaw. :)(She's sooo cute. They both are.)

When she says that it means she is thinking, of course. Well, I'm thinking, too.

Sigh...

Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "To be truly meek means we no longer protect ourselves, because we see there is nothing worth defending."

The Lord has been trying to teach me lately that our identity is in Him. We have nothing in ourselves that will please Him. If only I could truly focus on Christ and doing all things for His glory.

I think there has been a few seconds of my life when my heart motivations were totally pure before Him and I sought only His glory. :/

An Awesome Book List

If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn
George Muller of Bristol by A. T. Pierson
Slave by John MacArthur
Don't Waster Your Life by John Piper
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
Stand edited by Justin Taylor and John Piper

Also, sermonaudio.com has downloadable sermons, :)

I will be adding to this list, I hope.

My Boys...

It's A Wonderful Life

I guess almost six months ago I thought I'd never say I have a wonderful life again. :) I'm glad I get to say that for the reason that I get to say it.

I have learned SO much about my Lord these last six months it is unreal. I never have time to blog anymore (or the brain power either for that matter!) so maybe I'm repeating myself? I'm not going to check.

I want to share some of what I have learned, maybe you won't like to know it, but I really have to share it.

There is a parable in the bible that I have never liked. Here it is: "But which of you having a servant (slave) plowing and feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? Will he not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luke 17:7-10

I never liked that parable for several reasons: 1.) I'm lazy. B.) I like to be told what a nice job I've done at least sometimes. 3.) In my flesh I don't have a servant's heart. Ah! But I have learned from the LORD (or at least I'm beginning to learn) what an honor and priviledge it is to be allowed to serve Him in whatever way. I don't deserve the title of slave. In Roman times a slave was sometimes looked up to if he was a slave in a rich home (not because of the slave, but the Master!). Oftentimes slaves were well educated and extremely beneficial to their Master. I have nothing to offer and here I am slave to the best Master there ever was or ever will be. I don't deserve to be serving in His household, but He has allowed me to do it anyway because He is gracious. I have learned that the offering of myself is all He wants. He has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise. :D WHAT A PRIVILEDGE TO BE THOUGHT FOOLISH!!!

I guess I will always struggle with some aspects of service/obedience because I am still in this body of flesh, but what a priviledge to be able to serve Him at all. (Romans 7) However, although I believe we'll all struggle, it seems that THE key to being a productive "slave" or "struggler" is to so totally lose yourself in Christ that you can say with Paul, "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" and as it was said of George Muller, "Nothing is more marked in George Muller, to the very day of his death, than this, that he so looked to God and leaned on God that he felt himself to be nothing, and God everything. He sought to be always surrendered as a passive tool to the will and hand of the Master Workman." This surrendering to abide in Christ was also the turning point in Hudson Taylor's ministry. Nothing that we did before conversion and nothing that 'we' do after conversion is acceptable unto the Lord. It is what HE does through us, His chosen vessels. I don't know about you, but that enables me to sleep at night. (Unless I've had an Andes mint right before bed.)

"We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

Prayer Warrior Friends

We have some awesome friends who have supported our family in prayer these last few months and it is mostly for them that I write this post. I love you all! :)

This has been a rough week, we've had several not-too-pleasant episodes around here and post-episode one morning the LORD spoke to me about my attitude. I was alone in the vehicle and as my blood pressure returned to normal I was able to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. He was gentle in His rebuke, but firm. My attitude toward our little foster daughters had become negative.

There are things in my life that are pulling me in other directions: my Grandmother has cancer and isn't able to care for herself, my eldest daughter and her husband are expecting a baby in March, schooling duties, church duties... and the list could go on. As a result, I am having a negative attitude about the ministry that the Lord has called us to with these girls, I lost my perspective (and I got in trouble). :/

I "happen" to be reading a book by the title of "Slave". Hmmm. In it, John MacArthur talks about how the scripture teaches that we are slaves of Christ's. We have been bought with a price. As I try to wrap my mind around this idea, it becomes clear to me that my Master has given me several jobs. One of them is caring for my "new daughters" for as long as they need for me to care for them. What a blessing to have this job to do!! It is not as easy as lying on my couch reading a book or throwing together the newest Rachel Ray recipe, but it is an awesome blessing.

We have the opportunity to touch these lives for, hopefully, eternity. If I'm not Christlike in my approach there will not be any positive results for certain.

I am so thankful that the LORD loves me enough to correct me, and enable me to do what He's asking me to do. I am also thankful that He gave me a support system including you, my praying friends.

Thank you!!! I will continue to need your prayers each day.