Her Dominion

A couple weeks ago I started this book. A dear sister in Christ recommended it to me. I have been truly blessed and inspired by it. Here is an excert I read last night that really "wowed" me:

"The mother is the hub of the home, holding all the spokes in place. Without her being at the post, the family spins out of control and falls apart. When her husband hears the predawn alarm clock, she knows he's emotionally emboldened by her tenderly squeezing his arm in appreciation.

From then on, she's the nucleus of the day's family activity. She needs to nurse feed one, rouse out of bed another, review a spelling list with yet another, change a diaper, prepare a breakfast, pray God's blessing on the day, tie shoes, write out a check for a class trip, pack a lunch, check on progress regarding an upcoming book report, read and comment on a verse from Proverbs, discuss a peer conflict while chauffeuring to school, pick up Dad's suit at the dry cleaners, shop for groceries and household items at the store, sign up for soccer at the Recreational Department, read a story before putting one down for a nap, teach one phonics sounds and letters, make beds and clean up the kitchen, show how to sweep properly, search the internet for good pictures of frogs, deal with a lying problem by spanking, talking, and praying, and prepare lunch.

That's just the morning.

Then in the afternoon, she's called to teach lyrics of a song about a pirate named Patch, take a field trip to the park down the street, talk about sharing apple slices with others, explain to her child why he's not permitted to throw tantrums like the others in the park, catch and analyze a grasshopper's physiological structure and functions, return home for a naptime preceded by a storybook, sit down for personal devotions and prayer, call an appliance repairman about a strange sounding washing machine, drive to school and talk with a teacher about a child's performance in math class, talk about the day on the drive home, purchase a well-fitting pair of soccer cleats, assign and supervise the weeding of the flower garden, give out popsicles to the handful of neighborhood children playing in the yard, prepare dinner, embrace her husband and briefly share mutal experiences of the day, enjoy a nutritional supper and discussion together as a family, sit and listen to her husband lead in family worship, direct the clean-up after dinner, help with math homework, bake a batch of sweet-smelling chocolate chip cookies, wash bodies in the bathtub while singing about a pirate and a Savior, rock a little one in a chair, rub a back in bed while giving advice about an argument that took place during recess, pay bills on the internet, wash, fold, and iron shirts, counsel her husband about a relational conflict at work, and enjoy her husband rubbing her arm in bed.

With this, I've just skimmed the surface of her day. Remove the hub of her tireless labors, and her family flies apart, her husband is a frazzled wreck, and her childrenare greatly diminshed individuals." ~Mark Chanski~

This is a woman's dominion! God has called her to rule over her home and children. What a privilege!! Why don't woman see this?!?!?

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and praiseth her." ~Proverbs 31:27-28~

Take It To the Lord!

As I was going through a difficult time last week, a person very dear to my heart encouraged me with this hymn. I was reminded again of how often we fret and worry about something when instead we should be approaching the throne of grace and taking it ALL to the Lord in prayer.

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."


"Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged: take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness-take it to the Lord in prayer!"


"Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge- take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there."

~Joseph Scriven c. 1855~

Happy Thanksgiving!!

"We thank you all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms, hath blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today."

"O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills in this world and the next."

"All praise and thanks to God, the Father, now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven,
The One Eternal God whom earth and heav'n adore;
For thus it was is now, and shall be evermore."

~Johann Cruger, 1647~

Oswego-8, Morrisville-1.....WE WON!!!!

This past Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to attend my first hockey game! I will admitt I was a bit unsure about the entire thing, but because I was going with my "special someone" I thought I would give it a wirl. College hockey is VERY civil!! I had soooooo much fun and can't wait to go again someday!! Here are a few pictures:

The student section. At least two of them were sain! Can you spot Kevin and Matt? (if you know them!)

Preparing the ice.


My wondeful boy and I!!



The refs coming onto the ice. They have alot more courage than I ever imagined!!

The Lakers!!! (our team!!) Woohoo!!

The Mustangs. Boooo.....

The goalies.

This dude was amazing!!

Whizzing around on the ice. They go so fast!! They can't even be thinking about skating. It has to be a second nature for them!

Saluting both the American and Canadian flags. Most of the Lakers' players are from Canada. Their national anthem is beautiful.

They were aloud to shove each other around and into the wall, but the weren't aloud to trip each other with their sticks. I did see one case of that, though! It was sooo funny!!

Push, shove, push, shove, push, shove.....

We WIN!!!!!!

This poor kitty being brainwashed! Whether he knows it or not he IS a Lakers' fan!!

The evening was definitely one to remember! And no, I don't want to take up hockey, although it does look really fun, doesn't it?!?!? :)

Chaste

" To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." ~Titus 2:5~

Chaste: 1. Pure from sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent. 2. Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest. 3. Pure in design or expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined.

Yesterday I heard a sermon on this verse, and this word and its definition seemed to pop out at me. The one preaching brought to attention that the young woman who is chaste is deemed a stranger in this world, but in the same breath she is respected for her character and worth. She is not wimpy, yet she has a meek and quiet spirit.

All of you young women who are reading this, and young men, too, are you looked upon as strangers in this world for being chaste? If so, you are pleasing God!! This brings Him delight. The world may be frowning, but He is smiling.

I experienced one of the greatest joys yesterday evening. I had a young man (you all know who he is!) tell me he loved me because I was not like the girls of this world, because I was chaste and considered weird and out of place in this world. Although he didn't use all of these exact words, that is what he meant. I thought I was going to cry!

It as all totally worth it!! You may think others don't notice. They do! Even more importantly, God notices. Remember...

" Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised." ~Proverbs 31:30~

My Chains Fell Off

And can it be that I should gain an int'rest in the Saviour's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him, to death persued?
Amazing love! How can it be that Thou my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis myst'ry all! Th' Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above (so free, so infinite His grace!)
Humbled Himself because of love, and bled for all His chosen race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eyes diffused, a quick'ning ray. I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head, an clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

~Charles Wesley~

Don't Open Your Mouth!

One of our patients brought this into work. He said he spotted it while waiting for a truck to be unloaded where he works. He was, I think, getting impatient and when he saw this he burst out laughing. He just had to have a copy of it.

(I didn't burst out laughing when I read this. Instead, I was quite convicted!)

When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

1. In the heat of anger.

"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishy: and a man of wicked devices is hated." ~Proverbs 14:17~

2. When you don't have all the facts.

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." ~Proverbs 18:13

3. When you haven't verified the story.

"At the mouth of two witmesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death." ~Deuteronomy 17:6~

4. If your words will offend a weaker brother.

"And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?" ~1 Corinthians8:11

5. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your family and friends.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: WHO DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH: Who, when reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. ~1 Peter 2:21-23~

6. When you are tempted to make light of holy things.

"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few." ~Ecclesiastes 5:2~

7. When you are tempted to joke about sin.

"Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour." ~Proverbs 14:9~

8. If you would be ashamed of your words later.

"All the words of my mouth are in righteousness: there is nothing froward or perverse in them." ~Proverbs 8:8~

9. If your words would convey the wrong impression.

"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." ~Proverbs 17:27~

10. If the issue is none of your business.

"The heart knoweth his own bitterness: and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy." ~Proverbs 14:10~

11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie.

"Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee." ~Proverbs 4:24~

12. If your words will damage someone's repuation.

"An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire." ~Proverbs 16:27~

13. If your words will damage a friendship.

"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends." ~Proverbs 16:28~

14. When you are feeling critical.

"Therewith bless we God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God." ~James 3:9~

15. If you can't speak without yelling.

"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." ~Proverbs25:28~

16. When it is time to listen.

"A wise man heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not a rebuke." ~Proverbs 13:1~

17. If you may have to eat your words later.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." ~Proverbs 18:21~

18. If you have already said more than one time (then it becomes nagging).

"A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping." ~Proverbs 19:13~

19.When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person.

"He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him." ~Proverbs 24:24~

20. When you are supposed to be working instead.

"In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." ~Proverbs 14:23

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from trouble." ~Proverbs 21:23~