"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

Oh to be a virtuous wife! I know what she looks like, how she speaks, how she loves her husband, and yet, reaching through the ages, I can still feel the kindred curse of Eve's desire to control...to know better than God, and lead her husband.

Labels: Christianity, Conservative, Courtship, Encouragement, marriage

Thanks be to God: the Gospel does not allow us to live divided lives. Our education, our careers, our relationships, and our worship are all bound up together in our calling to submit to the Lordship of Christ—that is, our calling to live as Christians. These six talks by Pastor Wilson encourage us to strive after a Gospel-filled life, always seeking to embody the doctrines and beliefs we confess.

This set includes:

- Education that's Christian All the Way Down
- God and Everything Else
- What Is a Christian Worldview?
- Christ and Your Calling
- The Integrated Life
- What Worship Is; What Worship Does

For your free MP3 downloads visit Canon Press. I do not know how long these will be available so hurry!

Labels: Christianity, Conservative, Encouragement, Family, Homeschooling, worship

Do you ever feel discouraged? How about questions of where you fit in with the homeschool world? Do you know how to plan a school day? This book can help you.

My dear friend, Valerie, has come out with NEW book entitled "Homeschooling With Encouragement".

This little 36 page e-book ( 64 page printed book) is packed full of encouragement, but kept simple while covering the topics that seem to overwhelm us during those first three years of homeschooling. Valerie wanted to give this book the feeling that she was having a personal conversation with you, walking you through the "bumps in the road" every homeschool mom comes across. Here are the points covered in the book.

1. What is a Homeschool Approach (traditional, eclectic, hebraic, classical, etc)
   
2. How to Create a School Schedule (180 school year schedule)
   
3. How to Constructing a School Day (sorting through curriculum)
   
4. Fighting the Social Stigma
5. How to Evaluate Your Progress as a Homeschool Family
   
6. A Plan to Action for the New Year
   
7. How to Avoid Homeschool Burnout
8. How to Jump Start Your Homeschool Routine

Valerie's heart is to encourage the homeschool family and I think she does just that through this book.

This book is soon to be released in stores online so if you want a discounted copy you better hurry! Visit Weblink Education to get your copy now!

Labels: Encouragement, Homeschooling

Since starting the Quiverfull blogroll several months ago, several ladies on the roll and myself included have been under spiritual attack of one sort or another. Sadly, some of these attacks have even come from within the Christian community. I had several commenters wanting me to "stretch" my convictions to cover what they felt comfortable with or to "not be so rigid." Through prayer and council with my husband and the other ladies on the blogroll I have been encouraged to stand firm. I consider others opinions and weight them against the scripture and consider them with prayer and obey the voice of the Lord concerning these issues. I had at one point even come to the place of wondering if I should just dismantle my efforts in building this ministry. I do consider it a ministry. It is a ministry for like-minded believers. God has also shown me that this is a ministry because we have had so many occasions to support and lift each other up in prayer. We have had several members go through the loss of a child (before and after birth) and several who have lost their husbands to affairs. This has been a heartbreaking and unforeseen result. I am saddened and privileged to be able to support the others on this blogroll in prayer. I ask that if you would to please pray for those on the Quiverfull blogroll. That they would hold fast to the great calling God has placed upon their lives to bring honor and glory to Him alone. That God would strengthen them and bring comfort and healing to those who are hurting. That God would grant us wisdom as we support, pray for, advise, and minister to each other.

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Quiverfull

As mothers there is so much that we do. Often times when we allow ourselves to become discouraged we wonder if anyone notices or if we are making a difference. I would like to encourage you to continue on and refocus during those times when you might feel invisible or unappreciated.

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Homeschooling, Train Up a Child, Videos

"Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is placed in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse into the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into it's soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her."

---JR Miller, a preacher from the 19th century, from the book Homemaking

Labels: children, Encouragement, Quiverfull, Train Up a Child

I Corinthians 10:13b
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This verse is so very often taken out of context and used to the discouragement of those who are struggling and suffering. How many times have you heard someone say, "God will not give you more than you can handle?" Maybe you have even said it yourself, I know I often said this when I was a young Christian. The fact is that sometimes we do have more than we can handle! This verse is the one often referenced when people make that statement. But LOOK at what it really says! It says the Lord will not let us be TEMPTED beyond our ability. It does not speak to circumstances of life, it speaks to temptation. Sometimes our circumstances are more than we can handle. What a discouragement to tell someone in the midst of overwhelming circumstances that they CAN handle it. There are things that are too much for us but nothing is too much for our great God!

So then when in these overwhelming circumstances what temptations arise? We are often tempted to become angry with God, grow bitter, give up, curse others. But these sinful temptations are not more than we are able to overcome. God provides a way of escape. That escape is God himself. Rather than indulging in the temptations of wrong responses we can cry out to the Lord of Creation and he will help. Often times God allows circumstances beyond our ability to bring us to a place of greater dependence upon him rather than relying on ourselves, others, or our societal system.

When in overwhelming circumstances ourselves or when we see someone drowning in their circumstances. Rather than using the phrase, "God doesn't give us more than we can handle," deceiving and discouraging them or or ourselves, we should be saying, "Cry out to the Lord for strength to endure and a possible rescue! Cry out to God! He alone is our rock, our refuge, our strength, our shield, our hope and our salvation! Praise be to God! May he be glorified!"

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, hope

Today I was sitting and talking with my 6 year old and 4 year old. I was explaining how the baby in my tummy gets food, drink, and breathes. I continued to tell them how we need plants to live, you know the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. I continued by asking them, "Isn't it amazing how God made everything to work?" My 4 year old, shown in the photo, piped up and matter of factly said, "It's for God's honor!"

This is just a glimpse that the love of the Lord is growing within her and our teachings are being rooted in her heart. Even at 4 years old, she knows the chief end of man and of all creation; to glorify God!!

Thank you Lord for such a rich blessing!!

Labels: children, Christianity, Encouragement, Give Thanks, Homeschooling, Preschoolers, Train Up a Child

John 20:31
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Words: Fanny Crosby (1873)

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Saturday Psalm and Praise

I have been honored to be selected to display the Fruit of the Spirit graphic on my blog and I will strive to continue to live up to what it represents.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote about the fruit of the Spirit ~ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Fruit of the Spirit graphic was developed in an effort to recognize bloggers whose writings and postings in the blogosphere give us a glimpse of this fruit in their lives.

There are many blogger and non-bloggers alike who have agreed to partner together in recognizing and honoring those whose writings, postings and lives exemplify how God works in and through His people. When we recognize Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit resides within us. It is the Holy Spirit who produces fruit in our lives ~ but He has also given us the honor and the duty of recognizing the fruit in other believers.

I welcome your help in spreading this "blessing" thoughout the blogosphere. If there's a particular blog you believe reflects the fruit of the Spirit, please email Trish containing a link to that blog. Also, please include a sentence or two regarding your thoughts as to why/how that particular blog reflects the fruit of the Spirit.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

Labels: Awards, Encouragement, Fruit of the Spirit

In this life many trials and temptations will come. Some of these come as a result to our sin, but not all. They are to teach us, stretch us, and grow us. We are often attacked by the evil one; he will even use other Christians to do his bidding. When going through trials and temptations we must also check our lives in light of the Word to know if it is because of our own sin. If this is so we must repent. We need to seek to see God glorified in all situations in our lives.

While I have gone through many trials in the last year I have been learning that God does not want me to be defeated. Living as one who seeks to be humble does not mean being one who has been so humiliated that they are frozen. That does not bring glory to God. Now my husband and I are self-evaluating people. We look at ourselves, scripture, and with prayer seek the guidance of the Lord concerning when to repent and to grow into Christ's likeness. This definitely does not mean that we do not sin. We do, in fact, I think we see more of our sin this way because we are opening ourselves to the ever-exposing light of Christ.

It can be difficult however not to cross the line between being humbled by the Lord and being discouraged by the evil one. Each time we repent it should be a humbling experience. In repentance we acknowledge in full our place before the Lord. We are a fallen creature before a holy God. Thankfully, He is also loving, gracious, and merciful to His children, those who believe. We must also not let the lies of the evil one to distract us from the fact that even in our weakest moments, we as believers are children of the King. We are called to be humble and there is honor in that humility. This seems contradictory doesn't it? The key is to use that honor to keep the evil one at bay and to be encouraged but to not hold that honor as our own (thus defeating our humility & becoming prideful of our then false humility) but to lay that honor at the feet of Jesus!

I had such an experience recently. I was allowing the lies of the evil one to take over. I was feeling as if my failings had given others cause to throw my past in my face and exclaim that I was indeed the trash from the wrong side of the tracks that they had always thought me to be. I was discouraged and frozen in my effectiveness for Christ. I cried and shared this with my husband. One of my teenage daughters overhearing went and wrote me a letter. Using scripture she reminded me of the honor Christ had bestowed upon me. She said that she did not care where I had come from or what I had done in the past but she was thankful that I was her mother. She shared that she wished to be like me. That she saw me as a godly woman! She quoted scriptures displaying godly character that she thought applied to me. She closed it with this verse.

Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

What an encouragement she was to me, what an encouragement she continues to be! All I could say was thank you Lord! I know that I am nothing apart from God. All that I have ever or will ever accomplish for good is because of Christ! I am so thankful for the husband and the children he has blessed me with. They are a gift to me from the Lord which causes me to rely more and more upon the Him. They give me cause to praise and thank him each and every day for his abundant blessings. To God be the glory!

Labels: Blogging, Christianity, Encouragement, Prayer, Train Up a Child

Today I am posting on two other sites. Stop by and check them out. Leave me a comment so I know you were there; it is always great when others add to the discussion!

The Heart of the Matter Homeschool Magazine March issue is up and running. There are a lot of wonderful homeschooling articles. This month in my column Ducks in a Row, I write about five ways to make school run more smoothly.

Come on by and see how we organize our homeschool....HERE...






Over at The Well Drained Mind I write about struggling with the "perfect homeschooler syndrome" and how the Lord gives us little glimpses to encourage us as we teach our children.

Head on over and read about my Boggle Blessing.

Labels: Blogging, Encouragement, Heart of the Matter, Homeschooling, Learning Disabilities, Well Drained Mind

Labels: Conservative, Encouragement, Family, Homeschooling, Well Drained Mind

Being a stay at home mother, wife, and homeschooler can be a challenging position. Those on the outside tend to make comments and give nasty looks. I have experienced this many times. We are often made to feel as if we are wasting our lives and not making anything of ourselves. To be honest there are times at home when I will feel unappreciated. Thankfully, these times are rare!Often times in my household, it is usually because I am having a bad day and am reading to much into the actions and words of my family than is really there. I realize this is what I have caused myself to feel. I have let the voice of the world in rather than dwelling on the call and command of God. I found this quote from Martin Luther and think it is one of great encouragement. I hope it is to you as well.

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. —Martin Luther

Labels: Encouragement, Family, Quiverfull, Quotes, Weekend Kindness

There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin sick soul.

Some times I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin sick soul.

If you can’t preach like Peter, If you can’t pray like Paul,
Just tell the love of Jesus, And say He died for all.

There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead To heal the sin sick soul.

To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.

Labels: Encouragement, Saturday Psalm and Praise

"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."
~ Psalm 34:7

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."
~ Psalm 32:7


"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
~ James 1:5

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" ~ Ephesians 1:17


"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:7

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." ~ Isaiah 26:3


"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." ~ Psalm 46:1

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots,
and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee,
which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."
~ Deuteronomy 20:1


"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might
by his Spirit in the inner man" ~ Ephesians 3:16

"With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him." ~ Psalm 89:21


"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
~ 2 Timothy 1:7


"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings"
Psalm 17:8

"And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee,
and thou shalt take thy rest in safety."
Job 11:18


"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them
the abundance of peace and truth."
Jeremiah 33:6


"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." ~ Joshua 1:9

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight."
1 Chronicles 19:13


"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
~ Philippians 2:3-4

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another"
Romans 12:10


"... Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness
have I drawn thee." ~ Jeremiah 31:3

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us"
~ Ephesians 2:4


"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." ~ 1 Peter 5:7

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer
the righteous to be moved." ~ Psalm 55:22


"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
~ Matthew 11:28-29


"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."
~ Psalm 4:8

"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." ~ Proverbs 3:24


"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous"
~ 1 Peter 3:8

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus"
~ Romans 15:5


"And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people."
~ Leviticus 26:12

"...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
~ Matthew 28:20


"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
~ Isaiah 54:13

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation."
~ Psalm 68:5


"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
~ Isaiah 40:11


"Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield."
~ Psalm 33:20

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."
~ Psalm 62:5


"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
~ Psalm 32:8

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him:
for they know his voice." ~ John 10:4


"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men"
~ Colossians 3:23

"Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men"
~ Ephesians 6:6


"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
~ 1 Corinthians 10:13


"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment"
~ Philippians 1:9

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
~ Hebrews 5:14


"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
~ Psalm 121:7-8


"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
~ Psalm 42:5

"The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."
~ Lamentations 3:24


"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."
~ 2 Thessalonians 3:3

"The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth:
and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies."
~ Psalm 41:2


"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
~ Proverbs 11:25

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11


"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." ~ Jeremiah 33:3

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." ~ Psalm 55:17


"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me."
~ Psalm 31:15

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence."
~ Psalm 91:3


"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." ~ Psalm 34:7


"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." ~ Galatians 6:9

"But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing."
~ 2 Thessalonians 3:13

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
~ James 516b

Used with permission from: HsKubes' Haven at Home

Labels: Christianity, Conservative, Encouragement, Military, Prayer

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Nature, Wordless Wednesday

O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight. Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice. For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter, multiplied thy promises, shown me my future happiness, given me a living fountain. Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy; I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of. Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy, at my work, business, duties. If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning. Let me rest in the thought of thy love, pardon for sin, my title to heaven, my future unspotted state. I am an unworthy recipient of thy grace. I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love, but can in repentance draw water from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness. Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath, where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification is finished and perfected for ever, where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy. There is no joy like the joy of heaven, for in that state are no divisions, unchristian quarrels, contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold, sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toil of duty. O healthful place where none are sick! O happy land where all are kings! O holy assembly where all are priests! How free a state where none are servants except to thee! Bring me speedily to the land of joy.

From: The Valley of Vision; a Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions.

This meme was started on the Heart of Wisdom blog.

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Fruit of the Spirit, Prayer, Valley of Vision

I cannot take credit for the following. It was written in a Christmas newsletter from one of my husband's former seminary professors, Don Whitney. It speaks a great truth and I wanted to share it with you all today!

Psalm 42:1-2
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

My soul does pant and thirst for God. But I must admit that every day—many times every day—my soul pants and thirsts for other things, too. Even though some of these desires are for good things, frankly, many of the thirsts of my soul are sinful thirsts.

Sometimes my desires for sinful things are very strong. Occasionally in such times, I am tempted to wonder how much true grace I have received. But I know this: I genuinely do thirst for God. To my shame, I also thirst for sinful things sometimes, but I do thirst for God.

When I thirst deeply for God, I often tell Him that I wish I never thirsted for sin. The Lord knows that I long for the day when He will totally sanctify me, so thoroughly renew my heart and mind that I'm never tempted by sin again.

But the fresh insight into this passage which brought me a joyful sense of assurance was this: when I am thirsting for sinful things, I never wish that I didn't know God. Do you see the contrast? I thirst for God, and often in the thrill of that thirst I wish I never had sinful thirsts. But in the midst of my sinful thirsts, I never wish I had no thirst for God.

Let me state it another way. When experiencing my primary thirst (i.e., thirst for God), I often despise my secondary (i.e., sinful) thirsts and wish they were obliterated. But never in my secondary thirsts do I want to eliminate my primary thirst.

I believe this is the experience of a Christian. I believe this is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is an illustration of how "the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" (Gal. 5:17). In both the genuine thirsting for God and the predominance of thirsting for God over any other thirst—there is evidence of salvation. God be praised!

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement