My Sacred Calling

 

“Home is the true wife’s kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. The best husband—the truest, the noblest, the gentlest, the richest-hearted—cannot make his home happy if his wife be not, in every reasonable sense, a helpmate to him. Home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home."
~JR Miller

"The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love's lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling."~JR Miller

 

"Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home, into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty, is strong--inspired for noble and victorious living. The children who are brought up in a true home go out trained and equipped for life’s battles and tasks, carrying in their hearts a secret of strength which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world’s severest temptations." ~JR Miller

 

It can be so easy to get bogged down with kids, bills, laundry, meals...and lose the meaning of what it means to be a wife and mother.  Instead of seeing ourselves as cooks, cleaners, errand runners...we need to envision ourselves as  "the light; the joy, the blessing, the inspiration" of our homes. Imagine how homes, families and marriages would be today if women realized the importance of their calling. Sadly, in todays society, being a homemaker is not considered a choice profession.

 



“Much of the world would agree that being a housekeeper is acceptable as long as you are not caring for your own home; treating men with attentive devotion would also be right as long as the man is the boss in the office and not your husband; caring for children would even be deemed heroic service for which presidential awards could be given as long as the children are someone else’s and not your own” ~Dorothy Patterson

 

  Homemaking is often viewed in a negative light, but we need to view our calling through the Light of God's Word.  Where the world sees drudgery, God sees devotion. Where the world sees menial work , God sees ministry. Where the world sees a weak, ignorant servant, God sees a strong, wise woman who delights in her husband and children. 

 

You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, & training them up in God’s fear, & minding the house, & making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts.~Charles Spurgeon

 



As the New Year begins, I want to strive to be a joy and inspiration to my family. To not merely go through a routine, but to delight in doing good things for them. To be a blessing to my husband and children and to create a home overflowing with  prayer, love, joy and peace.

 

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



The Importance of Communication

 

Your communication will reveal the kind of person you really are, because what comes out of your mouth is usually what's in your heart. If you truly desire to exemplify Christ you will seek to become a good communicator. Everything that Jesus Christ communicated was holy, clear, purposeful and timely.~Stuart Scott 

 

We say a lot to those around us by the way we communicate with them. Everything that we say or do is an example to someone: our spouse, our children, our co-workers, unsaved family and friends... What message is it that we are sending? Is it one of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control? Or is it one of hate, anger, bitterness, lewdness, selfishness and strife?

 

Will an unsaved acquaintance walk away from a conversation with you and say "Wow, That person is always so kind, helpful, patient... I want what they've got!" Or will they walk away shaking their head saying, "If that's a Christian, I don't want to be one." 

 

Does your spouse know you will always be there to listen and encourage them? Or do they feel their needs are a bother to you and therefore keep to themselves? Do your children feel free to come to you with their problems? Or do they avoid you because they are afraid of how you will react?  

 

You can't rant and rave to your friend about the slow car in front of you and expect them to see patience; you can't tell a dirty joke to a co-worker and expect them to see goodness; you can't scream at your spouse and expect them to see love and gentleness; you can't fly off the handle and expect your children to learn self-control. When we become good communicators, not only are we setting the right example to those around us, but we, ourselves, are also growing in our relationships with others and our walk with the Lord.

 

A corrupt and unholy heart eventually will be exposed by corrupt and unholy speech... If the tongue is not controlled by God, it is a sure indicator that the heart is not, either.~John MacArthur

 



Finding Time For God

 



Let the first act on waking be to place yourself, your heart, mind, faculties, your whole being, in God's hands. Ask Him to take entire possession of you, to be the Guide of your soul, your Life, your Wisdom, your Strength. He wills that we seek him in all our needs, that we may both know Him truly, and draw closer and closer to Him; and in prayer we gain an invisible force which will triumph over seemingly hopeless difficulties.~Sidney Lear

What are my priorities? This is a question that I have been asking myself lately. My quick answer would be God, my husband, my children...BUT,  is this what my life reflects? If I answer this question honestly, my answer would have to be no. I have great intentions, but I don't always follow through.

Everyone, myself included, is so busy today. We have work, school, the gym, meals to fix, kids to tend to...and the list goes on. Often, we are just too busy to spend time with God. But, quiet time with God  should not be something we have to find time for; it should be the one part of our day that is crucial. A time to worship our Creator, to dwell in His presence; a time that strengthens us, encourages us, and equips us to deal with everything else in our lives that we have to face.

If we want to grow in wisdom and develop godly character, we must exercise our spiritual muscles. We can't eat cake all week, exercise one day a week and expect to be in shape. In the same manner, we can't squeeze God in one day a week and expect to be spiritually fit.

The present benefit of spiritual discipline is a fulfilled, God-blessed, fruitful, and useful life. If you get involved in spiritual gymnastics, the blessings of godliness will carry on into eternity. Although many people spend far more time exercising their bodies than their souls, the excellent servant of Jesus Christ realizes that spiritual discipline is a priority.~John MacArthur

"Love One Another"

 

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."~1 John 4:7-8

There has been a lot of debating lately over what it means to love others. I have spent the last few days praying and searching the Scriptures, and this is what God has placed on my heart to share. I do not write this to condemn anyone, but only to share the truth of God's Word.

What is love? God is love. The only way we can truly show love to our fellow man, is to show God to them. We are to desire the very best for them; a relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot share Christ by tolerating sin; we are to love others so much that we don't want to leave them in their sin.

Our society today has demonized the upholding of morality and Christian values. We are labeled as narrow-minded, discriminatory and hateful. Even among some Christians, there is a movement that teaches tolerance and acceptance of sinful lifestyles is showing love to others. But, what does God's Word say about this?

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."~Romans 12:9-13

We are to hate evil and cling to what is good. We cannot truly love our fellow man and tell them that it's ok to live a sinful life. There are those that use the argument, that Jesus would have been tolerant of their lifestyle, He hung out with sinners. But,  what we must remember is that He came to save them; He did not leave them in their sin. He told them, "Go and sin no more." Do not be deceived by those who say otherwise, the Bible states very clearly that you cannot continue on in sinful lifestyles and  inherit the kingdom of God.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."    ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

We are all sinners, but Jesus came to save us from our sin. When we accept Christ, we are a new creation. We are not bound by that sinful nature. That does not mean that we never sin, but it does mean that we strive to be more Christlike and do not actively pursue a sinful lifestyle. To tell our fellow man that this is ok is not showing them love, but condemning them. 

 It’s bad enough for me to make choices that hurt my own relationship with God. How much more serious is it to be the cause of someone else deciding to sin? Not only must I choose the pathway of holiness for God’s sake and for my own sake; I must also do it for the sake of others.~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

The following excerpt is taken from one of my previous blogs, "Mirror, Mirror...."

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.  
~1 John 2:3-6

This is not to say that Christians are never tempted or that they will not make mistakes, but we are to be "known by our fruits." "Becoming a true Christian results in a life that is dramatically different from the former life."~John Macarthur An apple tree produces apples, an orange tree produces oranges and as a Christian grows and ripens we produce the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. "The Christian does not, cannot habitually and persistently sin. He will sin sometimes. He will sin willfully. But he will not sin habitually, persistently and relentlessly."~John Macarthur

 

I pray that each of you has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

The Sacredness of Marriage

"Marriage is not a human invention, it is the creation of God; it did not originate in the mind of man, but in the mind of God. This being the case, man cannot change the definition or purpose of marriage to suit himself. The redefinition of marriage is the negation of marriage."

~William Einwechter

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.  And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.  And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."~Genesis 2:18-24

"And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

~Matthew 19:4-6

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

~Mark 10:7-9

What does the Bible tell us about marriage?

-Marriage was created by God.

-Marriage is a life-long covenant between one man and one woman.

-The husband and wife are no longer two, but one.

Two men united in marriage remain two men, and two women united in marriage remain two women. However, a husband and wife united in marriage creates something new - a "one flesh" union. This marital oneness reflects the oneness of God, and as the oneness of God creates new life, marital oneness has the potential to create new life via children.

~Kristin J. Tremba

Our society today not only wants to re-define marriage, but wants to label anyone who disagrees as discriminatory or intolerant. But, as Christians, we are called to love others as Jesus loved us. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."~John 15:12-14 What does that really mean? Jesus loved us so much, that he wanted to save us from our sin. Are we loving our children if we let them do anything they want, even if it's wrong? Of course not, we love them so much, that we want to protect them from harm. In the same way, we show love to others by letting them know that Jesus died to save them from their sins. It is not love to approve of or tolerate sin because it makes someone happy. We are to love others so much, that we want to save them from death and destruction.

    

"Be Anxious for Nothing"

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."~Philippians 4:4-7

Each one of us has either dealt with anxiety ourselves, or has a close friend or family member who struggles with it. It is an epidemic; over 3 million Americans use Xanax on a daily basis. 

We think we have to do it all, be it all, handle it all, and we just can't take the pressure. The thing is, we have stopped looking to the One who is in control of it all.

To cope with all the stress we take our medicine, exercise, veg out in front of the tv...But, you know what...we are still stressed!

The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. ~Luke 8:14

As long as we try to control things ourselves, we inhibit spiritual growth. We are "choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity." No amount of medication, relaxation....will break the cycle.

There is only one way to defeat anxiety:

 "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. "~Psalm 55:22

I have found several quotes dealing with anxiety that I have found to be helpful.

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. ~C.H. Spurgeon

 There is no need for two to care, for God to care and the creature too. ~C.H. Spurgeon

 We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious, because He was not “out” to realize His own ideas; He was “out” to realize God’s ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God. Have you been bolstering up that stupid soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God? Put all “supposing” on one side and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God. ~Oswald Chambers

Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God. ~Thomas a Kempis

For some reason, we think of doubt and worry as “small” sins. But when a Christian displays unbelief…or an inability to cope with life, he is saying to the world, “My God cannot be trusted,” and that kind of disrespect makes one guilty of a fundamental error, the heinous sin of dishonoring God. That is no small sin. ~John MacArthur

Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other. ~John MacArthur

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. ~George Muller

Worry is the antithesis of trust. You simply cannot do both. They are mutually exclusive. ~Elisabeth Elliot

It is only when we want to take our lives out of the Father’s hands and have them under our own control that we find ourselves gripped with anxiety. The secret of freedom from anxiety is freedom from ourselves and abandonment of our own plans. But that spirit emerges in our lives only when our minds are filled with the knowledge that our Father can be trusted implicitly to supply everything we need. ~Sinclair Ferguson

The apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians gives them the admonition to be “anxious for nothing,” telling them that the cure for anxiety is found on one’s knees, that it is the peace of God that calms our spirit and dissipates anxiety (Phil. 4:6). ~R.C. Sproul

A Christian’s freedom from anxiety is not due to some guaranteed freedom from trouble, but to the folly of worry...and especially to the confidence that God is our Father, that even permitted suffering is within the orbit of His care. ~John Stott

Every tomorrow has two handles.  We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

Worry is a form of humanistic self-orientation that thinks, “It's up to me to take care of this situation,” and is thus a form of practical atheism, acting as if there is no God to deal with the situation, or that God doesn’t know or care about the situation. ~James Fowler

The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer. We are to pray about everything. Nothing is too big for Him to handle, and nothing is too small to escape His attention. ~Jerry Bridges

Today I purpose to turn everything over to God; to cast my cares upon Him. When we worry over a situation, we are taking it out of God's hands and putting it in our own. That is something I do not want to do. I know I can't handle everything, but I know the One who can. I pray for peace and joy for all of you.

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

  "In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."~1 Peter 3:1-4

What does it really mean to have a gentle and quiet spirit? And, what do I need to do to ensure that I have one? These are the questions that I have been asking myself lately.


According to The 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary, the words gentle and quiet can be defined as follows:

gentle-Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice.

quiet-Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble; mild; meek; contented.


What would my husband say if I asked him how well these definitions define me? Honestly, I know what the answer would be, and it's not the one that I want to hear. No matter how good I may think my intentions are, I know that I don't  always go about things in the right manner.

I want to focus on three things that will help me become the woman described in this verse; attitude, discernment and wisdom.


1) Attitude- My attitude makes a big difference in how my husband responds to me. He needs to come home to a joyful, loving wife. If I am frustrated or have a negative attitude, I come across as nagging or complaing instead of encouraging and edifying.  I need to lift up my husband daily and point out the godly characteristics that I see in him. A husband needs his wifes love and encouragement, not her criticism. I need to focus on serving God, my husband and others instead of trying to make things the way I think they should be. 

    "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus."~ Philippians 2:1-5

 

2) Discernment- I need to discern the right timing and choose the right words when talking to my husband.  

 "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven...A time to be silent and a time to speak."~Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."~Proverbs 15:1 

3)  Wisdom- I need to study the scriptures and pray for God's wisdom.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."~James 1:5

"The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands."~Proverbs 14:1 

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."~Ephesians 5:15-17

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue."~Proverbs 31:26

I pray today that God will help me have the right attitude, use discernment and grow in wisdom in order to cultivate this spirit which is "precious in the sight of God," and a blessing to my husband.

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."~Colossians 3:12-17