Total Pageviews

Saturday 31 January 2015

Dirty Washing Poem

Dirty washing is a chore.
All that washing on the floor.
Skid marked pants and blackened socks.
Shall I chance the weathered crocs?

Pop it in the tub with nuts.
No, I don't want any buts.
Watch it dance, watch it swirl.
Then it does its final whirl.

Hang it on the line and sniff.
Nope, not a single, smelly whiff.
Lavender, and scents galore,
the warming sun.
Ah, back for more!!

Saturday 24 January 2015

Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good

''Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,'' is the Bible verse for this month's calendar, and reminds me that God is always good, all of the time. We should be thankful.
Thankfulness has been lost in today's society, rather more a, 'what can I get?' attitude.
Many say How can a loving God send people to hell, or how can a loving God do this to me, or allow that? The fact is, God doesn't send anyone to hell. He is not willing that any perish. (2pet 3:9) we are on an automatic ticket to hell for rejecting God. He is a holy God, and that is why Jesus died, becoming an advocate, and taking the due reward which WE deserved. Sin came into the world through Adam, and corrupted mankind. The only remedy is repentance and faith in Christ. Bad things happen to everyone, it is part of nature, however, if we are Christians, all things will work together for good,even if they seem bad at the time unless of course we being sinful, then the Lord WILL correct us. That gives us a cause to rejoice, even trials. Without trials, we would stagnate. Trials work by exercising spiritual muscle, and you know what happens to muscles that are neglected. They become flabby, and weak. There is a danger of them becoming absolutely useless, unless they are in use.

This month, I am thankful for a new study Bible, it is the Reformation Heritage Study Bible KJV.(the Joel Beeke one) What is great about it, is it isn't just a good bible to read, and study, every chapter has a reflection for personal, and family devotions. Hence making it very valuable in using with the children. I have started reading through the whole Bible with them. It may take some time though! However, a great start. The more difficult words are explained in the footnotes, and there is a complete section on church history, creeds, and confessions, including the 1689 Baptist confession of faith, which we adhere to. All in all an excellent tool.

Saturday 17 January 2015

Attitude!

One of the worst things you can probably say to a mum of many, or any mum for that matter, is, ''How do you cope?!''
For one, it implies that babies, or children in general are some sort of punishment, and of course it must be a punishment if you choose to have many!
There are so many negative images regarding mothers, and mothers of young children especially. However, just when you think you have got past that, it is, ''Oooh, enjoy them now, you wait till they are teenagers!'' Leaves you wondering, just what horror can they be talking about. Not exactly encouraging. Though, as the mum of 5 teenagers, I can say, actually they are probably a bit easier now than they were when younger. Remember, no one has perfect children.
Changing our attitudes is a big thing. There is nothing negative in the Bible about children. Everything is positive. Abraham was promised a son as a blessing, ''Happy is the man who has his quiverful.'' Jesus said, ''Suffer the children to come unto me.''
We are told by so called marriage gurus, that we are to have time away from our children, or our marriage, won't survive. When our children are gone, we will somehow not be able to connect with our spouse. Nonsense! Marriage usually involves children, and marriage is about the family, working together to serve each other. Only when we become selfless, and put others' needs before ours, will we realise this. I am a great advocate for teamwork, and families are a team. We need to all learn to work together. Now, my children often find that a certain character trait in a sibling really annoys them. However, they can't run away from it, they have to deal with it. That helps them in later life. I have had so many people who were from larger families tell me just that. Who says home educators never deal with conflict resolution?
Another issue is churches. Too often they split families up. Segregating for creches, and sunday schools in morning services. I am an advocate for keeping the family together, and I really don't believe other people should miss the service to look after/teach my children. I am not saying Sunday school is a bad thing, but I think it has its place. It is the duty of Christian parents to teach their children, not the church. Originally, it was intended for children of unsaved parents. It should be God first, family second, and church last. Always! What good is a pastor, if he neglects his own wife and children in the process of tending the flock?
Back to attitudes, how about, ''Wow, what a blessing!'' Something positive, instead of something negative. Always, always better to say something positive to someone, especially when there is no need for negativity. ''Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.'' proverbs 17:24

Saturday 3 January 2015

My Review of Mary Pride's, 'The Way Home' 25th Anniversary Edition

Excellent. Mary Pride examines the role of women in Titus, and gives a biblical argument, as to why women should be workers at home. Workers at home incorporates the nurture, and education of children. She says charity begins with our families, and nothing less. Also, care for the elderly, hospitality, etc, and all as laid out in the Bible.
She dissects the idea of 'biblical feminism', and the equality movement, (which is even more prevalent, since she wrote this book.) She warns us not to go the way of popular humanism, and follow the world.
In this book she discusses marriage, too, and attacks the ''intimate marriage'' movement of books which is so popular. She calls it;''a watered down version of the original sex manuals.'' She gives much to think about here, in our craving counselling culture. Marriage, she says, should be God centred, not man centred.
She discusses family planning, and runs through the abortive forms of birth control, and gives her arguments, as to why we should trust God, and dispels the fear argument. In fact, she challenges our whole view of children, and goes on to say;''Women who push for careers are the most negative about children.''
She mentions Deut 6:4-7 as being the only basis for shaping children's values. ( Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.)
She gives the examples of Jonathan Edwards, Matthew Henry, how godly parents were a great influence on them.
The danger of socialism, and how it seeks to take over the family's functions.
I don't agree with everything she states, and she can come across as a little too dogmatic at times. However, there is much food for thought. I believe every woman should read this, and pray about the issues it raises. Sadly her reason given for writing the book is that there were no godly women teaching her. I can concur, even now, 25 years on there is still a great lack of teaching on this area, and instead, especially in my experience, older women in the churches are too quick to encourage young women to embrace the Godless values of the world.
There is an additional section, which she has written since, to ''update'' the book. She clearly distances herself from any association with The Patriarchy movement. She says she had no idea, that she would be implicated with that and the popularity of ''quiverful.'' She dissects the unbiblical notions of patriarchy by saying that God is in charge, not the father, and it is not biblical for fathers to micro manage every aspect of their wives lives. Also the idea of dating daughters as disturbing. I have to say, I totally agree, and I thought she put it well.

Thursday 1 January 2015

New Year. How Can I do Better?

I am sure time travels superfast when you get older. It seems it is easier to waste time, too. You may think resolutions are meaningless, as they are there to break, right? Well, the answer to that, is they shouldn't. I am using the new year to see how we can improve. I am sure there is plenty that can be done better, and less time wasting.
So, I am going to share my goals for 2015:
1) I am going to spend less time on time wasting internet sites. I don't get notifications on my phone, or tablet, for the simple reason, when doing business tasks, and essential tasks it can be a big distraction, and before you know it, you have wasted time meant to be working!

2) I am going to work hard to make my home business more productive, and seek out new things.

3) I am going to spend more time with the children, actually ''playing'' with them.

4) I am going to create, and make new recipes, so I can increase my ever growing repertoire.

5) I am going to read more. I have currently set a goal at 40 books.

6) Devote time first to Bible study, so it comes first, and not third, or last.

7)Keep up my exercise regime,and healthy eating. Maybe looking into new ways to stay fit, and healthy.

Happy New Year!