I recently read a great book that my sweet friend Laine recommended and loaned me. Crazy Love. It is an awesome book, and I highly recommend it. Of course, it is very convicting, and it stirred me to consider love and what the Lord has to say about it.
It began to occur to me that just like Jesus said to be witnesses starting in Jeruselem and then on out to the ends of the earth, shouldn't we be making careful observation of our love as it starts at home?
Consider what Paul had to say to Titus:
"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for SOUND DOCTRINE:. . . . . .the older women likewise, that they be reverant in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--that they admonish the young women to LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the WORD OF GOD MAY NOT BE BLASPHEMED" (2:1, 3-5).
Wow. It is sound doctrine to love our husbands and children. It is so important that we learn this and live this because the Word would be blasphemed otherwise.
But the question remains, why must we be taught this? Isn't the reason we married our men because we love them? Why must we be taught this by older women? And what mother has to be taught to love her children? Aren't these givens? Why are these listed as sound doctrine?
Perhaps one reason we have to be reminded and taught this is because it is more natural for us to love ourselves. It is certainly much easier, LOL!
Someone who had sat under my step-brother in discipleship for ten years recently told me that an important concept he had learned is that "Me-ism" will destroy a marriage.
I will venture to say that "Me-ism" (self-love) has the potential to destroy everything.
I want to analyze what I call love and see if it is the same thing the Lord calls love. What better place to learn than the "love chapter."
More next time. . . .
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Back in the Bloggin' Saddle Again. . .
I had made up my mind that yes, I would get back in the ol' bloggin' saddle again. I would carve out a few minutes in my early morning again. But I knew it had been a long time when I pulled down my favorites list to access my blog and I had to ask myself,
"Now what's the name of my blog again?"
Yep, it's been a long time, Lucille. ;-)
"Now what's the name of my blog again?"
Yep, it's been a long time, Lucille. ;-)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Testimony Tuesday!!!
Last night Big Brother made a great observation for a boy going on 10.
"Mom, we are really blessed to be born in a country where we can have freedoms to be Christian and read the Bible and not born in another country."
"Yes, you are right. We have a lot to be thankful for. . ."
". . . . . and also to be born in a Christian family."
Wow. The things we often take for granted.
"But our God is in heaven; he does whatever He pleases" (Psalm 115:3).
"Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth" (Psalm 113:1-6).
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
"Mom, we are really blessed to be born in a country where we can have freedoms to be Christian and read the Bible and not born in another country."
"Yes, you are right. We have a lot to be thankful for. . ."
". . . . . and also to be born in a Christian family."
Wow. The things we often take for granted.
"But our God is in heaven; he does whatever He pleases" (Psalm 115:3).
"Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth" (Psalm 113:1-6).
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
Monday, August 10, 2009
Testimony Tuesday!!!
Sitting in church Sunday morning, Little Sister leaned over and whispered, "Mama, is God still making me?"
What a precious question that could take a while to answer. Great theologians have preached mighty sermons and written countless books on such a subject.
So how to answer a little blue-eyed, curly haired blond and explain it so her young mind might understand?
"Well, He is still working on you. . . . . " (This is quite an understatement, if you know Little Sister. . . . .;-)
"Is He still making my eyebrows?"
"No, but He is making you sweeter and kinder, and He's teaching you to obey better."
And she smiled the sweetest smile and nodded.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
Little Sister does not have the Holy Spirit residing in her yet, but all of us Believers have that blessing. The Holy Spirit is faithful to work in the lives of His children. He did begin the work and promises to complete it.
There is nothing good in us without Him. I noticed the following verse in 1 Thessalonians 3:12:
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you."
Notice in this verse, we cannot even increase our love without the Lord! Paul is praying that the Lord will do it! We don't realize enough how we can do nothing without His work. We are too sinful to even abound in love to one another without the Lord doing the work.
Isn't He good not to leave us like we are?
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Investing our Lives
Little Brother is now over 5 weeks old, and I have spent the first 5 weeks of his life enjoying every little thing about him. We all know children grow fast; I see it in our other blessings. I guess knowing how fast the others have grown causes me to cherish every day and hour with Little Brother.
I noticed these verses in 1 Thessalonians:
"But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us" (2:7-8).
Most mamas do cherish their children and are willing to invest their very lives in them. We must not lose sight of this vision.
This very week, when my house was defintely showing the signs of 5 weeks of "baby rocking" instead of house cleaning and I was beginning to fall prey to stress, my best friend Mama Hen reminded me that the vision was to keep the priority on mothering and not housecleaning.
As a mother, I should be "well pleased" to impart the gospel of God and even my own life to my children (not imparting my life to a clean house or hobbies or other less important distractions).
As a Believer, God has you planted in your life to impart the gospel and even your own life to others. Is it your children, your friends, your parents, your neighbors? Paul was willing to leave his comfort zone and impart the gospel and his life to foreigners and those of a different race.
Investing one's life is not easy. But how much more glorious and satisfying to invest one's life than to waste it.
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
I noticed these verses in 1 Thessalonians:
"But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us" (2:7-8).
Most mamas do cherish their children and are willing to invest their very lives in them. We must not lose sight of this vision.
This very week, when my house was defintely showing the signs of 5 weeks of "baby rocking" instead of house cleaning and I was beginning to fall prey to stress, my best friend Mama Hen reminded me that the vision was to keep the priority on mothering and not housecleaning.
As a mother, I should be "well pleased" to impart the gospel of God and even my own life to my children (not imparting my life to a clean house or hobbies or other less important distractions).
As a Believer, God has you planted in your life to impart the gospel and even your own life to others. Is it your children, your friends, your parents, your neighbors? Paul was willing to leave his comfort zone and impart the gospel and his life to foreigners and those of a different race.
Investing one's life is not easy. But how much more glorious and satisfying to invest one's life than to waste it.
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
Friday, July 17, 2009
Somebody's Having a Birthday. . . .
Today is a special day around here. Today is Middle Sister's birthday!
Middle Sister is such a blessing to each and every one of us.
She is kind.
She is gentle.
She is creative.
She is musical.
She is a delight to everyone around.
We thank the Lord for our precious Middle Sister.
Our lives would not be complete without her!!!
Happy Birthday, Middle Sister!!!
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Testimony Tuesday!!!
Spending alone and quiet time with the Lord is so important, and I have found it to be imperative for me to grow in that "gentle and quiet spirit" while being a Mommy. However, "alone" and "quiet" times are hard to come by, especially with a newborn! :-)
But I have been grabbing and snatching them when I can lately, and I have just finished reading Colossians. A short passage in chapter 3 caught my attention last week. In fact, it struck such a chord with me as verses our family really needed to hear that I posted it in the bathroom. (This is a favorite spot for me to post much-needed-verses. ;-)
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection" (Colossians 3:12-14).
What a wonderful reminder to me to be longsuffering and to bear with one another. What a great reminder to my children when they have a complaint against another to not run and tattle but to bear with one another and forgive one another.
So when we get up each morning, we need to remember what to "put on." Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering are not found in our closets or in the dresser drawers (or in the dryer if you are at my house ;-). They are found in Christ and in His Word.
Did you get properly dressed this morning?
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
But I have been grabbing and snatching them when I can lately, and I have just finished reading Colossians. A short passage in chapter 3 caught my attention last week. In fact, it struck such a chord with me as verses our family really needed to hear that I posted it in the bathroom. (This is a favorite spot for me to post much-needed-verses. ;-)
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection" (Colossians 3:12-14).
What a wonderful reminder to me to be longsuffering and to bear with one another. What a great reminder to my children when they have a complaint against another to not run and tattle but to bear with one another and forgive one another.
So when we get up each morning, we need to remember what to "put on." Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering are not found in our closets or in the dresser drawers (or in the dryer if you are at my house ;-). They are found in Christ and in His Word.
Did you get properly dressed this morning?
In the Heart of our Home,
Rebekah
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