Are you viewing 2016 through the lens of the media or the Word of God? The media reports that, among other things, family values are crumbling, lawless is rampant, the weather system is producing unprecedented damage, the education system undermines parental authority, the economy is literally bankrupt, and morality is at an all-time low. However, as a woman seeking to please God 2016 extends the opportunity to establish priorities rather than resolutions that will allow you to experience a fruitful year in our Lord’s vineyard!
Read MoreMaking A House A Home
ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE THE GIFT OF FAMILY HOSPITALITY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?
My role as a Home Economics-Family and Consumer Science educator in Christian institutions for the majority of my professional career provides me with a wonderful opportunity to work with young women desiring to learn to practice the Titus 2:3-5 mandate. The mentoring relationship we establish allows me to know them in at a more intimate level than a normal college/seminary professor. As we study and acquire skills together they often share that they frequently felt that they were “ministry orphans.” Moms extended hospitality to a variety of individuals and frequently prepared yummy food items to be shared at other events. Having done so the family was left with a quick meal through the fast-food restaurant, a sandwich hastily constructed then eaten “on the run,” or a plate of macaroni and cheese made from a box—again.
My heart is always saddened because women choosing this management strategy communicate a strong message to their family that they are more focused on “looking well to the needs of others” rather than following the prototype of Proverbs 31:27 who first “looked well to the ways of her household” and then “opens her hands to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20).
Read MoreARE YOU WILLING TO EXPAND YOUR HOLIDAY GUESTLIST?
What is your reaction when you think of the holiday season? Did you know that the holiday season is actually a “holy-season” that should bring us closer to the event or person we are celebrating? Contrary to current practice, Thanksgiving Day is rooted in an occasion focused on thanking God for His provision rather than parades, football games, and shopping at odd hours. Our study of American history reminds us that the Pilgrims had experienced an incredibly difficult year, yet they chose to be thankful. Christmas is the birthday of our Savior who was born in the humblest of circumstances and gave the best gift ever—salvation. So, what are some ways that you can make this holiday season one that is “holy”?
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DO MY CHOICES REFLECT THAT I WALK WISELY?
A study of the character of the woman described in Proverbs 31:10-31 teaches us a significant character quality—she possesses a heart open to learning from the experience or wisdom of others. Biblical wisdom, “is both religious and practical. Stemming from the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28; Psalm111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) it branches out to touch all of life, as the extended commentary on wisdom in Proverbs indicates.
Read MoreDO YOU HAVE CONSECRATED CHINA?
Now the leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed; so the leaders offered their offering before the altar. For the LORD said to Moses,“They shall offer their offering,one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.” and the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nashon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah. His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary,both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering.
NUMBERS 7:10-13 NASB
As you approach this blog post an initial response could be, “this post does not apply to me—I do not have china,” and that may be true, but you do have vessels in which you serve food. These vessels may be bone china, stoneware, earthenware, plastic, stainless steel, pewter, enamelware, silver, wood, or paper. The material from which our vessels are made is not the question—rather the question is, have the vessels been consecrated to our Master’s use?
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I WILL LIKE . . . VIGNETTES OF WOMEN WHOSE LEGACIES IMPACT THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY
Who are your role models? Perhaps you have several in your life—one role model may excel professionally, another in raising children, another in hospitality and yet another in Bible knowledge. I am blessed to have a number of Biblical and earthly role models who provide me with the stimulus to walk worthy of my calling (Ephesians 1:1-3).
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PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS THE WOMAN WHO HONORS HER EARTHLY FATHER
A blond-headed, blue-eyed daughter, I looked like the perfect blend of my mother and father. As others commented on the likeness, my parents smiled inwardly knowing that it was their heavenly Father who had chosen the custom matching of their adopted daughter as He had “made a home for the lonely,” (NASV) or, according to the King James Version, had set another solitary in a family (Psalm 68:6). Older when they commenced the adoption process, Oliver and Mary Ennis were willing to commit to nurturing a child. Eventually they welcomed to their home an abandoned child with pneumonia. She had lain so long on her back that the back of her head was bald—as you may have surmised, I was that abandoned child.
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THE QUEST FOR BECOMING A WOMAN WHO PLEASES GOD
It’s May, the typical month for pastors to select sermon texts that challenge women to choose to become women who please God. Consider Ruth’s response when her pastor announces the Scripture topic for his sermon: The Incredible Search . . . The Quest for Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God. Inwardly she groans. Oh, great. I am going to leave today’s service on another guilt trip rather than encouraged and edified. Perhaps I can plan my week’s menus or work on my Bible study while appearing to look interested.
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DO YOU OFFER TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR FRIENDSHIPS?
The phone rings, the answering machine responds, I hear my beloved friend’s voice, but I know that she is not at home. You see, I am calling to inquire about her physical condition that prompted her admission to the hospital several days prior to the new year. The fact that her husband is not answering the phone tells me that he is probably still at her bedside. Having experienced a reaction to her most recent chemotherapy treatment, she is in an unconscious state. Memories flood my mind as I recall her kindness as a friend
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PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS THE WOMAN WHO UNDERSTANDS SINGLENESS FROM HER HEAVENLY FATHER'S PERSPECTIVE
If you have read other of my Blog posts you know that as a Christian woman, trained as a Home Economist, I never expected to be single past my mid-twenties. However, the Lord had a much different plan for me and has gently matured my attitude toward singleness, as well as the purpose of marriage. Rather than marriage only providing an intimate, nurturing relationship, I know now that I should marry only if our united lives would be more effective for the Lord than either of us is in our single state.
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CHOOSING CONTENTMENT BY CULTIVATING A DILIGENT HEART
The month of February offers a cafeteria plan of emotions—from blessing to boredom the menu items are endless. Consider our options as women. We can be encouraged because we are making progress on the goals we set for the new or discouraged because it appears that we regress more than move forward. The quiet and solitude of the winter landscape can be enjoyed or the fact that “the Groundhog” saw his shadow may propel us to despair because it appears that winter will last forever. The “season of love” spanning February 1 to 14 can be delightful or disappointing. What we place on our emotional plate is largely determined by choosing emotions that produce contentment.
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I Know Who Hold the Future . . . and I Know Who Holds My Hand
A new year has arrived and with it the opportunity to deepen your relationship with your heavenly Father by trusting your future to Him! Are you viewing 2015 through the binoculars of the media or the Word of God? The media reports that, among other things, family values are crumbling, lawless is rampant, the education system undermines parental authority, the economy is literally bankrupt, and morality is at an all-time low.
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WHAT IS YOUR GUEST REPUTATION. . . GRACIOUS OR GRINCH?
As the holiday season approaches, invitations to a wide variety of activities are often extended to us. Frequently, in our haste, we don’t take the time to consider how to biblically respond to these invitations so that we will be known as a gracious guest. While it is important for both men and women to be gracious this post focuses on women since, according to Solomon, “A gracious woman attains honor . . .” (Proverbs 11:16).
Read MoreTHE GIFT OF GRATITUDE
Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season. Tantalizing aromas, gala events, and clandestine shopping trips consume much of our time from late November to January 1. Easily caught up in the activities of the holiday season, it is easy to neglect the most important present to offer others—the gift of gratitude
Read MorePLACING THE SOLITARY IN FAMILIES
A blond-headed, blue-eyed daughter, I looked like the perfect blend of my mother and father. As others commented on the likeness, my parents smiled inwardly knowing that it was their heavenly Father who had chosen the custom matching of their adopted daughter as He had “made a home for the lonely” (NASB) or, according to the King James Version, had set another solitary in a family (Ps. 68:6). Older when they commenced the adoption process, Oliver and Mary Ennis were willing to commit to nurturing a child. Eventually they welcomed to their home an abandoned child with pneumonia. She had lain so long on her back that the back of her head was bald. As you may have surmised, I was that abandoned child.
Read MoreCHOICES THAT PREPARE OUR HEARTS FOR A FANTASTIC HOLIDAY SEASON
I love summer so it is a bit challenging to me to walk through the craft, card, fabric, and department stores and find holiday supplies displayed. However, I also know that good stewardship challenges me to plan ahead so that my holiday season is truly focused on the event it is meant to celebrate rather stressed-filled because I made poor choices in late summer and early fall. Just as my management skills propel me to plan ahead so I experience a fantastic rather than a frantic holiday season, so I must begin early to make spiritual choices so that I maximize the potentially rich experiences.
Read MoreHOW DO I CULTIVATE A HOSTESS’ HEART?
The attitude of the apostle Paul is one that all women who desire to cultivate the heart of a hostess must embrace. As we study the scriptural passages that challenge us to practice hospitality most of us can reflect on a time when we tried to extended friendship to others and were met with rejection.
Read MoreDO YOU HAVE THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN HOSTESS?
The characteristics of a woman possessing a hostess’ heart were modeled by my mother. She could, and often did, invite someone home from church because she had not only prepared a tasty meal for her family, but enough extra to include others. I grew up “helping in the kitchen” as a young child; later, as her health failed, I assumed much of the food preparation responsibilities under her supervision. When I enrolled in college and chose Home Economics as my major I realized that I had learned the food preparation skills at home; my college classes helped me align the academic principles with my existing skills.
Read MoreWHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
“Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
If we are going to create a peaceful home ambiance we must monitor what we think. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that we are to be careful about what we think because it will affect everything that we do.This is especially true in the management of our homes.
Read MoreLAUNDRY BASICS--JUNE’S HINTS FOR THE EVERYDAY HOMEMAKER
Laundry is like our bills, always needing attention! It seems like a pretty mundane task with little or no spiritual ramifications on the surface. However, a closer look reminds us that believers are to be faithful with all of their possessions (1 Corinthians 4:2). The wise woman of Proverbs 31:27 cares for the needs of her household. One of the primary needs of a household is clothing and its maintenance.
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