Pastor Francis Chan is quoting from Proverbs 30:7-8 where David is asking the Lord to give him neither poverty nor riches, lest he be full and deny the Lord or poor and steal.   His interpretation of this passage is different than other interpretations I’ve heard. Have you ever asked God to give you just enough money to make ends meet? Have you asked him to just give you your daily bread? Hmm… I know that I haven’t!

During this economic ‘crisis’ a lot of us have felt as if we are doing without. You hear a lot of complaining these days about how ‘tight’ things are. I’ve been one of the guilty ones. But, when we really stop and look at what we are considering a ‘crisis’ in our finances you will see that it oftentimes has nothing to do with the necessities of life. People are cutting back cell phone packages to less minutes or choosing a smaller cable package and not eating out as much. Does that REALLY qualify as suffering? ( I know that some have lost their homes and jobs so I’m not referring to those difficult situation.)  I guess I’m thinking of those of us whose income has dropped considerably, yet we are still living like kings compared to most of the world’s population. We still have a roof over our heads (a nice roof in fact)… food on the table… clothes on our back… tv’s… cars…computers…phones..and so.. so much more! 

 Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13 that he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself.

1 Timothy 6:8 says that with food and clothing we should be content.

How many of us could go an entire year and be content with only food and clothing? There is not even a mention of a roof over our heads in that equation. Just food and clothing.

God has me in ‘school’ these days. I am “learning” to be content and praying that He teach me to be thankful for all He has given me.

Does the economy have you concerned? Your children? Your unsaved relatives? This article is awesome and has actual instruction to help you trust God during those times when you fret and worry. There are 4 parts to this series. Keep reading to the end and you’ll be blessed. I would have posted the entire article but it’s copyrighted.

 

(The author is David Powlison who writes for CCEF which is a Christian (not Christian psychology, psycho-babble) counseling center. Their teachings are grounded on God’s Word and not wordly psychology.)

 

http://www.ccef.org/what-good-dont-worry-times-these

 

Our ambitions will draw us away from our calling if our minds are not renewed in these truths. Do we TRULY want to obey God’s Word when it says that we should be keepers at home or do we merely want to fulfill the lusts of our flesh? The Israelites did not listen to, or obey, God so He gave them up to their own heart’s lust. (Psalm 81:11,12) We are told (in 1 Cor. 10:6,11) that the Israelites were set as an example that we should not lust after evil things.

Ladies, God’s Word is profitable for our instruction in righteousness. His Word has given us specific instruction on how to deal with these ambitions that desire to lure us away from our God-ordained roles.

We are to:
~ crucify the flesh with its lusts (Gal 5:24)
~ flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22)
~ deny lusts (Titus 2:12)
~ abstain from fleshly lusts (desires), which war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11, 12)

And instead:
~ walk in the Spirit and we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal.5:16)
~ put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts (Romans 13:14)
~ Be obedient and do not fashion ourselves to former lusts (1 Pet 1:14,15)

Satan will use our fleshly lusts to tempt us to believe we have needs and desires that can only be met ‘out there’ or by ‘just one more thing.’ Our lives will become unfruitful if we allow the Word of God to be choked by the ‘cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.’ (Mark 4:19)

As God’s children we must examine these desires. Do the scriptures teach that these desires should be fulfilled if they are contrary to God’s word? Or do they say that we are to die daily (1 Cor 15:31) and walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16)? Walking in the Spirit means that we walk in obedience to what God’s Word says we should do. We have been created for our husband’s sake (Gen 2:18-24, 1 Cor 11:9), to be an “help meet to him,” & not for the purpose of fulfilling our own desires and ambitions.

Let’s take a few of the temptations we mentioned earlier and find a scripture / biblical principle to use as we cast down each vain imagination.

1. You would like to have *a little extra spending money.* GOD’S WORD SAYS: We are to be content with food and raiment. (1 Tim 6:8) Ask: Do I really “need” all, or even any, of these other things?

2. You feel that your husband controls the budget too tightly and you’re tired of having to *ask his permission* to spend even a penny. GOD’S WORD SAYS: We wives are to submit ourselves unto our own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Eph 5:22) Ask: In what ways can I show respect for my husband’s choices?

3. You are *embarrassed* by the way your furniture looks, or your car, or the clothes you wear. GOD’S WORD SAYS: Give thanks always for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5: 20) Ask: How can I fix-up or make do with what God has given me?

4. You’re *bored* with the daily care of children. The thought of something NEW and EXCITING is appealing and ‘drawing.’ GOD’S WORD SAYS: Children are a heritage and a reward (Ps 127:3) and we’re to be training them up in the way they should go (Pr 22:6) doing ALL things heartily, as unto the Lord! (Col 3:23) Ask: How can I change my attitude for the better toward my job at home today?

5. You want *more & more* things to do and yet become tired of them easily, and so you quickly jump from one project, or ministry, to another.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: (Have as our goal) to know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings… (Phil 3:10) Ask: How can I focus my time and energies on coming to know my Savior better?

6. You *volunteer* at church to the point that you become behind in your duties at home.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: To be …. Keepers at home…so THAT the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5)
Ask: What are the specific priorities God has already given me in His Word?

7. You feel *guilty* for just being at home taking care of your husband and children, and so let family and friend’s innuendo’s (that you’re lazy or not reaching your full potential because you’re MERELY a homemaker) influence you. This leads you to begin desiring and pursuing other things.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: A woman is to be well reported of for good works; (like) having brought up children. (1 Timothy 5:4) Ask: Am I seeking to please man or God?

8. You think that a career would satisfy and fulfill you more than being a wife, mother, & homemaker. GOD’S WORD SAYS: Let nothing be done through strife and vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. (Phil 2:3)
Ask: What specific things can I do today to be looking out for the interests of OTHERS first?

9. You think that once the children become school aged that you should help your husband earn a living. Or that you will need to go back to school to finish your education. The only reason you are staying home now is because the children are not in school all day. GOD’S WORD SAYS: Women are to be keepers at home. (Titus 2:4,5) KEEPERS: (Strong’s 3626) – a guard, a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined (a good “keeper of the house/home”) Or from oikourgos: oikos= home +ergon= work; one who works at home
Ask: What work, or further education, – from home – (if any) is reasonable for me to pursue?

10. You want your children to achieve academically. You want them to be a success in this world. You decide the only way to achieve this is by putting them in a Christian School which means that you will need to get a job in order to pay for it.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: To seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)
Ask: Will this thing (fill in the blank_____) lead my children TOWARD God or away from Him and spiritual growth? Will He not provide ALL they truly need AS I am obeying His command to be a keeper at home?

Paul said he died daily leaving for us an exhortation that we too must expect to fight a daily war against our flesh and the lusts. For daily we are enticed to throw down our aprons and find so-called ‘true & lasting fulfillment’ in some other role than what God has called us to. The lack of contentment in what God HAS called us to, and the lust for ‘just a little bit more’ whether it is more money, prestige or personal fulfillment is still enticing women today just as it did when Paul wrote this exhortation.

Beware, Sisters, that you don’t fall into the devil’s snare.

Protect your heart & eyes by not filling them with :
~ Soap operas that promote unbiblical lifestyles
~ Modern women’s magazines that promote luxury
~ Books that weave ungodly & romanticized notions of love & lust
~ Movies that glamorize the working woman by showing higher education and careers as the ‘goal’ of every woman
~ Friends that entice you away from the Lord and His plan & purpose for your life

Saturate your mind in God’s word and what He has called you to do.
~ Memorize and meditate on scriptures that speak to your goal as a married woman
~ Make sure that your closest friends are those who have embraced their God assigned roles
~ Fill your heart & home with HIM!
~ Vigorously pursue the things outlined in His Word for a godly woman

Begin to realize that the enemy of your soul and the lusts of your flesh seek to entice you to leave your duty in order that your life may blaspheme God’s word and commandments (Titus 2:5). Let us persevere to make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, to work with our hands and to mind our ‘own business.’ (1 Thess.4:11 NAS)

*aberration – to wander from the right way or moral rectitude

(1) The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity
(2) Rocking the Roles by NavPress


Georgene
Copyrighted 1998. You may copy this article in it’s entirety.

 

Be sure to watch it till the very end! 

(Thank you, Copperswife!)

 

 

I’m still watching for ways to cut our expenses to make more room in our budget.  The phone bill is one area that has really been BUGGING me! We are paying $120.00 a month JUST to communicate! It’s crazy! But, we seemed to be stuck. We have a contract on our cell phones so we would end up paying $200.00 to cancel the contract. I only have the basic budget plan on our home line with no bells or whistles. I’ve suggested cutting the DSL but my husband is hesitant. I think I may have him talked into cutting it back to the slowest speed on the DSL which will save us $10.00 a month.

BUT…..

I did some investigation this morning and found out that you do NOT need a phone line to use DSL! We have a Magic Jack which gives us an actual phone number (along with caller ID and call waiting) and it provides our local and long distance. We bought the Magic Jack for $40.00 through Radio Shack and the first year was free. (They are running a special through their website right now) They have specials running for $20.00 a year after you purchase the MJ or $60.00 for 5 years. There are some frustrations (dropped calls, echoes) with MJ but nothing that I can’t live with. I just press ‘fix’ on the icon and it normally solves the problem. I figure the frustration from no money left at the end of the month is a worst frustration than a dropped call or hearing myself talk.

So, I can drop my actual home line and save nearly $25.00 dollars a month and still use my DSL. It’s called a Dry Line and the phone company asked for 1 day to set it up. If I did not have my cell phones with AT &T then I would need to pay $10.00 more a month for the Dry Line DSL so be sure to check on that if you plan on dropping your home line. I still would have come out $15.00 ahead.

Very kewl!

Danish Doll suggested that we ‘Xangians’ share our money saving tips. I’ll start the ball rolling because I LOVE to hear what other women are doing in their homes to save money. Just click on the little box below after you write a post on what you do to save money. It will take people right to your website to read what you wrote. Be sure to write a short word to describe your post right after your URL. For instance: Georgene’s Blog/Telephone savings

(Note: For some reason Mr. Linky is not always visible but he is THERE! So put your ’mouse’ right below this sentence and let it hover and then click. It will take you to the page where you can put your info.)


 

Our budget is very tight theses days so it’s become apparent that I will no longer be able to support our other website called, A Woman that Fears the Lord. I’ve thought a lot about what to do with all the writings and have decided to transfer them to this blog since it cost so much less. So, my plan is to transfer one article a week and then I’ll post a link on the side bar. Last week was my first entry which was the book list.

Many of these articles were lessons the Lord taught me in my marriage. We had some very rough years in the beginning. My husband was not saved when I married him and my Christianity was very marginal. They were very hard times but I’m thankful for all the Lord taught us.

This article is to encourage the woman of God who is tempted by her ambition (or society) to see God’s commands for a woman as less important.   I come from a family where women were encouraged to go to college and have careers. I am the ‘odd duck’ and have been looked upon as not fulfilling my potential. Society has a strong influence on women and they can be pulled away from God’s commandments if they do not keep their mind renewed in what His Word actually says they are to be doing.

So.. here goes the first in a two part article. I’ll post the second part hopefully tomorrow..

*~*~*

This past winter I started to type an old reprint called “Of Domestical Duties” onto our web page. There are two charts in this book, one which lists the duties of the wives, and another chart which shows the aberrations or what causes a woman to deviate from her duties. I was intrigued that the first aberration was AMBITION. I had always only associated ambition with career women, but now my curiosity was piqued as I began to wonder if ambition may also be a temptation to those of us who are keepers at home.

The Bible is full of examples of holy and unholy ambition. “Gideon had the holy ambition of wanting to save Israel, Joshua of conquering the land, Nehemiah of restoring the kingdom and Paul of planting a self- propagating church in every major center of the Roman Empire.”(1) On the other hand, Jezebel, Absalom, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and Simon the former magician are some examples that come to mind when I think of unholy ambition. They sought to exalt self and fulfill their lusts and desires instead of bringing glory to God through obedience.

Ambition becomes a sin when it’s aim is fulfilling personal lusts instead of fulfilling the Word of God. One dear friend helped me look for a biblical term that might be synonymous with the ungodly form of ambition. We decided on the term: LUST.

(1 Jn 2:16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says about 1 John 2:a
“(1) There is the lust of the flesh. The flesh here, being distinguished from the eyes and the life, imports the body. The lust of the flesh is, subjectively, the humour and appetite of indulging fleshly pleasures; and, objectively, all those things that excite and inflame the pleasures of the flesh. This lust is usually called luxury.
(2) There is the lust of the eyes. The eyes are delighted with treasures; riches and rich possessions are craved by an extravagant eye; this is the lust of covetousness.
(3) There is the pride of life. A vain mind craves all the grandeur, equipage, and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this is ambition, and thirst after honour and applause. This is, in part, the disease of the ear; it must be flattered with admiration and praise.”

Lust is defined as the following:
Lust – (Strong’s 1939) epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah); a longing (especially for what is forbidden)
Lust – (Vine’s Expository) a phrase which describes the emotions of the soul, the natural tendency towards things evil. Such “lusts” are not necessarily base and immoral, they may be refined in character, but are evil if inconsistent with the will of God.

So, can we now say that a biblical definition of ungodly ambition is ‘a longing for that which is forbidden?’

*ungodly ambition / lust = a longing for that which is forbidden*

How do ungodly ambitions seek to draw and entice us away from our biblical role? Although all the situations below may not be considered sin, they have the potential to entice us away from our God ordained role as a keeper at home. Have you ever been taken captive by any of these thoughts or actions?

1. You would like to have *a little extra spending money.*

2. You feel that your husband controls the budget too tightly and you’re tired of having to *ask his permission* to spend even a penny.

3. You’re *embarrassed* by the way your furniture looks, or your car, or the clothes you wear.

4. You’re *bored* with the daily care of children. The thought of something NEW and EXCITING is appealing and ‘drawing’.

5. You want *more & more things to do* and yet become tired of them easily, and so you quickly jump from one project, or ministry, to another.

6. You *volunteer* at church to the point that you become behind in your duties at home.

7. You feel *guilty* for just being at home taking care of your husband and children, and allow family and friend’s innuendo’s (that you’re lazy or not reaching your full potential because you’re MERELY a homemaker) influence you. This leads you to begin desiring and pursuing other things.

8. You think that a career would satisfy and fulfill you more than being a homemaker.

9. You think that once the children become school aged that you should help your husband earn a living. Or that you will need to go back to school to finish your education. The only reason you are staying home now is because the children are not in school all day.

10. You want your children to achieve academically. You want them to be a success in this world. You decide the only way to achieve this is by putting them in a Christian school which means that you will need to get a job in order to pay for it.

“USA Today” wrote an article in 1989 called “Busy Women Let Housework Slide But Not Jobs.” The article surveyed women who were stressed-out and under pressure to find out what they were letting go of to make their lives more manageable. The article summarized, ” When strapped for time, busy women push friends, housework, husbands, and sex to life’s back burner.” The poll found that the only two things women would not let go of was a job outside the home and their children. (Which is not really true! They may have actively been forsaking their children, too!)

The fantasy of the “Super Woman” scenario is just that, a fantasy. We are not Super Woman! There is only so much of us to go around. If we give the majority of our time and thoughts to things other than our home and family then that is where our hearts and focus will be. If our focus is on business or even “ministry” then what is left of us for our dear husbands & family?

The temptations of ‘ambition’ can surface in not so blatant ways such as the desire to fulfill the image of a ‘successful’ home schooling family. This perfect home schooling family wants the *smartest* kids, the *most stylishly dressed* children, their children involved in all the *finer* activities (that will invariably draw those children into a terrific self-focus!), only the *best curricula*, and one day the *most prestigious* colleges and universities will do.

The temptations of ‘ambition’ can surface in even more subtle ways. We may feel that we’ve ‘not arrived’ if our home life does not reflect what WE *think* an ideal family should be, so we strive and push our families to fit into the mold we’ve chosen, disregarding what GOD would have us do & become.

GODLY AMBITION

1 Thess.4:11 “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.”

What is ‘your own business?’ Have you ever gone to the Scriptures and studied what God says about how you should be spending your days or have you merely taken on the philosophy of other women or followed those you admire? It is difficult to stand against the temptation of ungodly ambition if you do not know what God’s word says you should be doing.

Our every thought needs to be taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5)

Are we making it our ambition to be obedient to what God has commanded in His Word and the principles He has given us to follow? Do you know what God has to say about how you spend your days?

A Godly Woman…
~ will look well to the ways of her household (Pr 31:27)
~ will not eat the bread of idleness (Pr 31:27)
~ is wise if she builds her house & foolish if she tears it down with her own hands (Pr 14:1)
~ is not to be so busy with “busy-ness” and be *distracted* & irritated by it, that she neglects to sit at Jesus’ feet & listen to Him, which He said is the better part (as per Martha & Mary’s example in Luke 10:38-39)
~ is to do all her work heartily as unto the Lord (Col 3:23)
~ is to be a keeper at home (Titus 2:5)
~ is to submit to her own husband (Titus 2:5)
~ is to fear the Lord (Pr 31:30)
~ is to support her husband and help him, as he sees to it that their children come to a personal faith in Christ (Titus 1:6)

Our ambitions will draw us away from our calling if our minds are not renewed in these truths. Do we TRULY want to obey God’s Word when it says that we should be keepers at home or do we merely want to fulfill the lusts of our flesh? The Israelites did not listen to, or obey, God so He gave them up to their own heart’s lust. (Psalm 81:11,12) We are told (in 1 Cor. 10:6,11) that the Israelites were set as an example that we should not lust after evil things.

Ladies, God’s Word is profitable for our instruction in righteousness. His Word has given us specific instruction on how to deal with these ambitions that desire to lure us away from our God-ordained roles.

We are to:
~ crucify the flesh with its lusts (Gal 5:24)
~ flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22)
~ deny lusts (Titus 2:12)
~ abstain from fleshly lusts (desires), which war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11, 12)

And instead:
~ walk in the Spirit and we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal.5:16)
~ put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts (Romans 13:14)
~ Be obedient and do not fashion ourselves to former lusts (1 Pet 1:14,15)

Satan will use our fleshly lusts to tempt us to believe we have needs and desires that can only be met ‘out there’ or by ‘just one more thing.’ Our lives will become unfruitful if we allow the Word of God to be choked by the ‘cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.’ (Mark 4:19)

As God’s children we must examine these desires. Do the scriptures teach that these desires should be fulfilled if they are contrary to God’s word? Or do they say that we are to die daily (1 Cor 15:31) and walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16)? Walking in the Spirit means that we walk in obedience to what God’s Word says we should do. We have been created for our husband’s sake (Gen 2:18-24, 1 Cor 11:9), to be an “help meet to him,” & not for the purpose of fulfilling our own desires and ambitions.

Let’s take a few of the temptations we mentioned earlier and find a scripture / biblical principle to use as we cast down each vain imagination.

1. You would like to have *a little extra spending money.* GOD’S WORD SAYS: We are to be content with food and raiment. (1 Tim 6:8) Ask: Do I really “need” all, or even any, of these other things?

2. You feel that your husband controls the budget too tightly and you’re tired of having to *ask his permission* to spend even a penny. GOD’S WORD SAYS: We wives are to submit ourselves unto our own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Eph 5:22) Ask: In what ways can I show respect for my husband’s choices?

3. You are *embarrassed* by the way your furniture looks, or your car, or the clothes you wear. GOD’S WORD SAYS: Give thanks always for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5: 20) Ask: How can I fix-up or make do with what God has given me?

4. You’re *bored* with the daily care of children. The thought of something NEW and EXCITING is appealing and ‘drawing.’ GOD’S WORD SAYS: Children are a heritage and a reward (Ps 127:3) and we’re to be training them up in the way they should go (Pr 22:6) doing ALL things heartily, as unto the Lord! (Col 3:23) Ask: How can I change my attitude for the better toward my job at home today?

5. You want *more & more* things to do and yet become tired of them easily, and so you quickly jump from one project, or ministry, to another.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: (Have as our goal) to know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings… (Phil 3:10) Ask: How can I focus my time and energies on coming to know my Savior better?

6. You *volunteer* at church to the point that you become behind in your duties at home.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: To be …. Keepers at home…so THAT the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5)
Ask: What are the specific priorities God has already given me in His Word?

7. You feel *guilty* for just being at home taking care of your husband and children, and so let family and friend’s innuendo’s (that you’re lazy or not reaching your full potential because you’re MERELY a homemaker) influence you. This leads you to begin desiring and pursuing other things.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: A woman is to be well reported of for good works; (like) having brought up children. (1 Timothy 5:4) Ask: Am I seeking to please man or God?

8. You think that a career would satisfy and fulfill you more than being a wife, mother, & homemaker. GOD’S WORD SAYS: Let nothing be done through strife and vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. (Phil 2:3)
Ask: What specific things can I do today to be looking out for the interests of OTHERS first?

9. You think that once the children become school aged that you should help your husband earn a living. Or that you will need to go back to school to finish your education. The only reason you are staying home now is because the children are not in school all day. GOD’S WORD SAYS: Women are to be keepers at home. (Titus 2:4,5) KEEPERS: (Strong’s 3626) – a guard, a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined (a good “keeper of the house/home”) Or from oikourgos: oikos= home +ergon= work; one who works at home
Ask: What work, or further education, – from home – (if any) is reasonable for me to pursue?

10. You want your children to achieve academically. You want them to be a success in this world. You decide the only way to achieve this is by putting them in a Christian School which means that you will need to get a job in order to pay for it.
GOD’S WORD SAYS: To seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)
Ask: Will this thing (fill in the blank_____) lead my children TOWARD God or away from Him and spiritual growth? Will He not provide ALL they truly need AS I am obeying His command to be a keeper at home?

Paul said he died daily leaving for us an exhortation that we too must expect to fight a daily war against our flesh and the lusts. For daily we are enticed to throw down our aprons and find so-called ‘true & lasting fulfillment’ in some other role than what God has called us to. The lack of contentment in what God HAS called us to, and the lust for ‘just a little bit more’ whether it is more money, prestige or personal fulfillment is still enticing women today just as it did when Paul wrote this exhortation.

Beware, Sisters, that you don’t fall into the devil’s snare.

Protect your heart & eyes by not filling them with :
~ Soap operas that promote unbiblical lifestyles
~ Modern women’s magazines that promote luxury
~ Books that weave ungodly & romanticized notions of love & lust
~ Movies that glamorize the working woman by showing higher education and careers as the ‘goal’ of every woman
~ Friends that entice you away from the Lord and His plan & purpose for your life

Saturate your mind in God’s word and what He has called you to do.
~ Memorize and meditate on scriptures that speak to your goal as a married woman
~ Make sure that your closest friends are those who have embraced their God assigned roles
~ Fill your heart & home with HIM!
~ Vigorously pursue the things outlined in His Word for a godly woman

Begin to realize that the enemy of your soul and the lusts of your flesh seek to entice you to leave your duty in order that your life may blaspheme God’s word and commandments (Titus 2:5). Let us persevere to make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, to work with our hands and to mind our ‘own business.’ (1 Thess.4:11 NAS)

*aberration – to wander from the right way or moral rectitude

(1) The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity
(2) Rocking the Roles by NavPress

Georgene
Copyrighted 1998. You may copy this article in it’s entirety.

End of Part 1. Continue to Part 2.

(Many more scriptures regarding a Godly Woman’s role may be found at this page: Scriptures to Encourage a Godly Woman)

Copyright 1998. Georgene Girouard
You may reproduce these pages in their entirety to share with others.

  I’m relearning a practice that was very common during the depression era called… “Make do.. or do without”. When the budget is very tight you have to learn to make do or do without. It’s really amazing how many things you can live without. In ‘pre’ recession days my normal practice would have been to put the desired product on my shopping list and pick it up the next time I went to the store. But, these days, there is no extra money for items other than the essentials so I’ve begun asking myself.. what do I already own that I can use instead? Nine times out of ten I’m able to find an alternative that I already have on hand.

Here were a few situations where I ‘made do’ this week.

- I was doing a lot of cooking last week and really missed a spoon holder for the stove that had broken. My first thought was that I needed to put it on my grocery list and pick one up. I immediately reminded myself that my goal is to hang onto my dollars as long as I can these days so I looked around to see what I could use instead. A small saucer worked just fine and it didn’t cost me a thing. Another way to look at it is that I earned $5.00 by not buying a spoon holder. (My husband always scratches his head at that kind of reasoning!)

- I was elected to bring a few desserts to Mother’s Day. In times past I would have decided what I wanted to make and then head to the store. Instead, I started thumbing through my recipes while thinking over what I had on hand. I was reminded that I had frozen bananas and also some marshmallows in the freezer. I ended up making a Banana Cake with caramel frosting and a Mississippi Mud Cake with the ingredients I had on hand. I didn’t have to go to the store and made do.  Everyone was happy with the results. 

- I’m doing without a lot of stuff that I used to THINK I needed. Normally, this time of year I go shopping for summer clothes. There is no room in our budget for clothes this year so I’m determining to ‘make do’ with what is in my closet. I’m practicing the ‘rare jewel of Christian contentment’.

So next time you ‘think’ you need to buy something you might want to look around and see what you have on hand that you could ‘make do’ with or else just ‘do without’.

For more frugal tips visit LIFE AS MOM.

What do you want your grandchildren to remember about you?

I’ve thought about this question quite a bit over the past years. There are many things that I want to impart to my grandchildren. But, I must honestly say, that above anything else I want my grandchildren to KNOW that their grandparents put the highest value on God and His Word. I want them to see us obeying God’s Word. I want them to hear us speaking God’s Word. I want them  to know that our desire for them ….above a career.. above marriage.. above college… above making money… is that they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

So… their Bapa and I started a bible memory club last year. We just finished memorizing The Roman Road.

This last month our family got together for dinner and to go over the grandchildren’s scripture. My sweet granddaughter above (don’t you love the missing teeth in front?) was able to say her memory verse perfectly. She also did a great job of making our bible craft which was supposed to show our hearts when we are born (black with sin), the blood of Christ (red) that paid the penalty we deserved for our sin and the last heart (white) showing the new heart that God gives us once we accept what Christ did for us on the cross and follow Him.

I find that I often measure my ‘grandparentness’ (is that a word?) by my friends and the amount of time they spend with their grandchildren. But, when it’s all said and done, and my life has ended upon this earth… I believe that I will be at peace in knowing that I encouraged them towards Christ.

At the foot of the cross, when Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27

Mothers hold a special place in our lives. We run to them for protection as children, rebel from their discipline as teenagers and convince ourselves that they know little about being a young adult in a modern world. But ultimately, as we grow, we discover that our mother’s love is unmatched and unwavering.

Jesus experienced that very kind of love from his mother. She was there with him through every step of his life. She allowed him to grow and become the man God had designed him to be, but she was never far away—even at the foot of the cross. Her love for her son, and her Savior, was unmatched and unwavering.

This weekend, we celebrate mothers around the world. It’s a time to reflect on all that they have done in our lives. It’s a time to thank them for the protection and guidance they have provided. But more importantly, it’s a time to thank God for sending someone into our lives who can see past our childishness, rebellion and self-importance; someone who loves us so much that the only title appropriate is, Mom.

                                                                       

   * Author unknown