Passage from "The Ministry of Motherhood"

"When we take the opportunity to expose our children to the glory of God displayed in a rainbow or powerful ocean waves or a star-studded night sky, we are helping them understand that there is a Being much bigger than themselves who created the universe and holds it together with his power. When we tell them about our answered prayers and those amazing 'coincidences' that confirm God's presence in our lives, we help them realize that God is close and caring and active in our daily circumstances. When we explain the things we have been able to do in the Holy Spirit's power that we couldn't accomplish alone, we help them understand how God works and what he can accomplish through us. As we tell them 'look' and 'observe,' we instill the hope that a supernatural Being more powerful than we can understand intervenes in time and space to help us and to interact with our lives."

                               ~Sally Clarkson, The Ministry of Motherhood, pg. 85

Quote from James Allen

"You will always gravitate toward that which you most love."

                            ~James Allen, As A Man Thinketh

"You Mustn't Quit" Poem

"When things so wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest! if you must-but never quit.

Life is queer, with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won if he'd stuck it out;

Stick to your task, though the pace seems slow-

You may succeed with one more blow.

Success is failure turned inside out-

The silver lining of clouds of doubt-

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit."

             ~ Author Unknown

     I'll be honest this poem has spoken to me at various times in my life when life has gotten me down and I felt overwhelmed with battles. When I've faced times of financial stress or health issues or just continuous battles one after another of various kinds, the end of this poem came to the forefront of my mind..."It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit." And, I've found that when I hold onto God, keep standing in my faith and in the things that God has told me to do situations turn around. The battles don't appear as big, I find peace, and there is rest when I trust in God. I resolve I'm not going to quit.

Book Review: The Power of a Woman's Words

The Power of a Woman’s Words

 by Sharon Jaynes

Best For:   All women to be challenged and reminded of the potential for impacting various people with our words.

Overview: The book is separated into three sections-the power we possess, the people we impact (children, husband, friends, believers, the world, and God), and the potential to change. I love the many quotes and scriptures she inserts into the chapters throughout the book. Sharon also includes a myriad of real life illustrations. I really appreciate the ideas at the end of a few chapters, such as for kids and husbands-words to avoid, words they long to hear. At the end of another chapter there’s a list of simple words of kindness to use when speaking with anyone. In the last section of the book on the potential for change, Sharon shares there are at least twelve proverbs that tell how the heart affects our speech-change begins with the heart. Sharon also gives a list on the difference between truly listening and waiting for your turn to talk…great insight!

Few Quotes:

 “When we become women who expect the best in others and use our words to tell them so, they usually go to great lengths to meet our expectations.”

“I am the product of the power of a woman’s words. Mrs. Henderson’s words to me about Jesus Christ and God’s love changed my life. But it wasn’t just her words about Jesus that made the difference. It was her words about life in general that drew me like iron shavings to a magnet. She made me want what she had-excitement, enthusiasm, and a zest for life.”

“If we want to change the way we speak, I believe the first step is to check on the condition of the heart.”

“Jesus was a very busy man. And yet He was never too busy to offer a kind word to the men and women who crossed His path on a daily basis…they were not interruptions at all. Each encounter was a divine appointment from His heavenly Father, who controlled the moments of Jesus’ days. Could it be that God is sending us out on special assignment each time we cross the thresholds of our homes?”

Application:  I challenged my kids and myself to memorize Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” I want them to know the affect of their own words at a young age. It has been helpful in doing so because in situations I refer them to that scripture and ask them if their words are bringing death or life to someone else. Just by teaching and asking my kids that question helps remind me, too! I think a testimony of this is seen in our kids. Our son Rob was really being complimented for dressing up for church. My husband and I believe that our older son Marcus began to dress up for church as well- for one of the reasons being that he heard the positive praise Rob got for doing so. Positive praise and encouragement have brought an atmosphere into our home that makes it pleasant to dwell in for everyone.

My thoughts: Not only are our words powerful, but this book is powerful! It is vital to read about the power of our words and the impact and affect of them on people’s lives. I highly recommend this book as it challenges, convicts, inspires, equips, and encourages all to think before we speak. Our words can change the course of someone’s life!  After reading this book I desired to pray, for the author states that words are “never more powerful than when we use our words in prayer.” 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” ~ Psalm 19:14

Quote from George Herbert

"He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass."

      ~George Herbert

Quote from Corrie Ten Boom

"What have you done today that only a Christian would have done?"

~Corrie Ten Boom

Quote from E.M. Bounds

E.M. Bounds

"Just as God has commanded us to pray always, to pray everywhere, and to pray in everything, so he will answer always, everywhere, and in everything."

Book Review: The Mommy Manual

The Mommy Manual

(Planting roots that give your children wings)   By Barbara Curtis

Overview:  This book is divided into three main parts: treasures (keys to joyful motherhood and childhood), measures (keys to serving and character), and pleasures (keys to cultural heritage and family legacy). There are a variety of hints/tips/suggestions throughout the book. For example, seven strategies that build a strong work ethic and twenty ways to encourage reading. 

Few Quotes:  “To be happy, don’t do whatever you like, like whatever you do!”

“God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.”

“If you want to be treated like a princess act like a servant. If you want to be treated like a servant, act like a princess.”

My thoughts: I think this book is extremely helpful and resourceful. I need ideas in my parenting and like to try them. One thing Barbara encourages you to do is observe your children. Watch them and learn about them. Take the time to write some notes down as you watch your child throughout a day. I did that with my two children (at the time) and learned a lot about them. I look back on this list from years ago and see that some things on the list I made are still the same (character qualities, likes and dislikes) and there are others that were weaknesses that they have overcome. 

Specific points I gleaned from the book:

--see the world my children see…see myself through my children's eyes (they imitate what they   

   see in me)

--be a confident parent…try to my best ability not to perfection

--be willing to do things different in order for things to function better

--have a child friendly home…a child’s workplace

My Personal Application:  Something I initiated in our lives after reading the book was “Waffle Wednesdays”. I loved the last section of the book on traditions and the importance of them for your family and kids. We already had many in place in regards to Easter, Christmas, and birthdays. However, we didn’t have a frequent one for our kids to remember.  We love waffles and so I started “Waffle Wednesdays”. The first reason I made it that day was to limit our sugary breakfast intake to once a week. Secondly, it was easy to remember with the double W sound for the kids. They loved the idea and to this day they still declare "It's Waffle Wednesday”-they know what’s for breakfast every Wednesday!

Five Minutes A Day

I've read in books in the past that the best way to keep your mind focused on an area you are working on is to read five minutes a day about that topic. I can say that has helped me! That is why (I'll speak for myself) I should read my Bible daily to keep my mind, my thoughts, my heart on God and not on all the other stuff that so easily distracts me. Which that happens SO easily! I like to try and read my five minutes a day on being a godly wife for my husband, child training/parenting as a mother, and Christian living as a disciple of Jesus. 

I encourage anyone to take the 5 minute challenge. A little morsel of wisdom is better than nothing!

Quote from Barbara Hughes

"Nurturing is my responsibility before God as a human being and in particular because I am female. The context for where and how I will care for others will be dictated by where God places me-in a home, in a school, in a hospital, in the inner city, wherever. Someday I will answer to God for how I nurtured life on this planet."

~Barbara Hughes

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie OMartian

               

The main point of this book is that prayer is powerful. What is prayer? Prayer is talking to God from your heart-being honest, open, and humble in your own words you speak to Him. Prayer is not something formal, it's casual. It's sharing your heart with God. One of the many amazing things about God is that He always delights to hear us talk to Him.
Stormie says in the beginning of her book that prayer is “relying on God’s power to transform you, your husband, your circumstances, and your marriage.” The greatest thing I can do as a wife is pray for myself and my husband. Stormie clearly lays out a plan for praying for 30 specific areas (first one being you the wife) to pray for.  When I first saw the book, I thought wow there are so many areas I can pray for my husband that I never thought about. Thankfully, I have been enlightened!

Stormie sets about to pray for one specific area per chapter, but first starts out each chapter by talking about a personal story or example or words of wisdom from the Bible that God has shown her about that area.

Here’s a list of specific areas Stormie addresses:

1.       His Wife

2.       His Work

3.       His Finances

4.       His Sexuality

5.       His Affection

6.       His Temptations

7.       His Mind

8.       His Fears

9.       His Purpose

10.    His Choices

11.    His Health

12.    His Protection

13.    His Trials

14.    His Integrity

15.    His Reputation

16.    His Priorities

17.    His Relationships

18.    His Fatherhood

19.    His Past

20.    His Attitude

21.    His Marriage

22.    His Emotions

23.    His Walk

24.    His Talk

25.    His Repentance

26.    His Deliverance

27.    His Obedience

28.    His Self-Image

29.    His Faith

30.    His Future

I personally wanted to continue to pray for these areas for my husband, so I typed them out and made it into a bookmark in my Bible. So, when I would spend my time with God reading and praying, I would see the list and continue to go through it praying one each day.

Also, I didn’t feel I had to word my prayers exactly as Stormie did verbatim when praying for my husband, but I’m thankful she offers that in her book as a launching pad for my own prayers. It’s not about saying a specific prayer over and over again exactly the same way. It’s about having a right heart about what I’m praying for and trusting God to move in those areas.

A wise word someone shared with me going along with this is, “Don’t pray for others what you cannot pray for yourself!” i.e. Deliver them from pride…I must be willing to pray that for myself.

Stormie is very encouraging when she says, “There is a time to speak and a time not to speak, and happy is the man whose wife can discern between the two.” Sometimes it’s better to be quiet and pray about it!
Happy Praying!