Posted on my category page: This is Where I Stand
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet , chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." ~ Titus 2:3-5
The Word tells us that the older women of the church are to walk a godly walk before the younger women of the church. It also tells us that they are to teach the younger women how to walk that same godly walk. Is it just me, just my church, just my region of the country, or is there really an absence of "Titus 2" older women out there? I have trouble finding them!
Guess what, ladies! It's our job to pick up the torch. We cannot let this trend continue in the church. We must get back to the Word of God and the lifestyle He has called us to. Think you're not old enough? There's always a young woman in your life who needs answers. Maybe some adolescent girls who are nearing the age of marriage and motherhood. Maybe someone close to your own age, or even older, but who is less experienced than you. She's a new Christian maybe? She's a new mother? She's recently convicted about changes that need to be made in her life?
"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." ~ I Timothy 4:12
Wisdom is knowledge gained from experience. What have you learned in your walk with the Lord, in your experiences as a wife and mother? What has the Lord taught you from His word? About honesty? About self-control? About teaching others? About having a meek, quiet, teachable spirit? About loving your husband? About loving your children? About gossiping (or not!)? About being a keeper at home? About submission in marriage? These are things that do not come naturally to most women (unless they were raised by a Titus 2 woman). These are things that many, many of us need to be taught. The Word says so!!! If these things are not taught to the younger women, then the word of God will be "blasphemed!" Wow!
Are you willing to be a vessel? Make yourself available to God first, to your family next, and then to other women in your life. Learn, learn, learn from the Word and put it into practice. And then teach, teach, teach all that you have gained. It's our responsibility gals. Let's step up to the high calling of our Lord!
~Layla
Posted on my category page: This is Where I Stand
I was speaking today with a young girl who had recently attended a church youth group lock-in. She had stayed awake all night because the teenagers in attendance were "punishing" those who fell asleep. I will not describe the punishment here, I'll just say it was disgusting. I cannot believe that Christian youth leaders allowed this type of behavior!
Many will say, "Oh, what's the big deal. That's just part of being a kid." When I was a young girl, I attended sleepovers where pranks were pulled. We were all unsaved children, but even then I knew it was wrong. I knew it made me uncomfortable. Why should we, as Christians, just allow this behavior to continue because "everybody does it." If adults behaved this way, they'd be charged with harassment or abuse!
We have decided that our children will not be involved in the church youth group when they reach that age. This lock-in just reaffirms that decision. I believe Christian children should be held to a higher standard of behavior. Disgusting pranks are not acceptable.
John 17:14
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To be a peculiar people means that we stand out from society. Let's stand out for the right reasons. Let's stand on the Word of God. Let's stand up for decency, feminity, chivalry, modesty, and respect. Let's shun the practices of the world because their practices are simply wrong. We don't have to accept things like this. After all, if we, as Christians, do not teach our children better and expect more out of them, who will?
~Layla
Posted on my category page: This is Where I Stand
100 Things About Me
I saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun.
1. I love Jesus!
2. I'm married to the best man alive and I love him!
3. I'm blessed with 5 wonderful children, plus 1 in Heaven, and I love them all!
4. I'm a SAHHM (stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom).
5. I love being home with my children.
6. I enjoy doing laundry.
7. I enjoy using my clothesline.
8. I enjoy washing dishes by hand.
9. I enjoy wearing an apron when I work in the kitchen.
10. I would love to have more babies.
11. We have adopted a son.
12. I would love to adopt a sibling group.
13. I love homeschooling!
14. I love writing lesson plans.
15. I love reading.
16. I enjoy sewing.
17. I enjoy working on our family scrapbooks.
18. I am ridiculously "behind" on our scrapbooks and don't expect to catch up for years!
19. I love my Grandparents and Grandparents-in-law.
20. I love my Parents and Parents-in-law.
21. I love my siblings and siblings-in-law.
22. I have 3 sisters-in-law with the same name!
23. I love my nephews and nieces.
24. I enjoy gardening.
25. My favorite color is blue -- because I've never seen an ugly shade of blue!
26. I enjoy cutting vegetables.
27. I'm a political conservative.
28. I'm an Army wife.
29. I love the morning, but I usually stay up late at night.
30. I like hardwood floors.
31. I like to decorate in earth tones.
32. I prefer curtains to blinds.
33. I make all our curtains.
34. I enjoy birds, flowers, gardening, and gentle breezes in the spring.
35. I enjoy lying in the grass in the shade, running through the sprinkler with my children, and thunderstorms in the summer.
36. I enjoy the sound of crunching leaves, the colors of the trees, and wearing sweatshirts in the autumn.
37. I enjoy looking at fresh-fallen snow in the winter. That's about it. I don't like winter.
38. I'm really enjoying blogging, but I have to limit my time spent here -- it's very easy to get carried away!
39. I love to sit near water -- lakes, rivers, oceans -- I find it peaceful and relaxing. It helps me think.
40. I prefer natural sunlight -- it also helps me think.
41. I wish I only ate healthy foods.
42. I wish I drank more water.
43. My favorite beverages are white milk, Cherry Coke, green tea, and hot chocolate.
44. My favorite foods are salads with lots of raw veggies, just-baked chocolate chip cookies, fresh pineapple, fresh strawberries, apple pie, and anything Mexican.
45. I prefer dogs to cats.
46. I don't know what I would do without a computer, pens and paper, or books.
47. I love the smells of babies, freshly-sharpened pencils, freshly-turned soil, and apple pies.
48. I didn't think it would be so hard to come up with 100 things about myself.
49. I always have late library books.
50. I rarely watch television, excluding children's videos with my babies.
51. I wish I had more time to read.
52. I use different scented soaps, shampoos, and candles in each of the seasons, usually: vanilla/almond/milk&honey for winter, lavendar/lilac for spring, orange/lemon/lime for summer, apple/cinnamon/pumpkin for autumn.
53. I would love to move away and experience new places, but I would hate to leave my family to do so.
54. I believe that children are one of the greatest blessings the Lord gives us.
55. I am near-sighted.
56. One of the things I enjoy most about homeschooling is learning new things right along with my children.
57. I am terrible with geography.
58. I hated history and government when I was in school. Now I wish I'd paid more attention back then.
59. I love algebra.
60. I love making an entire meal from scratch, I just don't like the ratio of time spent in the kitchen (lots) to the time it actually takes to share the meal with my family (not much).
61. I'm learning to appreciate my husband more.
62. I'm learning to be more patient.
63. I'm learning to control my tongue.
64. I wish I had more time for Bible study.
65. I love libraries!
66. I wish women dressed more modestly these days.
67. I love how feminine I feel wearing long skirts.
68. I prefer slip-on shoes.
69. I don't like wearing layers.
70. I enjoy reading magazines.
71. I am the queen of unfinished projects.
72. I am also the queen of paper clutter.
73. My favorite Christian music artists are Jeremy Camp and Sara Groves.
74. My favorite books are the Bible, The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace, and The New Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson.
75. My favorite movies are Sense and Sensibility and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
76. I am a college graduate. I have a bachelors degree in elementary education.
77. My top 3 biggest regrets are spreading a rumor about a classmate in high school, not learning to appreciate my husband sooner, and allowing my perfectionism to keep me from completing important tasks.
78. My top 3 biggest accomplishments are accepting the Lord Jesus as my savior, marrying my husband, and becoming a mother.
79. I am short in stature.
80. I have very long hair.
81. I married my high school sweetheart.
82. We own about 1,000 books.
83. I love to shop at farmers' markets.
84. I plan to start a small salad garden this year.
85. Spring is my favorite season, followed by Autumn, then Summer, then Winter.
86. I don't like to clothes shop but I do like to shop for books, school & office supplies.
87. On dates with my hubby I like to go to bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, and occasionally to movie theatres.
88. I don't like coffee. I drink hot chocolate at coffee shops.
89. I love canvas tote bags. I own dozens of them.
90. My top 3 prized possessions are my Bible, my wedding ring, and my family scrapbooks.
91. I enjoy being pregnant.
92. I enjoy nursing my babies.
93. I do not regret giving up my career to stay home with my children.
94. I believe the Lord should be allowed to control the womb.
95. I believe in marriage between 1 man and 1 woman.
96. I believe that parents are the best teachers.
97. I believe that the United States of America is the best country in the world, and we must protect her.
98. I believe in a free Narnia. hee hee hee
99. I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him! John 14:6
100. I believe I am finally done with this list! Thanks for reading.
