Filthiness Of The Flesh

In bed the other night, my soul felt tormented like Lot's did when he lived in Sodom and Gomorrah for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard. 

2 Peter 2:8

I watch some talk shows to get a pulse of what is going on in society and for material for my blog.  One talk show has some fairly raunchy topics.  I usually speed through them.  This particular day every topic was so bad that I kept replaying what they spoke about in my head that night when I went to bed.

I kept trying to renew my mind with God's Truth and get rid of the polluting thoughts but it wasn't easy.  I decided then that I was no longer going to watch that show anymore.  I woke up and that morning as I was meditating on II Corinthians 6 and 7 God ministered to me ~

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? ...for ye are the temple of the living God...Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,...and touch not the unclean thing...Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfection holiness in the fear of God.

My flesh had become filthy from the things I had listened to.  It was an awful feeling.  Bad company does corrupt good morals.  We are commanded to dwell on the lovely, the good, and the pure for a reason.  Satan wages war with our soul when we fail to do this.

It is getting more and more difficult to do this with television and the Internet.  Even when I go to my AOL account, I have to see disgusting poses of immodest women.  Commercials are filled with them.  We must be vigilant for the devil roams around like a roaring lion looking whom he can devour.

We are commanded to flee sexual immorality and not even have it be named among us.  I want to encourage you to spend time daily in the Word and prayer.  Listen to praise music and good sermons.  Read good books. Be careful what you watch on television and the Internet.  Never be passive while watching it.  Do all you can to perfect holiness in the fear of God as God commands us to do.

The Nightmare of Over Commitment

James Dobson finally came out and emphatically stated the detrimental effect women leaving the home to pursue a career has on a family ~

I have never written this before, and I will be criticized for saying so now, but I believe the two-career family during the child-rearing years creates a level of stress that is tearing people apart.  And it often deprives children of something that they will search for the rest of their lives.

For many years, he said that the early years in a child's life are the most important for a mother to be home. Then, he decided that elementary years were just as important. Finally, he changed his mind that high school years were the most important. Now, he has come to the realization that children need a mother in the home during ALL the years that they are under their parent's roof. They need to be taken care of , protected, given boundaries, and trained. 

Dr. Dobson goes on to say ~

My prayer is that a scale-back from a lifestyle of constant time-pressures will someday occur. If it ever becomes a movement, it will portend wonderfully for the family. It should result in fewer divorces and more domestic harmony. Children will regain the status they deserve and their welfare will be enhanced on a thousand fronts. We haven't begun to approach these goals yet, but we can only hope that a significant segment of the population will awaken someday from the nightmare of over commitment and say, "This is a crazy way to live. There has to be a better way than this to raise our kids. We will make the financial sacrifices necessary to slow the pace of living." 

It is not enough simply to be at home and available to our children, however. We must use the opportunities of these few short years to teach them our values and beliefs. Millions of young people who have grown up in the relative opulence of North America have not had that training. They are terribly confused about transcendent values. We have given them more material blessings than any generation in history. They have had opportunities never dreamed of by their ancestors. Most have never heard the pounding of artillery shells or the explosion of grenades. More money has been spent on their education, medical care, entertainment, and travel than any who have gone before. Yew we have failed them in the most important of all parental responsibilities: We have not taught them who they are as children of God or what they have been placed here to do.

Most pastors and teachers are afraid to say these kind of things these days because so many women will get offended. Many women would probably leave a church that taught this! We should never be afraid of teaching God's truths. We must continue to shine the light of Truth in this dark world. Children need a mother at home. They do. They really do.

She looks well to the ways of her household 

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

The War Against Boys

Do you know that every road, freeway, building, home, jet, car, appliance, and most of the items we use in daily life were invented and built by men?  Men are the cornerstone of any society yet our society continues to tear them down.

Women are outnumbering men in almost every educational institution.  Many boys grow up without fathers and no masculine role models in their lives.  Our society is slowly being feminized, even in the churches.  We use to sing, "Onward Christians soldiers, marching on to war..."  Does your church ever sing that?  Now we sing songs like, "I want see You, I want to touch You....," more touchy, feely kind of songs.  If women had their way, there would definitely be no football.

We need men!  We need them to defend us if evil attacks.  I just heard that little boys are suspended from school if they play cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers!  They have slowly been taking away recess out of schools also, the only place boys have to get out their aggression. This is tragic!  We must allow our boys to act like boys.

Mothers, do not interfere when your husbands are tough on your boys.  They don't want wimpy sons.  They want strong men who can handle the difficulties of life and fight for their wives and children.

I have heard on different shows and read in different books women saying that the world would be a much better place if women ruled the world.  Little do women know, the best place to rule the world is by raising children with your values to go out and spread those values.

Never think that your place in the home is worthless.  It is God's ordained place for you.  You will have a much greater impact on society if you raise your sons to be men of God who take strong stands for goodness, morality, integrity, and honesty.

Here is a good book written about the war on boys.  Let us not allow our boys to be feminized by this culture.  Teach your daughters the value of masculine men.  Have your sons listen to pastors like Mark Driscoll who admonishes men to be men. Don't let society steal our sons.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, 

be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

I Corinthians  6:13,14

Putting The Toilet Lid Down

Ken is very good about putting the toilet seat down.  He has been ever since we got married.  I am very grateful for that!  However, we have two cats who like to drink out of our toilet.  I don't want them drinking out of it because I don't think it is sanitary for them or for us to sit where the cats have been standing.

I decided the way to stop them was to keep the toilet lid down.  I have asked Ken several times to do it giving him my reasons why.  He remembers once in awhile but not often.  I walked past the bathroom yesterday and the lid was up.

I thought, "I could either be upset with him, scold him, and remind him once more or I can forget about it and just close it myself."  I decided to do the latter.  I spent way too many years being upset with him because he wasn't doing things the way I wanted him to do them.  It accomplished nothing good, just a bad marriage.

All of our husbands do things that can irritate us if we let them.  Women write me often about their husbands not helping with the children or housework, etc.  We all have a choice to make on how we are going to respond.  We can tell them our desires one time, maybe a few more, but then let it go.

Being angry and upset are Satan's tools to drive a wedge in the relationship.  Don't let him succeed.  God wants us to pursue peace even when things aren't going our way and our husbands are not "obeying" us.

Life is so much sweeter when you don't let your emotions control you but you decide to do what is right instead.  Keeping peace in your marriage is worth the sacrifice of not getting your way.  Accept your husband just the way he is with all of his faults and bad habits and you will find life to be much more peaceful and you will be much easier to live with for your whole family.  So next time you see the toilet lid up, his towel on the floor, or his dirty dishes in the sink, be a servant and put down the lid, pick up his towel, and clean his dirty dishes.  Peace is a beautiful thing.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy;

 without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Casting Your Care {Cyber Knife Update}

Joyce Meyer said her husband never worries about anything.  If she is anxious and worried about something and goes to him about it, he will always tell her to "Cast your cares..."

I love that.  I start Cyber Knife treatment tomorrow.  I am anxious about it so I keep casting my care.  The treatments will be 45 to 50 minutes long.  I will have to wear a tightly fitted mask covering my whole face that is bolted down to a table so I won't move at all.

Half of the people take a sedative to relax them.  I can't take any drugs orally since my gut is so sensitive to drugs.  I am going to have to depend upon the peace that passes understanding for this.  I am scheduled for treatments Monday through Friday.

So instead of worrying about it like I was doing, every time I think about it I cast my care upon the Lord and it helps so much.  He commands that we be anxious or worried about  nothing.  He wants to take our burden upon Himself and carry it for us.  What peace this has brought me.

I am asking for prayers for perfect peace and protection for my pituitary and optic nerve.  My radiologist said it took longer than normal to map out and figure treatment since the tumor bumps up against critical structures.  This is why the treatments are longer than normal also.

I thank the Lord for Cyber Knife and doctors who know how to work this complicated thing.  God can use any means to heal and it would be wonderful if He would use this to heal me forever of this tumor and keeps me from having to ever go on hormone replacement.

However, I know that He is in control, knows my future, and I can rest secure in that.  Thank you for all your prayers and support.  God's people have comforted me and have helped me get through this difficult time.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

Matthew 11:28,29

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I Peter 5:7

Football Players Praying

Did you know the NFL wanted to get rid of  football players holding hands, kneeling, and praying after games?  They threatened to fine them.  Many of the players said they would continue to pray and pay the fine.

So, let's get this straight.  They can show all sorts of filthy commercials and halftime shows but heaven forbid if some players want to get together at the end of a game and pray.

Why are people offended when football players pray?  How come the networks purposely try to avoid showing them praying?  How come people want to get rid of crosses, the Ten Commandments, nativity scenes, etc.?

It is because anything holy is obnoxious to them and a threat to the world of darkness in which we live.  It makes them uncomfortable because when light shines in the darkness, it exposes their sin.  Many hate anything that represents Jesus, godliness, holiness, righteousness, and salvation.

Truth makes people uncomfortable.  Are you willing to speak truth and make others uncomfortable?   If you are speaking Truth, make sure you are living it.  People are tired of hypocrites.  They want to see what Jesus really looks like and they should be able to see Him when they look at us.  

A righteous life is a powerful life.  We can have a righteous life.  When we believe, we become new creatures in Christ and we have everything we need for life and godliness.  

 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:22

Experiencing An Empty Nest

Ten years ago as Ken and I were taking our evening walk, he said to me, "I have come to the conclusion that marriage is simply a partnership and that is all.  I am not sure what we are going to do when the kids leave home."

This made me so sad.  We didn't enjoy being together.  Most of the time we were together, we argued.  We rarely laughed or really enjoyed each other.

Thankfully, I read Created To Be His Help Meet and found out how to have a great marriage.  We now enjoy being together, even if I am not that well most of the time.  We don't argue anymore.  We listen to each other.  We enjoy doing the same things.  We like having an empty nest!

Learn from me, young women.  Love your husbands while you are young so when your children are all gone and have flown the coop, your husband can say that he truly rejoices with the wife of his youth.

Let your fountain be blessed: 
and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 5:18

We had a discussion about Halloween on my Facebook page the other day.  
I wrote a post on my views last year that you can read HERE.

Why Older Women?

Why does God want older women to mentor the younger women?  I see all these younger women teaching other women and I wonder how they do it.  I think the Lord wants older women teaching younger women because they have the time to do it.

James Dobson gives a great reason to not be too busy during your child raising years ~

Crowded lives produce fatigue, fatigue produces irritability, and irritability produces indifference.  Indifference can be interpreted by the child as a lack of genuine affection and a sense of belonging.  Children just don't fit into a "to do" list very well.  It takes time to be an effective parent when children small.  It takes time to introduce them to good books.  It takes time to fly kites and play ball and put together jigsaw puzzles.  It takes time to listen, once more, to the skinned-knee episode and talk about the bird with the broken wing.  These are building blocks of family life, held together with the mortar

of love.  It seldom materializes amidst busy timetables.

This is one reason God wants older women to teach the younger women to be keepers at home.  When I encourage you to be a keeper at home, I encourage you to spend your time and energy on raising your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,  love and please your husband, fix nourishing food, keep a tidy home, etc.  NOT spend your time on things that take your time away from these important things. 

Another reason, I believe, is that older women don't get offended as easily.  I read these blogs of young women who close down their blog if they get offended or if they get criticized and attacked, it causes them to get upset and stressed out.  They have children to protect, are younger, and don't have the life experiences that older women have.

If you are blessed to be able to be home full-time, don't use that time on outside ministries.  Use it on ministering to your family.  Your children will be grown up before you know it and you will have plenty of time to teach the younger women how to be godly wives and mothers.

I will therefore that the younger women marry, 

bear children, guide the house, 

give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

I Timothy 5:14

Making Your Home Sing

Breaking The Chain Of Divorce

Some of the comments left on my blog are so powerful that I just have to share them with you.  I try very hard to teach God's Word plainly and clearly.  Some of the best ways to do this is by reading other's experiences.  This is the case with Kelley.  You can find her blog HERE.

Both of my parents worked outside of the home.  Dad never has lived for God and left mother for another married woman.  The gavel came down on their marriage after 25 years and two days.

Mother never griped, never complained about her lot in life of working Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 in return for money.  However, at 74 years of age, today Mother teaches what Lori teaches.  Why?  Because that's God's Word.  There is no judging when we simply teach the Word of God.

In the book of Isaiah, the Lord said, "Woe to the rebellious children that take counsel, but not of Me."  We should never be guilty of being in contempt with God's Word.

My parents' decision was that Mother would work outside the home as she raised four children.  That's history.  Lori isn't judging Mother; she is teaching women younger than herself what God's Word says, giving us parables or personal examples to back it up.  Of course, God's Word can always stand alone.  It doesn't need Lori to do that, but in obedience we older women teach the younger.  God's Word can never lie, be mistaken or incorrect.  Thankfully God is our judge and not Lori.

When I look back on my parent's marriage, I am sad.  I believe in my heart things could have been different if Mother had been able to stay at home and please her husband all day and all night long.  But it's history now and I must break that chain of divorce that is a fact of my parent's marriage, and both of their parent's marriages, and even their grandparent's marriages.  The stress on my parent's marriage is what's sad.  I know this from experience.

Such words of wisdom.  I am accused of judging others when I teach God's truth.  No, I am not judging you mothers who work, I am simply teaching you what God teaches and His ways.  Some of you really have no choice but a lot of you do.  Some want to be full-time mothers but your husbands won't let you.

Thank you, Kelley, for sharing your powerful story with us!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

Praising His Stay-At-Home Wife!

This is a topic I am fairly passionate about if you haven't noticed!  I am commanded by God as an older woman to teach young women to be "keepers at home."  Many women have written me or emailed me with the desire to be home but their husbands want them to work outside the home.   My heart goes out to them.

When one of my readers told me about a blog post of a man promoting his stay-at-home wife, I was thrilled to read it.  Here is a glimpse of what he wrote ~

Yes, my wife is JUST a mother. JUST. She JUST brings forth life into the universe, and she JUST shapes and molds and raises those lives. She JUST manages, directs and maintains the workings of the household, while caring for children who JUST rely on her for everything. She JUST teaches our twins how to be human beings, and, as they grow, she will JUST train them in all things, from morals, to manners, to the ABC’s, to hygiene, etc. She is JUST my spiritual foundation and the rock on which our family is built. She is JUST everything to everyone. And society would JUST fall apart at the seams if she, and her fellow moms, failed in any of the tasks I outlined.

I say a big AMEN to this!  I am thankful to see a husband that sees the immense value in his wife raising his children instead of bringing in more money and sacrificing his children's welfare for the almighty dollar.  It seems there are few men out there like this anymore, sadly.

If you want to be home full-time with your children, make out a thoughtful letter of reasons for wanting to be home and give it to your husband.  You can cook from scratch, shop at yard sales, be rested to take good care of him when he gets home, have hot meals ready for him at the end of a long time, have time for intimacy with him, train your children, keep the home clean, just to name a few.

After much prayer, give it to him and then abide by his wishes.  If he wants you to work, do it cheerfully but then consistently plead with the Lord to change your husband's mind and heart.  I know it is difficult, dear mothers, but the Lord promises to give you the strength you will need to accomplish His will.

HERE is the whole blog post.  I encourage you to read it along with your husband.  Some women have asked for blogs for men to read.  This may be a good one.

So I would have younger women marry, 

bear children, manage their households, 

and give the adversary no occasion for slander.

I Timothy 5:14

Have Christians Destroyed Traditional Marriage?

According to Dave Daubenmire Christians are responsible for destroying traditional marriage ~

From the day the church began to teach that sex was for recreation rather than for reproduction marriage was doomed. Birth-control paved the way to the bedroom as a playground. The church fights gay marriage while it winks and nods at fornication in all of its heterosexual forms. Christians’ selfishness destroyed marriage.

Not one good thing has come from birth control being introduced to this country.  It has made it easier than ever to have promiscuous sex.  It has allowed married couples to not want children.  It has allowed children to be a throw away product, namely abortion.  Men can get sex for free without commitment. We, not God, are in control of our sex lives now.

Christians are divorcing at the same rate as unbelievers.  We have made a mockery of marriage.  Most don't take it seriously.  If a spouse isn't happy, they get out.

If the Christian community really were Christ followers, walking in obedience to Christ, we would have made a much bigger impact upon society.  For one thing, we would have a lot more children who were raised in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord walking around being salt and light.

For another, we wouldn't get divorce.  It would not even be named among us.  Our marriages would be strong, solid marriages reflecting the image of Christ and His church.  We would be setting an example to those around us how glorious marriage truly can be.

Peace and love would pervade our homes and outsiders would be drawn to what we have and ask us where our hope was from.  They would see marriages really could last forever.  People could grow old together happily.

I am sure you know what I think is the main problem...older women have neglected their role in training the younger women how to love and obey their husbands, be keepers at home, etc.  The church dropped the ball on this one and listened to the lies of feminism instead by following the world's example instead of the Bible's commands.

If all the older women would step up to the plate and teach the younger women the amazing value God puts on wives and mothers and that their place in the home has infinite value, the younger women would be content being wives and having children and men would want to stay married.

Let us go back to doing things the way God commands us to and at least get the Christian community back on the right track starting with us.  Are you up for the challenge?

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, 
and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; 
for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4

Weed Your Front Yard

How does your front yard look?  If it looks bad, overgrown with weeds, and not tidy, this is what the Bible says about that ~

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.  

Proverbs 24:30-34

Proverbs is full of admonitions against laziness and disorder.  God is a God of order and beauty.  He wants us to be people who work hard and anything we do, to do it with all our might.

When you have a neat and tidy front yard, you are being a witness to your neighbors.  When it is ugly, you are being a bad witness.  You want them to be happy you are their neighbors and an example in every way to others.

We must not do anything that hurts or harms our witness to the power of Christ living within us.  Yes, I know this is a minor thing, but it is nevertheless important especially since there is a verse in the Bible speaking about this very problem.

So if your front yard is ugly, have a family day once a month or once a week if need be and get it cleaned up as a ministry to your neighborhood.  The same should go for the inside of your home.  Train your children to work hard and keep things neat and tidy.  This will benefit them all of their lives.

Rewinding Her Mothering Career

Isn't this the cutest family?  Seven precious children all in a row.  What greater blessing from God can you ask for?  So many couples fear having a lot of children.  The main reason given is financial reasons.  I don't think this should ever be a reason to not have children.

During Israel's bondage in Egypt when they were slaves, they grew mighty and powerful from all the children they had.  God is our provider.  If He blesses you with children, He will provide.  Meditate on Psalm 37:25 and believe it.  Never take your fertility for granted!

 The woman in the above picture wrote a beautiful post about her mother.  Her mother lost her father to cancer after 35 years of marriage.  Her mother wrote down a list of all the things she wish she would have known about her husband and how she should have treated him while he was alive.  Learn from her!

If I could rewind my mothering career, I would have put more energy and emphasis into being a better wife. Our primary vocation is to be a wife first and then a mother. Because of the exhausting demands of small children, most women lose focus on their marriage. Either they overlook their spouse and put him on the bottom of their “to-do” lists or they begin to treat him “as one of the children.” The bond of marriage is stronger than the bond of children because in marriage, “two become one flesh”—one flesh—you are no longer a single person after marriage you become absorbed into your husband.

I wish I had known how a man feels like a failure at work each day, and look to their wives to make them feel like a hero. If he comes home to a wretch, he feels like a failure at work and at home.

You can read the rest HERE.  It is so easy to forget that our main ministry in life is to be a help meet to our husband.  Don't wait until you lose your husband to remember this important truth.

And the LORD God said, It is not good that 

the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Genesis 2:18

Superbugs and Antibiotics

An infectious disease specialist was on Katie saying he is afraid of what our future holds concerning superbugs.  He thinks we are going to go back to pre-antibiotic days and many people will die much younger.  We have way overused antibiotics.  They were originally intended for life and death situations and now they are given for the common cold.

I get Dr. Dr. Schulze's newsletter and he talks a lot against the flu shot and antibiotics.  He believes working on a healthy immune system is the way to go since so many are dying from prescription drugs and getting superbugs in hospitals.

One doctor on the news stated that the ones with the strongest immune systems can usually pull through when they are infected with superbugs.  Dr. Schulze gave a list of some things we need to do to keep our immune systems strong so I thought I would list them for you.  

1 ~ Avoid sick people.

2 ~ Clean air.  Open your windows and let fresh air in as much as possible.

3 ~ Wash your hands often.

4 ~ Keep your fingers OUT of your nose, eyes, and mouth.

5 ~ Keep warm.

6 ~ Get more movement and sun.

7 ~ Get 8 hours of sleep.

8 ~ Avoid negativity.

I would add to watch carefully what you eat.  Eat food closest to the way God made it. Drink a lot of good bone broths salted with air-dried sea salt. Make sure you are getting probiotics from yogurt, kefir, or cultured foods for good gut health. Stay away from sugar and anything in a box or can. Eat mostly food prepared at home so you know what is in it.

We must not sit around and be afraid but do everything in our power to stay healthy and leave the rest with the Lord! If any of you have any more good suggestions, leave them in the comment section.  Thanks!

'For I will restore you to health 

and I will heal you of your wounds,' 

declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 30:17

Does Your Experience Trump God's Word?

Women frequently write to me or comment that they work full-time and/or their mothers worked full-time and they are very happy.  Their marriages are happy and their children are turning out great.  Does their experience mean I am not suppose to teach young women to be "keepers at home" as God has commanded me to do?

Whenever I write about submission, there are women who tell me they have great marriages and their marriages are one of equals.  They both have equal say, not one is the leader, and not one is submissive.  So does this mean I should not teach that women are to be submissive to their husbands and the husbands are the head of the wife even though Scripture is very clear about this?

Some of you never were spanked and you never spanked your children and you all grew up to be law abiding, self-disciplined adults.  Does this mean I never teach about using the rod as Scripture clearly teaches?  Should I not teach that God hates divorce and so you must do everything to save your marriage?  That those who don't work, shouldn't eat?  That husbands are to be the providers? etc.

All of you are free to live your lives the way you feel led.  I am simply here to teach God's Word and His ways.  You get to decide whether you want to live by them or not.  Some will use hermeneutical gymnastics to try and show me where I am wrong.

I may not be right and I am sure I am not right all the time but I am only trying to teach Scripture as I interpret it and what has worked beautifully for my family and me.  I loved having my mom home full-time and I am happy I was able to be home full-time with my children.  I am learning to be submissive to my husband and our marriage is better than ever.  We spanked our children, very infrequently, and only when they openly disobeyed us and they all grew up walking in Truth.

So, I am teaching out of God's Word and my experience as I have walked in obedience to His commands.  I wasn't submissive for many years and our marriage was not good.  I know some of you aren't submissive and have great marriages but I will continue to teach God's Word as I read and understand it, instead of trying to make it say what I want it to say.

God is our Creator.  He made us.  His Word is our instruction manual.  He knows what is best for us.  I trust Him and I see that His ways truly do work, over and over again.  I love and seek His wisdom.  He knows everything.  I love His ways.

For wisdom is better than jewels, 

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

 and I find knowledge and discretion."

Proverbs 8:11,12

The Result Of No Fault Divorce

Here is some more backlash from a post I wrote about our nation being a better place to live 50 years ago ~

As for divorce, Mary Ann Mason in The Equality Trap {pub 1988} documents how in 1969, No Fault divorce laws were passed and were pivotal to the increasing divorce rates. In other words, divorces were rare in the past because no one could get one, not because marriages were happier. Woman staying at home didn't guarantee a Godly nation. 

So couples didn't get divorced years ago as often since it was harder to get divorced even though women were unhappy in their marriages, but guess what, the children were much happier and our nation was a much safer place!  Women being happy is the most important goal in a nation?

Our nation was a much better place when divorce was rare, when mothers were raising their children, and fathers worked hard to provide for their family.  God's ways always work.  His Word is very clear that divorce should be rare, children should be raised by their mothers, and fathers should provide.

No fault divorce has led to the destruction of our nation.  Couples are no longer covenant keepers.  If marriage gets difficult, if personalities clash, if one is unhappy, simply get divorced.  As a result, children suffer, extended family members suffer, and ultimately, our nation suffers.

Let me ask you, are women really happier?  Studies show that those couples who stay together during the rough patches are much happier in the long run than those who get divorced.  Are women happier since they are able to have careers and work 40 hours a week?  I hear from many women how exhausted they are as depression, autoimmune and heart diseases, etc. rise among women.

We can never outsmart God and His ways no matter how hard we try.  His ways work.  He created us and He knows what He is talking about.  

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boastful, 

proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

2 Timothy 3:1,2

Baby Kenny Loves Television

My five month old grandbaby, Kenny, loves to watch television.  If you put him on a blanket in front of the television, he will just stare at it for a long time.  If I am holding him in my lap facing the television, he will continue to stare at it.  He loves it!

I was talking to a friend recently.  Her grandbaby was diagnosed with autism.  Her doctor told her to never let the baby stare at a computer screen or television.  It is not good for the development of the brain.

Mmmm, I thought.  I know Ryan and Erin don't let baby Kenny watch television and now I know why.  We just weren't created to stare at one place for a long, long time, especially a developing little brain.  I have heard that you should set your baby wherever you are so they can just watch you work.

Baby Kenny loves watching his big sister, Emma.  She keeps him very entertained because she never stops moving.  He just follows her with his eyes and head wherever she goes.  When I was holding him on my lap, he would look at whoever was talking and watch them.  This is good for babies.  This is how it ought to be.

A friend of mine who works with autistic children said that children need a lot of movement.  As soon as they start to crawl, let them crawl all over.  This is the best thing for ensuring a smart child.  She encourages couples not to put their babies in jumpy or walking things.  When they get older, make sure they are outside playing a lot.  They should spend very little time watching television or playing computer games and none when they are babies.

More and more children are being diagnosed with autism.  I'm not sure what is happening;  too many vaccinations, too many chemicals in the environment overloading a poor baby's immune system, I don't know but it is becoming way too common.

So, dear mothers, be good role models for your children.  Don't spend too much time on the computer, iPhone, or watching television, especially when they are young.  Take them on walks, play games with them, read to them, and put puzzles together.  It will help insure your child the best possibility of doing well in school.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: 

be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16

Living Over A Bowling Alley

From the time my dad was four years old to the time he was 21 years old, he lived in a little two-bedroom apartment with his mom and dad directly over a bowling alley.  His bed was right over the place where the balls hit the pins.  I asked him if it was hard to get use to the noise and he said it was at first.  {Now I know why he is such a good sleeper and can sleep anywhere!}

His dad was a machinist for Abbott Laboratories and made very little money but he never wanted his wife to work.  He wanted to be the provider and have his wife home taking care of the home and my dad.  I asked him if he ever felt poor.  He said he never remember missing one meal or going to bed hungry. He had a roof over his head, clothes on his back and a mother and father who loved him dearly.

My mom was raised by a milkman and his wife. They had seven children and my mom's mom never worked outside of the home. Men back in those days didn't want their wives to work. They wanted to be the provider and protector even though they had very little. People were content in smaller homes, only one car, few clothes and very little stuff.

My dad said times were different back then. He never wanted my mom to work. He liked having her at home raising us. He worked very hard so she would never have to. Most men seem to care much more about building their financial empire and buying things than their spiritual lineage through children walking in Truth.

A doctor wrote me the other day this email ~

 After almost seven years of government service and in agreement with my husband, I will be leaving my job with the government to return home full time in approximately 23 days (resignation letter will be delivered Friday, please pray for me here:-) and also to work some of the businesses God gave me as ministry in many ways. Your blog kept me encouraged as I made the hard steps toward this transition. I could say so much more but I am so looking forward to the return to home as I have for many years had to divide my attention between work and family to a detriment of not only my health but on some level my family. I feel extraordinarily blessed that my family was not terribly compromised however but my stressful job really inhibited my ability to be all that I know God wants me to be to my family {husband and one son} in the way of service. 

I am so happy for her. Every female doctor that I know personally regrets begin a doctor once they have babies. They want so badly to be able to be home full-time but can't because of all the debt they have from their education. This woman has realized that her true ministry is to her family. I am praying more and more men are realizing the value their wives have of being stay-at-home moms and learn the value of having and buying less stuff.

Keep your lives free from the love of money
 and be content with what you have, 
because God has said, "Never will I leave you; 
never will I forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5

Be Of One Mind, Live In Peace

The Bible continually admonishes us to live in peace, to pursue peace, and to be called peacemakers.  II Corinthians 13:11 states, "Be of one mind. Live in peace."  This should define our lives, especially our homes.  For how will the world know God if they don't see his attributes being lived out in His children?

This is why God establishes order in the church and in the family.  Every organization needs leaders.  If there is one leader and everyone respects and obeys that leader, there will be peace whether in a church or family.

I have been in churches where people did not respect the leader and there was no peace.  Most families have no leader and there is strife and chaos.  God doesn't make commands to make life miserable for us but to make it better.

Many women don't agree with submission or a husband's leadership.  However, if you ever want to be of one mind and live in peace, the best way is to allow your husband to lead and you follow his lead.  It is quite simple really.  It works in businesses, government, and churches.  It will work in the home.

I just ran into a beautiful young woman who was just about to be married. Yesterday was her wedding, in fact.  I spoke to her about my ministry.  She was blessed to be raised in a home where there was no strife; her mother was submissive to her father, and her father was the leader.  She was modeled a Christ-centered marriage and home.  She is on her way to a fabulous marriage, I told her.

It is never too late to change!  God's ways always work when obeyed.  He is a good God and He would love to see all of His children being of one mind and living in peace.  He is no different than us.  We want the very same thing for our children.

The end of that verse in II Corinthians ends in a promise, "And the God of love and peace shall be with you."  God keeps His promises.  Believe Him.