That they may train the young women...

For the last 6 to 7 weeks, Dad has been doing a class on church leadership at one of the congregations in south. While Dad spoke to the men, Mom did a class for the ladies.

She focused her class on what woman can do to be better elders, and deacons wives. She looked at the examples of Eve, Sarah, Rebekah and Abigail. Also several ladies from Acts. With every example she asked "What can we learn to be a better elder's wife or deacon's wife?"

Things like:

*Submissiveness is very simple. It's Satan and self that make it difficult. (I love my Mom so much! She has a whole pocket full of old sayings and phrases...she raised us on them! But she pulled a new one on me! She said in summing up submission- "There gotta be chiefs, and there gotta be indians." And she is so right. If we follow God's instruction and rely fully on Him, so many issues would be cleared up!)

*Women are vital to the church. Without faithful women, there can be no elders or deacons.

*Mothers should be training their sons to be elders and deacons.

*Mothers should be training their daughters to be elder's wives and deacon's wives!

*God's role for women must be maintained, the results are less than God's standard when the boundaries are crossed.

*Being a wife and mother is the highest "job" a woman can have. God designed the woman for that precise purpose.

*Satan is going to try to get at Christian ladies however he can. We must be standing strong!

The conclusion Mom made was taken from Titus 2:5 "to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:"

When we are living our lives as Christian ladies, loving our husbands, children, teaching, being sober, responsible, etc. We cause the Word of God to work and not be put to shame! And to put that in reverse, when we aren't living with in our God given roles, we are blaspheming the Word of God!

Let's each help each other as we walk the path to heaven in our beautiful role as women for God. :)

"Ah miss, I remember Eli! He de judge with de bad sons!"

Today marks 6 weeks of teaching the R/I (Religeous Instruction) class at a primary government school here in Trinidad. I teach about 6 girls, ages 9-11, my sister Anna teaches a similar number of 8-10 year olds and my sister Emily teaches a class of 5-7 year olds!

It has been such a good experience teaching these young children. There has been the challenge of culture, a little language, and disciplinary differences. But they are eager to learn the Bible and soak up the stories and truths like little sponges. Some listen well, other take a little more work!

When we moved we brought a few visual aids for teaching; space was limited but the few we brought are fairly versatile. Mom's felts are great! But even so, I needed something for the story of I Samuel 26- Saul chasing David, David sneaking into Saul's camp, sparing his life and stealing Saul's spear, to sum it up!

One rule I've found- Children don't have to have fancy stuff for the story to come alive to them!

So here is what I made- I used just a yellow card stock paper 8 1/2 by 11, white scrap paper, sharpies, coloured pencils and tape. I drew and cut out the pieces, rolled tape on the backs and carried them to class on the back of one of my other laminated visuals. I then taped them to the yellow paper as I told the story. The tape was just un-sticky(from all the handling) enough that the moving around part of the story worked ok. Ideally I would cover these in contact paper and make magnets so it could be used again. (I may do that still!) The children loved it and listened the best yet!

The Word of God is powerful even when teaching children. It's good to help the children really see and understand the Bible truths through tasteful visual aids. But they simply don't have to be productions. A little creativity, a little simple art and some work can go a long way, especailly if you live in a place where that's necessary. (Just a little note, if you're not good at art, then brush up on it! You would be surprised how much it would help in a number of ways!)

I'm sure there are lots of ideas and helpful sites online, plus there are several websites and stores within the brotherhood to help too. Let's take advantage of all our resources and instill in our children, and those we come in contact with the wonderful Word of God.

And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15

Some Homespun Wisdom

My father was raised on a farm in Missouri and in turn reared his children on a small farm in Arkansas. He can tell some really neat stories about his adventures and experience. Many life lessons are learned living the way he did- life and death, hard work, profit and loss, the 'chance' of weather etc. In his Bible class Sunday as he taught on parenting and family, he used an illustration that really caught my attention:

"What would have happened if Adam had grabbed a hoe and chopped that snake that was bothering his wife?"

I smiled a little smile, because it sounds a little funny, but it's true. It's the question of our God-given freedom of choice. Every day we're faced with the choice of whether or not to follow God, whether or not to sin, whether or not to be the parent, sibling, or child we should be. That sounds so simple, and the principle is simple, but carrying it out is the hard work. But it's doable work, never forget that.

We have so many beautiful passages of promise about resisting Satan and choosing God. Hold on to these, hide them in your heart and never give up.

"Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." -James 4:7-8

"And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." -Genesis 39:12

"For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need." -Hebrews 4:15-16

I'm thankful for the wisdom of my heavenly Father and for the blessing of the wisdom of my physical father.

What are you thinking?!

We went to this tiny little congregation this afternoon that meet in a 10 by 25 foot room next to a automotive store. There were 13 members there plus us 9.....it was a neat experience, very humbling and makes you appreciate so many things. The lesson tonight was especially thought provoking- I want to share my notes with you- and ask you to think about it too.

The title of the lesson was "Checks from the neck up" (if that seems a little different, just think cultural differences.)

The mind is like a well. What goes into it will be drawn up.

"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:5-10

Three check ups for our minds-

I) Set our minds. Colossians 3:1-2- "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth."

We need to be sure our minds are focused on the right things. II Corinthians10:4-5

II) Renew our minds. -The old one is taken away and you get a new one. Romans 12:2-3

Matthew 15:18- "But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. "

Ephesians 4:22-24 - "and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth."

III) Gird our minds. Gird means to put on the right garments.

Luke 12:35

When we gird our minds properly we will understand why we are on the earth: to be servants.- John 13:3-5

Philippians 2:7 and I Peter 1:13-15

As Christians we must know what is right and what is wrong. And do it.

Be holy in all manner of living. I Peter 1:15- "but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living"

What you store up there [the mind] is what you show the brethren.

And the end of the matter is this:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

What are you thinking?

I know this is very simple, but upon reflection of the passages we must all be challenged to examine ourselves, and keep our minds pure and on the right track. There is so much out there, Satan is so alive and anxious to entrap us. Let us not grow weary in renewing our minds and living Christ-like lives this week.

Have a great week!

Begin With the End in Mind

“Begin With the End in Mind”

This principle was part of a secular article on rearing children I found in a magazine the other day. It went on to different points of which some were rather weak and others dumb-founding.

But that’s not the point. I was struck by that first line- Begin with the end in mind. How very important and profound!

As Christians, we should have this mind every day of our lives. When we first became Christians, we made that act of faith (baptism) with Heaven, the end, in mind. But do we spend every day with that same attitude?

“Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Paul’s words, inspired by God are both a challenge and an encouragement. Every day we have the opportunity and obligation, as children of God to spend our time with the end in mind. What end? Living as a faithful child of God. That is the most important end. Any day where you were faithful to God, is not a wasted day. Maybe you didn’t get all your goals accomplished, but if you were faithful, if you strove to be pure, then your day was not wasted.

-Begin the day with the end in mind with your personal life- Bible study and prayer, attitude and outlook.

-Begin with your children, with the end in mind- Train their minds early in both the Word of God and good attitudes and habits.

-Begin with the end in mind with your marriage- I love to meet and talk with couples who have been married for so many years. There is a couple here in Trinidad that just celebrated their 50th. Start your marriage with 50 and 60 plus years in mind! Do what it takes to be the spouse you have agreed by marrying, to be.

Begin with the end in mind as a single person- Prepare you heart and mind for God’s use, whether it be marriage or single-hood. Be active, be aware of time, and use it wisely.

“Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3

The first part of this passage is referring to the faithful men and women in Hebrews chapter 11- they lived their whole life with the end in mind. We can have the same confidence and drive to live similarly. We have their encouragement and example to follow, and the more importantly we have salvation through Christ making it possible to live forever with Him in eternity. We will have the prize of Heaven when we have lived our lives faithfully, each day, with the end in mind.

A brief thought...

This evening during our ladies class one of our elders wives was saying the closing prayer and in it she said something that really caught my attention.

Paraphrased it was: "God takes imperfect people and uses them to do His will. God takes imperfect people and provides the chance for them to grasp on to the way of seeking perfection in Him."

Think of the example of Alexander the Great. He was the last and ultimate conquerer and destroyer of Tyre and Sidon. Alexander falls under the first- God takes imperfect people to carry out his will.

Then there is the example of Rahab, she was an imperfect woman who chose to change and believe in God. There is a beautiful end to the story of Rahab; she chose to follow God, she married an Israelite and was part of the linage of our saviour, Jesus Christ.

We are all imperfect people. (Romans 3:23- For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.) Are we choosing to grasp the opportunity of seeking perfection in Christ? How strongly are we committed to that? What are we willing to do?

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Matt. 13:45-46

Proverbs 31:17

"She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms."

This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. Earlier this year I went to Tanzania for the third year in a row. Every year I'm struck by how hard the women (and children as well) work. I have seen these ladies carry an eighteen month old baby on their back in a konga and hoe a field of corn at the same time. For four hours! And that's not all....they fix food from scratch, they scrub their clothes by hand, sometimes they carry every drop of water they use.

And I think of the work I do, the work we here do...and I'm inspired to work harder and strengthen myself to better serve.

We are very blessed by modern convieniences: but are we missing an important trait of hard work and building our strength? We always tease at our house that we actually have six or seven dishwashers! We don't have an automatic dishwasher but there are six or seven of us kids that are well able to wash dishes by hand! Some of my favorite memories are all of us in the kitchen working together and doing dishes. I'm thankful for washing machines, and dryers on rainy days. But there are so many ways we can choose the little bit harder option and strengthen ourselves by daily work.

"The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin." Proverbs 10:16

"In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." Proverbs 14:23

The virtuous woman was aware of the strength and stamina needed to properly take care of her home and family. Notice how the language means ongoing as well as a choice to improve!

Here is a paragraph from Adam Clarke's commentary that sheds some very insightful light on this verse and sums up what I'm trying to say!

"7. She takes care of her own health and strength, not only by means of useful labor, but by healthy exercise. She avoids what might enervate her body, or soften her mind - she is ever active, and girt ready for every necessary exercise. Her loins are firm, and her arms strong."

I'm humbled and encouraged to do better with every verse of this passage! It makes me want to work harder, learn more and set goals for myself! I urge us all to be encouraged, to start where we are and work forward. :)

A walk, a camera and some words of wisdom

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Be not therefore anxious, saying What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

"Either make the tree good, and it's fruit good; or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corupt: for the tree is known by its fruit."