I Am A Wife

Too often I sense myself slipping from my God appointed role as feminine Queen of my castle to masculine warden of my domain. Because this season of my life demands more of my time, energy, and patience I need to remember my priorities and put them into practice.

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world -- how she can please her husband. ~ 1Corinthians 7:34

God is my Well where I soak up His goodness to give me the strength to go forth into my future with passion and purpose. I commune with Him to have a relationship built on true love because I know Him and spend time with Him. I can then set the stage in my home for my children to enter into genuine relationship with their Creator. Ushering them into His plan. However, I am to be about my husband's business, not second to that, but alongside that. And He is there in the depths of my intimate life, holding it together piece by delicate piece.

I am his wife. I comfort and shield his heart against lies the world may whisper to him that he is not good enough. Sometimes because of my exhaustion, my frustration and pride rise up to work as his adversary. I don't feel that I'm working as an enemy, but satan can use my indiscretion as his powerful tool. In the midst of my pity party I don't realize my husband needs a wife.

I am his wife. I am a strong tower dwelling in the power and holiness of the Lord Almighty. There is no room for pity. My husband is facing lying giants. Evil forces plot and plan for his downfall. Am I aware of the ugliness trying to use me for their side. Making their job easier to bring my husband heartache. Is heartache a word I wouldn't use for my husband's feelings. Is he too manly, too distant, too busy to feel heartache? I think not; he was made in the image of God.

I am his wife. I meet his needs. I create a warm, inviting place for him to rest. A place to feel comfortable. How many times do I mark my territory all over my house -- after all, I am here all day. It smells like my home, feels like my home, it is my home. And it. is. his. home. I must remember this more often. He needs a wife.

I am his wife. Not a maid. Coldly arranging whites and undies neatly in a drawer. The neatness is more for me than for him, truth be told. He rather a messy draw if he had to choose between rows of organized socks and a disheveled looking wife. He needs his wife to be womanly. Yes, to care for his belongings, but to care for his body and mind first. He needs a wife.

I am his wife. His body belongs to me and mine to him. Pride has no place in this love.

My womanhood, my person as a wife was knitted into the complexities of my being while still in my mother's womb. By divine appointment does my husband call me his wife. In the dark hours of a marital conflict, I must remember, I am a wife. When I'm mothering my little flock and yearn to throw in the towel at the end of the night, I must remember, I am a wife. Does that mean I will always get it right? That I will always be available? No. It means that I am vulnerable. Open to all of the ways that the Lord wants to use me as a wife. Ways I cannot possibly imagine, because life is full of wonder and so full of purpose. I am a wife. It's in the way I speak in the middle of the night. The way that I express that I am tired. Tired, but willing. Willing to love him, to want him, to need him. He needs me. His very being cries out for me. It's in his DNA. I must remember. I. Am. A. Wife.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. ~ Proverbs 31:10

Proud to be his wife,

Linking up at: Living Well Wednesdays, Domestically Diving Tuesdays, {TITUS 2}SDays, Teach Me Tuesdays

Precious Princesses

In my 4x6 home, with a blanket for a door, I sit and stare. At nothing really, it is all a hazy blur. I am so hungry by now that I can feel my insides eating themselves. I am wasting away, I know it. My mothers' sad sunken eyes are so tired and listless. For a short time I think she may have died. She quivers. She is contemplating something -- selling me. She can save me. There is hope. But that hope comes at a high cost that I have not even an inkling of an idea about. She's distressed, I walk to her and slide my cold, innocent hand down the side of her beautiful cheek and tell her it's okay, mama. It's okay...

Redemption Home is a a safe place for little girls ages 4-12 to be rescued before they get sold into human trafficking and the sex trade in India. Will you pray and ask God if this is a ministry that He would lead you to be a part of?

Another ministry raising money to fight against the sex slave industry in India is: Inspire India. All of the proceeds for the Art they sell go toward the cause. If Art is your thing, maybe they have something that will interest you.

I understand these topics are very hard to read about, but as children of God we are called to help in some way. If all you can give are your prayers, we can pray together. For our precious little sisters in India. Let us get informed and gain knowledge so that we know what we are fighting against in this demonic sex slave realm. Project Rescue is a site filled with information to help equip us for the good fight. Please read.

It's easier to turn a blind eye, but let us not. And if all we can do is pray at the moment, take comfort that if you do pray, you are doing a whole lot!

Peace & Blessings,

Giving Joyfully

Have you ever done something for someone or gave something to someone and  felt that it wasn't appreciated? 

The bible tells us to do everything in love: Let all your things be done in love. ~ 1Corinthians 16:14, and unto the glory of God: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. ~ Colossians 3:17

I find that if my acts of giving, whether monetary gift giving, or the gift of my time aren't done in a humble, loving spirit I can become bitter. If my deed is not reciprocated with great thankfulness, I can feel unappreciated. But that should not be so. If I ask the Lord to dust all of the corners of my heart and to guide me in all of my giving, feelings of entitlement will be washed away. I will not be puffed up with wrongful expectations. Because I am giving for God and His glory I will not expect anything at all, but for that person to be blessed. 

Giving is a blessing. I pray this season over my own heart and all of us who will be giving; that we will give from a wellspring of love, unto our Father, our Good God! That we will humbly stay within our means to avoid any opportunities for the enemy to instill bitterness and resentment in us. Remembering that he is a crafty snake: Be self~controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. ~ 1Peter 5:8 It appears this may be a bit dramatic, but wouldn't God's enemy wish to destroy our spirits even more so at the most wonderful time of the year? Robbing Christ right out of CHRISTmas? And when I write stay within our means, I mean in two respects: Monetarily and with our time and energy. Sometimes we can be *yes* people, always saying yes to every little thing asked of us until we wear ourselves down. Satan likes nothing more for us to be so busy we don't even have time to commune with God. Or we're so exhausted that we treat our immediate family members with the stinkiest attitudes. We're sweet as pie to our friends, neighbors, sisters in Christ, but short and exasperated with our precious children and husbands. We give an expensive gift to that well~deserving friend, but then complain when the credit card statement comes in. Or viewing our time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving as *slaving over the stove*... How can that be glorifying to God? We are bond slaves to Jesus are we not? Our purpose is to serve. Whenever my comprehension of this truth gets blurred, I remember how incredibly precious my Savior is and all that He has done for me. 

May we seek God in all that we do this season; from cleaning up Thanksgiving dishes (my husband actually does those, blessed me! =) to cleaning up stubborn pine needles that stay behind after the disposing of the tree. To receiving a gift that we will never use, to giving a gift from a truly joyful heart!!

Happy, Blessed Holidays,

To God Be The Glory,

Linked up at: Domestically Divine Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesdays, {TITUS 2}SDAYS

Women of Purpose Conference

This weekend I attended the Women of Purpose Conference in Hershey, PA. It was SO great!! Kari Jobe led worship -- she amazingly ushered us into the presence of God! I am a now a HUGE fan of hers! This girl is no performer, she is a worshipper!

I hadn't attended a women's conference for roughly 13 years and boy did I need it. It was heavenly. The fact that we can even enter into His presence and commune with Him on that level is mind blowing! It was truly a refreshing time for me and I just want to encourage everyone out there to attend a women's conference, if not every year, every other year. You will be renewed.

Here is another video of her in Haiti. I just love her...

Love and Blessings,

Gift Giving

I used to find this time of the year so stressful. I couldn't wait until it was over before it began. I remember before I had children I wouldn't even look at a price tag before I picked out a size and gingerly carried it to the checkout counter. Then I had children. Well now I definitely look at price tags, but I was still overspending and I was STRESSED out! Is it enough? Will they think it's cheap? etc. etc. So I started buying out of season. Picking up a sweater that may have been $50 for the beautiful price of $10. While shopping that way is cost efficient it's not always feasible. You still have to have the money and who has money right after Christmas?!

Here is this year's giving plan:
My Children: They will receive one gift from us {parents}, and one gift from a sibling. When the children grow up they will be able to save their money and purchase gifts or supplies to make handmade gifts for their sisters, so eventually they may get three gifts within our household. Our choices will be gifts that are either educational, spiritual, useful {like a sewing machine} or good for physical fitness {like roller skates.. sshhh, don't tell =}
I also will be buying some books this year:
The Gift of the Magi

The Advent Jesse Tree

The Tale of Three Trees

My husband: Honestly, I have no idea what I'm getting him yet. I do know that more than ever there is a stirring within me to treasure this man as best as I possibly could. With no example of biblical womanhood, I have had to learn for myself what honoring and submitting to my husband looks like in real life. Thankfully the Holy Spirit is my guide, He is surely carving out the path before me. And it may not be easy, but by God's grace selflessness is fulfilling something within me that self~centeredness can not even come close to. I love my precious man.

My parents: They will get a a framed picture of my girls, and also a hand written note saying how much they mean to me.

My godson: I'm naming a star after him: Name A Star Alive. It's very affordable and to me it's a beautiful way to say: you mean the world to me, you are my star!

My pastor: Not telling since she may read this. =)

To the other children in our lives: Candy bags/homemade cupcakes. Spiritual books. Clothing. When I start sewing and knitting {hopefully by this year} I will give handmade hats and scarves and such.

And to the hostess of this years Family Christmas Party I will be giving a scrapbook of photos of her late mother, my aunt.

Here are some ideas for affordable gift giving:

1. Homemade Soaps and Candles.
2. Journals are wonderful gifts. You can even make your own!
3. Make your own hardcover book for your child or hubby! Filled with sweet words of love to encourage and show your appreciation of them.
4. Baked goods is always a wonderful gift. And homemade fruit and cheese baskets are so yummy and healthy!
5. Mason jars filled with goodies. Maybe ribbon for a friend who loves to scrapbook. Or chocolates for that aunt who has a sweet tooth. Or try one of these great ideas {Practically anything can go inside of a mason jar and look adorable!}



Cookies in a Jar



Sewing buttons in a mason jar

6. Using newspaper for wrapping paper or merely using a big beautiful ribbon for gifts is a way to save on wrapping paper. I usually buy mine after Christmas when it's dirt cheap, but if I run out, ribbon it is. I always save ribbon from gifts given to us and from certain things that I buy that come with ribbon.
7. The gift of favors is one that I would truly appreciate! Picking up groceries for a sick friend. Watching a tired mamas babies while she rests...
8. Also, as in the precious story of The Gift of the Magi, is there something you can sell so that your gift giving is more affordable? Giving in the spirit of sacrifice promotes a certain spiritual awareness that is so rich and life~giving.

It is my belief that people who truly understand what Christmas is all about will understand if you don't or simply can't give an extravagant gift. 

I'm packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child and will be sending my sponsored daughter, Salima Rae {I love her SO much!} a gift of pyjamas, blankets and a bible. I will also purchase a gift from Gospel for Asia's Christmas Gift Catalog.

I will be giving these out:
The Good News of Christmas ~ Max Lucado Tracts

All of my purchases will be made with cash. I don't believe it to be glorifying to God to incur debt while trying to celebrate Him and His life. Coming from a family where gift giving is done big and without the restraints of a budget, I am a work in progress. I must unlearn mindless spending and make wise decisions so that I may glorify God during this precious celebration of His birth. And even though I am cutting back tremendously it still amounts to a lot of money. So that I can account for these purchases I try my best to not eat out at all during this season. I'm extra mindful of the electricity and gas that we use. I'm learning in a deeper way what Jesus' life means to me. And how I will live out my faith in my household. These are my convictions. This is what He calls me to. I pray that your holiday is super blessed with the greatest gift on earth, Jesus.

Linked up to : The Encouraging Home Christmas Party Blog Hop, Treasured Traditions

With Love,

Please Let Us Remember His Humble Birth

Last year Christmas sales were up to $460,000,000,000. That saddens me. What saddens me even more is that I had a hand in that. We celebrated big because of bringing Olivia home after her two month stay in the NICU, but that's no excuse. How can it be that my children's eternal future means everything in the world to me, but that I would promote reckless consumerism at the most precious time of the year. It can't be so. My soul aches. Every single thing that Jesus taught goes against this mindless way of celebrating His birth. Are we prudent and frugal all year long and then set the reigns loose excited about the time of year when we have a license to shop excessively, some of us even incurring outrageous amounts of debt? I pray that we all seek our Heavenly Father at this time and evaluate in depth how He would have us celebrate the birth of His Son.

Every day we teach our children -- knowingly or unknowingly they are learning from us. They will grow up and be stewards of their own incomes one day. Good or bad, we shall see. {I know money is a very touchy subject and I wish to offend no one. I only wish to glorify the King Who died for you and I.}

Having a giving spirit doesn't mean we have to go overboard with our presents. We can make homemade gifts, give the gift of time and favors, love letters and special words of appreciation. I mean, how many gifts that we give will be re~gifted or returned anyway?? =) Help spread the gospel and change a person's life. You can shop for life~changing gifts at: Gospel For Asia's Christmas Gift Catalog.

Have you heard of Gospel For Asia? GFA was founded by a man named K.P. Yohannan. I've read a couple of his books and they have changed my life. Here's what Francis Chan has to say about his book: Revolution in World Missions:

If we as Christians are not going to set the example of humility, rejecting excess, and lifting up the name of Jesus at Christmas time, then who is?? Let us meditate about what this time is ALL about:

Let us Remember Christ This Season...
With Love,

Kitchen Sink...

Do you have one of these:

They can get really gross, and this is only about two weeks worth of gunk:

I love when I remember to clean it:

Happy Housekeeping! =)

Wordless Wednesday

Will You Pack a Shoebox??

For more information: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

A Day In the Life

A little peek into our day... 

For breakfast we had egg wraps:

Place in tortilla...

Without salsa...

With salsa

Asia washed the dishes... =)

Then she made cookies; it's Tasty Tuesday! 

My precious girl... Don't mind the attire =)

Yummy Nutella..

They were really yummy, though next time will use a little less sugar... So this was lunch with some tea and fruit...

Diner was simple...

This princess played mommy all day:

This one either slept or clung on to me for dear life {she's feeling a little sicky}:

I thought about him all day:

Asia gave me this:

I made this:

Bible memory verse printouts -- I printed them on card stock, then laminated them, cut them into flash card size, hole punched in the corner, and tied with a ribbon! I LOVE how it came out!!!