Texas

Well, I am actually in Texas right now and loving every minute of it. God is so good to me. I have just been so encouraged by the love of God and His saints. Sunday I had the priviledge of hearing Mr. Doug Phillips preach. The text was Ephesians 6:1-3, and probably one of the biggest points that stuck out to me was honor. We are to obey our parents in the Lord, but if they require obedience to something that is in conflict with the word of God we have the responsbibility to disobey with honor! Honor is not an option for the Christian, there maybe situation were 'disobedience' is necessary, but even then it is done honorable (note: I am not quoting Mr. Phillips, I am telling you the impression I recieved). It was so good! On Monday (Labor day) we went to a friends house and played volleyball (with a quick break to eat ). The people there were so sweet, I felt completely at home. I also learned that they are patient and forgiving, they graciously put up with my volleyball skills (or, lack thereof!). Thursday night we went to a meeting which was incredible. Probably the biggest point that hit me was our Christian duty in response to the Dominion Mandate. Wow! That was good. The Dominion Mandate can be found in Genesis 1 (I believe verse 26) where God tells man and woman to be fruitful and mulitply and have dominion over the earth. Despite what the tree huggers may tell you this has nothing to do with tyranical rule, what is does mean is to do what Christians of the past did (and Christians of the present ought to be doing) build missions, build schools and universities, hospital, improve the earths conditions, care for the homeless and fatherless, train women of the joys of being keepers at home, teach our sons to be men of God and leaders at home, in the church and in the community. The list is endless (which is why God gave each of us different gifts and abilities). I hope at some point to post a study that I am currently doing on the Dominion Mandate (stay tuned! )

Well that's it for now! (and I am happy to say that I am NOT going to milk goats )

Catch up

Well, it's been awhile, so here's my 'catchin' up' attempt:

We did celebrate my birthday on Saturday (the 21st) and it was wonderful. I think  I woke up around 6, and due to family tradition (breakfast in bed!) I had two hours to myself in my room (well, okay I did have a couple of visitors .) But either way I was able to my devotions is peace and get some hand sewing done! Hurrah! My family was so sweet and sacrificed greatly in getting me gifts and in blessing me with some personal time through out the day (Mom milked the goats for me in the morning and I think Joseph did it at night). My most favorite gift was the most beautiful table and chairs set, right now it is for use on my balcony, and then when I get married I get to take it with me! Mom was telling me that the table and chairs were a total God thing; they found them for less than a third of their orginal price! So mom and I had tea on my balcony and then dad and I sat and chatted out there for a while, it was beautiful and a complete surprise.

Right now Joseph and Samuel are at Jr. Camp, the theme this year is Western Expedition. Joseph is serving as staff and Samuel is going as a camper. I was originally supposed to go as a counselor, but mom is still recovering from surgery and I am needed at home. So, to God be the glory, He gives grace when His children struggle with dissappointment and teaches us to be joyful in His plan for our lives. Truth be known, as much as I miss going to camp, I am excited about the lessons I can learn and the servant I can be here.

Daddy just had his birthday on Saturday, we made him german chocolate cake, his favorite!

Well, got to go, I need to, yes, you got it, milk goats.

Correction

Wheels are turning. . .

I was reading some other people's weblogs and it got me thinking, about marriage and standards for a future spouse. I have seen some very beautiful and some very sour (and some down right ugly) marriages. Joy brought up a really good point (or Piper did anyway) marriage does reflect to this lost world the relationship of Christ and His bride (us!) and we ought to seek to prepare for the day Christ brings that special someone into our lives. For me that has meant so much, the closer I grow to Christ the more I realize what a selfish sinner I am. Ladies, we have a high calling! Titus 2:4-5 says: "that they admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed" and, of course Proverbs 31 hightens the bar as it gently spells out the domestic duties of a wife. Verse 26 says, "She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness.", sometimes I feel like a get a lot of practise with this one (via my 7 younger siblings) and I still have a hard time with it . But as I seek to learn to be an efficient cook & cleaner, to be a teach (for home education) and to enjoy spending time with the boys (and my sister) I also think of my future husband.I desire so much to honor him, to, as Proverbs 31 says, have him "known in the gates (a place of honor), when he sits among the elders of the land. I want so dearly to edify him and build him up; to have children who are his arrows (Psalm 127) and help him raise them for the glory of God. There are at least 9 basic things that I believe are so important that he and I agree on:

1) Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone,

2)Homeschooling

3) Leaving birth control in God's hands

4)My remaining in the home as his helpmeet and he being the physical and spiritual leader and provider

5)Understanding Biblical discipleship in the home and understanding biblical discipline (Deut. 6:6-7 (among many others) and Eph. 5:26)

6)His (and my) vital role in the lives of our children (hands on, "Hebrew" styled training)

7) Evangelism

8) Entertainment restrictions.

9) End times

Obviously there are other things (I would love to marry a re-enactor, Yankee, of course ) but those are some of the basics. One of my biggest concerns though, is how do I ensure that these qualities are in his life? I mean, I plan on courting and having my parents involved (love is blind and it's good to have the discerning eyes, ears and spirits of your parents) and discussing these details. . . I also pray that the LORD will make his walk obvious, that his true character is revealed and that it is one that shows a heart in love with Christ.

If anybody has any other ideas, feel free to share.

What a day!

I really don't have a title or a theme to write about, oh well, you can read my babel! (hopefully not, hopefully this will make sense and somehow be edifying. . .) My birthday was a lot of fun, my baby sister fell back and hit her head during Bible time (scared the life out of all of us) and then Benjamin (age 4) went to take a drink of water and accidently swallowed a plastic piece at the bottom! He was breathing fine and could talk, but was in discomfort, so mom took him to the doctors. They said his O2 levels were fine, shined a light down his throat, didn't see anything, took an x-ray, still didn't see anything (it's plastic, not bone) and then, without telling my mom they decided we needed to take him to Childrens Mercy which is about an hour to an hour and a half north of here! So off they went, thankfully poor Benjamin was in good spirits. They kept him at the hospital for several hours (until 10) and then let him and mom leave. By this time mom was worn out, she had major surgery only four weeks ago, and thankfully a dear friend who lives up north offered her spare room to mom and Benjamin. So I didn't get to see mom until two this afternoon, almost 24 hours later. That's okay, Joseph and I had fun holding down the fort! . We decided to celebrate my birthday on Saturday (same day Joy is, how fun is that?!).

Rebekah called in the morning to chat and wish me a happy birthday, daddy called and sang to me after that, and my friend Hannah called after 10 in the evening  . My friend Kayla called after 11 but I was already sleeping. The best part is, outside of my family all the people who called were from out of state (New Jersey, Illinios, and North? Carolina) !

There's more to the day than that but my brain doesn't want to call any of it to memory! Oh, one more fun thing, we might, might be participating in a re-enactment in September! I hope so! The only thing is that it will be re-enacting a time during the 1940's at Fort Scott (I would have prefered the '60's but that's okay). I am excited to have the opportunity to portray a citizen of Bleeding Kansas (thank you Missouri). .

Well, for not knowing what to say I think I did okay.