Home Again

Mica and I are home again from being with the Loyd family this past week.
It was a wonderful experience and we were happy to be there, and while I went through the day I thought about what to write. There were so many little things that I learned being with their family.

One of the prominent things that I noticed during the week was the refreshing peacefulness that was in their home.
It is not something one might expect from a home with four small children and a newborn, and in my experience it is not something easily attained.
Now please don't misunderstand me, when I say "peacefulness" I don't mean the hushed silence from a library or the strained absence of sound from a high end department store.
This was a serene, peaceful atmosphere that carried throughout the week; even when one of the children had to be disciplined, supper was late, or for some reason two of the children could not seem to agree on whose toys belonged to whom.
Mr. and Mrs. Loyd have their priorities in order; they know that keeping the frames dusted is not as important as training their children. They know that impressing the fear of the Lord in their childrens hearts has much more of a purpose than a tidy schoolroom.
They realize that have five precious souls to answer for before God; that it is no small thing to do what they are doing.
They are dependent upon God and look to the Bible for their direction and strength.
These are the reasons for their cheerful and joy filled home and I pray that I can have the same sort of home one day :)

The Blessing of Children

A couple of weeks ago, Mica, Mom, and I had the blessing and opportunity to be present for a home birth of a lady in our church. Well, now we are able to spend three days helping that family this week. This will be a "Mother's Helper Time" much like it was for me when I went to my Aunts house for two weeks. This time it will be both Mica and I serving together; we are both really looking forward to it.
I'm not sure how often we will be able to write, but I know we will have plenty to tell when we get back.
Even though it is such a short time, I pray that the Lord would use us to minister and serve this family in every way we can; also that He would grant us every measure of grace and patience that we require to complete this in a loving and Christ-exaulting way.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

~Ephesians 5:1-2

The Meaning of Friendship

"A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity."

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."

"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel."

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

These are a few verses in the Bible that talk about friendship.

The meaning of friendship has become a constantly searched topic for me recently. I have had many different kinds of friends throughout the years and yet, many of those friendships were not Biblical in their fruit. Many a time has a friend been angry with me for telling them the truth about something they did not want to hear. Because of instances like these, it has caused me to think about the purpose behind my friendships and relationship with people in general. I was always confused (and still am) at why my friends were upset because I thought that's what friends were for; to encourage, to love, to counsel, and to sharpen.

When I was younger, friendship equaled playing; whether it was dress-ups, tag, mud wars, or really anything. As I grew older, the playing stopped for the most part and friendship then equaled "hanging out" and talking. However, the talking part was never glorifying to God in any way; our discussions were mostly meaningless, frivolous chatter about whatever was going on in our lives. Now, friendships mean something so different to me! I have learned that friendship is something more than having someone to talk and laugh with, although those things have their part in friendships. It is where people are not afraid to speak the truth in love to one another, to admonish, to learn from, to care for, to pray with, to bear burdens, and to encourage each other. How am I supposed to do all this for my friend if all we talk about is the latest movie or creative project? Bearing each others burdens is much easier to do if it is based on a foundation of prayer and trust with the other person. Talking about movies and projects are not bad in and of themselves but if that is all you talk about with your friend, you will never be able to bear burdens or pray together. In fact, you will never truly know the person because conversation is then limited to "what's going on in my life" only. As a result of that, pride becomes an even larger pitfall.

I regret the time spent over meaningless talk and wasted time. It has taught me to choose friends carefully, to value the true ones I have, and to guard my tongue with much diligence. In my experience, it is very easy for young women to be consumed in conversing about silly things and be satisfied with that. Our culture has taken friendship and turned it into a monster; either you are best friends or you are enemies. Gossip has gone and taken people captive, especially women. I remember, even among professing Christian friends, gossip being the normal talk.

Approaches to friendship should be Biblical; hence, the verses above. But with those who are not saved, the situation can be difficult. I still have friends who are not saved and I pray for them but my friendship is different with them. They don't understand what it means to speak the truth in love to each other or to encourage one another. It is difficult to be compassionate towards them and love them unconditionally and I often ask myself, "why am I still friends with them?". It is hard to answer that because if a person is not willing to let me counsel or sharpen them and vice-versa , then why are we still friends? It is easy to get downcast about such a topic but remember that we can only pray for them and be an example of believers in Christ. We must relaim "friendship" and incorporate it into our own relationships.

I love all the friends I have now, from church and other places. They have shown true friendship to me. Thank you, Lord, for people who are willing to correct, bear burdens, encourage, and challenge me!

In Christ,

Micaela

Think again

"...discretion will watch over you,understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech..."

"...men whose paths are crooked,and who are devious in their ways..."

"...The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply..."

During the past few months, well better make that years, there have been seasons in my life that have made me think of the Bible differently.

Verses that were simply made up of words now have meaning; they are associated with events and times in my life.

Passages like the ones above hold a new meaning for me now; I am not saying that the Bible has ever-changing, new messages especially for me.

However, now I know what it is to be protected by discretion and understanding (Not always my own-usually by my parents); thankfully I have been delivered from "men of perverted speech". I have seen devious men; I know people who are in miserable and tragic states because they have run after another god, unfortunately some are still running.

These are a few examples of the passages that have become so precious to me.

They are precious because now I have a better understanding of what the writer means when he expresses joy or pain, loneliness or contentment.

Needless to say, I don't go thought the scriptures the way I did when I was ten; life at that time really didn't hold much true pain or sorrow. In the short span of eight years, the Lord has done much to continually draw me close and sanctify me.

For example, as I write this, I am reminded of the book of James.

We are going through it verse by verse during family devotions; we are currently in verse four.

Verses two through four have most recently been a source of strength for me.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Previously I seemed to glaze over the "when you meet trials" bit; notice James didn't say "if" but "when".

And the "various kinds" part didn't really hold much meaning until different circumstances came to pass in my life. But thankfully the Lord does not make us go through these trials without a purpose: that we may be "perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

I am so thankful for God's unending patience and grace in my life.

It is because of the "difficult times" that I can praise Him in this "new" way.

This causes me to humbly thank Him for what He has done, and to look forward to what He will do in the future.

A few thoughts on the "Little Women" syndrome...

Well, to be truthful there is no "Little Women syndrome"; it's a name I have used to sum up the problem that we were introduced to last year. Allow me to explain.
Last year it happened that my Mom, sisters, and I were away to Austin off and on for some time, leaving Dad at home alone or he was on a business trip. So we were not able to see each other for very long before someone had to leave again.

Unfortunately, our communication suffered as a result of this. We didn't really share what we were thinking or things that mattered to us because we were either too tired or we were talking about our various trips.

This caused us to become like strangers to our Dad.

When we were together again some things, like family devotions, became strained and almost foreign.

It was a very sad time and it took a very serious conversation and some sober inward looks at our hearts to make things right.

Looking back this has made me "bookmark" certain things that will indicate when we will be in danger of this again.

So while we get back into the weekly routines, as our days become filled, and the evenings at home seem to slowly seem to fill up, we try to share as much of ourselves with Dad as we can. Often times going out of our way to confide in him what is troubling us and especially what we are struggling with.

Hopefully we won't go back to the dark, lonely time of last year, but continue to value and treasure this time in our lives that we have with our Dad.

Pride and a new site to visit

My Name is Pride, I am a cheater.

I cheat you on your God given destiny....

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment...

because you"deserve better than this."

I cheat you of knowledge...

because you already know it all.

I cheat you of holiness...

because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision...

because you would rather look in the mirror than out the window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship...

because nobody is going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love...

because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven...

because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.

I cheat you of God's glory...

because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride, I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.

Untrue.

I'm looking to make a fool of you,
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...
If you stick with me

You'll never know.

~Broadman & Holman

I found this poem on A Wise Woman Builds Her Home. This blessed wife writes many insightful and encouraging words on a variety of subjects. I just found this site today and am already encouraged and convicted by it. I hope you will be sure to visit her site soon!

In Christ,

Micaela

"What He Must Be...If He Wants To Marry My Daughter"

Dr. Voddie Baucham's new book "What He Must Be...If He Wants To Marry My Daughter" is finally available at these places: Amazon, Borders Books, Christian Books, and Barnes And Noble. I would suggest purchasing it at Amazon just for the best price and shipping.

Here's a bit from his blog:


"This book was a labor of love. As a father with an eighteen year-old daughter, I’ve been thinking about issues of courtship and marriage for a while now. However, I knew that the ‘rules’ I grew up with weren’t going to cut it. This book is the result of my personal journey through God’s word trying to figure out what it means to be a responsible father when it comes to the courtship and marriage of my daughter."


I have not read the book yet but have already ordered it :). You should too.

In Christ,

Micaela

Hymn of the Month...for November

I know, this hymn was for November and it is now January but hey, I'm only a couple of months off :). This hymn is probably my favorite one so far; the lyrics, music, and length. Everything about it. I hope you enjoy it too.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

And with fear and trembling stand;

Ponder nothing earthly minded,

For with blessing in His hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth,

Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,

As of old on earth He stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture,

In the body and the blood;

He will give to all the faithful

His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven

Spreads its vanguard on the way,

As the Light of light descendeth

From the realms of endless day,

That the powers of hell may vanish

As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six winged seraph,

Cherubim with sleepless eye,

Veil their faces to the presence,

As with ceaseless voice they cry:

Alleluia, Alleluia

Alleluia, Lord Most High!

This hymn was originally composed in Greek during the fourth century A.D. and is most commonly known as a French folk medley. It is based on Habakkuk 2:20. Nothing is known about the composer of this hymn.

In Christ,

Micaela