FAMILY

Satan is on the prowl…for my family.

He has been VERY hard at work this past month. He especially worked OVERTIME this week.

Living through the conflict and resolution was exhausting…and took time. We had to STOP and make time to restore, forgive, pray, and eventually laugh together again.

I remember as a young mom hearing that if you train your children to be respectful and submissive to authority, to develop a good relationship with your children, in addition to homeschooling, that you will bypass the hard, rebellious teen years.

Maybe it’s just my family, but we have done all the above and yet, those hard years are pressed upon us. Maybe we did it wrong. Maybe are children are more evil than others? Maybe other families hide it better? Maybe those families will deal with it later in life? Maybe the world is a more evil, different place? Maybe Satan knows his time is very limited and is working HARDER to destroy families on the path of righteousness.

I just recently watched a documentary called, “IndoctriNation.” A film describing how pagan public schools have become and how very few Christian students remain bonded to God through high school. I do see, though, that even homeschoolers have to work to keep their students bonded to God.  We need to find that perfect balance with the use of social media, to keep Satan from forming a stronghold on our children.

Now, in defense of my children, I should say that what I call rebelliousness in our home would not be what others would call it in their home. Our scale of rebelliousness, if you could rate it on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worse, would probably be a 2. But, you see, my expectation was that we wouldn’t have any.

The root of rebelliousness is the condition of the heart…whether it’s a scale of 2 or 10. And, so, we have to make the time to discern that heart, to make a plan, to pray diligently for that heart and soul, to pray with that heart, to hold that heart accountable and to love that hard heart even when it is unlovable.

Because, you know, we as humans are unlovable a lot. God knows this all too well and yet, He provided us with a way to be lovable and love the unlovable…through Jesus Christ. J PTL and AMEN!

We do not have a perfect family. As parents, we are not perfect. Our children aren’t perfect. But we serve a perfect GOD who is mightier than the lion on the prowl. I need to remember that and act accordingly. Satan you’re messing with the wrong children! They belong to GOD, not you! Though God may have my children go through tough times, I am going to do all I can, in obedience to GOD, to help them stay on the path of righteousness!

But let all who take refuge in you be glad: let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:11-12

PRINCESS TAMIE

Purity

Our church is preparing for a Beautiful Girlhood for God conference. The basis of this conference is to uphold God's commandment to be honorable and holy in what we do and how we think and how we present ourselves to others and to God.

Today, our pastor spoke about the loss of purity in the church. He spoke to the fathers, but it is throughout the church, mothers, and children! Our children learn it from their parents and their peers and the sinful nature lying within themselves.

In Thessalonians chapter four, we see that God calls us to pursue purity. How do we do this? We need to stay at the feet of the Lord Jesus.

"In thy presence is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasure for evermore." Psalm 16:11

Spend time with Him.

Listen to His voice.

Pour out your heart to Him.

Bask in His presence.

Pursue purity: That means to chase after it. You are running the race of purity. You have to set your heart and mind to it.

"Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe." Proverbs 4:25-26

God set purity as a standard for our safety. Let's stay safe and stick to the path of purity, ladies.

May God give you the strength to keep your mind set on the path of purity. You cannot do it alone, sweet ones. Depend on the Lord for everything!

Princess Tamie

From My Kitchen Window

From my kitchen window, I can watch my children jump on the trampoline. As I go about the kitchen, I periodically look out at them and smile because I know they are having fun. From time to time, they look to wave at me…knowing I’m looking at them. At times, I hear a scream, and I immediately look to see if all is okay. They look to reassure me that all is okay or they start towards me for comfort and care.

When I am away from my children, they don’t like it. My youngest says, “ Mom, I just like knowing you are here, just to see your face.”

We are like that with God, our Father. We don't like it when He is "away" (silent or long in answering a prayer.)

From God’s “window”, he can watch his children as he goes about his business. He can look and smile because he knows they are joyful and at peace. At times, his children acknowledge Him and know that He is watching them. When they are in trouble, He is immediately there to provide comfort and care. We, His children, like it when we know He is present. 

I am so glad that God never has to be "away" from His children. He never has to sleep. He is always on guard and always watching over us, even when He is silent, He is watching...ever aware of us.

It is a comfort to me when I am away (working or carpooling or dating my honey) from my children that He is watching over them.

"¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.'" (Psalm 91:1-2)

"He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." (Psalm 91:4)

I remember decorating a pillow case several years ago. I painted a hen with five little chicks (for my five little chickies) and wrote Psalm 91:4 as a caption. It is such lovely picture of comfort, care, and protection.

From Psalm 91, the four names of God that are used are strong descriptions of who God is:

The Most High (‘elyôn)

The Almighty (shadday)

The LORD or Yahweh

My God (’ĕlōhīm) the strong one.

Psalmliving. There's nothing else like it.