Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Serving the Lord {and Wise Woman Linkup!}



The idea that the service to God should have only to do with a church altar, singing, reading, sacrifice, and the like is without doubt but the worst trick of the devil. How could the devil have led us more effectively astray than by the narrow conception that service to God takes place only in a church and by the works done therein.

 The whole world could abound with the services to the Lord, 

Worship - not only in churches but also in the home, kitchen, workshop, and field.






(Are you celebrating Reformation Day today?  Click here for some fun ideas.)


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A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!
 
If you link up here please use our NEW image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:




                                         
                                          It's easy--just copy and paste the code in this box!



 

Monday, October 29, 2012

Celebrating a New Look (& Special Giveaway!!!}



We took a little time last week to give this space a brand new FRESH look that I was able to design when I had a bit of free time.  We hope that you love it as much as we do--this blog has had a few different looks in the past but we plan on sticking with this one for awhile! We are also looking forward to another exciting year  together with you (we have ALOT planned!).

And to celebrate we are going to have a giveaway! Will you celebrate with us?

We will be giving away a pretty SURPRISE Lilla Rose clip of our choice:


They are charming, practical, and super easy to use....


AND one FREE blog critique from our blog consulting business, Wise Woman Consulting, which teaches women how to monetize their blogs and earn income and how to advertise (great extra cash for the holidays)which also got a bit of a similar makeover:


You can read more details and what we offer here.

and  Michelle Duggar NEWEST DVD on Hospitality from Vision Forum:



The description: Filmed at a special ladies’ tea in San Antonio, Texas, and hosted by Beall Phillips, this film gives you an intimate 40 minutes with Michelle as she shares down-to-earth, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-tugging, examples of what hospitality looks like in the Duggar household. This transparent peek at Michelle’s personal experiences and lessons learned will give you new insights into executing biblical hospitality in your home as Michelle reveals the good, the bad, and the funny about mother-of-nineteen hospitality!



 You can join  the giveaway here:





 
Hope you win!






(feel free to copy and paste our new button!)

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Linked at Growing Home


 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Christian Modest Clothing Company for Women and Their Daughters


My sweet friend, Caroline, whom you might know as The Modest Mom, is celebrating a huge giveaway over at her blog along with the exciting news that her new company name has been changed to Deborah and Co.




We are so excited for her and glad to share with you a place where you can find modest clothing for you and your daughters. Here is a peek of some of the pretty clothing you can find there:












You can visit them HERE.




*Pssst-----you can get a 5% discount if you use the dicount code: WISEWOMAN at checkout! Coupon expires on 10/31/12.

And another coupon code from Vision Forum--FREE SHIPPING HAS JUST STARTED for the holiday season!!!





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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Always in a Hurry & Wise Woman Linkup!




"Patience! Patience!

 You are always in a hurry,  but God is not." 





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A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

If you link up here please use the image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:






It's easy--just copy and paste the code in this box!






 Are you encouraged here? I personally invite you to subscribe and get the latest posts sent to your inbox. Also, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and get updates that are not posted here on the blog.



Monday, October 22, 2012

Home and Family




“The family should be a closely knit group. 

The home should be a self-contained shelter of security;

a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught;

and a kind of church where God is honored; 

a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed."



~ Billy Graham






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Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Quiet Teachings of the Nursery




O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He has in effect said to you, "Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give you your wages!" You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty boy speak the gospel to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love God and serve Him.

Those who think that a mother detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely may the godly mother be able to leave her home for a place of worship; but do not dream that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord!

 Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty. Christian women, by teaching children the Holy Scriptures, are as much fulfilling their part for the Lord, as Moses in judging Israel, or Solomon in building the temple!


-Christian Training of Children, Charles Spurgeon







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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

New Vision Forum Catalog Arrived!

Yesterday we were blessed to spend the entire day in Chicago catching up with family, eating good food, laughing and just enjoying our precious time together (there is nothing better than family--oh, except church planting that is). When we got home late at night, tired and exhausted, we had a special surprise waiting for us...


We love when we get the new Vision Forum catalog, (it is a wonderful resource for build a strong Christian home)--actually my oldest daughter had it on the couch and was trying to go through it without any of us knowing and wasn't about to say a word until she was almost done (she is so sneaky---haha). But we caught her and so I got a chance to look through it a bit.

A few of the NEW items that caught my eye (think Christmas) were:



We own the first Family Strategies that came out but I am excited to learn that this newer version is here. Some of the topic include:

  • How to Handle Public Scenes
  • How to Prioritize Reading Lists
  • How to Cultivate Gratitude
  • How to Master Technology Before It Masters You
  • And 16 other additional messages



Including:

 This 8-DVD series includes:
  • Food Fight
  • Food Heresies
  • Christian Manhood and the Seven Pillars of Exceptional Health
  • The Joy of Food in the Christian Home
  • Bread of Life: How Food Teaches Us to Love God
  • Your Genes Are Not Your Destiny
  • What is Making Me Sick?
  • Redeeming the Earth




Fatherhood by Scott Brown



Training and Admonition
by Scott Brown MP3 CD

The Training & Admonition audio series includes key messages about:
  • The purpose of child-raising
  • Instilling honor
  • Teaching obedience
  • The how, why, and when of chastisement
  • Spiritual life in the home
  • Bringing children to the meeting of the church
  • Preparing children to leave home
  • And much more


    Our sweet friends, the Brookshire ladies, make these!




    (aren't they darlin'?)

    And what my sons are ooohing and aaaaahing over:




    (shoots potatos and you can eat the ammo--a boy's dream!)







    Oh my--let the fun begin!

    Also, you can get 15% off by using code: EXTRA15
    (through November 10th)

    or FREE shipping on orders over $100 using code: 100SHIPSFREE
    (through December 14th)

    (These coupons may not be combined with each other or with other coupons, and do not apply to products marked “Specialty Item” or “excluded from all current sale promotions” online. Free shipping applies only to the 48 contiguous United States. Please note that shipping in-stock items ahead of backordered items will result in additional shipping charges to you.)


    Did you get your catalog yet? 


    Monday, October 15, 2012

    Turning Tragedy into Glory


    Jesus forgives all the sins, 

    Jesus works out all the mistakes,

     and Jesus takes the worst tragedy

     and makes it into the greatest glory. 



     **************



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    Friday, October 12, 2012

    When Our Children Sin



    "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child..."


    Yes, our children will sin. There is no question of it. I think it was funny when I look back as a young mom and didn't think that my only child did. My older daughter, who was alot smaller at the time, was a perfect angel---or so I thought. Yes, I know that sounds far fetched, but I was naive and didn't "see" or want to see it.  But the true reality was that she was definitely a sinner needing the grace of God just as much as her unsaved mommy did.

    So why is it that we are always surprised when they sin? No, instead we need to know that they will sin. To expect it and be ready and prepared to react in a godly fashion. I have learned over time it  is alot easier if you are prepared. Especially when you have 8 children, as it seems there can be violations all the day through. That is what parents are for, to be an authority figure guiding them in the speedbumps of life.

    Children are a lot LESS experienced than us. It hurts me to hear small children getting cursed out by parents who seem to think their child needs to act and perform perfectly like an adult (who sin as well). They are not robots, nor are they our trophy children. They are on loan to us from God for a limited time and we must be faithful with the time that we have.

    But we are not here to have PERFECT children. We need to remember that they are not perfect, but are sinners in need of a Savior. They desperately need parents who will lovingly share Jesus and carefully show them the way to Him. As parents we will always struggle doing this since we are not perfect parents but we must strive to do what is right and not grow weary in the process.

    They also need parents that have MERCY. We cannot come off as harsh, religious, hypocrites if we are wanting to parent well. We need to exhibit love, patience, kindness, mercy, humility, understanding and be slow to anger. This will win a heart, the opposite will repel it. My father-in-law is a great example of this. He is patient and slow to anger and always has arms outstretched to love on someone. He always shows overflowing love to all his grandchildren (he has 21 of them, and 2 great grandchildren) and they would just absolutely do anything for him.


    Think of how God has drawn us to Him. It wasn't through harsh demanding means. Often when I see Him working through sin in my life it was through His kind love and that is what drew me in closer.

    Do NOT become discouraged. Children WILL sin and we need to guide them and show them the way.  We must remind ourselves that it is all part of God's perfect plan to work all things together for the good of those who love Him according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

    The fruit of this parenting journey is that we are being refined right along with our children and for that we need to praise to Him as we seek to build strong homes to bring Him glory.  Amen?







    For more encouragement on parenting:






    Wednesday, October 10, 2012

    The Motherhood Battle and Wise Woman Linkup!


    A little poem for you:

    MOTHERHOOD 

    The bravest battle that ever was fought!
    Shall I tell you where and when?
    On the maps of the world you will find it not;
    'Twas fought by the mothers of men.

    Nay not with the cannon of battle-shot,
    With a sword or noble pen;
    Nay, not with eloquent words or thought
    From mouth of wonderful men!

    But deep in a walled-up woman's heart --
    Of a woman that would not yield,
    But bravely, silently bore her part --
    Lo, there is the battlefield!

    No marshaling troops, no bivouac song,
    No banner to gleam and wave;
    But oh! those battles, they last so long --
    From babyhood to the grave.

    Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars,
    She fights in her walled-up town --
    Fights on and on in her endless wars,
    Then silent, unseen, goes down.

    Oh, ye with banners and battle-shot,
    And soldiers to shout and praise!
    I tell you the kingliest victories fought
    Were fought in those silent ways.

    -- Joaquin Miller (1839-1913) 



    ************


    A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

    We would love for you to link up with us---share your posts on  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, family, tea, recipes, parenting, marriage, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

    If you link up here please use the image below or link back to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:







    It's easy--just copy and paste the code in this box!








    Are you encouraged here? I personally invite you to subscribe and get the latest posts sent to your inbox. Also, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and get updates that are not posted here on the blog.

    Tuesday, October 9, 2012

    NEW! Hospitality with Michelle Duggar DVD


    We recently got wind that Michelle Duggar, mom to 19 and star on the popular show 19 Kids and Counting, has a new DVD out over at Vision Forum called Hospitality with Michelle Duggar. Here is the description:

    A Celebration of Family Hospitality with America’s Most Inspiring Mother

    Hos-pi-tal-i-ty =The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality. (Definition from [link]Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
    Can you use a power boost to the expression of hospitality in your home? Michelle Duggar has touched families across the world through the Duggar family’s reality show, 19 Kids and Counting, and she’s gotten to experience hospitality’s joys, blessings, and the downright hard work it entails.

    Filmed at a special ladies’ tea in San Antonio, Texas, and hosted by Beall Phillips, this film gives you an intimate 40 minutes with Michelle as she shares down-to-earth, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-tugging, examples of what hospitality looks like in the Duggar household. This transparent peek at Michelle’s personal experiences and lessons learned will give you new insights into executing biblical hospitality in your home as Michelle reveals the good, the bad, and the funny about mother-of-nineteen hospitality!

    Should your house always be clean when company arrives? Should a small house size limit the entertaining you do? Find out Michelle’s perspective on these questions and more in Hospitality with Michelle Duggar. 

    Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. —Hebrews 13:2

    Michelle has been an inspiration to millions, I am glad I had a chance to meet her personally. I am sure this DVD will be encouragement to many.



    You can get a copy of Hospitality with Michelle Duggar HERE!



    Sunday, October 7, 2012

    Who You Are In Christ



    "Christ in you, the hope of glory" Colossians 1:27

    When Satan comes knocking on your door and begins to accuse and attack you, don't let him have his way. 

    The Word of God says:

    I am:
    1. Loved so dearly (John 3:16; Rev. 1:4-6)
    2. Forgiven of all my sins and washed in the blood (Eph. 1:7, Heb. 9:14)
    3. A new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)
    4. The temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19)
    5. Rescued from the power of darkness and brought into God's kingdom (Col 1:13)
    6. Redeemed from the curse of the law (1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Gal. 3:13
    7. Blessed (Gal. 3:9)
    8. A saint (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2, Phil. 1:1)
    9.  Holy and without blame before Him (Eph 1:4)
    10. Elect (Col 3:12, Rom. 8:33)
    11. Established to the end (1 Cor 1:8)
    12. Brought near to God through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13)
    13. Victorious (Rev. 21:7)
    14. Set free (John 8:31-3)
    15. Dead to sin and alive to God (Rom.6:2, 11; 1 Pet. 2:24)
    16. More than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37)
    17. Fellow heirs with Christ (Roman 8:17)
    18. Sealed with Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13)
    19. In Christ who is our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1Cor 1:30)
    20. Accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6)
    21. Complete in Him (Col 2:10)
    22. Crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20)
    23. Alive with Christ (Eph. 2:5)
    24. Free from condemnation (Rom 8:11)
    25. Reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18)
    26. Qualified to share in His inheritance (Col. 1:12)
    27. A fellow citizen with God's people and member of God's household (Eph. 2:19)
    28. Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
    29. Born of God and the evil one does not harm me (1 John 5:18)
    30. Blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3)
    31. His disciple because I have love for others (John 13:34.35)
    32. The light of the world (Matt 5:14)
    33. The salt of the earth (Matt 5:13)
    34. The righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pet. 2:24)
    35. A partaker of His divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4)
    36. Called of God (2 Tim. 1:9)
    37. The first fruits among His creation (James 1:18)
    38. Chosen (1 Thess. 1:4; Eph 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:9)
    39. An ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20)
    40. God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2:10)
    41. Being changed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 1:6)
    42. Raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Col 2:12; Eph. 2:6)
    43. Beloved of God ( Col. 3: 12; Rom. 1:7;1 Thess. 1:4)
    44. One in Christ (John 17:21-3)              I HAVE:
    45. Obtained an inheritance (Eph. 1:11)
    46. Access by one Spririt to the Father (Heb. 4:18; Eph. 2:18)
    47. Overcome the world (1 John  5:4)
    48. Everlasting life and will not be condemned (John 5:24; John 6:47)
    49. Received power, the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
    50. The greater One in me; thus, greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)     ALSO:
    51. I live by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:2)
    52. I walk in Christ Jesus (Col 2:6)
    53. I can do all things in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:13)
    54. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God (Phil. 3:14)
    55. My life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3)

    BEHOLD, ALL THINGS BECOME NEW!

    2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 




    If you are a Christian these truths are timeless.
    Hold them close to your heart at all times.

      ************

    Source: Step Up Reading, New Life Community Church 

    Feel free to print this out and put it on your fridge if you need to be reminded of who you are in Christ. 
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    Friday, October 5, 2012

    Loving Our Adult Children



    Where do those little years go?

    They pass by so fast, and in what feels like a blink of an eye, we now have a young adult (s) on our hands.

    But I have to say that one of the saddest things that I see happen is that once a child graduates from high school I hear parents say to them "you are on your own".

    Now I am definitely not talking about letting them have responsibility and all that other good stuff that comes with adulthood, I am definitely for that! But a "now- that-you-are-of-age-I-have-washed-my-hands-completely-of-you" mentality. That just breaks my heart.

    I have especially seen with young girls just how fatal that can be. Several of my friends growing up lived wild lifestyles leading them into harmful relationships, promiscuity, dangerous situations and so forth. It is actually very common.

    But I am absolutely an advocate for supporting and walking along side your adult children. My view is that they will always need you to some degree and you need to be there to give them that wise counsel, to give them a safe place, and give them unconditional love and love on their children. The world will throw what it can at them but parents can always be a safeplace for them, to rest upon as they faithfully and continually lead them to the Lord, never giving up on them.

    There will be times a parent will have to demonstrate tough love to a child for their own good. But when that time comes may the Lord give them wisdom to make hard judgment calls and give them understanding. My prayer is that parents would have the courage to do the right thing, even with their adult children and not be swayed by a culture that does not have the time and would rather not.

    I don't think the influence of a parent ever ends until the day that we die. We can always be an example of love and hope. Surely our relationships will change over time, the will leave and cleave, they might move far away for a time or permanently. But what I have found is that the older I get the more I realize how much my mothers influence still impacts me greatly.

    Lord, please help us to raise our adult children with Your wisdom and discernment. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what lies in front of them. Help our young adults to trust and seek after our counsel and the counsel of other wise advisors. Keep them safe from harm and from the devil's trap. Keep their feet on your paths of righteousness all the days of their lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.




















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    Thursday, October 4, 2012

    Church Planting Wives--Encouragement for You



    Many of you know that my husband and I are honored to be in the midst of a wonderful new church plant that the Lord has set before our path along with some dear friends. It has been such a road of blessing along this great journey-- I see God's hand at work in so many amazing ways and the fellowship that the Lord has provided has been so sweet!

    Then I started to think about other church planting wives and how I was sure that many of them might be looking for some encouragement. That is when I found this wonderfully encouraging blog for church planters wives and women in ministry called Grace Covers Me: Leading and Living By Grace by Christine Hoover (a fellow church planting wife and contributor at Desiring God blog) and knew I needed to share it with you!



    There is SO much over there, I don't even know where to begin! But take some time to look around and I know that something will speak to you over there. I am also looking forward to checking out her book that will be released sometime early next year by Moody Publishers:


    (I will be posting more in the future on church planting, so if you are doing that or a pastors wife please leave a comment and share your thoughts and your blog.)

    Are you a church planting/pastor's wife?

    Are there any encouraging resources that you would like to share?


















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