Honesty - the best policy {keeping it real}

I have toyed about writing this post for a long time now.

It's about something that many women face, but you'll not always hear about.

It's about broken days.  Days when you feel that the "perfect" life you hope for is far from your grasp.

Not only is it broken, but you're willing to admit it.  THAT is the issue.

Do you ever have those days?  I am convinced that some people think that I don't.  Ashamedly, there may be a reason for that.  I find this hard to write for several different reasons.

But, it's time to get real.  For the sake of the good that can come of it, instead of what I may have perceived as the good of covering it up.

What on earth do I mean?

I was fearful.  Fearful of what others would think, if I admit that I find life can be difficult.  REALLY difficult. Fearful of their reaction.  Fearful of their perception.

Maybe, in fact, fear is less correct as proud.

Worried that they may think less of me.  Worried that they would not accept God's plans for me, if I don't seem to be "coping".

The truth of it is simply this - some days I would love to crawl in a hole and hide away forever. I have school work to get through, housework to keep on top of, character issues to deal with, more housework, more school work, more character.  Things going wrong.  Schedules going awry. Tiredness.  Emotional weariness. Physical burdens. Trials I can't always even share at all. Spiritual battles.


You see, I worried that if I told people that I struggle, that I would hear something like this.

"Well, YOU chose to have all those children."

"It was your CHOICE to home school."

"You could go back to work if you wanted, and it would be easier"

"I'm not surprised you're tired, but you can only blame yourself"


I have, in fact, heard as much from people in the past.  It may be why I tend not to share all my struggles.  Why, though, should the opinions of some prevent me from being honest?  The simple answer is, it shouldn't.

By not admitting my struggles I could be putting across a false picture of either a woman who doesn't HAVE any problems, or as someone with super-spiritual proportions who floats through the "trials of life".

Neither of those pictures if true - especially the last one.

Do you know what has allowed me to break free from this prison of silence?  A reminder of one simple thing.  All that we have in our life stems from CONVICTIONS.  Based on our understanding of God's Word, Robert and I have been convicted to allow God to plan our life.

I am a "stay at home mum".  We chose that path because we were CONVICTED by God's Word and teaching about the role of motherhood.  We felt that was best for our family. I can lead you to the Bible and tell you how God convicted US about that.  What verses we read that led us in that direction. But I won't TELL you you should do the same.

That includes the number of children we have, given to us by God.  We look to Him to control and lead us in every other area of life - why should we suddenly decide that we know better when it comes to the number of children we should have?  We trust Him to provide for every other need, so why not trust Him to provide for all the children we may have?

It's a CONVICTION.  OUR conviction.  I'm not going to stand with a placard and tell you to have the same one.  I can tell you why it is a place of privilege and blessing.  I can tell you how we got to that conviction.  But, I can't MAKE it yours.

Same with home educating.  We became CONVICTED about it.  God spoke to our hearts, through the study of His Word.  We go forward, by faith, trusting in God's leading for our family.

Again, it's a conviction.  I could lead you to the scriptures that were our guide and leading.  I could explain to you the principles behind our decision.  But, it's OUR conviction, and it's the Holy Spirit's job to convict, not mine.

So,  all that said, the reason I have hard days is then not ANYTHING to do with the "choices" we have made.  It's not just choices.  It's a conviction, which if we had not followed it, we would have be ignoring God's leading in our lives.  If I then have difficult days, you can not say it is BECAUSE of these convictions. It's just part of it.  It's not "my own fault", it's God's plan.

Plus, if I am not mistaken, no matter what your life's choices are, EVERYONE has hard days.  If you leave your children at home, and go out to work, and only have 1 child, I am NOT going to say when you have a bad day "well, you chose to do those things"!  I would like to hope I would sympathise, and try to encourage and help in whatever way I could, instead of just saying "On your own head be it."

We all have struggles, and we should all want to help others who are struggling, no matter why we "THINK" those problems are there.

It brings me to another reason for this post, and why I was reluctant to share before.  I was worried that people would think I was not doing a good job.  That's pride.  Big, bad and shameful.  Why?  Simply because anything I DO get right is only God's grace and goodness, not anything of me, anyway!  If I'm struggling, it just means that I am prone to the same trials and struggles are everyone else.  That's normal.  It's part of the Christian walk we are on.  Whether your family is large or small, you home educate or not, go out to work, or stay at home - we all have trials, because we are told we WILL on our Christian walk.  My trials will, inevitably, circulate around children, the home and home educating, because that's where God has led me to be! Admitting the trials are there, is just me being humble enough, by God's grace, to admit that I am normal.  I'm just an average person, living by the strength of an extra-ordinary God.

So, there you have it.  Today I have lost my patience with the children, I need to clear my pile of laundry, we haven't finished all of our school work yet, I am not entirely sure what we are having for dinner, and I am dog tired.  Do you know what else?  I am  doing my best, I am at peace in God's plan for me, I know that tomorrow is a new day, and God is still good.

I continue to rest in the promise

"my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Are you struggling today?  Do your struggles come from a life that GOD has led you to, like me?  Are you struggling, despite your obedience?  It's ok, you're not alone!  It's ok -  it's not BECAUSE you are obedient, it's just because you are a Christian!  Being God's child equals having trials, and they will always be connected to the life that God has called you to. It's because you love the Lord, not because you have convictions.  Keep looking to the Lord for your strength, just as every child of God should. No matter the path you are walking on, God's grace will still be sufficient for you, too.  Don't turn your back on your convictions, mistakenly thinking they are the cause for your struggles.  It's not the convictions - it's being a Child of the King.  And, THAT can never be taken away from you, so the trials are going to keep coming, no matter what path you walk upon, until the day you are united with the Lord in heaven.

If, by sharing this I have been able to encourage even one person, then it's worth it.  You're not alone - I have hard days, too.

Honesty - the best policy.

But the greatest of these is love....

It's "Good Friday".

I'm not exactly sure where it got its name from.  There must be a story behind it.  Ultimately, it WAS a good day.  No, it wasn't just "good", it was wonderful.

It was that day, nearly 2000 years ago, when my precious Lord, Jesus Christ, gave His life as a ransom for many.

That "many" includes ME.

He is MY Saviour.  It was MY sins that nailed Him to that horrid Roman cross.  It was MY sin that he bore the punishment for, hanging upon that tree.  That He endured the pain and suffering for - whipped, beaten, thorns in brow, sword in side. The Father forsaking the Son.  The depths of darkness as He endured the cross, despising the shame.

And why?

Why would HE do that?  Why would HE bear the sins of so many upon that cross?

Love.

That's why.

"For God SO loved the world...."

John 3:16

 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:"

I John 3:16

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 

 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 

I John 4:9&10

Despite our sin - BECAUSE of our sin, and the punishment it deserves - He loved, and gave His life.

Unfathomable.

Undeserving.

Unselfish.

Giving His all, so that we could have all we need.

His death, for our life.

So, what can we do with this love today, as we remember His death and His suffering?

Thank.  I can be thankful for that sacrifice - for His death - for the atonement for my sins - for my knowledge of sins forgiven - for my assurance of an eternity without Christ. I can thank the Lord - over and over - for "for his great love wherewith he loved us". 

Give.  I can renew my devotion and commitment to the Lord.  Reaffirm my life as one that is "all for Jesus", because He gave His all for me.  Give all that I have, and am, to Him - in complete dedication.  Live my life to His glory alone.

Love.

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

We need to learn to love like Jesus loves us.  Freely.  Unconditionally. Sacrificially.  Wholeheartedly. Fully.  Unselfishly.  What a challenge.  When we see His perfection, and feel the inadequacies of our own sinful heart.  And yet, if God loved us, we OUGHT to love one another.  What a challenge.  Our husband.  Our children.  Our family.  Our friends.  Our neighbours.  Strangers.  Enemies.

Share.  We need to tell others about what God has done for us.  That we are all vile and wretched sinners, before a holy and perfect God.  That our sin must be punished and that we deserve death and hell.  That God sent His only son, because He LOVES sinners, to die and take the punishment for sin.  That if we but acknowledge and turn from our sin, and trust in Him as our only Saviour, then we CAN be saved.  Tell others of God's grace and goodness to us - that He longs for them to accept His grace and goodness, too. 

"I can do all things through Christ"

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts

Chatting on the Farmhouse porch

I haven't chatted with Patrice and her friends for AGES, and as one of the questions comes from my lovely friend, Anne, I thought it would be fun to join in.


1. Melanie asks "What kinds of seafood have you tried and liked? What is the most unique seafood you've eaten?

I have tried all sorts of seafood.  When we went on holiday to the US when I was younger, I got to try lobster, which I loved.  I have also tried crab, squid, scallops, prawns, tuna (proper, fresh tuna steak, not just from a tin!), and various types of other fish.  I can't think off the top of my head if I have tried anything more exotic.  I loved the lobster - it was really yummy.  I love putting prawns in  a fish pie, with some lovely smoked fish.  I also loved smoked haddock.  It makes the house reek, but it tastes soooooo good. 

2. Anne says, "An unforgettable holiday moment is_____________________. (She's on the other side of that BIG pond. I believe a holiday is a vacation on this side. )

She's actually on THIS side of the pond, but on the other side of the Minch. You don't know what that is?  Google.

This is a toughie.  I have several, from different stages in my life.

I have a very strong memory of going for early morning walks, through the sunny meadow, with my Grandpa, in Cornwall.  I remember bees buzzing, flowers blowing in the morning breeze, and their dog, Don.  Very precious, happy memory.

The moment I made my parents panic in America.  We had gone to a Bible conference, were they had provided a day camp for children.  They had swimming every day, and there was a really high up diving board that everyone jumped from. I DESPERATELY wanted to jump from it, but you had to be able to swim a length.  I couldn't.  I learnt to swim in about 2 days, just so I could do it!  My parents came to watch the last day, and saw me up on the diving board, and nearly had a fit!!! *grin*  I hadn't told them that I had learnt to swim, OR that I would be jumping from up THERE!  For the record, I would not DREAM of going up there to look down, never mind JUMP, any more.  Myself and heights are not best friends.....

The moment that we unlocked the bedroom door and walked into the room in the luxury hotel, on our honeymoon.  It was a STUNNING room, and I felt so very spoiled to be staying in such a place.  Also, every night when we went down for dinner, they would welcome me by my new name "Mrs Cordle".  TOTALLY unforgettable, and incredibly special.

I probably have more, but those ones came to mind first, and I do not wish to bore anyone!

3.  Arlene wants to know, "When was the last time you tried something new?"

Hmmmmm. There's a question, which may require some brain power.

A year ago, I drove a minibus for the first time!  I was fairly daunted by the task, but it was a doddle.  I am now totally used to it.  OH, except parallel parking it.  I still avoid doing that unless there is  HUGE space to drive into.

Oh. I forgot. I tried something new today.

No other words necessary.

4.  Becky asks "who, or what, inspires you?"

Well, without a doubt, the Lord inspires me.  It is His love, life, sacrifice, Word and presence that gives me life and breath.  That is, after all, what "inspire" can mean.  To be "inbreathed" or "inspirited".  It's is the Spirit of God that indwells me, and gives me all I need for every day of my life.  He satisfies my soul, and gives me strength for every moment.   Without the inspired Word of God, I would have no wisdom, truth and guidance.  He is most precious to me.

Humanly speaking, any author who encourages me in my walk as a wife and mother would be inspirational.  So, I find Sally Clarkson to be an inspiration.  Heidi St John.  I am greatly inspired and challenged by Ann Voskamp's writing.

I am inspired by the courage of the 2 Margarets.  These were 2 ladies - one young and one old - who died as martyrs, during the time of the Covenanters.   They refused to deny Christ, and were drowned in the Solway Firth.  Oh, for a testimony like theirs - faithful to death. 

5.  Madonna wants to know," How did you chose the names of your children."

Well, we started with a Bible name with Joshua.  We talked about ever so many names, and just decided together, having prayed about it, that it was the right name.  When we then had a girl, we chose another Bible name, and an "attribute" name in the middle.  Bethany Grace.   We decided for the others to carry on with Bible names, and for the girls to have the attribute name in the middle.  So now we have - Joshua David, Bethany Grace, Daniel James, Susanna Joy, Abigail Faith, Elijah Matthew and Simeon John.   I also have a "thing" about it sounding right.  So, the first name has more syllables than the second.  There is no alliteration with the initials.  The initials don't spell anything.  (not that many words end with a "C").  We also chose names that we would be happy to shorten.  Interestingly, we rarely shorten Daniel's?! But, everyone else gets a shortened name at some point. Susie now RARELY gets called Susanna.  We chose it liking "Susie", but wanted her to have the full name, so she could choose for herself as she got older.  Elijah now sometimes gets "Lij" and Simeon now gets "Sim" every now and again, mostly by Elijah.

We invariably do not decide until we are driving into the hospital.  I say "decide", but I mean the final decision.  Simeon was a rarity - we had it chosen way before!

Also, we now have had a girl's name since I was pregnant with Elijah, so if we ever had another girl, that would be all ready to use.


It was lovely to chat, Patrice.  We have had snow, too.  Ridiculous weather for the end of March, I say.  Hopefully the next time we chat, the weather will have warmed up.  Until then. I will stay inside in the warm, if you don't mind?

Picking off those "suckers"

I was fascinated to see this picture come up in my news-feed on Facebook.

IMMEDIATELY I was propelled back in time.  Zip back approximately 18 years, to my first encounters with these little "suckers".

Except, I always knew them as "side-shoots".

Do you know what you are looking at?

I present to you, a tomato plant.

My In-laws commercially produced tomatoes, for years and years.  When I first met Robert, in order to spend time together in the holidays, which were invariably the busiest season for the business, I had to go down there.  So, I would work alongside the family.  The summers were the longest, busiest, hardest and most exhausting.  We would work from 7.30 am, until late in the afternoon, sometimes into the evening.  Picking tomatoes, sorting them out and getting them ready for collection, took most of the morning, into the early afternoon.  They were picked and put into a bucket, which was then emptied into trays.  The sub-standard ones (too small, split or imperfect) were removed, before being sent off to the sorting shed.  It was HARD work, and it was HOT work.

My in-laws grew  lovely baby plum tomatoes, though. *yum*

But, I am starting to digress.  In the afternoons, there were other jobs to do, in order to maintain the health of the plants.  When I say tomato plants, we are not talking about the plants that grow a few feet tall, and live in a greenhouse in your back garden. These are big Momas. Growing in HUUUUUGE glasshouses.

They grew up a string, which was attached  to a bobbin, which hung on a horizontal wire. As the plants grew up, they had to be "twisted" around this string, at the top of the plant. Yes, the wires are high up (look at the picture above, and see where they grow up to!!) - the "twisters" used either ladders, or in the case of my husband and BIL, stilts! Once it reached the level of the wire, the bobbin was unwound, to provide more string, and the plant was "let down".  These plants then grew along, over the tops of metal hoops a few feet tall, and grew diagonally down the "alley" it was growing in.

You can see the hoops in the top picture, and the angle the plants are growing at in the bottom in picture. 

You can see in this picture, that there are no leaves growing at the bottom of the plant.  (oh yes, you can also see the person who took most of these pictures - my lovely sister-in-love Anna, who happens to be my husband's sister...she took the pictures for posterity, the last year my in-laws had the business - am I ever so glad she was that foresighted?!?!)  Moving on from my tomato munching SIL (who can blame her?). The reason they look so bare, is because they have been "deleafed".  The leaves at the bottom, around where the fruit is ripening, give them too much shade.  They are removed from the plant, to help the fruit be its best, and to ripen in the natural light.

Then, there was "side-shooting".  From our picture, right at the top, you can see that between the leaf and the stem, in the little "angle", there is a tiny shoot growing.  These side-shoots are not beneficial to the growing plant.  It takes away vital energy, water and nutrients from the growing fruit, and deprives the main plant of what it needs. They need to be plucked out, removed, taken away, in order for the main plant and fruit to give 100%.  If you don't, they will just keep growing, and growing, and growing.

Seeing this, and thinking again about the tomato plants,  brought to mind a valuable lesson in our growing life, spiritually speaking, as a woman - whether we be single, a wife or a mother.

As we grow, day by day, we get these little "side-shoots" - these "suckers" - that start to sprout.  They may look like they are supposed to be there.  They look like they are part of the plant, and that they belong there.  However, all they are are doing is sucking the life out of the plant, and stopping the real fruit from growing the way it should.

We all have these "suckers".  We all have things that want to grow in our lives, and suck the life out of us.  Like the side-shoots on a tomato plant, they may even look like they should be there!

It could be pursuits that seem to be legitimate.  Things that we spend our time doing, but they are really just stopping us from growing spiritually the way that we should.  They may be taking us away from our time in God's Word, or spending time in prayer.  Anything that does that, that we are CHOOSING to do, is going to suck the spiritual life right out of us.

Attitudes can be "suckers".  They can be BIG suckers.  If we put all of our energy into feeling bitter, angry, frustrated, disheartened, miserable, rebellious, impatient....the list goes on.....then the strength we need, to grow closer to the Lord, to deepen our relationship with him and to live a joyful Christian life, will simply not be there.  All our energy will be going into these "suckers", instead of going into cultivating the right attitudes and behaviour.

The company that we keep can be a "sucker".  OK, so, if you are a stay at home Mum, your company is limited. In the nicest possible way, our children CAN be suckers.  If we start to idolise them - if we don't raise them in a godly way - if we neglect to discipline them - if we start to behave like them, instead of showing them HOW to behave - then, they CAN be suckers! We need to be wise in our dealings, even with our own children. However, the company we CHOOSE to keep - the friends we make, the people who we choose to be in company with as we go about our daily business - they can be suckers.  If they are ungodly, and unsaved, that can be a sucker straight away.  Choosing to spend a lot of time, just for leisure, with people who do not love the Lord like we do - who have bad language, who have poor moral standards, who talk about nonsense - will suck away our spirituality toot sweet.  We will become like them sooner than they will become like us.  Supposedly "Christian" friends who do nothing but bicker, gossip, speak and behave negatively, pat you on the back and tell you that YOUR unBiblical attitudes and behaviour are acceptable, or discourage you about your godly convictions, are going to sap the spiritual strength out of you.  You need to have those who will encourage you in your Christian walk.  Those who are like-minded enough to understand your choices, and not berate them.

I know many have ungodly family, or even an ungodly spouse.  We just have to make sure that we keep strong in the Lord, when we are with them, and don't allow them to suck the strength from us.

What we think about - where we allow our mind to go - can be a "sucker".  If we dwell on the negatives, instead of looking to God's goodness - if we are thinking about the burdens instead of the blessings - if we think the worst, instead of the best - all these wrong mindsets will be "suckers".  The Bible reminds us to think about things that are pure, right, good and so forth.  Any wrongly placed thoughts will harm our peace - it will suck it right out of us.

We can even have "suckers" in our marriage.  Things that will drain out all of the life that we should have.  If we don't communicate properly - if we don't tell each other "I love you" - if we don't show love, kindness and affection - if we let problems fester - if we don't make the effort to grow closer.  Many, many things will suck the life out of our marriage, and we need to pull out any problems that we can see appearing.

Something to finish with, and worthy of remembering, is this.  Firstly, what do you think we did with those side-shoots?  Where did they go?  They got pushed up into heaps, and taken away. If you look at the picture below, you will see them all pushed into heaps, ready to get taken away in the trailer.  Eventually, they were all burnt - completely destroyed.  We need to make sure that those "suckers" in our life are completely removed, and that no trace of them is left!



 Also, do you think that when you take one side-shoot out, that there will never be any more?  You certainly don't get them back in the spot you removed them from, but as the plant grows upwards, they will keep coming where there is new growth.   If we ever got behind in jobs in the glasshouse, the side-shoots would grow, and grow, and grow - they would be trailing all over the place, and you could hardly walk up the alley!   You need to keep on top of the job of pulling them out!

It's the same in your life.  Just because you get rid of one "sucker", doesn't mean another will not appear.  In fact, they WILL.  They will keep on coming, and you will need to keep looking for them, and pulling them out.  It's a continual, and necessary job, in order to have our spiritual life growing and healthy.

So, think about it today - in your life - what are those "suckers" that you need to pull out, and are stopping you from being a spiritual "plant" that is growing strong. May the Lord give us all grace and strength as we week to pluck them out.

Oh, and just for the memory.... here's my now 11 1/2 year old Joshua, 9 years ago, with his Uncle Andrew, in the glasshouses.  My, how time flies. *sad sigh*

Matriarchs on a Monday - The Shunammite Woman {Part 1}

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

I do not know just where to begin and end with this godly woman.  There is SO much to learn from her, that I am going to refuse, yes REFUSE, to deal with it in one blog post. What an immense joy it has been to read through the vents of her life, and the myriad of lessons I have learnt as I read.

We know nothing of her early life, until Elisha meets her.  From that day in, the twists and turns - the highs and lows - the blessings abundant - seem not to cease.

So, how do we first meet this wonderful lady?

Elisha was passing through Shunem, and she

"constrained him to eat bread".

II Kings 4:8

She insisted that he should stop and eat, and she desired to provide for him what she perceived that he had need of.  He was passing through Shunem regularly enough that she had observed his coming and going.  She knew, also, that he was a prophet of God - a man of God.  Her heart was constrained to emet a physical need for him - something that she could provide.

This was not where her generosity ended, though.  After feeding him on a regular basis, she felt it would be sensible to build him a "prophet's chamber".  It was just a little room, built onto the side of their home.  It had only the basics, but everything he would need - a bed, a table, a stool and a candlestick. He simply needed somewhere to rest, in the midst of his journeying.

And, she wanted to meet that need.

It's a simple truth, but one which I know is most certainly NOT always put into practice.

If we see others who have a need we can meet, MEET IT!

There is nothing too simple.  Nothing too basic.  Nothing that is not "important" enough.

If you see that someone else needs something, and it is within your power to meet that need, then just DO IT.

We're talking about a MEAL here.  And, I would hazard a guess, that, in a post-drought and famine torn land, it was not the fatted calf that was offered up, every time he passed through.  It was far more likely to be something on the scale of the Widow of Zarapheth.  A simple meal of bread or meat.  Just enough to meet the need that Elisha had - a need for sustenance as he went about the work that God had called him to do.

Are there people in your life that have needs that YOU could meet, just as simply as this woman did?  Single, elderly or struggling people in your Church, who would love to have a meal provided for them by someone else?  How little would it cost you to make just a wee bit extra for someone else?  Make what you have go a bit further, to meet the needs of others?

Maybe it's not food?  Maybe it's clothes you no longer need - toys your children just have too many of already - things for the home that would help someone as they try and furnish a place for themselves - books you have read, and would benefit another to read as well.  The list is varied and endless - there are many needs, and many ways to meet them.

What about your home?  Are you given to hospitality, not only in the sense of providing a meal, but to have people to stay.  I know that this couple went to the time, effort, energy and money to BUILD somewhere to accommodate Elisha.  However, are you willing to let others stay with you?  Make sure you have a spare bed - even if it's tucked into a space you need to use for something else.  Have you got space you DO use for something else, but it could be better used for having available to look after others?  Are you even willing to OFFER to have those to stay who have a need?  A visiting preacher in your Church - a missionary passing through - a relation of a Church member who needs somewhere to stay when visiting?  Are you WILLING?  That's the question.

I know that some people don't have a spare room.  We didn't have one in our last house, so we would give up our own room to accommodate others.  we weren't being martyrs - the joy of having someone to stay far outweighed any relocation we had to do!

In our current home, we now have a spare room, and plenty of space.  We have had many, many people to stay since our move, and it's our joy to have them in our home.

It's a privilege to offer up your home to others - to show them kindness, to be of help and to show the love of Christ in your willingness to have them to stay.  Remember what the Lord said?  If you show kindness to others, you are showing it to HIM..  Doing all for Jesus.  That should be our motivation.

The last thing I want to note is this.  They respected a man of God.  They wanted to do all they could for him, BECAUSE he was a prophet.

Do you respect and show love towards your own pastor?  To those in the Lord's work?  Do you try and find ways in which you can encourage and them?  Do you pray for them?  Do you try and help them out in practical ways?  Do you remember that they are busy trying to study sot hat they can teach you from God's Word, and so any other things you can help them with will free up their time to study and prepare?

I am particularly blessed.  I am MARRIED to my pastor, so it's my joy to help him in every way I can, so he can focus his mind upon the Word.   If I give him extra things to think about, by having wrong attitudes, or not getting on with my role in the marriage, then I will not be helping him in his role as a Pastor and Preacher.

This godly couple loved and respected Elisha.  They saw the needs that he had, and they did ALL they could to help him out.

We need to have that same giving attitude.  One that LOOKS for a need and does all it can to meet it.  For ANYONE that the Lord brings into our lives.

Look for the need, today, and do all you can to meet it! Better still - teach your children to have the same giving spirit, and the blessing will carry on to the next generation.

I'll come back to this woman next week, God willing - there is still SO much to learn from her. 

Putting on weight {finding glory in trials}

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

It's not every day you will find me suggesting that you need to put on weight.  Taking it off?  Yup.

But, I was thinking today about difficult times as a wife and especially as a mother.  Undoubtedly, my most challenging moments come when dealing with my children.  Every. Day.

The word "affliction" in the verse above, can actually be translated as "pressure".  As wives and mothers, (and particularly home-schooling Mum's) we have moments EVERY day, when we feel under  pressure.

We feel the pressure of disciplining our children, when they err in a particular way AGAIN. When they push us to our limits.  When they test our authority as a parent.

We feel the pressure of those looking on from the outside.  Are we managing to keep our home clean and tidy?  Is the front garden respectable?  Are ALL of those faces clean and shiny, with the children wearing clean and matching clothes, when we go out?  Are they behaving in public?  Are they saying the right thing to the right people?

What about the simple pressure of just fitting in all the jobs we need to do in a day?  When they seem to mount up and overwhelm us?

We feel the pressure of pleasing our husband.  Wanting to know that his needs are met, in whatever ways we can.  To know that he has us there to support and encourage him, whilst juggling meal-planning, dinner preparation, house-work and home-school, amongst a gazillion other things.

We feel the pressure of the desire to have our daily quiet time - squeezing in those moments reading your Bible in peace, or trying to get a few moments to commune with the Lord in prayer.

The list is endless, and unique to each individual - in whatever way you feel the pressures of life.

But, the thing we need to keep in focus is this....are we putting our efforts into the things that are "seen" or the the things that are "unseen".

I'm not just talking about what the public sees, versus what goes on behind our front door.

I'm talking temporal versus spiritual.

Ultimately, what counts?  The eternal.  The things that mould the character of our child for eternity.

Is it not better that we spend the time placing the emphasis on training them up in the ways of the Lord, rather than worrying about the "things that are seen"?  Worrying about what others think, rather than what the Lord thinks, will not benefit anyone.

Now, don't get me wrong, and read something I am not saying.  I am NOT suggesting that these other things are WRONG.  Spending all our time and effort on them, and feeling the pressure to achieve them just to please others, IS. Putting more priority into achieving them, than in shaping the behaviour of our children, and training them up in the ways of the Lord, is wrong.

The encouragement comes in this - the pressure we feel, whilst fulfilling these good things in the lives of our children, IS worth it.  It carries weight.  A weight that is worth having.

An eternal weight of glory.

All these things that we do, with a right perspective, and a right motivation, have an eternal value.

Seeking to honour the Lord, as we fulfil our daily duties, not matter how tough those daily duties become -  holds an eternal weight.

Daily guiding and training up our children, in the ways of the Lord - a work not always seen from the outside because the Holy Spirit is working away in their heart - holds and eternal weight.

Being a good example, in our duties as a wife and mother, no matter how much pressure we feel in trying to do it all - holds an eternal weight.

Ultimately, the fact that we feel pressure at all, implies that we are TRYING to do something, and that alone holds a weight of it's own.

And, what is that eternal weight?...it's a weight of GLORY! Of receiving honour, for the labours we endure. An eternal and spiritual honour, which far outweighs any honour we may receive whilst on this earth.  Whilst it's nice to have our labours acknowledged by those around us, and especially those we hold dear, it's that eternal weight of glory that we should seek to attain.  That we should keep our focus on, when days are tough, and the pressure seems to mount.

It IS worth it...all those moments of pressure and trial - add them all up, and think of the weight of glory that you will receive at the end of your days!

If the Lord wills, our most glorious moment will be seeing our children coming to a personal knowledge of the Saviour, and trusting in Him for salvation.

Lift your eyes from the "moment" and look for the "glory".

Matriarchs on a Monday - Another Widow with oil

A simple lesson, but such an important one today.  I think it's a truth that we can so easily forget, in a society where we tend to think that we provide for our own needs.

Today, we learn again about a widow. This lady had been married to one of the "sons of the prophets",
and he had died.  When he died, he left them with some sort of debt, owing to creditors. As she apparently had nothing to pay off the debt WITH, they were going to come and take her two sons away, as payment of the debt!

She came to Elisha, pleading for help.  He asked her what she had in her house.

A pot of oil.

That's all.

A single pot of oil.

Are you seeing any similarities here?

Another widow woman, another pot of oil.

Before anything else, something precious springs out here.  Did you know that in the scriptures, oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit?  No matter how dire things are, no matter how destitute we are, we will always have the precious presence of the Holy Spirit!  That is something we can NEVER lose, despite our circumstances.  What a blessed joy!  We have Him to cheer us and comfort us, no matter what.

This time, it's not an ongoing need, such as was provided for both the Widow, her son and Elijah, in the lesson from our last matriarch. This time, it's a one-off need, of huge proportions.  Humanly speaking, she has no idea what to do.

Thankfully, Elisha is a man of God, which she knew, and she had faith that he would know what to do.

He told her to get every pot she could get from her neighbours, and bring them back to her house.  She must have wondered what on earth he was going to do.  What use are pots, when you don't have anything to put IN them?

However, collect pots she did.  She went round to all her neighbours, and borrowed every last pot she possibly could.

In my mind, there are visions of middle-eastern looking pots, stacked all around their simple home - covering tables, chairs and the floor.

Ready.

Ready for Elisha's instruction.

Then came the miracle.

She was to pour the oil into the vessels, until they were filled up.

Now, if this had been you or me, would we have scorned the instruction, or had the faith to follow?  There was not much oil left.  How could it possibly fill ALL of those pots she had borrowed?  But, she did as she was instructed.  She shut their front door, and got started, in obedience to her instructions.

Take note.

Something struck me upon reading this again.  Something that shows a true follower of God's Words, because this was what she was.  A follower of GOD'S Word.

She filled the pots RIGHT UP TO THE TOP.

If she had lacked faith, she may have just poured until they were NEARLY full.  Not wanting to expect such an immense blessing.  Not presuming a super-abundance of supply.  But, no.  She filled them up to the top.

Such faith.

Such trust.

Such assurance that her need would be met.

Once all the pots were filled, the oil stopped.  There was no more.  Her need was fulfilled perfectly.  Not a drop more.  Not a drop less.

She then went out and sold the oil, in order to pay her debts.

What an incredible experience.  To have your needs met so perfectly.  So miraculously.  So wonderfully.

We read such an account and wonder at the miracles that God performed in times past.  Of the provisions for His people that we read of in the Bible.

Ah!  But that is not the end of it.  It's not just a story.  It's not just a picture.  It's not just "nice".  It's truth.  It's real TODAY.  Nothing has changed.

We still have needs.  Not just the day to day needs, such as food and water.  But we have bigger needs,  that we still seek provision of.  God still provides.  God is still our ONLY provider, because all that we have comes from Him.  He still provides miraculously  perfectly and wonderfully for us.  We still have those pressing needs met, in often awesome ways.  It may not involve oil that doesn't run out, but it may be an anonymous money gift for the right amount at the perfect time.  Perhaps it's someone giving us an item we desperately needed, without us even mentioning the need.  Maybe it's generosity from an unexpected person or source.  Many ways, many needs.

Do you see, though?  There's an important element in this story.

There was faith.  Faith that Elisha would know what to do, because she knew that He was God's servant.  She had faith in God to provide.

However, there was also works.  There was something she had to do.  She had to go and collect all the pots, and then fill them up.  Faith involves doing.  Faith without works is dead.

We need to step out, trusting in God's ability to provide, knowing that our needs will be met.  Doing all that we should be doing, in order to be responsible with what we already have.  Had she wasted that last drop of oil, or not filled the pots right up, or not gone and got so many pots, she may not have been provided for to the same extent.  God sees and rewards our faith when it is accompanied by the doing.

Look through Hebrews 11.  By faith, they all "did" something.

Do you have a need?  Do you have something that you need God to supply?  Believe that God can and will do it, and make sure that your life demonstrates faith in action and a responsibility with what God has already given you.

How wonderful that we trust in a God who loves us and cares for us, and who provides for us in the little ways as well as the big ways.