Category: Ladies Only

by: Jennifer Petticoffer

1 John 3:18 – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

As I sat in church the other day, I looked around and counted several new families. These precious people are new believers who have been faithful to church the past few months. We’ve also had some wonderful families move here to be a part of our ministry – what a blessing! The Lord adds to His church as we do His work of spreading the Gospel, inviting people, being a help to the community and staying true His Word.

People are enthusiastic when they first get saved or join the church, but sometimes they gradually lose interest and drop out. We, as ladies, can do something to help our pastors care for new people and help our churches grow and thrive.

The first step to helping our church is to make room in our hearts for new people. We’re so busy carrying a busy mental “load” of duties that there’s no room for thoughts of people. Aren’t people the whole point of the ministry? I have my circle of church friends with whom I fellowship and some of us have known each other for over forty years. My family also attends church and I love speaking to them and visiting with my granddaughter during the services. I think this habit can become a potential killer for the purpose of church. I’ve changed my mind about my fellowship goals while I’m on the church property. Of course, I say a quick “Hello” to my dear friends, but in my heart I know it’s time for making new friends and checking on Christians who may need encouragement. It’s time to include, not exclude.

When we make room in our hearts to accept new people, the Lord opens our eyes. When I see ANY visitor enter our church building, I think of that person as an absolute MIRACLE! When I think of all of the people I’ve invited to church and how many have actually come – that can be discouraging! God sends us visitors we may not have even invited, and we need to recognize their preciousness and realize each person is a gift from Heaven. In this world of sin and immorality, it takes a lot of gumption to get up, get dressed and attend an independent, Bible-believing, Baptist church. Wow! These people deserve the red carpet treatment and our attention. These visitors are great opportunities for our churches to be revived! We work so hard to go soul winning and invite people, but when someone walks in the door we don’t pay them any attention or feel like we’ve been intruded upon.

The next step is to make room in our schedules for new people. My Sunday routine can be almost robotic. I have each task and duty planned down to the split second. Wake up the family, start the coffee maker, have devotions and prayer time, review Sunday school lesson, put the roast in the slow cooker, get ready, practice the offertory, eat breakfast, leave for church, take care of music ministry duties, set up for Sunday school, go to general assembly, teach Sunday school, practice with the singing group, play the prelude for church and off we go! Sound familiar?

The Lord worked on my heart about this schedule, my aging knees did too! The Lord made it clear to me that I needed to slow down and meet and encourage any person in my path. I’m not the Lord’s gift to anyone, but I can shake a hand, ask about their welfare, find out a visitor’s name, etc. I decided to be a few minutes early to church so I wouldn’t be running a race before Sunday school. I also decided to leave the piano area via the auditorium instead of sneaking out of the side door. If any visitors or new members are still in the building after I play the postlude, I do my best to get to them and meet them. I’ve made friends of a lifetime by being the first to welcome them to church. It’s not hard, they’re more afraid of us than we are of them.

As we become acquainted with visitors and make new friends, a whole new personal ministry for each of us begins. Our prayer lists and prayer life grow as each person’s name is added and their needs become important to us. This friendship and fellowship is not just one-sided, we BENEFIT from the personalities of the new believers and members who join our church. I have new friends to text, write letters to, wave at, share laughs with, and I know they pray for me, too!

We also need to make room for people who’ve left the church and visit or want to come back. If they have a spirit that is not destructive, they should be welcomed by all. God does not care for pharisaical attitudes from His children. God is merciful and loving, and we should also show His love and mercy. This can feel difficult for us, but think about how hard it is for them to come back into the building and face the entire congregation? It takes tons of courage to come back if you’ve missed for a while. We need to make room for them, and we need to be a part of the healing process so they can fulfill God’s will for their lives.

Let’s start welcoming anyone who comes into our church doors. If they’re in the building, make room on your pew. If they don’t speak English, smile big and make room on your pew. If they’re prettier than you, make room on your pew. If they’re fat, make more room on your pew. If they’re rich, make room on your pew. If they’re younger than you, make room on your pew. If they’re not dressed in church attire, make room on your pew. Get the point?

All it takes is one welcoming face, one warm handshake, one person who knows their name to give a person a feeling of “place.” Be the person who makes room for one more!

Jennifer Petticoffer
Music Coordinator
Longview Baptist Temple
Longview, TX

by: Laurie Whitehouse

Occasionally a topic will pique my curiosity, and I will give it some study. Due to the fact that I am not familiar with many of the terms of the religion of Hinduism and the language of Sanskrit, I am not sure that I have totally done justice to this topic, but I do hope that you find this as helpful and informational as I did. I knew that the background of yoga was that it stemmed from an Eastern religion, but I wanted to know more, so here is what I learned:

• Yoga moves are postures that in the Hindu and Buddhist religions are postures that are offerings to their deities (gods).  There are over 330 Hindu gods.
• The word “yoga” means to join or to unite. The religious use of the word “yoga” means to join one’s self to a chosen deity in order to become one with the deity.
• The idea of yoga is to empty all of one’s thoughts and focus on one thing–to become one with the chosen deity. Yoga is to take a person from his natural form to a perfected form when he is united with the deity of his choice.
• The Yoga Sutras are writings which define the Hindu religion.
• In the Yoga Sutra, Samadhi is a state of bliss in which the person performing the yoga is absorbed into the “One.”
• According to the Yoga Sutra, the person performing yoga will be capable of “Vibhuti” which means “supra-normal powers.” The goal of yoga, according to the Hindu religion should not be to attain Vibhutie, but the goal should be to be liberated.
• Two other words that are important to the practice of yoga are “pranayama” which is control of breath which steadies the body and allows the mind to focus and concentrate. “Pratyahara” is the withdrawing of all senses in order to focus on external objects.
• As I was studying for this, I came across a site that was promoting teaching one’s self yoga. The conclusion was: “I have less pain when I do more yoga. I feel calmer throughout the day. Ultimately, yoga isn’t just doing poses. Yoga is something that permeates your life, and it does so in a way that brings wholeness and connection to the rest of what you do and who you are.”
• Quotes concerning yoga:

1. “There is no Yoga without Hinduism and no Hinduism without Yoga.” – unknown

Yoga and Hinduism are intertwined; that is according to the Hindu religion itself.

2. “Any belief, whatever it is, is counterproductive in the context of the practice of yoga. One holds a belief instead of knowing. For example, you wouldn’t say you believe in your right ear, since you know your ear, no belief is required. Believing always excludes knowing. When jnana (supreme knowledge) comes through the practice of yoga, you will know. Do not be satisfied with believing.” ~ Gregor Maehle

 The practice of yoga will bring about this “supreme knowledge.” This reminds me of the knowledge that Eve was seeking by eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

3. “Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.” ~ Krishnamacharya

Who is this god? Don’t let the upper case “G” lead you astray, this is whichever deity the person doing yoga focuses upon.

In 1853, Henry David Thoreau, a writer and American philosopher who was disillusioned with Christianity and turned to Hinduism, wrote:

“Repentance is not a free and fair highway to God. A wise man will dispense with repentance. It is shocking and passionate. God prefers that you approach him thoughtful, not penitent, though you are chief of sinners. It is only by forgetting yourself that you draw near to him. The calmness and gentleness with which the Hindu philosophers approach and discourse on forbidden themes is admirable.”

“The Christian and Hindu concept of man,” Thoreau wrote, “are diametrically opposed to each other, the former sees man as a born sinner whereas the latter takes him to be potentially divine.”

Thoreau turned from Christianity and embraced the many gods of Hinduism. During the years he spent alone in the wilderness writing the classic book, “On Walden Pond,” Thoreau was known to have practiced the art of yoga in order to become the divine being that Hinduism offers to humanity.

In our post-Christian society, Christians now, more than ever, need to be aware of their need to be “salt and light” in a world that is denying the one, true God at every turn. Being physically fit is important to a certain extent, but not to the extent that we walk blindly toward the tricks of the old serpent, Satan. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

As I was studying about yoga, I often thought to myself how glad I am that I serve ONE God who is so easy to worship and so easy to access. I can enter boldly unto my God and pray to Him anywhere I choose.  I don’t have to breathe a certain way or manipulate my body in hopes of trying to connect with Him.

So, what do I believe about yoga? I believe I love my God too much to follow after other gods or even appear to follow after other gods. Even if I thought that I was too grounded as a Christian to let my mind be controlled by yoga practices, I would choose to follow, worship, and serve God in a way in which I KNOW He would be pleased.

Laurie Whitehouse
Wife of Dr. Daryl Whitehouse, Dean of Students at Commonwealth Baptist College
Lexington, KY

by: Sandy Domelle

It’s been years since I was the missionary kid, but once a missionary kid, always a missionary kid. Every missionary family that prepares to go to the mission field lives in a mode of constant change. They are on the road for deputation or furlough, and not every church starts at the same time, has the same schedule or cares for the missionary family in the same way. This makes the life of missionary kids inconsistent. The parents will try to keep as much of a routine as they can, but until they get to the field and truly settled, life is not at all a normal routine.

When you have a missionary family through your church, be understanding. Sometimes, the family traveled all day to get to your church. Think of your own children, after many hours of travel none of our children are perfect angels. If the kids jump out of the vehicle with a little more energy than you prefer, realize this is just one meeting for you, but they do this week after week constantly spending hours in a vehicle. Allow them to be able to get their energy out without a lot of critique.

There are many ways you can love your missionary kids. I’m going to list a few, but my list could go on forever. Let me give you several ideas of how you can spoil your missionary kids whether they are visiting your church or if you are sending them something special through the mail.

1. Learn your missionary kids. Find out ahead of time how many children are in the missionary family. Know their names and know their ages. We all love it when we know someone has cared to know our family, the missionary family is no different. Knowing their names and ages helps you to be prepared for where they will go for Sunday school and maybe preparing some of the children in your church to befriend the missionary kids.

2. Buy them gift cards or gift certificates. One of my favorite things is to have $5 gift cards or certificates in my purse to give to the missionary kids. If I know there are 4 or 6 children, this helps me as a church member to be able to have enough of these on hand. Sometimes I have them for McDonalds, Walmart, Dairy Queen, Subway, etc. I know that $5 isn’t a lot, but it’s the thought that counts. Maybe your family or church can do a little more and have $10 or $20 per child. Just having something that each child gets of their own and is able to spend it on something of their choice is a small way of showing them that you love them.

3. Missionary Kid Bags. When we have our missions conference, we have started providing a bag per child of things that are specifically for them. We have their names and ages so that we shop for age appropriate things, and if the family has shared extra things with us, we are able to add things in their favorite colors or things they like. There’s nothing like seeing those children tear into their bags and so excited about what’s inside.

4. Spoil the Missionary Kids. Some people and churches have begun to think that every week a church spoils the missionary family so they don’t need to take care of their missionaries when they come through. Let me tell you, not every church does. This being said, there are times when a missionary family will come through and you can tell that the children are in need of new clothes or new shoes. A missionary kid can go through quick growth spurts just like your kids. If God lays it on your heart, my thinking has always been, if I notice the need then God sent the need for me to fill and He always provides the way to fill it. Our family has bought new shoes, new clothes, new Bibles, hair accessories and many other things that we’ve seen as a need. Allow God to use you. Sometimes, showing our love in this way means more than you’ll ever know.

5. Befriend the missionary kids. Maybe invite the missionary family over and do something fun with the kids. Maybe you can afford to take them bowling, miniature golfing, riding a horse, fishing on a lake, etc. Do you realize that you create memories with these kids and their parents that can last a lifetime? There are things I remember to this day because it’s the only time in our life that we experienced some of the best memories during deputation. One of my favorite memories is a family that had us stay in their home. They prepared a bed for each of us and they had put name tags on each bed. Each name tag on the bed had a small plate of 4 cookies by it, and the lady had placed a note on the cookies. The note said that we could ask for a refill at any time during our stay. Of course, my mom wasn’t going to let that happen, but each night by the time we got home there were 4 more homemade cookies on our plate. She said that every child deserved a midnight snack. This dear lady asked us every morning what we’d like for breakfast from a list of 4-5 items on the menu, and she would make each of us whatever we wanted. She spoiled us in so many ways, and by the time we left her house we felt we were leaving behind a grandma. To this day, this lady has stayed in touch with our family. I love this lady dearly because she has taught me in a small way the importance of serving others.

6. Pray for your missionary kids every week. I really feel that most churches don’t mean to, but they really have the philosophy, “Out of sight, out of mind.” I diligently pray for missionary families every week. I know exactly how many missionaries our church supports, and I pray for each family one minute a day. That seems like a tiny bit, but when you have a lot of missionaries those minutes add up. Most of the time my prayer is always the same for every family unless I know something very specific that is needed. I keep a 3×5 card with a list of all the names so I can mentally go through them when I have a few minutes I am waiting on something here or there. I also pick up my list and continue praying throughout the day for different families. When I sit and wait on our daughter for piano lessons, that is an opportunity to pray in the car while I wait. There are times you spend sitting that you can quickly pray for your missionaries. There are times I can be in Walmart and pray as I’m going up and down the aisles. Sometimes, that’s very easy because I pick up things weekly to put in our missionary care packages. Sometimes it’s Kool-aid packets, bubble gum, candy, stickers, etc. My mind is focused on finding things for them, so what a great opportunity to pray while you shop. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Some of the missionary kids really need your prayers. They may be sick on the field, going through tough situations or just need wisdom just like our kids do.

7. Send care packages to your missionary kids. There’s nothing like getting a package in the mail besides the excitement of what is in the package! I know that packages are expensive. The large flat rate priority box from USPS is over $80, but if you have a group of ladies at church that can chip in together to mail a box, it’s so worth it. Our church ladies did a garage sale this summer to help with the cost of shipping all the care packages we mail. There are many ways to raise money to help with shipping costs. Find a way and send some packages. We love to do baking themed boxes for the holidays because many of the missionaries can’t always find groceries that are for seasonal baking (canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, etc) The missionary kids definitely benefit from the cookie, brownie and cake mixes you send. They would love any candy from the states that you could send and other treats. We email with our missionaries so we have an idea what many of them miss and would love in a care package. Mailing things like games, puzzles, etc., all promote family time. Maybe you can’t mail a whole package, but another idea that we’ve done is to take a 24-piece children’s puzzle and wrote a note on the back of it. Then we mailed 24 separate cards with one piece of the puzzle in each card. Younger kids get excited about this idea as they wait for the pieces to come in the mail. I know, some of you are thinking, what if all the pieces don’t show up? Well, so far, we’ve not had this happen. We do pray over our cards and asked the Lord to help them get there. That may seem trivial to you, but I learned from living on the mission field to pray over every item you send and let the Lord guide it through the right hands.

8. Send birthday cards, Christmas cards, Thanksgiving cards, Valentine cards, etc. in the mail to the missionary kids. Do you know how much you love getting mail? Especially when it’s not bills, but something for you personally. Children get ten times more excited about mail that is addressed to them. You may think it’s just a card with a name on it, but you are thinking wrong. Just knowing that someone took the time to send it means a lot. If you think it’s just a card, why don’t you take your cards up a notch and make them exciting? You can tell them special things about your family, your church, send a picture in the card, send something that is flat in the card (maybe a packet or two of Kool-aid in a baggie so it doesn’t make a mess) or maybe a sheet of stickers, etc. Have your children send letters in the mail telling the missionary kids they are praying for them. Find odd holidays to send a card to make them laugh and feel special.

9. Take care of missionary kids at college. If your church has missionary kids that have gone to college, some of them won’t have family who will send them things in the mail. When I was in college, our church ladies provided me with many of my necessities. One lady made sure I had a roll of quarters every month to do my laundry, some ladies baked cookies, some provided stationary and overseas stamps, etc. I even had a lady who would find me every Sunday and tuck a $5 bill in my hand to help buy nylons or anything I needed. Help make the load easier on the missionary kids at college. Many of them come from the field and have a hard time fitting in at first because maybe they talk different, dress different or think different. The extra things you do to encourage them will be a blessing as they prepare for what God has ahead for them.

I hope this article encourages you to spend some extra time thinking about the missionary kids and finding a few ways you can be a blessing to them.

by: Vickie Britt

What do you think about when you hear the word anticipation? I teach kindergarten and, oh my, the excitement that swells up in the breast of my students when they anticipate turning six! That usually means a visit from grandma and grandpa, if not a visit, at least a card in the mail with money inside! Presents, a birthday cake, a party with their BEST friends are all a part of a child’s birthday anticipation.

I think of the college student who has invested thousands of dollars, worked on numerous assignments, spent countless hours studying for exams, and has a faint memory of what eight hours of sleep fells like who eventually walks across a platform to receive their degree. What kind of anticipation will he or she experience? How about that of finding his or her first REAL job?

I would like to take you to one of my favorite portions of Scripture where our Lord Jesus also had great anticipation, that of being able to go back home to be with his Father after being away for some 33 years. In John 17, our Lord was about to wind up his earthly ministry. He was soon to be glorified with the Father as He had been before.

I can’t read this portion of the Bible without tearing up. Truly you see the heart of God as He prays for us. To me, it is a glimpse into the heart of God. Jesus knew He would be leaving in a matter of hours. In chapter 18 of John, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane where He was betrayed and arrested. Emotions were running high for Simon Peter as he cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. Can you imagine being in Peter’s shoes as Jesus looked at him and said, “Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”

We too receive a cup from the Father that we must drink. A favorite song for younger children is, “When my cup runneth over with joy, when my cup runneth over with joy, I find it easy to pray and to sing all the day, when my cup runneth over with joy. But when my cup is all empty and dry…”

As you well know, our cup is never empty and dry. Life happens, and it is not always a “walk in the park!” All of us taste life. Sometimes it’s bitter. Other times it is sour, salty or sweet. It is our Heavenly Father Who determines what our cup contains. If you haven’t experienced a bitter cup being handed to you up to this point in your life, you will.

What does the term bitter mean? It means something strong and unpleasant. In life it could be a certain circumstance that brought you sorrow and pain. For me it was the abandonment of the man with whom thought I would be sharing the rest of my life. I couldn’t let the bitterness of that cup consume me. I had three young adult children who would need their father. At the time, my girls were not married. They would need their dad to walk them down an aisle someday and give them away to the young man waiting for them.

When hard times come, I have a tendency to run. Not running from my precious Heavenly Father, but running to Him! Psalm 34:8 says, “OH taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” I have to trust during the bitter times of my life.

The second cup that could be handed to you would be that of a cup filled with something sour. A couple definitions for sour are 1.) Cross, bad-tempered and 2.) sounding wrong, not having the right pitch. Have you tasted sourness in your life? Sometimes it is sudden and not expected. One recent weekend, I had the opportunity of spending a couple days with my daughter and her precious family. For the Sunday evening service the pastor played a recording of a 19 year old young man preaching. It was a very moving message. Seven hours after he preached that sermon, he met the Saviour face to face. For his family and the young lady he was driving to see, it was sudden! Definitely not expected. Sourness can come in the form of being cross or bad-tempered. Maybe you have been on the receiving end, hopefully you were not handing it out! You walked away scratching your head saying, “What was that all about?” What should you do? Go to the Book! “Oh taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Have you tasted the saltiness of life? The purpose of salt is to season, sometimes preserve. God may bring something into your life that may sting like pouring salt on an open wound. I believe it is the salty seasons in our life when we grow in courage, faith and trust in our Lord. Because of those salty times, I’ve learned not to wonder if God is going to come through for me. God will take care of me like I know God will take care of you. The fun part is, and honestly sometimes the scary part, is in the waiting. The song writer says, “He’s in time, on time, every time I need Him.” Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

For me, one such salty time was the death of my mom through suicide. She jumped off a bridge into a river and her body was recovered the next day a mile down the river. During this time is where I learned to run into the arms of God. He has put me through many tests, but by bringing these salty circumstances, He has preserved me for His use and service to be used anytime He so choses to use me. So, when salty times come, what are we going to do? “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” 

Now for the sweetness in our lives. One of the sweetest times was when I met the Saviour. Do you have a vivid memory as to when you met the Saviour? When I was young my folks were very moral people, but we did not attend church. Every once in a while, a neighbor would invite me to go with them, but not enough to where I received a clear presentation of the Gospel. I was babysitting for a neighbor of mine when I was 16 on a New Year’s Eve night. In those days not many things were on TV past the evening news. It was 1:00 a.m. in the morning, and I happened to find Rex Humbard preaching about Heaven and Hell. This scared me to death! I didn’t want to go to Hell, and I wasn’t sure how to go to Heaven. They offered a booklet entitled, “The Answer.” I sent for it. On February 3, 1971, I received the booklet in the mail. In the quietness of my bedroom I read it. Scriptures were explained and a prayer was on the last page that could be prayed to receive Christ. I fell to my knees on my pink shaggy rug by my bed and invited the Lord into my life. Oh, the sweetness of Salvation!

Other sweet moments in our lives would be meeting that special man who becomes your husband. Do you remember on the school playground saying, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage.” Those are all sweet times, and now some of us are experiencing the world of being a grandparent! Sweet! Oh, God is so good for all the sweet times He brings our way. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Have you caught on to what I have been saying? “O taste and see that the LORD is good…”

It is a command!

It is NOT a request!

It is a promise!

As you are going through the bitter, sour, salty and sweet seasons in your life, His presence is simply delicious if you run to Him. Grab hold and don’t let go!

Vickie Britt
School Teacher
Longview Baptist Temple
Longview, TX

by: Sandy Domelle

Being a leader’s wife is not an easy responsibility. As a leader’s wife you are in the limelight whether you like it or not. Things are expected of you that God doesn’t expect from you, but the success of your husband will highly be determined by how you conduct yourself as his wife. Here are just a few thoughts that will help the leader’s wife, but I have no doubt that these areas affect every wife out there.

1. Keep your relationship with God fresh and alive! I learned a long time ago that I can’t make it through my day without the Lord being right there by my side. Every time I have ever tried, my day becomes stressful, hard and ugly! There’s no way that we can neglect our time with the Lord and expect to handle all the things that will take place in a day. Let your time in God’s Word be the most important thing you do in the morning. Whether you are a morning person or not, there’s no better thing you can do than putting some Bible into in the morning. Psalm 63:1 says, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” I’m not saying how early or how much because everyone has their own routine, but getting something in you gives you the spiritual energy you need for your day! Time in God’s Word and prayer are your spiritual vitamins or spiritual coffee boost you need for your day!

2. Love your husband. Genesis 2:18 says that God gave you to him because He knew that you would complete each other. Make sure he knows you are his biggest cheerleader and that you will be the solid constant in his life. You will need each other through the good times and the bad times. The day you got married you felt your love for each other was the strongest ever. Don’t let that be a true statement. I know many couples who seem they’ve grown farther and farther apart as the years have gone by. Your love for each other should grow stronger every single day. There will be times when others are tearing your husband down. Remember that you as his wife have the great privilege and responsibility of encouraging him! Be your husband’s everything!

3. Make sure your children know that your husband is more important to you than they are. Be sure to stand with your husband with whatever rules he makes. It’s sad to see mothers who quietly go against their husband’s behind his back. Your children know what you are doing. Follow your husband and allow him to be the spiritual leader of the home. This may not always be easy, but it is a must in having harmony in the home.

4. Have a love for people. You will interact daily with all types of people, and even in our churches we have people of all different types of personalities. Some people are so very easy to love, but we also have those that make it difficult at times. Have a willingness to love them! Our relationships with people grow through the things we go through together. Weep with those who weep and laugh with those who laugh. Make sure that you have opportunities to knit your heart to the people of the church. Some may make it hard to let you in, but never let it be said that you didn’t continually try. They may not need your love right now, but there will come a day when they need your love, and as long as you’ve worked at letting them know you love them, they will let you in at the moment they need you the most.

5. Be real! I can’t tell you how important this is. Just be yourself with those around you. If you will be who God intended you to be, you’ll always have friends. If you know you have a few things you need to work on, do so. People will love you if you are real and transparent.

6. Be forgiving! We all say things at times we know we shouldn’t have. When someone says or does something to you, be forgiving. You want them to do the same for you, so remember no one is going to be perfect. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Follow Christ’s example and be forgiving.

7. Be trustworthy. Be sure to guard what you are told. People will tell you things in confidence that you can’t repeat. If someone asks if they may talk to me in private, I always tell them that I don’t keep secrets from my husbands and I assure them it won’t go past the two of us. If they choose not to tell me something at that point, that is their choice, but my husband and I can pray together for the needs or burdens they share with me.

8. It’s not your job to fix everyone who comes to you. You will feel you are carrying a load way to big if you think you can fix everyone’s hurts, heartaches, and burdens. Many times all we can do is be a good listening ear, a good prayer warrior, and a friend who can be there for them. Sometimes, you just have to listen and let God do His work in their troubles.

Helping your husband ultimately comes down to one thing, you being who God wants you to be. These eight helps will certainly aid you to be the lady God intended for you to be.

by: Anonymous

“Standards are ripping our family apart,” sighed a woman to her sister. Being raised in a home to love the Lord, but not always knowing about sanctification and separation, the sister, in her mind’s eye, was brought back to a time when she made a clear decision to follow what God wanted for her life. Living in the world for a time, the sister also remembered what peace and safety sanctification and separation brought to her. What used to be so understandable and easily entreated was now regarded as if it had never been taught or preached to some she loved. What was meant to keep them safe is now detestable. What was meant to allow closer fellowship with God was unwanted. Why she wondered? Was what they once embraced a lie? Why such turmoil over something so simple?

Are standards ripping families apart? Her family certainly loved the Lord and served Him fervently. “Applications change…,” she was told. “Really?” she thought. “It’s all about the heart.” “Allow your conscience to judge you.” The clamor of recent clichés ran through her head. Is what they are saying really true? Has anyone looked into what they are saying? Why did the Holy Spirit prick her heart like a dart saying, “No, there is something very wrong about this.” “What about me?” the Holy Spirit says. “What about who I am?” whispers Jesus.

No, this wasn’t about standards at all. This was about following after one’s own heart, one’s own will, and doing what’s right in one’s own eyes. Did Adam and Eve hold up their fists to God and say that it was God’s fault that their own son was slain by their other son, all because God expected a better sacrifice than what Cain gave? Isn’t the God of holiness more important than what our flesh wants to do? Isn’t the God of our lives, the God of the Universe more important than what this world’s culture wants to do? So who is the judge…God or our conscience? In desperation, the daughter picked up a pen and paper and began to write the following letter.

Dearest loved ones,

I have wanted to share this with you all for some time. I am so grateful for you all and love you all very much. I am grateful for my salvation through Jesus Christ and all the Holy Spirit has taught me and continues to show me. From my experience and through God’s conviction, I have purposed in my heart to share with you what has been so pressing me.

I am what I am because of Christ alone and because of the Holy Spirit living inside of me. I am an imperfect and an ever-changing work in progress. I am grateful for the work Christ has done in me and promises to continue until the day I meet Him. Who I am is no product of one human, institution, or religious movement, but Christ alone. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 With this being said, please prayerfully consider these words:

I will be forever grateful for the applications the Holy Spirit has made in my life at the critical times I was open to His convicting. When I read God’s Word and listened to preaching, the Holy Spirit applied it to me personally. Holy Spirit applications never change. God’s applications are Spirit-led. God, the Holy Spirit and God’s Inerrant Word (Jesus) will always agree and bear record of each other. God does not change. Neither does the Holy Spirit continually convicting and bearing record of the other parts of the Trinity to us personally. We must not confuse Holy Spirit conviction with man’s carnal consciences. Once saved, the Holy Spirit is interwoven in our conscience which is either blessed or quenched by our thoughts and actions.

Our conscience is simply an inner voice that deems what we do as either morally right or wrong. Where does this inner voice come from? When we are saved, and allowing the Holy Spirit to control us, then the voice comes from God. When we are following our flesh and this world’s culture, the voice comes from Satan. As a saved person we can’t be possessed by Satan, but we can certainly be oppressed by him and a type of humanistic, “current culture” mindset. Yes, our conscience can be influenced by the world, but should we allow it to control us? When following this world’s culture, applications to Scripture will always change because the applications themselves are man-oriented and fleshly. Man-oriented applications are always en vogue with the current cultural norms of society. Thus, it is important to base our life decisions, goals, and convictions on a Godward, Holy Spirit applied premise, not a culture controlled or man-oriented lifestyle.

Holy Spirit led lives built upon God’s inerrant Word brings consistency, peace, and blessing in an ever changing culture that shows nothing but disdain for anything or anyone wanting to identify with Christ. A culture driven, man-oriented application to Scripture will always bring confusion to believers because it is continually embracing current culture and pushing the identity of Christ out. Culture can be defined as the beliefs and customs of a particular society, group, place or time. Should we be basing our Christian lives on what this world deems as acceptable? What about God’s beliefs and God’s customs? Well, I do believe that is something we call doctrine. Maybe we should stop turning to the world’s doctrine to determine our Christian culture and our daily walk! “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Titus 2:2.

A life totally submitted to God and led by the Holy Spirit will always be detestable to the world and Satan who is the prince of it. World Culture is comprised of a belief system with norms and values contrary to Christ and God’s Inerrant, Holy Word. Just as we want God to have the preeminence in our homes and childrearing, and the peace and protection it brings…how much the more we want this in all areas of our lives. I want to have a home that is God oriented with a Christ culture with norms and a belief system built upon the living, infallible, inerrant Word of God. I want my children’s leadership and authorities to be God-driven not culture-driven in the areas of their faith and practice.

“You are just majoring on the minors,” some would say. Since when is Christ’s holiness not a major? Without Christ’s holiness, how would He have gone to a cross to pay for the sins of this world? The Gospel we preach would not be possible without a holy, blameless sacrifice. Because of Christ’s holiness and sinless life, I can have eternal life! “Well, standards are just a form of works salvation.” I am a bit confused because I adopted the separated life after salvation because at salvation Christ came and lived inside me and gave me all the power I need to live a holy life as I yield to Him.

If someone wants to live an unseparated lifestyle and not set up standards, then that is their choice, but why make Christ unholy? If someone wants to deny the power of God in them to live holy, that is their decision, but why dumb down God’s power? Why are people changing God’s Word and using worldly tactics to encourage a worldly lifestyle? Simply put, it is not my conscience that is offended by immoral, worldly activity; it is the person of Christ who is offended. I am reminded, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5.

Most importantly, I pray that the Holy Spirit be not grieved nor quenched in my life, but that He would control and guide me to be a consistent testimony of grace and truth bringing many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalm 40:4

Truly a heart embracing this world’s culture and rejecting the Holy Sprit’s leading in the area of separation is simply a heart of disobedience. Separating from the world is not a personal preference, but a command by God. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Corinthians 6:17) How good of God to tell us what He expects. But please, if you don’t want to obey it don’t change the holiness of my Saviour!

Just a few, “living” words from God…

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now work in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:6

I am grateful for you all and appreciate the time you have taken to consider a piece of my heart. I ask that you pray for me as I want to remain faithful to God. Now you know where I am. I am willing to let people think what they want to think… as long as God gets the glory.

With Love,
Me

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” 1 Corinthians 3:18

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:18

by: Kristina Clark

I don’t want to paint a pretty picture for you that is simply not true, so I will just be honest with you ladies. Now, I don’t know about you, but there have been times in my life when my attitude needed a little bit of TLC (okay, maybe more than a little). Have you been there? Remember, I am being honest with you. Ok, I’ll answer that question…Yes, you have too.

I just knew I wasn’t thinking right. I was tired and feeling a bit attacked. I have heard of people in our ministry making life altering mistakes, which of course I take personally. My husband is breaking out in hives. Knowing the stress he is under; starting a new business and the pressure of purchasing a four and a half million dollar building. Isn’t it a blessing that the Lord knows what we can handle and he will take us as far as he can…not to break us but to make us stronger. This particular Sunday night I decided to refresh.

I learned long ago to protect my children. We want our children to love being in the ministry! So my husband and I decided before they were born that we would give the glory to God for everything good that happens in our life. Somebody makes us a pie and we say, “Oh wow guys! Look at that! So and so made us a pie. Do you know why they did that? Because your Daddy is the Preacher and they love us.” Every year at Christmas time our children have plenty of gifts, not from us, but from our church family. Before we open anything we always have a talk, “Children, do you know why we have all these gifts under the tree? That’s right! Because your Daddy is the Preacher, and all these people want to show us that they love us. Isn’t it great to be in the Preachers family?” We never say, “Sorry children, we don’t have the money to buy Christmas gifts this year.”

We live in a pretty comfortable home. We blame that on God too! It really is great to serve God! If I want my children to be drawn to the ministry, I know I need to make it look as enticing as possible. So when we are going through a down time in our life and things aren’t as upbeat as they usually are, we try to shield them from that.

On this particular night I gloried in the fact that I protected them from some of the hardships that were going on in our life. They know nothing of the people involved or the difficulties that came our way. As the children played and talked in the back seat, tears flowed down my cheeks for a few moments. I stopped, thought a moment, and decided it was time to refresh! I wiped those tears away and said, “Hey guys, wasn’t that a great Sunday! Who wants to go get ice cream?” We finished out the night free from the cares of the world. Once I got home and put the children to bed, I had just enough time to give my burden to the Lord before my husband got home. Take time to refresh. Here are a few ideas of how you can do this. I am sure you can think of more.

• Ask God to forgive you for the wrong that you have done.

• Cleanse your heart.

• In your heart, praise those with whom you are irritated. This will help your heart to stay right!

• Smile! It’s contagious.

• When somebody is negative, turn it around.

• Go soul winning.

• Bring somebody to church.

• Work on a bus route or in a Sunday school class.

• Compliment somebody.

• Call somebody who needs some encouragement.

• Spend a few minutes sending out text messages to let people know you are thinking of them.

• Get excited and show it!

• Tell people you love them.

• Show people you love them.

• Write a love note.

• Flirt with your husband.

• Kiss your husband. Don’t stop there…

• Call your mom and dad.

• Visit a nursing home.

• Go get an ice-cream cone.

• Make a meal for somebody.

• Serve your family cheerfully.

• Listen more; talk less.

• Clean your house…organize. It will help you feel better about yourself.

• Clean somebody else’s house. Do you know somebody who recently had a baby or maybe had surgery?

• Wash somebody’s car for them or fill it up with gas.

• Pay for the person’s groceries behind you.

• Give a special gift to somebody who needs the extra love.

• Weed a neighbor’s garden for them.

• Listen to good, godly music or preaching/teaching.

• Exercise! It stimulates various brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed.

• Rearrange a room.

• Write your children love notes. Leave them on their pillow. Write one on their mirror. Put it in their lunch. Don’t forget their Daddy!

• Write a poem or a song.

• Read God’s Word. Start with the Psalms and Proverbs.

When it is time to refresh your spirit, take it to God! There is nobody who can take a burden without being negatively affected by it. We need to learn to take things to God instead of our best friend, husband, mom, dad, children, etc..

Have fun and enjoy the time God has given you. Live it for Him! Remember we “GET TO” serve God, we don’t “HAVE TO” serve God. Whether you have worked in the ministry for years or you are a new convert, God has called all of us to serve Him. Do it with joy, not with grief.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3

Kristina Clark
Pastor’s Wife
Northern Lights Baptist Church
Anchorage, AK

by: Sandy Domelle

Psalm 16:5, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” Years ago, before our family left to go to the mission field, I remember our pastor, Bro. Hyles, told my dad that the Lord would be our portion on the mission field. What a powerful Bible promise that stuck with not just my parents, but it also with me as a teenager. I have to admit as a young teenage girl I wasn’t very confident that is was going to be enough. Praise the Lord, I learned that He is truly all I need!

Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Through the years I have been a pastor’s kid, missionary kid, college kid, new wife, evangelist’s wife, mother and church member. Through each of those titles I can tell you that the Lord has been my portion, and He has proven time and time again what a comfort that promise can be.

I’ve discovered that once I accepted that the Lord was my portion, all my wants and desires meant nothing because He was what I desired! I desired to be a vessel for Him. There’s that deep desire that drives me to spiritually be what I need to be for Him so that I am used by Him in the most effective way. If I’m not in God’s Word and spending time in prayer, I don’t have that closeness that I personally need to feel God’s presence in my life.

I think many Christians struggle with the Lord being their portion because they are wrapped up in the things of the world and not spending enough time in God’s presence. When you spend time in His presence, you see how unworthy you are and what needs to be changed. You realize that life is not about money, possessions or even position. You realize whatever God gives you is enough. I think that’s why we were so happy on the mission field when I was younger. My dad taught us that we had exactly what God gave us so we were content. When I came back from the mission field, I was amazed at all that people had. I learned that we could live without many things that we thought we must have.

You often see people so wrapped up in their careers that all they desire is to obtain a better position or make more money so they neglect the things of the Lord. I’ve said this many times, I’m not against a wife working a job because she honestly needs to, but I am against a lady pursuing her career so much that she forsakes her husband, children and home. If she has no time for them, she doesn’t have time for the Lord either. When the need of money to have things becomes more important than having faith that God is your portion and that He will supply your need, then you have limited what God can do in and through you.

One of the best things I have experienced in my life is “living by faith.” As a missionary kid, we completely had to rely on the Lord for love offerings and support. Now for these many years, I have been the evangelist’s wife, and I have continued to see God supply and meet our needs. When an evangelist doesn’t have a meeting for a week, they don’t get a paycheck. When a church doesn’t give the evangelist a love offering, they go without a paycheck. When the evangelist gets sick and cannot travel, he gets no paycheck. When the holidays come and there’s no meeting, we receive no paycheck. Am I complaining? No! Simply pointing out that even though many think the field of the evangelist is a life of luxury, it’s simply a life of living by faith. God meets and supplies many of our needs through dear sweet people because He has promised us that He will be our portion. With the Lord as our portion, He is sufficient and we have ALL we need!

I know I have experienced blessings beyond what I could’ve ever imagined because by faith we have accepted that the Lord will be our portion. He will meet our needs, He will care for us. I feel for the people who have never had to rely on the Lord completely for everything they have or need. They miss out on the blessings, and they also miss out on seeing how God uses His sweetest people to be used as vessels to care for His people.

You may be at a point in your life where you are struggling with finances, needs, health, etc. You may be a missionary wife in a foreign country and you feel you are all alone. God will show you over and over again that He is your portion if you just trust Him and have the faith that He will provide. You may be a full-time Christian servant’s wife who is on staff at a church that can’t pay you what you feel you are worthy of. Don’t be discouraged, God knows what you need and He will be your portion! Dig into God’s Word and gain that faith that the Lord is your portion. But don’t forget to pray begging God to meet those needs, for God will care for you!

by: Zana Reichen

Before gold and precious metals are beautiful and ready to be worn on your finger or around your neck or wrist, these precious metals and gems must go through several steps of purification. Your engagement ring, wedding ring, or diamond stud necklace once lived in a mountain or deep underground somewhere until it was mined, then tested, then purified, and then fashioned to be the gorgeous sparkler you wear on your finger or around your neck.

In the beginning, your gold and diamonds were not beautiful–they went through the purifying process to make them beautiful. We’ve heard the cliché, “Diamonds are forever.” Though we won’t be taking our jewels to Heaven with us, they do last a very long time and increase in value with time. For the sake of this article, we could say diamonds are forever or diamonds are eternal. There is something else eternal–our words. Unless a person gets Alzheimer’s disease or senile, people pretty much remember everything you say–good and bad. As precious diamonds and jewels are taken through the purification test, so must our words be purified according to Philippians 4:8.

Before we talk about that test, please note loud and clear in your minds–Your words are who you are!

Your words are born in sin, thus the psalmist wrote:

Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”

Before exiting your mouth, your words are first in your heart and mind:

Proverbs 23:7a – “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he:”

Matthew 12:34 b – “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

So I must control what I think:

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

It is of this verse, Philippians 4:8, from which we will take the Purification Test. Let’s test the following statements:

Your lady friends and you discuss at “prayer meeting” or any “get-together” the latest couple that broke up.

Is it true? Yes.

Is it honest? Somewhat.

Is the conversation pure? Not exactly.

Is it a good report? NO! FAILED the purification test.

Consider the expletives you use on a daily basis. Are those words pure? Just? Lovely? Most expletives are not lovely and diminish our Christian femininity so…FAIL!

You complain to anyone and everyone that, “It’s cold in here!” or “It’s hot in here!”

Test it again – Pure? Just? Lovely? Good report? Virtuous? Praise? It is not lovely, praising or a good report. So, FAIL!

A pastor or full-time Christian worker made a mistake and you “need to let people know.”

Test it:

Is this true? Yes.

Honest? Not applicable.

Pure? No—FAIL!

Lovely? No—FAIL!

Good report? No—FAIL!

You are in a discussion about the latest movie or Hollywood stars’ lives. Does it pass the purification test? FAIL on all counts!

By the way, ladies, all we need is one “NO” from the purification test and it is a FAIL!

If people closed their eyes and listened to you, would they know you were a Christian? Or, would you sound like the rest of the world?

Following are some everyday words that come out of our mouths and how we can “purify” them before exiting the mouth:

      FAIL

1. “It’s cold in here!” (In a complaining tone.) then try…

      PASS

“Is everyone comfortable?” (Indicating care for others, to solve the temperature problem based on everyone’s responses. This will be positive for everyone! People do NOT like complainers; People DO like problem solvers.)

FAIL

2. “Did you hear that John and Mary broke up?”

      PASS

“Let’s take Mary out to lunch today!” (Implying that Mary might need some special attention. No one needs to know why!)

      FAIL

3. “Pray for my brother who is not in church right now because he is drinking again.”

      PASS

“Pray for my brother. He has a special need at this time.” That is ALL you need to say! (I’m amazed that people give the negative details about their backslidden friends and loved ones in the name of “prayer requests.” If that person does get back in church, everyone knows their “dirty laundry.” Let’s use our words to protect, not harm further.

I don’t always succeed at this, but when negative reports or information comes my way, I tell myself that if others hear about it, it will not be from me. I don’t want to be known as a source of bad news. If it MUST be told, usually it should only be told to one person who can help the situation improve. Sometimes, God is the only person you can talk to about it.

Ladies, telling negative, yet true, news does not make you special! Keeping bad news to yourself makes you special.

The purification test—Yes, the Philippians 4:8 purification test narrows down my daily conversation quite a bit, but Philippians 4:8 challenges me to test my words and purify them before exiting my mouth. Are my words TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, A GOOD REPORT, full of VIRTUE AND PRAISE before exiting my mouth? Let’s determine to test our words daily and PASS the purification test!

Zana Reichen
Commonwealth Baptist College
Lexington, KY

by: Sandy Domelle

God created the family unit to enjoy spending time with each other. Fellowship is what encourages and helps keep the bonds of life closely knit with each other. I know there are families that cannot exist in the same room with each other very long, if any at all. If you’ve grown up in a home like this, you hopefully want something better for your children and their families. Our goal as parents should be to keep our family bond strong so that our children stay close as they grow older, marry off and move away. Just because their paths in life may go in different directions doesn’t mean that they can’t feel close to their family.

Creating a family unit that enjoys time together starts when they are young. Yes, I had two brothers and a sister, and we didn’t get along all the time. We had our share of moments, but I still have a lot of great memories from the times we shared together.

What is sad is for many families is that most of the time they spend together is sitting down and watching a movie together. There are so many better ways to spend time together. Finding time to spend together doesn’t have to be an all day activity. There are times when you can run quick errand and do something together that creates memories for your children.

With the technology age in which we live, most people find that texting is their form of communication. I’ll admit, I’m thankful for texting because I have a hubby who travels. We text, email and call several times in a day just to stay in touch, but those shouldn’t be the only ways that we communicate as a family just so we can say that we are spending time together. I know people who have said they text their spouse in the other rooms of the house. This isn’t good! I think it’s important that we communicate in person as much as possible. Texting shouldn’t happen unless you are not in the same place. We have to get away from everyone going to their own areas of the house, sitting with their electronics and forgetting that the family exists.

The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) Spending time together will help you to get on the same page. Spending time together means you need to plan on doing it. Without spending time together, you will find yourselves going in different directions which has destructive results. How can we spend time as a family? I know some of these ideas will make you feel you are back in the dinosaur age, but none of these are so far fetched that they aren’t realistic.

Put puzzles together. We do this often, and we make it convenient by setting up a table that throughout the day we can sit and work on it together. If we don’t work on it for a few days, we can still come back to it later. I know for some, having something like this out is an inconvenience or you feel you are cluttering your home. The older our daughter gets, the more I realize our days with her are numbered. I keep a clean house, but I don’t have to have everything in its place at every moment of the day. I don’t live in a museum, I live in a home. It should be place to enjoy family, relax and feel at home.

Play board games and electronic games together. Yes, I mean, get out those board games and play them. There is so much fun sitting as a family and trying to out smart each other as you play. We own a Wii, and we have games on there that we enjoy playing. I think sometimes we laugh more at the way the game is being played than anything else.

Go for walks together. You know the best thing I love about a walk? It creates a great atmosphere to talk! Whenever we walk together it’s amazing to me how many things we talk about and how many topics we cover on even a short walk.

Do a bonfire together. Fall nights are great for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows outside, but even if you have a fire pit in your yard it can be used year round.

Run errands together. There’s no reason why the family can’t jump in the car for quick errands to the bank, post office, dropping things off or a quick trip to the grocery store. We have a Rottie named, Tydy (Tidy for Roll Tide), that we take at times in the car to run errands. She’s just as much part of the family, so we try to include her when we can.

Go to the park together. The park is a great way to get energy out of the kids, get exercise as you walk around, and we take Tydy so she can play frisbee or ball. By the time we are done we’ve had fun together and are usually worn out!

Read the Bible and pray together. One of the best things you can do together is have devotions together. It’s a great way to talk about things you want your children to learn. If you are having a problem in a certain area, you can look up Bible verses on that topic and read them together and discuss them as a family. It’s one thing to tell your children something is wrong, but the best option is to show them why the Bible says it is wrong.

Sit down together at meals. As busy as life can be with everyone running to and from jobs, school, sports, appointments, etc., having one time a day to sit and catch up with each other is so important. I love sitting at the table and just chatting. Sure we eat, but this is a great time that everyone can just talk about the events of their day. It’s a great time for parents to know what is happening in their children’s lives.

Do projects together. Maybe clean out the garage, yard work, etc., but make it fun! We have timed projects to make it more challenging and fun, and we’ve also had projects that benefited the family so we were excited to jump in and get it done so that we could enjoy what we did. Just because a project involves work doesn’t mean it has to be something dreaded.

Take a family vacation together. It’s so much fun to get away from the regular things of life for a couple days or even a week. I find when we travel we have more talking time, and the memories we create on vacation are usually ones we don’t forget. Sometimes those memories are really fun things we have done, some are crazy things we have done and there have been a few occasions where the memories were how things didn’t quite go as planned.

The things I listed above are just a few basic things you can do as a family. You have many things you probably thought of as you read through the list. I do love to talk about spending time together as a family because you see so many families that are falling apart. My husband and I hear of so many people in the ministry who were married for many years but end up divorced. This doesn’t have to happen! To keep our family unit strong, we need to stay on the same page, spend time together and love each other every day.