Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wow.
No, not the video. No, not the song. No, not the pictures.
God.
The One Who created... all of this.
Wow.
The One who, for some reason I cannot comprehend, died for me. ME! Carissa! When I was the one who deserved that death!!
Wow.
The One who is changing me. Daily. Transforming my heart and mind and life.
Wow.
The One who is showing me more and more of Himself and His goodness!!
Wow.
The One who knows the wretchedness of who I am-- but loves me anyway.
Wow.
The One who is guiding my future and preparing me for it.
Wow.
The One who inhabits eternity: who is eternal, without ending or beginning.
Wow.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Confessions and Time
Sometimes, before a birthday, I write myself sermons... like this one, which I wrote before I turned nineteen...
I have many hopes and dreams for these upcoming years-- most of all that I would be conformed to the image of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to work with Him to change my life-- and then help others to do the same. I want to set a good example in all areas. I want to be a blessing to many. I want to make a difference for Christ in this world! I want to show the world the love of Christ. I Want to help save the unborn, to show teens what they can do to further God's kingdom. I want to show the people around me what a godly family looks like. I want to be self-disciplined, humble, a person of integrity, kind, loving, thankful, holy, a servant, and so much more. I want to teach classes for girls about purity, prayer, modesty and more. I want to use my gifts for God's glory! Write for Him, teach for Him... I want to continue to learn, grow, and develop. I want to support and encourage and follow a man of God- the one He has chosen for me. I want to raise children who will change the world for Christ.
I cannot afford to waste more time--alas--life is far too short as it is-- I must not throw away the hours! If I am to do all these things the Lord has laid on my heart and mind--I cannot afford to waste my time!
Each day must be used to the fullest--each moment captured with usefulness. These days are all I shall ever receive... 24 hours--nothing more, nothing less.
If I do not use them-- Oh, what a waste! The only truly unreplenishable commodity--time! You cannot buy more! You only ever have the time on earth that was allotted to you!
Each minute should be used for things of eternal value... for this time here on earth is only preparing for the eternal life! How quickly it shall pass! How soon I shall be on my deathbed! How swift the hours are! If my life thus far has so quickly fled-- how short the remaining years will go!
Once they are gone, they are gone for all eternity! This is so desperately important! This is what life is.
It is all we get-- so, dear Lord, please enable me to use my time wisely! Let me not become distracted by this world!
Yes... I was rather addicted to exclamation marks. Ahem. Anyways.
Well, I suppose the question now is: how am I doing with all this I now that I'm twenty? Um... sadly, I am not living up to eighteen year old me's aspirations. :( I generally waste time horrifically... and I have even more responsibilities now than I did then. So, what am I going to do about it? Good question. First, I'm going to shut off chat until I get caught up online (starting Friday). Secondly, I am going to work out a schedule with my mom. Thirdly, I am going to limit chat to TWO DAYS PER WEEK. Sorry about the caps... I have just tried this before and then failed. :( But I really think this is key, since chatting seems to have a voracious appetite for time. :P It would be lovely if my chatting buddies could hold me to this!
Any other tips for using time wisely?
I have many hopes and dreams for these upcoming years-- most of all that I would be conformed to the image of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to work with Him to change my life-- and then help others to do the same. I want to set a good example in all areas. I want to be a blessing to many. I want to make a difference for Christ in this world! I want to show the world the love of Christ. I Want to help save the unborn, to show teens what they can do to further God's kingdom. I want to show the people around me what a godly family looks like. I want to be self-disciplined, humble, a person of integrity, kind, loving, thankful, holy, a servant, and so much more. I want to teach classes for girls about purity, prayer, modesty and more. I want to use my gifts for God's glory! Write for Him, teach for Him... I want to continue to learn, grow, and develop. I want to support and encourage and follow a man of God- the one He has chosen for me. I want to raise children who will change the world for Christ.
I cannot afford to waste more time--alas--life is far too short as it is-- I must not throw away the hours! If I am to do all these things the Lord has laid on my heart and mind--I cannot afford to waste my time!
Each day must be used to the fullest--each moment captured with usefulness. These days are all I shall ever receive... 24 hours--nothing more, nothing less.
If I do not use them-- Oh, what a waste! The only truly unreplenishable commodity--time! You cannot buy more! You only ever have the time on earth that was allotted to you!
Each minute should be used for things of eternal value... for this time here on earth is only preparing for the eternal life! How quickly it shall pass! How soon I shall be on my deathbed! How swift the hours are! If my life thus far has so quickly fled-- how short the remaining years will go!
Once they are gone, they are gone for all eternity! This is so desperately important! This is what life is.
It is all we get-- so, dear Lord, please enable me to use my time wisely! Let me not become distracted by this world!
Yes... I was rather addicted to exclamation marks. Ahem. Anyways.
Well, I suppose the question now is: how am I doing with all this I now that I'm twenty? Um... sadly, I am not living up to eighteen year old me's aspirations. :( I generally waste time horrifically... and I have even more responsibilities now than I did then. So, what am I going to do about it? Good question. First, I'm going to shut off chat until I get caught up online (starting Friday). Secondly, I am going to work out a schedule with my mom. Thirdly, I am going to limit chat to TWO DAYS PER WEEK. Sorry about the caps... I have just tried this before and then failed. :( But I really think this is key, since chatting seems to have a voracious appetite for time. :P It would be lovely if my chatting buddies could hold me to this!
Any other tips for using time wisely?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Can I Fight? Please?
Sometimes, I get tired of doing pretty things. Cute things. Helpful things. Sweet things.
I want to fight. I want to do something real. Something... big.
Yes, this is Carissa writing. :P
You may not see it often, but somewhere deep down, there is this streak of... I don't know. Redhairishness. Swordmaideness. (yes, I just made up those terms...) Something like that. It shows up when you hand me a nerf gun or a light saber... suddenly my energy rises and I... well... I get really excited. I even yell "ha!"or "I got you!!!!" when I hit someone... I know, I know... not very ladylike. But hey! I do it in a skirt, okay?? :D
It shows up when I am praying for something urgent, something life and death. A major, evident spiritual battle. I get all excited about the fight. I pray hard and often.
It shows up when I see a blatant lack of logic or justice. (think evolution, abortion, feminism....)
Anyway... sometimes I just feel stuck in this "nice girl" image. I don't feel like I am really doing anything, like I am really making an impact.
But. That isn't TRUE. It's a feeling. And I have to remember that. Yes, on occasion I may be called to fight.
For now, though, I must learn to be faithful right where I am. I must fight my little "pretty" skirmishes well. And, while serving tea to a group of smiling girls or washing a bunch of tables after fellowship meal or smiling at random people in walmart or taking time to talk to (and pass a vision on to, hehe) little girls who will one day be wives and mothers or wearing skirts or staying home helping my family and learning instead of going to college or entering some bill into quickbooks or typing away at a blog post or taking my little brother to the park or... well, you get the idea... even though those things don't feel or seem like important things, they are.
See... the little things add up.
Little drops of water,
little grains of sand,
make the mighty ocean
and the beauteous land.
And the little moments,
humble though they may be,
make the mighty ages
of eternity.
Little deeds of kindness,
little words of love,
make our earth an Eden,
like the heaven above.
So our little errors
lead the soul away,
from the paths of virtue
into sin to stray.
Little seeds of mercy
sown by youthful hands,
grow to bless the nations
far in heathen lands.
Glory then for ever
be to God on high,
beautiful and loving,
to eternity.
And not only that, but also this:
"If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." (1 Corinthians 12:17-22)
There are so many different roles to play in God's kingdom. Just because yours appears less important right now doesn't mean it really is unimportant.
Just think about this: There's a Bible translator, right? A very important job? But he has to eat, yes? And he needs help with teaching, right? And he needs help studying the culture, correct? So... are jobs of the people who cook and teach and study less important? Hmm? If you didn't have those people, he wouldn't be able to do his job, now would he. No. So... how can they be less important? Perhaps they are less visible... but can they really be less important? I think not. Each position, each person, is necessary.
So! Don't be discouraged about your "small hard things"! Or even, haha, your "pretty" hard ones. :P :D Let's keep on fighting these so-called little battles!
For Narniaaaaaa! Aaaand for Aslaaaaannnnnnn!!! Haha, sorry, I just like yelling battle cries. :D
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Preparing for Prince Charming: Part 5
Alright, now that I've covered several things people don't talk about or think of very often, I will cover what everyone talks about but few actually really do.
Truthfully, I am quite saddened that a post like this is necessary. This should be entirely automatic... We all should've known how to cook and clean and keep a house and many other chores by the time we were ten. :P But, alas, times have changed. So here I am, writing it.
Here is an idea I had a long time ago, which I strongly suggest you girls (and you guys might even want to do one... just with different sections) implement as well. I am not married yet, but I use this book a lot already. Honestly, if there was a fire or a hurricane and I could only get one thing, this book would be it.
Gaining Practical Skills for Marriage
You really are going to need to eat when you are married. (In fact, it will probably be one of the first things you do during your marriage.) Love alone is not going to satisfy your stomach, sorry. Not to mention guys get grumpy when they are hungry. So!
Things to learn regarding food
Oh, before we get started, put on an apron. Okay fine, you don't have to right now. But before you do something in the kitchen, put one on. You'd be amazed what an apron can do!
1. How to prepare a wide variety of simple, tasty, healthy, and economical meals.
2. How to plan a menu well (so that you can do food prep for more than one meal at the same time)
3. Shopping... how to stick to your budget, how to make a list, how to get the best deals and healthiest foods... and how to go fast enough that your husband won't get irritated if he goes with you.
4. GMOs. What are they? How do they affect the body? How do they affect the environment?
5.Gardening/edible landscaping. One of my friends said (in a rant) "why would you want to grow grass when you could grow an entire yard full of food?? You're going to water and weed it anyways!" What grows where? What kinds of plants hinder each other? What kinds help each other? What are cold weather crops? How do you get rid of/deter pests organically? What kinds of plants produce the most per acre? What nutrients are necessary for the soil? What is soil PH?
6. Food preservation. What if you had no fridge? No freezer? What if it was necessary to stockpile enough food from your harvest to last an entire winter? Do you know how to can? Pickle? Dry? What other methods of food preservation are there?
7. What if you couldn't buy cheese or yogurt or sour cream? Do you have any idea of how to make those things? Read about it! Find someone who knows how and learn from them. (I found someone who knows how to make cheese last night!! :D)
8. Do you know how to cook a turkey? What about a ham? Learn how to cook different types of meat.
9. Is the food pyramid accurate? Or do you just accept it because it's from the USDA and so it must be right? What happens when you combine certain foods?
10. Different cooking methods: can you cook on a grill? A gas stove? What about over an open fire? Or even just a normal electric oven?
11. What kinds of foods should you feed babies? How soon? Do you know how to make your own baby food?
12. What edible plants grow wild near you? Do you know how to prepare them?
13. Do you know how to raise animals? What about butchering them? Those two could become very important skills.
Okay, you get the idea. There's lots to talk about with food. ;)
Alright, so now you and your husband won't die. This is good--we're making progress! However, now that you've made all that food, you have a mess in your kitchen. Oh no! And the rest of your house isn't looking too great either...
Things to learn regarding keeping house
1. This all starts with keeping your areas/room clean and tidy. They are a brilliant place to begin your training. So! Figure out ways you can decorate and organize your spaces. And then make an effort to daily return them to order and beauty.
2. Cleaning supplies: if you buy normal brands from the store, what do they have in them? What effect do those chemicals have on the environment? On you and your family? How can you make your own?
3. Cleaning various rooms: Bathrooms. Do you know how to clean a mirror properly? No streaks? What about the tile in the shower? The grout? Surely you know how to clean the sink and toilet... Kitchen: have you ever tried to organize your kitchen? If you are allowed to, I suggest you give it a try. It's super fun, plus great experience for when you have an entire kitchen to set up by yourself.
4. Like I started saying, organization. This is a very important skill... learn it now and you will be very glad you did.
5. Painting, washing windows, minor home repairs (fixing little holes in the walls and leaks and such), things like that.
6. Decorating! Okay, so now your home is clean, and it's not falling apart. But it's boring. Brainstorm ways you can decorate your home with as little money possible! (and record them in your "decorating" section in the notebook you are going to make.)
So now you and your husband are still alive, and your home is inviting. Awesome! So what happens next? Well, children. Lord willing. :D And before you have children, you're going to be pregnant. (Yes, I know, shocking. But you really do need to think about that fact.)
Things to learn regarding pregnancy
1. Nutritional needs of an expecting mom
2. Exercises you should do
3. Effects of ultrasounds, etc. on the baby
4. What to expect during different stages
5. Childbirth... what options are available? What are their benefits? Downfalls? How can you naturally shorten and improve labor?
6. Nursing... I suppose there isn't a whole lot you can learn about this besides what to eat and what not to eat. But, do read enough about it to completely convince yourself that you must do it at all costs. Because it is really hard at times. I haven't even done it and I know. :P
So, now you had your healthy baby in your clean, pretty house and you are all still alive because you made a bunch of freezer meals! Great job! Aw, he/she is so cute! :D Now what??
Things to learn regarding children
1. Care of newborns. There is actually a lot to this. I am blessed enough to remember the care of Emily, Cheryl, William and Matthew, but most of you haven't had that. For example, did you know that a part of the umbilical cord is still attached? And that you have to put hydrogen peroxide or something similar on it until it dries up and falls off? Do you know what to do if your baby has jaundice? What if your baby has trouble breathing because of phlegm?
2. Basic baby/toddler care... dressing, feeding, diaper changing, bathing, etc.
3. Childtraining... read books on this. (hehe, my sister Hannah says she wants to read books about it so she can have something to say when she and her future husband discuss it. :D) And, if possible, apply some of the things you learned to your younger siblings.
4. Homeschooling. Again, read about it. Practice teaching your siblings or other little friends. If your mom homeschools, help her with correcting school work. Learn about different styles of homeschooling and different curriculums.
5. How to introduce newborns to math (Mrs. Pearl says you can do this, and I really want to learn how!!) and music.
6. Baby signs-- we did this with Matthew, and it was awesome! If you know and teach them just a few signs (more, out, please, thank you, cereal, eat, milk, etc.) you can communicate so much earlier and better. And it helps them develop language skills!
7. "Special needs": care, prevention, cure, etc.
8. Diapers: cloth or disposable? What are the benefits and downfalls of each? *Knows them far too well.* :P Do you know how to properly pin and fold a cloth diaper?
Alrighty!! Now you are eating, have a lovely house, had a baby, and are able to take good care of that baby and any future ones. What's next? Well. Lots of things, actually, but they all kind of tie into the first few sections... So we'll just call it...
Fun-things-to-learn-that-are-actually-really-useful-things-to-learn.
1. Sewing!! I've been doing this a lot lately (*is wearing a skirt and apron she made herself*), and it's super fun. Not to mention very very useful. It's hard to find modest clothes, so if you can add to your findings with homemade things, it's awesome. Plus it is one of those skills that in slightly different times would be essential.
2. Knitting, crocheting, etc. Good for blankets, slippers, socks, mittens, hats, scarves, purses, sweaters, and... the list goes on. Fun (once you learn it) and also quite practical.
3. Soap making. Remolding, yes... but it would be awesome to also learn how to make it. Like, from lard and lye and all that.
4. Weaving. I vaguely know how to do this, but only because I tried it nearly every time we've gone to one of those pioneer/frontier days things. haha. I'd like to actually learn it someday, though.
5. Candle making... again, remodling and dipping is fun. But it would be great to learn how to actually make them all by yourself!
6. Gardening. I kind of mentioned this before... but I'll say it again, since it could become super important.
7. Natural healing. Oh boy, I love this one. I don't know why, but I do. Get yourself some good books on this topic (ask me if you want suggestions) and read, read, read. Apply it wherever you can!
8. Frugality: how to make the most of whatever money you have. This can be really fun... I love being creative. :D Also, I wanted to mention something I learned about guys that I found interesting (and very important). See, when they bring you back money, it represents an awful lot of work and time. And if you just spend it heedlessly, wastefully-- it hurts and can anger them. So, learn to use it wisely.
9. First aid. It is entirely likely that you may have to deal with a broken arm, a really bad cut, and loads of other things that come from having active children. Do you know how to splint a broken arm? Do you know what to do if (ugh, this is nasty) someone got a finger cut off? Do you know what to do if (oh this is even worse) someone got something stuck in their eye (like a pencil)? Do you know CPR? These things could be life and death!
10. Editing. Yeah, I just had to put that on... but seriously. You're going to marry a guy, see? And he is going to want you to edit. Just trust me. I've talked to enough moms to know it's true.
11. Bookkeeping. Okay, so I lied. These aren't all exactly fun. :P Hehe. But this is a really good skill, and one I'm working on...
12. Add your own skills here. ;)
To quote an older married woman:
"Don't take for granted that life will continue its status quo, for life will surprise you. It is your responsibility to be ready. Knowledge is worth more than anything when bad times hit. Almost all families have bad times of some kind. A little information can guide you through bad times with far less pain, so it is part of preparing to be a helpmeet." -Debi Pearl, Preparing to be a Help Meet
Whew!! I need to get busy! :D I don't even have all those questions answered myself, nor do I have all those skills. :P And that isn't anything close to an exhaustive list, either.
So, farewell for now and let me know what you are learning about!
Truthfully, I am quite saddened that a post like this is necessary. This should be entirely automatic... We all should've known how to cook and clean and keep a house and many other chores by the time we were ten. :P But, alas, times have changed. So here I am, writing it.
Here is an idea I had a long time ago, which I strongly suggest you girls (and you guys might even want to do one... just with different sections) implement as well. I am not married yet, but I use this book a lot already. Honestly, if there was a fire or a hurricane and I could only get one thing, this book would be it.
Gaining Practical Skills for Marriage
You really are going to need to eat when you are married. (In fact, it will probably be one of the first things you do during your marriage.) Love alone is not going to satisfy your stomach, sorry. Not to mention guys get grumpy when they are hungry. So!
Things to learn regarding food
Oh, before we get started, put on an apron. Okay fine, you don't have to right now. But before you do something in the kitchen, put one on. You'd be amazed what an apron can do!
1. How to prepare a wide variety of simple, tasty, healthy, and economical meals.
2. How to plan a menu well (so that you can do food prep for more than one meal at the same time)
3. Shopping... how to stick to your budget, how to make a list, how to get the best deals and healthiest foods... and how to go fast enough that your husband won't get irritated if he goes with you.
4. GMOs. What are they? How do they affect the body? How do they affect the environment?
5.Gardening/edible landscaping. One of my friends said (in a rant) "why would you want to grow grass when you could grow an entire yard full of food?? You're going to water and weed it anyways!" What grows where? What kinds of plants hinder each other? What kinds help each other? What are cold weather crops? How do you get rid of/deter pests organically? What kinds of plants produce the most per acre? What nutrients are necessary for the soil? What is soil PH?
6. Food preservation. What if you had no fridge? No freezer? What if it was necessary to stockpile enough food from your harvest to last an entire winter? Do you know how to can? Pickle? Dry? What other methods of food preservation are there?
7. What if you couldn't buy cheese or yogurt or sour cream? Do you have any idea of how to make those things? Read about it! Find someone who knows how and learn from them. (I found someone who knows how to make cheese last night!! :D)
8. Do you know how to cook a turkey? What about a ham? Learn how to cook different types of meat.
9. Is the food pyramid accurate? Or do you just accept it because it's from the USDA and so it must be right? What happens when you combine certain foods?
10. Different cooking methods: can you cook on a grill? A gas stove? What about over an open fire? Or even just a normal electric oven?
11. What kinds of foods should you feed babies? How soon? Do you know how to make your own baby food?
12. What edible plants grow wild near you? Do you know how to prepare them?
13. Do you know how to raise animals? What about butchering them? Those two could become very important skills.
Okay, you get the idea. There's lots to talk about with food. ;)
Alright, so now you and your husband won't die. This is good--we're making progress! However, now that you've made all that food, you have a mess in your kitchen. Oh no! And the rest of your house isn't looking too great either...
Things to learn regarding keeping house
1. This all starts with keeping your areas/room clean and tidy. They are a brilliant place to begin your training. So! Figure out ways you can decorate and organize your spaces. And then make an effort to daily return them to order and beauty.
2. Cleaning supplies: if you buy normal brands from the store, what do they have in them? What effect do those chemicals have on the environment? On you and your family? How can you make your own?
3. Cleaning various rooms: Bathrooms. Do you know how to clean a mirror properly? No streaks? What about the tile in the shower? The grout? Surely you know how to clean the sink and toilet... Kitchen: have you ever tried to organize your kitchen? If you are allowed to, I suggest you give it a try. It's super fun, plus great experience for when you have an entire kitchen to set up by yourself.
4. Like I started saying, organization. This is a very important skill... learn it now and you will be very glad you did.
5. Painting, washing windows, minor home repairs (fixing little holes in the walls and leaks and such), things like that.
6. Decorating! Okay, so now your home is clean, and it's not falling apart. But it's boring. Brainstorm ways you can decorate your home with as little money possible! (and record them in your "decorating" section in the notebook you are going to make.)
So now you and your husband are still alive, and your home is inviting. Awesome! So what happens next? Well, children. Lord willing. :D And before you have children, you're going to be pregnant. (Yes, I know, shocking. But you really do need to think about that fact.)
Things to learn regarding pregnancy
1. Nutritional needs of an expecting mom
2. Exercises you should do
3. Effects of ultrasounds, etc. on the baby
4. What to expect during different stages
5. Childbirth... what options are available? What are their benefits? Downfalls? How can you naturally shorten and improve labor?
6. Nursing... I suppose there isn't a whole lot you can learn about this besides what to eat and what not to eat. But, do read enough about it to completely convince yourself that you must do it at all costs. Because it is really hard at times. I haven't even done it and I know. :P
So, now you had your healthy baby in your clean, pretty house and you are all still alive because you made a bunch of freezer meals! Great job! Aw, he/she is so cute! :D Now what??
Things to learn regarding children
1. Care of newborns. There is actually a lot to this. I am blessed enough to remember the care of Emily, Cheryl, William and Matthew, but most of you haven't had that. For example, did you know that a part of the umbilical cord is still attached? And that you have to put hydrogen peroxide or something similar on it until it dries up and falls off? Do you know what to do if your baby has jaundice? What if your baby has trouble breathing because of phlegm?
2. Basic baby/toddler care... dressing, feeding, diaper changing, bathing, etc.
3. Childtraining... read books on this. (hehe, my sister Hannah says she wants to read books about it so she can have something to say when she and her future husband discuss it. :D) And, if possible, apply some of the things you learned to your younger siblings.
4. Homeschooling. Again, read about it. Practice teaching your siblings or other little friends. If your mom homeschools, help her with correcting school work. Learn about different styles of homeschooling and different curriculums.
5. How to introduce newborns to math (Mrs. Pearl says you can do this, and I really want to learn how!!) and music.
6. Baby signs-- we did this with Matthew, and it was awesome! If you know and teach them just a few signs (more, out, please, thank you, cereal, eat, milk, etc.) you can communicate so much earlier and better. And it helps them develop language skills!
7. "Special needs": care, prevention, cure, etc.
8. Diapers: cloth or disposable? What are the benefits and downfalls of each? *Knows them far too well.* :P Do you know how to properly pin and fold a cloth diaper?
Alrighty!! Now you are eating, have a lovely house, had a baby, and are able to take good care of that baby and any future ones. What's next? Well. Lots of things, actually, but they all kind of tie into the first few sections... So we'll just call it...
Fun-things-to-learn-that-are-actually-really-useful-things-to-learn.
1. Sewing!! I've been doing this a lot lately (*is wearing a skirt and apron she made herself*), and it's super fun. Not to mention very very useful. It's hard to find modest clothes, so if you can add to your findings with homemade things, it's awesome. Plus it is one of those skills that in slightly different times would be essential.
2. Knitting, crocheting, etc. Good for blankets, slippers, socks, mittens, hats, scarves, purses, sweaters, and... the list goes on. Fun (once you learn it) and also quite practical.
3. Soap making. Remolding, yes... but it would be awesome to also learn how to make it. Like, from lard and lye and all that.
4. Weaving. I vaguely know how to do this, but only because I tried it nearly every time we've gone to one of those pioneer/frontier days things. haha. I'd like to actually learn it someday, though.
5. Candle making... again, remodling and dipping is fun. But it would be great to learn how to actually make them all by yourself!
6. Gardening. I kind of mentioned this before... but I'll say it again, since it could become super important.
7. Natural healing. Oh boy, I love this one. I don't know why, but I do. Get yourself some good books on this topic (ask me if you want suggestions) and read, read, read. Apply it wherever you can!
8. Frugality: how to make the most of whatever money you have. This can be really fun... I love being creative. :D Also, I wanted to mention something I learned about guys that I found interesting (and very important). See, when they bring you back money, it represents an awful lot of work and time. And if you just spend it heedlessly, wastefully-- it hurts and can anger them. So, learn to use it wisely.
9. First aid. It is entirely likely that you may have to deal with a broken arm, a really bad cut, and loads of other things that come from having active children. Do you know how to splint a broken arm? Do you know what to do if (ugh, this is nasty) someone got a finger cut off? Do you know what to do if (oh this is even worse) someone got something stuck in their eye (like a pencil)? Do you know CPR? These things could be life and death!
10. Editing. Yeah, I just had to put that on... but seriously. You're going to marry a guy, see? And he is going to want you to edit. Just trust me. I've talked to enough moms to know it's true.
11. Bookkeeping. Okay, so I lied. These aren't all exactly fun. :P Hehe. But this is a really good skill, and one I'm working on...
12. Add your own skills here. ;)
To quote an older married woman:
"Don't take for granted that life will continue its status quo, for life will surprise you. It is your responsibility to be ready. Knowledge is worth more than anything when bad times hit. Almost all families have bad times of some kind. A little information can guide you through bad times with far less pain, so it is part of preparing to be a helpmeet." -Debi Pearl, Preparing to be a Help Meet
Whew!! I need to get busy! :D I don't even have all those questions answered myself, nor do I have all those skills. :P And that isn't anything close to an exhaustive list, either.
So, farewell for now and let me know what you are learning about!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Purity and Pride
Warning: This is not an extremely organized post. This would be known as... a story which turned into a Bible study which turned into a rant which turned into a blog post which turned into an article which... you get the picture. :D Nevertheless, I hope God uses it to bless you, since He already used it to bless me.
__________________________________________________________________________
Not too long ago, I was thinking about the sins of my cousins (the five older than I on my mom's side have at least one child... and none are married. :P) and how glad I was that I haven't gone down that path. And then I realized that I really haven't been in a situation where it was actually an issue...
And I thought, well, I won't ever do that. At the very least my pride will keep me from it.
And then: thankfully!-- Not a second later, I realized--with horror--what I had just thought and the evilness of that kind of thinking.
For one thing, "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18).
Secondly, as C.S.Lewis brings out in Mere Christianity, Satan is perfectly fine-- in fact glad!-- if he can get us to be good out of pride. Eek!
Through this little thought battle thingie, by the grace of God, I realized once again that it's only by the grace of God that we can withstand the flesh and it's passions, and that should we think we "won" the battle by "using" our pride, we have actually lost the greater battle.
"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for:
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:5-11)
So... how exactly do we resist the flesh?
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:16-26)
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." (Ephesians 5:10-18)
We must keep ourselves immersed in the things of God, and we must constantly cry out to Him for help in our trials and temptations.
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16
I love those verses!! :D
This earthly life is so short. We aren't guaranteed another breath-- much less another day! We don't have time to mess around with sin! And after all God has done for us, how can we do anything less than give everything we have for Him? How can we not serve and love and give as hard as we can for His sake? He died for us! And who are we? We are minuscule, rebellious creations of His. But yet He loves us. How can you not love this God? How can we continue on in sin, in laziness, in our "good church stuff"?? No!! We cannot. We must love and fight and serve with everything we've got, where we are right now. Yes, that means your siblings. Yes, that means your chores. To me, one of the most thrilling aspects of being a Christian is that NOTHING is insignificant!! I can be washing dishes for God's glory! I can be changing diapers for God's glory! :D I know, it's odd to be thrilled about that... but if you think about it long enough, it's actually very exciting. That fact eradicates the word "mundane" from our lives!
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
And what does that mean? Well, tell God. "I'm doing this for You." And mean it! Also do it as well as you possibly can--thus representing Him well.
If we are faithful now, in these little things...
"And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities." (Luke 19:17-18)
... we will be given much more, and our reward will be great.
Therefore, my fellow soldiers, Let us "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus[!]"
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Preparing For Prince Charming: Part 4
You've probably heard that what you wear, decorate with, and so on is an expression of your heart. But did you ever think that what you wear and surround yourself with can affect your attitude and even your character?
Today I'm going to talk about several aspects of life, which I've tied together with the word "externals". These things often seem like they aren't that big of a deal, but they actually have quite a bit of impact on your character, the kind of wife you'll be, and the sort of husband you'll attract.
First, clothing.
You knew I'd say that, didn't ya. :) Well, obviously modesty is important, but I'm not going deep into that topic just now. I already did that here, here, here, aaaaaaand here. :) If you didn't see those posts, it would be splendid if you could go ahead and read them. What I do want to show here, though, is how important modesty is to Christian guys who are looking for a wife.
Out of 1,229 guys (of all ages) surveyed, 875 strongly agreed with this statement: "Modesty is an important quality for your future wife to have." Another 297 guys agreed with it.
Listen to some of their comments about this:
Age 21: It is absolutely my very first criteria. Immodestly dressed ladies are the first people I eliminate as possibilities.
Age 22: I believe modesty is one way for a woman to show that she is committing herself to her husband. She is saying that he is the only one who is going to have the opportunity to enjoy her physical beauty. That would mean a lot to me.
Age 23: It is one of my chief quality because it reveals a lot about her character. Does she want to be known as a hot girl or a godly lady?
Age 15: Modesty is not just an issue of clothes, it also has to do with the heart and the woman's walk with God. A girl who dresses modestly is showing that her heart is right, and that is the kind of woman I intend to marry someday.
Age 17: There is a difference between paranoid modesty, or external (not from the heart) modesty, and true attractive modesty. I want my wife to know the difference, not out of legalism, but out of strong character. =)
Age 40-49: If she's using that kind of bait to hook you, why would she stop after catching her first fish?
I do want to cover a few things other things here, though. One, the clothes you wear really affect how you act and how you are treated. Dress like a lady and you'll be much more prone to behaving like one and being treated like one. Not guaranteed, it's true. But it sure is a lot more likely.
Another thing I'd like to mention is that it is very important to men, even (especially?) after marriage, that their lady looks attractive. You looking lovely reflects well on him, odd as that may sound. So develop good habits now. I don't mean that you always have to be dressed up, but just that you should make an effort to take care of yourself and your clothing, even if it's just the two of you. And remember, a smiling face goes a loooong way in this department. :)
Now, media and entertainment.
Oh boy... this is a very large, complicated topic.
What you put in your mind is what comes out. Seems incredibly obvious, but-- somehow, all too often, we overlook it. This applies to all forms of entertainment/media: music, books, movies, TV, blogs, and so forth. If the majority of what you listen to/watch/read exemplifies low and ungodly standards, there is no way you are going to develop and live out noble standards in your own life.
Biographies of Christian heros [The Hiding Place, God Knows My Size, God Smuggler, Bruchko, and many many others.], old (or at least old fashioned) non-fiction books about manners and the Christian walk [How to be a Lady, So Much More, Home Making, etc.] fiction books which have high standards [once again, books from around the 1800s are usually best for this--I'd recommend lamplighters.], and etcetera.
I know that for me, personally, this has been a great encouragement and has trained me to value old-fashioned manners and standards and to apply them in my life. It has also helped condition me to be disgusted and deeply saddened by the contrast in our current culture. Since we don't have many opportunities to be around people which such high standards (and thus be automatically conditioned to sort things into the proper folder-- appalling or commendable-- correctly) in real life, the next best thing is to surround yourself with examples in books.
If you want a happy marriage, you're going to need good character. (Meaning this: your normal responses to situations need to be joyful, patient, loving, honest, etc... ones.) And one of the major ways your character develops is through media. The way the people respond in the majority of books, movies, and so on that you read/watch is going to be training you to respond in similar ways. You can't immerse yourself in romance novels and romantic movies and expect to act and think like a pure girl.
While I'm at it, if you read those kinds of books/watch those movies, stop. Right now. Yes, that's an order. :P Throw them away, burn them. Get them away from you. When I was younger, about 14, a well meaning friend gave us some "Christian" romance novels. They were really "clean", you know. Nothing bad. But then I got caught reading them (yes... I was forbidden to read them and did anyways. :P), and Papa explained to me that the reason he didn't want me to read books like that was because it awakened desires (and unrealistic ones at that!) too early. Which... was true. Unfortunately. Now the effects are lessened, but still. Not good. So, please do yourself and your future husband a favor and don't fill your minds with that sort of junk. It'll just set you up for heartbreak and/or disappointment later on.
Now, this one might be a new thought for some of you. The way your spaces are decorated and maintained reflects your personality, yes, But they also affect you. And your future home.
Please tell me none of you need this injunction... but if you have posters of guys on your walls, please take them down. Like, now. Thank you. I don't think I need to explain myself there...
Even if you don't even have your own room (I share a rather small room with my three sisters), you can begin decorating, organizing and cleaning now. I'm sure you have at least some small area to call your own-- start there!
Personally, I have my bed, the wall space near my bed (I'm on the top bunk), my hook, my box in the bathroom, and my desk. I know, not very impressive. But! [S]he who is faithful in little... ;) When I was about 14, I decided that I wanted a clean, organized, pretty house. So, I decided I had better start practicing now. I made it a habit to keep my areas tidy and regularly organize and clean them. I made a pillow for my bed, and several verse cards for my desk, among other things. I have papers on the wall near my bed reminding me of things to pray for. I have gathered a little collection of unique containers (most of them were gifts or things I found around the home and adopted...) that hold my letters, papers, random stuff, pens and pencils, etc. And, somehow, they all go together. (I think I have a knack for that... taking a bunch of random things and making them look alright together. haha.) When you see my spaces, you will probably come away with several conclusions (though I have never taken a survey on this, so I might be wrong.): One, I love God, or at least His word. Two, I like nature. Three, I like things neat, but not sterile. :P (I actually use my spaces, so at least several times a day they won't be very tidy [like my desk right now... it has a Bible, a camera, several papers, my planner, an address book, and probably some other things]... and sometimes they even get a little dirty. But I always take the time to tidy and reorganize.)
Even if it doesn't seem like it, the vast majority of men like having a tidy and tasteful house. Just ask your dad.
Another thing you can do is take responsibility for an area of your house-- for example, right now our kitchen is my jurisdiction ("area of influence", for those who haven't watched the Duggars and then were curious enough to look it up in the dictionary). But I'm getting ahead of myself. On to more externals.
Your Friends
Yes... I have labeled friends as an "external". I'm sorry, friends who are reading this... I don't mean to sound rude or anything. ;)
However, friends are outside of us, and they do have a powerful impact on the way we will eventually turn out. So, choose wisely. Yes, it is excellent and admirable to have "ministry friends"-- ones you pour yourself into. But it is also very important that you have other friends who will build you up and encourage you in your walk with God.
Proverbs 13:20: He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
You really will become like the people you are constantly with. Don't think you are strong enough to be constantly surrounded by worldly thinking and still come out with a Christian mindset and actions. It ain't happening, sister. Surround yourself with girls who talk way more of God than of guys, and also watch out for (and avoid as much as possible) feminist attitudes towards men.
And, finally, hair.
Very briefly: as an adult female friend of mine told me, guys like girls with long hair. Very simple. Keep it long, girls. And, also, if you'd like tips for taking care of long hair and keeping it healthy, feel free to ask me. :)
So: think about your "externals" and pray for wisdom in making the necessary changes. :)
And then go here for Part Five. ;)
Today I'm going to talk about several aspects of life, which I've tied together with the word "externals". These things often seem like they aren't that big of a deal, but they actually have quite a bit of impact on your character, the kind of wife you'll be, and the sort of husband you'll attract.
First, clothing.
You knew I'd say that, didn't ya. :) Well, obviously modesty is important, but I'm not going deep into that topic just now. I already did that here, here, here, aaaaaaand here. :) If you didn't see those posts, it would be splendid if you could go ahead and read them. What I do want to show here, though, is how important modesty is to Christian guys who are looking for a wife.
Out of 1,229 guys (of all ages) surveyed, 875 strongly agreed with this statement: "Modesty is an important quality for your future wife to have." Another 297 guys agreed with it.
Listen to some of their comments about this:
Age 21: It is absolutely my very first criteria. Immodestly dressed ladies are the first people I eliminate as possibilities.
Age 22: I believe modesty is one way for a woman to show that she is committing herself to her husband. She is saying that he is the only one who is going to have the opportunity to enjoy her physical beauty. That would mean a lot to me.
Age 23: It is one of my chief quality because it reveals a lot about her character. Does she want to be known as a hot girl or a godly lady?
Age 17: I feel that it is important to me to get to know who she is as a human being, and person in Christ, rather than how she looks. And it helps a lot if she wears modest clothing that way I can focus better on what she is saying and how she is acting.
Age 15: Modesty is not just an issue of clothes, it also has to do with the heart and the woman's walk with God. A girl who dresses modestly is showing that her heart is right, and that is the kind of woman I intend to marry someday.
Age 17: There is a difference between paranoid modesty, or external (not from the heart) modesty, and true attractive modesty. I want my wife to know the difference, not out of legalism, but out of strong character. =)
Age 40-49: If she's using that kind of bait to hook you, why would she stop after catching her first fish?
Age 21: I don't want my wife dressing as if she is trying to give herself away to every guy that looks at her. I want her to dress, even before I know her, as a woman who is a precious object that must be won through pure and genuine love, not lust.
And they just go on, and on, and on. Go have a look for yourself!
Another thing I'd like to mention is that it is very important to men, even (especially?) after marriage, that their lady looks attractive. You looking lovely reflects well on him, odd as that may sound. So develop good habits now. I don't mean that you always have to be dressed up, but just that you should make an effort to take care of yourself and your clothing, even if it's just the two of you. And remember, a smiling face goes a loooong way in this department. :)
Now, media and entertainment.
Oh boy... this is a very large, complicated topic.
What you put in your mind is what comes out. Seems incredibly obvious, but-- somehow, all too often, we overlook it. This applies to all forms of entertainment/media: music, books, movies, TV, blogs, and so forth. If the majority of what you listen to/watch/read exemplifies low and ungodly standards, there is no way you are going to develop and live out noble standards in your own life.
Biographies of Christian heros [The Hiding Place, God Knows My Size, God Smuggler, Bruchko, and many many others.], old (or at least old fashioned) non-fiction books about manners and the Christian walk [How to be a Lady, So Much More, Home Making, etc.] fiction books which have high standards [once again, books from around the 1800s are usually best for this--I'd recommend lamplighters.], and etcetera.
I know that for me, personally, this has been a great encouragement and has trained me to value old-fashioned manners and standards and to apply them in my life. It has also helped condition me to be disgusted and deeply saddened by the contrast in our current culture. Since we don't have many opportunities to be around people which such high standards (and thus be automatically conditioned to sort things into the proper folder-- appalling or commendable-- correctly) in real life, the next best thing is to surround yourself with examples in books.
If you want a happy marriage, you're going to need good character. (Meaning this: your normal responses to situations need to be joyful, patient, loving, honest, etc... ones.) And one of the major ways your character develops is through media. The way the people respond in the majority of books, movies, and so on that you read/watch is going to be training you to respond in similar ways. You can't immerse yourself in romance novels and romantic movies and expect to act and think like a pure girl.
While I'm at it, if you read those kinds of books/watch those movies, stop. Right now. Yes, that's an order. :P Throw them away, burn them. Get them away from you. When I was younger, about 14, a well meaning friend gave us some "Christian" romance novels. They were really "clean", you know. Nothing bad. But then I got caught reading them (yes... I was forbidden to read them and did anyways. :P), and Papa explained to me that the reason he didn't want me to read books like that was because it awakened desires (and unrealistic ones at that!) too early. Which... was true. Unfortunately. Now the effects are lessened, but still. Not good. So, please do yourself and your future husband a favor and don't fill your minds with that sort of junk. It'll just set you up for heartbreak and/or disappointment later on.
Now, this one might be a new thought for some of you. The way your spaces are decorated and maintained reflects your personality, yes, But they also affect you. And your future home.
Please tell me none of you need this injunction... but if you have posters of guys on your walls, please take them down. Like, now. Thank you. I don't think I need to explain myself there...
Even if you don't even have your own room (I share a rather small room with my three sisters), you can begin decorating, organizing and cleaning now. I'm sure you have at least some small area to call your own-- start there!
Personally, I have my bed, the wall space near my bed (I'm on the top bunk), my hook, my box in the bathroom, and my desk. I know, not very impressive. But! [S]he who is faithful in little... ;) When I was about 14, I decided that I wanted a clean, organized, pretty house. So, I decided I had better start practicing now. I made it a habit to keep my areas tidy and regularly organize and clean them. I made a pillow for my bed, and several verse cards for my desk, among other things. I have papers on the wall near my bed reminding me of things to pray for. I have gathered a little collection of unique containers (most of them were gifts or things I found around the home and adopted...) that hold my letters, papers, random stuff, pens and pencils, etc. And, somehow, they all go together. (I think I have a knack for that... taking a bunch of random things and making them look alright together. haha.) When you see my spaces, you will probably come away with several conclusions (though I have never taken a survey on this, so I might be wrong.): One, I love God, or at least His word. Two, I like nature. Three, I like things neat, but not sterile. :P (I actually use my spaces, so at least several times a day they won't be very tidy [like my desk right now... it has a Bible, a camera, several papers, my planner, an address book, and probably some other things]... and sometimes they even get a little dirty. But I always take the time to tidy and reorganize.)
Even if it doesn't seem like it, the vast majority of men like having a tidy and tasteful house. Just ask your dad.
Another thing you can do is take responsibility for an area of your house-- for example, right now our kitchen is my jurisdiction ("area of influence", for those who haven't watched the Duggars and then were curious enough to look it up in the dictionary). But I'm getting ahead of myself. On to more externals.
Your Friends
Yes... I have labeled friends as an "external". I'm sorry, friends who are reading this... I don't mean to sound rude or anything. ;)
However, friends are outside of us, and they do have a powerful impact on the way we will eventually turn out. So, choose wisely. Yes, it is excellent and admirable to have "ministry friends"-- ones you pour yourself into. But it is also very important that you have other friends who will build you up and encourage you in your walk with God.
Proverbs 13:20: He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
You really will become like the people you are constantly with. Don't think you are strong enough to be constantly surrounded by worldly thinking and still come out with a Christian mindset and actions. It ain't happening, sister. Surround yourself with girls who talk way more of God than of guys, and also watch out for (and avoid as much as possible) feminist attitudes towards men.
And, finally, hair.
Very briefly: as an adult female friend of mine told me, guys like girls with long hair. Very simple. Keep it long, girls. And, also, if you'd like tips for taking care of long hair and keeping it healthy, feel free to ask me. :)
So: think about your "externals" and pray for wisdom in making the necessary changes. :)
And then go here for Part Five. ;)
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