Some encouragement for the dear mothers,

Even though I have never written to you before in this newsletter, I hoped to encourage you in this area. Time management…is this not something that all mothers struggle with at some point in their lives? When we stand before the throne of our heavenly Lord, will we have used our time wisely? Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” And Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

​A big topic that has been in our home lately is “Are you a ‘Martha’ or a ‘Mary’?” It all stemmed from a tape set that I recently purchased to help me with the #1 struggle I had been having over the last year….

Everyone has a different personality. I am a very goal-oriented person. I like to be accomplishing something all the time. There are many benefits to this, but along with the trait comes side effects that can be mild or severe, depending on the situation. J For example, I tend to get stressed over menial details or kinks in my schedule. Sometimes I become discouraged over the fact that I did not accomplish much a certain day, week, or month. I have also noticed that I occasionally base my “worth” on what I call my “productivity rate,” which is not right! (I am realizing that just because we are busy does not mean we are busy doing the right things—it’s possible to work ourselves exhausted and get nowhere, just as we would on a treadmill!) The Lord wants me to be a daughter of devotion more than a daughter of commotion! :) He loves me not because of what I do, but because of Who He is! Praise the Lord for that!
 
However, there is no excuse for laziness or slothfulness. The Scriptures tell us to redeem the time, to be diligent, and to serve our King! How is the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31? “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” If you study this dedicated lady, you will quickly find that she was not sitting around. She did not waste the time that God chose to entrust to her. Instead, she used it fully for His glory and honor! So many people let time slip away as they spend fruitless hours watching television, playing on the computer, sleeping . . . you fill in the blanks! It is important that we do all activities in moderation—even things like reading, sleeping, exercising, cooking, studying, or cross stitch! It’s critical that we think of ways to wisely invest our time here on earth. I recently read in Psalm 39 these thought-provoking verses: “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, Thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before Thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee.” This challenges me to do things that matter for eternity, that will matter in the end. I want to invest my time in building treasures for heaven.
 
My goal in this article is to give you some practical ideas for how to set and accomplish your goals.... 

Someday, if the Lord should will, I’d like to be a keeper of my own home....

Ahh . . . Dessert!! What a sweet thought! As the leaves fall from the trees and snow begins to fall (at least in my part of the country!), I find myself spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes and making old favorites. Desserts are my favorite things to bake. Most desserts are chocked full off unhealthy fats, sugars, and artificial ingredients. As I bake, my desire is to produce a flavorful yet healthy product.
 
Ever since I started cooking as a young child, my parents have reinforced this important principle for quality food:
 
“Quality food should not only taste good, but it should
look good, be good for you, and be good for the budget.”
 
This principle has served to guide me as I’ve progressed in my cooking skills. However, it is challenging to apply this principle to desserts, especially the “be good for you” part!  Here are some of the ways I’ve learned and ways I’m working on to make desserts fit the principle:

​Dear Sisters,
 
The Bible says, “young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands that that word of God be not blasphemed.”—Titus 2:4–5
 
How can we apply to these verses? We can apply to part of these verses by babysitting. Babysitting does not only mean that you babysit children when the parents are gone. You can babysit children when the parents are there too. I know probably some of you girls aren’t allowed to babysit when your parents are away from home, and I'm not allowed to either...

​What will you be remembered for after you breathe your last breath? It is a sobering and difficult question. Will it be your stylish clothing or your quick wit? Will it be your wall of accomplishments or your trophies of praise? Will it be your pile of possessions or your pretty hair? Probably it will be none of those things, but rather something related to who you are on the inside. But how does this inner character manifest itself outwardly in a life? We can't see inside and know what the heart and mind of a person is. Most often we see the inner workings of the heart by the outer workings of the hands and mouth. Yes, it is often your good works that show your good heart—a heart made good by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Ruth, Tabitha, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Lydia, Sara, and Phebe were all known for their good works. In fact good works can be used of God in a great way. Besides giving you true, enduring beauty, your good works also give God glory. What a high privilege and joy, and yet there is more too that God speaks regarding good works. Come, let us find the path the Virtuous Woman walked before us as God speaks to us the truth about the purpose and plan He has for our lives, for our works are writing our epitaph.