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:

“And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee.”—Psalm 39:7
 
Have you ever heard a single girl say something to this effect: “I’m waiting for the Lord to bring me a husband.” Probably most of us have. In fact, we may have even thought something like that ourselves! And frankly, for many of us, there’s truth to the statement. We are waiting for the Lord to bring the right man to be our husband. God’s best is certainly worth waiting for! However, I’d like to share some thoughts that the Lord has been impressing on my heart lately. I think that by telling ourselves (and others) that we’re “waiting,” we could potentially slip into a mindset that keeps us from using our “single” years fully for the glory of God. 

​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...

“Daughter of mine, a woman so kind,
how did you grow up to be so fine?”
A voice in answer so quiet and low,
“you trained me up in the way I should go.”
Proverbs 22:6
 
“Daughter of mine, so busy was I,
how did I teach you, when found I time?”
“Diligently you taught me all through the day,
 as a young child in a Mother's special way.” 
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
 
“Daughter of mine, If this be true,
what are some things that I taught you?”
“I learned to esteem others better than me.
not to love only in words; but also in deed.
Philippians 2:3,  1 John 3:18
 
I learned by example to love sisters and brothers,
as I saw you look on the things of others.
To always walk in truth you taught,
God's commands taught from the heart.”
  Philippians 2:4, 3 John 1:4
 
“Mother of mine, You are so kind,
You are the one who is so fine.
I'd hear you pray, and learn how true,
the realness of God is in you.”
 
“Many a time I’ve failed and stumbled,
Daughter of mine in tears I’m humbled.”
LMS
 
"But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;"
 1 Peter 1:15