Quote of the Day

"As the violet abides peacefully in its place, content to receive its daily portion without concerning itself...so must we repose in the present moment as it comes to us from God, content with our daily portion and without anxious thoughts, sure that all things will be made to prosper us.

This is the kind of growth in grace in which we who have entered into the life of full trust believe.  We can have a growth without care or anxiety on our part.  We can blossom out into flower and fruit and become like a 'tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper'. (Psalm 1:3)." ~ Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 101

Spiritual Lessons

A Desert Flower 

Do you seem to be planted in a desert place?

I have felt that way the last few days.  I have been in a dry place...thirsting.  Of course the obvious solution would be Christ.  But sometimes He isn't that easy to apply...to find...to drink.

I searched my heart and felt convicted of a few things.  When it all came down to it...it was my meditations that were under attack.  I was full of my thoughts and they roared.  I couldn't hear Him.  He allowed the dryness to show me what I was missing.  

In my searching I came across Psalm 63:1-8 "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....Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee...My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips...

I stopped there.  Satisfied as with marrow and fatness.  I longed to be satisfied.  I was the the antithesis of satisfied.  I felt anxious...wanting...  "With marrow and fatness".  I smiled here.  I remember as a little girl reading the Palms and Proverbs and being amused with the Bible's allegories of "fat bones" and such.  But it made sense to me just now.  On my elimination diet I went through a time of having no fats. Did you know that healthy fats give the brain thinking power?  They also satisfy hunger.  I remember when I first had fat back in my diet.  I devoured it!  I licked the casserole dish clean.  I had never experienced relishing the actual fat...I consumed it and it physically made me feel happy and full and alert and...satisfied.   Christ says that our souls can be satisfied as with marrow and fatness.  

What kept me from this satisfaction?  I knew I needed Him.  I knew I longed for Him.  What stood in my way from consuming and relishing Him?  The problem was I was already full.  Full of my things.  And they were good things.  Innocent things.  And yet, it is simply vain words to talk of wanting Him when I deliberately fill myself with distracting (though innocent) thoughts of self.  

It caused me to take a hard look at my life.  What was it full of?  What had He asked me to do?   Was I doing it?  I realized that in almost every relationship that I have, I was lacking in communication and connection.  I didn't have time to hear simple things...to participate in the small worthwhile moments that make up our memories, to invest in people that matter, to be aware of other's needs.  Hours passed without me.  Weeks flew by.  All because somewhere down the road I stopped filling my thoughts with Him and started feasting on my own thoughts.  Because He is a just God He knows He can't force-feed His children.  Love is a choice.  

So I made the simple choice to fill myself with Him.  Of course with this choice came some sacrifice of other things.  Innocent fun things.  Things others can do, but were causing me to be distracted.  With this choice comes the small cost of solitude.  Choosing Him sometimes includes a loneliness in certain areas. And with my personality, being "left out" is the last thing that I want.  But.... I can say with total honesty that it's worth it.  He has already stepped in and started working in relationships.  He didn't reveal Himself suddenly or dramatically, but simply, quietly...and this morning I realized:  I'm satisfied. 

"Do you seem to be planted in a desert soil where nothing can grow?  Put yourself into the hands of the good Husbandman, and He will at once begin to make that very desert blossom as the rose... (Jer. 17:8)
It is the great prerogative of our divine Husbandman that He is able to turn any soil, whatever it may be like, into the soil of grace the moment we put our growing into His hands.  He does not need to transplant us into a different field, but right where we are, with just the circumstances that surround us, He makes His sun to shine and His dew to fall on us, and transforms the very things that were greatest hindrances into the chiefest and most blessed means of our growth."  ~ Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, 179   

Knight #5

Here is this weeks Knight.  I found this to be a blessing.  Hope it is to you as well.

To see the questions I asked these young men please see this post.

Knight #5

Age 26
It is true that a man wants his wife to be industrious. But being home or not being home is not the real question, because the woman can be industrious at home, as well as industrious outside of the home; and a woman can be as lazy at home, or outside of the home, in either case it's a matter of how industrious the girl is, not whether she's at home or not.
An industrious girl at home is especially nice because most men like a woman who has homemaking skills. That is, at least most good Christian men.

Also, I think it is good for young women to have a ministry and outreach. As in the case of you writing this book. Or outside of home as in a missions ministry. But the true test is not that one is better than the other but God's will in each case can be different for each person.
I've heard of, and known, young women that go to college (to get a bachelor degree...hee hee), but their driving motivation was not to find God's will, but a husband. A godly man wants to marry a wife who is in God's will.
A woman was never intended to go out and find a man and this is not our example in scripture. Rebecca was home and God brought her the right husband. Christ came all the way and gave everything to win His bride. The important thing is to be in God's will, seeking Him first. Then it is in His hands and it is His responsibility. He is the greatest at creating love stories. And most people don't realize how important it is to be 100% sure that you are marrying God's will for your life.

It was never a concern of mine whether I would meet my future wife if she only stayed home. Again, it goes back to a matter of whether you are going to take matters into your own hands or trust that God is big enough to work in whatever situation. He will not lead someone to stay home and then not bring them a husband because they were obedient to His will. What kind of a sick fiend do we think God is?
But again, better not to marry than to marry outside of the will of God. Husbands are a big responsibility and most are very immature. No matter how old a man is he never really grows up until married. You need to be sure that the one God has for you is the one you marry. The real trick isn't finding Mr. Right but which one is Mr.. Right. Satan always throws his best at you before you find God's best. Don't settle. Better to not be married than marry the wrong guy. Be praying for your future husband too. He needs it.
Also a few good ways to know if the one is the right Mr. Right is –
#1 if there is confusion or you're unsure, stop. Stop and stop. Don't go forward if you don't have peace. Wait. It never hurts to wait on God's will and God's timing. If there is confusion or lack of peace, it either means wrong guy, or right guy with wrong time. In either case waiting is best. Also seek council from parents and others you respect. And seek council from the ultimate counselor – God. I've had many girls that said when it was the wrong guy, the Lord didn't answer them when they would ask for guidance. There was confusion and questioning. It wasn't until after they stopped and broke it off, that they knew the answer was no. Other young ladies have waited and broken it off only to find that he was the right one.
But there is another reason for telling a guy to wait. It will show you the character of the young man when a man is told no, or not now, and gets upset and mad. Disappointed is okay, if he wasn't I'd be worried there was no affection there. His response will show the character and commitment of the man.

This question almost makes me upset. Should girls stay fit and toned, and concentrate on being beautiful? No its not true. Yes, I think sadly physical appearance is important to most men. And I don't think someone should get married where there's no physical attraction. You should like the way your spouse looks. But this is not a #1 priority. You want a man to marry you for you. Not your body. If you try to get a husband by looking beautiful, what kind of shallow guy are you going to get? You want your husband to be attracted to you yes, but if this is what you base a relationship on not only is it shallow but also temporal. It is truly a trap, because what happens when you gain weight, get stretch marks, wrinkles and grey hair? Then you will be insecure. Always striving to keep up an outward appearance which is truly vanity. Proverbs 31:30 says beauty is vain but a woman that fears the lord she shall be praised. If you want to attract a husband put on the joy of Christ! And then you will attract the right kind of man and avoid all the drama of having to beat off all the young men that are only interested in pleasing themselves. There is nothing as beautiful and downright irresistible as a young women who shines with the joy and true beauty of Christ. I've heard it said that the best beauty products are free. Smile, laugh, and oh one more thing... Christ-likeness :)

Knight #6

Quote of the Day

"If we are so led by the Spirit, where we go, and what we do, is of comparatively little moment; we may be forced by the circumstances of our life into surroundings that seem full of peril, but if God sent us there, such surroundings can do us no harm, though they may dull our feeling of happiness. Only let us remember that if, by God's mercy, we are free agents, and can choose our own way of life, then it is simple mockery to talk of aspirations for the higher life, if we deliberately indulge our lower nature, by living in an atmosphere of worldliness, or by doing something which is, perhaps, quite innocent for others, but consciously works us harm." By George H. Wilkinson (Taken from Joy and Strength P. 130)

Baby Chanel

Political/Worldview Issues

:For thou has possessed my reigns: thou has covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth..." Psalm 139 14-19

Say hello to Chanel.   This baby's parents were told twice by Doctors that they should abort her because of a severe heart defect.  Chanel's parents declined and decided to carry her full term and delivered her Cesarean section this last month.  She was immediately sent into surgery.  Only days later she had to undergo yet another surgery.  Chanel has survived both surgeries and yet faces many more treatments.  But to Chanel's parents and her big brothers she is a precious life...   Thank the Lord she had parents who could see beyond the "defects", beyond the "experts" advice, beyond human fear and selfishness and believed Chanel to be "perfectly and wonderfully made."      

https://www.facebook.com/SandpointLCPC

Quote of the Day

"The surest method of arriving at a knowledge of God's eternal purposes about us is to be found in the right use of the present moment. God's will does not come to us in the whole, but in fragments, and generally in small fragments. It is our business to piece it together, and to live it into one orderly vocation." 
(By F.W. Faber in the book Joy and Strength P.128)

Quote of the Day

"Be persuaded, timid soul, that He has loved you too much to cease loving you."  -- Francois De La Mothe Fenelon  (Joy and Strength, 127)

Practical Homemaking/ Recipes 

Necessity Being the Mother of Invention...

I offered to make dinner the other day for mom since she has been doing all of the cooking and baking while I was sick and now that I was feeling better I thought...I should help out.  Although, after making lentils and rolls I realized that I didn't have a bread that mom could eat with the soup. For those of you who are new... my mom is Gluten free and I also was/am.  :)  I recently have reacted to all sorts of foods.  But hopefully after I get a little farther into my elimination diet I can start sharing some really yummy GAPS recipes.  But for now... I will stick with Gluten Free Recipes!  :)  

So I decided to try biscuits... I didn't have some essential ingredients to work with.... and so necessity being the mother of invention I created a Gluten free biscuit.  Mom said she liked them so I thought I had better share.  (Mom is the Queen-Snob of Gluten Free Foods...if she likes it then it's worthy to share with other people!).  :)  

So here you are....my newest creation.... :) Enjoy.  :) 

Gluten Free Biscuits

1 stick (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 ½ cup white rice flour

1 cup almond flour

½ cup garbanzo bean flour

½ cup tapioca flour

2 ½ teaspoons xanthum gum

2-4 Tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast

1 extra large egg at room temperature

2 cups warm water

Brush cookie sheet with olive oil and set aside. Blend butter and then add dry ingredients (including the yeast). Mix at slow speed to allow the dry ingredients to begin to come together with the butter. Add egg and continue to combine. Add water slowly in a steady stream. Thoroughly mix until you have manageable (but it will be sticky!) dough. Flour dough board and roll out. Cut with biscuit cutter at 1 inch thick (or however thick you like your biscuits...they will only rise a bit). Bake at 350 for 10 minutes in preheated oven. Makes about 2 ½ dozen little biscuits. Freezes well. 

Recently I contacted some of our brothers in Christ. 

This is what I wrote to them:

Hello!

I was wondering if you would do me a favor?

I am currently writing a book called “Maid Arise!”

It is my humble desire to encourage my sisters of the faith in their adventure of being godly young women for Christ in the 21^st Century.

Recently I have been reading some other books that are written by godly women that are geared towards the same readers I hope to address. Even though these authors have a lot of wise advice to share, I was surprised at a couple of similar underlying themes. I'd like to share two of them with you.

These authors mentioned that there is a danger of girls becoming “hidden flowers”. That we can lead a sheltered life and “Prince Charming” will never find us if we are narrow minded enough to stay at home and only think of serving our family. We need to get out in the world! Find our ministry! How else will men realize that we are “available”? One author said young men want to marry women who are industrious, not someone who stays at home and dreams her life away.

Also, one author mentioned the number one importance to most guys she has talked to was that their future wife be beautiful. She admonished her girl readers to stay fit and toned, and concentrate on being beautiful.

This is where you come in.

I'm not sure what type of men she was asking, but I want to know your opinion. I respect you as godly brothers and want to know what you think. In my book I would like to address these two issues. The world tells us we need to “find our career” and strive for perfect beauty....now our Christian mentors are similarly admonishing us.

You probably can guess what I think. But I can write a whole book on the subject and it won't matter to many girls if they believe this is what young men think. This is why I'm asking for your honest opinion. And I really want to hear what you have to say, not what you think I believe. What are some important expectations of your future spouse? What do you think of these author's advice?

Thank you for your help!

Your sister in Christ,

Toni

Once a week I'd like to share a different response from the young men that answered my questions.  Today I am posting Knight # 3

Age 19

Beauty

I would definitely agree with the statement that as young men we want wives that are beautiful. The only problem is how young women, (and young men), interpret that. Our culture tells us that “beautiful” means looking like a glamorous model, or I should say, pretending to look like a model by applying gobs of make-up and wearing the most attractive clothing.

What does beautiful really mean? The Websters 1828 Dictionary says that the definition of beauty is, “Elegant in form; fair; having the form that pleases the eye”.

Honestly when reading this definition I think of a stereotypical pretty girl, maybe a princess, the kind of girl that is popular and everyone's friend. But that is so wrong. Beauty is not what the majority claims it to be or what our culture says it is. When we interpret beauty through the eyes of the majority, our view will always be changing and inconsistent. When we ascribe beauty to those privileged few who mesmerize the word as models and celebrities we automatically condemn the majority of girls that will never attain that model status as under par or even ugly. But there is nothing further from the truth.

Beauty is not based on how fit, or how toned we are, or how we style our hair. Girls that dress up like models are only hiding behind the world's expectations. Yes, beautiful girls are attractive, but again, I ask, what is beauty?

Beauty is the girl so filled with the person of Jesus Christ that His beauty shines through her. Beauty is the girl that is so in love with Christ that the opinions of the world mean nothing to her. Beauty is the girl that so revels in the acceptance of her Savior that she doesn't have to prove to others that she is worthy. Beauty is the girl that is known by the purity of her heart, revealed in her actions, dress and conversation. Beauty is the girl that is so lost in the character of Christ that His light and beauty radiates from her face.

You might think that the difference in the definition of beauty that I just gave and the one by Noah Webster doesn't matter, but I disagree.

We often see beauty as through the tainted eyes of the world. Webster says “...having the form that pleases the eye.”

What is more beautiful to the eye than one fully surrendered to the perfect will of God? I'm not saying I want to marry someone “ugly”, but that the most beautiful women in the world's standards pales in comparison to the humble simplicity of a girl dressed in the garments of His holiness.

If we are so intent on that outward beauty what do we think of Christ of whom Isaiah wrote about in Is. 53:2, “...he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him?”

What would our answer be to Him when He says “come unto me?” As the purest Groom He sought us, despite our uncomeliness, for that wonderful beauty of fellowship.

Home

I want my future wife to be serious and dedicated to what she will be devoting the rest of her life to; being a mother and a wife. Part of that devotion would be shown by preparation.

If you were told that you would be singing a solo next Sunday, wouldn't practicing and preparing be the wise and obvious thing to do? Why is it different with the important and life-long profession of homemaker?

To say that guys won't be interested in a girl that sits around at home all day is illogical. Actually there are two fallacies in that statement. When you say “sit around all day” that builds a straw man argument. Of course a girl that sits around all day is undesirable. But what does “sitting around all day” have to do about preparing to be the helpmeet God has chosen her to be? The drudgery of the everyday, and the monotony of consistency are some of the hardest things you will ever face.

The second fallacy in that statement can be summed up, by saying this, saying that guys won't be interested in girls that sit around all day is like saying a short handed hospital wouldn't be interested in a highly trained medical doctor searching for employment. The only time that wouldn't be true would be if the homemaker is onto what the searching guy is looking for. What better proof of her competence in raising your future children than a young woman passionate about the care of her own siblings?

As long as she isn't lazy, a young women that is a home maker at heart is admirable. It shows character and confidence to me in that she doesn’t have to “go with the flow” of modern day culture and is willing to take the Biblical challenge that most women these days have shunned.

Quote of the Day

"What is it thou wouldst have done, that He cannot do if He think fit? And if He think it not fit, if thou art one of His children, thou wilt think with Him; thou wilt reverence His wisdom, and rest satisfied with His will. This is believing indeed; the rolling all our desires and burdens over upon an almighty God; and where this is, it cannot choose but establish the heart in the midst of troubles, and give it a calm within in the midst of the greatest storms." -Robert Leighton-
(Taken from the book "Joy and Strength"- Page 120)