Blog-land Spirit of Elitism

It is amazing that when you roam the "blogging world" that you see people adopt beliefs, ideas or opinions of others as their own.  If one person says it is ok to do this or that - next thing you know, other bloggers are joining in, even though they had to push against their own consciences.  They make something "ok", simply because someone else is doing it or says it is ok.

I think this is where I differ from the majority of women in blog-land.  I've refused invitations, advertising and allowing my writings to be used in other blogs because I couldn't support the belief system with which they upheld.  I guess it boils down to this - I can't be BOUGHT!

You don't see advertisements and money-making gimmicks on my blog because I'm not here for what I can get out of it.....financially speaking.  I'm not here to change my values, beliefs and "go with the flow" and become part of the elite in blog-land.  I'm not even here to be the best among them, to have the most readers, or any other pursuits of the flesh.  I'm here to serve - God and others.

A lot of women have gone from serving their home and family and helping others online with their blogs - to forsaking their home and family to make money or become "famous" in the internet realm.  Instead of brain-storming for ways to better run our homes and curb spending for the home, it becomes a game of who can save the most or who can show off the most.

The spirit of elitism has taken ahold of so many and the greed and love of money overpowered so many women that they lost the vision.  They constantly pat themselves on the back for raising money to help their husband, when the Bible clearly tells us that the man is the provider.  You want to really help him?  How about getting off the computer and getting off your rear and making him something homemade everday!?  How about, instead of refusing him because you have another blog post to make or another advertiser's review to post - you turn the computer off and give due benevolence?  Put down the coupons women and play with your children!!!!

Have we lost sight of what is really important?  I'm tired of hearing other women brag about the money they are making as if they are doing more for their husband than I am.  When in reality, it's the other way around!  God set it up for the woman to care for the home and the husband to provide.  When you try and do your job and your husband's job - it may "seem" at the time that you are helping but sooner or later - your bag will have holes.

My hope is to persuade women everywhere to put priorities in their proper order - God, Family, Others.  Don't let riches tempt you to give your valuable time to another endeavor other than the one God has given you to take care of.

10 Year Anniversary Letter

Hubby said I could post this and thought it worthy to share with others.  After being married for ten years, I could say that we know a thing or two about marriage!  It takes work and love, but above all - it takes GOD!  Nate's letter to me really sums it all up and how we have made it through the storms and come out stronger.  We have been through so much that would have broken many couples bond but somehow we made it through and God mended our hearts. 

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ~Mark 10:9

Dear Beverly,
     When you get married, you really are only thinking of the here and now.  It's not apparent what the next year, 5 years or whatever amount of time, will bring.  Expectation is always roses and ease in the honeymoon hours and days.  The world seems to only care about those things - always for themselves - and maybe for the spouse.  When adversity or disagreements come - it appears that those tests are not desired - and it all ends.  Rather than the true building of love, the choice is made to end the "hardships".
     I will admit that I don't think either of us expected anything that happened in the past ten years.  I was young, naive and happy-go-lucky.  I didn't recognize the early marital storms for what they truly were.  I did, however, know that I cared for you.  Looking back with my 'decade glasses' I can see a fortress of love being constructed.  The walls are now stone, though the wooden ones burned in trials.  The castle now stands firm as a testament to real love.  We walk the halls with security and trust in our hearts.
     Neither of us being perfect; we have understood and forgiven.  We've laughed hysterically together and buried the hatchets so many times.
     I can't imagine what life would be without my soul mate.  You are my help, my love, my crutch - everything for every need.  Though many other words fail me right now - experience with you has taught me all I need to know about our marriage.
     We are armed for the future.  I look forward to more laughs, tears, wrinkles and white hairs.  To gain them without you would just be age.  To live them with you will be my honor and pleasure.

                                                                                    With all sincerity and love,
                                                                                              Xoxo

God's Standards for Women

(Proverbs 31:10-31)
  1. Morally perfect (v.10)
  2. Invaluable (v.10)
  3. Trustworthy (v.11)
  4. Inherently good and true (v.12)
  5. Ingenious - proficient (v.13)
  6. Thrifty - laborious (v.14)
  7. Dutiful - considerate (v.15)
  8. Versatile - judicious (v.16)
  9. Tireless -healthy (v.17)
  10.  Joyful - efficient (v.18)
  11.  Watchful - cautious (v.18)
  12.  Skillful (v.19)
  13.  Charitable - benevolent (v.20)
  14.  Generous - merciful (v.20)
  15.  Fearless - provident (v.21)
  16.  Clever at decorating - furnishing (v.22)
  17.  Refined in taste (v.22)
  18.  Respected (v.23)
  19.  Industrious - prosperous (v.24)
  20.  Dependable - honest (v.25)
  21.  Confident - hopeful (v.25)
  22.  Wise - discreet (v.26)
  23.  Kind - understanding (v.26)
  24.  Prudent - practical (v.27)
  25.  Energetic - ever active (v.27)
  26.  An ideal wife and mother (v.28)
  27.  Honored by her family (v.27-28)
  28.  Excels in virtue (v.29)
  29.  God fearing - humble (v.30)
  30.  Deserving - successful (v.31)
  31.  Honored by the public (v.31)

Finis Jennings Dake

Anxiety Quotes

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. -George Mueller

How much have cost us the evils that never happened! - T. Jefferson

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained. - Arthur Somers Roche

An average person’s anxiety is focused on:
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced

A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love
by Helen Steiner Rice

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may

For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . 

It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . 

It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . 

A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

Attention Hogs

I was listening to "Biblical Womanhood" audio today and a question was posed to women:

"To what aspect of my person am I drawing attention?"

This is a powerful question!  As humans, we all want attention.  We all may use some way to get it and some even go the extra mile to KEEP it on them.  Either by being loud and boisterous or dressing in ways so they can make sure the attention rests on them and no one else.  You know what I'm talking about ladies - the woman who, when she is in a room has to be the loudest and raises her voice to hopefully draw the attention of others in the room.  Then there is the woman that, even though claims to be a Christian, wears tight, revealing clothing because she wants to tell the world "Look at me!"  There is a name for those that want excessive attention and I won't say it here but rather call them "Attention Hogs".

We should constantly examine ourselves, our motives and intents of the heart.  In our behavior, we should ask ourselves "am I acting this way because I want to draw attention to myself?"  Am I disturbed that others are taking the attention off of myself?  Do I do outlandish things to bring the attention back on myself?

With dress, especially as women, we can get attention if we want to. Clingy, tight fabrics, plunging necklines and slits that go up to your thigh are usually worn by attention hogs.  Its the first thing you would notice about her and she is telling the world to look at her and check out a few things here and there lol.  Not only does she so desperately want attention from the opposite sex, but she is committing a few sins from lasciviousness to being a stumbling block before her brother in the Lord.  All for what!? Attention!

Some use excessive dramatic stories to keep attention on themselves.  They either expand on true stories by exaggerating them or make up stories to draw attention.  Some even go so far to degrade their husbands so they can receive sympathy or gossip about another to lift their own egos up.

Society is so needing of acceptance but yet, they turn to all the wrong sources for it.  Jesus accepts you as you are when you come to Him.  He not only changes you into a brand new creature he also reprograms your mind!  He is always there and will never leave you as long as you are in Him.  You no longer want all the glory and attention to go to yourself but rather to Jesus.  You aren't seeking acceptance in others because pleasing Jesus is your utmost goal.  It is when we get our eyes off of Jesus and on others - that we are led to be an attention hog.  We aren't offended when someone gets blessed or is praised, we rather rejoice with our brother and sister for the wonderful things God is doing for them!  You also don't delight when they go through bad times or fail!

What could cure the attention hog?  Humility.  It's that simple!  Pride is the root of the attention hog disease.  No one should ever stand in the way of a woman driven by attention hog-ism because she will cut down anything that comes between her and the spotlight!  Humbling oneself is the cure all to many ailments, including being an attention hog.  When we are humble, we don't like praise and don't need pats on the back.  Realizing we are nothing without Christ, we don't want the attention on ourselves but on Jesus.

Also, not seeking acceptance from others but rather from Jesus.   Who cares if the world doesn't "accept" you?  Do you find yourself compromising things to get acceptance from others?  When you only care about God accepting you and pleasing Him - you don't need anyone else's approval!

Keeping our homes, raising up Godly children, loving our husbands, having Godly behavior and dress are ways the Christian woman can bring attention to God!  Not from having a career, having someone else raise your kids, disrespecting your husband - as society so readily treats them as dogs - and not from being loud and showy in behavior and dress.  Can you see the contrast here?  Both 'get' attention - but one is seeking attention not for her own self but for Christ!

Bottomline - its all about motive. Do you do what you do for your own attention and glory OR to bring attention and glory to Christ?

Our Beliefs in a Nutshell

The Basics
- Trinitarian - God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit
- Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, not works
- Holy Spirit baptism is subsequent to the new birth and evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance
- Water baptism is to show an outward reflection of an inward work
- We must live holy lives and continue in the faith
- Our good works show others our walk with God (fruit tells you what kind of tree), not that works make us saved

The Family Unit
- Women's role is to be a keeper at home
- Husband is the leader or head of the home
- Marriage is for 2 to become one in a perfect union and for procreation to raise up children in the Lord (they are HIS reward)
- Keep our children unspotted from the world by training them up in the way they should go - we homeschool to instill these Godly values
- Abortion or devices that mimic it are murder in the sight of the Lord

Finances
- A tenth of ALL our increase goes to God; which has ordained the church to handle as it sees fit for the furtherance of the gospel
- We must be good stewards of all that God gives us - from money to taking care of this earth through recycling, living frugal and not wasting
- Not having a love of money or mindset to get rich but rather being thankful for what we have; contentment
- Trusting in God to supply ALL our needs, he will never fail, no matter the circumstance!

Modesty & Appearance
- CLEAR distinction of the sexes and attire of each: dresses for women and pants for men
- Long Hair is a woman's glory and her covering and sign of submission to her head and for the angels
- Attire must be modest: loose fitting, not revealing or showing of the thighs, etc.
- Showing shamefacedness and being chaste with an unpainted face or other adornments
- Not having masculine behavior as a woman but feminine and men are not to be effiminate but rather masculine - again CLEAR distinction of the sexes which God intended

Worldliness
- Not involving oneself in the entertainments of this world that have the appearance of evil; keep oneself unspotted from this world and its enticements
- Definitely not a part of worldly establishments such as bars, clubs and such like that are dens of sin and all manner of evil
- Loving the world and its fashions and mentality is strictly forbidden in the Bible - we must be separate and "come out from among them"

There is more but this would get pretty long if I included them all - so basically we believe the FULL gospel!  This is also posted on my sidebar.