A Little Encouragement.

        Wow! Spring is over and Summer is just beginning,.........finally! With the end of Spring comes school breaks and grads. Last week I was looking at the local newspaper at the 2014 High School grads from near by towns in my area. As I read, I couldn't help but notice that all the girls were planning on going into the workforce or to university this Fall to study business, science, nursing, etc.

         I was starting to get a little discouraged and this thought was running through my mind,''What's the reason I'm staying home again? Why didn't I go to university when I graduated?'' And then I came to a girl who's future plans was to become a stay-at-home Mom and take some future education! Then I remembered. God's call for me was to stay home to prepare myself and learn how to be a Biblical Homemaker. I was absolutely thrilled! I could hardly believe it! This young lady was so bold to put her life's dream into the paper! I was so excited for her and myself when I realized that being a stay-at-home Mom is the best job out there. It was such an encouragement to know that I wasn't the only one, as it feels like that sometimes.

          I just thought that I'd send that encouragement to you fellow stay-at-home daughters. Our hearts' desire and dream to be that godly, Proverbs 31 and Titus 2, woman, is so big that there is no university out there that can help, teach, and encourage us to keep going. Sadly, today's society doesn't think so. They brain wash all the young ladies that we HAVE TO get that job, career, or degree. I'm sorry society, but I decided to stand up to what I know is right and to take the opposite direction to a much more happier and fruitful life!


                                                                                                     K. J. Hepburn

How we Keep Christ The Center of Christmas

       

Out of all the holidays, Christmas is probably the most commercialized and hectic. Decorations galore, and running up the credit card buying gifts people don’t need. Craziness! Glorifying Santa and forgetting why it’s called Christmas. Although if you research the holiday, you will find that it once was a pagan holiday and had nothing to do with our Saviours birth. In fact Jesus wasn’t even born on December 25^th, but back somewhere along the lines Christians began to celebrate Jesus birth on that day. Perhaps it was to counter the pagan celebrations of the time. If that was the case, it’s the same today. The secular world wants to celebrate a jolly old man who supposedly knows everything about everybody, while Christians wish to celebrate their Saviour’s birth; the Saviour who came to die for all mankind and set them free from the penalty of sin, death.

It seems to be a holiday with the most controversial history ever, and that has carried on into our day and age as well.

As I said, for most people it’s all about making wish lists, spending more than what you have, and getting caught up in all the madness of the season. Even for some Christians it can be the time of year everyone goes overboard. I am so grateful that it has never been that way in my family.

How do we keep Christ at the center and not get caught up in all the hubbub? For us it was probably made easy by our circumstances, as growing up there wasn’t a lot of that paper stuff people carry around in their wallets, but I think I also had some wise parents, and grandparents. I believe it started with my Grandpa Kliever. Yes they put up a tree and some lights, but Grandma always put the nativity set out in front. Her care in doing so spoke volumes to me. Then there came Christmas Eve, and the time we would exchange the few gifts under the tree. But before that happened, Grandpa would pull out his Bible and read the Christmas story, and slowly too. He would pray and thank the Lord for sending His Son to die in our place, and then we would sing Christmas hymns. That tradition carried over into my family as I grew up. Somehow my parents and grandparents were able to stress the fact that the gifts weren’t what was important, though they were fun, but we were to remember the greatest gift of all. Jesus.

As we kids got older, and our family went through some lean years, making gifts for one another became a fun way to show each other our love. Some times there were boughten gifts, but those mostly would consist of things needed like socks! But of the homemade gifts, things ranged from paper dolls, to drawn pictures or leather or wood work. But whatever the gifts may be, we knew what we were celebrating, not who got what or spent the most, but that fact that we had a Saviour who came to earth to die for us!

Now I have a family of my own. Our Christmas tree is already up, and I have a few gifts ready to wrap and put under it, but I want to strive to do what my parents did and my Grandparents, and teach my children why we celebrate our Saviours birth. Amidst all the controversy of the season my husband and I feel convicted to celebrate our Saviours birth and to stress its importance on our children. We have something wonderful to celebrate and we don’t need the world’s big red man, ‘cause we have Someone better! And because of all that… Christmas is my favourite time of year!

 

S.L. Kliever

Delight In Your Children

Delight in your Children

By S. L. Kliever

“Children are a bother!”

“My kids were just hard to raise. I didn’t enjoy it.”

“I didn’t enjoy being pregnant. I was glad when he was born so I could put him down and get a break from him.”

“We decided to only have two.”

“Kids are so expensive. We couldn’t afford any more.”

Have you heard Christians say these things? What does the Bible say?

Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

How many kids people have and how they raise them, that is between them and God. I’m not here to criticize how small or big people’s families are. But what concerns me more is the negative attitude towards children that seems to seep through those statements.  And as a child, I remember there being grown ups that I didn’t much care for, and as I matured, I sensed they didn’t like me either!

 

For a long time now it seems like having children is considered almost a curse. A bother. But if they are a reward, (a blessing) from Him, we as Christians should not have a bad attitude towards family!

 

I believe it’s a heart issue. Satan doesn’t want us to love or delight in our families. As we can see from the world just outside our homes, `family’ is becoming minority. As Christians we need a heart change towards our children. And if we just `can’t’ delight in them, then we need to ask the Lord to give us a change of heart.

Jesus loves children. When He walked this earth, He took time for them. Sat them on His lap and blessed them. “For such is the kingdom of heaven.” If they are so important to our Lord, shouldn’t then be to us too? I sense our ME first culture doesn’t want to take time for children. 

Our Heavenly Father is our example, and this is what He says about His children. “For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:12) 

The Lord delights in His children! We too should delight in them as well. Does it mean we will have clear sailing, easy days all the time, no problems or trying times? No. It’s hard, we have to discipline; our patience is tried and some times it is just hard to enjoy parenthood. But we should delight in the children the Lord gives us.

 

I’ve been listening to Chuck Swindoll on Biblical Parenting. He preached on this very subject. And as we delight in our kids, loving them for who they are and who the Lord made them to be, and raising them in the bend or personalities that the Lord has given them, directing them in the ways of the Lord, he claims we will see less rebellion and more children walking with the Lord.

And that is what is most important! What is done down here for eternity! Not whether I have the time to do the things I want, or that we have the latest in everything, which requires more time consumed by getting money and things. No our goal should be our children!

Proverbs 29:17 “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”

Let us delight in the blessings the Lord has given us! As we correct bad behaviour and nurture our little ones, let us not forget to delight in them as well.

The little ones he gives us to raise, he will also provide the provisions to take care of them. If He blesses you with children, He will always proved ways for us to care for their needs.

Something that was a blessing for me to hear recently was an older woman I know saying that it was an encouragement to her to see the younger generation of women excited and wanting children and bigger families.

Yes children are a heritage from the Lord!

This I think, is the Biblical way.

My Homeschooling and Christian Journey.

            Homeschooling has been a big part of shaping who I am today. Although really Jesus is the One who really makes changes, but homeschooling can be used as a tool to help Christian children grow closer to Jesus Christ through their Christian walk.

            At the age of 5, I started Kindergarten, and I asked Jesus into my heart. If I wasn't homeschooled, there's a good chance that I might not be following Jesus Christ anymore. The reason being is that I got more Christian influence from my parents being homeschooled then I probably would have going to public school. If I had gone to public school, I may have had a lot of influence from non-Christian friends.

           So really, being homeschooled kept me out of trouble and from bad, ungodly influences in the public school and anywhere else. But we always did talk about that kind of stuff with our parents. Being homeschooled, instead, kept me at home with my family like the Lord intended in the beginning. We read and still read the Bible in our homeschool, which we may not be doing if we were going to public school.

           Parents can still have a good, Christian influence on their kids even if their kids go to public school, but their influence would most likely be a lot more effective if they're homeschooling their kids.

            Back to my homeschooling journey, through grades 1-6, as much as I can remember, I tried hard to obey my parents. That was probably my way of serving God at such a young age. There were times, of course, when I fought with my brothers. Satan still has Christians do bad stuff, too. Of course, though, usually another Christian, probably sent by God, to come along side the Christian that's stumbling to help them see what they're doing wrong, and then the stumbling Christian asks for forgiveness. As in my case, our parents would come along and help us kids see what we were doing wrong and encourage us to ask forgiveness of one another.

           At the age of 11, I was baptized on January 7, 2007. During that time, I found that my faith grew stronger. Since then, I have always tried hard to do what God would have me do, and I tried doing personal devotions. I never did my devotions very often, but now I try hard to do them daily because it's the Lord's commandment and because I want to keep growing in my faith as well as to know Christ more.

          I am now 18 years old, finishing grade 12, and it's my heart's desire to be Holy because Christ is Holy. It's also my desire to be a Godly woman like in Proverbs 31:10-31 and Titus chapter 2.

          For awhile, I was starting to doubt that I was really saved, and Satan was probably having a blast playing games on me. My Mom helped me realize that if I believed with all my heart that God was God and that He sent His Son to die on the cross, then I was saved. I was so happy to have this assurance!

          But then again, Satan was playing with my mind. I was doubting my salvation again, and I was about to start helping my pastor's wife teach Sunday School. I was wondering how I was supposed to teach kids about God, Jesus, and Salvation if I wasn't saved either! But one day I was reading the Sunday School book, I came across a paragraph speaking about how to discuss salvation with children. The paragraph went on to say that children praying ''the prayer'' cannot save them, believing does! I believed, the prayer I said when I was 5 did not save me. I believe with all my heart that God sent His Only  Begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins! I am indeed saved, for Jesus' blood washed my sins away!

         I am a 2013 Homeschool Graduate, but I'm not quite done my grade 12 yet, and I have chosen not to go to university. Not only is university not for me, and gives students a lot of
Student Loan debt, I also want to keep myself pure and stay away from all the bad influences and trouble I could get myself into.

         Being that I want to be a Godly, Virtuous Woman like in Proverbs, I believe that university isn't going to teach me what I need to know. I have chosen to stay home to learn and train myself, with God's help, to be that Godly, Virtuous Woman. It's also my heart's desire to be a wife and a mom someday, a homeschooling mom to be exact!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          So after I'm done my grade 12, I plan on staying home and my life is indeed busy. For this year, I'm going to cook, bake, clean, study, etc. I'm going to start a Computer Course on October 22 to November 21. I just got a high tech camera and accessories, so I'm going to take a Photography Course at home. I'm also going to join the Moosomin 4-H Multiple Club to take a photography project. And I'm also in the Fairmede 4-H Beef Club for my sixth and final year.

         So I am busy this year, also not to mention my once a week job of being the caretaker and a assistant Sunday School teacher for the Maryfield Associated Gospel Church. With all I'm doing this year and the following years, I have no time whatsoever for university.

         So that is basically just a sliver or two of my life's past years, some of my homeschooling years along with some of my Christian Testimony.

         Now that's how Jesus Christ and homeschooling can change a person. That's just my life though, everyone else's is different. And how my homeschooling past helped influence God's call to me about what to do in the future. I also believe with all my heart that God is indeed calling me to stay away from university and to stay home to train to be a Godly, Biblical Woman. That's my Homeschooling and Christian Journey.


                                                                                    K. J. Hepburn          

An Important Lesson...

An Important Lesson I Learned Growing Up

By. S. L. Kliever

 

Never let anger in your home! I think that was the most important lesion I learned growing up!

 

            Anger is like a disease! Once it has a foothold in the home it spreads to others and the end result is terrible! When one person is angry towards others, it breads for bitterness, resentment, and anger towards that person. A never ending circle of destruction! Yelling and shouting in anger does not accomplish any good!

 

If it is the adult in the family who is the angry person, it only encourages rebellion and resentment to authority in the children. If it is the children with the anger problem it needs to be dealt with immediately and properly and not in anger.

 

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

 

Ephesians 4;26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”

 

Children learn by watching. If there is anger allowed in the home, they will learn that being angry (shouting, yelling, screaming) is `ok’.  The moment anger is allowed to gain a hold in a family, Satan has ground in that home! “Neither give place to the devil” is a serious warning!

 

I was sixteen when I realized I had an anger problem. Thankfully, by the grace of God and by His help, I overcame that deadly problem.  My family too realized what was happening, and my parents dealt with the issue, asking forgiveness, and praying for that ground to be given back to the Lord.

I think that was the most important lesson I learned growing up.

Important Traits of the Biblical Women.

As I sat thinking of what to post next, I thought of the title of mine and Kliever's blog. I remembered that the beginning part was ''The Biblical Homemaker....''. I thought that a biblical homemaker is also about biblical womanhood. I decided to write about that, and as I thought what to write about, Proverbs 31:10-31 came to mind. I encourage all you ladies who are reading this post, to also look up this passage. The book of Proverbs is the book of wisdom, and chapter 31 verses 10 to 31 tells about the virtuous woman. Lets look at the traits of the biblical / virtuous woman listed here in Proverbs.

Verse 10 starts off with,''Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.'' As we continue reading, we learn that her husband trusts her, she will do her husband good all the days of her life, and she works willingly with her hands. In verse 14, she is said to be like a merchant's ships, and continuing in the passage, she gets up when it is still night to prepare food for her whole household and servants, and she even goes to look at and buy a field and plants a vineyard! Verse 17 goes on to say that she strengthens her muscles! She definitely isn't a wimpy person. But I must make that point a little clearer. God created us ladies to be sweet and feminine. Is it feminine to be like the ''macho / powerful women'' in magazines? Of course not! But we're to still strengthen our muscles, exercise, and stay fit.

The rest of the chapter goes on to say that she works to make linens and cloth to sell, her husband is well known in the gates, she speaks kind and wisely, she keeps her house maintained and she is never idle,her children and husband call her blessed and praise her, and she is the virtuous of virtuous women. The chapter concludes that it's vanity and deceitful to go after favour and beauty, but the woman that fears the Lord shall be praised. Verse 31 says,''Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

I am 17, going to turn 18 in a week. So as you've probably guessed by my age, I'm graduating from High School this year. I've been asked numerous times of what I'm going to be doing after that. It gets hard to tell them that I'm staying home to train to be a wife and mother and to work with my farm animals. In today's society, almost every body's minds have been brainwashed into thinking that every High School grad must go to college or university to get a bachelor's degree just to ''prove'' something or to become ''something'' of importance to get through life. My mom says that she believes university is not for everyone. That's what I found out for myself. My mom thought up a ''more intelligent'' way of what to say. ''I'm going to stay home to major in Biblical Womanhood and minor in Animal Husbandry / Agriculture.''

I'm looking forward to starting my ''college'' education this fall and can hardly wait to see how God works everything out! The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman is what I'm striving for!

                                                                                                  By: K.J.Hepburn

Best Career Ever!

1 Timothy 5:14

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

 

Although Paul was speaking about widows, I find it interesting that there isn’t much in the Bible that speaks directly to younger women.

In our day and age when society pushes for women to have a career, which isn’t wrong in itself, what we find in the Bible, is that women have an important role to play in society.

 

With Mother’s Day just past, I’ve thought about how motherhood is probably the most important job on earth! Shaping young lives that will grow up and intern influence and continue to shape society around them. Mother’s have the biggest impact on the world through their children!

 

Wow! Talk about a career!