Morning Cuppas With Glenys

Modifying the Proverbs 31 woman

The Proverbs 31 woman is an example of a godly wife. It’s not something we are going to be able to do all at once and for some of us, we may never accomplish all she did. But I believe emulating her example is a good thing. We have to have a goal. If you aim for nothing, you are always going to hit it.

I used to get up real early, about 4.30 to get my husband off to work. I would have my quiet time then before my 4 children would wake up.This worked for me when they were quite tiny too and I just carried it through. Until about 20 years ago when illness came in.

I don’t sleep well and wake up in lots of pain and I find if I try to get into the Word the fibromyalgia/Lupus brain fog makes it impossible to focus. I don’t glean much from the Word and my prayers are disjointed. I put on some praise and worship music and just thank the LORD for giving some sleep and so on. After a hot shower and breakfast, I can study the Word and pray better.

I think anyone with an illness or pregnant, or who has had a sleepless night with a sick child etc, has to be realistic and in tune with their body. She has to know what her own limitations are and modify what is an excellent goal to achieve it.My modified morning routine now works better for me. And let’s face it, any time is a good time to be in the Word! We all have to work out when it is best for us….then do it.

My time of choice would be early mornings though. But I have had to learn to modify things in order to achieve them. And later is better than never! I believe that for all of us women trying to live a godly life, the Proverbs 31 woman is a guide of what to strive for.

Even if we can’t achieve all she has done (and you will notice that she achieved this over seasons of her life- not all at once!), still our hearts will be in the right place. If women look at the whole picture with the view of doing it all NOW or not modifying it for themselves, they will most likely give up and not even try to emulate her example.

Sometimes there are unresolved heart issues that the LORD has to work through with some women who won’t even try to emulate the Proverbs 31 woman. Not even with modifications.

It may take some time until they are convinced that this holy calling in their lives is truly for their own good and contentment. Sometimes it takes a lot of washing with the Word before the soil of the world is cleared out of some women’s eyes. They just need some encouragement as God works in their life.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12

Lest we forget

Today is Anzac Day,

A day when we stop to remember

The brave souls who gave their all

For This Lucky Country,

Australia.

We are a proud young country,

Which many of various culture

Are now pleased to call their own,

Forever free and welcoming,

Australia.

For all we have and are to be

As time passes since that day,

We bow our heads and lift our hearts

To diggers who made her so,

Australia.

LEST WE FORGET

A.N.Z.A.C.

Australian New Zealand Army Corps

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. Isaiah 41:6

Letter to a mother-to-be

Congratulations on the impending arrival of your child. Since I had my last baby 41 years ago, there have been a lot of studies regarding the world of the unborn and how we can influence it. It has been found that an unborn child can hear quite well from about 23 weeks gestation and that what it hears can influence its thoughts and reactions- even after birth!

These days it is not considered silly to talk to your unborn child or to play music or even to read to it! In light of my observations of my grandchildren when they were first born, I think that this is true. How else does one account for the fact that a crying newborn can immediately recognise its own mother's or father's voice and stop crying?

I have experienced this myself with my 13 year old grandson Mitchell. He was born by caesarean section and I was present in the operating theatre (his father didn't make it in time) As his Mother had a general anaesthetic, she was of course unable to hold him or talk to him. He was born screaming and inconsolable! The nurses cleaned him up and cut his cord and then placed him in my arms! I said to him, "Hello Nanna's little boy!" and immediately he opened his eyes and stopped crying! It was awesome and my heart just burst with love for him!

Why did he recognise my voice? you ask. His Mother had had a very problematic pregnancy and I had nursed her through the entire 9 months. With permission, I had laid hands on his Mum's stomach and prayed for him. I had talked to him on a daily basis and encouraged his Mum to as well. She had not bonded with my first grandchild and I tried to encourage her with the beauty of pregnancy and to bond with this child before it was born. It worked- she mothered him well.

Now to the reason of this article. Our children have a spirit before birth as we find in Luke 1:39-45 where the pregnant Mary visited Elizabeth and the sixth month fetus, John the Baptist, leapt in her womb when he heard Mary's salutation! I believe that we can minister to our unborn children by praying for them whilst in utero, playing worship music, reading the Word or having the Word played. As the brain records memories from before birth, I believe that a love for the LORD and His Word and worship can be fostered from pre-natal days.

As a study showed, new mothers were asked if they watched a particular soap opera throughout their pregnancy. Of those that did, they were asked to join in a simple experiment. When their babies went through that fussy part of the day where they play up, their Mothers played the theme song of that soapie. Without fail, all the babies settled!

If worldly things can influence our unborn children, what a wonderful opportunity we have in instilling a love for the things of God in them right from the womb. I believe it starts in the womb...science tells us the unborn do respond to outside stimuli, I have experienced it with Mitchell....what a wonderful start to a new life!

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4-5

Be a mother first!

Over many years I have noticed that a lot of mothers relinquish the authority of Mother and try to be a girl friend to their daughters. When the child is young often she is not disciplined correctly for fear that the child won’t love them any more. There is a laissez-faire attitude that is over lenient with the children, resulting in them being spoiled and over indulged.

In an effort to be close to their daughters, some mothers act foolishly, behaving like silly school girls. Not only do they simper and carry on like youngsters, but they often divulge too much personal information about their marriage or share off jokes with them in an effort to be cool or hip.

Another mistake I see is that these insecure mothers often treat their growing daughters as being much older than they are, allowing them to listen in on adult conversations and making them a part of adult functions and occasions.

When boys come onto the scene, it is not uncommon for this mother to almost push her into a relationship too early, or to sexualise their daughters at a ridiculously young age. It is not unheard of to have mothers applying makeup to 8 year olds and dressing them up way beyond their years in a provocative manner.

This can be seen in a Christian home as much as any other, especially where the mother herself has issues of insecurity surrounding her mothering. When the daughters end up in trouble, the mothers wring their hands and cry that they didn’t know why it had happened.

What has happened? The daughters have gradually lost respect for their mothers and have decided to go their own way…Mother is seen as being shallow and secretly these girls are growing to despise them. What these girls need is a mother who will act her age and act wisely. They need a mother they can relate to on an adult level: what they don’t need is what a lot of mothers try to be: a girlfriend!

Children need their mothers. They need an adult head and hand to guide them through the turbulence of adolescence. At the end of the day, they want a mother they can respect and who won’t show them up as an immature air head.

The mother who brings her personal problems to her young daughter not only weighs her down with unbearable problems, but with knowledge she is not yet ready to take on her young shoulders! The wise mother will seek out her husband, mature Christian women or counsellors to discuss personal issues with. She will at all times be a mother.

The last thing a young girl needs is a mother who wants to be a girlfriend. There will be time after adolescence for being a close friend: but be a mother first!

”My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding. ” Psalm 49:3

The secret of a clean home

I have been in many homes and noticed a contrast between lovely surroundings and overwhelming messes. I realize it is very hard to keep a home clean. I realize we are busy and tired. Having a house full of family would seem to make it even more difficult. Some seem to take the approach of taking several hours, one day a week, to really clean a piled up mess. Some, with small children, get a babysitter so they can do the cleaning. What I would like to share with you today are some "secrets" to having a clean house. Here is the most important, little known, secret: We don't clean a house because it is messy. We clean a house so it doesn't become messy. Here are the tips:

1. To cut down on the spider population, you must regularly sweep and vacuum baseboards, corners and ceilings. (Daily or weekly)

2. To keep a clean kitchen, shortly after a meal, do the dishes. Do them right away. In my childhood days, we would sit at the dinner table after a meal. Our parents would go into the living room for coffee and to watch the news. We children (one or two of us) would then immediately do the dishes, wash the counters and table, and sweep the floor. We did not leave the kitchen, after a meal, until the kitchen was clean. If you wait to do the dishes, everything gets hardened and it is much more difficult to clean. It is also overwhelming and unpleasant.

3. Make the beds each morning. Fix the sheets, fluff the pillows, and neatly pull the blankets up over the pillows. Make it look neat and pretty. This creates a nice atmosphere in the bedrooms.

4. Do the laundry at regular times. If you have to go to a laundromat, don't leave until your clothes are completely dried, folded, and placed in a basket. Always fold them and put them away. Make time to do this. Schedule your day around when the dryer is going to stop. This is an efficient part of keeping a nice home.

5. If there is a spill (of food, drink, or crumbs), clean it up immediately. This is a safety issue. Even restaurants, stores, and businesses have this policy of immediate care. If left untended, it could damage your property. Or someone could accidentally step in it and track it all over the place. This makes it even more difficult and time consuming to clean.

6. Pass the time (with small children) by cleaning together. Most families color, paint, and do crafts with preschoolers. There is certainly a time for artistic endeavors. But don't ignore the fun and educational opportunities in cleaning, as a game, with little ones. For example: If you are spending an hour taking care of a 4 year old, get a basket of laundry and each of you get a clean facecloth. Step by step (with smiles and encouragement) teach the child to fold. You fold it over once and say, "your turn!" Then watch as the child copies your action. Repeat until at least a few items are folded. Next, start picking up books and saying, "let's put these on the shelf, will you help me?" Or, (to put toys away) help sort different items into little bins (perhaps by object or color). In daily life, involve your children in the chores by happily and willingly cleaning together each day. This is how the work gets done! The children will love spending this time with you and go along with the cleaning. In this way, children are learning, and having fun, while important work is being accomplished.

7. Here a little and there a little. That is the secret approach to keeping the home neat. You pick things up as you go about your day at home. You neaten a room when you walk into it. You do not sit and rest when things are in chaos. You do the work - you do the duty. Then the reward is to sit in the pretty room and take a break. Now remember the most important secret of all, because it is a pleasant and happy way to clean. And that is to clean as you go along. Clean the house in a way that prevents messes. Make it a joyful part of your daily routine - to clean and to bless those around you by your cheerful efforts.

Blessings Mrs. White of Legacy of Home

Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety. Proverbs 11:14

The earth trembles

So many years ago, the earth saw a miracle that blessed humanity for all time...

The earth that saw Jesus' birth 33 years before, drank in the Blood that flowed freely.... freely running, freely given, freely pardoning, freely saving unto eternal life anyone who would only believe in Him.

The same earth that is Gods' footstool, trembled at the cross alongside the centurions and soldiers and those few of Christs' followers who remained or who watched from a distance....

Unable to withstand the magnitude of atonement and celestial grief, it swayed in its power, reeling as someone in shock...

And utter darkness covered the earth as it shook, highlighting the terror as God turned His Face away from His Son, unable to look upon the sin of mankind that His Son had taken upon Himself...

It violently heaved in the aftermath of a crucifixion that saw the greatest gift of redemption the earth would ever know, releasing resurrection power to many who had died and tore the Temple veil in two.

Then hastily the earth swallowed the body of Christ into its maw of hewn rock, as it had done to men since Abels' untimely death until this day.... yet no ashes to ashes or dust to dust: no decomposition...

And another Sabbath passed, not shrouded in joy and welcomed since the birth of the Jewish people, but bringing with it a desolate cloak of disbelief, shock and despair that threatened to engulf the little band of believers who had trembled at Christs' words... unaware that triumph was already His. And theirs.

Beneath, the earth reeled as Christ stripped Lucifers' hopes of victory against a God Who now presented Himself King of Kings and Everlasting God.- Light of Light, Holder of the Keys of the Kingdom, destroyer of death and sin.... and Lucifer and his minions also trembled.

The earth marvelled at the intensity of the Power of Resurrection... molecules and atoms infused with Life, vibrant in a way it vaguely remembered at its birth so many aeons ago.... magnificent creative force, God breathed life and Power.... Pulse of God.

Was ever there a time like this as Creation remembered Diety's Touch, revelling in His Footprints as His pierced Feet swung from the burial ledge, and His Hands that held the weight of the world folded the shroud so hastily bound around His lifeless Body 3 days ago?...

An almost forgotten thrill caused the earth to shudder as the Power of Gods' angels rolled away the enormous stone that blocked the burial chamber....

And it sang in ecstasy as the Feet of its' Creator once again walked amongst men.... victorious King, conquering Saviour, merciful God, everlasting to everlasting Prince of Peace.....

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 1:25

A mighty legacy

Thursday was a bitter-sweet day. Mum and Max's home was sold. The real estate agent asked us to come and put up the SOLD sign and pose for a picture. Apart from feeling camera shy, I had mixed feelings about the sale. The sale of this house is the close of the Book of Max and Pat Stagg.

This was a book that was chock full of chapters of love in marriage, family and home. A place were we all would come to share cups of tea and coffee, bring our newest children and grandchildren, share our laughter and our tears and draw strength from two of loveliest people God put breath in to.

So many were nurtured under this roof, both adult and young. Lessons were learned in patience and kindness and even in the meaning of life from Max who you always felt was on your side, even as family only by marriage. He treated us all with equity and I can honestly say that I never heard a bad word about anyone pass his lips.

I can't count the cups of tea from the big electric urn that Mum made or count the birthday cakes that Mum made for all of us, our children and hers and Max's grandchildren... Like Max, she treated us all with equity. Mum was always at the kitchen bench or sink, graciously serving all who came through the door. She was a true home maker who also made the best sandwiches ever.

Mum and Max built this house that sold yesterday. All of us blended family of Max and Pat will miss what their house represented. We will miss going in and seeing Max in his armchair and Mum at her sink, her little head barely visible above the kitchen window, looking out to see who was driving up the long driveway. We will miss the gentle advice from Max and the loving concern of Mum. And Tuesday Baby Day complete with Toy Room and large portable cot. I think all of our children and later grandchildren have slept in that cot over the years...

In saying this sale is the end of the book of Max and Mum, perhaps I will be proved wrong. I believe all of us who drew strength from their home will keep that love and direction in our hearts and thoughts. It has changed us forever.

As I feel sadness for no longer being able to enjoy those feelings of love and family in the Stagg home, I feel that both Mum and Max have done something that is priceless: they made their home a welcoming haven for all who entered that will last for eternity. What a mighty legacy to leave us all.....

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. Proverbs 3:33

"His Only Son"

On a high hill the rugged cross stands

As they put to death the Son of Man,

And the dry land that saw Christ’s birth

Now drinks in His blood as it falls to earth.

He Who had no place to lay His head

Now finds His rest as nearly dead

His blood and sweat come mingled round

His one tribute, a thorny crown.

Skies lit in splendour at His birth

Now cast utter darkness on the earth,

And the Father Who hears His only Son’s pleas

With weeping and anguish cannot bear to see

As His Son, His Son - His only Son,

Though sinless Himself, sin becomes,

And bears the blame of our sin alone

To cleanse, redeem and atone

To give us life; we who gave Him death

He loved us till His last laboured breath

And willingly suffered on that tree

To pay the price for you and me.

The angels standing at God’s side

See mixed with His anguish His great pride

In His Son, His Son - His only Son

Who through His love and life’s own story

Many Sons added for God’s glory-

He Who loved His Son, His Son - His only Son

So much that many more He wanted to become

Sons of God just like His Son,

Knowing with Christ in them, they would become

Each to Him, as an only Son.

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost". Luke 23:46

Celebrities making Lupus known

Dear Lady Gaga,
I just finished watching your interview with Larry King on CNN. If you knew me, you would know that running to the computer and vocalizing my thoughts to family, friends and even to you is nothing unusual! I have chosen to step up and “out” (so to speak) about my life with Lupus. Sometimes my story of Lupus is positive and sometimes it is negative, but in the end it is my story. If by sharing my story, it means that at least one person does not feel alone, I feel blessed to have been given the chance to help.

Many times I have heard from readers of my website or my writing that I have typed words that they could not speak aloud. Some have sent email messages and letters telling me that I have given a language of understanding to their support circle. As wonderful as that is, I still am the same girl, and many times feel very alone as I write at my desk. It seems I can help others, but I find it hard to help myself.

I want to thank you because tonight you put a “face” to something that I try to give a “voice” to. I watched your interview and waited anxiously for what I had heard might be a discussion involving you and lupus. Well, to my delight, Mr. King wasted no time and jumped right to the million dollar question.

Note: For my readers who might not have seen or heard the interview here is the transcript:

Gaga: I’m okay. Thank you, Larry. How are YOU?
Larry: I’m okay. You look great… there was a story about lupus or something. Do you have lupus?
Gaga: You know, lupus is in my family. It’s genetic and… um… and the truth is I don’t show any signs, any symptoms of lupus but I have tested borderline positive for the disease. As of right now I do not have it, but I have to take good care of myself.”

Miss Gaga (or should I call you Lady?), I have written countless paragraphs on the topic of lupus, but in your three sentences, you sent the world abuzz about Lupus. You immediately got people talking. Finally, I was the one who felt heard, validated and not so alone. Now, I “get it” when I think of the people who have thanked me, and now it is my turn to thank you.

To date, there has not been one celebrity to bring as much discussion, focus, and awareness on lupus as you have. Most celebrities want to “look” perfect and do not want to have their name associated with a specific health issue. In the interview, you answered the question with grace and a bit of “personal respect”, and I appreciated that. The world doesn’t need to know your business, but addressing the issue rather than side-stepping it helped more then you will ever know. You spoke on a huge media platform about a disease that I struggle with constantly. You are glamorous, creative and a showstopper, but for a few minutes you were right alongside me and I was not alone in my Lupus fight. I love you for that.

Your openness about the disease is good for whoever tunes in to the interview.

Those who knew nothing about Lupus will now at the very least Google the word Lupus out of curiosity and hopefully read some informative and accurate information.

* Your fans (little monsters) can also become educated about this cause and be a dynamic and enthusiastic group to champion lupus awareness.
* For me and for millions who live with lupus you validated a very “unknown” and sometimes un-believed disease. Unfortunately in this world, some people don’t acknowledge things that don’t impact their immediate existence, until they hear about it on television.
* Lastly, for those like me who have Lupus, you have become a beacon of light for this dark disease called lupus that is often misunderstood, and is in desperate need of attention.

I will now admit that I am one of your “closet” fans. I listen to your music when it comes on the radio and sing along as if there was a stadium full of screaming fans in my car. I dance around the kitchen with my 2 year old daughter as she giggles the words “baby gaga”, and I smile. I watch the award shows and admire and envy your ability to be yourself, push boundaries, and most of all have fun doing something that you love. I admit I had never purchased an album or concert ticket previously, but after seeing this side of you, I immediately went online and bought your cd– I even passed on the temptation of searching for free downloads! I want to support any celebrity who supports those with lupus.

I didn’t realize, until I started reading about you tonight, that we have more in common then I would ever think – me a stay at home mom and writer, and you, a superstar. I am from a good Catholic New York Italian family and we both went to New York City High Schools. (I went to LaGuardia Performing Arts). Your Aunt Joanne died of Lupus; my Aunt Margret Anne is living with lupus for years. Both of our Aunt’s have obviously touched us deeply as my aunt helped me get diagnosed. Even before you became a signed musician or worldwide star, you acted like one.

Even before I was an “official” writer, speaker and lupus advocate, I acted like one, starting with one article, and one follower (who happened to be my mom). You are known for saying “I want to change the world one sequin at a time” and I make my personal mantra to change the world one person, one word at a time.

I was “borderline positive” for years before I received a proper Lupus diagnosis. I am so happy that you have had no signs or symptoms of active disease, and I hope you never do. I do want you to continue to work with your doctor and be monitored for lupus. I want you to know that according to both the Lupus Alliance of America and the Lupus Foundation you do not need a positive ANA blood test to be positive for the disease; you need only four out of the eleven criteria to be diagnosed. No single laboratory test can definitely prove or disprove SLE.

I want to be clear I do NOT want you to have Lupus. I do want you to know that I personally, as well as millions of others with Lupus, thank you for bringing attention to this very “unknown” disease.

I wish you the best of health on your tour. I want you to keep making music, keep people thinking creatively, and most of all, just keep being you. Thank you again for the “three sentences heard round the world” that brought attention to lupus and helped me not feel so alone.

I hope you never have lupus, but if you do, I want you to know that you have a new fan, and a Lupus friend to talk to. You can contact me anytime!

Love,
Christine

PS- I would love to interview you about you, this lupus scare, your Aunt Joanne, or anything else you would like to talk about when you are in NYC. from But You Don't Look Sick

With the Psalmist, let us dwell on God for our strength as we cry, "I love you LORD my strength!" Psalm 18:1

Blessings, Glenys

No immunity for trials

None of us is immune to trials and tribulation. This week has seen a few trials overtake me that have rocked me to the core...

One is Chris. He has had an abnormal ECG following chest pain and angina that settles after Anginine under the tongue. There is some residual damage from a heart scare about 3 years ago, wherein he was discharged from hospital after being told all was well. Obviously, it wasn't. Chris is having another test today, a stress test. We will know more after that.

Then yesterday I was told that one of my beloved grandchildren has Tourettes Syndrome. Mild. But. Wow! A super grand whammy to the parents and myself. This came a day after my mother was taken to hospital with a suspected stroke and heart pain. She was discharged and told to rest. But I know she won't and the stress with her is disabling in itself...

With my illnesses, namely heart disease and fibromyalgia/lupus and polymyalgia rheumatica, the stress has culminated in a flare up of ill health.

I am in considerable pain. The Pit of Despair is looming, but I don't want to go there. After the initial whammy blow yesterday, I clung to the LORD. And I can say that He truly soothed my soul.
In faith, I am believing that Chris will be OK. And even if he too needs stents like me, well at least he too got a warning that all was not well instead of just dropping dead.

My grandchild is very clever and will be able to lead a normal life. Our main task will be educating family, friends, peers and teachers about it so that the child is accepted and not made to feel foolish or inferior.

My mother didn't have a stroke or a problem with her pacemaker. She had a bladder infection and gastritis. With rest and medication, she will recover.

The Pit of Despair was looming yesterday and was open wide last night when I went to bed. But I sought the LORD and He ministered to me in a mighty way.

In all this, I was able to thank Him and focus on that which is good.There is much to be done today as I face another busy day at home, and although I have been refreshed in spirit, my body is a different matter.

I just can't seem to stop it from going in flare up mode even after I have been comforted. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

At least I know that God knows how I am struggling at the moment, and has compassion on me.I have found that focusing on God's goodness and love is an important step when trials and adversity overcome me.

Without Him, I would not be able to function at all. I am so glad for our Saviour and the prayers of the Saints.

Speaking of which, please hold us all up in prayer. I so appreciate it. Together we can give thanks. But whatever befalls me: this I know, God is good! Which is just as well, because there's no immunity for trials...

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Building our home

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the 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 the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-4

Here, and in many other passages, the scriptures reveal the Lord's priority for the home in His kingdom, and the importance of a woman's role in the home. A woman who aspires to follow God's design for her role as a "keeper at home" finds herself on an enriching, yet challenging pilgrimage. Now more than ever, young women need the older women to come alongside, disciple and encourage, in the spirit of Titus 2.

Thankfully, the Lord has blessed us with many such "Mothers in Israel" who ease our journeys and faithfully point us to the basis of their wisdom, the only infallible rule of human conduct: the Divinely inspired word of God. And there we must turn, for in the absence of the anchor of Biblical convictions, we will be carried about by the winds of culture.

Never before have women, Godly mothers in particular, been besieged with so many conflicting expectations. In confusion we cry, "I wish God would tell me what He wants me to do!" In the counsel of scripture, we find that this is precisely what He did for the first woman - He directly instructed her in His will for her life. We would do well to consider His counsel to Eve. We usually think first of what God instructed Eve not to do, and there is surely a lesson for us in that. But first, let's look at what He designed her and instructed her to do: To be a helpmeet to her husband in fulfillment of God's command to "...be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28)

God desired for His magnificent creation to be brought to order, and designed for His purposes to be brought to fruition, through the family. God's perfect design still applies to us today. Still, a woman glorifies God best when she serves Him through her family, as a keeper at home.

How important is a woman's ministry in her home? It is so crucial that Satan's first line of attack was to turn Eve's heart away from trusting God's word - to deceive "the mother of all living" into doubting God's boundaries for her. This ancient ruse is still among the adversary's most effective deceits! What was the very first lie? That somewhere out there, beyond God's express will for us, is something more desirable and fulfilling.

When Eve reached for that beguiling "something", she began a turn of events which brought about the destruction of all her heritage. So potent was this lie that the fallen culture that resulted yet prevails, still beckoning Eve's daughters with the same delusion of greater fulfillment outside our calling as "keepers at home." But whenever we grasp beyond God's designs for us, we will ultimately come away with flawed fruit and a fallen heritage.

Perhaps Solomon was mindful of Eve reaching into the forbidden tree when he penned Proverbs 14:1: "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." Just as Eve jeopardized her heritage by plucking down forbidden fruit, and thus overstepping God's boundaries, so all her daughters to the present day are vulnerable to the same foolish temptation. Mercifully, this Proverb also points us to the wiser alternative. The Hebrew word for "house" in this verse carries the ideas of a house, a home, a temple, and a heritage. Building these things is at the heart of God's purpose for a woman's life.

Surely God has given us His best design, and boundaries within which we will bear our best fruit. If a woman is wise, she will build her house into a home, a temple for her family, and establish a strong family heritage for God's glory. And only in that labor of love will she give her best service to the Lord. Let's explore some of the ways a woman can glorify God through "building her house."

'Building a house' suggests the need to bring structure to the place where family life is centered. God commanded the first homesteaders to subdue their environment - to bring order to it. We may therefore infer that in the absence of their diligence to His command, the Divinely intended state of order would not naturally occur. Thus it is with our homes! I'll be the first to confess a bit of a weak spot here - a peek under my unfolded laundry will usually reveal a stash of books and papers that beg for my mental priority. And after years of homemaking, I still often feel curiously surprised by the five o'clock shock that I must make yet another meal materialize!

But despite such natures, we are called to reflect our Creator, who is a God of order. Consider how He built the great house of the universe: in the first three days, He created 1) light, 2) sea and sky, and 3) dry land and vegetation. Then, in the second three days, He cycled back to the beginning and created 1) heavenly bodies for the light to inhabit, 2) creatures to inhabit the sea and sky, and 3) creatures to inhabit the dry land and eat the vegetation. Herein is a valuable lesson in bringing order to our own homes from the example of the Creator: we are most efficient when we plan our tasks, and cycle through them with reasoned and predictable repetition. When we are orderly and efficient, we may even have time to take a day of rest!

God is the consummate and original artist. He furnished the first home with exquisite beauty, surrounding Adam and Eve with the glorious abundance of His own garden. This suggests that our homes should not only encourage in our spirits the peace that comes from orderliness, but feed the souls of those we love with the inspiration of beauty as well. Beautiful things in our homes elevate our spirits, and bring to remembrance the Creator of all beauty.

The further we look into even the most microscopic realms of God's creation, the more order and beauty we find. God knew His children would thrive best in a world of order and beauty, and so we should provide for our loved ones a predictable and lovely home where they may thrive. by Lynn Pyles Bruce

So they got it wrong again

Chris and I have just returned from the doctor for our three monthly blood checks for cholesterol and so on. The news regarding our cholesterol was great!

I read Pearl and Serene's Trim Healthy Mama book and although I am not following everything in it, I was impressed with their assertion that butter is better than margarine. They say that there is more nutrition in butter and that it simply isn't true that butter eaters would have an explosion of heart attacks and strokes.

As we both adore the taste of butter, I decided to put it to the test. I have been serving only butter at the table and cooking solely with it. Well, it seems that the girls were right!

My cholesterol was 3.8 with the LDL's (bad cholesterol) lower than ever, and Chris's was 4.7 with LDL's lower as well. Our doctor was well pleased with our results. We are rejoicing that we can enjoy our buttered crumpets for breakfast without feeling guilty or afraid. Man changes his mind over everything eventually. (Remember when eggs were bad for cholesterol, now you can have 3 a week). Spare a thought for those eating only egg whites for years too.

So if you enjoy the taste of butter, you can eat it without the guilt. Just make sure you take your statins if they are prescribed for you. We have ours and obviously they are working! That is a great load off our mind. It just goes to show you that the experts got it wrong again!

“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Colossians 2:21-22