Keeper Journal #7

Well, I didn't get last week's keeper journal posted and this week was our last week of study, so I'll just combine. Last week we discussed service outside the home. I have to admit that this is an area I struggle with. Not because I don't want to or feel I don't have time or anything like that, but I do struggle with thoughts of being good enough or qualified to do whatever it may be. I have to fight (and lose a lot of times) feelings of insecurity and inadequacy, it seems like constantly. Right now, I'm going through a period of feeling pretty good about who I am and what I'm doing, but I know that one little comment from someone could bring back all the self-doubt feelings. That mainly happens when serving in church ministries, but there are other kinds of ministry opportunities that I feel are hardly service at all, but the Lord sees it, like inviting people over for a meal or taking a meal to someone or just calling someone who has been on my mind. Those don't seem to bring about the yucky thoughts. So, Lord, take my thoughts captive and let me just enjoy You as I serve and leave the analyzing in the ditch on the side of the road.

This week was a nice wrap-up session and some great encouragement from the author Lori Merrill. Being a Keeper of the Home is such a high calling - a calling to be like God Himself - certainly not that we could do that, but to be an example of Him like in Psalm 121 where the word "keep" is used so many times. Let's fight the good fight and not give up fighting for our families and our homes. Let's be the watchmen and the protector of all things good and innocent as a keeper. And let's be good stewards who, when the Lord comes again, will be doing the things that we were supposed to be doing just as if He were here all along. I want to be faithful in the little and the much.  

Keeper Journal #6

This week we are striving to have an atmosphere in our house that is peaceful, God-centered and a refuge for our family and friends and all who enter. I know that the mom is the one who really sets the tone for the rest of the family. I've experienced it first hand. Sometimes if Ter comes home and I'm in a bad mood toward the kids, then he quickly takes my cue and starts barking too. Sometimes chaos just can't be avoided - not with seven people under one roof, but I do want home to be a place of refuge and a place where my family can go and know that they will be understood and loved. A place where they can unwind and catch their breath from the demands of the world. What's the atmosphere of your home? Ask your family what they think about home. You just might be surprised!

Keeper Journal #5

This week we concentrated on loving our children, setting an example for them as a follower of Christ, and passing faith to the next generation. I would love to hear from others your thought or what has worked in your house. The author gave us the examples of Hannah and Eli of parenting - such rich text to glean from. Hannah, a woman who was one of her husband's wives, not significant as the world would view significance, but a significant hero to God. She poured out her heart to God and He heard. The Lord gave her the son she prayed for and she gave him back to the Lord at 3 years old to live with Eli the Priest. What faith must she have passed on to her son in so little time! Three years! I wish she had written a parenting book. Then Eli, a priest, working every day in the tabernacle, had sons who were "worthless" is God's eyes. Harsh words! They despised the Lord's commands and treated the tabernacle and the people and the offerings with contempt. They were around the Lord's Word all their lives and yet didn't care. What's the difference? Is just exposure to the Bible enough to produce worthy children? Do we neglect teaching our kids the Word because we're worried they will become Pharisees? Do we only hand our kids Bible knowledge and let them figure out Bible know-how? Where's the balance between Pharisee and Follower? Hannah, how did you do it? Maybe the same way it all started: prayer, but maybe this time she had a future prophet with her.     

Keeper Journal #4

Our topic for the week was "Loving Our Husbands" and all the various aspects. The point that was the most beneficial to me was on the last day of the homework. The author had us write down the various verses from Proverbs 31:10-31 that talk about how the woman cares for, looks after, etc. her household or husband. I always seemed to think of "That Woman" as always busy doing things, but I guess this exercise made me stop and think why she was doing all those things. She was always thinking of someone else - wanting to see her husband recognized and blessed and her household not disturbed by all the trials. She was just a rock of faith as she could laugh at the days to come or of hardships to endure or of the pending weather, whatever. Of course, as women we are more like the boat tossed by the waves. We're riding the waves of emotion with whatever circumstances or hormones or bad thoughts come our way. Stand firm, build your house(hold) on the Rock. That's what we need. Teach us, Lord, because we can have victory over our emotions!

Keeper Journal - #2

I had wanted to post this earlier, but I haven't been spending much time in front of the keyboard. This week the "Keeper" bible study has been about prayer. And we've had our need of prayer this week! :) So here's the clencher... Did you know I prayed for all this craziness? Well, I didn't know I was asking for THIS, but that's the way the Lord answered. One of the questions on the first day's homework was about how you've seen God working through prayer in your life. I wrote down my list, but then was talking to God and saying how I really hadn't seen any in a while and anted something fresh and new from Him that by prayer we would just know that it was Him seeing us through. That was Friday morning! He answered about 2:45 that afternoon. Now I'm not saying that I or even God wanted L to get his arm broken and all that went after, but I am saying that He used the terrible to show us Himself. And not just our family. He wanted to show up for our friends and all the kids in our homeschool. It rocked all the kids' worlds to see L on the pavement with his arm broken. Moms started praying right then and kids were praying for him all that day and the next and more. And God answered all our prayers! That builds faith - not just L's but all involved. So...be encouraged, God answers prayer. Big and small. Praise You,God! Our memory verses for this week (See if you can see how they apply): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths (and arms) straight." Ps. 3:5-6
"Be anxious for nothing, but in all things,by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7