Instant Obedience!

       

 Dearest Mothers and Daughters,

I will post section #2 on "Mother" next time, but I had to share this with you today as I was inspired by a picture my dear husband showed me earlier today. It is the picture you see on this post. My husband said to me, "How would you like to see something like that coming at you?" as I looked at the picture I said "I did!"

Yes, that picture immediately took me back, I was there in my mind, 17 years ago. We were living on a little farm in North/West Illinois and I was with my two youngest children at the time 10 and 8 year olds. We were busy in the back garden, hoeing and weeding and planting, It was a beautiful day with blue sky, warm breezes and each of us were busy doing our own project, being across the expanse of our medium/large size garden. Looking to the North was our neighbors property, a vast expanse of field, as far as the eyes could see, farm country you know, and it was early Summer and the crops were just beginning to show green sprouts. We were having a wonderful time, singing as we worked and praising Jesus Christ, as is our custom in all we do.  We had been out for over an hour when I stood up from my work and looked North, my heart stood still, it was surreal I had seen things like that in videos but never first hand, it was a rolling wall of cloud as high as a mountain (or so it seemed) full of brown dirt and debris rolling in the distance right towards us! I dropped my garden tool and yelled "RUN!!!" my children followed my lead, didn't stop and ask any questions but obey instantly. We made it to the house just in time and just as we closed the porch door, branches, dirt and stones hit the door and house with such force it was remarkable. We ran around inside the house closing windows as the dust began to enter through them, the sky became as dark as night and we just watched out our windows, amazed at what was taking place, thanking God for His protection and praying safety for our neighbors. It lasted a good 10 minutes, yes a very large dust storm, after it passed we found such a mess outside, yet all was well, our neighbors were safe, we were safe and things soon went back to normal, praise to Jesus!

This story made me think about the obedience of my two youngest children, they obeyed instantly. How did this happen? Why didn't they just look at me and say "Why?" or decide to ignore my words and do their own thing? It was instant obedience, I didn't see them stop and turn their heads, they just began running on the command! I can answer that question, it was training. Ever since they were small I taught them to obey on command. There were numerous stories I had shared with them of how obedience to parents had saved children from death, I also taught them God's Word in which He commands children to obey their parents in the Lord.  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."(Ephesians 6:1-3)
 Sometimes we practiced instant obedience in creating a scenario in which something threatening was about to happen and when they obeyed it kept them safe. There are many creative ways to teach your children, ask God for wisdom! I taught them in love because love is the way to win the hearts of your children... God's love, genuine love, true love which takes time, interest and work. I taught them the Bible, I read His word to them, we had many talks about what God teaches in His word. I taught them the truth of the cross, what Jesus has done for us and of His death and resurrection. I taught them to keep thanking God and praising God in and for all things. We didn't watch t.v. we rarely watched a movie or played video games and my two youngest children were rarely bored! Life was busy and exciting.

After having said all that, I know there were many things that I did do and didn't do in which I regret... I wasn't perfect that is certain, but I do praise God for the insight He had given me in those early years of their lives, and time spent with them to teach, train and bond is cherished.

Where are they now? My 10 year old daughter has grown into a beautiful women, married and with children and she and her husband are lovers of Jesus, training thier children now for Him and His glory. My 8 year old son is grown and in college training to be a missionary in China, he has been in China twice and feels called of God to serve Him there, he loves Jesus so much and I love conversations over the phone with him since his main subject line is Jesus' love and being filled with His Spirit.

Investing holy time into the lives of our children reaps a beautiful harvest to the glory of God. Our children belong to Jesus Christ- teach, train and point them to Him- you will never, never regret it.

In His love,
Sarah

"Mother" A Chapter From an Old Book Published in 1876

                                                                                      "Mother"


From, "The Royal Path Of Life" written by: T.L. Haines A.N. and M.W. Yaggy M.S. 1876
(Please see previous post for explanation)

"Mother"

It is true to nature, although it be expressed in a figurative form, that a mother is both the morning and the evening star of life. The light of her eye is always the first to rise, and often the last to set upon man's day of trial.  She wields a power more decisive far than the syllogisms in argument, or courts of last appeal in authority. Nay, in cases not a few, where there has been no fear of God before the eyes of the young--where His love has been unfelt and His law outraged, a mother's affection or her tremulous tenderness has held transgressors by the heart-strings, and been the means of them back to virtue and to God.
Women's charms are certainly many and powerful. The expanding rose, just bursting into beauty, has an irresistible bewitchingness;--the blooming bride, led triumphantly to the hymeneal altar, awakens admiration and interest, and the blush of her cheek fills with delight;--but the charm of maternity is more sublime that all these. 
Heaven has imprinted in the mother's face something beyond this world, something which claims kindred with the skies-- the angelic smile, the tender look, the waking, watchful eye, which keeps its fond vigil over her slumbering babe.
 Mother! ecstatic sound so twined round our hearts that they must cease to throb ere we forget it! 'tis our first love; 'tis part of religion. Nature has set the mother upon such a pinnacle, that our infant eyes and arms first uplifted to it; we cling to it in manhood; we almost worship it in old age. He who can enter an apartment and behold the tender babe feeding on it's mother's beauty--nourished by the tide of life which flows through her generous veins, without a pantng bosom and a grateful eye, is no man, but a monster.
"Can a mother's love be supplied ?" No! a thousand times no! By the deep, earnest yearning of my spirit for a mother's love; by the weary, aching void in my heart; by restless, unsatisfied wanderings of my affections, ever seeking an object on which to rest; by our instinctive discernment of the true maternal love from the false-- as we would discern between a lifeless statue and a breathing man; by the hallowed emotions with which we cherish the depths of our hearts the vision of a grass-grown mound in a quiet graveyard among the mountains; by the reverence. the holy love, the feeling akin to idolatry with which our thoughts hover about an angel form among the serphs of Heaven- by all these, we answer, no!
Often do I sigh in my struggles with the hard, uncertain world, for the sweet, deep security I felt when, of an evening, nestling in her bosom, I listened to some quiet tale, suitable to my age, read in her tender and untiring voice. Never can I forget her sweet glance cast upon me when I appeared asleep; never her kiss of peace at night. Years have passed away since we have laid her beside my father in the old church yard; yet, still her voice whispers from the grave, her eye watches over me, as I visit spots long since hallowed to the memory of my mother.
Oh! there is an enduring tenderness in the love of a mother to her son that transcends all the other affections of the heart. It is neither to be chilled by selfishness, nor daunted by danger, nor weaken by worthlessness, nor stifled by ingratitude. She will sacrifice every comfort to his convenience; she will surrender every pleasure to his enjoyment; she will glory in his fame and exult in his prosperity; and if misfortune overtake him, he will be dearer to her from misfortune; and if disgrace settle upon his name, she will still love and cherish him in spite of his disgrace; and if all the world beside cast him off, she will be all the world to him.

To be continued in the next post!
blessings to you dear ones!

Sarah 

 

An Old Book On Issues of Life From 1876

Dearest Mothers and Daughters,

I found an old book on my shelf called "The Royal Path Of Life" dated 1876- The book was given to my great aunt Mable Hathaway when she was 5 years old, 1878, in South Paris Maine, USA. An old book indeed! I found it to be very profound in it's writings and teachings yet the teachings are not altogether after the heart of God. However, we are able to glean from such books and pullout the lovely thoughts and enjoin them to our thinking. This old book is very incisive, does not beat around the bush, so to speak, on the issues of life in it's day and yet very profoundly for our day as well if one would expiate the "not-acceptable terminology" so as to learn the deeper and perhaps better perspective of thought and way of speaking. As you may know, our society has been"dumbed down" to a lesser and even poverty level of education and thinking,which has progressively/ or degressivly been happening through-out the past Century. Consider, the book that I'm talking about, it was given to a 5 year old for reading. Indeed! Even many Journalists writings of our day would have been considered on an elementary level One Hundred years ago. (Including mine, I'm sorry to admit)

 

Front Cover 

                                                                 First Picture/print "the Past and Future"

                                                               "Aime's and Aides to Success and Happiness"




In the next post I would like to share the chapter on "Mother" because it truly reflects the high and honored position of "Mother" that should be recognized now in our day as it was one hundred years ago. This Chapter is long so will take a few posts to complete it.

Blessings in Jesus Name!

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." (Proverbs 1:7-9)
 

I Love The Glory Of God!

Dearest Mothers,

I love the glory of God! Anything that will bring glory to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ is what I want, it is what God wants, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." Isaiah 43:7 

Oh the glory of God ! The earth glorifies Him, the heavens declare the glory of God, and we are created for His glory and for His pleasure!

Oh there is so much to write about the glory of God! Books would fill the entire universe and still not be complete!

But I would like to touch on just a small point concerning the glory of God:

 I questioned in my heart lately, "What can I do that would bring more glory to God?" The answer came- obey Him, His Word tells me what to do.

Yes, I have an appetite for God, his commandments are a pleasure to me, but subtle disobedience's sometimes creep into my life which mercifully, His Spirit convicts me of so I can repent-

 Recently it has been inner (or internal) grumbling against Him.

 The weather was very chilly for Spring up here in the Northern part of the U.S. I don't like the cold, the Winter was especially bitter cold, I was looking forward to warmth and sunny days and it took an extra long time for Summer to finally come, so I began inner grumbling.  God was so merciful to bring the conviction that startled me to realize, I was no better than the children of Israel wondering in the wilderness as they grumbled against Him! I felt great shame and remorse and truly repented.

I also complained to Him about not answering my prayers the way I wanted:

Someone I love was sick, I prayed expecting them to get healed right away which did not happen, so I had inner grumbling against Him, and since God looks upon the heart, He heard it.

I wanted to be able to pray and just see healing right away. I had watched some videos on healing but caution/concern filled my mind as I watched videos of men walking the sidewalk and praying for people in Jesus Name to be healed from broken limbs, shortened legs, internal pain, etc.. and all seemed to be healed right away. I know God has all power and in the Name of Jesus healing can happen, He has answered my prayers for healing in the past so I do not question that. What alarms me is that these men call themselves evangelical healers, yet I have not heard the gospel preached by them.
Here is a sobering scripture to consider:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (Matthew 7:21-23)

God spoke to my heart about praying for healing of people and asked, "What brings more glory to God, to praise Him when He heals a person, or to praise Him even if you do not see Him healing after earnest prayer?"

After His resurrection, Jesus said to Thomas, "Do you believe now? blessed are those who believe and have not seen." I think to praise and thank God even if we do not see Him answering our earnest prayers is far more glorifying to Him then to see it.

It's true that sometimes God will bring people to salvation after observing healing in Jesus Name and He can use healing (s) to further His Kingdom, I am not putting that down. My only point here is to say- Praise God in and for all things!

Things are hard? Praise Him! Things are all going wrong? Praise Him! Sickness? Praise Him! Let us not put conditions on our thanksgiving and praise to God. As He said in Proverbs 3, "Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear God and depart from evil."

If you learn this well- teach it to your children- what a gift this kind of teaching is for them!

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)




Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
(Isaiah 60:1-3)
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? (Isaiah 43:7-13)

To Women---A Sermon For You Who Are Weary Of Sin.

Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
(John 4:13-14)

Women! I'm talking to you! This is a serious sermon you need to read.

If you already know the way of salvation and are a child of God, please pray and proclaim this message to other women:

If you are longing to be free from sin- look to the Lamb of God! Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the World! He came to earth, yes He came earth to redeem you, free you when He died at Calvary. He, Jesus Christ, knew no sin-- He is sinless, He is perfect-- HE NEVER sinned, but you have sinned. All have sinned and cannot reach God's glory-- WE fall short of His glory. Jesus Christ, who never sinned, became sin for us on the cross- for you, for me. He suffered on the cross bearing your sin, God the Father poured out His anger and wrath upon Jesus. Jesus Christ took your punishment on the cross, took your hell. He took what you and I deserve, He took it all for you on His body on the wooden cross. His suffering was so incredibly great that none of us can even begin to understand what HE suffered for us. He suffered until God the Father was satisfied that is was sufficient. Justice was given. Our just and holy God poured just punishment on Jesus as HE took our sin on His body on that wooden cross. OUR punishment is what He took, our griefs and sorrows. He was chastised for us... He is the Lamb- the Sacrifice Lamb-- He laid down His life for us as a sacrifice for our sin. Jesus Christ shed His blood and died. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, takes away the sin of the World.

Now we can be saved! Saved from God's fearsome wrath! BUT He cannot save you if you do not believe in Him, nor are ashamed of your sins to repent of them. Jesus commands that all people repent of their sins and believe the GOOD NEWS of salvation!

Jesus Christ died for us on the cross.. He is God in the flesh- no man took His life from Him- He laid down His life for us willingly as a sin sacrifice for you and me. He laid His life down and died for us and HE was able to take up His life again-He arose from the dead! The grave could not hold Him He is alive forever more! He arose from the dead! Up from the grave He arose! With a mighty triumph over His foes- He arose the victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign! Hallelujah Christ arose!

Are you longing to be free? Jesus said ,"Come unto me." ... "Come unto me and I will give you rest."... "Come unto me all you who are weary and oppressed" .. "Come unto me and I will give you rest." Are you weary? Are you heavy laden? Are you sore distressed? Jesus said, "Come unto me and I will give you rest."

Have you any room for Jesus? He bore your load of sin-- sinner, will you turn to Him? Do you have room for pleasure- room for business- But no room for the one who bore your load of sin? No place that He can enter in the heart for which He died?

The chiefest of sinners Jesus Christ will save if he but come to Him and Believe. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved! Confess with your mouth that Jesus is God-confess HE died for you- you deserve hell but He took it for you- repent- believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved!

Jesus Christ wants to redeem you Oh sinner- He wants to save you!

BUT how can He save you if you do not believe in Him? How can He save you if you take for granted His sacrifice for you on the cross?-If you do not care? If you trample under foot His blood?

Can you be saved if you simply say a prayer and then go your way and continue to sin and not care? Can He save you if you refuse to admit you are a sinner? Can He save you if you blaspheme His holy name by proclaiming to be a Christian yet live just as wickedly as those who do not profess to be a Christian?

Jesus Christ said, " You must be born again." He told us He would send His Comforter- His Spirit, even the Holy Spirit! God's Word says of those who believe in Jesus Christ and have repented of their wicked sins- are children of God, His Spirit comes to dwell in the heart of those Who believe, they become "Born again." Born now of the Spirit of God. The believer becomes the temple of the living God! One who is a true Christian has the Spirit of God dwelling in them. God's Word says that they become a new creature, old things are passed away and behold all things become new!
A true Christian cannot continue to live in willful sin because the Spirit of God grieves within them if they sin. They feel the grief and are truly repentant and sorry for sin they have done. That person changes from not caring to caring. From blindness of sin to sight of sin. Their life changes as God shows them their sins. That person becomes free from sin as God gives him power and strength to not sin!

Jesus said. "No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will love the one and hate the other." " You cannot serve God and mammon." Mammon represents love for the World, the flesh and anything that becomes more important to you then God. If you love to get drunk, commit fornication or adultery, are sexually impure, are a homosexual, love to plunge into pleasures of this World. If you steel, hate, lie or use God's Name in vain, love anything above God, you are a servant of satan. Satan is your master- - If you continue in this way until you die, you will perish in hell fire.

Jesus came to set you free from your slavery to satan and sin.. He came to set the captive free!

What can wash away your sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.. Jesus shed His blood for you. Do you want to be free and whole? The blood of Jesus can cleanse you. Ask Him to pardon you, repent of your sins- ask Him to wash your sins away with His blood. He will cleanse you from your sin.

You cannot save yourself. All your good works are as a filthy rag before God. NO! There is not any one who is righteous, no not one! No one is good, no one is sinless-- Except for Jesus Christ! You cannot save yourself.

Do not think your good will out-weigh the bad when you die and stand before God the Judge. God makes it clear that your good works cannot save you. God says your sins have separated you from God. How many sins does it take to separate us from God? ONE SIN! But you and I have sinned many times-- sin is disobedience to God. His law gives us an idea of sin and reveals to us what sin is. God says, "You shall not lie" ... not to steel, not to commit adultery, not to covet, not to murder, not to take God's Name in vain. He says to honor your Father and Mother, He says to love Him and worship Him above anything or any other. Jesus said to look on someone with lust is equal to committing adultery or fornication. He said if you hate someone in your heart it is equal to murder. You and I have disobeyed God...that is called sin.

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin-- for those who believe in Him and repent of their sin. He is our only hope--- Jesus Christ the Lord.

Jesus said He is the way and the truth and the life, no man can come unto the Father but by Him. He is the only Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved...

Do you understand this?

The fool has said in his heart, "there is no God." Oh do not be a fool! God has some very serious things to say about fools-- they have no wisdom, shame shall be the promotion of fools.

There is not any hope for you if you refuse Jesus Christ the Lord. Desolation, distress and anguish will come to those who hate knowledge and who do not choose the fear of the Lord.
Receive God's Word! Apply His Word to your heart to to understand. Find the knowledge of God, He keeps the paths of judgement and preserves the way of His people. Do not walk in darkness and delight in the forwardness of the wicked. These are paths of the dead, the dead who have not any life in them. Do not forsake mercy and truth. Trust in Jesus Christ the Lord.. fear God!
Turn from your sinful ways and Be wise now! You will never regret it! You will find rich blessings and know the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace, life and truth, joy eternal and internal that cannot be compared to anything earthly.

Once I was foolish and sinned ruled my heart. My life and living were not pleasing to God, I was an enemy of God. I was proud and self righteous. But Jesus found me! Found me as a lost sheep astray from the sheep fold. He opened my understanding, He let me see--

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."(Isaiah 53:4-6)

My iniquity- my sin was placed upon Jesus Christ. He shed His blood for me. How can I turn my back on such a Savior? I believed in my heart and repented of my sin now I am free from the slavery to sin and satan.

Oh come to the Lord Jesus Christ! He said, "Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Do not turn your back on such a Savior! No! Turn your back on your sinful life! Turn from your pride-- turn from your own works/efforts for salvation. Turn from eternal death, darkness and damnation and come to Eternal Life and Light!

You are in darkness and you do not even know it. You are sin sick and you do not even realize it. You are a slave to satan and you so not even understand that.
Turn form the old sinful way- Turn to Jesus Christ! Let Him give you freedom and true Life and Truth!

Jesus said, "I have come to give you life and life more abundant" This is new life! Freedom to not sin! Liberty from bondage of sin.

O He freed me! Oh the pure joy of knowing Jesus. I love His name, Jesus Christ the Lord. He died for me to set me free! What joy and comfort He gives, rest to the weary, peace and joy. Jesus is all the world to me. Jesus is the Rock in a storm, we can hide in Him. He is a shelter in the time of storm. Jesus is a shade by day and defense by night, He is our helper, our safe haven, our safe retreat. Do you know Him?

Jesus Christ the Lord is the Rock in a weary land. Come to Jesus. Come safe to the Rock that is higher then you are. Run to Him! Seek Him! Ask Him to save you. Beg Him for understanding and faith in Him.

Jesus said:
Ask and keep on asking ..

Seek and keep on seeking..

Knock and keep on knocking...

For everyone who asks receives, and He who seeks shall find, to him who knocks the door shall be opened.

Do you want to know Him but don't know how? If you are truly desiring to be saved and in your heart you know what God says is true and want Jesus to save you... Do this... Ask Him! Go to Him and let Him know. Ask Him for understanding and faith in Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins! Let Him know you understand how sinful you are and want Him to save you. Ask Jesus Christ the Lord to wash your sins away with His blood and save you. I cannot tell you how to pray but only point you to the cross and say, talk to Jesus. Please read your Bible if you have one, start in the gospel of John and ask God to talk to you. If you don't have one ask me and I'll send one to you. If you desire to contact me, leave a comment, I will keep it private and contact you back.

God bless you who are His!
In His love forever,
Sarah

"I Trust In A Great And Faithful God."

Have you ever read the story of Hudson Taylor, Missionary to Inland China, in 1857?

I have read the book, "Hudson Taylor" to some of my children when they were young and at home, but recently watched a video on his life from YouTube. I already knew much of what I watched but something stuck out that I had forgotten, Hudson's answer to people when they commented to him of being a great man of faith, he answered, "No, but I am a man that trusts in a great and faithful God."

Who is our helper but the Lord Jesus Christ through His Spirit?

Dearest Young Women,

Who is our helper but the Lord Jesus Christ through His Spirit? Who can enable us to love our husband and children the way they aught to be loved but Him?

It is our sweet Lord Jesus Christ who enables us to love. "We love Him because He first loved us" He exhibits true love to us through His life and death and resurrection. But it is not the example of His life that enables us to follow His path of love, but His Spirit indwelling in the saved believer, the born again one.  A person can strive to follow the example of love and forgiveness that Jesus exhibited in His life on Earth, but without the infilling of His Spirit such love can never be reached, that is, the true love of God. Such love cannot be forced, faked nor fabricated.

I like the true love of God, there is peace in His love. There is comfort, quietness, deep  joy, sweetness, glory and         salvation~



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 2:3-5)