A quarrelsome wife

I was reading today's Proverb and thought I should share these two verses. 

Proverbs 21:9, 19 NLT

(9) It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. 
(19) It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.

I think God is trying to tell us something and if He feels the need to say it twice in one Proverb, we must need to really hear it. We are not our husband's conscience nor are we his mother, so let's not act like it. Let's make certain we are encouraging, not criticizing. Let's make sure we are letting him be who God created him to be, not trying to make him into our twin. Our husbands have their own ways of doing things and that's okay; not everything has to be done just the way WE want it. I pray we are not quarrelsome or complaining wives.

Blessings, 
Rashel

Being a Godly Wife

A couple weeks ago I started a Facebook group for the Christian wives I know, a group to encourage each other in being godly wives. The group is doing great and we are learning what scripture says to wives and how to apply it in practical ways. I thought I might just start copying some of those posts to my blog and maybe encourage some of you to strengthen your marriages. So, here ya go-

I think it is very important for us to realize and remember that Satan does not want our marriages to work. He wants to destroy our families. We cannot let him; we must do everything in our power to keep our marriages strong, they are the backbones of our families. We are in a war and to be passive and do nothing means defeat, we must fight - we must actively work on our marriages.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:10-12


Blessings,
Rashel

Sleep, oh glorious, wonderful sleep

Do you like to sleep? 

Do you get to sleep? 

I remember very well the days of having little ones and never getting enough sleep. Well, now my children are older and I get to sleep. Sometimes. 

Sometimes I wake at the crack of dawn and CANNOT go back to sleep. Oh, that is frustrating, especially when it might be the only day that week the alarm clock doesn't have to go off.

Do you ever feel guilty when you sleep in?

 I did. 

I have no idea why, but I used to. I had some idea in my head that if I slept in I was lazy. I'm not talking sleeping everyday until noon, that would make me lazy. I'm saying I had some notion in my head that if I slept past 7:30-8:00, I was being lazy. 

Where do these thoughts come from? Oh wait I know, Satan. Yeah, he is a deceiver. I have no use for him.

Do you know what? It's okay if I want to sleep in some days, especially the days my hubby is off and also sleeping in. I'll repeat, it's okay. 

I'm done worrying what people think about the way we live our lives. Yeah, I have family members up with the sun everyday that would question my sleeping until 8 (yes, that is sleeping in for me). I'm not here to please them. It has taken awhile for that to really settle in my mind. I'm pleasing my Lord and my husband, that is my concern.

So now, when that occasional day comes when no one has to go to work and the alarm is not set, I sleep. I sleep without guilt. I sleep until I wake up on my own. I love it. 

Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes I wake up, look at the clock, roll over, snuggle in my covers and go back to sleep. GASP! 

I love my bed. We recently added on and hubby and I got a new bedroom and a new queen size bed. It is soooo comfy! I sleep much better now than I did before. Much better.

Here it is- 

I hope that if anyone else ever feels guilty about not being up with the sun that this post will encourage you.

Blessings my friends, 

Rashel

Are you too busy making your life "better" that you're forgetting to live?

I was rereading some of my older posts and I was really convicted by this timely reminder. I decided to re-post it today and I pray that you are as encouraged as I was.

I realized some things this week while on a mini spur of the moment vacation. I love it when God takes ordinary opportunities and teaches me a lesson through them.

Being a "Good Wife"

Sometimes learning to be a biblical, godly wife can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Yes, there are some concepts that are major and can seem impossible, however not all of them are. Today I want us to look at some very simple ways we can be a godly wife to our husbands.

"For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening." 1 Peter 3:5,6

Please don't stop reading because you read the word submission, that is not what this post is about (however that is a very big concept in being a godly wife).

The part of the verse that I want to focus on today is "do good".

Where are all the Titus 2 Women?

I will admit, I have been struggling lately but it is a different sort of struggle than normal for me. Normally I am struggling with homeschool or with housework, but not this time. I am so frustrated at the lack of real, in person Titus 2 women. Where are they? Where are the women in my church that are to teach me that yes, the Bible says homeschooling is God's plan? To teach me that yes, God wishes for wives/mothers to stay home, to be a keeper AT home? To teach me that as a daughter of the King that I am to dress modestly, to submit to my husband in all (biblical) things and that I am to love my children? Sometimes I feel so alone in the real world because I cannot name one person in my church that holds these beliefs right now. The friend I had at church that held most of these same beliefs is now out of town with her husband's work. I do have a friend that holds everyone of these beliefs, but she attends another church and lives in another town. Ugh, it is so frustrating to me. Please don't think that I mean to put down the women at my church, I don't. They are God fearing, God loving women who seek to follow His word, but it seems they are oblivious to commands regarding the beliefs I have mentioned. Most of the women in our church work outside the home, even the older women. I only know of one other homeschooling family. I am the only woman in our church that consistently wears skirts/dresses instead of jeans/pants. Many do not know how to show respect/submission to their own husbands. Sometimes I just want to scream, but other times it makes me question my beliefs. If I am the only one, maybe I am wrong. However, I don't believe that, not for one minute.

There are supposed to be Titus 2 women in the church, however I recently had a pastor's wife ask my opinion for a ladies Bible study and I recommended a Titus 2 study; she didn't understand what I meant until I explained it to her. How sad!

Titus 2:3-5

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

KJV

We are called to homeschool our children.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

KJV
You can also read 2 Timothy 3:14, Ephesians 6:4, Isaiah 38:19, Mark 9:42, Romans 6:16 and Proverbs 22:6 for a few more verses about the parent's responsibility to train up their children. (I have more but will stop here for now.)

We are to dress modestly and differently from men and the rest of the world, and we are to submit to our husbands.
1 Peter 3:1-6

3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

KJV


1 Timothy 2:9-12

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

KJV

There are more verses and I will share if someone really wants to know, but otherwise I will leave it at these.
 
How am I to learn how to physically be a Titus 2 woman if I have no example? More importantly, how do I do it in a church that doesn't hold these beliefs? I can't instruct the younger women without expressing my beliefs, and that has caused me to consider stepping down from my teaching position in our youth ministry. Right now I teach a small group of 9-10th grade girls, but they keep asking my beliefs on touchy subjects (such as dating) and I have to be honest with them, even if it goes against the majority's beliefs. I am still praying about that decision, and really that isn't the main point of this post anyway.  (I'm not even sure I believe in youth groups but that is for another post entirely. I see their need in certain instances, otherwise, certain kids would NEVER hear the word of God.)
 
Back to topic, I just want to yell it out sometimes, "WHERE ARE YOU TITUS 2 WOMEN?"  And, why aren't you following the Word of God?
 
I thank God for the encouragement I receive online through wonderful, like-minded blogs.
 
Blessings,
Rashel

I couldn't get the link up to work but I am linking up with 

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Proverbs 31

I have started reading "Beautiful in God's Eyes" by Elizabeth George, I should say again, because I read it quite awhile ago. It has been long enough I don't remember most of it. If you haven't ever read it, I highly recommend it. I have decided to take my time reading it this time and really make a study of it. I have a very deep desire to become a true Proverbs 31 woman and this book is the best I have ever read regarding how to do just. It takes it verse by verse and gives you practical suggestions on how to become a virtuous woman as described in Proverbs 31. I will try to post my thoughts as I read this book and share what I am doing to become a Proverbs 31 woman.

A few questions for discussion

I really, really want your opinions on this post. I want us to discuss submission. No, I don't want to discuss whether or not we are to submit, that is stated clearly in the Bible. We are to submit to our husbands as unto the Lord. I do have a couple of areas I want you to think about though. What if there is something you really want to do, but your husband isn't thrilled about it? He tells you, "yes, you can do it", but you know in your heart he would rather you not. He is simply trying to be kind and loving and allowing you to have your way. So, my question is this: If you go ahead and do it, are you truly being submissive? Or are you looking out for your own interests?

Here is another one. What if there are things around the house that you know your husband prefers done in a certain way, yet you do them your own way or do not really give a thought to how they are done, if done at all? Is that being unsubmissive? Now, I am not talking about the days that we just are truly busy and some things don't get taken care of, that happens sometimes. I am speaking of the things that you just don't really give much thought to how your husband would prefer for it to be done.

Okay, one more. There are certain things that your husband entrusts to you, for example it may be homeschooling, paying bills or just running the home in general. He doesn't give you a set of specific rules or check your performance each night, he just trusts you to do the best that you can do in these areas. So, if you are slacking in an area he has entrusted to you and you are not doing your very best, are you being unsubmissive?

I know that I have been guilty of all of the above at one time or another, so don't be hanging your head if I have hit a nerve here. I just want us to think about these things and discuss them to help us to be the best helpmeets we can be for our husbands.

Love of my husband

I just wanted to share something with you sweet ladies. I have thought of this often but for some reason, it really struck me today. I was thinking about how much more I love my husband today than I did while we were dating or first married. I love him more now than I did last year. I can't say that he has changed, he is very much a Mr. Steady but more that God has done a work in me to appreciate him more each day. God has helped me to realize the ways my husband shows his love for me, even if they are not the ways I would choose. God has helped me to become a more loving, respectful and submissive wife. I am far from perfect and God still has work to do in me in this area, but I have come along way from the day we got married. I pray that each of you can say this about your marriage as well. If you can't, I pray you will ask God for guidance so that one day you will be able to give this testimony as well.

Blessings,
Rashel

How are you doing?

I just thought I would check in real quick and see how you ladies are doing? Are you trying to be submissive, respectful and a help meet to your husbands? Post a comment and let us know something you have done the last week to work toward being a better helpmeet. It will be encouraging to all of us if we can share with each other. Have there been occasions when you had to tame your tongue? How successful were you? Let us know.

Okay, don't forget, my dh is on vacation this week so I won't be on here everyday but I do want to read some of your comments and ideas, so share with me please. I will check in when I can.

Blessings,
Rashel

Reverence for our husbands

An issue I would like to address regarding being our husband’s help meet is respect. The KJV of Ephesians 5:33b states, “and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Reverence means a feeling of deep respect and respect as a noun means a favorable opinion, honor, admiration; as a verb it means to regard, value or look up to. 

Being our husband's helpmeet

I know there may be single women reading this and you may think that this does not pertain to you, however I believe it does. God may have plans for you to marry at some time in your life and you will need to know what His word says about being a helpmeet for your future husband. Genesis 2:18 says, "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." This ladies is why woman was created, to be an help meet to man, specifically our husbands. I recently read "Created to be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl and I highly recommend this book. She has such great advice and I didn't find any of it to be unbiblical. Ladies, let me tell you that this is an area I struggle in daily.