Does a mother really need instruction on how to love her children? Doesn’t it just come natural? It must not, because the instruction in Titus 2 is for the older woman to teach the younger woman “to love her children.” This month’s instruction in our Bible study by Elizabeth George was a good encouragement for women – no matter in what stage of life we find ourselves.

We are reminded that our first responsibility is our relationship to God. As we love Him, then we can better love our husbands; our second responsibility. Our next priority is our children.

As Elizabeth travels around the country speaking to women, she finds that one of the most asked questions from young women is: “Where are the older women?” These are young women looking for an older woman to help guide them as they seek to obey these very commands. Elizabeth said, “It’s not that we don’t necessarily know what to share, it means that somehow our lives are too busy to help them.” We need to be teachers of these good things if there is someone younger than ourselves that needs a guide. Will that person be you and me? I pray so!

How to have a heart for our children:
1. A mother is to teach the Word of God. Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. This is a dual role for the parents.
We as mothers are to teach the Divine Law of God. The mother is key when it comes to imparting the Word of God to the children. Somebody in the household has to reach over and turn off the television and pick up the Word of God. You’re never wasting time when you teach your children the Bible. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We never know what our children are going to face. Corrie Ten Boom’s father instructed them that the Word of God was a precious tool that He could use through them. Through the persecution that Corrie suffered during World War II, the Word was her comfort during the hard days of the concentration camps, and she used it to minister to many – even her enemies. Pouring the Word of God into our children will prepare them for whatever God has for them.

2. A mother is to teach her children wisdom. Proverbs 6:21 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Proverbs 31:1 1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him… This is teaching that is based on God’s Word. Deuteronomy 6:5,6 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. It has to be in our heart first, then we can pour it into our children’s lives. All day long, every breath, every sentence, when you sit down, when you rise up – 24/7 this teaching of the law of God is going on in your house. This takes work to teach diligently. We have to choose to mention the Lord.

A Christian aunt or grandmother can make a huge difference in child’s life. In every small thing we must relate it all back to God. There are more opportunities to do this if the television is off! “I don’t care if ‘the wheels on the bus go round and round!'” Every mother can sing that, every child can sing that, but what is more important is, what do they know about God’s Word? What do they know about the Lord Jesus Christ?

We talk about what is important to us. We talk about people, the news, all kinds of things, but if we fail to talk about God’s Word, we are relaying a very important message to our children. Our words are important, but our walk is also important. What are we doing? What are we not doing? It can be positive, it can be negative. We are to talk it, we are to walk it. As Patch the Pirate says, “Your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks!”

3. We are to dedicate our children to God. Proverbs 31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? This is King Lemuel’s mother writing instruction to her son. Hear the passion in her voice! Here is a son, either dedicated to God, or asked of God in prayer, but the piety of this mom is to be what God wants her to be towards her son. He is often the subject of her very earnest prayers! Many mothers of “famous” Christian leaders” had mothers that gave hours a day or a whole day a week just to pray for their children! Our prayers are one way we dedicate our children.

We also dedicate our children through our practice! Many often bring the children to church for minimal exposure instead of maximal! We give them just a little taste when they need a whole helping! Elizabeth shared with us that she saw her role in her girl’s life to get them to the church for every activity that was offered. She said, “It wasn’t a spiritual gift, but it was the gift of driver! That’s what I was!” Dedicate your children to God.

4. A mother is to love her children. This is an affectionate love. We become children lovers.

How do you love your children?

• Do provide the necessities – food, clothing and rest.
• Do be predictably happy. Proverbs 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.
• Do be the giver of everything – that’s your role. We give and expect nothing in return.
• Do have a ball. Make everything fun. Be silly. Make sure fun is a part of your family’s diet.
• Do make everything special. You have to make a meal anyway; make it special. Make the day special.
• Don’t give to others what you haven’t given to your family first.
• Don’t double book. Don’t be on the phone when your children are arriving home. Don’t have meetings in the evening when you could have had it earlier in the day.

Some have had kings in their lineage,

some to whom honor was paid,

not blessed of my ancestors, but –

I had a mother who prayed.

I have a mother who prays for me,

who pleads to the Lord every day for me,

Oh what a difference it makes for me,

I have a mother who prays!

Some have world success,

and trust in riches they’ve made,

but this is my surest asset –

I have a mother who prays!

My mother’s prayers cannot save me,

only mine can avail,

But Mother introduced me to Someone,

Someone who never can fail.

Oh yes, I have a mother who prays for me,

who pleads to the Lord every day for me.

Oh, what a difference it makes for me,

I have a mother who prays!

–Author unknown

God has given us an assignment if we’re mothers, aunts, or grandmothers – we are to have a heart for our children.

‘Til next time,

I would like to introduce you to a very special lady in my life – my mom, Mildred Ray. What a blessing it is to have a godly mother who encourages her children and grandchildren in spiritual matters. She has always been my greatest point of motivation in homemaking, cooking, baking and decorating. She truly has the gift of hospitality.

I’ll never forget when my husband, girls and I were making our move from Indiana to Tennessee nine and half years ago. What a respite my parents’ home was to my family! We were moving all our earthly possessions in a U-Haul truck. My husband drove the truck and our older daughter was with him. I was following behind in our minivan with our younger daughter and our cat, Oreo. Oreo got out of her cage and was sprinting across the dashboard of the van as I drove, the U-Haul broke down 45 minutes after we left, I got a terrible migraine, and we had a three hour trip ahead of us! When we arrived at their house, the lights were lit to welcome us, though it was midnight or after. My mom had prepared a beautiful spread of refreshments for late arrival, had hot chocolate and all sorts of delicious treats ready, along with soft beds and warm quilts waiting to give us rest. Only heaven would have been better than that welcome! That was one of many times that we’ve been the recipients of her hospitality.

She has opened her home to many, many people over the years, and has made each one feel they were the most welcomed guest she’d ever invited. I learned hospitality from watching her. I invite you to take a peek into her heart and home as you read the post below penned by the most loved mom in the world…mine.

Denise has asked me to be Guest Blogger today. I have never been a teacher, as such, but I’m never at a loss for words, so I can hide behind the computer screen and say a few words.

I am past the three score and ten years, the Bible refers to, so I have the advantage of looking way back.

I was saved at the age of six. I fully understood my need of a Savior while listening to the “Children’s Bible Hour” on the radio. My Mother was right there to lead me in the Sinner’s Prayer, as I confessed my sins and asked Jesus into my heart. She has always been a good example of a godly Mother, and I miss her daily. Today, is the 30th Anniversary of her death, and Home Going. I know she is with the Lord, but her teachings and influence have stayed with me, and I’ve never forgotten her ways.

All I ever wanted to be was a wife and Mother. Today, in our Society, that is not as revered as it should be, but is still most important in God’s structure of family.

We have three daughters, and son’s in law, six grandchildren, three of their spouses, two great grandchildren, to date.

We are close knit, but far flung, so get togethers with all attending. doesn’t happen as it once did. Yesterday, I had the privilege of having one daughter and her husband to dinner after church. I fixed every one’s favorite, fried chicken, and all that goes with it. I have always loved cooking and baking and fixing a pretty table. I am very resourceful, and try to use things I have in different ways. My son in law loves coconut creme pie, so I baked one for his birthday this Tuesday. We had a wonderful time of fellowship, and that is so important.

Don’t let your advancing years diminish your role in the family. Grown children and grandchildren need Mothers and Grandmothers, too. Be there with your comfort, gentle words of encouragement and love your family ALL of your life.

Proverbs 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness

I am blessed, aren’t I? My only regret in her writing this post is finding out that she fixed fried chicken and coconut cream pie yesterday – two of my favorites! I thank her for sharing her heart with us and for the lessons she continues to teach with her life and her pen.

Did you have a mom that taught you from her life? What did you learn from her?

With love,

Oh, my! Two days this week and my post has been “late” – in my way of thinking anyway. I try to have it ready so it will be posted early in the morning, but this week with being out of town and not always having Internet access, my plans have not always worked out!

Today I got up and my first thought was “blogging,” my next thought was “No, time with the Lord.” If I don’t hear from Him first, I have nothing to say to others. I was reminded of a quote by George Muller, who said that the first duty of his day was to make sure his heart was right with God. Now, that’s a plan to stick with! So, after having had my quiet time, though this is late, it’s in God’s time. 🙂

I use a Bible study book for my weekend devotions and I was working today on a study about busyness (God knew I needed that!). Claudia Barba made the statement that years ago we judged a person’s status by their leisure time. Today we judge a person’s status by how busy they are. I see this even in “well known” preachers. If they have a lunch date scheduled, three phone calls while at a meeting, text messages and beeps while in the car driving to that luncheon, and a schedule that takes them into 2050, wow! They must be important! Yet, that’s not what Jesus’ life exemplified. He was never rushed, never in a hurry or scurrying about to do this and finish that. He always made time to talk with the Father before ministering to others, and He finished the work God gave Him to do!

If you find yourself frantic, trying to get everything finished that’s on your “to-do” list for today, stop and make sure you’ve first had time with the Lord. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. You will come to understand what He wants you to do, and what you can let go of. So often we’re busier than we should be because we’ve added things to our schedule that the Lord never intended. As you obey His direction, you’ll also have His strength to be able to finish the task.

As I contemplated writing this post I thought, “I’ve written about this a lot this week,” but it seems that every time I turn around I bump into my own inclination to go my own way, or speak to others that are so busy with other things that they make very little time for what matters most. Wherever you are in this area, I trust you’ll get done today exactly what the Lord desires – nothing more, nothing less!

See you in church Sunday,

Every day I fight with doing “empty” things; things that have no real value. Facebook, reading blogs, and the such. I don’t think those things are bad in themselves, it’s just that they can be time snatchers – taking more time that I’d dreamed of giving them! For others television viewing or scanning might be an issue. Some get caught up in a book and can’t put it down until they’ve finished it. Each of those activities has their place, but must be kept there by our discipline and the Lord’s enablement.

There’s one activity that will never be a time waster or a guilt giver – that’s time spent in God’s Word. As I was reading and studying today I came across this wonderful verse: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
If I read it, it will accomplish something. If I share it with another person it will prosper. If I claim it, it will not return to the Lord empty. What wonderful promises!

I’ve been singing this song that’s playing since I read the verse. I share it now with you.

Are you spending time in His Word?

With love,

I’m not home right now, I accompanied my husband to Atlanta. While he’s in board meetings, I’m studying and preparing for an upcoming event. How wonderful to have the time to linger in God’s Word and prayer without the normal distractions at home.

I’m late posting today – I took for granted that Internet access would be accessible where my husband and I are staying. After all, if you can get Internet at Chick-fil-A, it should be free anywhere you’d stay, right? 🙂

I’ll share a couple of thoughts before diving back into my studying…

Anyone that’s been saved for any length of time has undoubtedly heard about the need to memorize Scripture. As I stated in my post yesterday, we must have God’s Word tucked away in our hearts if we’re going to be a godly testimony in the time of trial. There are many memorization plans out there, but the one that I’ve begun to use in the last year has been simple and effective in my life.

As I read the Scripture, or as I hear verses read in church I listen for verses that would be beneficial for me to memorize. I write the reference down in my journal, then I write the verse out in my notebook that is pictured here. I was using just a little pocket notebook, but really found what I was looking for when I went into Office Depot recently. These index cards are connected by the ring and then bound by an elastic band so the cards don’t get wrinkled up if I drop the book of cards into my purse. I’m trying to memorize verses by categories. I have a group of verses on the tongue, one on trust, heaven, thoughts, the Word of God, prayer, and the character of God.
I use my time on the treadmill to start with a category and try to review the verses and their references (the hardest for me to remember) in that category. If I get stumped I take a peek at the verse. I try to add a new verse each week. I find if I don’t review there verses regularly I forget them in a couple week’s time. Oh, what a blessing this has been to my life! Do you have a plan you use? Tell me about it!

I recently saw in a magazine a simple way to cover a lampshade. Here’s my before picture:
I laid the lampshade down on a piece of newspaper (I taped two pieces together to make it big enough). Then I penciled the top and bottom edge of the shade onto the paper and rolled the lampshade until I’d drawn all four sides. I added about a half an inch to the top and bottom for a hem of sorts. I then cut out my paper pattern, laid it on my fabric, then cut it out.

I took the fabric outside and laid it on a piece of plastic. I sprayed the fabric with an adhesive spray. Then starting at one corner I pressed the fabric onto the lampshade, smoothing as I went along. Once the fabric was in place I smoothed the extra material over the edge of the lampshade for a finished edge.

I added a lace trim to the bottom of the shade for an extra touch. You could use ribbon, buttons, roping, or whatever you like! It really transformed an old lampshade for very little money!

Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

I saw another neat idea recently. Someone took a men’s pant hanger that had multiple hangers on it and used it for a totally different purpose. The hangers could come unhooked on one end, so they opened the end and slid their ribbon rolls on each row. How convenient that would be for wrapping gifts! I’m going to be on the lookout for a pant hanger on sale!

What good ideas have you found recently?

With love,