We were displaced by Super Storm Sandy... headed out to Montana.. and back again to New Jersey. We have rented two homes in all that time. Homemaking without feeling at home was definitely a challenge. Finally, at the end of May... we settled .. we bought the home we were renting... and we are finally home.
Now.. just maybe I will be better about posting here... for now.. we are thrilled to be settled.
The loudest sound for a baby it seems is the first bite a mother takes. You get a meal prepared.. you sit down.. you put the fork to your mouth... and then the baby cries. I do not know why it is so.. but after many children I can tell you it is so. The second loudest sound is getting my Bible out. My physical Bible, my Kindle Bible, an app etc.. taking out any seem to wake the baby or require that some child will need my attention.
Bible Study in my mind.. is this quiet time.. I get in my chair with my journal, pen, cup of tea and spend time with my Lord. If of course, I waited for all that to be perfect I would never have quiet time. So.. what is the answer? Well what do you do with your physical food.. you eat a bit here an there.. you eat standing up or rocking with a baby on your hip.. you ask your husband to hold the wee one.. you eat something else that is more convenient and able to be carried with you...
When we are hungry we will eat. Dear Christian mother.. when you have spiritual hunger.. when you need nourishment because you are tired, feeling alone etc.. you need to eat... We have to perhaps have quiet time in not so quiet surroundings, listen to a devotional on our Echo, leave a Bible at our sink, listen to a podcast, reread a verse we have written on a card and stuck to the wall, read a few verses and write about it later.. etc.. Read scripture while holding a baby, recite scripture while nursing, sing scripture while putting a baby to sleep.. but if you hunger.. Eat.. Taste and See..
I am often told I have energy.. oh some days I am tired.. those are the days I know I need extra nourishment. I Need to be filling up on God's word.. to be encouraged, strengthened, blessed, called, aware, fulfilled.. because I am weak and I have work that must be done. We can not live by bread alone.. we need to Word of God. It may not look like what we want it to look like. I don't go to women's Bible study.. I don't want to leave 6 children at home with my husband who has worked for 12 hours. I don't always have hot tea and sit in my chair. Often over the last 15 years I have been propped in my bed nursing a baby, writing sloppily over their heads. Sometimes it is a sermon that I listen to in small segments throughout the day.. or a quick podcast while I make a bed. Find a way.. find several ways.. read the Bible... fill yourself up.. it will make a huge difference in your home.
We teach self government first and then we teach family government. Our little blessings have folly in their heart and so even while self government is key they will still bicker.. act selfishly.. prefer themselves to others.. and so that is when the next form of government takes over. Family government.. we need a home that has rules.. consequences... rights.. privileges. . leaders... standards.. goals and a vision.. Parents need to provide these things. Food, shelter, clothing, unconditional love, a nice bed and time, materials and supplies for learning are basics. We need to strive beyond that teaching character.. not yelling and punishing but training and consistent with consequences. We need to study our children.. Does your daughter need yarn? Paints? A book on sewing? Does your son need a whittling set and some soap? What are their interests? Stop telling them to get away from the TV and video games and give them something to do.. offer them a walk on Saturday morning with you.. provide a musical instrument etc. Give them security in working to help do projects and cook, etc. We are to mentor these eternal souls... to guide them. In our family by the age of three you are clearly aware of personal property and community property.. we encourage disputes to be settled by the participants before it is brought to us.. our children are fbff first best friends forever.. they know what is expected a schedule is posted.. everyone has a chore chart.. there is a family meeting every morning, there is a planning meeting ever Sunday evening, there is a parent child meeting once a week.. we talk about our standards in our family we don't listen to music with curse words... we don't wear skirts that short.. we don't yell etc.. When we are outside our home and a child falls into a crowd I have said come here you are a Martin.. we don't do that. Does all of this mean no fun? Nope we read at least an hour a day.. we take trips.. we have tea in the afternoon. . We have a candlelight dinner on Sundays.. Movie night.. x-box night.. foosball tournaments.. go out for dinner on Tuesday. . Go out for desserts.. bake.. dance.. sing at the top of our lungs.. listen to audio books in the car.. etc. We can enjoy more things because we have taught self government and have a strong family government.. justice is important, issues are settled quickly and we move on. Your family has a government... how is it being run? The loudest voice.. the most persistent nagger.. a try at temporary set up till anarchy takes over.. Home needs to be safe.. engaging.. comfortable... encouraging.. The government set up in your home allows time to reach beyond settling disputes and struggling with chores.. battling over homework.. fighting for more privileges... If you are caught in those situations.. it is NOT because your children are Burdens.. It is a lack of parents setting up a family government and fulfilling their duties. This is back to self government for parents.. we must continually learn, grow and practice self discipline. This allows our children to do so too. When that is done the children will follow suit. Your home will change.
Practice makes perfect ~ since about 1560 or so this has been an accepted saying. We also accept it in practice. When we want our children to do well at sports or dance we tell them they need to practice. We schedule their practices. We cancel other things to make time for them to practices. We even pay for them to practice. Sometimes, we pay more for them to practice with certain coaches or trainers. Practice makes perfect.. we do something over and over again so that we become better at it.
This is one of the reasons we sit with our children in church. We know that worship is one of the things we will do in heaven for eternity. We want them to do it well. To worship in spirit and truth. We sit near the front of the church so we can pay attention. We pay attention to the children. We pay attention to the sermon. We teach the children to pay attention to the sermon. No, they do not always sit still and quiet. They don't always behave the way I want them to behave. However, we are practicing worship. We will be perfect at it in heaven.
On this side of eternity, we want them to learn to be still and know. We want them to enter His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise. We want them to choose the one needful thing and sit at the feet of Jesus. We want them to pay attention to God's word. We want them to participate as a member of the body of Christ. We want to teach them to worship by our example. Church is a foundation of our family. We go to church.. every Sunday. We want our children to know that it is important. We talk about the sermon. We want them to process and apply the word of God. We read the Bible. We want them to read the Bible. We pray. We want them to pray. Practice.. so they know how. Example so they see it modeled.
We "know" these principles on the sports field or in the dance studio. We leave behind these principles in the church pew. Why? Because we need to worship. We need to pay attention. Well, I submit that God has blessed me with children and one of the most important things I can teach them... is to worship. Their worship is important to God, too. Childlike faith.. that is the faith we are called to. Worship with children helps me to experience this type of faith. To pay attention to my children and train them allows me to pay better attention to worship. It requires that I pay attention to what worship really means, how it should really be practiced and how our family trains for it.
Practice requires doing the same thing over and over again. Practice requires caring every time you do it. Practice requires attention every time you do it. Practice requires perseverance. So we weekly bring our children to a church pew, bow our heads, close our eyes, read scripture, pray, listen, praise, look inward, examine our hearts, fellowship and encourage our children to do the same. We bring them to practice our Christian disciplines. We practice worship in our homes. We want to worship our God who is worthy of our worship. We want our children to know, love and worship our God. We want to disciple them in their relationships with the Lord. So, we sit with them in pews and we practice.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9
We love the Bible and read the King James Version mostly in our home. However, our children love to hear Bible Stories even before they are old enough to understand, read or hear them from the Bible. So, we searched for a story Bible to read to them.
As it turns out another mother many years ago did the same thing. She searched bookstores to find a Children's Bible she thought would teach her children and endear their hearts to the Bible. She couldn't find one. So, she decided to write one. Her name was Catherine Vos. Her husband was first professor of Biblical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, Geerhardus Vos .
This version appeals to us because it is told in a narrative format. Almost as if your grandma was sharing the stories with her grandchildren. It is based on the King James Version. It was first published in 1935 in a three volume set. I own it in the one volume set that was published later. It contains 110 stories from the Old Testament and 92 from the New Testaments.
Mrs. Vos weaves the story of redemption throughout the stories she tells. She doesn't water it down. She uses Child friendly language and you can hear the King James version underlying the text. She does give some of her own interpretations, reminders of previous lessons and tell the story in summary, so be aware and tell your child if there is something you teach differently in your home.
I have found copies in used bookstores and at library sales.. so keep your eyes open.. I will add some pictures of the covers I know of so you can keep an eye out for it. Oh speaking of pictures.. the Story Bible doesn't have many pictures. It doesn't really need them. The stories capture the children's attention without the need for a picture on every page.
We use this book from the age of 4. Usually switching to the KJV at the ago of 6. This classic children's Bible remains our favorite. Enjoy the family time, discussion and foundation of God's word as you read these stories.
Ruth Bell Graham is another mother who used this Bible. She said of Vos' Story Bible, "I have used The Child's Story Bible for years . . . and can recommend it enthusiastically."
I just finished reading a book that was page after page of encouragement. I have never met the author but I am sure we would have such a wonderful time of fellowship if we met face to face. So many words that I read were similar to thoughts I have had, words I have said and were healing salve for some pains I have felt. Yeah I know.. it was a book. And I didn't meet the author.. Chimene Shipley Dupler but I feel like I have and that we have walked on many of the same paths on the journey of Motherhood.
So I am going to start at the end of the book
yes... that is the end. So what is the beginning.. you know it.. you are living it.. the fear, the anxiety, the questioning, the wondering, the confusion of so many different views of motherhood. Motherhood has a different place in our society that it ever has before. The word "justa" often come before mom... Imagine.. Just a mom. Just the giver of life. Just a soul shaper. Just one given responsibility for a precious soul by God himself. Just a teacher, trainer, nurse, chauffeur, chef, accountant, housekeeper, etc is never what people say.. but the woman who does all this and more is just a mom. So you know the beginning.
Here is the exciting part~
Did you read those words... opportunity, impact. handprint, generations? How exciting is that?! We see similar words in many professions.. hear them in motivational speeches.. but we don't always hear them when we are speaking about snotty noses, diapers, getting children to bed and many other required tasks of motherhood. Yet, these are all opportunities and this book reminds mothers that these are all part of the high calling of motherhood.
Now you may be thinking I have read similar books before.. I know this is a calling... sure great I am a mom.. that's awesome but I still feel challenged... maybe lonely... taken for granted.. and so on. The High Calling of Motherhood takes this all one step farther. It isn't just about us and our children about the boundaries of our property... this goes beyond...
Go ye therefore.. this is how we reach the world around us. Now.. today.. in the next generation.. perhaps if we are purposeful and intentional enough how we reach beyond for many generations. I was convinced of many of the thoughts of this book before I read it.. but it was so encouraging that there is a sister in Christ to which God is revealing the same message and that she is willing to minister to mothers. This book is a part of her heart.. her calling.. her ministry to mothers, their children and their churches.
Food for thought... growth.. inspiration.. motivation.. all in the pages of a book. The High Calling of Motherhood may help you to see your life as a mother your journey on the paths of motherhood completely differently. It may reveal some scripture to your heart and allow you to apply it to your life in a whole new way. It may convince you of messages God has revealed to you. It may encourage you to reach out and support other women in your life.
You are a difference maker. You are a world changer. You are a mom. Yes that is the ending.. if you choose to be. If you allow God to use you to be such. Walk these paths as you read these pages.. pray over the calling .. the high calling of motherhood.
This feat for a mother's heart and mind is available for pre-order from the following websites.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Calling-Motherhood-Chimene-Shipley-Dupler/dp/1620205823
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-high-calling-of-motherhood-chimene-shipley-dupler/1125819957
Ambassador's online retail store: https://squareup.com/store/ambassador-international/item/the-high-calling-of-motherhood {use code “HighCalling” entered at time of purchase for a 10% pre-order discount}
But wait there is more ~
There is a giveaway.. Follow the link below. The winner will get to choose between a custom made “World Changer” necklace by The Giving Keys {that is being unveiled at the Passion4Moms conference} or two tickets to attend the Passion4Moms conference being held in DC, May 5-6, 2017.
https://gleam.io/iAlu8/the-high-of-calling-of-motherhood-blog-tour-giveaway
And if you want to find follow the author or social media here are some links to connect with Chimene
www.facebook.com/chimeneshipleydupler
www.instagram.com/passion4moms
www.instagram.com/chimeneshipleydupler
