Old Things to Remember in the New Year

Roses III by Igor Levashov

Put Your Hand to the Plow - Luke 9:62

There is no point in trying out homemaking or homeschooling just to see if it will work, because it will not run smoothly all the time. Women who stay home need to do it with a firm resolve, so that they cannot be talked out of it, and be willing to keep the home,  through the good times and the not so good times.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize - Romans 6:15-23

Do the things that are the most important, first, and do not look longingly at distractions. Looking back at what might have been causes you to do a poor job of the task ahead of you. Think of the end result as the prize and press forward, doing whatever you can to reach it.

Give No Heed to Falsehoods -Proverbs 17:4

Before giving in to fear and uncertainty, be sure you know if it is true. If it is false, do not allow it to demoralize you. "There are thousands  to tell you it cannot be done. There are thousands to prophecy failure, there are thousands to point out to you one by one, the dangers that wait to assail you."" (Edgar Guest, poet) 

 Remember the Biblical account of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. All around him stood those who jeered and tried to discourage the builders.One of the naysayers trivialized the strength and quality of the building structure, saying:  "If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall." (Nehemiah 4:3) It sounds much like the sneering that goes on today, but we are not always required to engage in a debate over something that we are doing. 

The prophet continually told his enemies that he was too busy doing a great work and could not come down and dispute with them about whether or not he should be doing it. If you believe that  being a wife, mother and homemaker is a good work, why should you believe those who say differently?

Pray Without Ceasing - 1st Thessalonians 5:17

Keep thoughtful prayer constantly in your mind. It will make a difference in the level of stress in your life. It is faster to communicate your thoughts and problems with God than with anyone on face-book or instant messaging. Beware of substituting the constant communication that goes on in the world, for unceasing prayer to God.

Forget Those Things Which Are Behind - Philippians 3:13

Everyone has a past, and whether it is a good one or a bad one, they need to press forward toward some kind of achievement. Whether it be teaching good manners to your children, becoming a better cook or learning to be content with life,  pressing forward to success means not repeating the past or living in its shadow.  Keep good lessons learned from mistakes in your mind, but forget the past sins and refrain from telling the story over and over. It can hinder your reaching for a better, happier life, and sometimes, waylay others who dwell on your past more than they should. Always live as though the present is more important.

Shake the Dust off Your Feet - Matthew 10:14.  

Jesus knows the debilitating effect of disputing, mocking or stone-heartedness, for he told his disciples to leave a town, symbolically shaking the dust off their shoes, and move on.  One may wonder why they did not stay and win the people over with their love and truthfulness, but Christ did not want them to be bogged down in a place where their message was not well-received.  Human beings need approval and need to have a positive atmosphere in which to grow spiritually.  If you are slowed down playing useless games online or debating people offline, you  might be losing precious time that could be spent making your home beautiful.  It might be helpful to re-read the post on living the abundant life with its warnings about the cynicism.

Beat Swords into Ploughshares - Pursue peaceful things that accomplish something: knit a sweater, make a quilt, sew a dress, clean house, read a book, design a house, teach young women, or just enjoy relaxing at home.  Someone is always going to try to get you in a defensive position, arguing over whether you should be staying home.  They might as well argue over whether or not you should cook a hot meal or take care of a sick child. The answer is obvious. Turn the attack into a useful task.

Do Not Cast Your Pearls Before Swine - Matthew 7:6  "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them, and turn again and rend you."  Do not waste the time the Lord has given you trying to convince others of the validity of your station in life as a keeper of the home, if they are not earnestly seeking the truth.  They will ridicule the wisdom you give them, and then tear your personality apart, and say you are crazy.  You are not obligated to waste your breath on just anyone. The example you show in your life will always be a message in itself. Put your own family first and do not neglect your home in an effort to save the world. 

Fight the Good Fight - 1st Timothy 6:12.  It strengthens others when they see someone who is always the same. In spite of illness, financial problems, grief or family upheavals, some women still stay with the course.  They stay home. They teach their children. They attend worship services.  They teach other women, online and off.  They are staying in it through the valleys and the hills. Their lives are like great ships that, though tossed about on rough seas, know that they were made for the challenges that come along.

 Sometimes you may wonder if people are ever going to quit asking you when you are going to get a job, or what you do all day. The enemy is the same as it was when Christ was crucified: hating him and loudly mocking until he drew his last breath. He was willing to endure it for the joy that was set before him. (Hebrews 12:2)   You can have a long marriage, successful children, and a great life, but someone is always going to ask you if you are going to work, even when you are 70 years old, because the doctrine of feminism is so ingrained in our society, that its believers never quit trying to get everyone to live as they do.

Cast Bread Upon the Waters - Ecclesiastes 11:1   Every generous gesture will bring more back to you.  Know how to give when it is needed, and how to give even when it is not.  Teach your children to ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?"  God leaves it entirely up to the individual to give as he has prospered (Ist Corinthians 16:2), and a good giver will find that he is never in want.  It is wise to "cast your bread upon waters" by giving in different ways besides your church contribution. Give collectively in the assembly, but give individually when you see a need, or feel a need to give.  In future posts, I hope to share some ideas on how to give creatively.

Put Your House in Order - 11 Kings 20:1  This was a command given to Hezekiah when he was dying and the principle of the thing is valuable even for the very young.  Start getting your house in order so that you can find things if you have a prolonged illness or if you incur any upheavals in your family.  In crises, an orderly house helps people think more clearly.

You and your family might enjoy more Bible phrases found here.

It has been said that this generation has not passed the familiar sayings on to their children. Discussing these great Biblical phrases with your family will help restore them to the home, so that they can be taken up by the next generation and the next, and will enrich the general culture around us.

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