Overcoming Temptation :: Part 1

{Written by Bethany Ann}

Carissa sat down on her bed and opened her book to the place she had last marked with a pink silk ribbon. As she started to read she noticed that the content of that chapter was getting inappropriate. Her conscience started to prickle at her mind "Why are you reading this? You know you shouldn't! Your parent and the Lord wouldn't approve!" Will Carissa obey the Holy Spirit?

~*~

     Melissa grabbed the knife and fruit and headed for the cutting board. As she started to wash the peaches and cut off the bright green tops off the strawberries she remembered how she hadn't had her afternoon snack like she normally did. She all the sudden got really hungry and she instantly remembered how flavorful and juicy the fruit was the day before. Her mouth watered and she reached out to grab a strawberry when she remembered how her mother had asked her not to eat any of the fruit before dinner. But she was so hungry! Will Melissa give into this temptation?

~*~

     Rae Lynn was up in her room, and a long time had passed since the sun had gone down. She was trying to get a head start on the next days math test and was studying as well as trying to finish that book. All of the sudden she remembered of her parents wishes for her to go to bed at an early hour. She wonders is she could stay up without her parents knowledge. "It's not like I'm doing something bad with my time! I'm studying for school!" she told herself. "Your doing something productive with you time! What they don't know won't ever hurt them!" she thinks. Will Rae Lynn give in?

~*~

     Jo Ann heard the beep beep beep of the alarm clock. "Time to get up" she tells herself as she pulls her feet off the bed and onto the floor. As she gets ready for her day she puts on her day clothes, brushes her hair and teeth, washes her face and makes her bed. In a hurry to get breakfast due to the growling of her hungry stomach she flies down the brown stairs. As she steps down the middle of the stairs she remembers that she has not yet had her time with Jesus. "Oh, I'll just do it later" she tells herself. "Besides, I'm already half was down the stairs!" she complains. Will Jo Ann listen to the Holy Spirit?

~*~

     Have you ever been tempted in such a way as these girls in the above stories? Well do not feel alone, everyone is tempted! But with the Lord's help we can overcom temptation of the devil and overcome his foolish lies! Temptation can actually be a good thing if we use it for our good. If we can overcome temptations then that will strengthen our faith and the next time we are tempted we will more quickly recognize it as the devil's temptation. However, when we give into his lies then we will not recognize this as a temptation and then the next time we will recognize this as the devil's doings less and less every time. We will also be tearing down our faith as we give into Satan's lies and not find strength from the Lord instead. Dear, girls, we must not give into temptations! Can you think of one thing you are currently struggling with in your faith? Maybe it's obedience or keeping your thoughts pure. What about being kind to others or not gossiping? Well most sins start with temptation! So if we can stop temptations before they get going , then we can stop the chances of us being lead into sin without even knowing it!

     There are two well known Bible stories about two people who were tempted, except there were different outomes due to the persons choices. First, let's look at the well know story of the fall of Eve:

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." ~Genesis 3:1-6

     Eve was not obeying the Lord, and thus she was punished by her opened eyes among the other punishment brough on later on in the story when God finds that they have disobeyed His commands. Have you noticed how Satan used a tiny bit of truth and mixed it with a lot of things that weren't true to make it look good and true? Yes, it was right that her eyes were opened, but no in the way she though it would be! Satan has a way of getting very sneaky and he will do virtually anything to get you to give into his lies! 

     Now let's look at another story, this time it is the story of Jesus' temptation:

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." ~Matthew 4:1-11

     Did you notice how Jesus used Scipture to defent Himself? What a wonderful example of a tried-and-true method to drive the Satan away and tempt you no more! In my favorite book Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally, Miss Sarah writes "Try turing every termptation into a prayer! Satan will think twice about tempting you if he knows you will turn it into a prayer!" It is so true and a great way to strengthen your faith as most Christians have many temtpations! :D So pray and ask the Lord for guidence whenever you are being tempted and He will help you! "God will give us aid against the enemy... with God we will gain the victory and he will trample down our enemies" ~Psalm 108:12, 13

Please join us for part two on August 29th as we continue to study the importance, and the knowledge of how to overcome temptations!!

Home is Where the Heart Is

"For where your treasure is there your heart will be also."
{Matthew 6:21}

How to Keep Freshly-Cut Flowers Longer ::

Find a nice sized bucket, and fill it with water, and into this big drink plunge the stem of each flower within the first sixty seconds of a trice after you cut it. This is bloom-preservation principle number one. A cut stem, if not put into water at once, begins to suck in air which later will form “blocks” to prevent the sucking up of needed moisture when the stem does finally reach water. The result of such goings-on is a droopy, under-privileged looking flower that will soon lie down and die.

Second principle for cut flowers preservation is proper treatment or “hardening” of the stem so that it can drink up more water and keep the blossom fresh longer. This hardening treatment varies with the type of stem.

Woody Stem Plants, Shrubs

Examples: Chrysanthemums, Lilacs

Hard, woody stem plants, because of their internal structure, usually draw water very slowly. To speed up their moisture intake, smash the cut ends with a hammer for about two or three inches up the stems. This will expose the fibers and allow the stem to take up all the moisture it needs.

Hollow Stem Plants

Example: Dahlias, Delphiniums

The hollow stems of these plants have very little fiber surface and are quite hard around the outside. To open and soften the fiber layer so that it will absorb more water, dip the cut ends of the stems to a depth of four to six inches in boiling water, let stand a moment, then plunge into cold water.

Milky Sap Plants

Examples: Poppies, Poinsettias

In these plants, the action is reversed from the usual. Instead of the cut stem sucking up water, it lets its moisture run down, along with the heavy sap. They can be made to last two or three days in water if, when cut, the stems are immediately plunged into cold water and then, as soon as possible, held over a flame for about 30 seconds before being put back into water. Burning forms a callous at end, stops “bleeding.”

Flowers Requiring No Stem Water

Examples: Camellias, Gardenias, Orchids

These flowers hold a great deal of moisture. They need no water in container, only a light daily syringing of water on blooms. Syringe corsages, keep in refrigerator.

Annuals

Examples: Marigolds, Cornflowers, Asters

These require nothing more than immediate submersion of cut ends in water, and hardening in cool darkness for several hours.

Bulbous Flowers

Examples: Tulips, Lilies, Gladioli

These require immediate submersion in water in deep containers, with all of the stem surface under water right up to the flower head. Then keep in deep water in the coolest possible place for three or four hours, or longer.

~*~

Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe ::

Ingredients:

• 1 cup grated Ivory soap
• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
• Essential Oils or Fragrances {Optional}

Directions: Grade Ivory soap {you can get a bit more than one cup from one bar of soap}. Mix with Borax and Washing Soda. Store in a airtight container and use 1 tablespoon for every wash load.

Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe ::

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 8 cups white vinegar
• Essential Oils

Directions:

First mix the vinegar and water together then add the baking soda gradually, stirring the whole time. You will want to make sure to use a large pail to accommodate the fizzing activity from the baking soda and vinegar reaction.

Use a funnel to pour this mixture into a washed, gallon sized milk jug (plastic), add 1/3 teaspoon of your favorite essential oil, cap and seal then shake well.

To use: Shake each time before use, adding 1/2 to 1 cup at the start of the rinse cycle.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe ::

Ingredients:

• Aloe Vera Gel (make sure you get gel and not juice or it will be way too thin!)
• Isopropyl Alcohol (70%)
• Essential oil
• Small pump or flip top bottles

Mix equal parts of aloe Vera gel and alcohol.  I just eyeball it, but you can measure if you feel more comfortable.  Then add essential oil to desired strength.  I use 8-10 drops depending on what scent I am using. You can also make this using glycerin in place of the aloe Vera gel, but it can be pretty thin.  Use Tea Tree or Lavender oil for extra anti-bacterial protection.  Pour into your favorite containers and you are ready to go. This only cost pennies to make and you can use your favorite scent.  Try lemon for a light, clean scent, orange for a fruitier scent or peppermint for a scent kids love!

*Notes: There are some articles out there that say unless it is 60 percent alcohol it is not effective, so you can add more alcohol.  I use tea tree oil which has anti-bacterial properties, so I leave mine at half and half.  Nothing is guaranteed to protect you from all germs, so use what you are comfortable with for your family.

The above recipe was found at Heart, Hands, Home blog. See original post HERE!

Monthly Interview :: Martha Danell {Johanna's Grandma}

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING  :: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

MARTHA :: My husband and I have a large family including 12 grandchildren. Southern California has always been my home. Our children are all grown and no longer live with us, so our greatest enjoyment comes from spending time with our family whenever we can. My husband and I also enjoy taking our little RV out on the road to enjoy God’s beautiful creation together. I have accumulated an assortment of pretty teacups and teapots through the years, and I love gathering with the women in our family for tea parties. I worked in the business world for many years, and I still work part time. I have directed Women’s Ministries, taught women’s Bible studies, and enjoyed speaking at women’s retreats and other events.

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING :: How did you come to Christ?

MARTHA :: I had a true but distant relationship with God during the early years of my life. I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior when I was 38 years old and in a very difficult trial. I was utterly broken in mind, body and spirit by the weight of it. My 18-year-old daughter had recently received Jesus, and she urged me to receive Him too. One evening, in desperation I visited the Christ-centered, Bible-teaching church she had recommended, and I received the Lord at that service. The Lord used that hard time to bring me to Himself, and to give me a heart for women who are hurting.

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF TE KING :: How do you make your morning devotions meaningful?

MARTHA :: First, a word to those who are struggling to find time for devotions: Please remember that the lines of communication are always open between the Lord and His children, no matter what time it is. During the years when I had to be up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare myself and my large family for the day, and then arrive at my job by 8 a.m., I had to be very flexible and tenacious in order to have devotional times. If we are in an extra busy season of life and we are making an honest effort to meet with the Lord, then we need not become discouraged or feel guilty if we have to be flexible about the timing of our devotions. He knows and understands. I am in a different season of life now. My children are grown and moved away and my life is far less hectic in the mornings, making it so much easier to meet with my Lord.

My morning devotions are far more meaningful when I keep in mind that my Lord shed His blood to buy me the privilege of meeting with Him. Whatever it costs me to exercise that privilege is insignificant by comparison, and I do not allow myself to think of devotions as a task.

I greet the Lord as soon as I wake up, while my head is still on my pillow. I push away all other thoughts until after we have had some time together. This helps me to get my mind and my heart in the right place for that day.

Devotions are far more rich and meaningful if we are obedient to the Lord. If my devotional times start to feel dry, I ask the Lord if He is sending me a warning to prayerfully examine my conscience. He then helps me to re-align my will with His. In regard to avoiding temptations, my thanks to Dr. Charles Stanley for the following acronym. It is intended to warn us, like a STOP sign, to take certain precautions to avoid being overcome by temptations:

H = Do not allow yourself to become too HUNGRY.

A = Do not allow yourself to become too ANGRY.

L = Do not allow yourself to become too LONELY.

T = Do not allow yourself to become too TIRED.

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING :: What is one of the most valuable lessons that you have learned?

MARTHA :: The most important one I needed to learn as a new Christian was that Jesus could be trusted 100%. Human beings break trust with one another easily, and it can be very painful and leave very deep scars when it happens. For that reason, trusting Jesus fully can be very difficult. My own life changed dramatically when I finally gave everything over to His control. I am so grateful for His amazing patience and persistence. He never gave up on me, and He never gives up on anyone who opens the door of their heart to Him.

ROYAL DAUGHTER OF THE KING :: Why do you think it is so important to memorize scripture? Do you have any tips on doing so?

MARTHA :: We cannot always consult our Bible when we need God’s word. I think the following experience I had illustrates what I mean. My husband had a serious heart problem recently. Our son, who had been waiting with me at the hospital at his father’s bedside, had to go home for a while and he asked me if I wanted him to leave me his Bible. He knew that in my hurry to get my husband to the hospital, I had not brought mine with me. I could not read during that tense time, so I shook my head 'No' to our son and just pointed to my head and my heart, and He understood what I meant. I was letting Him know that I was drawing on the Word of God that I had memorized over the years. What comfort I received as verse after verse flooded my mind and heart throughout that anxious night!

I memorize scripture the old-fashioned way, by repetition. I keep scripture fresh in my mind by reading my Bible every day. Someone once told me that the way to make a verse stick in your mind was to read it, re-read it, underscore it, and repeat it out loud. I have added another two steps to those four. I also highlight a verse I want to memorize with a yellow highlighter, and then I write down in pencil in the margin next to it the thought that came to my mind about that verse. As you can imagine, over the years I have worn out several Bibles with all my underlining, highlighting and writing!

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING :: What are some ways that you honor your husband?

MARTHA :: I respect my husband’s role as the head of our family. I do this out of respect for the Lord, who established the marriage relationship. I have learned the importance of showing consideration to my husband in the little things. Let me illustrate what I mean by this story I heard from a speaker at a women’s retreat. She told how she was a busy wife and mother, and when dinnertime arrived every night, she quickly set the table, and got on with serving the food. One evening she noticed that her husband was thoughtful throughout dinner. When she asked him if something was troubling him, he answered her with a question: “Why do I always get the chipped plate?” The story got a lot of laughs because we married women could all identify with giving our husbands “second best” sometimes and not thinking a thing about it, but the underlying message was a serious one and I determined after that to be on guard against the “chipped plate” syndrome at our house!

A beloved pastor now in his 80’s was asked recently what he considered to be the single most important ingredient in a marriage relationship, and he answered with one word: “Kindness”. I couldn’t agree more! I wonder how many marriages would be in trouble if the husband and wife were consistently kind to one another?

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING :: Why is this important?

MARTHA :: God assigned the wife the duty of being a “helper suitable” to her husband, so honoring one’s husband, especially by being kind to him, is important to keeping their marriage relationship healthy. When kindness is always an ingredient in marriage, as well as in our other relationships, it is much harder to say or do things that are hurtful to one another. The Bible teaches that God is love. It also teaches that love is kind.

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING :: What are some of your guidelines for wholesome films? Could you recommend some titles?

MARTHA :: Keeping in mind that the Holy Spirit of God lives within me, and therefore He is always my companion when I watch a movie, the guidelines I follow for choosing films are simple. First, I will not watch a movie that I have not researched ahead of time to determine its story line and content. I ask, “Will my Lord approve of this movie? Does what I know about this movie pass through the filter of God’s word? Does the story contradict God by portraying evil as good? Is good portrayed as evil?” Usually, the answers to these questions are enough to help me decide whether or not a movie is acceptable. Also, I like what a pastor friend said once. He said that after a hard day, he wanted to “take his refreshment in the Lord”. That has always stuck with me as good advice. Whatever we choose to do for entertainment should have the effect of refreshing and strengthening us spiritually too. Movies and other forms of entertainment that clearly oppose God’s Word have the opposite effect.

Forgive me if I do not recommend any movie titles. Movies are such a matter of personal taste.

ROYAL DAUGHTER OF THE KING :: Who is your favorite author and why?

MARTHA :: Besides my Bible, I love to read on a wide variety of subjects. I enjoy the works of many authors from the past as well as the present, and I love discovering new ones to read. I appreciate the effort your Dad has made over the years, Johanna, to so meticulously build a family library of books by Christian authors, particularly those of the 19th century and earlier, and which you and he have so generously shared with me. A work of earlier fiction that you loaned me recently from your family library made a powerful impression on me, and I bought several copies to give as gifts. It is Sir Knight of the Splendid Way, authored by W.E. Cule, and is part of the Rare Collector Series published by Lamplighter Publishing. And as you know so well, Johanna, I enjoy the romantic works of Jane Austen and other authors of that time period.

ROYAL DAUGHTER OF THE KING :: Why do you find it important to trust God with everything?

MARTHA :: As I explained earlier, trusting God with everything is critical to receiving spiritual healing and achieving a victorious life. These are things that only He can accomplish for us. We must remember we have three things working against us all the time: the enemy of our souls, our own fleshly lusts, and the world around us that is in enmity with God. We cannot defeat them in our own strength. So we desperately need God’s help and protection. We also need to trust God entirely so that we can cooperate with Him in the plan He has devised for our life because it is immeasurably superior to anything we may have planned for ourselves. We need to trust God entirely so that we can receive all of the blessings that He wants to lavish on us - I call it “standing in the place of blessing”. We need to trust God entirely so that we can be useful to Him in spreading His message of love and salvation to others. We need to trust God entirely so that when our days our ended here, we can enter into His presence having glorified Him with our lives.

ROYAL DAUGHTERS OF THE KING :: What is your life verse, and why?

MARTHA :: The Lord impressed me with Jer. 33:3 as a new Christian. It reads, “Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”. That verse has taken on various shades of meaning at different times in my life. I believe the thirst for God’s word that I received from Him when I accepted Him as my Savior was the earliest fulfillment of that verse. Since then, whenever I have wanted enlightenment, I have returned to that verse and called unto Him. I most recently needed His enlightenment to cope with my husband’s heart emergency. Heart problems are very complex and challenging for a lay person to understand, which made it very difficult for me during my husband’s emergency. So I returned to Jer. 33:3 and called upon the Lord for enlightenment. He responded once again by helping me to understand the “great and mighty things, which you do not know”. That calmed me considerably and helped me to ensure my husband received the best possible care.

ROYAL DAUGHTER OF THE KING :: Is there a special message you would like to share in closing?

MARTHA :: I have thought very often of what I would say if I could give only one more message in this life. It has its roots in a retreat I led many years ago. The theme was, “What does God say … will you trust Him?” The first part, “What does God say…” is meant to underscore the importance of learning the entire Bible from cover to cover and making absolutely sure we interpret it accurately. The second part, “…will you trust Him?” underscores the importance of then applying all of God’s Word to our life, leaving none of it out.

A word about the work involved in learning the Bible: My husband enjoys old westerns. I have sat beside him so many times watching the familiar scene where a miner is laboriously digging for gold deep within the recesses of a mine. It is always in a rugged locale, and usually very hot. The miner is always dusty and tired and thirsty. But he keeps on digging. Why does he persist? Because he believes he will find gold if he just keeps digging long enough. While these are just movie scenes, we know from history that similar scenes have been played out in real life by real people mining for gold. The Bible is a mine full of gold, far more valuable than any gold that can be mined from the earth. Is it not reasonable then, for us to make the effort to obtain it?

Why would I want to leave this particular message when there are so many other things I could say? The reason is that I have lived long enough to prove Jesus Christ according to His Word and I have found Him true. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I yearn for everyone to come to know Him as their Savior and Lord so that they can receive the free gift of eternal salvation He has earned for us by His death on the cross in payment for our sins. I yearn for everyone to experience His reality in their daily lives, to enjoy the awareness of His loving presence, and to be filled with the hope and assurance that nothing we face in this life is insurmountable when we place our full trust in Him.

Blessings to you, Johanna and Bethany, for inviting me to this interview. I have appreciated the opportunity to share my heart with you and your readers.

Love in Jesus,

Grandma Martha

The Virtuous Woman :: Part One

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.

She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.

She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

 ~ Proverbs 31:10-20 ~

{Written by Johanna Rose}

Proverbs 31 is one of my very favorite passages in the Holy Scriptures. It is a passage that I constantly look to for guidance. For here, within these verses, lies the key to becoming a truly virtuous woman. Today, let us study these verses to an extent, so as we may gather wisdom to apply to our own daily lives, and goals.

~*~

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 

Proverbs 31:10

This verse is the first in which Proverbs 31 talks of a virtuous woman, and often times, it is the most quoted. I love the deep meaning attached to this verse. It first starts out "Who can find a virtuous wife?" When you look around this world, at times, it is very hard to find a truly virtuous wife, isn't it? So many wives in this day and age are so busy with their own interests and careers, that they no longer have the time to care for their homes, and no longer have the interest in helping their husbands. 

But, when a virtuous woman is to be found, the verse concludes in saying that "... her worth is far above rubies." What a glorious comparison this is. A ruby is an rare, beautiful, and very valuable stone. It is deep and rich in color, and is so unique from any other gemstone. And it is designed in such a way, that it would be ever so difficult to scratch the surface. This is what I pray to be like someday :: A want to be a beautiful example of what a woman of the Lord is to be. I want to be set apart for Him, and different from the norm of this world. I pray that my faith may be as strong as that of a Ruby -- resistant to the worlds temptations.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:11-12

These verses exemplify the beauty of a Godly marriage. It starts out by saying "The heart of her husband safely trusts her." Trust is a crucial part of every marriage, and sadly, many times this trust is betrayed. According to statistics, around 50% of marriages in America ends in divorce. These numbers are so sad -- but, unfortunately, very true. This was never God's purpose for marriage -- he didn't design men and woman to separate midway. He designed marriage so as one man and one woman would become one and the same {Genesis 2:24}. The Lord designed marriage as an institution of faithfulness -- no matter what --

... I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life ... from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

~ Marriage Vows ~

Someday, when I walk down the isle to my future, I want to take these vows before God with a pure heart -- and keep them until the day in which I join my Heavenly Father. I want my spouse to know that he can trust me with his heart -- and that he will never lack love, support, or devotion from me.

Verse 12 ties in with a few of the words in our marriage vow :: "I will love you and honor you all the days of my life." Love and honor. These two words are so crucial in having a successful, and Godly marriage. And it isn't just a temporary task -- it will be something we show all the days of our life -- for better, or for worse. I want my spouse to know that no matter what happens, he will always have my unconditional love.

She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar.

She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, 

And a portion for her maidservants.

Proverbs 31:13-15

These three verses are wonderful reminders on how a virtuous woman provides for her household, and cares for her family. In verse 13 it says that she "willingly works with her hands." I love this verse, because it is a constant reminder to me not to let me 'femininity' become an excuse for not working hard. Femininity is a beauty that the Lord gave each and every one of His daughters, but we must be careful to not become someone who is unable to lift a finger, for fear of tarnishing the feminine aspects. I have caught myself, on multiple occasions, trying to get out of a job because "I am a lady." But, we must realize that just because we are woman, by know means excuses us from working hard. In order to have a prosperous family, and an organized home, we must serve. We are required to work with our hands -- it is part of our calling.

In the second two verses, we can see that the Virtuous Woman procures food for her household, and takes care that they never hunger. I can see my own, dear, sweet Mother in this verse! *smile* Never once, in my entire life, have I gone hungry for lack of a meal. My Mother has always supplied us with good, wholesome things to eat. And often times, I know that she has risen early in the morning to prepare for the upcoming day. This is a truly virtuous woman. One who will spend her time in caring for others rather then herself. Daily I am encouraged by her example to me, and I pray that I may be like her when I have a home of my own.

She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.

Proverbs 31:16

In verse 16, we see that the virtuous woman invests in a field, and plants a vineyard. A vineyard is a garden spacificaly made for grapes. While doing some research, I came across this paragraph :: 

"Grapes were eaten fresh, or dried and eaten as raisins, just as they are today. Most of the crop of the vineyards was made into juice, wine and vinegar, although grapes were also pressed into cakes. A cup of raw grapes for example, contain only 58 calories; a minuscule 0.3 grams of fat; zero cholesterol, and vitamins A, B and C the minerals in addition to boron include calcium, potassium and zinc. Grapes fight tooth decay, stop viruses in their tracks and are rich in other ingredients..."

{via}

We can see that planting a vineyard was a wonderful way of providing good, wholesome food for her family, which would be edifying to the body in more ways then one. But it is often said that, "To plant a garden, is to believe in tomorrow." {Audrey Hepburn} We can see the The Virtuous Woman was not only making a wise investment in buying land, and planting a vineyard, but also, she was thinking of the future, rather then just the present.

She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.

Proverbs 31:17

This verse ties in with verse 13, which says "She willingly works with her hands." Again, this is a perfect reminder of how, although we are woman, and are designed to preserve our femininity, we also must be willing to work with our hands, and strengthen ourselves, so that we may preform the tasks that are required of us when running a household. Don't let femininity be an excuse for working hard. While we were designed to be feminine, we are also required to serve, and often times, serving our family's and homes will include tasks that are not so very feminine, but must be done.

She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.

Proverbs 31:18-19

These verses are a few of my favorites, as they are often times the verses which I look to when I am contemplating becoming a wife and a homemaker rather then a businesswoman, and working outside of the home. When studying the words above we can see that The Virtuous Woman used her sewing skills -- {"She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle."} -- and sells to bring extra income into the home -- {"She perceives that her merchandise is good..."} Sadly, I see that many woman would interpret these verses as saying that The Virtuous Woman was a businesswoman. But, when I read these verses, I believe that they imply a wonderful wife, help-meet, homemaker, and mother -- who is helping her husband by working inside the home to bring in extra income. She didn't do this instead of caring for her family and home, but rather, she did it in addition to caring for her family and home.

Mrs. Chancey is a wonderful example of a woman who helps her family in just such a way. While she is stay-at-home wife and mother, and has devoted her life to her husband and children, she also has founded the beautiful Sensibility Patterns website, where she has designed, and sells gorgeous patterns for past-era gowns.

She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20

This is the last verse we will be studying for today, but surely not the least important. Multiple times in the Bible, we are called to help the needy. Here, in verse 20 of Proverbs 31, we see that this is an aspect which a Virtuous woman must attain. As Daughters of the Most High King, we receive so much, all he requires is that we share what we have with others, for in Mathew 5:7 that those who are merciful, will receive mercy from the One Above. It is sad to encounter someone who is so concerned about what the future holds, that they can't {won't} share what they have been so blessed to receive. We need to put our fears aside, and trust in what the Lord has said in Ecclesiastics 11:1. We need to know in our hearts that the Lord will provide for us.

~*~

Please join me in two week's time (the 22nd) for part two of this study on the Virtuous Woman....

Blessings,

~Johanna Rose~

~*~

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all."

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

 ~ Proverbs 31:21-31 ~

Yummy Cookies :: Recipes

{Cinnamon Favorites}

Don't you just love a fresh baked cookie?

I certainly do! As I have prepared some great cookie recipes that our family have loved for years top share with you I asked myself "What do I think of when I think of the word 'cookie' "? Well one of my first thoughts was "Sweet!" :D So I started to think of how this can apply to Christians as well. What do people think of when they see or hear your name? When people think of "Bethany" I hope that they imagine a strong Christian young lady, striving to serve our King. I want to challenge myself as well as you to try and keep our reputation a good one. It is sometimes hard to be patient with little siblings in the grocery store, but when we behave in a un-godly manner and other shoppers see our Christian necklace or t-shirt then they will not think of Christians as something they would want to be. But when we behave in a God-glorifying manner then others will see what is different about us and this is a opportunity to share the Gospel! So whenever you see or make cookies then let it be a reminder to be a good whiteness for Christ!

Enjoy the recipes!

Bethany Ann

Sugar Cookies

{These cookies turn out best when you measure the ingredients exactly what measurement is given. Try and get it as level at possible and you'll be sure to have some great cookies! These cookies are perfect  to frost and decorate since they are so thick and will not easily break when handled. We make bunches of them every Christmas and pass them out to friends and family!}

Ingredients:

• 2/3 c. shortening
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1 1/4 sugar
• 3 c. flour
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 t. baking powder

Blend shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients. Knead on floured surface for 5-10 minutes or until dough sticks together and it like play-dough. Roll into 1 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters into shapes. Place cookies on a un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 425* for 5 minutes {a few minutes longer if you like yours really cooked and brown on the bottom like my father. :D}. Goes great with milk!

Split Seconds

{We LOVE these cookies! They are great for little tea-parties!}

Ingredients:

• 3/4 c. margarine or butter
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 2 t. vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 c. flour
• 1/2 t. baking powder
• 1/2 c. jelly {strawberry, grape, peach, etc.}

Beat all we ingredients. Stir in dry ingredients. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces and roll out like a skinny log as long as you cookie sheet. Place on the lightly greased cookie sheet. Using your finger, press it down in the middle of the dough all the way down the rope to make a "bed" for your jelly. Be sure and not press to hard or your "bed" will leak and you will have a sticky jelly mess! Take jelly and stir until smooth. Place jelly in the bed, but not to much so it runs over. Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes. Cool and cut diagonally and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cookies

{These cookies are so healthy that we sometimes have them for breakfast with milk! When you think about it, it's like a baked oatmeal-peanut butter breakfast bar! We love them!}

Ingredients:

• 1 cup margarine or butter
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 3 cups ground oatmeal
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed (You can use flour or ground oatmeal...we just used flax seeds to make it more healthy)
• 1 cup brown sugar or 1/2 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons Splenda or 1 cup sweetener
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer. Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, brown sugar or honey, Splenda or sweetener, eggs, baking soda, baking powder and vanilla. Mix well and then add the remaining flour and flax seeds. Shape dough into balls place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Make criss-cross form with fork. Bake at 375* for 20-30 minutes.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c. flour
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1 c. butter
• 1 c. Splenda or other sweetener
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 t. vanilla
• 3 c. quick oats
• 1 c. raisins

Beat butter and sweetener until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by teaspoons on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

{These are great to make in the hot summer months since they don't require a hot oven to bake in thus making the house cooler!}

Ingredients:

• 2 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. cocoa
• 1/2 c. milk
• 3/4 stick of butter (1/2 c.)
• pinch of salt
• 1 t. vanilla
• 3 c. quick oats

Cook sugar, cocoa, milk, butter and salt over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and oats. Shape into balls once cooled, place on wax paper and let sit until hardened.





Cake Mix Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 package of cake mix (any flavor)
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup of oil
• 1/4 cup of water

Mix all ingredients together. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 15 minutes or until done. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

{Do you like ooey-gooey cookies? Well if so then these are for you!}

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (6 oz.) of chocolate chips
• Chopped nuts, optional

In a bowl combine brown sugar, sugar margarine and shortening, beat until smooth. add vanilla and egg; blend well. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch pan and bake at 375* for 15 to 25 minutes. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Favorites

{We make these ALL the time and love them! They are a mix of a snicker doodle, sugar cookie and cinnamon cookie and are SO good!}

Ingredients:

• 1 c. margarine or butter
• 2 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 t. vanilla
• 2 1/2 flour
• 2 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. salt
• Cinnamon sugar {A mix of 3 parts sugar and 1/2 part cinnamon}

Cream first 4 ingredients until smooth. Then add next 3 ingredients. Chill in plastic wrap in refrigerator until dough is pliable but not sticky. If needed add a bit more flour to get the right texture. Roll into balls and then roll around in cinnamon sugar. Please on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350* for 12-15 minutes.

Cookie Log Cake

{This is a perfect summertime treat since you serve it cold!}

Ingredients:

• 1 c. milk
• 1 package instant pudding mix
• 1 1/2 c. cool whip
• cookies

Mix milk and pudding and whisk until thick. Add cool whip. Spread in between cookies and form a log. Use remaining frosting to frost around the log. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy!

Monthly Giveaway :: Tea-Time Scripture Cards

Hello Ladies! It is time again for the monthly giveaway and this month I have a giveaway that you won't want to miss! I am so excited to say that Augusts' giveaway will be for a set of tea-time cards with Scripture quotations from Scripture Designs! A special thank you to Miss Hannah for allowing us to give away this wonderful treat!    

Below are the three of the six designs that are in the tea-time set {You can view the other designs and card information HERE}. Aren't they simply lovely? They would be a wonderful way to make a letter or card more special to a pen-pal or family member!

  

How To Enter :: {Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, or it won't count}

• MANDATORY:: Post about Royal Daughters of the King on your blog, including the giveaway information. Please leave the link to your post in your comment.
• Read an article posted in the past at Royal Daughters of the King.
• Put our blog button on your blog sidebar.
• Spend a moment in prayer for our ministry.
• Share with us five or more things that your feel thankful for at the moment.
• Visit Scripture Designs.
• Sign up for Scripture Designs e-newsletter HERE.

Additional Information :: Please leave a way for us to contact you in each of your comments (blog address, email, etsy user name, etc). Giveaway ends at noon, on the 30th of August, and {Lord willingly} the winner will be announced the following day!

Blessings,

~Bethany Ann & Johanna Rose~

True Unconditional Joy

                                                                                   {Written by Bethany Ann}

Sometimes it feels as if the only times I am truly "happy" is when I get what I want. Joyful days to me are days were I get to get a special book at the library or when I get to buy something new. Such days are when I receive a letter or get a treat. But what about those days were there is no letter and no treat or those when you didn't get to purchase that stationary that you really wanted or the library book was already checked out? What about those days? Am I truly happy then? I have been learning recently how true unconditional joy does not come from material or conditional things such as getting to go to a friends house or getting to eat out. These things are not worthy of determining our attitude since they are subject to change at any given moment. I cannot let the day and what it brings, determine whether or not I will serve the Lord with a joyful heart because they are not set in stone.

     I have also been learning the important of being joyful in hard times and difficult situations. It's easy to be joyful when I get what I wanted or even when I didn't get what I wanted, but it's hard to be joyful when your mother loses a baby or when you dad loses his job or when a someone dies. These are the times when we must have faith to do as Nehemiah 8:10 tells us: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." When hard times come I try and find something to be thankful for. When my mother loses a baby I thank God for the siblings I have now. when my dad loses his job I thank God for using this to show how he can provide for us. When two of our three puppies died I thanked God for the time we had with them and for the one puppy who is still here. It's all about how you look at it. Humans are prone to instantly dwell on the bad side of everything but when we look at the bright side it makes it much more bearable.

     I have just finished reading Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place {review coming in the next book review post!}. One of the parts of the book that really stood out and stuck with me is when Corrie and her sister Betsy were placed in a concentration camp for hiding Jews in their home. When they arrived they found that their area was completely flea infested. It was not long before their bodies was covered in flea bites and hurting. But one day Betsy reminded Corrie of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that says to "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." She explained how ALL things included the annoying fleas and she prayed thanking God for them. But Corrie couldn't get herself to thank God for them. Why would fleas be a joy and why could she be thankful for them?

     After a bit of persuading Corrie reluctantly thanked God for them. A few weeks later the girls noticed how there living area was not as guarded than the others they had been at. They had never seen a guard inside their area. They thought is strange, but were thankful for it since they would freely read the Bible aloud to the other women in the camp since there were no guard to stop them. Later they found that the reason why the guards didn't think of coming into the room was because it was full of fleas. Instantly Corrie thought of how she had thanked God for the fleas and now realized the important of thanking Him in all things.                                                                                   This story has made me realize how important it is to be joyful in every situation. For the joy of the Lord truly is our strength and we truly can do all things through Him who gives us strength! Thank you Lord!

     I have often found myself waking up and my first thought is I can't wait for the mail to come!" or "Oh, I can't wait for my computer time!" I realized that when I rejoiced in temporary things I was setting my attitude of whether or not that thing came to pass. If I did get a letter in the mail I was happy, but if I didn't I got grumpy. I realized that instead of focusing on temporary thing I needed to instead wake up and think "I can't wait to spend this day for the Lord! I am so thankful for His Word!" My first thoughts should always be focused on Jesus and I need to be thankful for the unchanging things about Him, such as His Word, His love, His mercy, His faithfulness, etc... because these things will not change and aren't constantly like shifting sand.

     So what is today for you? Is it one of those "happy" days or one that isn't so great? Well ,no matter what option you chose, lets all determine to make this a "truly joyful day" and be joyful in the unchanging characters of the Lord Jesus.

     One way I like to keep myself joyful is by singing songs of praise. It defiantly uplifts my spirit and helps me stay centered on HIM! Another thing that is good to do it to count you blessings! it's something everyone tells you to do but it really is life changing! 

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

{Psalm 100}