Over the past few years the Lord has gently impressed upon my heart the truth that the way a woman presents herself is important. Her presentation - demeanor, spirit, attitude, dress, etc. will either glorify the Lord and bring honor to her husband or not. With this in mind I would like to share a wonderful blog series on this topic - A Portrait of Feminine Dress by Jacqueline at Deep Roots at Home. I hope these wonderful pictures inspire you as much as they did me. Be sure to read the entire series. Enjoy.
A pure woman is one who is less concerned about trendiness than about what a particular trend communicates about character. ~Lydia Brownback
It's so easy today to base our choices on what's readily available and on what everyone else is wearing. After all, we think, it can't be immodest if we blend in with everyone around us. But we are kidding ourselves here. A more accurate assessment as to whether an article of clothing is God-glorifying involves both our motive for wearing it and the effect it has on the men around us. The old saying "she wears her heart on her sleeve" can be taken beyond the realm of romance to the realm of character. ~Lydia Brownback
Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control. ~1 Timothy 2:9
Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ~1 Peter 3:3-4
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:1-2
This morning I've been thinking about time. About how I never seem to have enough of it. How I feel like I am always chasing after it. Trying to catch it. Slow it down. Stop it. There are so many things to do each day.
I wish I could capture time. Keep it. Tell it to wait so that I can get everything done. Yet, I suppose I'm getting the things done that the Lord wants me to get done...or maybe not. Intentionality must play a part. If I am intentionally using my time, will I still be chasing after it? Seems not, and yet...craziness happens despite my best intentions to be intentional. I've been pondering intentionality. Questioning what it looks like lived out and how I can stay motivated enough to be consistently intentional. I have a tendency to decide to do something and then completely forget that I made the decision to do it. There is just so much going on...time spinning fast. I want to live an intentional life. Intentional for Christ. In every. aspect. of. my. life. Yes. The question is: what does an intentional or intentionally lived life look like? In real time. Time crammed full with children. School. Noise. Screaming toddlers. Sickness. Laughter. Good. Bad. Boring. Exciting. Life. A life of purpose. A life of beauty. A life of order. A life of love. A life of sacrifice. A life of praise. A life well lived. Christ. Yet, how? What is it? What does it look like? And how do I find time and strength to attain and maintain it? Revolutions in my mind. Elisabeth Elliot's famous words come to mind..."do the next thing". And yet,... I was reading another blog that I enjoy and the author was answering a question from a reader who asked how the author of the blog never got tired of being intentional. The author answered that she does get tired, but that it is a good tired. I agree. Work is good. Being intentional is good (and important), but I also agree with the questioner. Living an intentional life is not easy. It is tiring. Especially for a wife whose husband is often absent due to long work hours or other obligations. Intentionality then falls primarily on the wife/mother - and for a mother of many this can be a tiring thing. A difficult thing. Weary. There is always the call of the couch. Do you hear it? It calls, "come and sit for you are weary". The computer calls too, "come and lose yourself in endless web pages and other's words". And books. They call too. And the shower. Ha!
As mothers we must laugh. Find humor in the crazy. Proverbs 31 says, "she laughs at the time to come". I've been thinking that we must laugh at the days that are. Today. This moment. It helps us stay sane. Or me at least.
My husband is once again teaching from 1 Peter. This book of the Bible is all about intentional living. Holy living. Glorifying God. Good works. Following Christ. And suffering. I'm going to try to carve out a few free minutes today to delve into it's pages and see what I can glean about living intentionally.
But now another is calling me from his crib. His babbles say, "Momma, come and get me. I am awake. I'm ready for the day. No more sleep. Here I am!" And so I go...to begin my intentional day or not. We shall see.
This morning I went to the window and what should I see? Rain! Beautiful, blessed rain. Bess, my sweet, emotional five year old came to window beside me this morning and asked, “Mamma, what are you looking at?” Then she saw it too, “Rain! It hasn’t rained in years!” Or something like that. I think the news said 120 days.
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. 1 Samuel 1:19-20
In due time…the sickness will pass. In due time…my three year old will consistently use the potty. In due time…we will have a few pennies to spare. In due time…the baby will be born. In due time…we will not be so busy. In due time…________________?
Dear sisters, in due time the season will turn and whatever hardship or painful situation you are facing (which in hind sight might actually prove to have been good for you - a blessing even) will pass. Trust that God is good even when life doesn’t seem so. For now trust and obey, walk out your faith and trust in God even when it is dark, hold fast to God’s promises for if you do then in due time it will be over and God will be glorified.
In due time. Such a precious promise.
And finally - “in due time” - God’s answer came rushing through. “Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him of the Lord' (1 Samuel 1:20)". Still trusting. -Janet Parshall
A simple wonderful thing that I love: When my husband teaches on a Bible passage in Sunday school and then our pastor preaches on the same passage (or subject) during worship.
Something similar and just as wonderful happened last Sunday.
A bit of background: Sometimes I know what Mark (my husband) is going to teach on or at least the gist of it, but sometimes I don’t. Last Sunday I knew nothing of his lesson except that he would be finishing up the book of Acts (28:11-31). In fact, last Saturday I wasn’t even sure if he would have a lesson to teach on because as of 9:00 pm Saturday night he was suffering from a (another) terrible headache and had been unable to focus on studying at all that day and the clock was ticking - so to speak.
9:30 pm last Saturday night: Mark asked me what he should do (about teaching on Sunday morning) and I asked him if he could teach the passage without studying it. He said he could. I told him to go to bed. He did. I spent some time praying for the next day - that God would take away his headache and that God would give him a lesson - God’s words to speak. Then I went to bed. I did not think to read the passage he was going to be teaching on the next day. I was worn out and Sunday is often a joyful, but busy and tiring day.
Sunday morning: About an hour and a half before we needed to leave for church I woke Mark and asked him how he was feeling and if he wanted to get up and study a bit. He said he felt a little better (not great) and would get up. I had a few extra minutes Sunday morning so I spent the time looking up verses on healing and then I spent a few minutes before we left reading Voices of the True Woman Movement, A Call to Counter-Revolution by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and others. I was reading in chapter 4 of the book and the subject matter was the kingdom of man vs. the kingdom of God. Looking back I realize that should have spent my extra time reading the passage Mark was going to teach on, but as you will see God spoke through what I did read.
9:30 am/Sunday school: Mark is teaching and I am silently praising God because He has given him words and his headache has receded a bit. It is a good lesson. I am thankful. I am also sitting in amazement because God is speaking…at least to me. Guess what Acts 28:23-31 is about? Yes! So amazing! Or maybe not. Just God. Exactly what I’d read about in those few minutes before we left for church. Of course! Paul preaching about the kingdom of God in Rome. So what do you think the main part of Mark’s lesson was about? Yes! The kingdom of man vs. the kingdom of God. Wake up O sleeper and see. Precious.
Marvel. Amazed. Blessed. Grace. Gift. Precious. These are the words that best described how I felt that morning and still feel. God is so good.
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. -Acts 28:23
To follow Him we must give up our own kingdoms - whether relationships, wealth, or power - and embrace God’s kingdom. -Hettinga
In all of life, it’s important to recognize that there are always two stories going on at the same time - two perspectives, two worldviews, two ways of looking at life. There’s the drama that you can see, and then there’s the drama behind the drama. There’s the obvious plot, as well as the plot beneath the plot. The first plot is the visible, human one - the drama taking place on earth. We might call this the kingdom of man,…Backlighting the human plot and story is a heavenly drama, an unseen story that’s always going on behind the scenes in the spiritual realm. It is the Kingdom of God, overshadowing and outdistancing the kingdom of man as God fulfills His eternal purposes through the events on earth. …Therefore, we as true women, playing out our individual roles in the story of our times, must keep our eyes on what is unseen, knowing that what our God is doing in the background is higher, broader, and more eternal than anything we can see with our natural sight. -Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Please believe me when I say that the wondrous acts of God are not limited to by-gone days. Our powerful, redeeming God is alive; He has not abdicated His throne; He is intent on displaying His glory in our world. And our minds cannot fathom all that He is able to do in and through the lives of those who trust in Him. - Nancy Leight DeMoss
P.S. Mark is still suffering from almost non-stop headaches and they are wearing him down mentally and physically. Your prayers are appreciated.
If the world is ever going to see the Resurrection before Jesus returns, it will have to see it in us.
Many of us think often about our witness, but we may think of it in terms of our words or even our lifestyle. Those things are certainly important, even essential parts of our witness. But there’s a dynamic that will do more than any of our words or good behavior can do. It’s the dynamic of visible death and visible life. What does that mean? It means that people must see in us a sacrificial life. They must see self-denial and self-restraint, humility and confession, deference and peace. They must see that the life of Jesus within us costs us a lot. They must see the very attitude that took Jesus to the Cross. Then they must see the power of Jesus working in us. They must see that our life is not something created by our past psychology or present drive, but is given from above. They must see a joy that transcends this world and a peace that will not be bothered by it. They must see the very glory that brought Jesus out of the grave.
The only way to make our Savior known is to embody His death and to embody His life. Live like He lived. Sacrifice like He sacrificed. Enjoy the glory of His resurrection like He did - and does. That’s how He is revealed. -Chris Tiegreen
At an old English parsonage down by the sea, There came in the twilight a message to me. Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven. And all through the hours the quiet words ring, Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.
Many a questioning, many a fear, Many a doubt hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from heaven, Time, opportunity, and guidance are given. Fear not tomorrows, child of the King, Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.
Do it immediately, do it with prayer; Do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand, Who placed it before thee with earnest command. Stayed on Omnipotence, safe'neath His wing, Leave all results, do the next thing.
Looking to Jesus, ever serener, Working or suffering be thy demeanor; In His dear presence, the rest of His calm, The light of His countenance, be they psalm, Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing. Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.
Every once in awhile I will read something that sends my spirit into turmoil. Ann’s words have done this. What do I do with them? Her words. My lowly Advent celebration seems paltry in comparison.
The World Vision Catalog has already been looked through multiple times by the children. Watching them sit together on the couch and pour though the catalogue one would have thought that they were looking at a toy catalogue - not a catalogue full of chickens, pigs, rabbits and water wells. It was beautiful.
As she looked on, Bessie pointed to a picture of a small child. She asked why his stomach was distended. Tears came to my eyes as I explained. How I’d like to gather them all into my arms - these hungry and homeless ones. And yet I feel so helpless.
Money seems to flow like water at my church. Mark often tells me stories to me about people who are able to pull hundreds of dollars out of their pocket without blinking an eye. How I wish I could do so, but money does not flow like water in my home - except down the drain. Still, we will give as we are able, but it feels paltry and pathetic. It feels like nothing. This morning Mark and I were listening to Mere Christianity. C. S. Lewis was talking about giving. He said that if giving doesn’t hurt, then we probably are not giving enough.
Honestly it has never occurred to me not exchange gifts. Gifts are part of Christmas right? I’ve thought of limiting the number - and we do - but none? There is a selfish part of me that thinks that it would be wonderful from a financial standpoint. I would save a lot of money. Think of what I could give and save! But would I really?
I confess that I like Ann’s idea a lot and yet I am oddly troubled by it. Gifts sit waiting in my closet. Waiting to be wrapped and placed under the tree. The tree skirt waits barren for Christmas morning. I find myself making justifications. Saying to myself that we don’t forget Christ at Christmas. We give Christmas Eve to Him. It is our celebration night. What we do on that night has varied over the years, but it is our night of worship. Then Christmas morning we rise and sing to Him, we read our final Advent reading. We wait to open presents until we have worshiped Him first and we thank Him. All things are from His hand and we acknowledge this. We try to never forget this. Santa does not come to our house. This is so that we don’t forget, or get confused about Who we are to be thankful to and for. The children know that we (parents) provide the gifts and that in some instances we have sacrificed to buy them and that it is for their joy that we do it. They are encouraged to do the same - to save their allowances to buy gifts for each other, and others, and they do so joyfully. They plan it out for weeks/months in advance and lament when they do not think they have enough money to buy something good for each other. I think that there is good in this…but again maybe I am only making excuses. The idea of no gifts seems so simple. The idea of just giving gifts to Christ so perfect. It is His birthday after all.
Christmas always seems so rushed and complex. Not a celebration of Christ at all despite all that we try to do to keep the holiday about Him. That is why we try to turn our focus back to Him. It is why we celebrate Advent. It is why we purposely decline to attend half of the parties and celebrations we are invited to. To try to keep our focus on Him. And yet…it is so hard. Maybe Ann is on to something.
This is amazing. I’ve listened to a lot of Scripture in song and I often feel like it just isn’t right somehow - but this! I’m listening to the promos and a I want to weep. Literally. It is so beautiful.
It is not about us. It is about making Him known. Making Christ known. - Michelle Duggar
Amen!
Dear Ladies,
Single, married, mothers of none , mothers of one or two, mothers of many may I encourage you to listen to the following interview with Michelle Duggar. She is a godly, sweet, wise, and precious woman with lots of experience raising children…I guarantee that you will be blessed. Topics range from whether or not she and Jim Bob always wanted a large family to dealing with the difficult times in life.
Michelle’s favorite exhortation for young mothers - Don’t grow weary in well doing. For in due season you will reap if you faint not. … You will rejoice in time to come if you faint not.
P.S. Many of you know that a few weeks ago our sweet baby #6 went to be with the Lord through miscarriage. Going through this process has been horrible and precious at the same time. We thank God for giving us the gift of this child - even for the brief 9 weeks that I carried him/her. God has been so present throughout it all. We mourn, but we rejoice. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Thank you to all of you who lifted us up in prayer. Know that your prayers were felt and very appreciated. And to those of you who offered to bring us a meal - “God bless you!”.
If you have ever experienced the pain and sorrow of losing a child through miscarriage or later, Doug Phillips message “The Hopeful Theology of Miscarriage” is a beautiful, tough, and wonderful message that will both encourage and challenge you. It is a message that you will not hear from many pulpits, but it is one which should be proclaimed. There may be a few points in this message (like the age of accountability) with which you might disagree, but listen anyway. Plus, did I mention that this is a challenging message? As in it requires thought.
“Mom, I just wish I could have seen his face.” - Aaron, age 12
“God is good. God is so good. God is good, but He can stop a baby. But God is so good.” -sung by Bess, age 4, as she played with her dolls.
“Mom, you can still (we can still) have another baby right?” - Asked by all of the children.
“Mom, now we can have all those things that you (and Dad) told us that we would have to give up because of the new baby - vacations, new shoes, clothes, toys. …I still want a baby.” -Bess, age 4
God gives a good gift. -Doug Phillips Life isn’t just about life it is about death. -Doug Phillips
Oh, Lord, thank you, thank you! for the nine weeks that you gave me. Those weeks were so precious. Thank you. I honestly thought that I would never have the joy of carrying a baby again. What a sweet, precious gift you gave me…I love you Lord. Thank you. I trust you God. Blessed be the name of the Lord. -danielle, age 42
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. - Psalm 16:5-6
Ann Voscamphas such a gift. If you haven’t visited holy experiencein awhile, it is time. Grab a Kleenex. You will need it. Start here, but be sure to read this. Be sure to make yourself a cup of tea or java before you sit down - you will be spending a bit of time with her.
She writes about forgiveness, pain and thankfulness. Truth in prose.
I have been thinking about similar things. About my parents too. Not abuse, but...something like. Not what we have now. Joy. Beauty. Peace. Quiet. Family. Love. Togetherness. Christ.
I'm thinking about Lydia Brownbackand all that she has been teaching me about joy. About how it is not and should not be based on circumstances. About how it is a gift and a responsibility.
So I pray. Last time they (my parents) were here I failed. Miserably. Horribly. Maybe the worst ever. I've gotten good and making it through, but last time. I don't know...I wasn't ready. Wasn't "prayed up". I had decided that I wasn't going to be moved - i.e. affected. But, I was. During the entire visit I was 16 again. I was caught. Later, after the worst, I saw them.
Who? What? Vultures. My husband laughs at me, but...their timing was impeccable. I never see them...and yet...on that day at that time...gotta wonder.
The invisible made visible.
And again a few days later when I lost it again because I still had not recovered from before…I saw another. A single vulture closer to home. Too close for comfort. The first time I saw a group. The second, one alone, feeding. Ugh! If you have read Dekker's Circle Trilogyyou will understand.
Sometimes I look at my past and I wish I could rewrite it. Often.
I know what it is to live without Him and I've never gotten over my thankfulness...that He chose to save me. Plucked right out of the pit.
Yesterday I was listening to Christy Nocklessing about grace and I was thinking about Jesus taking the wrath of us all upon Himself. I needed Kleenex then too.
Sometimes forgiving is easy - it is figuring out how to live with the person or persons once you’ve forgiven them that is hard.
So we cultivate joy by clinging to God in times of sorrow and by repenting of all known sin in our lives. Along with these we fix our minds on God and pour ourselves into discovering who he is. The more we know him, the more joyful we will be as the wonders of his character are increasingly revealed to us. Joy is not only a gift but also a responsibility. -Lydia Brownback
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his stripes we are healed. –Isaiah 53:5 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. –Isaiah 53:6
Can you imagine? No? Me either.
What if God asked you to carry (to take on; to claim; to have laid upon you) “the iniquity” (sins) of everyone? Of everyone?!
No thank you! I love you LORD, but…
We back away, hands raised in front of us…no, no, no, not I, Lord, not I…
But He…Jesus…The Christ…the Promised One…Messiah…Emmanuel… God made man…took the cup and drank it to the full. Drank it. ALL. To the FULL. The sins of every one. Everyone! When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. –John 19:30
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ –Acts 2:22-28
David spoke and foresaw the resurrection of the Christ and it happened just as he wrote that it would.
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” –Acts 2:36
And they were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and said “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” –Acts 2:38
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. –Hebrews 3:15
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. –Luke 23:46
From John Stott: Between them the evangelists use four different expressions, each of which places the initiative in the process of dying in Jesus’s own hands. Mark says he “breathed his last” (Mark 15:37), and Matthew that he “gave up his spirit” (Matt. 27:50), while Luke records his words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). But John’s expression is the most striking, namely that “he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). The verb is again paradidomi, which was used of Barabbas, the priests, Pilate, and the soldiers who “handed over” Jesus. But now John uses it of Jesus himself, handing over his spirit to the Father and his body to death. Notice that before he did this he “bowed his head.” It is not that he first died, and then his head fell forward onto his chest. It was the other way around. The bowing of the head was his final act of surrender to the will of his Father. So by word and deed (bowing the head and declaring that he was handing over his spirit), Jesus indicated that his death was his own voluntary act. Jesus could have escaped death right up to the last minute. As he said in the garden, he could have summoned more than twelve legions of angels to rescue him. He could have come down from the cross, as his mockers challenged him to do. But he did not. Of his own free will and deliberate choice he gave himself up to death. It was he who determined the time, the place, and the manner of his departure.
The last two words from the cross (“finished” and “I commit my spirit”) proclaim Jesus as the conqueror of sin and death. We must come humbly to the cross, deserving nothing but judgment, pleading nothing but mercy, and Christ will deliver us from both the guilt of sin and the fear of death.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. –Hebrews 2:14
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. One of the few things I miss about no longer being a Catholic is the lack of palms on Palm Sunday. There is something about actually having a palm branch in your hand on Palm Sunday that makes a difference…especially for the children. And now that I think about it I also miss walking the Stations of the Cross…
Next week (starting today actually) is my favorite week of the entire year. I love this week.
Special Days: Palm Sunday (tomorrow), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Don’t let this week just pass by. Spend it in the Word –spend it riding a donkey with Jesus; hearing the rustle of palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna”; savor the Last Supper; share in the sorrow as friends desert, betray and deny; walk dusty streets bleeding and torn feeling the weight of the cross; imagine the pain (can we even?) of nails, and weight, and suffering; hear others beg to be remembered and hear soft words of forgiveness; taste the bitterness of vinegar, and the saltiness of sweat and blood; hear the words from the cross; shudder and weep at His death; feel the depth of loss; wait in the weight and despair of darkness and confusion and then,and then…walk to the tomb. Notice that the stone has been rolled away; that the burial clothes are empty; marvel; see the angel; listen in wonder and awe; be filled with JOY and run proclaiming…
He is not here; He is risen, just as He said(Matthew 28:6). !!!
He is risen. Place your hands in His wounds. Touch His hands and feet. Weep for joy. Rejoice!
Sorry, I take that back. He does talk, but most of it sounds like this, “ching-gow-now-how-san-tiwan". Or something. Said loudly and often to me and/or anyone else he is addressing. And said with the two middle fingers of his left hand held backward in his mouth. (And, no, it isn’t just because of those two fingers that everything he says sounds like Chinese although they probably don’t help.)
Every once in a while a word or two will pop out, “Mama! MAAAAMMAAA!” or “go, go, go” and of course, “no, no, no”. And sometimes more pleasing words like shoe or sock. He seems to like words that start with “s”. I counted once and I think he can say about 17 or 18 words. The baby book says that he should have upwards of 50. So, not good. He can also do a few basic signs, but he gets them confused. He is almost two.
Anyway, I’ve been wondering what is wrong with him. He seems perfectly normal in every other way. He climbs on things. He can put puzzles together. He can go up and down stairs, stack blocks, kick a ball, walk, sit on the potty, and obey me on occasion. He can even toss a ball with some accuracy. And he knows no fear - except of battery operated robots. He just can’t "talk".
I admit it worries me.
He and I are together in a room on Sunday with nine of his peers and they are all talking. Oh, and the other thing he can’t or won’t do is point to an object and name it or name it when I point to it. (So I guess he is not normal in every other way.) Every once in a while, if the picture he is looking at is an animal, he will make the animal’s sound, but usually nothing. I have to admit that this problem worries me more than the not talking. Even if he never said a word, but could point to stuff I would be good because at least then I would know that he was processing information.
It is a little weird too because my other four all spoke in complete sentences by the time they were two. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but by the time they were two I had no doubt as to their verbal abilities and honestly one or two of them did use short phrases and simple sentences.
Today the prize for each correctly spelled word in our little family spelling bee was a Chocolate Skittle. How does that relate, you wonder? Well, as I was handing out Skittles Ben reached out his little hand for his share and it crossed my mind that maybe I could bribe words out of him or at least give him a yummy reason to try and say a few more. So I tried and ‘by golly’ it seemed to work. Soon the older children had him saying all the words he knew. He ended up getting quite a sugar high. You should have seen his smiles. He can be really cute when he tries.
So, that is my plan for now. I'm going to try bribery. I’ve never heard of bribery being part of speech therapy before, but who knows…
Chocolate is a force to recon with and I don’t know anything about speech therapy.
occupy the throne of my heart, take full possession and reign supreme, lay low every rebel lust, let no vile passion resist thy holy war; manifest thy mighty power, and make me thine for ever.
Thou art worthy to be praised with my every breath, loved with my every faculty of soul, served with my every act of life.
Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me, purchased, washed, favored, clothed, adorned me, when I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.
I was dead in iniquities, having no eyes to see thee, no ears to hear thee, no taste to relish thy joys, no intelligence to know thee;
But thy Spirit has quickened me, has brought me into a new world as a new creature, has given me spiritual perception, has opened to me thy Word as light, guide, solace, joy.
Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace; No provocation can part me from thy sympathy, for thou hast drawn me with cords of love, and dost forgive me daily, hourly.
O help me then to walk worthy of thy love, of my hopes, and my vocation.
Keep me, for I cannot keep myself; Protect me that no evil befall me; Let me lay aside every sin admired of many; Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm, hold converse with thee, That henceforth I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:4-7
