To Christian Mothers of Daughters

Christian Mothers of Daughters,

     As I look ahead to our Baby Brooklyn’s future, I see that girls are being fought by the world’s ideals, day in and day out, even in church circles.  They are being told the wrong things by the wrong people.  Why are sinful advertisements, commercials, and websites, grabbing the attention of our children?  Why aren’t more Christian mamas sitting down with their teenage daughters, showing them what God says in His Word about becoming godly women?  This thought has been on my heart, these last two weeks, as I have sat down and looked through the Bible for things I want to pass on to my daughter before God one day takes me Home.

     Perhaps, you, too, have a precious baby girl.  Perhaps, you have a little girl who’s turning into a young lady before your very eyes.  How and where do you begin, as you try to share with her THE LORD’S perspective on difficult issues like modesty, marriage, and “making love”? It seemed too sensitive a topic to post directly on my blog, where a young lady might read something without the approval of her parents, so I am asking you, individually, if this particular Bible study would be a blessing to you?  My prayer is that the short list of questions, answers, and Bible verses, will help you, as you enter upon that very important “facts of life” conversation, in the future.  Please send me your email address, along with a little note letting me know, if you would like a copy forwarded to you! I also have three past “Dinner’s In The Oven” devotionals –“Broken Hearts”, “Waiting For Real Love”, and “A Woman’s Wardrobe” -  that I can pass along, if you would like to save them for your daughter’s young adult years.  May God’s Word reach into the heart and soul of your daughter, and shine a pure and holy light!

Love in Christ,

Kristen Kelley

dinnersready123@hotmail.com

Romance Rekindled - Dinner #45

     This past weekend, my husband took just the two of us up to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for an overnight getaway!  He and I enjoyed all the romance of a beautiful cabin, a dusting of snow, a Jacuzzi, a hot tub, and a lot of QUALITY TIME TOGETHER! The baby had terrific babysitters, by the way, and everything was WONDERFUL!

     Lots of women like to complain that their husbands NEVER take them out on dates or do anything romantic with them.  The fact of the matter is, sometimes we women can be too “practical” for our own good!  We can “shoot down” every romantic idea our husbands ever have, until they eventually just quit trying!  It’s true! I’m often guilty of doing it, myself! Think about it for a minute.  How many of us coupon-clipping, low-grocery-budget wives automatically say, “But, Honey, we really don’t have the money for that, right now!”, as soon as our husbands suggest a restaurant for dinner or a date-night movie rental?! It isn’t fair to say that Hubby isn’t romantic anymore, if we never ALLOW him to be!  I Corinthians 7:33 “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.”  A wise and loving husband may realize the need for some alone-time for the two of you, before you even realize the need for it, yourself!

     For many stay-at-home moms, the husband is the only “breadwinner” in the family.  The sad thing is, the WIFE is often the one who solely determines where the finances go!  Shouldn’t the “thrifty” wife allow her husband to lovingly spend some of the money HE has earned, HIS way?!  I’m not saying let the children starve or the bills go unpaid! I’m just sharing with you one of the most valuable lessons I learned, back during our pre-wedding marriage counseling days – when your husband is trying to express his love by spending money on YOU or YOUR MARRIAGE, LET HIM!! Song of Solomon 2:4 “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”  A wife who immediately comes up with a million excuses why NOT to do what her husband has lovingly suggested, is “tearing down”, rather than “building up”! Proverbs 14:1 “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

     People who say they’re WAITING to get married until they have enough money, or WAITING to have children until they have enough money, or WAITING to take a romantic trip until they have enough money, often wait until it’s too late!  Who’s to say that you’ll still be ABLE to have a baby by the time you’ve finally determined you “have enough money” to “afford” one?! Who’s to say your beloved spouse will still be LIVING by the time you get around to that “special date” together?! We are not promised tomorrow!  God wants us to be good stewards of all He has placed in our hands, and part of His will is for us to keep our families and our marriages STRONG!  You CANNOT TAKE YOUR MONEY WITH YOU!  Luke 12:20 “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”  Does this mean you should spend everything you have and never save a dime? No! Does this mean you should spend your family’s way into bankruptcy? No! But do you realize what just one overnight trip or one marriage retreat can do to strengthen the love that you share with your spouse?!  Do you realize what just one dinner “out”, without the thought of work, children, or dirty dishes, can do to relax your spirits and rekindle the flame in your marriage?!  Don’t throw all of that away for the sake of having just a little more “financial security”! “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9)  God means for your marriages to be strong!

In The Captain's Hands - Dinner #5

     We saw in Dinner #3 how we need to be “fit for war”.  At the same time, however, there are some battles better left ENTIRELY in the Captain’s hands.  Times when we need to step back and just watch God take over!  Exodus 14:14 “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”  There are situations in which God wants to fight FOR us, and have us remain at rest. 

     Perhaps you are facing troubles at work with a fellow employee.  Psalm 56:11 says, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”  God’s desire may be to step in and take care of it all without you having to do or say anything.  He may choose to move a conflicting coworker to another state or have them transferred to a different department!  Proverbs 21:1 reminds us that, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” 

     Not all difficulties are job-oriented, either.  There are times in our marriages when a situation would be much better dealt with if, instead of arguing with our spouse or nagging, we took it to the Lord and left it there.  Do you need grace for your heart, so that you might wait on the Lord’s timing in a marital conflict?  Psalm 138:3 declares, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”  Our homes are so very dear, and there is a real need for tranquility within them.  Psalm 147:14 tells us, “He maketh peace in thy borders. . .”  It is GOD Who brings serenity to our dwelling places.

     In the book of Ruth, Naomi tells her daughter-in-law, “Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall . . .”   Sometimes God whispers this very same thing to our hearts when we are in the middle of a difficult time.  It is as though He is saying “Just rest in Me, Dear Child, and see what happens.  WAIT and WATCH, and I will fight for you.” 

     In II Chronicles 20:17, God’s message to the king was, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you . . .”  In verse 30, we then see that, “. . . the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.”

     What problems are you facing right now?  Do you need to fight your way through them with the Lord by your side, or is God trying to whisper to your heart, “Leave this battle ENTIRELY in the Captain’s hands” ?  Proverbs 16:20 “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”  When you heed God’s voice during a trial that He wants you to leave to Him, you will surely be able to say with the Psalmist, “He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me . . .” (Psalm 55:18) 

     In this fight, this battle, have I asked God what He wants me to do?  Would He have me to rest in Him, while He fights FOR me?  Ecclesiastes 3:7 declares that there is “. . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”  Should I remain silent in this situation and let God work?  No matter what I may be dealing with, I can rest assured that, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me . . .” (Psalm 138:8)