“I am resolved to believe in God, that he is and is a rewarder of all that diligently seek him, to believe firmly and constantly in all his attributes. I am resolved to fear him and love him with all the powers and faculties of my soul, and to keep a steady eye to his commands, and to govern myself in every circumstance of life by the rules of the gospel of Christ, whose disciple I profess myself and as such will live and die.

“I am resolved by the divine will not to be anxious or doubtful, nor to be fearful of any accident or misfortune that may happen to me or mine, not to regard the frowns of the world, but to keep a steady upright conduct before my God and before man, doing my duty, and contented to leave the event to God’s providence.

“I am resolved by the same grace, to govern my passions, to endeavor constantly to subdue every vice and improve in every virtue and in order to this I will not give way to any of the least notions of pride, haughtiness, ambition, ostentation, or contempt of others. I will not give way to envy, ill-will, evil speaking, in-gratitude, or uncharitableness in word, in thought, or in deed, or to passion or peevishness, nor to sloth, or idleness, but will endeavor after all the contrary virtues, humility and charity, and to always be usefully or innocently employed.”

~Eliza Lucas Pinckney, 1722–1793

“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to withdraw by a strong east wind that blew all night. This dried up the sea and the waters were divided.

Then the children of Israel went into the sea, dry, and the waters were like a wall to his right and left.”
Exodus 14:21, 22

If God asked the Israelites to pass through the middle of the sea, THROUGH TWO WALLS OF WATER, why will He not ever ask you to do something humanly insane? If you think about it, the whole Bible is full of stories of people that did things outside of the logical, human order.

Many others decided not to attend His call. They probably did not want to risk their lives, their reputation, their comfort, or even their own plans. They did not make it to the pages of Scripture.

How about you? Would you be willing to obey God and risk everything you have for His sake?

Are you doing it in your marriage?
In your parenting?
At your local church?
With your friends? With your words? With your eyes?

Many have done it before us. Let’s leave a legacy for future generations.

Photo by carlosm76

We live in a world full of technology and electronic gadgets. It is essential to know that we need to unplug for a while. It is no longer an option. It is a necessity for sake of our sanity and more importantly, for the sake of our family and those around us.

How to unplug

There are certain rules that we have to set, and be strict with them. An example: do not keep your mobile near you when you are having a meal, unless you are expecting an important call or message.

If you are a mother of little ones, do not use your computer while they play or do other activities as you given them your back. And if you really need to use your computer, set a strict schedule and respect it. Tip: I only use my computer when my children sleep, play in their room or watch a video.

Decide at what time you will turn off your mobile, computer, or any other electronic device at the end of each day. Respect that time. Any email, text or notice that comes after this time can wait until the next morning.

Set a few days aside, like a mini-vacation or a weekend to be completely free of technology. Use this time to reflect on the Creation, to make plans, to enjoy the living people around you!

Set aside time in the day to send and respond to text messages. Forbid yourself from reading or sending text messages during certain times such as when you’re spending time with your family or friends, at church, while driving, etc. If the text is urgent, excuse yourself and take only a few minutes to respond.

Be an Example

Your children are watching. Set the best example. Help them form good habits. Most likely they will live in a world saturated with even more technological options.

Do not let a lifeless gadget dictate your time and life. Be the owner of your time. Make technology serve you – do not become a slave to it.

 

Photo by  Gabriel Rocha (a.k.a. BRIEL)

Little girls and princesses, they go together, right? I am yet to meet a little lady that doesn’t like being called a princess. It is precious!

What’s even more beautiful the fact that we are all princesses, waiting for our groom, the Prince of Peace. Our daughters need to know that. We need to joyfully explain that we are all God’s Princesses, and that is what matters.

You see, Disney and other industries have taken advantage of this beautiful truth and have distorted for their profit’s sake. They have gotten all our girls hyped about the princess theme, yet they lack the basic and fundamental truth found in the Scriptures.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

D o our daughters know they need to be ready for our Prince?

Rivera Family

The Cake

I am a housekeeper – not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,

but have not love,

my children learn cleanliness – not godliness.

If I scream at my children for every infraction,

and fault them for every mess they make,

but have not love,

my children become people-pleasers not obedient children.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present “mommy,”

the taxi-driver to every childhood event,

the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,

then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.

Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child.

All the projections I had for my house and my children

have faded away into insignificance,

And what remain are the memories of my kids.

Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,

dishes with missing place settings,

and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,

But the greatest of all is the Love

that permeates my relationships with my children.

My mother has spent almost three decades of her life, as part of her service to God, raising her  six children. Because of her love for us and in obedience to God, she chose to be a devoted, godly mother. 

She taught us that God is love, not only with instruction, but with her life. And that He is to be greatly feared.

She has shared with us  what she has learned from God and what He is still doing in her life.

She taught us how to walk like Jesus Christ.

She taught us to serve, respect and obey our father.

She insisted, (often) that we should live as brothers and sisters, together in harmony… because it pleases God.

She taught me to cook since long before I can remember. Not because I had to, but because she shared her time with me, always including me in everything she was doing.

She taught me to iron at age 5. No, it was not child abuse. She did it because she knew I was ready to learn. Which affirmed me, at such a young age; my life was very important to my family. To be able to contribute, in any way, to the family has always filled me with purpose.

She taught me how to sow a little skirt for a doll before I was 10. She did this to show that many difficult things can be achieved with patience, dedication and practice.

She sat with us to watch TV. She would take her time to explain whether or not the cartoons or shows we were watching taught Biblical values, or not.  She limit our TV time to 2 hours per day, max. (This is probably why I don’t have a TV set in my house!) She wanted us to use our creativity and energy either outside the house, in the kitchen cooking or baking, or immersed in books, or just playing with our brothers and sisters.

She taught us to pray for other children from church who were sick or were going through tough times.

She helped me share the gospel for the first time to a neighbor, Candy, when I was only about 6 years old.

She would have us pray for our dad when he had a major event at church or in the community, or when he was away traveling.

She did large drawings on white cardboard paper showing Biblical character traits. She would tape them to the wall of our bedroom and help us memorize Bible verses.

She, with great courage, took the responsibility to educate us at home. For the simple reason of instructing us in the ways of the Lord. For this I am eternally grateful.

She taught us that the value of people is not in what they own or in their physical appearance, but the value is in how God sees and loves them.

She encouraged us to extend a hand of friendship or service before judging or criticizing others.

She often reminded us of the great blessing we had to serve the living God.

She was the one who told me that the most valuable things in life are the hardest to attain. But it was always worth waiting for the best! Like – my husband.

She would tell me she would pray very hard for my future husband – specially I was being a diffcult young adult.

She has loved, supported, corrected, guided, and listened to me.

She continues to share her life with me. She is a great woman. And I thank God for her life!

Photo by PieterMusterd.

For many years I witnessed <and still do> the wonderful marriage of my parents. Although they are not perfect, they did make specific choices when they exchanged vows at the altar. Their choices included making God the center of their relationship and letting God guide their family. That is why I now stand and consider myself blessed for having such parents.

Today, although a few months short of my fifth anniversary, I am very happy and grateful for the marriage God has given me. With my husband, we have learned and grown in ways we could not even imagine. I am very blessed.

Here is a continuation of the letter a wise man wrote to his two sons regarding women (a future wife):

First, know that the woman you marry will be the lifelong mother of your children. All that she is in the accumulation of her past experiences will be present as the mother of your children. There is not a more major decision affecting the future of your children than the choice of your life’s partner… Treat your wife as a delicate flower, and she will “bloom” with energy to be a more giving mother.
Be sure to cultivate your relationship with your wife. Meet her needs. Make her happy. Enjoy her thoroughly … If you love and cherish your wife, the children will love and cherish her also.

Here are basic qualities you need to look for when choosing your wife:
That she loves the Lord and is his true disciple
Cheerfulness
Thankfulness
That she is a creative and hard worker
Love for children

Never marry a girl who feels she is not getting the best man in the world when she gets you. A girl who enters marriage thinking she could have done better will never be satisfied for wondering what it might have been like if…

Avoid like a plague the girl who will pursue her own career outside the home. A wife must be your “help-meet.”

Photo by zaza_bj.

I am very grateful that my dad chose to take upon him the responsibility of rearing and training his children in the way of the Lord. It is because of my dad’s and mom’s commitment to honor God as parents is that my five siblings and I honor and worship one God. I remember spending a lot of time, as a little girl, with my father and mother. It is from them that I learned almost everything I now know.

And now, I am extremely blessed to be married to someone who has chosen to step up to the call and be the father that God wants him to be. He has turned his back to society’s ideals for young men about ‘success.’ He has chosen his family over what the world wants from him. He has accommodated his work so that he can spend all day at home. I am so happy he is looking forward to the day our children can help him. THANK YOU ABE!

Here is an excerpt of a letter one wise man wrote to his two young sons:
Now I want to speak to you about being good fathers. While you are still young and unmarried, with no children, do what all of God’s creatures do – prepare the nest for their arrival. DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN AN OCCUPATIONAL POSITION THAT WILL LEAVE YOU OUT OF POSITION TO BE A GOOD FATHER. Plan your life’s trade so as to maximize your role as a father. Fathers who become absorbed in their success in business will make lousy fathers. If you gain the whole world and lose your child’s soul, what profit it is? Some workaholics will say they are doing it for their children – providing security, a good education, etc. Why is it that children of hardworking, absent fathers never appreciate their sacrifice, and even show disdain and contempt to their father’s success? The reason is that children are not fooled. They understand their father’s absence to be selfishness on his part and lack of lack of interest in them. They see their father get more satisfaction from his job that from their presence. Whether this be true or not, the results are the same. Business success always passes away; time spent with your children becomes permanent, eternal part of them. The education your child will need cannot be purchased at a university. It is purchased by the father in the many hours spent doing things with his children.

Photo by carlosm76.

This was originally posted at SilverKey by one of my sisters.
She is currently living and working in Bolivia.

Last night I came home with a huge grin on my face

I couldnt believe my life

I was blessed

Last night I saw tears on my friend’s face

I heard about her life

and I felt blessed

Words fail me to truly expressed how grateful and blessed I feel right now. It’s like a light bulb has gone on inside my head or a veil has been lifted from my eyes … yesterday I stopped midday and realized I AM TRULY BLESSED. While others feel lonely, Ive never felt more loved. While others struggle financially, Ive never felt that I lack because God provides. While others are losing their faith, mine has never been stronger. And God has been soo good to me that he gave me amazing parents, the best brothers and sisters anyone can ask for – and though, I am away from them, He has made sure that I have the same support (emotionally and spiritually) in Bolivia. He has allowed my eyes to see His amazing creation. He has let me meet interesting and wonderful people from all over the world. I know that I am loved. I know that I am forgiven. I know that I am blessed. And its the most wonderful feeling in the world!

Photo by carf.

• You know what he likes and dislikes.
• You know what he is passionate about.
• You know what attracts him to certain friends.
• You know why his friends are attracted to him.
• You know what bad habits he struggles with.
• You know what strengths he is aware he has.
• You know what he would choose to do if he had all the money and time in the world.
• You know what music he listens to, and why he likes it.
• You know what type of people disgusts him.
• You know what type of people he admires.
• You tell him God is directing you to help him/her make changes in his behavior and he humbly and readily accepts it.