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WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT Learn more about Jesus! Let the Bible show you how to fix your life! Enjoy Christian words of encouragement from the Bible, inspirational Bible stories, Bible verses to live by, and sound Bible teaching. Learn how to homeschool and prepare healthy easy recipes. Scroll down for our menu...
by Linda Hull
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"I meditate on all thy works." Be Transformed! ...by the renewing of your mind
Copyright © 2011 Linda G. Hull All rights reserved. Photos are copyright © 2011 Linda G. Hull Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. |
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"As we live out our daily lives, each must choose whom they will serve. I seek to maintain a close fellowship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to serve Him as He directs. My desire is to be in the center of His will at all times. It is my prayer that Words of Encouragement will encourage and exhort all of us towards a closer relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ through increased knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. May it provide the help and hope you seek. May it strengthen the Church of believers."
- Linda Hull
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"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" Galatians 4:16
Letter from the Editor...
Hello!Let's celebrate MOTHERHOOD! Mothers deserve our thanks, praise, and most of all our love. They work hard, set good examples, teach, and train, and more besides. Mothers wear many hats, oftentimes all at once! I praise the Lord for my mother and grandmother who gave me their unconditional love and encouraged me in righteousness. Begin reading Words of Encouragement by clicking to continue for the first article... or just scroll down to In This Issue. Enjoy! Linda
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"To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." Proverbs 21:3
IN THIS ISSUECLICK ON THE LINKS TO TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO AN ARTICLE
| The Importance of a Mother |
| Faithful Bible Mothers |
| A Very Special Grandmother |
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Copyright © 2011 by Linda G. Hull
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"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 1 Peter 2:1-10 (KJV)
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It is appalling that our government has chosen to ignore the will of the people with their refusal to defend the Defense of Marriage Act which supports the traditional family unit of a mother and a father. This act upholds the Christian worldview as set forth by the Bible. God established the foundation of "family" with the first family of Adam and Eve. They were to procreate and fill the earth. In the family unit, the mother is of utmost importance, for she is the most influential in the earliest stages of a child's life. Consider this excerpt from The Christian Home by Rev. S. L. Phillips, published in 1868:
"The nursery is the department of home in which the mother fulfils her peculiar mission. This is her special sphere. None can effectually take her place there. She is the center of attraction, the guardian of the infant's destiny; and none like she, can overrule the unfolding life and character of the child. God has fitted her for the work of the nursery."
This is rightly said. The mother has an immense responsibility in the nurturing of the child. Her influence is mighty and long-lasting. Her responsibility before God is immense. We continue...
"The soul of her child lies unveiled before her, and she makes the stamp of her own spirit and personality upon its pliable nature. She there engrafts it, as it were, into her own being, and from the combined elements of her own character, builds up and establishes the character of her offspring. Hers will, therefore be the glory or the shame."
Let's join together to celebrate our mothers. The task of motherhood is often daunting and tiring, but infinitely rewarding.
A prayer for mothers...
Dear Lord,
I thank you for my mother and for all the mothers who bear the responsibility of raising a child. Thank you for their faithfulness to nurture, encourage, and instruct their children. Thank you for Godly mothers who teach their children your Word and lead their children in righteousness. We praise you for empowering mothers with stamina, strength, and emotional fortitude to stay the course in the toughest of times. We praise you for the power of the Holy Spirit to lead them as they minister to the hearts and minds of these dear ones. May they be blessed with children who will love and revere them and be grateful for their sacrifices. May their children come to know you as Savior and Lord and walk with You all of their days. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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"Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: because that for His name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth." 3John 1:5-8
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Hebrews 6:10
"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." 2 John 1:9
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"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Proverbs 8:11
(From the Old Testament)
These women were not perfect. In fact, some had a reputation of ill repute. Yet they were counted worthy because of their faith in God. These are stories of God's amazing redemption.
JOCHEBED (Exodus 6:20) - She is the mother of Moses. When the pharoah demanded that all Hebrew baby boys be killed, Jochebed fashioned a basket of bulrushes for her three month old son. Then she placed her beloved son in the basket and placed him among the reeds of the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter found the basket and the crying baby boy. With pity and compassion, she decided to keep him. Miriam, Moses' sister, bravely approached Pharaoh's daughter and offered to bring a nurse for the baby. Who was that nurse? Jochebed of course! Moses was chosen by God to be the deliverer of his people out of Egypt.
RAHAB (Joshua 2) - Rahab was a harlot who lived on the town wall in Jericho. Jericho was destined to be destroyed by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua. When the spies entered into Jericho they found Rahab's house. When the King's men came to Rahab's house, she hid them among the flax stalks on her roof. In exchange, she asked to be spared when the Israelites destroyed the city. The spies saved her and her family. She married and became the mother of Boaz who married Ruth the Moabitess. Their son Obed was the grandfather of King David. They are in the lineage of Jesus.
NAOMI (Ruth) - She was the mother-in-law of Ruth. Naomi was from Bethlehem in Judah. During a terrible famine in the land, her husband decided to leave their country to move to Moab on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The Moabites were descendants of Lot through his eldest daughter. They were the result of an incestuous relationship orchestrated by Lot's daughter while he was drunk. While in Moab, Naomi's husband and two sons died, leaving Naomi a widow with two widowed daughters-in-law. When Naomi learned the famine in Bethlehem was over, she decided to return to her home alone. Her daughter-in-law Ruth refused to be left behind, choosing to leave her people and go to Bethlehem with Naomi. There, Ruth finds a new life and a new love with Naomi's kinsman, Boaz.
HANNAH (1 Samuel 1:20) - She is the mother of Samuel. Hannah was barren. In this time, being childless was a shameful state. Hannah was continually tormented by her husband Elkanah's other wife. Hannah petitioned God for a child, and God graciously answered her prayer. In return Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord, possibly as a Nazarite, since she swore no razor would touch his head. When he was weaned, Hannah took him to the Temple and left him in the care of the priest, Eli. Samuel was called by God to be a prophet of the Lord.
BATHSHEBA (2 Samuel 11) - She is the mother of King Solomon. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men of valor. Unfortunately, while bathing on her rooftop in view of King David, Bathsheba became a participant in an adulterous relationship with King David, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. To cover their sin, David ordered General Joab to position Uriah in the heat of the battle against the city of Rabbah. Uriah was killed as planned. Their first child died soon after birth as a result of their sin. King David confessed his sin and begged for forgiveness from God. God gave them another son, Solomon, who became known for his wisdom and for building the great Temple in Jerusalem.
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"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
My grandmother was the best! I loved going to her house better than anywhere else. Looking back, I can’t really tell why it was great to be with her. It wasn’t the hotdog and coke at the soda shop she bought every time we passed by, even when I had just eaten! Nor was it the dollar bill that she gave me when we went to Woolworth’s. No, words cannot really describe that special time with “Grandmomie”.
She taught me many things. Her favorite thing was cooking. I remember “helping” to make biscuits. She made biscuits every night for supper. She would give me a piece of the dough to knead and roll into a biscuit. Mine never looked as good as hers. I remember she made cakes from scratch! My favorite was yellow cake with chocolate icing. She made the best Southern fried chicken too! Cooking was her joy and her gift.
She was my Sunday School teacher. I remember she gave me a spanking in class once because I was jealous and acted ugly when another child sat next to her! (Back then spanking was an acceptable form of punishment for errant children.) I learned to serve others by watching her and the other ladies from church cook meals for various functions.
She always brought me something from her meetings. She never forgot. Usually, I got a decorative napkin filled with a few peanuts and mints and maybe a cookie. Some nights I couldn’t go to sleep for thinking about it!
Needless to say I was the apple of my grandparents’ eye! I’m afraid that I loved that role very much, and was reluctant to give up the distinction of being the only grandchild. However, she never played favorites. She tried to be fair to all of her grandchildren, treating us equally with her love and attention whenever we were there.
In her later years, I had the privilege of caring for her for a time while she struggled with Parkinson’s Disease. I have to confess that I wasn’t as patient with her as she was with me when I had the measles. She allowed me to sleep in her bed, and to have a radio by my bedside since I couldn’t watch TV. She was always giving more of herself than she got from others in return.
She taught me to do housework. She let me do the dusting. Dusting was a very special task, because whoever did the dusting, got to dust her salt and pepper shaker collection. It was my very favorite task, and one which she reserved just for me.
She was a lady in every sense of the word. She always wore a dress. I never saw her in a pair of slacks until many years later. I remember walking around in her shoes as a small girl, imagining the day when I could wear “high heels” and be a lady too!
No, words cannot describe how much she meant to me, and how much I miss her! Thank you Grandmomie for everything!
Photo of Lois Rebecca Brice (1880-1918)
"Inspired by great-grandmother's scrapbook, compiled before 1918."
Value of the Scriptures
-author unknown
Lord, thy words are dearer far
Than earth's choicest treasures are:
Purest gold or costly gem
Are but dust compared with them.
Like a lamp, where'er we stray,
Shining bright upon the way:
Let these holy words of truth
Be the guide, Lord of our youth.
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* "Value of the Scriptures." Bible Society Record, Volumns 11-12. American Bible Society, 1867. http://books.google.com/books?id=6aBVAAAAYAAJ&dq=ladies%20and%20gentlemen%20the%20bible&pg=RA1-PA168#v=onepage&q=ladies%20and%20gentlemen%20the%20bible&f=false. 28 April, 2011.
Public Domain, digitized by Google Books.
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"Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not." Proverbs 8:33
HOME SCHOOL TIPS
Using the Scriptures as a Text
Many happy mornings were spent in prayer and Bible reading in our little homeschool. I found spending a quiet time with our Lord in His Word so important for a successful day. I knew that I benefited greatly from keeping up my daily Bible reading, but with three young boys, it was difficult to fit it into my day. Then I happened upon the idea to do my quiet time with my boys. No easy feat I admit, but soon they were enthralled with the Bible stories, especially with the colorful stories of battling for the Promised Land.
Reading the Bible leads to opportunities to explain and expound upon the themes leading to righteousness and righteous living. I soon learned that my young boys could easily be engaged with the deep truths and practical application of Biblical lessons.
Let us never settle for a watered down Bible story or a mere token application, but let us expound with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge the truths of His Word. In doing so, we are giving their young minds and hearts opportunity to grow in knowledge and understanding. Children can learn His Word, and can learn how to apply its truths from an early age. This poem, "Prayer for Grace" discovered in the Bible Society Record says it best:
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Prayer for Grace -author unknown
O what can little hands to To please the King of Heaven? The little hands some work may try To help the poor in misery; Such grace to mine be given!
O what can little lips do To please the King of Heaven? The little lips can praise and pray. And gentle words of kindness say; Such grace to mine be given!
O what can little eyes do To please the King of Heaven? The little eyes can upward look, Can learn to read God's holy Book' Such grace to mine be given!
O what can little hearts do To please the King of Heaven? Young hearts, if God His Spirit send, Can love and trust their Saviour, Friend; Such grace to mine be given!
Though small is all that we can do To please the King of Heaven, When hearts, and hands, and lips unite, To serve the Saviour with delight, They are most precious in His sight; Such grace to mine be given!
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"Prayer for Grace." Bible Society Record, Volumns 11-12. American Bible Society, 1867. http://books.google.com/books?id=6aBVAAAAYAAJ&dq=ladies%20and%20gentlemen%20the%20bible&pg=RA1-PA168#v=onepage&q=ladies%20and%20gentlemen%20the%20bible&f=false. 28 April, 2011.
Public Domain, digitized by Google Books.
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HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES:
When we began our homeschooling journey, there were few resources to help us get started. We too struggled to find information, resources, and support for our journey. Homeschooling is more mainstream today, and for that I am truly thankful.
Still, there are times where reading about another's journey and gathering from the experience of others can inspire and be a help in time of need. To ask questions about homeschooling please contact me!
My new booklet is available to help you on your journey:
Homeschooling: The Modern Day One Room Schoolhouse.
>>>Just click on the book cover or the link above to go directly to the secure store site to order.
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"Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish." Proverbs 12:1
THOUGHT PROVOKERSExcerpt from the book, "Last Hours of Christian Women" by Henry Clissold
... the Christian woman is discovered in the more quiet retreat and unobtrusive walks of homely life and duty directing her domestics, instructing her children, comforting the distressed, visiting the sick, and distributing to the wants of the needy. So that truly it may be said her life is hid with "Christ in God."
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"Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread." Proverbs 20:13
"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." I Timothy 6:6
Click on the links below to go to a recipe or the tip of the month or scroll down.
"Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Matthew 15:10-11
* More recipes can be found at Free Recipes or Free Cooking Recipes.
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1 cup shortening 1 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs, separated 1 cup cold water 1/3 cup pureed tomatoes 2 1/2 cup cake flour 1/2 cup dry cocoa 1 1 /2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt Grease and flour two 8 1/2 " cake pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together shortening and sugar in large bowl. Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well, then set aside. Combine vanilla, water, and tomatoes together in another bowl, mixing well. Sift the dry ingredients together in another bowl. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and tomato mixture to the egg mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold gently into cake batter. Pour batter into pans. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes. Allow cake to cool, then remove from pans. Frost with chocolate frosting and top with strawberries.
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1 can Eagle Brand milk 1 can cherry pie filling 1 cup pecans 1 cup miniature marshmallows 1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained 1 large tub Cool Whip Gently mix together milk, pie filling, pecans,
pineapple, in large bowl. Add cool whip and mix together.
Gently fold in marshmallows. Lightly spray 9x11" dish with cooking
spray. Pour fruit mixture into dish. Refrigerate.
1/2 cup butter 1 onion 4 garlic cloves 1 1/2 teaspoon mustard 2
tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 cup ketchup
2 lemons 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons sugar. Spray a saucepan lightly with
cooking spray. Chop onions finely. Chop garlic finely. Add
onions and garlic to saucepan. Add remaining ingredients. Stir
together. Bring to a boil, boiling for 15 minutes. Turn down and
simmer for 30 minutes.
The Greasy Frying Pan
- from Aunt Harriet's Household Hints (1934)"Put a little boiling water in the greasy frying pan and into it toss a teaspoonful of washing soda and let the whole business boil for a few minutes. The first thing you know the grease will be gone and everything will be cleaned as well as the frying pan that has had the grease removed."
The
Believer's
Mission...
