Faith Family Farm: February 2014

Here is a post from over at the threemaidens blog, which belongs to my daughters. I am so blessed and so very thankful for their heart of love, obedience, devotion, respect, kindness, and gratitude to our Father God, and to their family. They are a picture of Godly young women, and search the heart of God for His will for their lives. Read Julia's thoughts from God's Word on having a "gentle and quiet spirit."

"And let not your adornments be merely external-- braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." ~ 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NASB)

I do not know about you other ladies, but this verse means a lot to me. Every girl wants to be beautiful, to be told she is beautiful, to know she is beautiful. Even the roughest tom-boy nurtures that desire to be told she is pretty-- and be able to believe it.

Trust me. I would know.

But what about that which is precious?

I confess, I long for these things: for beauty of form and face. But how long does it last? What happens when the delicate petals of youth fade and all that is left are the dry thorns and leaves?

What does the hidden person of your heart look like? To tell the truth, I am afraid to look into that mirror. The beauty I have sought is of this world, I know.

A gentle and quiet spirit? GENTLE AND QUIET?!!?? OF COURSE I AM GENTLE AND QUIET!!!! Oh, how loud and boisterous we women can be! Well, at least I can be. And, personally, I have never once looked at another woman, much less myself, who is being particularly loud and boisterous and thought, "My, how precious she is!"

Here, read this excerpt from So Much More by the Botkin sisters:

"We hear of 'free' spirits, fiery spirits, fiercely independent spirits, fighting spirits, proud spirits, revolutionary spirits, and just plain 'spiritedness' paraded as the essential virtues for the ideal woman. Our culture views a woman with a gentle and quiet spirit as a pushover... A quiet and gentle spirit is not only imperishable; it is precious in the sight of God. It's also one of the hardest qualities to cultivate. Far from a sign of weakness, a gentle and quiet spirit is the sign of a woman who is strong in faith, mind, and character."

To be precious is to be "of great price or value; costly" and "beloved; dear".

Biblical Womanhood is a precious thing, something we maidens have been learning alongside our family. It is an important role that is ridiculed and mocked in this fallen world and, sadly, even in the church. But, to God it is precious! And God has been patiently teaching me it is far better to be considered beautiful and precious to Him, than to be thought "gorgeous" by those around me.

Yes, I will always dress my best and seek to make myself presentable, pleasing to my father and honoring to my Lord, but my focus will be on a higher beauty that will never dim.

Is the beauty you seek imperishable, or will it fade and leave you empty? We maidens have chosen to follow after that which God considers precious.

Have you?

Blessings,

Catlia

(Julia)

I pray you will meditate on 1 Peter 3:3-4 and let the "hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit," be "precious in the sight of God."

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

Be Like Jesus

Have you been with Jesus?

"They took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Acts 4.13

Charles H. Spurgeon has said:
A Christian should have a striking resemblance to Jesus Christ. The best biography of Jesus is His life written out in the words and actions of His people. If we were what we profess to be and should be, we would be pictures of Jesus.

Christians should be like Christ in their boldness. Never be ashamed to acknowledge your faith. Your profession of faith in Christ will never disgrace you - take care you never disgrace it. Be valiant for God like Jesus was.

Be like Him in your loving spirit - think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly.

Be like Him in His holiness.
Was He zealous for God? You be also.
Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the same.
Was He devout?" Be fervent in your prayers.
Did He submit Himself to His Father's will? So submit your will to Him.
Was He patient? Learn to be the same.
Best of all, as the highest portrait of Jesus, forgive your enemies as He did.
Forgive, as you have been forgiven. Return good for evil.

Be like Jesus in all your ways, so that all may say of you,
"That person has been with Jesus."

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Purity of the Snow

The last of the snow pictures. We had such a wonderful time playing, and since we do not get much snow it's always a pleasant surprise when there are a few inches, not to mention 8! It is so beautiful! We walked, made snow angels, and some of us (Jenny) wanted to do a "face plant." Whatever gave her that idea, I do not know, but her sunglasses even made an impression :) . Enjoy!

I wanted to give the recipe for our snow cream, but did not get pics, sorry. We gather lots of snow so I do not measure; you must adjust to your taste, sweetness, and how much snow is in your bowl. We use a BIG bowl! Actually, 2 this time!

SNOW CREAM

Snow

Sugar

Vanilla

Milk to mix, and that is that...

We had so much snow we probably used 2 cups or more of sugar, a few splashes of vanilla and lots of milk to mix. This snow was icier than our previous snow and tasted icier, but snow cream is always superb! We have it any chance we get! Hope you enjoy whenever it snows again.

As you have viewed the glorious purity of the snow which fell, think upon His holiness, the holiness of the One, True God, and be in awe of Him who gave His all for you.

"Always be one whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like Jesus of Nazareth, whose conduct and conversation are so suggestive of heaven that all who see you may know that you are the Savior's, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness. Let your argument for holiness always be, 'I am Christ's!'" (Charles H. Spurgeon)

"You belong to Christ;

and Christ belongs to God."

1 Cor. 3:23

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Fun in the Snow!

The beauty and fun all had playing together in this white stuff that fell from the sky. What fun we all had! Laughter, falling, sliding, jumping, throwing, riding, watching, laughter, oh, the joys!

Enjoy!

"A joyful heart is good medicine."

Proverbs 17:22a