Berry Picking

Monday morning, we all (excepting dad) paraded out to gather blueberries at a local farm. It was relaxing to be hidden amongst rows and rows of shaded berries- providing quiet to pray and enjoy our Creator's beautiful handiwork!

We ended up with around fifty pounds of berries and we've been spending time this week freezing, canning, and drying (and, of course, consuming them!).

So nice to have these tall guys who can get the yummiest berries!

The fruit of our labor

I am daily experiencing the Lord's wisdom in His design for the family and its function in sanctifying individuals. Hannah and I were talking today about how much sanctification we feel the Lord working in our lives through the struggles and blessings of being a sister. As a result of being fallen sinful humans, learning to love each other can be a moment by moment battle against the flesh. My younger siblings are a wonderful confrontation of my pride and selfishness; one which I'm not always appreciative of until after the fact.

We are also learning the vital importance and power of prayer! Being a sister can many times leave you in a, seemingly, frustrated and powerless position. It is in these moments that we are required to walk in obedience and faith; graciously loving and patiently praying with fervency.

Praise the Lord for His goodness and wisdom towards us! I am humbled to reflect on the grace He has shown me- and I am bewildered by the love He continually shows.

His mercy endureth forever!

Blessed Affliction

Since my post in February about my journey towards physical and spiritual health, the Lord has taught me many lessons and has been so faithful! His hesed faithfulness and steadfast love has continually surrounded me- even during the sleepless nights of itching and weeks of seclusion when it was tempting to ask if His love for me had altered. In those moments it was so important to focus on the testimonies of His faithfulness documented in His Word.

I can honestly say that I wouldn't change a moment of the last three months! I am in awe of this amazing God, who sovereignly brings clouds and sunshine to conform His children into His image- so that we may better reflect His glory.

"You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word...It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces...I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant."

Psalm 119:65, 71-72, 75-76

As a twenty-three year old single young lady, the Lord knew exactly what affliction to bring in order that my focus may be directed towards Himself- that I would understand what it truly means to find my satisfaction and happiness in Him alone. He has taught me the importance of seeking an imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. It's easy as young ladies to become confident in who we are physically, and in how people perceive us. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the starring people- which drew my attention to the hidden sins of my pride and vanity. When my physical comfort and youthful grace were gone, I stood bare- realizing the lack of inward beauty and fruit. You don't realize how much emphasis you place on physical appearance until it's gone. And it's in those times that the inward heart is revealed- be it beautiful or selfish. I'm so thankful for my Lord's grace in showing me the selfishness and vanity of my heart!

These pictures were taken back in February when my face had begun to improve, but was still not completely healed

I cannot even begin to praise my dear mother for her compassionate heart and kindness towards me during the past months! She truly has a tender heart and is such a wonderful care-taker! Thank you, mother dear, for your precious kindness in serving me! I love you so much!

The Lord has graciously shown me that He is the sole reason for my every breath! I have grown to love my Jesus as the Bridegroom whom I am actively waiting for. With every day that I wait for my love to return, I have the opportunity to serve and share the good news about His saving grace. Who can understand this love that gives His only Son to make a wretch His treasure, and makes an end of all my sin?

I am so thankful for the Lord's healing in my life! He has completely healed me, and I'm thankful that I can wake each morning and carry out my daily tasks as a service to Him. I am thankful for my blessed family and the Lord's obvious work in sanctifying us individually and as a whole. The list of wondrous works the Lord has done continues forever, and for those works we praise Him!

May He continue to bless us through rain and shine!

We've had such a blessed week with Christie and her little ones visiting! During nap time one day, we girls snuck out to the porch to enjoy the beautiful weather with a cup of coffee. Matt was our wonderful photographer! Thanks, Matt!

When You lead me to the valley of vision

I can see You in the heights

And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision

It’s here Your glory shines so bright

So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown

To be low is to be high

That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley

Let me find Your life in my death

Let me find Your joy in my sorrow

Your wealth in my need

That You’re near with every breath

In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens

But they only shine at night

And the deeper that I go into darkness

The more I see their radiant light

So let me learn that my losses are my gain

To be broken is to heal

That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

(Based on The Valley of Vision prayer)

“The Valley of Vision” Words and Music by Bob Kauflin

Why I've Chosen to Have a Heart for Home

I've been receiving a lot of questions lately as to why I am a "stay at home daughter", and what all that entails. I've done my best to explain the reasons behind my decisions, and I've tried to answer a few questions that you may have.


Through the years, Marxism, feminism, evolutionism and individualism have all played an important role in dividing the family and forming broken homes. We know from scripture that the devil manipulates through the weaker vessel (Genesis 3:1-6, 1 Peter 3:7). We also know the importance God places on the structure of the family and His function and use for it. So what better plan for destroying the church than to destroy the family, the foundation of the church? As a church, we've convinced ourselves that we're not involved in any of these terrible things: but we've become deceptively entrenched in them; living out their effects in our day to day lives.

Karl Marx was fueled by a strong hatred for God and anything His word taught. "Perhaps his most ingenious and successful move in tearing down Christendom was to inspire women to tear down their homes and families with their own hands" (So Much More, by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin). Part of his design was to create state run schools, so that mothers would then join the work force and effectively be taken out of the sphere of home. The result created confusion and diversion from the biblical structure of marriage and the family. Adolf Hitler also understood how to go about achieving his goal (to implement a new world order). He understood that the direction of the nation would be determined by the ideology of the younger generation. In other words, he understood that the way to accomplish this goal was in manipulating the minds of the youth.

So why am I delving into all of this history? Because something that the Lord designed and values is being forgotten, even despised, by Christendom. It is not my place to go out and change the world; but I can make a difference by living out the biblical structure in my own life. I cannot fix damage done by Karl Marx, Margaret Sanger, Charles Darwin, and many others; but I can fight against their attacks on Christ by uncovering the lies they taught and living contrary to their teaching. In doing so, I am playing a part in changing the direction our culture is going. The best way to do that..by living out the teachings of the Bible.

Those teachings are:

Proverbs 31:10-30. What better place to learn to be a Proverbs 31 woman than in my home and under the teaching of my mother?

Titus 2:3-5. "...and so train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled".
That is a scary thought: to revile (abuse) the word of God. I don't think that any woman could prepare long enough to perfectly execute this list. But it is my duty to aim to follow this standard that God has set. What better way to prepare to love my husband and children than to practice Colossians 3 inside my home, with those I'm most comfortable with and find it most hard to deny myself to! And what better way to practice being a keeper at home than to learn the ins and outs from my mother, who has wells of wisdom on the subject! And who could think of a better way to prepare to submit to a husband, whether he's right or wrong, than to practice in a daughters relationship to her father?

Psalms 147:12 "May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace."


Here are some answers to questions/concerns people have had about me being at home:

1) Is your dad becoming a hyper-patriarchal father?
My dad is as far from that title as is humanly possible! My father has been given responsibility before God to protect me and lead me in the word (Numbers 30:2-5, Ephesians 5:23-27, Ephesians 6:4). Because he steps up to this job does not make him a tyrant. The role I practice with my father preceeds the role I will take in marriage, while also teaching me to respect and obey Christ.

2) Aren't you lazy/negligent for not providing for yourself?
Never in scripture are women given the responsibility to provide for their families. This is a job given specifically to men; to the extent that if they fail in this responsibility, they are worse than unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:8).

3) But aren't you losing your identity by staying at home under the obedience of your parents? Aren't you allowed to make this decision for yourself?
This decision has been completely mine. My parents are very gracious and have encouraged and guided me, but never through guilt or force! And as to the other question, I can think of no better way to answer than through the Word. Luke 9:23-24, Philippians 2:5-7, and Ephesians 6:1:"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." We all know this verse and probably assume it applies only to young children. But I am still my parents child; no matter my age. It is my duty to honor and obey them. Now when I'm married, Lord willing, the authority role will be transferred from my parents to my husband. I will honor and obey my husband, while still respecting my parents. But their role will be different in the event of my marriage.

4) But you're almost twenty-three! Shouldn't you form some sort of independence?
This belief is strictly from the world and not a biblical idea at all! The structure laid out in the Bible is that a woman is under her father's protection and serves/learns inside her home, discipled by her parents, until she is married. That role of protection is then passed to the husband. There is never a time that women are supposed to be without a headship to protect and lead them. So the idea that a girl should go out into the world and gain independence once she's 18 is simply a pagan idea.

5) So basically you've decided to sit at home and not further your education?
There could be nothing further from the truth! I have the opportunity to study any subject I feel lacking in, for as long as is required. Just because I'm not taught by "certified" teachers, doesn't mean I'm not learning. "We are addicted to schooling, and ignorant of education" (Voddie Baucham).

6) Isn't it old-fashioned? After all, this is the Twenty-first century.
Yes, this is the twenty-first century. But God's word still stands as the outline we should live our lives by. Culture should not influence our obedience to God. If God's word is considered old-fashioned, then consider me a puritan dinosaur!

7) How can God use you to increase His kingdom if you're hiding within the realms of your home?
This objection is raised from the belief that God's kingdom is increased only through tracts, witnessing to unbelievers, or being involved in some kind of church ministry.
I have the opportunity to disciple my five younger siblings every day. I have been given the opportunity to help teach them God's word and pray for them daily that they would grow in the knowledge of our Lord. It may not seem like much of a Kingdom building time; but imagine when my younger siblings have their own families and, Lord willing, raise up a godly seed. Imagine the influence my time with them now could have on the generations to come. Praise God that I've been given such a great responsibility! I only pray they will learn to love and fear the Lord through my example: be it bad or good. In being a stay at home daughter I have also been given the opportunity with my family to practice hospitality, which is one of the best ways to advance the Kingdom of God! Which brings me to the next question:

8) Doesn't your view of the family hinder you from being involved in any kind of ministry/ mission work?
This objection also comes from a misunderstanding of what ministry truly us. I can't count the number of times my family has opened its doors and ministered to believers, unbelievers, individuals, families, just around the dinner table. If we produce strong families and show hospitality as we're commanded, imagine the doors of ministry that could be opened! My view of the family provides opportunities to minister. Another reason this question comes up is because we as Christians don't value the role of motherhood and homemaking. We consider it to be more effective to be individual missionaries instead of keeping a home and raising up warriors for Christ. I have seen first hand a lot of missionaries sacrificing their families for the sake of the ministry.

9) How will you experience Christ if you don't go to school to learn about Him?
And this question comes from the mentality that in order to fully experience Christ and learn about God, you must study under a theological professor. A man doesn't have to go to seminary to understand God and His word. My father is a perfect example of this. He has never spent a day studying under a theological professor, and yet he is one of the wisest men I know! I have my own teacher of the Word inside these four walls: My father! And as far as experiencing Christ, it goes much deeper than a mere feeling of the Holy Spirit's presence. It is the day to day trials and suffering molding us into His image and sanctifying us daily in His word.


Now I realize that what I have said is extremely controversial and radical.
I realize that it is not my place to say what any other individual or family should do, nor is it my place to judge others for taking a different path than myself. But I must personally live according to my conscience and the conclusions I've come to.
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin" (James 4:17).


I hope this has answered questions and given everyone a better understanding of why I've chosen to have a heart for home. If any of you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. I'll try my best to answer them!

"O Praise Him"

"Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness, tremble before him, all the earth!"

Psalm 96:9

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!"

Psalm 95:6

"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"

Psalm 95:1-2

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 4:23-24

"Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Revelation 15:3-4

I found this music video both inspiring and convicting!
We're created to worship and enjoy our Maker. So what hinders us from worshiping when we feel led?...Our fear of man?! Ouch!

What a precious experience we forfeit because our focus is on the creation and not the Creator.

Satisfied In Christ

Over the last month or so the Lord's been pressing on my heart three different lessons that I'm learning to apply. It has seemed as if every sermon, conversation, devotion, and prayer has drawn my attention back to these three important truths...

1) Continually seek the Lord and His presence (2 Chronicles 16:11),

2) Find your satisfaction in Christ alone (Psalm 17:15,"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him" -John Piper)

3) Strive to glorify God in your thoughts, motives, actions, and words (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Lord has brought the above quote by John Piper to my mind many times over the last month. There's so much joy in grasping the wisdom in this truth. My fulfilment and satisfaction isn't found in friendships, physical perfection, marriage, successful endeavors, etc... but my soul is satisfied only when I am looking to Christ and drinking from the fountain of life!

I'd encourage you to listen to this sermon by Voddie Baucham: Gospel Healing for Hurting Marriages. Don't let the title fool you, it's applicable for everyone; whether you're married or not. I've listened to it four times now and still haven't completely grasped the deep truths he covers. It's wonderful!

Praise God for His mercy and love towards His children! May we find our satisfaction in Him and desire to glorify Him in all that we do.

Tending to the Heart

I've realized the past few days just how much I hate crab grass!!!
While it looks easy enough to get rid of on the surface, all it takes is one pull and you realize how deep it really goes. When you begin pulling and getting to the roots, it seems they're all connected and go so deep you'll never find the core to be completely rid of them!

After a while of pulling today (and being attacked by fire ants), I began to meditate on how much like my heart the garden is. The invasive weeds that overtake our garden are much like the roots of bitterness, anger, selfishness, pride, etc., that I am daily finding new roots which go deep into my heart. On the surface they may seem harmless, but when they are not guarded against or tended to, the roots grow quickly into the depths of our hearts.

The Bible uses the metaphor of fruit when talking about the results/actions that will come about by the Holy Spirit's dwelling in us. We should carefully attend our hearts and guard against thoughts or meditations that could in any way result in or nourish the weeds of sin which so quickly take root and flourish.

"bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"
-2 Corinthians 10:5

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

-Philippians 4:8

"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. "

-Proverbs 4:23

I pray that in time my heart will properly reflect Christ's beauty as this picture does. Realizing that any fruit produced can only be done through the Holy Spirit, it is to Jesus alone that we attribute any goodness or beauty.
Praise the Lord for leaving the Holy Spirit to sanctify and cleanse His people!

Picture from allposters.com

Experiencing Unfeigned Joy

My personal journey of sanctification has been a long one, requiring a considerable amount of grace from my loving Savior. I could never share every lesson that I learn throughout the day; as I seem to find myself frequently chastened by my Savior's gentle hand while I carry out the daily tasks He's called me to.

The greatest lesson He's taught me over the past months has resulted in an abundant amount of joy and peace. The lesson has consisted of enjoying my parents and doing my very best to bless them with the means I am capable.

We can all agree that the Bible gives clear commands to "Honor thy father and mother", and it puts strong emphasis and attention on the consequences of not doing so. But what does it truly mean to honor my parents? Is obeying them all that's required?

This morning I did a quick word search in Strong's Concordance about the topic of parents and the honor that's due them. You can see how importance this is to God by the long list of passages addressed to this subject. The consequences of not honoring your parents is all through the Proverbs, and we can see how it negatively effected many men and women throughout the Bible.
A subject that holds such importance to God should be heeded, right?! Should these commands be acted upon by the standards of our culture today?...

Merriam-Webster's 2009 Dictionary defines honor in this way:

one whose worth brings respect or fame, an evidence or symbol of distinction: an exalted title or rank, a person of superior standing —now used especially as a title for a holder of high office .

That's our cultures idea of showing honor. Here's what Noah Webster said in his 1828 Dictionary:

1. To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to.

Honor thy father and thy mother. Ex.20.

2. A testimony of esteem; any expression of respect or of high estimation by words or actions...(emphasis added)


Honoring our parents entails much more than just obeying them because we're commanded to. It involves loving them in sincerity, resulting in our desire to act upon our love and express it to them through our words and actions! To truly honor someone, we must do all in our power to respect and bless them.

"There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers." -Proverbs 30:11

I've been convicted of how I've neglected truly blessing my parents over the years. But by applying and acting upon these truths over the past months, the Lord has blessed me so abundantly! I definitely think He was gracious in giving me the parents He did. My mother's joyful spirit and love for her children and husband; my dad's wisdom, patience, and love for the Lord... make it a pleasure to honor them! They have become my closest and dearest friends. I long for their counsel and praise God for His using them to lead me.

An Answered Prayer

Our family has been praying about the Russian boy, Misha, we've been planning to foster for some months now. There have been quite a few difficulties with the Russian government, and his trip has been postponed a number of times.

After months of praying, God has been faithful in answering...in His time. We received word that the tickets were bought and Misha's plane will arrive September 24.

We are so excited about the opportunity to minister to him over the next 6 months, and watch the Lord faithfully sanctify and encourage our family through the trials to come.

Keep Misha and our family in your prayers over the next few months; as he will be undergoing surgery to amputate both legs, and we'll be trying our very best to make him comfortable- despite the language barrier.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." ~Matthew 21:22

You can read more about Misha and the details of his coming to America here.

To Take up my Cross

This morning as my sister, Christie, and I were engaged in a conversation about our struggle with selfishness; these truths were revealed to us…

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Matthew 16:24-26

Of Self-Denial

What does it truly mean to deny yourself?

The Botkin sisters have given a wonderful definition in their book So Much More,

“By self-denial, we mean something deeper than the usual meaning, “denying yourself things you want.” Rather, we mean “denying that you have a ‘self.’” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us that we do not belong to ourselves, but have been bought with a price.”

Of course this is not conquered by merely forgetting we have a ‘self’, but it is through a transfer of this focus to those around us that we can truly begin to forget about ourselves.

In Harvey Newcomb’s book How to Be a Lady, he has given wise counsel concerning this topic,

“Keep self out of view, and show an interest in the affairs of others…it will tend to stifle selfishness in your own heart, and to cultivate disinterested feeling. Sympathize with others; enter into their feelings; and endeavor, in heart and feeling, to make their interest your own; so that there may be a soil for disinterested feeling to grow in.”

Of Taking up Ones Cross

"Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross."

Matthew 27:32

We know from Matthew 16 that we have been commanded to deny ourselves and take up our cross. This picture didn’t truly become clear until I meditated on Matthew 27:32. Simon’s task of bearing the cross was not a comfortable walk; nor was it for his pleasure and enjoyment…it was for the sole purpose of serving Christ.

It was in sharing these revelations with Christie that she shared with me some insight on the other spectrum…
Putting ourselves in Simon’s shoes, there must have been pain and ridicule involved in carrying the heavy burden. But there must also have been an overwhelming sense of relief, knowing that the cross he carried was not meant for him. He would not have to pay the price of hanging on it…that was to be done by Christ.

The trials we face in life will inflict pain and may bring heavy burdens; but we must never forget that the cross we carry has already been conquered by Christ.