One thing I of the Lord desire,
For all my life hath miry been-
Be it by water or by fire,
Oh, make me clean,
Oh, make me clean,
So, wash me now, without, within,
Or, purge me with fire if that must be,
No matter how,
If only sin die out in me,
Die out in me!
-Charles Brooks

God Give Us Christian Homes!

One of my new favorite hymns is God Give Us Christian Homes. I found it haphazardly one day as I was flipping through the hymnal to find something to play. It doesn't have the prettiest melody, but the words are so good.






God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master's will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!





God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!




God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!




God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow,
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!

Take My Life And Let It Be...

This is a hymn that we sang in Church this morning, and I was just captivated by its beautiful words.

Take My Life and Let It Be
Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal


Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take my self, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.



Deo Soli Gloria

Piano Recital Dress

It was such a blessing to have my wonderful Nana come down to teach me how to sew a dress for my piano recital. I found a pattern on Mrs. Jennie Chancey's website http://www.sensibility.com/mainpage
and it turned out BEAUTIFUl!!!! It is the prettiest dress that I have ever had. So, I decided to put a couple of pictures to show you how lovely it turned out.

Lydia (my sister) and me before the recital.




Kendall and me a little nervous before it started.




Posing (lol)



The lovely back of the dress



The whole group

My grace story...

This is really random, but I wanted to put this picture, just because I like it :)




If there is any story in my life that is worth telling, this is the one. There has always been one problem that I have dealt with and that is sin. And there is only one person that has rescued me from my problem, and His name is Jesus. Though I will tell you of my hypocrisy and sin, my true Redemption, my rebellion, my Baptism, and my walk in newness of life, this story really isn’t about me, it is about Jesus. To Him be the glory both now and forever! Amen. I can remember the spring day in 1998 like it was yesterday, as I looked out over the congregation of people there to worship that Sunday morning. This day was special to my family, because it was the day of my Baptism, which was to symbolize my rebirth in Jesus Christ. I held my Papa’s hand as I walked down the steps into the warm water where he stood, and trembled as I quietly spoke John 3:16 into his lapel microphone. I did not fully understand what it truly meant when he gently submerged me into the water and lifted me, saying, “Now walk in newness of life.” I still remember the familiar sound of our music minister singing the Doxology as I went to change out of my dripping wet robe. I was very happy because I knew that by getting Baptized, my Mommy and Papa would be pleased, and that is what truly mattered to me. My fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth years of life passed all the same; I went on living my innocent little pastor’s daughter life, trying to be good and never doubting my salvation. I was thriving according to outward standards, when inwardly my heart was still unchanged. Seven months after my insignificant ninth birthday passed, I went to Church on a Sunday night, which was a weekly occasion, and I heard the testimony of our recently returned Mexico mission team telling of the sharing of the Gospel in that country. As I was sitting in our pew, I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit come upon me like I had never felt before. As I sat waiting for the service to end I knew that my heart was guilty, vile, and helpless. The wages of my sin felt as a physical burden on my back and I knew that, without Jesus, there was no hope for a sinner like me. When my family arrived home, I went into my parent’s bedroom and sat on their cozy, quilted bed spread telling them of the sin and guilt staining my heart. I wept as I now saw my wretched sin as Jesus sees it, and kneeling on the floor with my Mommy’s arm around me I approached the throne of abundant grace where I received the great mercy of the Lord that washed away my sin, giving me eternal life. As the old hymn says it better than I can, “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away! It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all my days.” This was the day of my true salvation, the chains of my sin fell off, and I had truly been set free! For the next two years, I lived with joy in my elementary walk with my Savior. I continued to be the stereotypical “good little Church girl” and I loved it. My heart desired to be right before my God, my family, and my Church. As my eleventh birthday came and went, something slowly was changing inside of me. I began to harbor bitterness and flirt with rebellion; it all began with the condition of my heart which led to the taking over of my mind. Instead of pushing away evil thoughts and sassy remarks, my once innocent mind welcomed them. As my heart problem became serious, I wickedly embraced independence, un-Godly behavior, a dishonor of my Godly parents, and a dislike for my Church. My goal is not to go on about the shame of my sin, my goal is to show you the mercy of my God. As I strayed farther and farther from Him, I basked in the misery of my sin. On my own, I did not want to find my way out of the miry pit that I had dug myself into, but in His great kindness, He led me to repentance. I know that though I grieved my Savior and broke fellowship with Him, that I was still His. I was as the lost sheep in the Bible that strayed away and had to be brought back to the Shepherd’s fold. I feel like the song says, “I was so lost, I should have died, but You have brought me to Your side. To be led by Your staff and Rod; and to be called a Lamb of God.” (Lamb of God, Twila Paris) One thing I have learned through this period of rebellion is that God is the only one that can take credit for my salvation. I have only to rejoice in his election, and not my own works. For when I am left to my own choice, I will live the miserable life of sin. For I know, as the Scriptures say, “All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.” (Romans 3:11) On my own, I am hopeless, helpless, and worthless. I say with the songwriter,
“In Christ Alone, my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song.” (In Christ Alone, Keith Gettty; Stuart Townend)
Words cannot express the debt I owe to my Savior for His constant forgiveness and His loving and gentle but chastening hand bringing me back to Himself.
The first big step back onto the road of living a Godly life was the step of Baptism. As I had been baptized when I was four without true conversion, it was only right for me to take this step of faith, and declare my allegiance to God. It was with true joy that I again, eight years later found myself holding my Papa’s hand as I climbed into the warm waters of Baptism. He put his arm around me as I declared before my faithful Church family that Sunday night the story that I have just told you. I shared with my life-long friends the great mercy of God in my life. This time I was not doing this for myself, or for my parent’s pleasure, but this time I was being Baptized in obedience to my Savior. And when Papa lifted me up out of the water and said, “Now walk in newness of life!” my heart exploded with happiness, I rejoiced in the great and never-ending mercy of my awesome God. Since that day of true baptism, my goal has been to live a life pleasing to Jesus Christ. I say with D.L. Moody,
“If He laid down His life for us, is it not the least we can do to lay down ours for Him? If He bore the cross and died on it for me, ought I not be willing to take it up for Him?”
Having a father who desires for his children to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, opportunities for me to “… give my life up for Him…” are endless. Now, with joy, I am able to serve my Heavenly Father through serving my earthly one. Every day I am called to re-surrender my life to Christ by dying to myself and giving Jesus full control of my life. I have heard the high and holy call of Biblical womanhood, and daily I am learning how to become a dominion oriented daughter. I have been to Mexico, Michigan, and China in hopes of fulfilling Jesus’ call for me to “…go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19) And yet I am still learning to be light and salt to my community, my Church, and my family. Though I may have funny stories, sad stories, or heartwarming stories, this is the only story that is truly worth telling you, and that is : I am a sinner saved by God’s grace alone, walking in newness of life. My main dilemma: my total depravity, and my main theme: God’s grace. You now know of my life before Christ, my conversion, my rebellion, my Baptism, and my new life. In fact, it has been five years since my Redemption, and as you have seen I was a sinner then and I boast only in His grace now. In newness of life, I now walk by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)This is my story, this is my song, praising my savior all the day long. (Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine! Fanny Crosby)

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I am going to be giving a speech at a speech tournament next weekend (Please pray for me), but when I told you about that earlier, my speech was going to be on abortion. Through a series of events and the Lord working in my heart, my topic is now on feminism. I wanted to post it to get your opinion, so please comment, negative or good, because I would love to hear from you! Please remember while reading this post that it is "Soli Scriptura". I am basing my opinions and convictions off of the Bible only. Thanks for reading!

In a world that seemed to be so complete, how could it yet be incomplete? In a place which seemed to have everything, what was missing? What made this almost perfect picture partial? But then I saw it- the perfect completion and at that moment, I knew that my Creator’s plan had been made whole, for there she was! Woman: for she was taken out of me and is a part of me. She is my suitable and apposite helper and I am her protector and her leader. What a wonderful and beautiful plan our Maker had for us. But then he came: the Serpent, and with his appealing deceit and enticing promises of knowledge, freedom, and self-promotion this precious picture came to a quick end. The reality of it hit all too soon, it was over. It no longer seemed beautiful, in fact its sweetness soon turned to bitterness. Why did I no longer desire to lead and protect her and she now wished to lead me? Why did she want more than I offered? Following me was no longer appealing to her and she wished for leadership and autonomy, while I felt overbearing and all together weak? How could things change so quickly?

God made man and woman in His image to demonstrate His love, but when sin came into the world through Eve’s independence and disobedience women and the entire human race have been struggling with God’s way since. I hope to inform you on what feminism is, when it began, and what God’s Word says about it.

What is a definition of feminism and what is the feminist’ goal? Gerda Lerner sums this up in her book, The Creation of Feminist Consciousness. She urges and tries to make women aware that they: I quote -
belong to a subordinate group; that they have suffered wrongs as a group; that their condition of subordination is not natural, but is societally determined; that they must join with other women to remedy these wrongs; and finally, that they must and can provide an alternate vision of societal organization in which women as well as men will enjoy autonomy and self-determination."1
In her definition of feminism, she not only tells women what she believes to be wrong, but also, her goal in this belief. So, in brief, feminism and the feminist’ goal is the belief in fighting for equality, human rights, and independence. Feminism is simply, egalitarianism applied to gender. A feminist believes that society has been oppressed by the stereotype of housewife, patriarchy and hierarchy. Phyllis Schlafley said that the goal of a feminist is to,
“Make homemaker socially incorrect, and economically impossible.”2
Most feminists during a time were lesbians whose intent was to make heterosexual couples the same as homosexual couples. Having both partners work and live equally in the relationship. The result is millions of couples both Christian and non religious living in frustration and non-functional roles.
So if we come down to the root belief of feminism we see that these women believe that they are victims: victims of society, victims of men, victims of God’s role for them. They have a passionate hate for anything or anyone that has a difference of opinion with them, because it threatens their idea of freedom and self-identity. Consequently, their goal in ending their oppression and victimization was aimed at the housewife. They fear and dislike the housewife, because they realize the true power and influence that she has when she is submitting to God and her husband. These feminists realize that they cannot have an equal society until they force the women and men into social niches and the children into socialized schools. An American critic and memoirist Vivian Gornick said:
“Being a housewife is an illegitimate profession…The choice to serve and be protected and plan towards being a family- maker is a choice that shouldn’t be. The heart of radical feminism is to change that.”3
Though they believe that women are oppressed by the home, they are seeking a society without choice. A society that does not only look down on the Godly woman, but one that utterly destroys it. What they don’t realize is they are the ones that ultimately suffer for their decisions by living in independence without protection, and trying to find fulfillment where you cannot – yourself. God’s design is always best as some realize and are afraid of it. One such woman, French author and feminist, Simone de Beauvoir, says,
“No woman should be authorized to stay at home and raise her own children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely, because if there is such a choice, too many women would make that one.”4


When did feminism begin? As I alluded to earlier, feminism is a consequence of sin. It is not something new that came about during the rebellion in the 1960’s. Throughout history, women have tried to usurp men by taking power. They have risen with nations and fallen. Some say, “if only we could go back to the good old days of the fifties we would be fixed” When actually, the history of feminism goes far back, to the fall of man.
So let’s take a look at some of the women who played a big part in tearing down humanity. As Proverbs 14:1b says,
“A woman of folly tears her house down with her own hands.”
Let’s first look at Athaliah, in 1Kings 11. After her son died, she killed the royal family so that she might become queen of Israel. Through her independent thirst for power, she ruled wickedly for many years. But was eventually taken from her home to be executed by Godly priests.
Mary I ruled during the 1500’s and was the fourth to be crowned under the Tudor Dynasty as Queen of England and Ireland. After succeeding her short-lived brother, Edward VI, she restored England to Roman Catholicism. In the process, she had almost 300 religious dissenters burned at the stake earning her the title "Bloody Mary".

Fanny Adams Chamberlain discouraged her husband, Joshua Chamberlain, from going to the mission field. She fought the idea of having children before their marriage though later bore him several, many of whom died. While she didn’t seek independence or the life of a typical feminist and even served her husband her entire life, Fanny brought her husband down with her attitude and anti Biblical desires.

Hillary Clinton pursues the life of a feminist and encourages other women to live non-biblical roles. Through her desire for power she has been elected to the Senate in a state that was not her own, and attempted to become the first woman president of the United States. She is also very active in the pro-choice movement and the Equal Rights Amendment.

And finally, I will tell you about Mary Upton Ferrin who was considered one of the most influential women in the early feminist movement during the 1840’s. She is from Massachusetts, where her crusade for women’s suffrage began with the women’s rights convention in 1848.
Mary Upton Ferrin looked at herself as a hero with bloody feet blazing the trail for future feminists. On one event, she traveled 400 miles on foot collecting signatures for her cause.
At one point, she was put into an insane asylum, not because she was a lunatic, but because at that time in American history, her ideas were so foreign to anything the average woman believed.
She lived a galling life, with an abusive husband and without the most important thing in life, a relationship with Jesus Christ, which ultimately drove her to look for freedom elsewhere.



What does the opposite of this look like? God’s perfect plan from the beginning is still relevant now. His call is for women to be loved, valued, and protected. We will find the most joy when we submit ourselves to God’s plan, rather than try to simulate our own.
The beautiful poetry that King Lemuel’s mother wrote to him in Proverbs 31, describes the attributes of a Godly woman. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm all the days of her life. She works willingly with her hands, and is industrious. She rises early to meet the needs of her home. She is wise and dignified in her dealings, and loving and generous to those in need. She dresses herself with strength and clothes herself with dignity. She works vigorously in caring for her family’s needs. Her goal is to, through her loving service, build her husband up, so therefore his heart safely trusts in her. She speaks wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Because of her faithful ministry, her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband also praises her.
God created the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman to be a beautiful picture of God’s love and sacrifice through His Son, to His bride the Church. Though our value is equal, we must not confuse this with sameness. Though a man’s call is to lead, and a woman’s call is to submit, our worth is equal to God. Feminism defiles this picture. As 1 Corinthians 11:8-12 says:
For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;
for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake.
However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.
Our culture would have us think that by following God’s plan, we are in bondage. As Paul says, in 1Co 1:18 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”
Though the path of life that Christ calls us too may look foolish to the world, for us it is the power of God. We do not find freedom in independence or autonomy, but through humble submission to Christ we are made free.
As John says in John 8:36,
"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
We have looked at women who have used their influence to tear down their husbands, families, and even countries. Now I will tell you about some inspiring women who used their influence, however small it may have been, to strengthen and heighten a nation. You will see through these dauntless examples that a wise woman truly has the power to build up. As Pro 14:1 says “The wise woman builds her house…”
I’d like to start with Jochebed who was the faithful mother of Moses. She sought and trusted in the Lord to save her baby even when it seemed hopeless. As you know, through her faith and fortitude, Moses was the man God would use to later lead his people out of slavery in Egypt.
Priscilla Mullins was 18 when she had to courageously and submissively follow her father to the new world, and later had to nurse him and her family when they got ill, until their death. She was one of the four women that remained alive and though she was grieving the loss of her family, she busied herself in helping to pioneer this new nation. She was wise enough to wait for God’s timing on the man she would marry, and He proved Himself faithful to her by bringing John Alden into her life and heart. Her husband was very influential in the early settlement of our nation and served as assistant governor in the town he helped established, Duxbury, for fifty – three years. They had eleven children all of whom were devoted Christians. They were grandparents to sixty – nine children, and great – grandparents to nearly five hundred. Through Priscilla’s godly life and sacrifice thousands eventually came to know Christ as their Savior.
Dolly Madison was born into a Quaker family, where she was raised to be a Godly woman. She went on to marry the fourth president, James Madison and during her stay at the White house, the war of 1812 ensued due to ongoing conflict with England. As flames engulfed the White House from the British soldier’s recent attack, Dolly Madison’s love for her country induced her to going back into the burning building to rescue the portrait of George Washington.
Anna Jackson was the precious wife of the renown civil war hero, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Through her love for the Lord and her husband she was able to embrace his vision for their state, and support him in his fight for their beliefs. While her husband was called to war, she bravely remained in their home to tend to its affairs.
I’d like to end with a very familiar Biblical woman, Mary, a Hebrew virgin, betrothed to a man named, Joseph, during the reign of King Herod. An angel came to her and told her she had been chosen by God to bear the son of God into the world. She didn’t understand yet through her faith and submission she said, “Let it be done to me as you have said.”
She was found to be pregnant and her betrothed, being a man that feared God, did not want to expose her to public disgrace and decided they should part. But God knew Joseph was the man He had for Mary and came to Him in a dream and told him not to be afraid.
So they were married. While she was yet pregnant, Cesar Augustus declared that a census should be taken and she went with Joseph to his hometown in Bethlehem. When they arrived there was no place for them to stay, and she had no other choice but to give birth in a stable. The Bible says she never forgot what God did but pondered it all in her heart. Through God’s strength and grace, she raised him, loved him, and cared for him until it was time for Him to go about His Father’s business. She did not always understand the things He did and said but she yet remained faithful. She watched Him die and when He rose again she trusted Him as her Savior.
Home school mother and wife, Vicki Farris said,
“Just as Mary brought God’s Son into the world through humble submission and acceptance of motherhood so we can bring God’s Son before the world by doing the same.”5

God’s design is that we might be fulfilled in Him, if we choose to follow His plan and make Him our all, we will be so. I hope you have been made aware of what feminism is, how it began, and what God has for women.


Here I Stand,
Naomi Christiana

God Is So Good!!!!

I am His daughter. -Psalm 2:7b

He is a shield about me.- Psalm 3:3a

He is the lifter of my head. -Psalm 3:3b

He sustains me. -Psalm 3:4

He relieves me in my distress. -Psalm 4:1b

He hears me when I call to Him. - Psalm 4:3b

He puts gladness in my heart. -Psalm 4:7

He makes me to dwell in safety. -Psalm 4:8

He blesses the righteous. -Psalm 5:12

He surrounds them (the righteous) with favor as with a shield. -Psalm 5:12

He hears my supplication. -Psalm 6:9

He receives my prayer. -Psalm 6:9b

He tries the hearts and minds of the righteous. -Psalm 7:9b

He takes thought of me. -Psalm 8:4

He maintains my just cause. -Psalm 9:4

He does not forsake those who seek him. -Psalm 9:10

He is a stronghold for the oppressed. -Psalm 9:9

He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. -Psalm 9:12

He lifts me up from the gates of death. -Psalm 9:13

He makes Himself known. -Psalm 9:16

He executes judgment. -Psalm 9:16b

He is the King forever. - Psalm 10:16

He hears the desire of the humble and strengthens their heart. -Psalm 10:17

He tests the sons of men. -Psalm 11:4

The upright will behold His face. -Psalm 11:17

His words are pure. -Psalm 12:6

He preserves me from this wicked generation forever. -Psalm 12:7

He is with the righteous generation. -Psalm 14:5

He is the refuge of the afflicted. -Psalm 14:6

He is the portion of my inheritance. -Psalm 16:5

He supports my lot. -Psalm 16:6

He will not abandon my soul to Sheol. -Psalm 16:10

He will make known to me the path of life. -Psalm 16:11

He tries my heart. -Psalm 17:3

He will answer me. -Psalm 17:6

He is my strength. Psalm 18:1

He is my Rock and my Fortress- Psalm 18:2

He is my deliverer. -Psalm 18:2

He is my shield. -Psalm 18:2

He is the horn of my salvation. -Psalm 18:2

He is my stronghold. -Psalm 18:2

He saves me from my enemies. -Psalm 18:3

In my distress, I called upon the Lord and He heard my voice. -Psalm 18:6b

He rescued me, because He delighted in me. -Psalm 18:19

THEREFORE-

I trust in His loving-kindness. -Psalm 13:5

My heart rejoices in His salvation. -Psalm 13:5b

He is my Lord. -Psalm 16:2

He is my God. -Psalm 18:2

AND

He is worthy to be praised. -Psalm 18:3


Soli Deo Gloria

Naomi