tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32975649867774464762024-02-21T10:41:26.803-05:00Raising Solomon's DaughtersThe struggle to raise wise and discerning daughters in the Twenty-First Century.Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-5805300415358809692011-09-23T11:30:00.000-04:002011-09-23T11:30:34.892-04:00Mental health day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Whiney kids with colds, multiple grey rainy days, and to top it all off a power outage this morning. Yup, today is a mental health day. <br />
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Enjoy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPO6lX6b_21Qcy99MfYpGQymM_ZMByyJF9gZsc03Y4tY5k938fW-TlfbAyku9g10wUe7BiZLm3F-g9iQoTAR4zizZYxsmjAW1xYDTOV2Gs0xxJfWzjG-JPRSU0jpvz0ifmCQ7kfyXUNs/s1600/beach+at+the+whaler+inn+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPO6lX6b_21Qcy99MfYpGQymM_ZMByyJF9gZsc03Y4tY5k938fW-TlfbAyku9g10wUe7BiZLm3F-g9iQoTAR4zizZYxsmjAW1xYDTOV2Gs0xxJfWzjG-JPRSU0jpvz0ifmCQ7kfyXUNs/s400/beach+at+the+whaler+inn+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-69523560541965780412011-09-20T15:37:00.001-04:002011-09-20T15:38:36.858-04:00Playlist songs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lrg6Q7j7KjA?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lrg6Q7j7KjA?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object><br />
I keep saying that I am going to create a playlist/CD for my kids to listen to if anything should happen to me. My father died when I was very young and his letters are so precious to me; so this idea of leaving something to lift my kids up if I was gone is close to my heart. This song would definitely make the list! I also really want Britt Nicole's headphones from this video. </div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-92007762793848285152011-09-16T11:58:00.000-04:002011-09-16T11:58:43.293-04:00Dagny O'Hara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">At first glance you might not see many similarities between the girly, man-obsessed Scarlett O’Hara, from <u>Gone with the Wind</u>, and the no-nonsense business woman Dagny Taggart of <u>Atlas Shrugged</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both books are incredibly long by modern day standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the length of each book I think it would make an excellent study to compare the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Today I wanted to put forward similarities between these two strong female leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some similarities that differ in the details; for example, both women love married men but both do not have affairs with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dagny has a physical relationship with Henry Rearden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scarlett loves and pines after Ashley Wilkes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The circumstances of each woman’s relationship with a married man are different but the consequent themes of love and marriage within each book become quite analogous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That two characters can be so alike and yet so opposing is a testament to the core values that each book puts forward.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Both are:</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Confident in their gifts/abilities.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Not afraid to do what it takes to get the job done.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Not typically beautiful but stunning anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">High interest in making money.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Neither one is able to understand the men around her who can actually see reality and who truly understand her (Dagny-John Galt/Francisco d’Anconia, Scarlett-Rhett Butler).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Neither understands or agrees with the ruling class’s philosophy.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Are rebels.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Are seen as doing a man’s work (and doing it too well for a woman).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Don’t stay where society tries to make them stay.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Don’t find true love until the end of the story.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Are vocal about their views of the world.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Reject God and rely on self.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Are able to shrug off society’s disapproval (self-confidence).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">More interested in work then children (reject the traditional female role).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Feel a connection to a certain part of land.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Measures success by productivity.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Has a funny name by today’s standards. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Misunderstood by their sibling/s even though they are taking care of them.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Neither feels a need to hide their distaste with pretty speech, they say what they mean or don’t speak at all.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Have “impure” relations with married men who turn out not to be their true love.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Both their True Loves are just as outspoken and “anti-society” as they are.</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">Next week:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The themes of love and romance in both books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there is romance in <u>Atlas Shrugged</u>. </div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-46150975928430944232011-09-13T12:28:00.000-04:002011-09-13T12:28:56.148-04:00Breaking the rules<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Rules were made to be broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God made the law knowing we couldn’t keep it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be human is to sin, which means breaking the rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God expected this when he handed them down. The rules, or more to the point, our propensity to break them was designed to point us back to the fact that we can’t be good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t get to heaven on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need God, not just to give us grace when we sin but also to give us strength to obey.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Barriers alone can not suppress the heart,” said our pastor this Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our heart is our best and worst asset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to obey God; our hearts long to please Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is also our heart that betrays us when the desire to be distracted or entertained by the world is stronger than our desire to be right with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God already set limits, or barriers to sin, for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set them for ourselves too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“After this one time, I won’t do that anymore.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just this once, it isn’t like I watch/listen/read this stuff all the time.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tell ourselves we are going on a diet (sometimes food and sometimes from media, electronics, etc) and right away temptation finds us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barriers alone can not suppress our hearts.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I shouldn’t be surprised then that rules and limits are not enough to assure obedience from my daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to continue to work on their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Character issues are frequently called heart issues, I like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gets to the root of the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are ways you reach your daughters’ hearts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shepherding-Childs-Heart-Tedd-Tripp/dp/0966378601?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Shepherding a Child's Heart</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Minds-Raising-Child-Christian/dp/1414301642?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hearts and Minds: Raising Your Child with a Christian View of the World</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1414301642" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0966378601" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-40761128249006926632011-09-09T15:19:00.000-04:002011-09-09T15:19:42.427-04:00Gone with Atlas?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I just finished reading <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Wind-Anniversary-Margaret-Mitchell/dp/1451635621?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Gone with the Wind</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1451635621" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, and it gave me a lot to think about. The strangest thought was to wonder if <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0452011876?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ayn Rand </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0452011876" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>ever read Gone with the Wind? I need to think more about it but I will let you know more by next Friday. <br />
My first thought is that Gone with the Wind takes the Lord's name in vain at least 15-20 times. That is enough for me to hesitate recommending it to young teens. <br />
<br />
Let you know more next Friday.</div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-73464517334722982192011-09-06T15:46:00.000-04:002011-09-06T15:46:28.948-04:00Did you know?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is a great video clip on the current culture and technology. It gets very interesting in relation to how we parent at about 2:30 and 3:14 into the clip. It is about 5 minutes long.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/16tgJFW1o7o" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Can you imagine the amount of information that our daughters will be exposed to in the coming years? Will they be prepared to process that information from a Godly perspective?</div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-25209265583939117982011-09-02T10:54:00.000-04:002011-09-02T10:54:48.523-04:00Twitter Grace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_6iz1jz="153" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Have you become so use to certain words that they have lost their meaning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have noticed that I have a real aversion to using some decidedly churchy type words simply because they just don’t seem to carry any weight anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have become so desensitized to words like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">salvation, saved, born again, grace, Christians, sin, moral</i>, and many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These poor words get thrown around left and right to the point where it gets hard to remember to take them seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see why translations like <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Message-Bible-Contemporary-Language-Numbered/dp/1576836738?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Message </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1576836738" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>have found a niche in modern times as we struggle to reconnect with ideas that have become lost in a sea of misuse or over-use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians can certainly talk the talk without walking the walk.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">How do your daughters define these words?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we help them connect to the ideas that these important words represent?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Could you text <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">salvation</i>? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“God luvs u.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OMG[oodness] sinned again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BTW He paid price 4 u 2 b rite w/Him.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">How do you twitter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grace</i>?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“So didn’t deserve it, but Big Guy came through 4 me again.Can’t believe He doesn’t hold it over my head when I sin big.So grateful 4 His luv.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am all for reaching out to our daughters in a language they can readily access and understand, but I hope we are still getting the message across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had an interesting battle of words with one of my girls yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said she was worth the time and effort on my part to get things right; I won more of our “fights” because I worked hard to do right by her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What she heard was me saying how great I was…hmm, nope, not what I meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I asked her to look at it another way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a treasure of gold to me and I don’t want to tarnish her or bend her into a shape that is not what God intended to be best for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is worth so much that she deserves the best I have to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to break her out of her pattern of thinking in order for her to hear what I truly said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sometimes I spell out a simple word and think that it couldn’t possibly be correct, but it is (usually).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the everyday stuff that we really should know and see that can become blurry and out of focus without us even realizing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It pays off big to check in with our daughters on what they understand about all the church-speak that gets thrown around in Sunday school or during the sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they really get it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be asking my kids this weekend what they think some of these words mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to hear what faith-based words you think have lost their meanings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do your daughters have the same understanding of these words that you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know in the comments section!</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-40842134395502845152011-08-30T10:52:00.000-04:002011-08-30T10:52:24.687-04:00Risking the Impossible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i closure_uid_cyavik="156" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I love reading<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">One Thousand Gifts </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0310321913" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>just to get a taste of the voice and tone that Ann uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is my own take on themes found in her writing.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What do I risk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I lay out, palms open and stretched forward?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Risk means love and that I care about the consequences of loss, hurt, and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Risking means giving it up and being vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Open and undefended.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I risk very little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tuck a hope in my deepest pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stash a yearning in the farthest recesses of dusty closet corners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hold tight, arms crossed and bound around what I love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I hoard it, never allowing anyone else to touch it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a petulant child who won’t share her toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God calls me to give.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants me palms out and up, arms thrown wide, face up lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants joy in my grateful smile of vulnerability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants wild abandoned trust like a child from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only tentatively allow Him a glimpse into my cupped hands before snapping them closed tight to my chest.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I risk little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do I do, Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you want me to do, God?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His simple answer, “Let it go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Risk losing,” is ignored while I continue to plea for something I can do to make it better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it all go away.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I refuse the cool evening breeze for fear of mosquitoes buzzing and feeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though his blood was shed for me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I look away from young sweet faces framed after my own and focus instead on a lifeless world of intangible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet he gave up being God to become on of these for me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What do I risk compared to God?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let it go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surrender it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Risk it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can handle the responsibility so much better than I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps, like Satan I am jealous of God’s ability to do all things perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, perfectly for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I want it to revolve around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect becomes relative, fluid, and flowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what’s best for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know my own mind, don’t I?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But I only know the present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The past becomes cloudy and the future is a thick fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only know my place, right here where I am standing with my hand on my hips and my hips cocked to one side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only see what’s in front of me, through my glass frames in the spectrum of visible light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it goes on. My hearing, touch, smell: all of it fragmented and weak in comparison.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My idea of best is easy and sunny and warm and joyful, and, and.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My idea of best is limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am confined by “possible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Limited by human fault and discord. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only I could remember that I risk so much more by holding on to my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who am I and what am I capable of that I would risk <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> giving it all to Him who loves me more than I love myself?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Why do I drown out His loving offers with a steady, “mine, mine, mine”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can claim my fragile human faults or I can embrace them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One makes excuses then keeps on doing what I was doing before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other, embracing…oh, that means dropping everything I have clung to and harbored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to let it all fall in order to open my arms wide and instead hold tightly to my Savior.</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-63000976420669219262011-08-26T13:24:00.000-04:002011-08-26T13:24:06.419-04:00Fantasy Fiction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="165" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> I happen to be a Fantasy Fiction buff, and it seems that I have passed this on to at least one of my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My youngest will sit relatively still for an hour if I read any <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sherlock-Holmes-Novels-Stories/dp/0553328255?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0553328255" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>aloud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think he gets it all because I read the original text, but we found his fiction niche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nice that I can enjoy the book too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mind Babar or George or Madeline; but I appreciate getting to read something with words I occasionally have to look up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="166" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It can be difficult to find Fantasy books that do not conflict with Christian values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-C-S-Lewis-Signature-Classics/dp/0060506083?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">C.S. Lewis </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060506083" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>and <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-50th-Anniversary-Vol/dp/0618640150?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tolkien </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0618640150" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>are two masters of creating a world with different laws of nature and reality yet still operating within a framework of God’s sovereign existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some modern day authors who have done a great job of this also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="168" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Madeleine L’Engle:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, so she’s a contemporary of Lewis and Tolkien.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I can’t tell you how often I mention this amazing woman to be met with, “I completely forgot about her!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her <u closure_uid_2s7qs9="167"><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Time-Madeleine-LEngles-Quintet/dp/0312367546?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wrinkle in Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312367546" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></u> series can get a bit emotionally and spiritually dark in places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The science of worm-holes and travel around the universe could possibly make a young reader’s head spin, but she is absolutely a must read if you have a daughter who likes science!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only book of hers that I offer up with a caution is <u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Many-Waters-Madeleine-LEngles-Quintet/dp/0312368577?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Many Waters</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312368577" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></u>; intimate relationships and hormonal chemistry might be better left for older audiences.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="171" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Chuck Black:<span closure_uid_2s7qs9="170" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u closure_uid_2s7qs9="169"></u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kingdoms-Dawn-Kingdom-Book-1/dp/1590526791?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Kingdom Series </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1590526791" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>is a great read and the bonus is that the series parallels the Bible from Genesis through to Revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My biggest complaint with Black is that he only has one book featuring a female lead, Lady Carliss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books are probably written for boys, but I know plenty of girls who have enjoyed his strong female characters throughout the books.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">R.K. Mortenson:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While <u closure_uid_2s7qs9="172"></u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Landon-Snow-Island-Arcanum-Book/dp/1596078871?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Landon Snow series </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1596078871" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>is probably my least favorite that I am listing today, it is my eldest’s favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters are quirky and very off-the-wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books are an easy read and can be found at our local library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each book uses character lessons to bring main character Landon closer in his relationship with the “Auctor.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="174" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry:<span closure_uid_2s7qs9="173" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u></u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-King-Wormling-Jerry-Jenkins/dp/1414301553?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Wormling series </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1414301553" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>is my favorite on this list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The authors manage to create a character who grows from boyhood into adulthood, with plenty of conflict that doesn’t hinge on the usual teenage angst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Biblical parallels are pretty obvious but very well written.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="175" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">G.P. Taylor: <u></u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Escape-Dopple-Ganger-Chronicles/dp/1414319479?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Dopple Ganger Chronicles </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1414319479" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>is a graphic novel series up to three books now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my kids love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These beautiful books center around identical twin girls and their side-kick friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls are real trouble-makers but also have good hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people might not like that angels (some female) appear to the girls to deliver the spiritual morals in a ghost-like form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="176" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Miller Brothers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first starting <u closure_uid_2s7qs9="177"></u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Brown-Secret-Shadow-Codebearers/dp/1593173288?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Codebreaker series </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1593173288" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>featuring Hunter Brown I was not impressed, but the ending really redeemed what worried me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My original thought was that the authors were glorifying the main character’s typical teenage attitude and behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end of the first book though, there is a very nice twist that shows Hunter the problems with the path he has been walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This series is not finished yet either, but my daughter is so excited with each new one that comes out.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_2s7qs9="178" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Christopher Paolini:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final book of the <u></u><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Eragon-Brisingr-Christopher-Paolini/dp/0375872035?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eragon series </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375872035" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>will be out this November!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eldest and I are very excited to read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I think that she has re-read the series as it stands more than she has re-read any other book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm, maybe this one is her favorite?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Words have power in these books; magical power if that is a problem for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question of a Higher Power is raised in the books by some of the characters, and the origins of these words of power are discussed but no real answers are offered up as truth by the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This series would be good for a child that enjoys discussing such things with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I also recommend the websites:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Teenlitreview.blogspot.com</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Whatshouldireadnext.com</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Next week we can look at some classic books that definitely don’t take place in our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What genre of fiction do you enjoy and does your daughter enjoy the same?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know in the comments section!</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-83421941494441827742011-08-23T10:44:00.000-04:002011-08-23T10:44:02.047-04:00Spiritual Conditions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The ladies in my wonderful bible study/book club have come up with some very funny ways of looking at our human behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all admit to having Spiritual Alzheimer’s, but the rest are my own creation (not to be confused with an admittance of guilt by any other parties).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What spiritual conditions do you have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave me your ideas in the comments section.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have spiritual Alzheimer’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read my Bible or a great and uplifting book about my walk with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I put the book down and switch the laundry over, stop the kids from fighting, cook dinner, make the kids share, maybe get some writing done, and…completely forget the wonderful and energizing lesson I had just learned and was so excited about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I probably won’t remember anything more about it until I pick up the book the next time, and by then I will feel so bad about forgetting that I might even avoid reading the book again for a while.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am spiritually deaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray and pray for God to just tell me what to do about any given situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure He is right there beside me, calmly repeating Himself yet again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I feel unheard and unanswered.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am spiritually menopausal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go from lukewarm in my faith to red hot in an instant, just to cool off once the mood changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t even get me started on my irregular commitment to reading my Bible or praying.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am spiritual anemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get too busy to read my Bible or even pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am tired and worn out from my lack of connection to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something in me is missing, something that only God can provide.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am spiritually lice infested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From a distance, all appears normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look and sound just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you get out the magnifying glass you can see the worries and doubts just crawling around in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch me long enough and you will see me twitch and repeated scratch the itch of those doubts.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am spiritually malnourished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, so that music wasn’t very “Christian.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And perhaps, the book I just read was kind of romanticizing some very non-Christ-like behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These things were filling at the time, but my spirit is withering in cultural-junk-food.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have spiritual heartburn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read that passage about not frustrating my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I digest it the more my heart aches with conviction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honor my husband?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No idols?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need a Tums!</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-3763493867419700742011-08-19T06:46:00.001-04:002011-08-19T06:46:59.203-04:00Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div closure_uid_sg28zv="158">For those of you who don’t know, I am in the process of writing a book with the same title and topic of this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the blog came about because of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to get away to a writing retreat this week at <a href="http://sustainablefaith.com/">The Convent</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been such a great week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got 21 pages done which covers roughly the first four chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize those are some short chapters but it was good just to get that bare bones down on paper, now I get to start fleshing it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I am so excited it is hard not to start posting excerpts from what I have to the blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have been reading all over the place that this is not a smart thing to do, so I’ll have to stick to bribing friends to read it over for me. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_sg28zv="196" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’ve been learning a lot about platforms, blogging, and publishing lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a writer mom like me, here are some of my favorite agent/writer blogs:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Rachel Gardner: <a href="http://www.rachellegardner.com/">http://www.rachellegardner.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Radical Womanhood: <a href="http://solofemininity.blogs.com/">http://solofemininity.blogs.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Witty Words: <a href="http://christimcguire.wordpress.com/">http://christimcguire.wordpress.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you are interested in social media and all the various uses and/or programs, even if you aren’t a writer, you will probably like these blogs.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Michael Hyatt: <a href="http://michaelhyatt.com/">http://michaelhyatt.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">La Vie en Prose: <a href="http://merbarnes.blogspot.com/">http://merbarnes.blogspot.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am heading home today so this post is short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do want to make a shameless plea for you to become either a follower in the column on the right <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span> or to sign up for email alerts when I post something new <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">ß</span></span> over here on the left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really appreciate you taking the time to read here and to comment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you!</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-73649002995145687062011-08-17T12:19:00.000-04:002011-08-17T12:19:53.795-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I had to post this. It is so funny and so true. I love it when someone can convict me and make me laugh at the same time.<br />
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<div closure_uid_dqrbzz="169"><a href="http://sermonspice.com/product/37571/big-but">How big is your but?</a></div><div closure_uid_dqrbzz="169"><br />
</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-18530461520412910912011-08-16T08:56:00.000-04:002011-08-16T08:56:16.182-04:00Sophia Wisdom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">God the Father, Jesus the Bridegroom, and Holy Spirit the… role model for mothers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Holy Spirit is described in the Bible as an Advocate, comforter in suffering, encourager, witness, teacher, and God’s gift to believers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit is closely associated with words, both written and spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit is among us and in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a temple filled with the Holy Spirit if we obey God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can speak against many things, but it is not forgiven if you speak against the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10, Matt. 12:32, Mark 3:29, Acts 5:3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the Holy Spirit is often used when talking about baptism, it would seem that it is also present when people hear the gospel and believe (Acts 10:44, 11:15) or when men of faith pray over believers (Acts 8: 15-17, 8:19, 19:6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">How does any of that equate to being a role model for moms?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure we could go the way of the High School English paper and say something poetic about birth and water being feminine attributes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to shy away from that though because as cool as that might sound it really doesn’t help us in our daily struggle to parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">God has the sometimes annoying habit of being perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t say anything He doesn’t mean and He doesn’t mince words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives us a clear picture of Himself as triune.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the Father and the bridge-groom, that much is not really up for debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what to do with the Holy Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit has several very feminine qualities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She” likes to: talk, listen, comfort, fill us with love, and bring hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit is a nurturer who excels in interpreting the prayers we can only groan b/c we can’t find the words ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time the Bible says the Spirit testifies I have this image of a strong southern woman belting out, “Preach it honey, cause you know I saw it,” with her hand raised up in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="text-indent: 0.5in;">There are a number of lessons we can learn from this Advocate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to look at one of those today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit comes as a gift from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who are “filled with the spirit” are directly plugged in (as much as a human can be) to the Truth and Love of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are some mighty big shoes to fill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mothers we are the nurturers; relationships are important to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connections matter and we cultivate them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want our daughters to get along with their siblings, their father, and especially with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also need to nurture our daughters’ relationships with God, her Father in Heaven, and Jesus, her future groom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we fill our daughters with a sense of dread in their obligations to religious rules and doctrine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do we help “the God of hope fill [our daughters] with all joy and peace as [they] trust in him, so that [they] may overflow with hope by the power of the [our example and teaching].”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke 10:21</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 5:5</i><br />
</div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-70114602856633396272011-08-12T13:34:00.000-04:002011-08-12T13:34:42.032-04:00just a touch of Fahrenheit 451<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I had a very vivid nightmare the other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot of the dream was strikingly similar to that of the Hunger Games, but it involved my own children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I have to admit that I really do not care for the Hunger Games Trilogy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this time, I have tried so hard not to be biased against the books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people liked the series and I wanted to give them a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth, I can’t wait to have them out of my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Not many books can affect me enough to give me nightmares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use to have reoccurring nightmares as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I wrote them out I could put Stephen King out of business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I consider myself pretty tough in the nightmare department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This particular dream had me in tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, I have decided that I need to officially let go of the books and stop writing about them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I am looking for a new series of books to begin writing about and I am open to suggestions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I would appreciate no suggestions that involve children sacrificing themselves for each other or for the sport of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">For those of you who were so anxious for me to write about this series, I am very sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-19979297980443166142011-08-09T11:30:00.000-04:002011-08-09T11:30:35.659-04:00My Modern Day Proverbs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_51qtlu="179" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Benjamin Franklin probably had the book of Proverbs in mind when he added his “wit and wisdom” to <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin-Including-Richards/dp/1596052317?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Poor Richard’s Almanac</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1596052317" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today these “sound bytes” of wisdom are just as well known, if not more so, than the book of the Bible they appear to mimic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What have you heard lately that you would compile into a modern day book of Proverbs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some of my favorites (paraphrased and from various sources):</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Stop trying to be good enough on your own power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t say, “I will try harder, I will…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tree doesn’t try harder to make fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be obsessed with Jesus and you will become more like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–Dr. Mark Brown</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Be motivated by Love not by the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Live with joy and freedom enough to make dour Christians question your salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–Dr. Mark Brown</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Who is the first person you turn to at times of trouble?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is your shepherd?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is in control of your life?</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">God can use the daily grind of life to shape us for him.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">God is so big that to grasp Him we have to see Him in three parts.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">I take my humanness with me where ever I go so how can I ever be at peace with things or places if I am not at peace with God?</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Actions sometimes need to precede emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might need to go through the motions of something and eventually the feelings will follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we always wait for the feelings first we might never do the right thing (i.e. forgive, show love, show respect).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">If I focus on my children’s behavior instead of their hearts or if I “lord” over them with rules, then I teach them about power not humility.</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">What are some of the gems you have heard or collected over the years?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-47033970903298257822011-08-05T11:16:00.000-04:002011-08-05T11:16:20.960-04:00If Wisdom be the Food of Love...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Our world doesn’t usually equate love with wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love makes us fools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a lot of that has to do with the fact that our world defines love based on feelings and emotions; not commitments or choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world would have you believe that we don’t choose to fall in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no say in who we are attracted to and why; it is a chemical mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t agree.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Love doesn’t start with emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love starts with a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am madly, head-over-heels in love with my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unconditional love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I chose it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose them when I became pregnant and when I carried them in my womb until they were ready to be born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly love my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night we met I thought he had a great smile (still does) and he could dance, but those things didn’t create an irresistible emotion that I couldn’t fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I choose to commit myself to him for a number of reasons, and I am very glad I did.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Wisdom and love go extremely well together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wisdom gives us perspective in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps us to see the choices and to love well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can love someone poorly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enmeshment, co-dependence, promiscuity, abusive relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these are examples of love without wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is all loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is all knowing. (He is all powerful too, but that is another post on another day.) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whoever does not <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">love</span> does not know <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">God</span>, because <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">God</span> is <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">love</span> (I John 4:7-9).</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is holy, righteous, merciful, … and love.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In the Bible, you can find plenty of examples of wise and unwise ways to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For practicality let’s stick with the examples of God’s love for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Because God loves us:</div><ul closure_uid_cqmk6h="169" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">He disciples us (Proverbs 3:11-12 if you don’t believe disciple comes from love)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">He protects us </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">He allows us free will</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">He sacrifices for us</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">He forgives and has mercy on us through Christ</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_cqmk6h="170" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Love makes us into fools?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the world was told that the wisdom of God would seem foolish to those who chose not to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose God.</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_cqmk6h="170" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_cqmk6h="170" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_cqmk6h="170" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">God</span> demonstrates his own <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">love</span> for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.<br />
<span class="keywordresultextras"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5:7-9&version=31"><span style="color: blue;">Romans 5:7-9</span></a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jesus replied: “‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Love</span> the Lord your <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">God</span> with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’<br />
<span class="keywordresultextras"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22:36-38&version=31"><span style="color: blue;">Matthew 22:36-38</span></a></span></i></div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-18003528546967985512011-08-02T14:46:00.002-04:002011-08-02T14:50:59.372-04:00Mastermind Yaya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Philippians 4:8</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Bible is pretty clear that we are to distance ourselves from sin while at the same time draw nearer to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These days, I feel like I would have to drag my family off to live in a cave in some remote corner of the world in order to escape worldly influences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even then I would probably get some salesman on my door trying to sign me up for their cable/internet package.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steering clear of sin is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that isn’t even taking into account the weakness of my own flesh and desires; greed, jealousy, anger, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But the Bible offers hope too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not without our weapons (Eph. 6:13-17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not fighting alone (Luke 11:13).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not have to listen to what the world says either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians 4:8 can be applied to many areas of our life, but let’s take a look at what it has to offer when it comes to our menstrual cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I heard a statistic some time ago (and I can not for the life of me remember where) that found that young girls who were raised to call their private parts by “silly” or nonsensical names, as opposed to their proper names, were more likely to be abused or taken advantage of sexually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They theorized that the use of nonsensical names carried with it the idea of a joke or something funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, it’s so cute when little kids say “yaya” or “woohoo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of jokes is to share them and make others laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls who grew up hearing and using the proper names for their private parts did not view them as funny or something to be shared; therefore it was reasoned, they were less likely to feel comfortable with situations or people that treated their bodies in this regard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they felt uncomfortable they were more likely to tell a trusted adult or simply walk away very early on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does this have to do with Philippians 4:8?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, how do you talk about your feminine nature, menstrual cycle, and God-created body?</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_63ykiv="153" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God calls us to master our thoughts, something <a href="http://www.blessinggodsway.com/Blessing_Gods_Way/Maidenhood.html">MbHD</a> does a wonderful job of addressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us grown women did not receive a comprehensive education on our reproductive organs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know the basics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that hormones are involved and the names of most of the organs involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human beings have a tendency to fear or make fun of what we don’t understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don’t know the names for individual parts of our body, or we fear saying them in public, we might make up nonsensical names for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we continue on that path of ignorance/fear then we will quickly buy into the idea that our feminine nature, and body, is a curse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very short step from being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cursed</i> to being the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">victim</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Satan would love for us to see ourselves as victims of God’s cruel creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are cursed with femininity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It breaks my heart just to type those sentences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139: 14).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are blessed with these bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are blessed in our femininity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, there will be pain and suffering in life and that includes our menstrual cycle (some of us more than others).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we see ourselves as being cursed then we miss out on these opportunities to draw closer to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We miss out on seeing His strength in our weakness.</div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-51656706253096506712011-07-26T13:22:00.000-04:002011-07-26T13:22:21.743-04:00Blood and Guts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Just the facts, ma’am.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do our daughters need to hear from us about their menstrual cycle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simple facts of chemistry and biology, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, what does the world tell our daughters about their maturing body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you simply Google you will find lots of cold hard fact mixed with all the “what-if’s,” pain relief options, and possible complications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t find anything that ties a woman’s femininity to her cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only women get periods yet there is this glaring omission in the information that is presented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">One of the key reasons for this omission is that God is left out of the discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God created our bodies and He created this process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t create the menstrual cycle to frustrate us or hinder us (from swimming, wearing white pants, etc.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God created this intricate process as a fundamental part of what makes us different from men; our femininity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women, not men, have babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God created our menstrual cycle for a purpose, to conceive and bear children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be fruitful and multiply..”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_vqr7ja="180" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">This is a blessing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get to take part with God in creating new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Christ had an earthly mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our menstrual cycles are not a curse we are forced to endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to have a lengthily discussion on the birds-and-bees to share with your daughter the blessings that her womb was designed for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the things I really liked about the<a href="http://blessinggodsway.com/Blessing_Gods_Way/BGW_Shoppe.html"> MbHD</a> curriculum was the <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fearfully-Wonderfully-Made-David-Menton/dp/B000GTW8TG?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">video</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000GTW8TG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> that talked about how detailed God was in creating the process of conception that goes on within just the woman’s body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_vqr7ja="221" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Our daughters need to hear from us that blood is not gross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, that one might take some work for some of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try looking up all <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=blood&qs_version=NIV">references</a> to blood in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blood is cleansing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were bought out of slavery by the blood of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blood is life. How do you react to blood around your daughter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fearful and squeamish over gushing head wounds?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yea, me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when it comes to the slow and gentle welling of blood in a deep scrap it might help if we take the time to explain that blood is cleaning the wound and delivering all kinds of good stuff to the troubled area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been conditioned to see blood as gross and a sign of danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our daughters will not learn any different if we do not lead the way.</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_vqr7ja="248" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">One of the topics that all the moms in my class commented on was how often options they had never thought of before were discussed; like <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Menstrual-Color-Cotton-Pads-Pack/dp/B0001ZZJQ4?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">cloth pads</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0001ZZJQ4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Menstrual-Cup-Size/dp/B0006O2MJW?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Keepers</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0006O2MJW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diva-Cup-Model-1-Pre-Childbirth/dp/B000FAG6X0?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cups</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000FAG6X0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, and sponges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discussed the roles of proper nutrition and simple herbs like red raspberry leaf tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also discussed charting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone, mom and daughter, walked out of class knowing how to chart their cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might seem like something only those trying to conceive might be interested in, but there is more value to it then just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some very handy apps these days for charting and predicting when your next period will start, but they are computer programs that are capable of error just like humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a good understanding of the phases of your cycle and can chart them out, you can plan not just for when your period will start but also when to consume more iron, water, or that tea we talked about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I admit, I like tea.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_vqr7ja="250" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i closure_uid_vqr7ja="252" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Next week: The Fear-Curse-Victim approach</i></div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-61384214248732095572011-07-19T12:59:00.000-04:002011-07-19T12:59:49.078-04:00T.O.M.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Many women remember their first period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, I’ve asked a lot of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you, I don’t ask complete strangers…at least I don’t accost people in dressing rooms or on the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many women were able to tell me how old they were and what they were doing that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some stories are traumatic, “I thought I was dying,” and some are blasé, “I knew what was going on and it wasn’t a big deal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fall somewhere in the middle; it was memorable but not a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">However, it wasn’t long before I started to feel like my period was more of a curse than a blessing; cramps, pads vs. tampons, no white pants, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word “coverage” no longer had anything to do with sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no one factor that lead me down the Cursed path; life, education (or lack of anything but one point of view), and the attitudes of those around me all had an impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continued down that path until just a couple years ago.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My eldest daughter was coming to an age that made me realize I had to figure out how to describe body changes…even the reason for them. *sigh* Well, the latter part of that is a discussion for another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For today we will stick with maturing bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wanted a curriculum set because I am not really into reinventing the wheel if I don’t have to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took some looking around, some curriculums try to tackle too much and others just cover one particular aspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The information had to be Bible-based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some good resources put out by American Girl, but they were too big on self-esteem and not big enough on a body created by God for a purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel…(no, I’m not getting paid for this) I found what I was looking for; all the body changes with none of the, ahem, more mature topics.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A group class was definitely a plus for this topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I was lucky but we had a wonderful range of ethnicities, ages, and family traditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confess that I tweaked just the tiniest bit at the curriculum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ever watch me cook, I just can not leave a recipe well enough alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a ball!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And best of all, the girls were excited to some day get their period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the solemn truth that every mom in that class came up to me at some point to say how much they were enjoying the material and shared something new they had learned from the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We scrapbooked about the uterus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you get more girlie than that?<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What I really appreciated, as the teacher, was that each girl sat next to her mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a young girl had a question she was encouraged to ask her mom first and then they could both ask me if mom decided it was ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way some of the silly or simple questions got screened by mom and the girls got into the habit of asking their mom instead of an “expert.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another great aspect was the conversations the moms had while the daughters were listening. There were several opportunities to share stories about our first periods, shaving, buying our first bra, and other coming of age stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter got to hear other moms give tips and advice instead of the “mom lecture” that our daughters can smell coming from a mile away and just makes everyone feel uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were certainly lots of reminders to the girls that information shared in the class was only to be talked about with other members of the class, and preferably with mom first.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While the birds and the bees were not discussed we did watch a video that talked about the intricate details that all have to click into place within her body in order for conception to occur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal wasn’t to inform the girls how pregnancy occurs so much as it was to convey why they had a menstrual cycle and how absolutely detailed and complicated God was in designing their bodies. I did check with the moms before showing the video to make sure all were comfortable with the potential questions they might get asked at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all agreed and I think the moms actually got more out of the video then the girls did. <o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We set up the class to run for four Thursday evenings in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a sign up for snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a menstrual party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too bad I couldn’t have had it in a red tent. <o:p></o:p></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Next week, what do our daughters need to hear from us about their menstrual cycle?<o:p></o:p></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-13625555364838962542011-07-15T13:54:00.000-04:002011-07-15T13:54:17.072-04:00Tuitty Fruitty<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"> Love</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Joy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peace</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Patience</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kindness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Goodness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Faithfulness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gentleness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Castellar;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Self-Control</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The fruits of the Spirit have nothing to do with apples, peaches, or even tomatoes (yes, they are a fruit).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The above list from Paul, in Galatians 5:22, is made to contrast our preference for our human desires; which Paul lists as the “acts of the flesh,” (Galatians 5:19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evidence of good fruits in our lives is supposed to be a confirmation of our appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human beings can not read each others’ minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to rely on some outward actions and attitudes to understand where a person’s heart is at.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Produce fruit in keeping with repentance [says John the Baptist].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 3:8</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Matthew 7:16-20</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So if we are to be recognized by our fruit, I thought it would be appropriate to see what fruit I could find some of the fiction I have been going through on the blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I have been avoiding writing about <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Hunger Games series </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439023521" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>I should start with that one first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll give you my take on the first four this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please feel free to leave comments disagreeing with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to hear if you see more to this story than I do!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>Love:</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lots of unrequited love in this series, as well as, doomed lovers who are pulled apart or killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is a dystopia novel, there is bond to be more hurt, anger, and sadness than love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does love win out in the end?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there any good role models for Love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peeta could be argued as a good role model for Love, but even he is twisted and broken in this department by the last book.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>Joy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Ok, dystopia novel…joy is pretty slim here too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most joyful situations are bittersweet; such as when Peeta and Katniss try to honor Rue’s district and it only ends up getting many people in the district killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>Peace:</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peace-makers are nonexistent is a story whose plot is driven by fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t even know if Katniss’s final act of violence produced a government of peace.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u>Patience:</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As far as a “peace that passes all understanding” there is a lot of waiting, a sort of hunter’s patience, if you will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peeta demonstrates patience in his love for Katniss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haymitch shows patience in his strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-73226044401852523402011-07-12T11:01:00.001-04:002011-08-16T17:00:58.247-04:00When does Aunt Flo visit?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Menstrual cycle, there I said it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aunt Flo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That time of the month.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Curse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How, when, and where do you discuss this with your darling little girl?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you wait too long she could hear about it from friends or worse yet, start her menstrual cycle and think something is seriously wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you don’t want to jump the gun and give her the information so soon that she can’t really understand it or appreciate what you are sharing with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The average age for a young lady to begin her period has been decreasing over time; it seems to be anywhere between 11-14 at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Body mass and heredity can both effect when our daughters get their first period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our pediatrician shared with us that when a girl gets breast buds, the clock starts ticking for her first menstrual cycle to appear; within 18 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even before breast buds your daughter might need to start using deodorant when she is active, or not, if you prefer eau de armpit in scaring the boys away.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">While it might be awfully tempting to leave this lovely life lesson until the last minute, please think about what this communicates to your daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Menstrual Cycles are shameful (because we don’t talk about them unless we have to and only in whispers when we do.)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Your body is broken/gross (because you have “shameful” menstrual cycles.)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The time of your menstrual cycle typically called your “period” is not positive or feminine (because we hide it even from other women if we can and only talk about it negatively when we do share about it.)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">You have no control of this negative process (therefore I had nothing to educate you about concerning it) so just grab a pad/tampon, a Midol, and wait it out.</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Obviously, I don’t believe these things to be true or I wouldn’t be writing about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I want to encourage you to check out <a href="http://www.blessinggodsway.com/Blessing_Gods_Way/Maidenhood.html">Maidens by His Design</a> (MbHD).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved this curriculum and have even taught it as a group class once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to give you a chance to look up this resource before talking more about educating our daughters on this topic next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did use the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Purity-Parents-Manuel-Family/dp/B001WXFND8?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Passport to Purity </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001WXFND8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />curriculum, but we used it after going through MbHD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share what you used with your daughters, if you dare [insert evil laugh here], because we need to talk about this together in order to undo the negative influences that we have been bombarded with over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <script type="text/javascript">
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">How to respect another person, and value them, without agreeing with them.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">How to speak their own ideas clearly with love and respect, but firm conviction.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">How to evaluate another idea based on sound logic and a biblical worldview.</li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In short, we need to socialize our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether your daughters attend public, private, or you home-school; we need to influence our daughters more than anyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be difficult at a time when they are testing the waters of<a href="http://solomonsdaughters.blogspot.com/search/label/independence"> independence</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">One way to socialize our daughters is to think about what other adults in our daughters’ lives we can point them to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who can we give them permission to look to as role models?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the nice benefits here is that they will hear the same advice that they mistook for misguided nagging when it came from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughters want to see the world outside of our home and that is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to still have sound guidance in situations when I am not there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is to get them involved in some activities where there are other adults you know and trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our girls are part of a wonderful <a href="http://www.firstlegoleague.org/">FLL team</a> where I know the other moms and dads are upholding the same standards and morals that we hold to at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the other parents involved and I trust their influence over my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I welcome it, in fact.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Another way to influence our children and show them how ideas clash (antithesis) is through reading books with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just recently heard a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Core-Teaching-Foundations-Classical-Education/dp/023010035X?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">great</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=023010035X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Echo-Celebration-Call-Home-centred-Education/dp/0979833302?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">speaker</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0979833302" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://leighbortins.com/">Leigh Bortins</a>, say, “Books introduce antithesis safely because kids will see it first hand soon enough.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I read the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Suzanne-Collins/dp/0439023521?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hunger Games </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439023521" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />books with my daughters and talk about it with them, I can walk them through the four points given up above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can talk them through difficult ideas presented in the story as a way to give them positive guidelines for real life situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conversations can be fun Saturday morning breakfasts out or silly giggly girly manicures at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same can be done with movies if you make frequent use of the pause button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key is to talk to our daughters, ask them questions, and give them our thoughts on the matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Listen, my [daughter], to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Proverbs 1:8-9</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My [daughter], if you accept my words and store up my commands within you…<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Proverbs 2:1</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My [daughter], do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Proverbs 3:1-2</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Listen, my [daughters], to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a [daughter] to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Proverbs 4:1-3</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My [daughter], pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Proverbs 5:1-2</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And so on…</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></i></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-31244498559100043542011-07-05T13:08:00.000-04:002011-07-05T13:08:25.339-04:00Compare and Contrast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I am in awe of some of the women’s blogs I read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sound so together; baking bread, sewing their own clothes, individual time with each of their children, and the list goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not there yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I will probably never be one of those women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My kids are on one screen or another on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might watch TV or play on the <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lego-Star-Wars-Complete-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B000R3BNDI?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wii </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000R3BNDI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>or the computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We eat fast food probably once a week, (gasp!) sometimes more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like watching some of the old cartoons like <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Voltron-Defender-Universe-Collection-Blue/dp/B000FUTV64?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Voltron</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000FUTV64" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> and <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thundercats-Season-One-Bob-McFadden/dp/B0009IW8AI?ie=UTF8&tag=raissolosdaug-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Thundercats</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=raissolosdaug-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0009IW8AI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> with my kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m very human. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I am also learning not to compare myself to those women who do seem to have it all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try not to wish for a different house, metabolism, or the ability to play dolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible has a name for that: covet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I compare myself to others it will only lead to jealousy or a false sense of pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither of those will do me any good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must learn to be content with where God has me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must learn to walk that fine line of being content with who I am while still striving to become more like Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you noticed how much of our Christian walk is learning to embrace peace/joy while being mindful of our own depraved nature?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">How do I teach these things to my daughters when I still struggle with them so often?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t claim to be the expert on becoming Christ-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do two things though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I can let my daughters see me struggle and model for them by turning to God when the going gets tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, I can continue to point them to the scriptures when life gets tough for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This second one requires me to already be doing the first; I can’t point my daughters to scriptures that will help them if I am not in the Bible myself enough to know some scripture that might be helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know where wisdom comes from: Fear of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to look to God alone for my contentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to compare myself to Christ (as depressing as that may be), not to other women in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">When I am happiest and the more content, I am in balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can grasp at that peace that passes all understanding while knowing how far from perfect I am.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proverbs 8:11</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 Corinthians 10:12</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Each one should test their own actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galatians 6:4,5</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 7:25</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jude 1:24,25</i></div></div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-20259765334386631372011-07-05T11:53:00.000-04:002011-07-05T11:53:18.996-04:00Commenting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm trying to add my own comments and thanks to those that have posted...not having much luck with it though. For some reason blogspot can't decide what my userid is and sets me off in a perpetual cycle of signing in. <br />
I am working on it. But I wanted to thank those of your who have left comments. They are greatly appreciated! I created this blog to interact with more readers and I love hearing from you all.<br />
<br />
Thank you!</div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3297564986777446476.post-85959212212876581782011-07-01T17:35:00.000-04:002011-07-01T17:35:40.356-04:00Servitude<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I am teaching at a conference where I have had the privilege of listening to a excellent speaker the last couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She brought up a great quote from Harriet Tubman, “I have freed thousands of slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have freed thousands more…had they known they were slaves.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a simple and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">convicting</i> thing to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes this such a great quote is how true this is of so many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are mastered either by the world or by Christ; we are slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might like to think that we are the masters of our own destiny, the captain of our own ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is we are not in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will either be ruled by the culture around us or by the book that guides us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that book is the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Romans 6:16-18</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">So, you know you are a slave to Christ…how did you figure this out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you wake up one day, having never opened a Bible or heard a word about God, and decide to surrender your own will over to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You grew wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like to talk about the freedom in Christ, but are we willing to talk to our daughters about the servitude and surrender?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don’t tell them (again and again and again) they will never hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don’t educate them they will never learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do not whisper what the Bible says in their ear on a constant basis then they will never grow wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It is up to us to lead by example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must swallow our pride and admit we are slaves.</div>Tamara Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273206246473555547noreply@blogger.com2