My Favorite Cloth Diaper Cover

Feb 21, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Since writing Diaper Diaries a couple years ago, I have stepped into the world of the prefold/diaper cover combo. Though I only needed to try one pocket diaper to fall in love (my beloved Fuzzi Bunz), it took quite a while to find a cover that I truly enjoyed using. Many leaked like crazy, others were not very soft, most of them used velcro fasteners rather than snaps, and most of them wore out rather quickly. Then I tried out the Thirsties Duo Wrap and fell in love. Here are the benefits to this diaper cover:

1. Adjustability

Thirsties Duo Wraps come in two sizes and both have the ability to be adjusted to fit your child as needed. This ability to customize the fit, minimized the amount of covers you need to buy and also cuts down on leaks caused by ill fitting covers.

2. Snaps

I am a big fan of snaps. Velcro gets old and yucky over time. It snags other diapers in the wash. It loses it’s grippiness over time. Most importantly little, curious fingers can easily pull velcro diapers open. For all of these reasons I love the snap closers that Thirsties Duo covers use. Some people enjoy the ease of velcro for diaper changes. If this is you, Thirsties has a velcro option as well.

3. Gussets

At first I wasn’t sure about gussets. Do they really make a difference? Does that extra little piece of fabric around the thigh really make a difference? I have come to the conclusion that it does. Gussets really cut down on leaks because they provide a more natural fit that covers more of the prefold diaper.

4. Texture

I am big on texture. I hate the feeling of jeans under my fingers (though I struggle through it). The texture of seat belts is another one that really gets me. I know, I am very strange. All of this to say, texture can make or break a diaper for me. Thirsties Duo Wraps are soft, while at the same time do not absorb the wetness beneath, providing greater leak protection. Want to know a cover that does absorb wetness and leaks like crazy? Click here.

5. Design

Thirsties Duo Covers come in lots of adorable, bright colors, but I have bought all three of the cute (boy friendly) patterns they have available. There is no getting around how adorable these covers are!

Curious as to what I use underneath these covers? These prefolds (I use the unbleached option), these Snappis, and these liners.

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You’ve Been Adopted Because Your Sins Have Been Paid For & A Giveaway

Feb 17, 2012 by desiringvirtue

This giveaway is officially ended. Congratulations Kristin Thomson and Ashley Taylor. You will be receiving a copy of “Adopted for Life” in the very near future! A big thanks to everyone who participated.

Sunday our church was privileged to have Dr. Russell Moore from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary speak on the subject of adoption. This was more than a conference on the Christian’s responsibility to care for the orphaned, it was a plea for the Church to have the heart that Christ has for the nations. It was a reminder of the incredible work of adoption God has done for each of us who call ourselves sons and daughters of God through the precious blood of our Savior. Because our Heavenly Father lovingly and graciously stoops down to redeem our needy souls, making us heirs with Christ, we too must seek to care for the needy as we seek to emulate our Father’s character.

The entire conference was challenging, but one particular moment took my breath away. Dr. Moore was briefly describing our relationship to the Lord as his children and then paused to address those who wonder how it is they can be called children of a Holy, Perfect, Glorious God–we, who have wallowed in the dirt of sin and rejected our rightful king, we who even after salvation struggle not to delight in the perishing promises of sin. How is it that we can claim the title of his children, that we can claim to be part of his royal family? What is our confidence in? Of course we rightfully point to Christ our great Substitute who lived a perfect life for us and died a horrible death in our place, but what took my breath away in Dr. Moore’s explanation was the way he explained this great truth. It went something like this:

When the enemy asks you, “What makes you think that you are a child of God? You are a sinner, just like every other human on the face of the planet. What makes you think that God would accept you into his family, filthy as you are?” you can confidently reply, “Yes, this is true. I am indeed a sinner just like every other person born from Adam, but every sin that I have ever committed and will ever commit has been paid for. You see, I was put before a judge and found guilty for my sin, I was flogged and beaten, I had a crown of thorns placed on my brow and a mocking purple robe placed on my bloody back, I carried a cross to a hill called Calvary and was nailed to it. I suffered upon that cross and slowly drowned in my own lung fluid. I was mocked, ridiculed and then died for the sins I have committed and have yet to commit. I was rightly punished for my rebellion agains the King of the universe. But that is not where my story ends. You see, after they had placed my in a grave and wrapped me in burial clothes, after there was no hope of resuscitation, life was breathed into my dead body. My hand began to twitch and slowly lifted to my face unwrapping the clothes of death. I stood with new life and left that tomb a justified man, who had paid for his sins. I left that tomb a child of God.”

Sisters, isn’t this the glorious truth of substitution? Isn’t this the miraculous picture of our death and resurrection with Christ?

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”
(Romans 6:3-7; Romans 6:8-9 ESV)

We, in no way paid for our own sins, it was completely Christ in every way, but the glorious truth of the gospel is that God counts Christ’s work as our own. He sees us and sees everything that his Son did, his life, his death, and his resurrection are all counted as ours.

“…for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:26; Galatians 3:27-29 ESV)

Praise be to God that our sins are paid for completely and because of Christ we can legitimately be called Sons and Daughters of the Living God. He has adopted us.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1 ESV)

Not because we were worth it, or because we earned it, but because Christ was worth it and because he earned it. How can we not show the same unconditional love to those around us to need it most?

Win a Copy of Adopted for Life!

Today I am going to offer a giveaway of Russell Moore’s book Adopted for Life (the book this conference was based on). There will be two books up for grabs so there are two chances to win.

One of the most striking purposes in Dr. Moore’s messages was that adoption is not just a family calling, it is the church’s calling. Just because you may not be in a position to adopt, doesn’t mean that you are exempt from the ministry of adoption. For that reason this giveaway should not just be seen as a prize for married couples who are already contemplating adoption, but for every person who belongs to the body of Christ: students, singles, marrieds, and empty nesters. All of us have a responsibility to care for the widow and the orphan. This book will help you understand why and what that practically looks like.

For your chance to win 1 of 2 copies of this book simply fill out the entry form below. The giveaway will end at 12pm on Monday the 20th.

This giveaway is closed.

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Reader Feedback Question: What is Your Favorite Attribute of God?

Feb 16, 2012 by desiringvirtue

On Monday I asked you what your favorite attribute of God was. As I have thought over this question I have been reminded of how intricately interwoven his attributes truly are. If I prefer one over another it is simply because it further defines or modifies another attribute that I am thankful for. As most of you shared, the Lord’s sovereignty is a great encouragement to my soul. The fact that he controls every aspect of the universe, including my own life keeps me sane when the difficulties of life present themselves. It gives me hope that there is a purpose in all the suffering, waiting, pain, and even sorrow. But more than even his sovereignty, I treasure his love.

Without the knowledge of God’s intense love for me I would be tempted to think him a cruel Sovereign who delights in my suffering. It is his love, the love that sent Christ to calvary, that comforts me even in the darkest of nights. It was his love that guarded my heart as I delivered my lifeless baby girl at 17 weeks, and his love that gives me hope for future healthy pregnancies. This God who is so infinitely powerful is infinitely sensitive. He knows our frame. He knows our needs, our desires, our struggles and he cares deeply about them. He does not desire our harm, but desires our good and this knowledge opens heavens doors and allows us to step into the Holy of Holies. This love that shed the Prince of Light’s blood for my dark, sinful soul. It is God’s love that draws me to him and makes his grace impossible to resist.

Here are some of your answers:

Lauren said…

I have been listening to the cd Attributes of God by Shai Linne (based on AW Pink’s book) ever since we got it two months ago. I think the song on there that hits me the most is the one on God’s amazing patience. “He loves us patiently” the chorus goes. The fact that my God is slow to anger makes Him so different from man–from ME. It challenges me to consider that if I want to demonstrate His patience to others (especially my kiddos!) then I must look to Him and see just how amazingly patient He has been with me. And I am overwhelmed. I’ve also been meditating on the fruit of the Spirit lately, and how that fruit is in line with the character of God. If we want to bear the fruit of the Spirit, we must be depending upon Him and looking to Him to produce His likeness in us. The fact that He does this work in sinners is truly amazing, demonstrating His power, His kindness, His love, His wisdom…It’s hard to meditate on one attribute without it relating to His other perfections!

Becky said…

For me, the attribute of God that has turned my life upside down is His Sovereignty. That He is above all, reigning over all is just incredible. It brings me to my knees, comforts me, and gives me hope when I don’t find a reason for it. God is Sovereign over all… just think about that! That makes me shiver!

Holly said…

I agree with Becky. My favorite attribute of God is His Sovereignty (I think that would be wisdom on the chart). As mothers we tend to be worriers (at least most moms I know are) and knowing and trusting that God is Sovereign over ALL even things I cannot understand is so comforting. It is the ultimate hope for me. This world can have such sad moments that knock the breath out of you and I cannot imagine going through them without knowing God is ordaining it all for His glory and the good of His people.

Please feel free to keep the conversation going and share your favorite attribute in the comments.

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God is Love.

Feb 14, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Today we celebrate love, which for a Christian is the celebration of God and his wondrous work within us. It is because of his glorious and perfect love toward us that we can show love toward others. Join me today in searching out what the Scriptures say about love. Throughout the day I will be Tweeting beautiful words of love from the Bible. You can follow on Twitter or Facebook.

Also, don’t forget to enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of the three books I recommended on Marriage.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Living Out the Mystery

Feb 14, 2012 by desiringvirtue

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.‘ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:22-33)

In this passage, in just a few words, we behold a stunning truth. Here we have a glimpse into the mind of God, with this truth explained we can understand his very motive in creating us man and woman, husband and wife.

The truth is that our roles as husband and wife, and the mystical union (both in flesh and spirit) that takes place as we take our vows, were ordained from eternity past by our Holy God to reflect the glorious acts of Christ.

“…when Paul wanted to tell the Ephesians about marriage, he did not just hunt around for a helpful analogy and suddenly think that “Christ and the church” might be a good teaching illustration. No, it was much more fundamental than that: Paul saw that when God designed the original marriage He already had Christ and the church in mind. This is one of God’s great purposes in marriage: to picture the relationship between Christ and His redeemed people forever!” (George Knight)

This truth is captivating! When Jesus made us heirs of the Living God through his precious blood, he forever grafted us into his own family. In the most perfect way, he married the church-pledging his life, his body, and his future to us. We are his and he is ours. As the wedding ring on my finger testifies to the promise of my earthly marriage, the Holy Spirit within us testifies to the heavenly union we have with our Savior.

If this connection between the marriage relationship and Christ’s relationship to the church is true, it presents many weighty and marvelous implications for our lives. There are two that I have been meditating on recently:

1. Our Marriages are Not About Us.

Marriage is an incredible blessing to a husband and wife, but above all it is meant to bring glory to the Risen Lord. Like so much of scripture, the creation of such a relationship between Adam and Eve was meant to point to Christ’s glorious work on the cross for the redeemed. We can’t miss this truth and hope to fulfill the divine purpose God has for our marriages. How a husband and wife interact on a daily basis either brings glory to the gospel or defiles it because it is meant to be a picture of the gospel. As the redeemed people of God it is our duty and delight to use this remarkable gift to bring glory to his name in all creation.

How do we bring glory to the gospel through our marriages? How do we live the gospel in our marriages? In order to live out the divine purpose of our marriages we must obey the word of God in the callings it has laid out for us. Husbands must love their wives sacrificially, they must lead their wives in a way that mirrors Christ’s leadership of the church. Wives must honor and respect their husbands and submit to them in everything. This kind of relationship is completely counter cultural, but so is the gospel it is meant to represent.

2. Our Marriages are Meant to Be Incredible!

If our marriages are meant to reflect the glorious love between Christ and his church, it stands to reason the love that a husband and wife have for one another has the potential to reach magnificent heights! Our physical and spiritual union with our husbands is nothing short of miraculous. There is something supernatural about it, something that cannot be explained from our finite human minds, something deep, pervasive, unique. Just as Christ miraculously bound himself to the church for her good and his glory, we have entered into a binding relationship for our good and Christ’s glory. Marriage is meant to bring immense pleasure to a husband and wife because of the very nature of what marriage represents.

If this is true, why then do we find ourselves in difficult situations with our spouse? Why do we get into fights or have periods of disunity? Is it as simple as the fact that we are not living out the gospel with each other? If we are not walking in and breathing out the very thing that gives life and meaning to our marriages how can we ever expect for them to blossom and mature into their full potential? We must daily seek out the very thing we are trying to mirror in our relationship. The gospel isn’t just the purpose for our marriages it is the power for our marriages. We cannot bring glory to God on our own. We cannot be the wives he has called us to be without his powerful working in the deepest, darkest parts of our souls. The power of the Risen Lord is the only thing sufficient to make our marriages gospel-bearing vessels worthy of the honor bestowed on them.

What a glorious privilege it is to partake in this mystery that God prepared for us in ages past! What a humbling thought that he purposefully planned to use flawed men and women to physically represent the relationship of Christ and the church. We must beg Christ for the ability to bring glory to his name through this means and we must thank him for the joy to be found in such a mystical union.

For further reading: The Theology of a Helper

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The Attributes of God Infographic & Reader Feedback Question

Feb 12, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Tim Challies has begun a new series called Visual Theology that uses infographics to explain the truths of scripture. I would highly recommend that you first follow Challies if you are not already (always encouraging and challenging) and then that you check out the first few infographics he has already released.

I really like this one that focuses on the Attributes of God. Not only does it show various attributes (different aspects of his character), but it also classifies them into communicable (those attributes that he shares with other beings) and incommunicable (those that are specific to him alone) attributes. You can click on this image to go to a larger one.

This week’s reader feedback question is this:

What is your favorite attribute of God and how does it effect your life as a woman, wife, and/or mother?

I will share my answer and select five of yours to publish on Thursday! I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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Invest in Your Marriage this Valentine’s Day

Feb 8, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Nothing says “I love you” like “I want to actively work toward loving your more sincerely, serving you more sacrificially, and honestly growing with you in the likeness of Christ this year.” Isn’t that what we all want for our marriages? Don’t we desire to year after year grow closer, stronger, and more unified as a couple? Don’t we desperately desire for our marriages to draw us closer to the Savior and to reflect him more clearly to a watching world?

Something my husband and I love to do is read books on the subject of marriage. Sometimes we read them together, sometimes we listen to them together (as in the old school audio books), and sometimes when that is not possible, we just read them individually.

The best part about reading a book together (even if you can’t read it at the exact same time) is that you can work together to understand and implement what you have just read. It gives you the opportunity to be intimately involved in the growth of your marriage. It promotes unity by allowing you to see as your spouse sees and allows you to understand what your spouse expects, feels, and desires from your marriage. There is an intimacy that grows as you are together challenged toward greater Christ-likeness and you are forced to speak of things that sometimes you would rather just went unsaid. Reading together is good, because it inevitably leads to talking together and growing together.

Today I would like to share a few of the best books available today that focus on the topic of marriage. These books are all great resources for couples who desire to grow both in their relationship together and in their relationship with the Lord. I would encourage you to make it a point to read at least one of them together this year as you seek to honor the Lord in your marriage. I would encourage you to buy one as a Valentine’s Day Gift for your husband to say:

I want to actively work toward loving your more sincerely, serving you more sacrificially, and honestly growing with you in the likeness of Christ this year.

Three Marriage Books We Highly Recommend:

1.) What Did You Expect?? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

By Paul David Tripp

Publisher’s Description:

“Marriage, according to Scripture, will always involve two flawed people living with each other in a fallen world. Yet, in pastor Paul Tripp’s professional experience, the majority of couples entermarriage with unrealistic expectations, leaving them unprepared forthe day-to-day realities of married life.

This unique book introduces a biblical and practical approach to those realities that is rooted in God’s faithfulness and Scripture’s teaching on sin and grace. “Spouses need to bereconciled to each other and to God on a daily basis,” Tripp declares. “Since we’re always sinners married to sinners, reconciliation isn’t just the right response in moments of failure. It must be the lifestyle of any healthy marriage.”

What Did You Expect? presents six practical commitments that give shape and momentum to such a lifestyle. These commitments, which include honestly facing sin, weakness, and failure; willingness to change; and embodying Christ’s love, will equip couples to develop a thriving, grace-based marriage in all circumstances and seasons of their relationship.”

Why We Love This Book:

This book is real. It deals with the disillusionment that inevitably comes when we realize that our spouse is not the “perfect” person we thought they were. Rather than coming from a “Here’s how it should be…” approach, Tripp assumes you have come to the point where you see “how it truly is” and then shows you how Christ can heal, grow, and unify your marriage. It helps you to see God’s purpose in putting you together with your spouse and encourages you to practically love one another with the love that has been shown to us through Christ.

“What Did You Expect” is the number one book I recommend these days. I wish that every married person could read it, because it is truly eye opening.

Click here to read more of what I think about this book

2.) When Sinners Say “I do:” Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage

by Dave Harvey

Publisher’s Description:

Marriage is the union of two people who arrive at the altar toting some surprisingly large luggage. Often it gets opened right there on the honeymoon, sometimes it waits for the week after. The Bible calls it sin and understanding its influence can make all the difference for a man and woman who are building a life together. When Sinners Say “I Do” is about encountering the life-transforming power of the gospel in the unpredictable journey of marriage.

Dave’s writing style embraces the reader as he speaks honestly, and sometimes humorously, about sin and the power of the gospel to overcome it. He opens the delightful truth of God s word and encourages the reader to see more clearly the glorious picture of what God does when sinners say “I do.”

Why We Love This Book:

This book focuses on how the gospel effects the way you interact with one another in your marriage. One of the most helpful and encouraging chapters was on dealing with your spouse’s sin where Dave gives some very practical and challenging instructions.

Click here to read more of what I think about this book.

3.) The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

by Timothy Keller

Publisher’s Description:

There has never been a marriage book like THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE.

Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, this book shows everyone-Christians, skeptics, singles, long-time married couples, and those about to be engaged-the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible.

Modern culture would make you believe that everyone has a soul-mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. All those modern-day assumptions are, in a word, wrong.

Using the Bible as his guide, coupled with insightful commentary from his wife of thirty-six years, Kathy, Timothy Keller shows that God created marriage to bring us closer to him and to bring us more joy in our lives. It is a glorious relationship that is also the most misunderstood and mysterious. With a clear-eyed understanding of the Bible, and meaningful instruction on how to have a successful marriage, The Meaning of Marriage is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life.

Why We Love This Book:

This book brings the important “God and your marriage” topic to light. It isn’t just about marriage, it is about God and your marriage. Why did God create marriage in the first place? Why does it matter? What are the implications of God’s design for marriage? Why did God create sex and what are the implications of that on our intimacy with one another? These are really important questions and Keller dives right into them in a beautiful, Biblical, and thoughtful way. I will publish a full review of this book in the near future.

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A Good Wife

Feb 7, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Did you know that God is in the business of making you a better wife? I know that you struggle with a bad attitude and with a propensity to selfishness. I know that the word submission makes your stomach churn and the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I know that it isn’t easy to love that man you are with, to give your life for him, to sacrifice your desires for his. I know because I feel it to. I feel that struggle with sinful flesh, the struggle to satisfy my own longings, my own wants, my own “needs.” It is the struggle against anarchy, against a body that desperately wants to defy its Maker. It is a struggle against this woman in me who desires to follow after her mother Eve; that woman who chose the promises of a liar over the truth of the Living God.

But Christ, precious Messiah, holy Savior came to liberate us from the chains of sin. He was willingly put to death by the Father so that he could secure the death of the sin reigning in our bodies. Yes, he died to crush the power of our pride, our selfishness, and our insubordination. He rose mightily from the grave so that we could live new, holy lives. He implanted his Holy Spirit within our very bodies so that we would bear good fruit–so that we could learn to love, sacrifice, submit. We are new creations. The cross demands that we turn away from our old ways and live in the knowledge of what Christ has done for us. He has made us better wives. He is making us better wives. His Spirit, full of GRACE, full of POWER, is at work within you to do his will and his will is to transform you.

The Lord hasn’t commanded you to respect your husband and not given you the power to do so.

The Lord hasn’t commanded you to submit to your husbands and not given you the power to do so.

The Lord hasn’t commanded you to love our husband and not given you the power to do so.

No, your obedience to God, your ability to respect, submit, and love your husband, is empowered by his GRACE, his mighty, life-giving grace.

You see, your story is part of God’s story. He is in the business of renewing his creation. Through Christ, he is restoring what was broken; he is erasing the horrid effect of Adam and Eve’s sin. Through Christ, he is growing your marriage toward the perfection that Adam and Eve were meant to live in. He is giving you the strength to fight against the sin that still wages war in your body.

No, perfection will never be attained in this world, but the pursuit is possible and victories are attainable because you do not work alone. You do not strive toward holiness alone. You are fighting with the power of the God of the universe. It is his pleasure to bring about respect, submission, and love in your thoughts, words, and actions. It is his will for you to live in the glorious reality of the redeemed. You were set free from sin so that you could taste the joyful fruit of Christ-likeness. What heavenly delights are made available to those who are in Christ and how desperately those who have tasted of these delights long for the day they will fully experience holiness, when this sinful flesh is wiped away forever. Those who have tasted the appetizers of Heaven are ravenous for the feast set before them.

Press on today toward holiness, but only as you press in to Christ. Your efforts toward being a good wife are futile if they are an attempt toward self-sanctification. Self-sanctification is impossible. You will only find disillusionment, pain, and failure in your own attempts.

Christ is your sanctification.

Christ is your path toward living a holy life.

Christ is your hope of being a good wife.

Look to Christ and be saved.

Look to him and be sanctified.

You can obey God’s commands, because Christ bought obedience for you. He has provided a way of escape from every temptation, but you must look to him as your Savior and King and choose to follow him. Take hold of the obedience he bought for you and walk in that newness of life. Fight hard toward being a good wife because he fights with you.

Respect your husband.

Submit to your husband.

Love your husband.

Christ has made it possible.

Live in the reality of the freedom he has bought for you and taste the fruits of living according to his perfect will.

Why?

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 ESV)

“…you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4 ESV)

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11 ESV)

“…and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV)

“…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 ESV)

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you…” (Colossians 3:1-5 ESV)

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” (1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV)

“I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” (Romans 6:19 ESV)

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The Power & Pattern for Marriage

Feb 3, 2012 by desiringvirtue

“The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us. Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keep us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God’s saving love in Christ however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us. The merciful commitment strengthens us to see the truth about ourselves and repent. The conviction and repentance moves us to cling to and rest in God’s mercy and grace.

The hard times of marriage drive us to experience more of this transforming love of God. But a good marriage will also be a place where we experience more of this kind of transforming love at a human level. The gospel can fill our hearts with God’s love so that you can handle it when your spouse fails to love you as he or she should. That frees us to see our spouse’s sins and flaws to the bottom–and speak of them–and yet still love and accept our spouse fully. And when, by the power of the gospel, our spouse experiences that same kind of truthful yet committed love, it enables our spouses to show us that same kind of transforming love when the time comes for it.

This is the great secret! Through the gospel, we get both the power and the pattern for the journey of marriage.”

-The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller

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Coffee Talk Cards and Marriage Challenges

Feb 2, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Since posting the Year of Romance gift idea (click here to view it), I have been asked if I would share some of the coffee talk questions I used and some of the challenges that I included in the box my husband received.

Today I am going to make some Coffee Talk printables available to you and also share some suggestions for challenges you could use for your Year of Romance.

Coffee Talk Cards

These are simple questions to ask one another that you might not otherwise ask. Some are simple and easy to answer, others require more thought and interaction. The goal is to open up conversations on a more meaningful level rather than the:

“So how was work today?”

“Good. How were things at the house today?”

“Good.”

Yeah.

These cards are formatted for business card paper so as to make things easier for you! Just print them out, slip them in a nice envelope and periodically go through a couple as you find the time. Each card has one to three questions on it. Take them to the coffee shop with you or discuss the topics alone in your room before going to bed. Enjoy getting to know one another again!

Coffee Talk Questions

Marriage Challenges

Also in the Year of Romance gift I created challenges for us to engage in as a couple. Several of you have asked for suggestions so here are a list of challenges I came up with for us. Hopefully you find them inspiring!

Commit to pray for one another every day and with each other every day this month (Continue this every month).
Every day this month, encourage one another with what the Lord is teaching you. What are you learning in the word, from the circumstances of your day, through your prayer life?
Speak positively of your spouse every day this month. Tell a coworker, share it on Facebook, tell a friend. Compliment them, praise them, and encourage them in front of others.
Focus this month on only speaking kind words to one another. Guard your lips from being rude or critical. When you sin in this area, quickly ask for forgiveness.
Handwrite a love letter to your spouse expressing your devotion and love for them. Send it through the mail to be received unexpectedly.
Surprise your spouse this month by buying them an unexpected gift. It doesn’t need to be expensive, just a little something to let them know you were thinking about them.
Create a list throughout the month of things you love about each other. At the end of the month share your list with each other.
Look for a practical way you can serve each other every day this month.
Practice giving thanks to each other and for each other this month. Watch carefully for ways that your spouse blesses you and verbally acknowledge them when they do.
Devote one night every week to focusing on each other. Cut out all media from your night.

I hope this is helpful for those of you who are trying to put together your own Year of Romance gift!

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Breakfast Cookies

Jan 31, 2012 by desiringvirtue

I know, yesterday I showed you pictures of bread and today I am tempting you with these breakfast cookies, but at least they can claim some health benefit! Not only that, but they make a very quick breakfast when you are on the go… and with two little ones, most mornings I am definitely on the go.

Somewhat Healthy, Delicious Breakfast Cookie Recipe

Adapted from Ellie Krieger’s recipe.

Ingredients:

3/4 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 can of sliced carrots (the small can)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup bran cereal flakes
1/3 cup Craisins
1/3 cup chopped dates
1/3 cup toasted, chopped nuts (use whatever you have on hand)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Whisk flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Beet butter, oil, and sugars in a stand mixer on high until mixture is light in color.
Add carrots and beat on high until they are mushed into little tiny pieces.
Add egg and vanilla and beat for 30 seconds.
Add flour mixture and beat another 30 seconds.
Add oats, flakes, craisins, dates, and nuts. Stir until just combined.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Form balls from dough (about the size of golf balls) and place on cookie sheets.
Press down balls with the palm of your hand to flatten a bit (cookies will not spread in the oven). Keep cookies about 1/4 inch thick.
Bake for 12 minutes and take out while cookies are still soft.
Let cookies cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Keep these cookies in zip lock bags at room temperature. You can also freeze some to make them last longer. My husband LOVES these cookies and really appreciates being able to grab one before he walks out the door.

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Four Loaves of Lusciousness

Jan 30, 2012 by desiringvirtue

A couple weeks ago I found a new white bread recipe that made four loaves. Four loaves. Talk about making the most of your time! I usually make honey wheat bread, but couldn’t help entertaining the idea of incredibly delicious grilled cheese sandwiches on homemade white bread. Plus I was having a craving for something sweet and decided that I would use half of the dough for cinnamon raisin bread! Both types turned out delicious, which makes my inability to find the recipe again very disturbing.

Two inner sections for white bread and two outer (smaller) sections for cinnamon raisin bread.

Butter.

Cinnamon sugar and raisins.

Rising. Don’t touch!

Milk and egg mixture.

Plain white bread. Yummmm.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread. Yummmmmier….

Both were sampled (multiple times) with a generous helping of butter. I spent the rest of the evening regretting eating so much bread. I was, however, happy to be able to pop two loaves into the freezer to use the next week! There was a serious feeling of accomplishment going on in those moments.

I was even happier to pop them out of the freezer a few days ago and enjoy some easy breakfasts and delicious lunches. There is definitely nothing better than a grilled cheese on homemade white bread alongside some tomato soup. Unless of course you have some homemade tomato soup to go with it!

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Reader Feedback: Put Family First?

Jan 26, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Elliot's special Birthday breakfast.

“…and so train the young women to love their husbands and children…” (Titus 2:4 ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:8; 1 Peter 4:9-11 ESV)

On Tuesday we looked at some quotes from Practicing Hospitality that focused on putting our family first when setting out to live hospitable lives. Hospitality to others is to be constantly sought, but not at the expense of our family. Providing for the needs of others should be a natural outpouring of our everyday lives as we seek to meet the needs of our husband’s and children. It should not detract from our God-given duties to our families, but rather should enhance it.

The Reader Feedback questions centered around this idea. Here were the prompts:

How do you practically make sure that you are not neglecting your family when you seek to show hospitality to others?

How do you show hospitality to your husband and children in an effort to love them as the Bible commands you to?

Do you ever find that you struggle with the opposite problem of focusing too much on your own family to the neglect of the outside world? If so, how are you working to overcome this challenge?

Today I would like to share some of the excellent thoughts and encouragement other DV readers shared:

Laura said…

I’ve learned to be content to be practicing hospitality at home with my family and choosing a couple smaller ways to serve others at church during this crazy season of lots of littles at home. I have four (soon to be five any hour now) children age six and under. I volunteer regularly in the nursery when I don’t have nurslings who would call me out of the room. Also, I sort clothes pretty regularly at our church’s clothes closet on Wed nights. I used to regularly make meals for new moms, but now I only choose to make them for moms who live closest to me since we moved farther from most church members. I offer to watch others’ children in our home for doctors’ appointments etc. We’re trying to teach our children to care for others by serving our neighbors. We asked our son to return our neighbor’s garbage can when he began cancer treatments last summer, and this week he told me he returned the garbage can for the neighbor on our other side too, just because he wanted to help them too. I’m hoping to have more opportunities later to offer hospitality to others in our home as our children grow older and are better able to help prepare the house for guests.

Monica said…

I’ll never forget when I was eleven years old and our family of six had just moved 600 miles so that my dad could attend seminary. We visited a large church our first Sunday morning in the new town, and my parents “happened” to be sitting next to a sweet couple in Sunday school who had seven children. After the church service they turned to my parents and invited our whole family over for lunch. They weren’t worried about the state of their house, an extravagant menu, or if they’d planned correctly. We stopped by a grocery store on the way home, and the mom ran in and picked up a few extra food items. I barely remember what we ate that day or how their house looked. I do remember that their home was filled with love, friendship, and acceptance – a God send to our tired family nervous about change. We spent the entire afternoon at their home and later joined that very church. Huge amounts of spiritual growth happened in our family from attending that church, and our families are still still friends to this day. I’m grateful for this example of selfless hospitality!

Ruth said…

In the ten years of being a pastor’s wife and raising five boys, I’ve given this topic much thought. I really appreciate the thoughts you’ve written here, Jessalyn. My boys grew up with company for dinner several times a week. I’m continually learning to find the balance between family time, and sharing my family with others time. Either way, we are showing hospitality as a family, kids included. If hospitality show others’ the Gospel in a tangible way, I desire to look first to the mission field within my own home first. Thanks for this post!

Rachel said…

My tendency when I am having dinner guests is to become a stressed out maniac, running a thousand miles a minute to have every last dish done, every nook and cranny spotless, and a beautiful meal laid out just on time. I have found that the best way to serve my family is to just relax. Things don’t need to be perfect, and who cares if every guest thought it was but my husband is upset or frustrated because I snapped at him in my preparation frenzy? I would rather be kind and calm, so that my family is able to enjoy both me and our company. When preparing for guests I try to get a big head start so that I have plenty of time (eliminating stress as the countdown ensues), and the closer I get to the event I just remind myself to take deep breaths and watch my tongue. A happy family is to be treasured over a perfect house .

Andrea said…

What I find most often among people I’ve known is that they use the idea of serving their own family as an excuse not to entertain others. If we are careful to always show hospitality and love to our own family day in and day out, then they should be able to occasionally extend themselves to others as an act of grace. I find that opening our home is also a training lesson for my children to teach them to serve others and not to be selfish. My children are quite accustomed now to having people over, and I would like to say that they rather enjoy it. Every fellowship doesn’t always go perfectly, and sometimes the house is a wreck afterwards, but it is humble gift to allow others enter our homes and allow them to see us in our “natural habitat.”

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us ladies! I was very encouraged by all of them.

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Put Family First?

Jan 24, 2012 by desiringvirtue

In the book Practicing Hospitality, three reasons are given for putting the needs of your own family before the needs of others. “We are called to establish the ministry of hospitality within our family” and then “broaden our hospitality to include extended family members, friends, strangers, the needy, and the poor.” Here are the three reasons why this is encouraged:

1. For the sake of integrity. “Neglecting to extend hospitality to our family can result in violating our God-given priorities-loving our husbands and children. Scripture calls us to have a devoted affection for them. If we do not love our family as God has instructed, we can bring dishonor to God’s Word (Titus 2:3-5)”

2. For the sake of our children. “Neglecting to include our children in hospitality opportunities might create resentment in them. If our children feel unloved, abandoned, or ignored while we diligently extend hospitality to friends and strangers, we have opened the door for developing bitterness and animosity toward hospitality in the hearts of our children. This is the opposite of what we desire to model for them when we practice hospitality.”

3. For the sake of the gospel. “Neglecting to extend hospitality to our family can discredit our witness. The testimony of a wife and mom who loves and serves her family is a powerful witness to a watching world; it is also something that separates a believing woman from the world. The manner in which we serve and love our family should reflect the transforming power of the gospel in our own life (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)”

Reader Feedback:

It is easy to get busy doing “good deeds” and suddenly realize that you have been neglecting your family. I would like for our reader feedback question this week to center around this idea. Please share your thoughts, suggestions, or personal experience in the comments. I will be sharing some of the most helpful comments in Thursday’s post! Consider these questions:

How do you practically make sure that you are not neglecting your family when you seek to show hospitality to others?

How do you show hospitality to your husband and children in an effort to love them as the Bible commands you to?

Do you ever find that you struggle with the opposite problem of focusing too much on your own family to the neglect of the outside world? If so, how are you working to overcome this challenge?

I look forward to interacting with your comments!

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Marvelous Meditations for the Homemaker

Jan 23, 2012 by desiringvirtue

The Two-faced Whirlpool Galaxy

“You, Lord, laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning and the heavens are the work of your hands, they will perish, but you remain; they will wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV)

Today is Laundry Day at my home. As I sort through various articles of clothing, loading them, unloading them, folding, and ironing I can’t help but meditate on these incredible verses from the Word of God.

How powerful is our Savior! How mighty is his name! All that is around us, the trees, the mountains, the animals, the sun and moon, the galaxies and asteroids are all in his control. He created them with the power of his voice and upholds them with mere words!

All that is around us is temporary. The mountains that today seem so strong and permanent, the sun whom we cannot imagine going dim, the ocean waves that pound incessantly against the shores-they will all be folded away as easily as I manipulate the clothing coming out of my dryer. They will soon be exchanged as effortlessly as I change out of my pajamas and into my day clothes for a new and glorious creation void of the blemish we call sin.

All this through the might of our infinitely powerful God, the Son, who chose to come down into our broken humanity and carry our sin to the cross. He who can whisper the galaxies in and out of existence, who can fold them up like a piece of clothing, stooped down to reveal his loving character and do the impossible in us.

He, who’s days will have no end, stepped into the perishing flesh of men to offer them the free gift of salvation. And just as he will one day shout into the heavens and transform his creation, he took hold of our souls, folded up their sinful natures, and exchanged them for new, glorious, redeemed, natures. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness and brought into his kingdom of light by the power of his voice. He whispered into our hearts, “Awake oh sleeper and arise from the dead,” and bestowed upon us eternal life.

Now, like our glorious God, we will live forever rejoicing in the love shown to us through Christ. Though creation be folded up like a robe, we will forever live with our eternal God, our Savior, and King. He has imparted eternal life to us and bound himself to us forever!

The sinful have been made holy.

The perishing have been saved from eternal destruction.

All you who believe in Christ, listen to me: you are a new creation and one day you will trade this earthly, failing flesh for a body of perfection, for a sinless body of righteousness. You will be clothed with the holiness of Christ! This is the joy set before us-to be with our king and to be like him.

Let’s live this day in the knowledge of our glorious future and our glorious God.

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will never be dismayed.”
(Isaiah 51:6 ESV)

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This Week At Desiring Virtue

Jan 21, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Practical Theology

Not Just Stories

They fill the pages of our worn out, dog eared copies of Holy Scripture: stories of triumph and despair, stories of heroes and villains, stories of love and betrayal. It is so easy to think of them as simple object lessons for our lives, but behind them all is the larger, glorious story of a God who desired to lavish his love upon a chosen people. He graciously brought person after person, family after family, nations even, into his family making them his very own children.

They were each plucked from this earthly, human race and given a new, godly nature so that they would reflect their Heavenly Father… (Keep Reading)

Love For God=Hospitality Toward Others

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 ESV)

“Hospitality is a practical way to love others. Therefore, a person practicing biblical hospitality would also be a loving person. This element separates biblical hospitality from social entertaining or even distinguishes between the hospitality of a believer and an unbeliever. Believers can uniquely display God’s love as they extend hospitality. Entertaining focuses on having a beautiful table decor or preparing gourmet food. Biblical hospitality is a demonstration of love. Food and other elements are merely tools used to express our love for people. Our motivation for being hospitable women is a response to God’s work in our lives. Hospitality is one way we can tangibly demonstrate our love for God.” Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock… (Keep Reading)

Reader Feedback: What is Hospitality?

On Monday I shared a wonderful quote from Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others and asked you to share your thoughts on hospitality.

How do you define hospitality?

What practical ways do you practice hospitality?

You gave some great answers to these simple questions and I would like to share some of your comments today:… (Keep Reading)

Hollie’s Story of Grace

My testimony to Christ’s saving grace in my life can be summed up into one line: “I was a sinner, then Christ saved me.” Isn’t that truly the story of every believer? And what an amazing story that one line is! One short sentence is full of so much mercy, grace, and love. Amazing.

Unlike many Christians I know, I was not saved as a child. I grew up in a church that taught a three-step and false path to salvation. These steps included repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and speaking in tongues. By fourteen I went through the motions of the first two steps, but the third step (the one that sealed the deal) never happened. No matter what I tried, the gift of tongues would not come. So, by age fifteen I resigned myself as one destined to hell and gave up hope on eternal life in heaven.

Of course, in all those years I never truly desired to be saved. Not in the biblical sense. How could I? That desire comes to the people of God alone. I desired to be saved from Hell, not from my sin. My church preached heavily on the Rapture and Hell and my motivation to obtain citizenship in Heaven was prompted by fear of the horrible things that I would have to endure after the Rapture. Sin was something I never clearly understood. Repentance was taught as apologizing to God only. I certainly was never even aware of my sin let alone grieved over it. I knew I was pretty much a “good” person. I trusted in what I had been taught and lived in fear of Hell and death because, as I said, speaking in tongues was something I could not do. I was serving an idol I created; a god that served me and was not sovereign. The years went by, and like anyone who doesn’t have Christ, I was a slave to various sins… (Keep Reading)

Marriage

Be My Valentine All Year Long (A Gift Idea)

Alright. I realize that it is a little early to begin talking about Valentine’s Day, I mean, many of us are just now getting all of our Christmas decor put away!

But really February 14th is only a few weeks ahead of us and this gift idea will take a little time to get together.

For Christmas, Richard and I usually make each other gifts, and since I already shared his wonderfully thoughtful gift with you from this past Christmas, I decided to share mine today. Perhaps you will find inspiration for a unique Valentine’s Day gift for your husband!

I call it the “Year of Romance” box… (Keep Reading)

Notable Quotes

When There is No Earthly Joy to Be Found, There is Christ: Our Supreme Joy

It Is Well With My Soul

By Horatio Spafford (A man acquainted with grief)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul… (Keep Reading)

Recommended Resources

Desiring Virtue has either talked about or quoted these books this week:

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Not Just Stories

Jan 20, 2012 by desiringvirtue

First published May 1, 2011

They fill the pages of our worn out, dog eared copies of Holy Scripture: stories of triumph and despair, stories of heroes and villains, stories of love and betrayal. It is so easy to think of them as simple object lessons for our lives, but behind them all is the larger, glorious story of a God who desired to lavish his love upon a chosen people. He graciously brought person after person, family after family, nations even, into his family making them his very own children.

They were each plucked from this earthly, human race and given a new, godly nature so that they would reflect their Heavenly Father.

The blood of Jesus contained power for each of them as it does for us. His love born sacrifice made a way for them to know the God their earthly father, Adam, fatally rejected. Even that same Adam, who plunged the human race into death found his own life in the promise of redemption. With veiled knowledge he looked forward to the one who would crush the serpent, who would free his soul from sin.

These people, God’s people, God’s children, are not just object lessons, they are our spiritual heritage. They are our fathers and our mothers, our sisters and our brothers, our friends and encouragement in faith. These people were made of flesh and bone just like us; they were born into this same sinful humanity. They knew the power of sinful desires, the paralyzing effects of fear, the incredible delight of passionate love, and so many more real, genuine emotions. God used them all, weak as they were, in his glorious plan of redemption.

These redeemed saints of the past stand before the Father now worshipping his glorious majesty and one day we will join them! One day we will add our glorified voices to the choir of the ransomed and look on our God forever, but not yet.

Today we are called to live in the power of the cross looking to our spiritual ancestors for encouragement and to our Savior for victory. They too were frail and weak, but they too had a strong and powerful God who faithfully brought them to eternal joy.

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When There is No Earthly Joy to Be Found, There is Christ: Our Supreme Joy

Jan 19, 2012 by desiringvirtue

It Is Well With My Soul

By Horatio Spafford (A man acquainted with grief)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, it is well,
With my soul, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath she’d His own blood for my soul.

It is well, It is well,
With my soul, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
It was nailed trough his cross, and I bear it no more,
Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, It is well
With my soul, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

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Reader Feedback: What is Hospitality?

Jan 19, 2012 by desiringvirtue

The always beautiful Julie serving some tasty treats at her sister's (my sister-in-law's) wedding shower!

On Monday I shared a wonderful quote from Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others and asked you to share your thoughts on hospitality.

How do you define hospitality?

What practical ways do you practice hospitality?

You gave some great answers to these simple questions and I would like to share some of your comments today:

Wendy said…

There are so many aspects to hospitality and I happen to just read and article entitled “Hospitality Begins at Home” in Credenda Agenda Magazine on this topic that was so helpful and from a little different angle. Here are a few highlights:

Hospitality is a means of loving others by supplying their needs from what we have. Hospitality doesn’t keep score. It is a testing point of how we are doing with all our stuff. Do we share? Do we give our stuff ( money, time, food) away freely?

At its most basic level, hospitality is simply feeding people. God enables us to turn a sack of flour into cookies and cinnamon rolls; this is a profound mystery! God is blessing us with food. He gives it to us freely, and we should be grateful to turn and give it freely to our own children in imitation of Him. This is a profound ministry that God has given wives and mothers. Feed people! Feed your people! This is the essence of hospitality…

When company comes we give them our attention and use our best manners. We say, ” Make yourself at home.” Consider then our own families. Are the children also free to “make themselves at home”? Are we hospitable to our own people? …Children know if they are welcome or unwelcome guests. They know if Mom is stingy with the food or not…Home should be the measuring stick of what beautiful, glorious, God-ordained hospitality looks like. If it isn’t, then how will we understand what it means to be given to hospitality?…. In feeding all these people, we are feeding Jesus. “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”

Becky from Daily on My Way to Heaven said…

We love to have people over very often, and most of the times, it is big groups of people We just love having our Family Table full. We also have had the opportunity, because we live in Mexico, to have many families visit us and stay with us for several days; so yes, hospitality is an important part of our family.

One of the most important things I have learned about being hospitable is that Peter’s words are vital if we want to serve God when we open our home to others.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and ydominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:9- 11

We may have all the food ready, the house clean, and the table beautifully set with a vase of fresh flowers, but if we grumble (even in our hearts), it won’t be a pleasant service to God.

What happens when the guests leave your home? Do you grumble with your kids and husband about how tired you are. Do you talk about little Jimmy who just left and you just can’t figure out why he behaves in such a way. Do you grumble on how Mrs. So-an-So did not help you clean the table?

As in all the things we do, let’s us see that we keep a heart that pleases God.

I would love to recommend you a great book on the subject (the best I have read), it is called A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community and Mission Around the Table by Tim Chester

Julie from The Turner Table said…

I loved reading A Meal With Jesus! It really challenged me to think about hospitality differently than I had before. One thought being that hospitality should also extend outside of our homes.

A practical way I do this from time to time is bringing my girlfriends a homemade treat-muffins, cookies or coffee cake- to enjoy when we meet at Starbucks for coffee. Its like a “taste” of home even when we aren’t gathering there.

Heidi said…

I love having freezer meals on hand for last minute invites over! In fact, we just did this Sunday after church. Chili was a quick and easy meal to whip up right after church and to share with our friends. I freeze full meals often and brown hamburger in and freeze in ziploc baggies which is what made chili such a breeze.

I also try not to leave the house if things aren’t in their places for two reasons: 1. I hate coming home to a messy house that I have to pick up. If I’ve been out running with the kids, the last thing I want to do is come home and pick up! 2. If someone stops by or I run into someone and have them over, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about! The house is mostly ready for company!

One of my goals this year is to be ready for company any time. The two ways above have made that possible ”

Justin said…

I think a good definition of hospitality, or at least a big part/aspect of hospitality, is anticipating needs. I believe that is a principle of hospitality that can apply in all contexts. Of course, that implies meeting those needs and whatnot, but it is the having a cup of coffee ready, knowing a persons likes and dislikes, adapting accordingly, etc.

Hollie from Reformed Redhead said…

I agree that hospitality is, in the most basic form, just being prepared for visitors/taking people in. It’s seeing your home as God’s and being open to minister to and meet the needs of whomever He brings into your home. I also think another part of hospitality is taking the initiative to bring people to your home and host them. One of the goals my husband and I set for ourselves this year is to have at least one guest over each month to enable us to practice hospitality more often.

Amy from Making a Joyful Home said…

I try to always have some kind of treat on hand so that if people stop in, I can welcome them to stay, or I can have something to send to a home that might need remembering. And I also try to keep ingredients on hand for at least 1 quick dish I can bring to a potluck.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the topic of hospitality! They were all so wonderful and encouraging. Keep a lookout for more opportunities to share your thoughts and practical tips here at Desiring Virtue!

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife

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Hollie’s Story of Grace

Jan 18, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Today, Desiring Virtue’s newest contributor Hollie will be sharing her Story of Grace with us. You can look forward to her contributions in the future focusing on Money Saving Tips and Tricks!

My testimony to Christ’s saving grace in my life can be summed up into one line: “I was a sinner, then Christ saved me.” Isn’t that truly the story of every believer? And what an amazing story that one line is! One short sentence is full of so much mercy, grace, and love. Amazing.

Unlike many Christians I know, I was not saved as a child. I grew up in a church that taught a three-step and false path to salvation. These steps included repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and speaking in tongues. By fourteen I went through the motions of the first two steps, but the third step (the one that sealed the deal) never happened. No matter what I tried, the gift of tongues would not come. So, by age fifteen I resigned myself as one destined to hell and gave up hope on eternal life in heaven.

Of course, in all those years I never truly desired to be saved. Not in the biblical sense. How could I? That desire comes to the people of God alone. I desired to be saved from Hell, not from my sin. My church preached heavily on the Rapture and Hell and my motivation to obtain citizenship in Heaven was prompted by fear of the horrible things that I would have to endure after the Rapture. Sin was something I never clearly understood. Repentance was taught as apologizing to God only. I certainly was never even aware of my sin let alone grieved over it. I knew I was pretty much a “good” person. I trusted in what I had been taught and lived in fear of Hell and death because, as I said, speaking in tongues was something I could not do. I was serving an idol I created; a god that served me and was not sovereign. The years went by, and like anyone who doesn’t have Christ, I was a slave to various sins.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (Romans 6:21-22 NKJV)

But, God. Ah, what a sweet phrase! What if there were no “But God”? What hope would we have? But God had other plans for my life.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 NKJV)

His plan involved giving a wretched, Hell-bound, hopeless sinner hope. His plan involved redeeming grace for the person that least deserved it. His plan involved unimaginable mercy for someone who hated Him and His laws. God’s plan was to, one night, give this sinful woman eyes to see and ears to hear. So, in the late hours of a night in January of 2009 I picked up my old Bible and read the book of Romans. Through God’s kindness I had eyes to see my sin and His holiness. Because of His mercy He opened my heart to His word and sent the Holy Spirit to give me an understanding of it.

I grew up in a church that preached on the “rapture” and being “left behind” almost every Sunday. And I lived in a fear of that for my entire life before being saved. I had nightmares about the rapture frequently and they were terrifying. But nothing–nothing–is as terrifying as having a realization of your sin and helplessness before the eternally Holy God. That night was spent in tears, pleading for repentance, and finally peace and trust. Trust that Christ had died for me. Trust that He conquered death by rising again. Trust that He had lived perfectly and trust that God would now look at me and see Jesus’ righteousness because I had been covered by His blood.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth-

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the LORD.

(Psalm 40:2-3 NKJV)

One cannot find peace in false religions, vain good works, or any other trick of men. It is the saving Grace given to us by faith in Christ alone that brings peace. Jesus wasn’t lying when He said His yoke was light and His burden easy. On June 24, 2011, I was finally baptized biblically, in the name of the Trinity. This enabled me to seek membership in a local, Bible-believing church, and share in the Lord’s Supper with the other saints.

My journey is far from over, but my destination is guaranteed.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 5:13,14 NKJV)

Hollie and her family live in a small village in the Piedmont region of Virginia. She spends her days keeping home and home-schooling her children. In their spare time they enjoy reading, taking historical field trips, hiking and serving their local church. You can find more from Hollie on her blog Reformed Redhead

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Be My Valentine All Year Long (Gift Idea)

Jan 16, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Alright. I realize that it is a little early to begin talking about Valentine’s Day, I mean, many of us are just now getting all of our Christmas decor put away!

But really February 14th is only a few weeks ahead of us and this gift idea will take a little time to get together.

For Christmas, Richard and I usually make each other gifts, and since I already shared his wonderfully thoughtful gift with you from this past Christmas, I decided to share mine today. Perhaps you will find inspiration for a unique Valentine’s Day gift for your husband!

I call it the “Year of Romance” box.

I was inspired by a gift I found on Pinterest called “Let’s Go on a Date.” The idea was to plan out 12 different dates (one for every month) with your hubby and then buy gift cards, tickets, or include cash for those dates in an envelope. The point is to be intentional about your date nights and surprise your husband with creative and out of the ordinary experiences.

I was really excited to create my own version of this gift for Richard, giving it my own personal spin. Also, there was no way I was going to be able to pay for all the dates in advance (hello, we are making gifts for each other!), but I did pay for one specific date that will be a special outing for us… which will be revealed in March!

Here is how I created my Year of Romance box:

First, I needed a box of course, so I snagged a pretty one at Hobby Lobby for 50% off, plus it had a crack on the top, giving me an extra 15% off… yes.

Then I created 12 different envelopes for each month. I bought stickers to label each month on the envelopes.

Each envelope contained three items:

1. A Planned Date Night

Ok, I said that the only date I paid for was one special one in March, but I got this Groupon right before I made the Year of Romance box and thought it would be nice to use in January since Christmas always leaves you a little stretched financially. -Plus Richard is a HUGE fan of going to the movies, so it isn’t as lame as it sounds. (The other dates are a little more “out of the ordinary” for us)

2. A Marriage Challenge

I “created” challenges for each month. These are just simple things that we can do together as a couple to work on our marriage. Similar to the Love Dare idea. The first month is a challenge to pray for each other every day and with each other ever day… something pretty basic, but often neglected.

3. Prayer Bookmarks

This is meant to assist us in the challenge to pray for one another. There are new bookmarks in each envelope so that we can keep up to date on what we need to be praying for. There is a section for prayer requests for the other person, for yourself, and for your marriage as a whole.

Also in the box was a small envelope of Coffee Talk cards.

These cards each have a couple of questions to ask your spouse. They are called “Coffee Talk” cards because they are meant to be used on nights when we are unable to go out and do something, but can brew a cup of joe, sit, and talk together. Again, sounds simple, but sometimes when you don’t plan for things… they just don’t happen. The questions range from simple things like “What are your favorite blogs to read these days” to more important things like “What can I do, that I am not already, to let you know how much I love you.” They are basically conversation starters for those days when you seem to only talk about the kids.

Part of my desire in creating this box was to spur on our desire to “explore” each other again. It seems like the longer you are married the less you purposefully look at your spouse and seek to get to know them. This of course is understandable, since you feel like you know each other so well, but we are constantly changing, constantly growing in our walk with the Lord, and as a result our relationships are constantly shifting. The purpose in these Coffee Talk cards is to help us to rediscover one another.

And now it gets to the really cheesy part. (What? You thought we were already cheesy? Ha ha!)

In addition to everything mentioned above I included two resources for our time together:

We love to read to each other. We love to read period. So to add a little out of the ordinary reading into the mix as well as expand our literary horizons, I included The World’s Greatest Short Stories ($3.50!) and 100 Best-Loved Poems ($1.50!) in the box. Usually we read non-fiction to each other which is always a positive (books like this one which we are reading right now), but I wanted to provide something that we could read that would take the place of a movie one night or something to read while we have a picnic at the park or sit in a coffee shop together. And what could be more romantic than reading poetry? (Cheesiness Explosion!)

For those not fond of reading out loud, you could include some new romantic DVD’s in your box. I was going to add a few into our box, but didn’t have enough room.

So, there you have it, the Year of Romance Box. Create your own and wow your husband with a desire to grow closer over the coming year!

UPDATE: Click here to print your own Coffee Talk cards for free!

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife

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Love for God = Hospitality Toward Others

Jan 16, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 ESV)

“Hospitality is a practical way to love others. Therefore, a person practicing biblical hospitality would also be a loving person. This element separates biblical hospitality from social entertaining or even distinguishes between the hospitality of a believer and an unbeliever. Believers can uniquely display God’s love as they extend hospitality. Entertaining focuses on having a beautiful table decor or preparing gourmet food. Biblical hospitality is a demonstration of love. Food and other elements are merely tools used to express our love for people. Our motivation for being hospitable women is a response to God’s work in our lives. Hospitality is one way we can tangibly demonstrate our love for God.” Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock

Reader Feedback:

We are all commanded to be hospitable to those around us. How do you practically practice hospitality? Encourage, inspire, and challenge Desiring Virtue’s readers by sharing what hospitality means to you and/or how you specifically like to practice hospitality. Here are a couple examples from Lisa and Pat’s book:

Patti Morse shares, “We are military, so we move often. Within the first two weeks in a new home, I bake a batch of homemade cookies and take a plate of cookies around to all my neighbors. With each plate, I write a note containing our name, phone number, and a Scripture verse. To minister to my husband’s unit, I make every Monday special by sending in a back-to-work treat for them to enjoy with their morning cups of coffee. Each treat is accompanied by a special Scripture and word of appreciation.”

Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us, “Hospitality is the act of sharing one’s substance with kindness, graciousness, generosity, and genuine love (Luke 8:3). Just today in the midst of checking my son’s job of cleaning out the van, a man happened by with a child on his shoulders. He explained he had just run out of gas; his car was parked by the church across the way, and he asked if he could plea borrow some lawn mower gas just to get him to the nearby gas station. I had my eldest son run down to the shed and bring our lawn mower gas can with not much gas in it. We gladly gave the man what we had, and his immediate need was provided for. He brought back the gas can with more gas than it has held originally-a grateful man!”

So, how do you define hospitality? In what ways do you try to be hospitable to those around you? Share your thoughts in the comments and I will choose five of them to share in a post later in the week!

Photo Credit

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife

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This Week at Desiring Virtue

Jan 14, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Practical Theology

Read All the Books of the Bible!

Have you chosen a Bible plan to follow this year? I am very, very happy with my reading planbecause it allows me to have all the flexibility I love, and at the same time it helps me not to leave out books like Amos or Numbers. Sisters, no matter which Bible Reading plan you follow, make sure you read all the Bible this year, not only the Psalms.

I have learned that the easiest way to read all the books that seem to be hard to understand is tostudy them in depth instead of just jumping from one verse to the other trying to catch some vague significance.

So my little advice today is this: read those “hard” books from the first chapter to the last with a good study help at hand… (Keep Reading)

Submission as a Freedom?

“In assuming the relation of a wife, the woman surrenders much; still, it is a surrender. There was a moment when her independence was undisputed; if it be resigned, it is through the election of her own will. The considerations which were addressed to her judgment, or to her fancy, led her to prefer the new condition; where, if her freedom be restrained, certain advantages accrue, which, in her esteem at least, more than compensate its loss. In the comparison between the two, she deliberately chooses to be less free in order to be more happy, and therefore, she submits herself…” (Keep Reading)

Love is Risky

“Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up for safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness…” (Keep Reading)

Issues of Life

Just Another Birthday

Click here to watch Casting Crown’s new music video for the song “Just Another Birthday.” The song focuses on the life of a young girl abandoned by her father and the path that leads her to the Lord. There is a strong pro-life message in the song, but most importantly a recognition of the need for God’s love and hope to be shown to those who are in difficult circumstances.

Birthday Party Ideas

A Wonder Pet Birthday Cake Success!

Yesterday we celebrated our little Elliot’s 3rd birthday. All he asked for was a Wonder Pets birthday cake, so of course, I had to make that happen. If you are not familiar with The Wonder Pets, let me fill you in. Day after day these little classroom pets spend their time saving baby animals who are in need of assistance. When the school children leave for the day, the Wonder Pets receive phone calls from helpless baby animals. Soon Linny, Tuck, and MingMing too, are off to save the day! Both of our boys love these helpful little animals, so I was racking my brain for a way to make a cake that would capture the “adventuresome” nature of these little characters (that wouldn’t include me, shaping and molding their little faces out of icing!).

I found this toy at Wal-mart, (also available on Amazon) that lights up and sings the show’s theme song. It was a perfect cake topper (as well as an additional present!). I decided to create a cake that provided a background for their “fly boat.” Blue buttercream icing dotted with puffy white clouds was a simple enough setting for their adventure to begin, as it always does, with them flying through the sky “on their way to save a baby animal.”

But wait, a Wonder Pet birthday cake can’t end there! It must contain a rainbow of course. Inspired by this cake, I decided to give this birthday cake a little something extra… (Keep Reading)

Happy Birthday Banner Printable

About two hours before Elliot’s Birthday party, I realized that I had forgotten to buy a “Happy Birthday” banner! “No problem,” I thought, “I will just find a printable on the internet and make my own really quick.” Well, that didn’t turn out to be as easy as I had hoped. Most of the printables available required crafting paper, or additional resources. I had paper, ink, balloons, and ribbon on hand… that was it. So of course I quickly created my own that wouldn’t need extra work to make it look cute (and I think it turned out pretty fun, if I don’t say so myself)… (Keep Reading)

Recommended Books

Desiring Virtue has either talked about or quoted these books this week:

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Love is Risky

Jan 13, 2012 by desiringvirtue

“Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up for safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.” (The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis)

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“Just Another Birthday” Music Video

Jan 12, 2012 by desiringvirtue

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Happy Birthday Banner Printable

Jan 12, 2012 by desiringvirtue

About two hours before Elliot’s Birthday party, I realized that I had forgotten to buy a “Happy Birthday” banner! “No problem,” I thought, “I will just find a printable on the internet and make my own really quick.” Well, that didn’t turn out to be as easy as I had hoped. Most of the printables available required crafting paper, or additional resources. I had paper, ink, balloons, and ribbon on hand… that was it. So of course I quickly created my own that wouldn’t need extra work to make it look cute (and I think it turned out pretty fun, if I don’t say so myself).

Today I though I would make this simple printable available, so that if others find themselves in the same situation, they too can quickly print out these fun letters and add a little “pop” to their party! Just print it out on card stock, punch holes in the designated spots, and then string up with party ribbon. Simple as that!

Happy Birthday Banner Printable

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Submission as a Freedom?

Jan 10, 2012 by desiringvirtue

“In assuming the relation of a wife, the woman surrenders much; still, it is a surrender. There was a moment when her independence was undisputed; if it be resigned, it is through the election of her own will. The considerations which were addressed to her judgment, or to her fancy, led her to prefer the new condition; where, if her freedom be restrained, certain advantages accrue, which, in her esteem at least, more than compensate its loss. In the comparison between the two, she deliberately chooses to be less free in order to be more happy, and therefore, she submits herself.

In this, there is manifest reservation of all her original dignity. No sense of degradation can attach in the voluntary surrender of what she might easily have retained; and in all the friction of will she may hereafter experience, there is a pleasant recurrence to this fact. She retains a sense of freedom in the conscious freeness with which it was resigned and with which it continues to be resigned. The absolute freedom of her own surrender of freedom comprehends within it all the acts of subsequent submission; and it makes them as free as the very freedom which she has for ever renounced. So far from vein dishonored in her subordination, it is throughout life a conscious consecration of herself to the condition of her choice; and the sentiment is one by which she is consciously ennobled.” (The Family by B.M. Palmer)

In other words… the very act of submitting implies that we, as wives, actively lay down certain freedoms when we become wives. This purposeful submission is an expression of freedom that is granted through Jesus Christ and is continually used to sanctify us.

Good food for thought isn’t it?

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A Wonder Pet Birthday Cake Success!

Jan 9, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Yesterday we celebrated our little Elliot’s 3rd birthday. All he asked for was a Wonder Pets birthday cake, so of course, I had to make that happen. If you are not familiar with The Wonder Pets, let me fill you in. Day after day these little classroom pets spend their time saving baby animals who are in need of assistance. When the school children leave for the day, the Wonder Pets receive phone calls from helpless baby animals. Soon Linny, Tuck, and MingMing too, are off to save the day! Both of our boys love these helpful little animals, so I was racking my brain for a way to make a cake that would capture the “adventuresome” nature of these little characters (that wouldn’t include me, shaping and molding their little faces out of icing!).

I found this toy at Wal-mart, (also available on Amazon) that lights up and sings the show’s theme song. It was a perfect cake topper (as well as an additional present!). I decided to create a cake that provided a background for their “fly boat.” Blue buttercream icing dotted with puffy white clouds was a simple enough setting for their adventure to begin, as it always does, with them flying through the sky “on their way to save a baby animal.”

But wait, a Wonder Pet birthday cake can’t end there! It must contain a rainbow of course. Inspired by this cake, I decided to give this birthday cake a little something extra.

As Ming Ming would say, “This is serious!” The rainbow layers were simple enough. I used a yummy crumb cake recipe that starts off with white cake mix as a base. I then divided up the batter to dye it different colors and then bake. (Note: when making purple, start with blue, then add the red a little at a time. I had a panic moment when my “purple” turned out brown, but after adding more blue it turned out ok.)

Once the layers were cool, I layered them with white butter cream icing to give their color a little extra punch! This cake didn’t only look awesome, it tasted awesome as well. (Be forewarned if you create a cake like this, you will need to make a TON of icing. I think I went through almost six pounds of powdered sugar!) Let’s just say, it was YUMMY.

Here are some more pictures from our little Wonder Child’s birthday:

Happy Monday!

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This Week at Desiring Virtue

Jan 7, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Practical Theology

When Prayer Goes “Unanswered”

I have lost two children in the womb (see here and here). Two darling little babies, at different stages of developement. I had the highest hopes for each of them and prayed often for their safety, growth, and healthy delivery. I prayed for their souls even before they had fingers and toes, for their future before their brains were even fully developed. I asked my God for their lives, and he refused my requests.

I was asked recently by a sweet sister in Christ if I now found it difficult to pray. From our perspective my prayers for my children were unanswered. It would be easy to assume that God either didn’t hear my prayers or that he simply didn’t care about them. Even worse, someone in my position may begin to doubt the reality of a God who doesn’t “answer” prayer. It is the perfect situation for an unbeliever to say, “Ha! You see? He isn’t really there; you are waisting your time praying to a God who can’t hear you!”

When we are faced with the unthinkable we are often faced with a crisis of theology. Suddenly what we believe about God becomes imperative to how we respond to his providence. Perhaps you have been in a similar situation or are going through one today even. It is all too common in this sin drenched world for us to face the effects of the fall. Death is all around us. Pain and suffering seem to sweep through our families as often as the flu. Hopes and dreams are too often crushed into tiny pieces of disillusionment. All the while our prayers can sometimes seem pointless. (Keep Reading)

Scriptural Examples of Answered and “Unanswered” Prayers

On Tuesday I wrote about “When Prayer Goes Unanswered.” I gave two scripture references as I talked about the Lord sometimes choosing to grant our requests and sometimes choosing not to. One is from the life of Elijah and the other is from the life of David. Today I wanted to take a closer look at these two passages and the application of them to our prayer lives. (Keep Reading)

Encouragement for a New Year of Homemaking

These are the quotes at the top of my daily planner this year:

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3-5 ESV)

“Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty. Christian women, by teaching children the Holy Scriptures, are as much fulfilling their part for the Lord, as Moses in judging Israel, or Solomon in building the temple.” (Charles Spurgeon) (Keep Reading)

In the Kitchen

Easy, Yummy Cake Box Cookies

Do you ever have those days when you randomly crave something sweet and chewy? There are times when you aren’t necessarily planning on baking, but think, “If only I could magically whip up some brownies or cookies or a cake! The thought of measuring out flour, baking soda, sugar, and more is enough to stop your delicious fantasies in their tracks (probably a good thing right?). Then you think about all of the time and effort, all of the clean up…. but wait, I am going to share a little secret with you:

They are called Cake Box Cookies. (Keep Reading)

Organization

Blank Day Planners in Purple and Green

On Sunday I talked about how much I enjoyed Large Family Logistics and beginning to implement some of the “systems” into my daily routine. I made my new daily planner available for you to print out, but know that since it is so specific, many of you will not be able to use it.

However, I really liked the color scheme and lay out and wanted to make it more universal so that more of you would be able to use it. This planner also provides another option for those of you who use the Plan of Attack. (Keep Reading)

Updates

A New Year at Desiring Virtue

As a new year begins at Desiring Virtue, I would like to thank each of you for spending time in this little corner of the internet. The Lord blessed me through your fellowship as we walked through the Scriptures, searched out the yummiest of recipes, talked about organization and household management, and even as I let you peek into my own heart. This year I shared with you my highest moment as well as my lowest. You have both encouraged me to pursue the Lord harder during the beautiful, lovely days and offered your words of wisdom during my darkest of hours. Thank you. Your fellowship is a gift from God. (Keep Reading)

Recommended Books

Desiring Virtue has either talked about or quoted these books this week:

Have a great weekend!

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Blank Day Planners in Purple and Green

Jan 6, 2012 by desiringvirtue

On Sunday I talked about how much I enjoyed Large Family Logistics and beginning to implement some of the “systems” into my daily routine. I made my new daily planner available for you to print out, but know that since it is so specific, many of you will not be able to use it.

However, I really liked the color scheme and lay out and wanted to make it more universal so that more of you would be able to use it. This planner also provides another option for those of you who use the Plan of Attack.

These printables follow the LFL model of focusing on one major task every day:

Monday: Laundry- try to get all of your laundry washed, folded, ironed, and put away before 4pm.

Tuesday: Kitchen- Deep clean your kitchen and do all of your food prep/freezer cooking/baking on this day.

Wednesday: Office- Do your budget, go over calendar, emails, internet research, menu plan, etc… on this day.

Thursday: Errands- Use this day to get all of your errands (including your grocery shopping) done on this day. Put your dinner in the crock pot before leaving home!

Friday: Clean- Dust, vacuum, and clean house.

Saturday: LFL recommends using Saturday for gardening, cleaning your vehicles, garage and such.

Sunday: The Lord’s Day- Let this be your day of rest and try to focus your heart on the Lord.

I hope that this printable will be helpful to you. Just scroll through the pages below and download from here!

Blank Day Planners (Purple and Green)

Make sure to check out all of Desiring Virtue’s Printables by clicking here!

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Scriptural Examples of Answered and “Unanswered” Prayers

Jan 5, 2012 by desiringvirtue

On Tuesday I wrote about “When Prayer Goes Unanswered.” I gave two scripture references as I talked about the Lord sometimes choosing to grant our requests and sometimes choosing not to. One is from the life of Elijah and the other is from the life of David. Today I wanted to take a closer look at these two passages and the application of them to our prayer lives.

Elijah’s Answered Prayer:

“So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. (1 Kings 18:20-29 ESV)

“And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” (1 Kings 18:36-41 ESV)

This, of course is an incredible example of the Lord working through the prayer of his child to bring glory to his name. The miraculous fire from heaven was a testimony to the people watching at the time, and to us of the Lord’s ability to hear and to answer prayer.

This is the same God that we pray to today. Whatever circumstance you find yourself in, the Lord is the one with the power to answer your deepest needs. If he can bring fire down from heaven at Elijah’s request, he can certainly heal a physical affliction, save your family member, or line up a job opportunity for you.

David’s “Unanswered” Prayer:

“And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.” (2 Samuel 12:15-17 ESV)

“On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:18-22; 2 Samuel 12:23 ESV)

In this example we see David pleading with the Lord to save the life of his child. This child, who had been conceived through David’s sin, was now dying as a result of that sin. It was the Lord’s will to judge David through the death of his child and as we later find out, God did not intend to waver from his plan. But David does not know this (he is limited in his understanding) and so he continues to pray for the life of his child until his death.

How does David respond when his child dies? Does he refuse to worship the Lord again or to trust him with his prayers in the future? No, he does the exact opposite. Instead of running from the Lord, he runs to him, to the house of the Lord to worship.

This must be our response as well when the Lord refuses to answer our prayers. We must realize that in his wisdom he has chosen something else for us, something that has been perfectly planned out from eternity past for our good and his glory. Rather than running from the Lord, we must run to him in the joyful knowledge that he loves us, cares for us, and desires the best for us, even if it means rejecting our request(s).

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

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Easy, Yummy Cake Box Cookies

Jan 4, 2012 by desiringvirtue

Do you ever have those days when you randomly crave something sweet and chewy? There are times when you aren’t necessarily planning on baking, but think, “If only I could magically whip up some brownies or cookies or a cake! The thought of measuring out flour, baking soda, sugar, and more is enough to stop your delicious fantasies in their tracks (probably a good thing right?). Then you think about all of the time and effort, all of the clean up…. but wait, I am going to share a little secret with you:

They are called Cake Box Cookies.

Chances are you have a random, unused box of cake mix in your pantry. Why? I don’t know, it makes no sense. For some reason or another we have a habit of buying too many boxes of the stuff. But now you are going to be happy you do. Just take that cake mix, add two eggs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and stir. Instant cookie dough.

Now you can do whatever you want with them. Feel like rolling spoonfuls of it in cinnamon sugar? Excellent choice. Want to add some chocolate chips, that is great too.

Once you have your combo complete simply pop them in an oven set to 375 degrees (on an ungreased cookie sheet) and in 4-10 minutes you have delicious cookies for you kiddos… and yourself.

Yesterday I made three different variations, all using classic white cake mix:

Variation 1: Plain recipe rolled in cinnamon sugar

Variation 2: Plain recipe with a little vanilla mixed in- I think these were my favorite.

Variation 3: Plain recipe with added vanilla, a little brown sugar, and chocolate chips-a nice alternative to full out chocolate chip cookies.

You can use any kind of cake mix and fiddle with it to your hearts content… or your stomach is full of cookies!

So. Have you made these tasty morsels before and if so, what is your favorite combination?

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

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When Prayer Goes “Unanswered”

Jan 3, 2012 by desiringvirtue

I have lost two children in the womb (see here and here). Two darling little babies, at different stages of developement. I had the highest hopes for each of them and prayed often for their safety, growth, and healthy delivery. I prayed for their souls even before they had fingers and toes, for their future before their brains were even fully developed. I asked my God for their lives, and he refused my requests.

I was asked recently by a sweet sister in Christ if I now found it difficult to pray. From our perspective my prayers for my children were unanswered. It would be easy to assume that God either didn’t hear my prayers or that he simply didn’t care about them. Even worse, someone in my position may begin to doubt the reality of a God who doesn’t “answer” prayer. It is the perfect situation for an unbeliever to say, “Ha! You see? He isn’t really there; you are waisting your time praying to a God who can’t hear you!”

When we are faced with the unthinkable we are often faced with a crisis of theology. Suddenly what we believe about God becomes imperative to how we respond to his providence. Perhaps you have been in a similar situation or are going through one today even. It is all too common in this sin drenched world for us to face the effects of the fall. Death is all around us. Pain and suffering seem to sweep through our families as often as the flu. Hopes and dreams are too often crushed into tiny pieces of disillusionment. All the while our prayers can sometimes seem pointless.

If.

Our prayers are only pointless if the point of prayer is to get what we want from God. If God is a genie who simply grants wishes no matter what their consequences, then a God who doesn’t grant your wish is broken and the lamp you rub as you pray might as well be sold in your next garage sale.

But this is not the God we serve. This is not the God we lift our hands in worship to. The God we entrust our deepest desires, our greatest hopes and biggest dreams to is the all knowing, all powerful, infinitely wise Lord of the Universe. The Galaxies are the work of his hands (Psalm 8:3) and yet he stoops down to provide food for the tiny birds of the air (Matthew 6:26). He is infinitely big and yet infinitely personal. The God we pray to hears our prayers (1Peter 3:12), even when it is too difficult to put them into words (Romans 8:26).

The problem isn’t that God can’t hear our prayers or that he isn’t powerful enough to grant them. God is not limited. The problem is that we are limited. Unlike our heavenly Father, we do not know what the future will bring, we do not know what he plans for our families, we do not even know what is best for our own hearts (Jeremiah 17:1). We can only see what is right in front of us; we can only ask for what seems to be the best thing at the time. But God doesn’t see like that. He sees the past, present, and future all at once. In a sense he lives with us (in our time) and yet, he also lives outside of time. His purposes are beyond our comprehension because we are limited to the here and now. He is not.

This is precisely why we bring our prayers to him: because he is the only one who has the power to answer them and because he is the only one who knows if they should be answered. I have no desire to pray to a God who will blindly answer my prayers no matter what the consequences. I would much rather spend my time in communion with the God who works out everything for my good, the God who has a glorious plan for his elect, the God whose purposes will not be thwarted.

Jesus taught us to pray according to the Lord’s will (Matthew 6:10), not our own. His will is perfect, ours is not. We can be confident that he will answer prayers that specifically echo his revealed will. Prayers such as the sanctification of another believer, that glory would be brought to the Lord through your circumstances, that he would provide a harvest of believers to missionaries across the world. Other things are not as clear. As I prayed for my little babies, I did not know if it was the Lord’s will to bring them into adulthood, but I did know this: He calls me to make my requests known to him and to trust him.

Sometimes he chooses to use the prayers of his children as the means of accomplishing his perfect will (1 Kings 17:21-24) and sometimes he doesn’t (2 Samuel 12:18-22; 2 Samuel 12:23). He always uses them to develop in us a reliance on his power and wisdom. Prayer is more than an ask and receive exchange between you and the God of the Universe. As Wayne Grudem so beautifully puts it:

God wants us to pray because prayer expresses our trust in God and is a means whereby our trust in him increases. In fact, perhaps the primary emphasis of the Bible’s teaching on prayer is that we are to pray with faith, which means trust or dependence on God. God as our Creator delights in being trusted by us as his creatures, for an attitude of dependence is most appropriate to the Creator/creature relationship. Praying in humble dependence also indicates that we are genuinely convinced of God’s wisdom, love, goodness, and power-indeed of all the attributes that make up his excellent character. When we truly pray, we as as persons, in the our character, are relating to God as a person, in the wholeness of his character. Thus all that we think or feel about God comes to expression in our prayer. It is only natural that God would delight in such activity and place much emphasis on it in his relationship with us. (Systematic Theology)

When I prayed for my children I was conversing with my Heavenly Father, who loves me and knew that their little lives would only be with me for short while. He had a plan for their lives and for their deaths. His will was to bring glory to himself through their short lives and the sanctification that such a loss would bring about in my heart.

As I shared with this dear sister:

“Some ways that the Lord has blessed me through my miscarriages are more obvious than others. I have been tremendously blessed by the opportunity to be a witness of God’s goodness even in the midst of trials. I have had the privilege of sharing in many women’s sorrow as they pass through the waves of miscarriage and loss. I have had a new appreciation for grief and been able to mourn more appropriately with those who mourn. My own character has been altered through the experience of pain and suffering. My spirit is quieter, slower to speak, more willing to listen to people, as these were the things I so treasured in others when I was going through my own trials. My relationship to my husband has grown by leaps and bounds as we have had to rely on one another through such dark times. We share a particular loss that no one else will ever be able to comprehend and that unites us. I have been able to look into my Savior’s face and acknowledge that he is indeed good and been able to feel his very real presence in the darkest of hours. These are no light blessings… they are the blessings that produce endurance, and joy in the faith. Physically, I have been blessed with two wonderful children-one of which would not have ever been conceived if I hadn’t lost my first precious child. This was the Lord’s will for me and I rejoice in it.

Would I have ever asked to miscarry? No. I will always pray for the safety of my children and hope for their safe delivery, but I am confident that the Lord does not bring any trial our way that isn’t good for us and that won’t draw us closer to him.”

And so dear sisters, I encourage you to continue in prayer. Remember that no request, if it be in line with this revealed Word, is to great. Our God is able to answer the most impossible of requests (Matthew 17:20). But do not be disheartened if he does not seem to answer your prayers. Do not think him unkind, unloving, or powerless. Instead, find in him the wisdom that knows his purposes are good and his will is perfect. Know that if your request was not answered, he, in his infinite wisdom has chosen another path for you-a path that he has planned from eternity past for his glory and your good.

Pray without ceasing to the one who is able to answer your prayers, but always with the desire that his perfect will be done, whatever it entails.

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Encouragement for a New Year of Homemaking

Jan 2, 2012 by desiringvirtue

These are the quotes at the top of my daily planner this year:

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3-5 ESV)

“Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty. Christian women, by teaching children the Holy Scriptures, are as much fulfilling their part for the Lord, as Moses in judging Israel, or Solomon in building the temple.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is placed in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse into the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into its soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of the this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,-she would see that in all of God’s world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no other hands the sacred and holy trust given to her.” (J.R. Miller)

“The best way to make homemaking a joyous task is to offer it as unto the Lord; the only way to avoid the drudgery in such mundane tasks is to bathe the tasks with prayer and catch a vision of the divine challenge in making and nurturing a home.” (Dorothy Patterson)

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot)

“It is a high honor for a woman to be chosen from among all womankind to be the wife of a good and true man. She is lifted up to be a crowned queen. Her husband’s manly love laid at her feet exalts her to the throne of his life. Great power is placed in her hands. Sacred destinies are reposed in her keeping. Will she wear her crown beneficently? Will she fill her realm with beauty and with blessing? Or will she fail in her holy trust? Only her married life can be the answer.” (J.R. Miller)

“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word of faith from which the obedience and the work flow.” (Martin Luther)

Be encouraged. The work you do, if you do it for the Lord, has profound worth. For that reason it is imperative that you take it seriously and put forth every effort to do it well. Let’s seek the Lord’s grace for a year of intentional homemaking!

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A New Year at Desiring Virtue

Jan 1, 2012 by desiringvirtue

As a new year begins at Desiring Virtue, I would like to thank each of you for spending time in this little corner of the internet. The Lord blessed me through your fellowship as we walked through the Scriptures, searched out the yummiest of recipes, talked about organization and household management, and even as I let you peek into my own heart. This year I shared with you my highest moment as well as my lowest. You have both encouraged me to pursue the Lord harder during the beautiful, lovely days and offered your words of wisdom during my darkest of hours. Thank you. Your fellowship is a gift from God.

Desiring Virtue has seen tremendous growth over the past year and I rejoice in the knowledge that there are so many women out there who are passionate about the Word of God, and who desire to apply it in their role as homemaker. My prayer is that this place will continue to be an encouragement to your soul to seek the Lord’s grace in all that you do and that it will continue to reveal the often overlooked connection between theology and homemaking. It is only because of the God we serve and the powerful, life-altering gospel of Jesus Christ that we are able to lay our lives down for our families, serving them day in and day out. As I have said before, “This is what Desiring Virtue is about. It seeks to mix the “holy” with the “secular” and encourage women to see their callings as wife, mother, homemaker, neighbor, friend, and church member all as avanues of enjoying the grace of God and bringing glory to the grace of God.”

This year, Lord willing, Desiring Virtue will take you deeper into the Word of God while encouraging you to make the connection between the grace of our Lord and the mundane, everyday tasks of homemaking. We will find encouragement from women who have gone before us and women who are walking the path of grace today. We will look at practical ways to serve our families, our church, our communities for the glory of God. If you are connected through Facebook, you will be kept up to date on all of DV’s latest posts as well as inspirational reads from all over the internet that will challenge you in your walk with the Lord as well as encourage you in your calling as homemaker. Desiring Virtue’s Facebook page is also a great place to fellowship with other women who desire to grow just as much as you do. Make sure that you connect to DV in this simple and beneficial way.

If you are new here at Desiring Virtue I would like to say “Welcome.” I am so glad the Lord has led you here and I pray that you will be blessed by this website. You may be wondering where to begin or what you have missed. Here is a list of 2011′s most popular posts as well as some of my favorites:

Are You Desiring Virtue?
When God Asks You For Your Isaac
Death and God
Gospel Parenting, Old but New
Common Temptations and Christ’s Uncommon Grace
The Deception of Gender Equality
Grace: The Great Equalizer
When Holiness Seems Too Far Away

Of course the top visited content at Desiring Virtue has been the Homemaking Printables. I am so happy that literally thousands of people have been able to benefit from the these simple tools to help manage the home. Here is a quick run down of printables that may help you get organized in your homemaking this year:

Plan of Attack (Daily Planners)
Today’s Plan of Attack (Daily Planner featuring full page views and completely blank)
This Weeks Menu Plan
Websites and Passwords
Running To-do List
Weekly Reflections
Large Family Logistics Inspired Daily Planner (New, blank version to come)

Make sure to connect with Desiring Virtue either through Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on the latest printables!

Here is to a new year of honoring the Lord through serving our families, friends, churches, and neighbors for the glory of God!

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Preparing for the New Year and New Daily Planner Printables

Dec 30, 2011 by desiringvirtue

One of the most exciting (as well as practical) gifts I received this Christmas was Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family. By most standards our family is still small (it is just the four of us at the moment), but this book is by no means just for the large family. In fact, I don’t think you have to have kids to be able to profit from this book and the wisdom shared within its gigantic pages (the size of this book is impressive in and of itself!). What this book offers is an insider’s look into one homemaker’s methods and systems as she goes about caring for a large family. It is a textbook of sorts on homemaking, a guide to organizing your life as a homemaker. This is something that I can benefit greatly from. Yes, as the years continue to pass I get wiser in the way I do things and I slowly begin to figure things out (things that usually amount to simple discipline on my part), but how much more helpful is it to have someone show you the ropes before you become overwhelmed? Sure, some days I feel overwhelmed already, but things are tame for the moment with only two children and neither of them homeschooling yet. More than anything I want to master some basic home management skills before my family gets any larger and and I begin homeschooling (this is when hyperventilating my enter into my daily routine). This is Kim’s purpose in writing the book. Listen to her heart:

“…I found that there are many young moms who are in the same position that I was-unprepared for keeping the home with lots of children. While women historically were equipped to be the caretakers of thriving, busy households when they reached maturity, most of today’s women are ill-equipped for such responsibility. this change has happened in the wake of feminism, which teaches young women that they can have a career and be a mom. Guidance counselors in the schools encourage those who enjoy children to be teachers or day care providers. Childbearing is an experience to have after practicing with a dog or cat for a few years. I read recently that in some circles chidden are an economic status symbol along with all the accouterments to buy for them.

When the Internet came along, I met many fellow casualties of feminism. I realized that I was not the only woman who desired to be a faithful homemaker who was crying out to God, “How do I do this?” That realization caused me to begin sharing my ideas through blog writing, articles, and, eventually, completing this book for this moms who were a step behind me in my journey of motherhood and home keeping. I am motivated to take the time to write now because the answer I often heard to my own question of “How?” was, “I don’t know, I just did it.” There’s truth in that answer-there are so many things that we need to just do-but I wanted specifics. the specifics pass into the deep recesses of our minds because often they are small tips, tricks, or ingrained hap its that require little thought. My goal is to write those things down for those who are struggling with “How?”‘

And so, I have been quickly searching through this fabulous resource for the how of actively managing my family. I say actively because it can become very easy to passively manage. You know what this is like: you begin to play more of a defensive role as the home manager, constantly making up for lost time and reacting to the day rather than planning out the day and successfully accomplishing all you set out to do.

Most of what Kim shares amounts to routine and setting a pattern of living and working within your home. She shares specific systems that she uses in order to manage her own large family and persuasive reasons for doing things in a like manner. Because of this I have decided to alter my daily routines to more closely aline with the one she prescribes in her book. She follows a similar “one focus a day” approach, but makes my previous attempts at the same system look pathetic in comparison. Her goals and expectations are much more detailed and assure that she will accomplish a finely tuned home. This is something that I long for. After spending some time in the book (preparing for a new year of homemaking) I typed up some new printables to fill my home management notebook with. They follow her system almost exactly (with a few modifications), focusing on one major household task a day.

Monday: Laundry Day

Tuesday: Kitchen Day

Wednesday: Office Day

Thursday: Town Day

Friday: Cleaning Day

Saturday: Outside Day (She refers to this day as Garden Day, but I have no garden… so yeah)

Sunday: The Lord’s Day

The biggest difference in this system to what I was doing the past is that most cleaning is reserved to one day of the week. There are daily cleaning tasks to be done, but Friday is reserved for getting down and dirty.

Also, she recommends focusing on one area of your home every week for doing Deep Cleaning (you know, the stuff you never ever do until it gets just terrible). In her family they do one thing in that area every day, but you could also do it all on cleaning day. I have decided to do it every day like she has and then catch up on Friday if needed. Examples of Focus Areas are bathrooms, living room and family room, bedrooms, etc… and examples of deep cleaning to do in those areas are things like declutter the area, catch cobwebs, dust ceiling fans, clean light switches, etc…

I also love the idea of having a day completely focused on paperwork, computer work, budgeting, menu planning and the like. This is what she refers to as Office Day and would really benefit my home management by encouraging me to be intentional and disciplined in these areas.

As the new year begins so does my prayer that the Lord would continue to empower me to serve my family well through the ministry of homemaking. I am thankful for the tips I am learning in this book and look forward to implementing more of them in the future.

If you follow Kim’s plan, or are looking forward to reading the book in the future, you can download and print my printables below for your own use. I am sure that I will be modifying them in the future as I try out this method and tweak it to better serve our family, but this is a good starting point. Please let me know if you find any typos or have any suggestions!

Day Planners

I can’t recommend Large Family Logistics enough. If you are looking for some inspiration and motivation for your homemaking, I would encourage you to check it out!

Also, if you are looking for some less specific printables to organize yourself with this new year, check out these Daily Plan of Attack printables.

Other printables you may be interested in:

Weekly Menu Plan,

Running To-Do List,

Websites and Passwords

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

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The Best Christmas Present Ever.

Dec 28, 2011 by desiringvirtue

It is hard to say that this is without a doubt the best Christmas present I have ever been given by my loving husband. He has given me some pretty amazing gifts. This year however, I have to say probably tops the cake. As usual, we made gifts for one another (made being a loose guideline!) and this year he made me a package of encouragement. Let me explain.

In this beautiful box was a collection of items meant to encourage me to continue developing my writing skills. My sweet, sweet husband wrote a beautiful letter explaining how much he desires for me to continue writing and encouraging others to love Christ more dearly.

Is there anything more wonderful than your husband praising you and encouraging you to develop your gifts? It meant so much to me to know that he values what I am doing through this blog and to know that he desires for me to write even more!

Also in the box were journals to jot down notes and inspiration, pencils, Starbucks and Panera Bread gift cards (to use when I am able to get away to strictly write), a jar of “Alone Time” coupons that were filled with inspirational messages from some of my favorite authors, and a book that explains the ins and outs of having a book published.

In the note, Richard explained that he desires for me to get away every week to focus on writing (and just plain enjoy myself!). And as if all of this weren’t enough…

Yes, my friends, this is a 1899 copy of Stepping Heavenward; one of my all time favorite books. He included it as an example of what can be accomplished for the Lord through the written word. What an inspiration! This book has impacted me so deeply and my prayer is that my own writing will one day be used in the same way.

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Merry Christmas!

Dec 27, 2011 by desiringvirtue

We have enjoyed such a wonderful Christmas this year and I pray that you have been blessed by the celebration of our Messiah’s birth as well. Today we are slowly getting back into a routine and planning for the new year. I did however want to pop in to share a couple pictures with you and to say my official “Merry Christmas” since I have been absent from the blog for the past couple of days.

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Christmas is the Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant

Dec 22, 2011 by desiringvirtue

“Many Christians share at least some Jewish heritage (I do), but most American Christians are Gentiles. Most of us are the descendants of pagans, not Israelites. Centuries ago, our ancestors worshiped Zeus or Thor, natural or ancestral deities. We were outside the covenant-strangers and aliens to God. The promise to Abraham that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” was our sole hope. We are sons of Abraham, sons and daughters of the covenant, through the grace of God that reaches out to the lost.

A funny thing happens to churchgoers in America. It begins to seem obvious to us that we are Christians. It seems like our birthright…most of us need to remember that we are Gentiles, not Israelites-outsiders, not insiders. The God of Israel is our God, even though we are German, English, French, Dutch, African, Irish, and Russian. Therefore we should still marvel at this grace. If we marvel, if we give thanks that we are included in the family of God, then we will include others and give thanks for the presence of them as well.

The Christmas season, along with Easter, certainly affords us an opportunity to welcome outsiders into our church. It is tempting to joke about, to mock, even to scorn the “Christmas and Easter Christians.” But why? In ourselves, none of us is a whit more spiritual or sincere than they. We should welcome all who stand outside the covenant, for the Lord alls outsiders to himself.”

-Daniel M. Doriani, The Incarnation in the Gospels

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Pacing Yourself During the Holidays

Dec 21, 2011 by desiringvirtue

Today DV Contributor Amy is sharing some helpful tips for what can sometimes be a stressful season. If you are in the middle of feeling overwhelmed, let this post encourage you to step back and focus on what you are celebrating rather than all the stuff you need to do.

Life is messy. Our days are filled with all kinds of good and not-so-good things to attend to, and it doesn’t all fit into neat, organized little squares (or at least MY life sure doesn’t!). Sometimes things work out, but it will never be perfect so long as we live in this fallen world.

And sometimes, in this less than perfect world, I find myself feeling very burned out. I suspect that you do, too. This time of year can be a major burnout season if we’re not careful. There’s always one more social event, one more gift to buy, one more moment I want to snatch to meditate on what this beautiful Christmas time of year really means – and that’s in addition to all the usual bits and pieces that make up this beautiful mess we call life.

Between moving, trying to find a church and make friends, my husband getting a big promotion, my grandmother going home to God, caring for elderly relatives and all the rest of it, I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed this year. The holidays always excite me, but also add to that feeling of being utterly spent sometimes. And so I started praying about it and thinking about it, and what I’ve been learning has been helping me not just get through this season, but truly enjoy it.

So, what have I learned?

1. Get some sleep

Easier said than done, I know, especially for those of you with very small children. However, life is so much less overwhelming when I’ve had at least a passing acquaintance with my own snug, warm bed. If I can’t get enough sleep at night, I try to fit in little naps during the day.

2. Don’t over schedule yourself

I once knew someone who planned to be at 3 different family gatherings in 3 different cities all on Christmas Day. This may work for some, but I’m not sure that everyone would want that road trip! Look over the social events on the near horizon and think about what makes you and your family happiest. Are you extroverts who get more energized every time you see friends and family? Are you more introverted, and need to have some down time built in between all the open houses, office parties and the like? Try to decide in advance what kind of schedule will work for you, so that you can head off that “Oh my goodness, I’m WAAAAY overcommitted!” feeling of stress. This one is a particular challenge for me.

3. Prioritize the volunteering

I can be one of those people who feels dutybound to volunteer for everything. However, I’ve learned over time that it’s best to prioritize. It may be really important to volunteer to bring a cake to the Senior Center Christmas party for my great-aunts and to pick up items for the homeless shelter, but I don’t need to put my name on every church and charity list that comes my direction. Learning that sometimes we have to forego a good thing in order to concentrate on the best things has been a hard lesson, but it’s one I’ve been learning very much this year, and it is so worth it.

4. Figure out what recharges your batteries

What revives you? For me, picking out songs for my Songs of Advent series, puttering on the blog, and reading have all been good downtime for me. I find that if I schedule time for these things, I have so much more energy to then pour back into serving others. I used to fear that carving out time for myself was selfish, but I find that if I don’t have it, then I get worn down and my service to others starts becoming much less than I think it is called to be.

5. Take care of your health

As tempting as the notion sounds, we can’t live on Christmas cookies alone. Be sure to fit in some healthy meals full of fruits and veggies, and drink plenty of water. Getting exercise a few times a week helps a lot as well. You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself?” Well, it’s true, very true indeed.

6. Take time to really think about the season

The more I read God’s Word and read good Advent books, the more I find myself pondering the amazing miracle of Christmas. The details of wondering which cat knocked over the tree or when I’m going to get cards and gifts wrapped fall away in the face of this baby Jesus brought into the world to die for our salvation.

And most important of all…

PRAY

Keeping all those stresses of life heaped upon our own shoulders is futile. We will not fix the world, or even our own lives, by our power alone. God has told us in His Word to bring our burdens to Him, and when we do, He does give us rest. It’s right there in Matthew 11. When I spend time with God pouring out my heart to Him, my troubles don’t just magically disappear, but in various ways, they always become bearable rather than hopeless. He is my rock, my refuge, my source of strength and my all. And this time of year is such a beautiful reminder of just what a miracle God is. I hope that you have a blessed and merry Christmas!

After several years of trying to balance the management of her home with being a professional woman, Amy is in the process of transitioning home to serve primarily as a homemaker. She now lives with her husband in the Washington DC area where she is enjoying the challenges of figuring out how to make a house a home. Hint: It’s requiring a much broader skill set than she or many other people would have ever dreamed! In her spare time, she enjoys travel, reading, and serving in her church. You can follow her adventures at MakingAJoyfulHome.blogspot.com.

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Menu Planning Mayhem and The Best Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

Dec 20, 2011 by desiringvirtue

MPM is Desiring Virtue’s weekly link up for homemakers who create menu plans for their families. At the bottom of this post there will be an opportunity for you to either link up your own menu plan or benefit from the menu plans that others have linked up!

Christmas is just around the corner and our home is already full of sweets! We have Christmas cookies, peppermint bark, candy, and more on our counter as I speak… with more to come I am sure. Last week I made the Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe I linked to in a previous Menu Planning Mayhem and man… it was DELICIOUS! These muffins turn out huge and perfectly sweet (yet not too sweet if you know what I mean). The chocolate chips are a perfect punch of flavor against the slightly sugary muffin. Today I want to share the recipe with you! Who knows, this may make it into your menu for the week! It would be a welcome departure from the overly sweet items filling your list… and your counter.

This recipe is from the blog Cream Puffs In Venice, but originally appeared in Fine Cooking.

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Winter 2006 issue of Fine Cooking dedicated to Chocolate.

Note: I did not use the glaze for this recipe and they were absolutely delicious; I guess you just have to decided now much “sweet” you are really wanting!

Ingredients

3-1/2 cups all purpose flour (use unbleached if you have it)
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/3 cups granulated sugar
10 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups chocolate chips

For the glaze (optional):

3 cups icing sugar
6 tbsp. water
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and place a rack in the centre of the oven. Lightly oil the top of a 12-cup muffin tin or spray with cooking spray. Line with muffin cups (it’s best to use grease-proof ones if you can find them).

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a bowl, whisk together the butter, whole milk, sour cream, eggs, egg yolk and vanilla exctract.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently combine using a rubber spatula. Mix only until the dry ingredients are moistened. Don’t overmix or your muffins will be too dense. Don’t worry if the batter seems lumpy or if there are still some flour streaks.

Add the chocolate chips and fold in quickly, again being careful not to overmix.

Distribute the batter among the muffin cups. Mound the better up in the centre of each cup. It will rise above the rim of the muffin cup by as much as an inch. Don’t worry. These are big muffins!

Note: When she says to mound it, she really means it! Just keep adding the batter until you run out. It will look like way too much, but your twelve muffins are going to be humungous so don’t worry.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The muffins will be golden and will spring back when pressed lightly. As an extra test, insert a toothpick into the centre of a muffin. If it comes out clean, the muffins are ready.

Remove the muffin tin to a rack and let cool for 15 minutes. With a knife, separate the muffins evenly and then gently lift them out of the tins. Let them continue cooling on the rack.

If you want to glaze them, make the glaze and pour over the muffins. If not, enjoy them as they are!


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I would love to hear what your kitchen is filled with this week. Link them up your menu, recipe, or baking plans below! You can also feel free to share in the comments section of this blog post. I look forward to seeing what you guys are cooking up!

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife!

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The Passion Tree Painting

Dec 15, 2011 by desiringvirtue

On Saturday I shared our take on the traditional Christmas Tree. After spending so much time and brain power coming up with a way to make our tree as symbolic and Christ-exalting as possible, I came across this painting on the internet that was so similar to the intent behind our own tree. I only wish you could buy the ornaments that adorn this beautiful tree-then I wouldn’t have had to make my own! Take a moment to watch this video describing The Passion Tree and all of the symbolism this artist put into it. Also, you can visit his website to read in detail what each of the ornaments represents by clicking here.

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Three Ways to Tie in Christmas with Easter

Dec 14, 2011 by desiringvirtue

The joy of celebrating the Messiah’s incarnation can only be rivaled by the celebration of his death and resurrection. Without his sacrificial death on my behalf, I would be left only with a wonderful story of God coming to live with his people. That would be amazing and special, but carry no weight for my eternal soul. It is because of Christ’s mission to die for me, to take my place on the cross, that his birth on earth is so important. It is because of his powerful resurrection that I know he was more than a little baby in a manger, he was the Son of God. Without these key truths I would be left with no way to please God, no way to gain salvation.

Today I am going to share some practical ways to tie Christmas and Easter together as we celebrate these most wonderful of holidays.

1. Your Christmas Tree and Easter Cross

If you use a real Christmas tree, don’t simply toss it when January 1st roles around. Chop off a portion of the trunk and keep it for Easter time. During the season of Lent, fashion that trunk into two beams and make a cross. Use this cross as a centerpiece at your Easter celebration.

Using your Christmas tree to make a cross will remind you of the reason for celebrating Christmas- because the babe came to die for our sins.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV)

2. Advent Candles in Reverse

Just as we celebrate the light coming into the world at Christmas time, during the season of Lent, we remember the Light of the World’s sacrificial death. As Easter approaches, instead of lighting candles one by one, blow them out one by one, representing the death of the Light (Christ). Then on Easter morning wake your family to a house full of lit candles representing the miraculous resurrection of Christ.

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46 ESV)

3. Continue the Story of Your Jesse Tree

If you are partaking in the Jesse Tree tradition, let the story continue with a Passion Tree. Most Jesse Tree devotionals or suggested readings end with the birth of Christ (which is what we are celebrating at Christmas). A Passion Tree picks up at the birth and follows along with the life of Christ, preparing your family’s heart for the remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection. Click here for an example and even free devotional guide to a Passion Tree.

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:9-13 ESV)

Do you have any suggestions for tying in Easter with Christmas? If so, share them in the comments below!

This post is linked up to A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.

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Menu Planning Mayhem: Hot Foods for Winter!

Dec 12, 2011 by desiringvirtue

MPM is Desiring Virtue’s weekly link up for homemakers who create menu plans for their families. At the bottom of this post there will be an opportunity for you to either link up your own menu plan or benefit from the menu plans that others have linked up!

For the past few weeks Menu Planning Mayhem has been a little out of the ordinary. Instead of sharing my weekly menu with you, I have been sharing recipes. Today I would like to continue with our “specialized” posts by sharing a new favorite soup recipe with you! Winter has finally arrived, Christmas is near, and soup is an incredibly cozy option for weeknight dinners.

Recently I tried out a new Chicken Noodle Soup recipe that I must share with you. Let me just say that I have tried many a Chicken Noodle Soup recipes and they never seem to turn out well. Perhaps my taste buds are just ruined by Campbell’s salty canned versions, but most recipes I try out lack flavor and the veggies never seem to get tender enough for me.

Needless to say, I have never found a recipe that I want to continue using. So, when my Father-in-law suggested that we have homemade chicken noodle soup, I set out to find a new recipe with the hope it would be my “go-to” recipe from here on out.

I think I have found it.

Two words: Paula Deen.

But this isn’t just a buttered up version of chicken noodle soup. No, this soup has cooking sherry, heavy cream and parmesan cheese as ingredients. Yeah.

I made this soup without any difficulty and served it to an enthusiastic family. Everyone partook of seconds and I might have gone back for thirds if it hadn’t been for a soon-to-be brother-in-law who finished off the pot.

Let me just say that this is not your typical chicken noodle soup. This could be served for a special dinner party due to its unique and deep flavors! Trust me, your guests will not feel as though you opened a can of soup and microwaved it for them… they will feel spoiled.

We ate this soup with some left over corn bread, but french bread (as Paula suggests) would be an incredible combination.

I am going to reproduce the recipe here as well as tell you what alterations I made.

The Lady’s Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

4 bay leaves
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 onion, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon Paula Deen Lemon Pepper Seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 2 1/2 to 3-pound fryer (chicken), cut up
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 1/2 quart water
kosher salt and pepper to taste

For Step 2:
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced celery, with leafy green tops
2 1/2 cups uncooked egg noodles
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
3/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
1/3 cup cooking sherry
1 cup sliced mushrooms (I did not include this as Richard and I HATE mushrooms)
Fresh parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
Paula Deen Seasoned Salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
crusty french bread, for serving

Directions:

For the stock: add all ingredients to a soup pot. Cook until chicken is tender, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. Remove and discard bay leaves and onion. You should have approximately 3 quarts of stock. When chicken is cool enough to touch, pick bones clean, discarding bones, skin, and cartilage. Set chicken aside.

For the soup: bring stock back to a boil, add carrots, and cook for 3 minutes. Add celery and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes (I cooked this for 25 minutes covered to make sure that the veggies were tender). Add egg noodles and cook according to directions on package. When noodles are done, add chicken, mushrooms, parsley, sherry and rosemary. Add Parmesan and cream, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning, if needed, by adding seasoning salt and pepper. Enjoy along with a nice hot crusty loaf of French bread.

This recipe made approximately 10 servings!

Perhaps this lovely soup will find its way onto your family’s menu this week… Enjoy!

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I would love to hear your favorite Hot Foods for Winter (posts can be old or new). Link them up below or share your family’s menu plan for the week! You can also feel free to share your recipe or menu plan in the comments section of this blog post. I look forward to seeing what you guys are cooking up!

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A Different Kind of Christmas Tree

Dec 10, 2011 by desiringvirtue

Throughout the series Cultivating A Christ-Centered Christmas I occasionally mentioned how our family incorporates some of the practical traditions shared. Today I wanted to go into a little more detail as to how our family celebrates with a Christmas Tree.

As I mentioned in the series, no family’s traditions are exactly the same. In fact, most of the traditions I shared with you are not ones that we personally use and among the ones that we do use, some we have tweaked or recreated to fit our personal needs and desires. That is the point of family traditions right? They are your family’s traditions!

I am going to share with you the way my husband and I combined the Christian “Jesse Tree” tradition with our the traditional “Christmas Tree” tradition to provide a beautiful and unique way to worship the Christ of Christmas.

Our Tree’s Backstory

Three years ago we decided to assess our Christmas tree. I’m sure it had something to do with me reading “Treasuring God in Our Traditions” by Noel Piper. In the book she explains that there never was a Christmas tree in their home. They didn’t really see a point since it had nothing to do with the incarnation. Rather than simply accepting cultural norms, they decided to only include traditions that truly pointed to the Christ and encouraged meditation on the Savior. My head started reeling the first time I read this. No Christmas tree?

My mother’s Christmas tree is a paradigm of Christmas trees. It is always very large, perfectly adorned by bows, ribbons, lights, and beads. The ornaments that decorate its fragrant branches range from porcelain ballerinas to fantastical glass blow fish.

Picking out the perfect tree every year growing up was a family affair (a battle that my brother somehow always won) and decorating the tree was a major event, one that my mother always seemed to make special. I loved our tree. I am still utterly enchanted when I walk into my parent’s home and take in the beautiful job she has done each year.

Would our home not have that same tradition? Would our children not walk through isles of trees searching for the perfect one to adorn our family room? This was something I would have to think and pray about.

As I researched more and more traditions that were specifically Christ-centered I came across the Jesse tree tradition. I loved the way it encouraged us to celebrate redemptive history, the way it caused us to think about the waiting that God’s people experienced as he fulfilled his promise of salvation. As I began to consider implementing it in our Christmas celebration I couldn’t help but feel that having a little tree (or even a branch as some use) that focused on the Savior and a very large, mostly arbitrary (beautifully arbitrary mind you!) Christmas tree during the celebration of Christ’s incarnation was a little lopsided.

Since we were already reassessing our Christmas tree to begin with, we decided to give the tradition an overhaul and meld the two trees together into one Christ-centered tree that would spur us on to love the Savior more every time we decorated it. And so our Christmas tree was born.

Our Christmas Tree Tradition

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5 ESV)

“O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.” (Hoseah 14:8 ESV)

We begin decorating our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That night as Richard brings it in and sets it up, I prepare the hot chocolate and treats. We start in the same way most do by stringing lights around the tree; a beautiful reminder of Christ’s illuminating character and sinless life (the more lights the better!).

Once the lights are strung, we begin putting our ornaments on. One by one we adorn our tree with simple, beautiful ball ornaments that display the names of Christ. On each ornament I have written one of the ways the Bible refers to the Messiah as well as the scripture references. As we hang each name we say it out loud reminding each other of the many attributes of Christ. As our children get older and the tradition can last longer, we hope to take time to read several of the references associated with the names.

Next we hang cross ornaments to remind us of the reason Christ was born as a baby in the flesh of men. This is a collection we have just begun and look forward to adding to. I love to see the crosses amongst the various names of Christ as well as amongst our advent ornaments as it reminds me that every event in Biblical history points to the Savior.

Once all of our ornaments are hung, we add red ribbon that cascades down our tree reminding us of the precious blood that was shed for our forgiveness.

And of course, the last thing to be added is the star, reminiscent of “his star” which the wise men followed to find the Christ-child.

The next day is Sunday, the first day of Advent. This is when we begin adding our “Jesse Tree” ornaments. These ornaments trace through the course of redemptive history beginning with Creation and ending at the coming of the Messiah. I made ornaments for each event by downloading images of paintings off of the internet and then Mod Podging them into picture frame ornaments. Each night leading up to Christmas we add one ornament to the tree and read the corresponding account in the Bible. This wonderful tradition is helpful not only for the children, but for us as well. Together we remember (and our children learn) the need we, as a fallen race, had for a Savior. Through learning the anticipation of God’s people, we too build anticipation for Christmas day when we celebrate the Messiah’s coming.

As the advent ornaments continue to be added to our tree, a wonderful story of God’s interaction with his people begins to unfold. All the while this incredible story is nestled in among reminders of the Savior, to whom it all belongs.

I love our tree.

I love that it has a purpose and that every time I look at it I am stirred to think on the amazing truths of salvation. When I look at it I think of my Savior.

Our prayer is that God would use this tradition in our children’s lives to not only teach them the story of salvation, but captivate their little hearts with the joy we have in God’s goodness to his people.

My Challenge to You

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Every family’s traditions will look different. My hope in sharing our Christmas Tree Tradition with you is not say, “You should do this too,” but to encourage you to be intentional about your celebration and don’t be afraid to step outside the box a little in an effort to honor the Lord and worship him through your traditions. I have found so much joy in coming up with creative ways to make our Christmas about the One who is worthy of so much celebration.

This post is linked up at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

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The Very Real Love of Christ

Dec 8, 2011 by desiringvirtue

I decided to repost this piece in an effort to remind us of what we are setting out to do this busy Christmas season. Take a moment to drink in the beauty of our Lord’s mission here on earth. When he took on the humble form of a baby he did it for you, so that he could redeem your soul from the curse of sin. Praise God!

‘“…The people talk strangely about [Christian]. Some say he now walks in white, that he has a chain of gold about his neck, or that he has on his head a crown of gold set with pearls. Others say the Shining Ones who sometimes showed themselves to him during his journey have become his companions, and that he is just as familiar with them in the place where he is as one neighbor is with another here. Besides, it’s confidently affirmed concerning him, that the King of that place where he is has bestowed upon him a very rich and pleasant dwelling at court and that every day he eats and drinks and walks and talks with Him and receives smiles and favors there from Him who is Judge of All.’

‘Moreover,’ continued Sagacity, ‘it is expected by some that his Prince, the Lord of that country, will soon come into these parts and will desire to know the reason-if they can give any-why his neighbors treated him so lightly and made fun of him so much when they saw that he would be a Pilgrim. For they say that he is now held in so much affection by his Prince, and that his King is so much concerned with the indignities that were cast upon Christian when he became a Pilgrim, that He will look upon everyone as if those things were done to himself. And it’s not surprising, for it was because of the love Christian had for his Prince that he did what he did.’” -John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

How deep is the love of Christ! Can we comprehend the weight of love that is lavished upon us? Can we even begin to comprehend the overwhelming joy that will fill us as we stand before the King of the Universe and feel his loving presence? To be so intimately acquainted with the one who’s love has no boundaries is an incomprehensible gift-one that we will thank him for all of eternity for.

It is hard to grasp the love of Christ daily without taking it for granted. It becomes a normal, everyday, tarnished thing. Its luster slowly fades as we talk about it over and over, as we sing about it over and over, as we hear about it over and over. It becomes a philosophical idea rather than a real emotional experience. Our religion becomes a list rather than a relationship, rather than a love. How do we keep this from happening? How do we revive our spirits, stir up those groanings and longings for the Savior?

We must remember the gospel.

We must remind ourselves of our sin and the just penalty of death that hung over us until Christ chose to love us. We must remind ourselves of our unloveliness, of our disgustingness. We must remember that we hated Christ, that our sin was a constant act of retaliation against his love. We must remember that in spite of all these things he chose to love us.

He died for our murderous, adulterous, perverse hearts. He bled and suffered for our filthiness. He chose to allow the disgusting sinners of this earth to nail his perfect, stainless hands and feet to a horrible cross. He chose to slowly suffocate to death in his own lung fluid as he gasped for enough breath to finish our salvation. He did all of this so that we could be cleansed. He cleansed us so that we could understand his love and feel his love. He took away our filthiness so that we could love him.

We must remember our hope.

We must remind ourselves of the promises he has made to us. He has promised to return for us. He has promised that our faith, our blind faith, will be rewarded with visual, physical affirmation. We will stand with him in glory and enjoy his presence forever without the guilt of sin hanging around our necks. Wrongs will be made right and evil will be punished. The suffering we encounter here has all been counted, it is all under his watch. He will avenge the wrong that has been done to us for the sake of his name; he will be glorified. He has promised to cleanse our heart forever and make us white as snow. We will be able to stand before the Holy God and not shrink away because of Christ’s love for us! When you remember these things it is pretty easy to feel his love, to love his love, to sing about his love, to preach his love. But there is something that leads us to love Christ even more than our experience and future with him.

We must enjoy our Savior.

Christ himself is enough to elicit the most profound love from the depths of our souls. Think about his pure character, his power, his gentleness, his generosity, his strength, his moral purity, his empathy, his ability to forgive sin, his eternality, his friendliness, his holiness, his majesty, the list could go on and on. Christ is supremely worthy of love because he is Christ.

Enjoy his love, and allow yourself to be transformed by it’s unique life-altering power!

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What Is Christmas All About?

Dec 7, 2011 by desiringvirtue

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The Waiting Continues

Dec 6, 2011 by desiringvirtue

“Suddenly, Abraham saw a ram caught in some brambles-the sacrifice. God had given them what they needed just in time. The ram would die so Isaac didn’t have to. And so Abraham Sacrificed the ram, intend of his son… Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked… Who was he? God’s Son, His only Son-the Son he loved. The Lamb of God.”

The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones

To read about creative advent activities you can use to cultivate a Christ-centered Christmas, click here to go to the recent series Cultivating a Christ-Centered Christmas!

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Menu Planning Mayhem: Christmas Baking

Dec 5, 2011 by desiringvirtue

Do you ever feel like there are just too many things you want to do during the Christmas season? I DO! One of the things I always feel overwhelmed by is the amount of baking I want to do. Some of the baking is for our own enjoyment, some of it is for gifts, and some of it is for parties, but when you add it all up… it is a lot of baking!

Since we are enjoying some fun Christmas themed MPMs this month, I thought it would be fun to link up all of our holiday baking plans (and if you don’t have a blog, leave a comment with your plans!). Feel free to link up your regular menus as well!

Christmas Cookies

This Christmas I am planning to use a cookie stamp for the first time ever. I am pretty excited because this will be an easy project for Elliot to help me with. -and they are sure to be really cute. I am going to do a whole post on this when I actually make them (I am still waiting for my stamps in the mail).

The makers of the cookie stamps have many recipes to try out, but I think that I am going to choose two or three to have a nice variety to give as gifts.

Photo and Recipe Credit

Apple Pie Cookies

Do these not look precious! When I saw them pinned on Pinterest, I knew that I would have to bake some for Christmas. I can’t decide if I want to make them for a party or get together or just for us. I am not sure if they will keep well or if I will need to eat them immediately. I am pretty sure that the moment they come out of the oven they will be gobbled up! Also, I am thinking I may try pre maid pie crust as it would take this recipe down from a 10 in difficulty to maybe a 4 (…ok the 4 was random).

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Chocolate Chip Muffins

But these don’t look like just any old chocolate chip muffins do they? No, they look like puffs of heaven waiting for me to eat them (oh yeah, and my family too of course). I think that I will make these for breakfast on one of the mornings Richard is off.

Recipe and Photo Credit

Cinnamon Baked French Toast

This is a Pioneer Woman recipe that I think I am going to make for Christmas Morning. We have church this Christmas Morning, as it is on a Sunday so Breakfast will need to be low maintenance. Most of what I make is going to be prepare ahead items. This one totally qualifies and is sure to be yummy.

So, this is my plan for my Christmas baking; the things I most want to accomplish. Anything else will be “in addition to” what I have listed and I am not going to stress out about it.

So, what are our plans? What baked goods will be filling your kitchen with heavenly scents?


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Join us in the Menu Planning Mayhem by linking up your baking project or your week’s menu below or by sharing it in the comments! If you are joining the mayhem, be sure to snag a cute button to link back to the menu planning fun!

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

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Why Not Santa Claus? (Part 3)

Dec 2, 2011 by desiringvirtue

Today’s post is Part 3 in a short Appendix to the “Cultivating a Christ-Centered Christmas” series called “Why Not Santa?” Be sure to read Part 1 and 2 by clicking here.

From my last two posts regarding Santa you might think I was raised with these convictions, but that is simply not the case. Like most children, I grew up believing in and enjoying Santa Claus. All season long I would anxiously wait for the gifts he would bring and every Christmas morning I awoke with the excitement of knowing that “Santa” had left these special gifts for me under the tree and would quickly rush to unwrap them. Even when I got older and understood that Santa was not real I enjoyed the tradition of having gifts say “from Santa” on them. I do not look back on those wonderful experiences and abhor them, on the contrary I find them very sentimental!

However, having experienced the joy and excitement of Santa as a child I can honestly say that I would have rather been taught how to worship and enjoy Christ instead. My parents tried their best to tell me about the birth of Christ, even reading the Biblical account, but I never really gave it much thought. In my childish mind I understood that these moments of thinking about Jesus were supposed to be the real purpose of our celebration, but in my heart I really only cared about getting to the part where we unwrapped the gifts from Santa.

You see, when my family and I became Christians and totally devoted our lives to Christ (starting around my sophomore year in high school) Christmas took on a whole new meaning. Suddenly it was a time to thank God for the miraculous gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, rather than a time to focus on material gifts. Every part of my life, including Christmas, became an opportunity to worship and adore the one who saved my soul from eternal condemnation. As a Christian, my heart’s desire is to glorify God in every area of my life (as much as humanly possible) and I desire to help my family do the same. I especially want to teach my children how to know and honor the Lord early on in their lives through our family traditions.

Christmas provides a special opportunity to take extra time to focus on Jesus and why he came to earth in the form of man. Rather than let this time slip through our fingers, Richard and I want to make the most of it. We have come to the conclusion that the best way to do this is to cut out anything (anything possible) that distracts from this message and add anything we can that will bring to life this message. For us, Santa falls into the category of unnecessary and even distracting traditions and because of this we have no need of him. Though it was emotionally hard for me to make this decision at first, I have found that the Lord quickly blessed our desire to focus our hearts and time on him alone. My prayer is that one day he will use our Christmas traditions to usher our children into a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing to have a time so devoted to the Messiah! What a tragedy it would be if I simply let it slip through our fingers.

And so this is why Richard and I have chosen to not include Santa in our Christmas traditions. Not because we think Santa is evil, or that other parents who tell there children about Santa are evil, but because through prayer and counsel we honestly believe that the best way to help our children love Christ more is to show them that we love Christ in every area of our lives, including our Christmas traditions. Through our joyful celebration of the Messiah’s birth it is our prayer that they too will come to have a similar joy and excitement when the season approaches. I am so very grateful that our God is worth celebrating every moment of every day, and that we have a special opportunity to do so in even greater abundance during the season of Christmas.

So, in answer to the question “Why Not Santa?” I simply want to say “Why not Jesus?”

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV)

You may be wondering what you would do during Christmas without Santa. If so, I would love for you to read the recent series “Cultivating a Christ-centered Christmas.” Just click here to learn about many Christ-centered traditions you can implement in your family!Photo Credit

This post is linked to Time-Warp Wife’s Titus 2sday.

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

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