Gestapo Grambo at Wal-mart

Hi all!

I know it's been awhile. We have been so busy, and of course some of you know I injured my back. I had a bulging disc and spent 4 days in the hospital, where I also found out I am diabetic. Needless to say they started me on 2 medications for diabetes. I am presently off all pain medication and muscle relievers. I used Ibuprofen for awhile and now only take it occasionally when I get some pain. I still have some numbness in my ankle and foot which they believe was nerve damage. Anyway, I have also stopped all diabetic medicine and have been dieting and slowly working out on the treadmill. My numbers are way down.


So, back to the Gestapo Grambo. We were shopping at Wal-mart today and as we were picking up a few items for a friend we had two different receipts. As we were leaving, my husband stopped for the restroom and my daughter ran back to get some strawberries that were on sale. I headed out by myself with one receipt. Here is what was in my cart. 4 Propel Zero (which are my drink of choice now), a pair of shoes we purchased for my daughter, 2 five gallon buckets for our friend and 4 lids (you can purchase them separately). I had the receipt for the buckets and lids. As I neared the exit, I smiled and told the nice little old lady to have a nice day. Little did I know I was talking to Grambo. She immediately came over and asked to see my receipt and wanted to know which register I had checked out at. I gave her the one I had, and before I could explain anything, Grambo grabbed my cart and started digging through it. I quickly explained that I only had a receipt for the items for our friend and that my husband had the other receipt. "Where is he?" she interrogated. I said he had stopped to use the restroom and would be right out. "How long do you think he will be?" Grambo growled. I told her he should only be a minute or two. She continued her iron grip on the cart. Then she asked where the other buckets were. I said we purchased 2 buckets and 4 lids, they are sold separately. "Oh!" she exclaimed as she studied the receipt again. Next she looked at me and said, "So, you have 2 waters and a pair of shoes?" "No," I replied, "There are 4 waters and a pair of shoes." She re-examined the cart. Right! In the middle of this I had to ask her if we could move out of the way of other customers trying to get out the door. All this time, Grambo retained her grip on the cart. One more question, "What does your husband look like?" I think she heard the irritation in my voice when I replied, "He will be here shortly." She had to enter the store again and left me in the breezeway momentarily. I considered just leaving, but instead sat down on the bench to wait for my husband. When he appeared I told him about Grambo and her Gestapo attitude. He glanced back and saw her staring at us and said, "Let's go". I headed for the door with my daughter and husband right behind me, when I heard her shout, "Sir! I need to see your receipt." I continued to leave with our daughter and my husband returned to show her the receipt. Needless to say, this woman should have been at home, not out in the workplace. First off, had I been someone stealing something, she would not have been a very effective hindrance to my leaving.




As an older woman, if she was a Christian, which I have no evidence of, she should be home. Women are to be keepers at home, not out working. Also she should (if a Christian) be teaching the younger women. Imagine if women left the workplace and fulfilled their God given roll of being a keeper at home. It would free up jobs for the men who need them to support their families. Titus 2:3-5.

Every Idle Word

Hello Ladies,

I haven't done a post on here in quite awhile. I apologize for that. It would partially be how busy we have been and part of it is I have been thinking a lot lately about whether posting on here is worth it. Honestly I believe some of that thinking is due to everything happening the past year or so. We have seen so many of the brethren fall by the wayside. Some have completely left the faith (Unsaved? Maybe.), others have had marital problems (including divorce), then there are the ones who have gone into false doctrine, and others who have quit streetpreaching. Although we have continued on and kept up the ministry of streetpreaching and witnessing, it still causes you to wonder. Anyway, I have decided to do a new post, and it will have nothing to do with any of the above.

The Lord has really laid on my heart the verse Matthew 12:36. "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." I wonder how often we say things idly without thinking first. Our family likes to have fun and joke around, but sometimes the joking becomes overly silly and I just wonder how the Lord looks on that. There are even times that the joking becomes disrespectful. You know like a brother or sister responding to an older brother or sister and they do not have the correct tone, or step over the line in what is said. This doesn't just occur with children though, adults are just as guilty.

How often have you been around adults and the joking becomes inappropriate in a sense of things being said that are just to be funny, yet we never would say them in a serious manner. Have you ever sat around joking and making fun of the way some one looked or acted? Yes, even our family has done this, but is it an idle word that will be judged? Yes, most likely it will. Or maybe you have jokingly responded to your spouse in a manner, tone or with words you never would if you were serious. And if you say them in all seriousness that is wrong also! But will the Lord judge us for that? Most definitely. The verse says every idle word.

Now, I am not saying you can't have fun, but when does the fun step over the line? It may be a little different for each person, but have you ever taken time to consider this? I am much more than I ever had before and I hope this will encourage you to think also. Here are just a few points to consider:

1. Is what I said disrespectful?
2. Is what I said making fun of someone, whether they are present or not?
3. Is this something I would repeat to that persons face?
4. Am I teaching my children to be disrespectful?
5. Is what I said going to hurt someone's feeling?
6. Is this something I would say if I was not overtired or stressed?
7. Am I hanging around someone who causes me to say things I normally would not?
8. Is what I am saying really necessary?

Hope this helps ladies! Until next time.

Teachers of Good Things

Good day ladies! I have something to share with you, that the Lord has laid on my heart. I am really concerned about our young ladies that are being raised in our Christian homes today. Traveling around as we do gives me an opportunity to see and hear what is going on in many of our churches and I fear we are failing at raising the next generation of godly women.

For our text I want to use Titus 2:3-5 and take some time to break it down into what we are supposed to be training our daughters in. Titus 2:3-5:The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Now, just that warning at the end tells me that this is something important to our Lord. It is not a suggestion. Our behaviour and the way we train our young ladies reflects on our Lord. Do you want to cause the word of God to be blasphemed? I sure don't! So let's take some time and look at this passage a little closer.

First of all there are requirements for the aged women who are to be teaching, not only should they teach it, they should also be living it! Their behaviour should be showing holiness. How many women can you look at today and really say, she is holy? Can you name more than a handful? They are not false accusers. I would take that so far as to say that they are very careful when mentioning someone else. They definitely are not the ones running around talking about everyone. Not given to much wine. That one is self explanatory. Although for those who will argue and say it is fine to drink, just not in excess, try inviting someone who has had a drinking problem over and let them see alcohol in your refrigerator and then try explaining it to them. Or maybe you can hand the cashier a gospel tract while she is ringing up your alcohol and try witnessing to her. And last but not least, she is to be a teacher of good things. What good things is she to teach? Glad you asked!

First of all she should be teaching by example, but then the Lord gave us a list of things that should be taught. The young women are to be taught to be sober. That means a serious demeanor. Not that they don't ever laugh or have fun, but that they take their Christian walk seriously and do not have a spirit of foolishness. I am sure everyone knows someone who is foolish all the time. They don't seem to take anything serious. Life is a joke to them. Remember the Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." God does not intend for your daughters to grow up and be foolish. He wants you to train them to be holy women. If I am going to be looking for advice, I want to talk to someone who is serious and will respond to me in a serious manner, not joking or taking my problem lightly. Make sure you are training your daughters to be sober. No, it doesn't mean anytime they are silly or having fun you spank them. They are children, but as they get older you should see them maturing and growing out of their childishness.

After this is discreet. Discreet, and chaste which will be the next characteristic we discuss are closely related. She is discreet. Does not draw attention to herself. She works quietly behind the scenes. It also means she is careful in what she discusses. She does not tell her friend's personal or secret details that they have shared with her. How many times have you shared something embarrassing with a friend only to have them later bring it out in a humorous way to others? Did you ever want to share anything with that person again? This does not mean she keeps quiet when it is something she should go to her parents about. If it is sin, or something that could harm her friend, she should immediately go to a trustworthy adult with the information. Do you have a friend you know you could share anything with and know that it will be kept just between the two of you? If you train your daughters to be discreet, her husband will never have to worry about her sharing something she shouldn't with her friends, or even her parents that he might find embarrassing. Remember, I am not talking about sin that needs dealt with. In that situation it should only be told to the proper person to deal with it. What a lot of heartache would be saved if we could teach our daughters to be discreet.

Next is chaste. This is one of the sadly neglected characteristics we should be instilling in our daughters. From the time they can toddle around we should start teaching them to be chaste. To keep their bodies covered. To not be loud and boisterous. And yes, this includes the way they dress too. A young lady who dresses to show off her body is not chaste. I am going to center on attire first. Obviously you know from previous posts that pants are not modest apparel for young ladies. They split the legs and show off more of the body then they hide. I won't spend a lot of time on pants because I want to hit some areas that mothers and young ladies who think they are dressing modestly are either not aware of or they just don't care. Many times my two sons have to avoid even looking in their direction. Mom, teach your daughters how to sit in a skirt or dress and make the skirt/dress long enough that when they sit down you can not see up their leg. Every outfit your daughter owns should be checked in the sitting position to verify that it remains modest. Also, teach her how to bend to pick something up off the floor. You know, how to squat down instead of bending at the waist. Another thing to check is if the skirt/dress is too form fitting. Males that see you or your daughter should not know enough about your shape to be able to go out and make purchases for you, if you get my meaning. They should not be able to see the outline of your form. Keep it loose and flowing. No, you do not have to all look alike and dress like the Mennonites, but keep it loose. I usually wear jumpers, and my two oldest daughters wear skirts (Pleated, so they are loose.), and then a loose blouse. My youngest two daughters wear a mixture of dresses, jumpers, and skirts with blouses. As far as tops go, they too need to be loose enough they don't show off your daughters form to other people. Now, when I say loose, that only means the way it hangs on the body, when it comes to the collar area around the neck that is another thing. When your daughter bends over a pew to shake hands, or leans over to speak to a young child, her top should not fall open enough to reveal her underclothing. Notice the name, UNDERclothing. It is meant to be under the clothing. All to often even with me, a woman will bend over the pew to shake my hand and I have to avert my eyes. Why would your daughter reveal her body when it can be prevented. I wonder how many men and boys have had to control their thoughts when you or your daughters have bent over? Also these skin tight sweaters, or the sweaters that look like they were designed for a pre-schooler are designed to show off a woman's chest area. Why do you allow your daughter to wear these? If you have any specific questions feel free to email me.

Now we will discuss chaste in other areas. Does your daughter (and remember when I say daughter, apply this to yourself also mom) draw attention to herself when she enters a room? Does her appearance, attitude, loudness, her eyes, draw attention to her? If she is dressing modestly, she should not be attracting attention, but then again there are some that do. Have you ever seen a girl sort of slink into a room? The way she walks, draws men's eyes, and her movements attract attention. Start early to teach your daughter how to walk, sit, stand, how to move her hands, even the way she uses her eyes, must be instilled in her. Does she have a tendency to look around the room and stare. Start training her. The strange woman used her eyes. (See Prov. 6:25) Does your daughter use flattery to get attention? Train her now. A young lady who is holy will not be talking about the boys, nor be constantly talking to them. Yes, she will speak to them, but most of her conversations should be with young ladies (and I stress the ladies part) and then the other godly women who will help and encourage her to grow. (See Prov. 7:21) Also 1 Peter 3:4 talks of a meek and quiet spirit.

Keepers at Home, another big one being broken left and right in our churches that claim to teach the Word of God. A woman, is meant to be a keeper at home. First we will discuss the position of a Keeper at Home and then some of the things we should be training our daughters to help prepare them to be keepers at home. First off, God has designed a woman to have a head (leader) in her life. First her father and then when she is marries, her husband becomes her head. So, a young lady should be in the home under the headship of her father then she marries and she is under the headship of her husband. On the street, I am often questioned by women who do not like the thought of a man being their head (leader). My first question to them is, do you work and do you have a boss? Normally at that point I receive the response, "That is different." Really? Does your boss oversee your work? Does he tell you what to do? If you do something wrong, does he come back and let you know so you can correct it? What is the difference? Just as there is structure in the workplace, God has structure in the home. The man is the head and breadwinner, the woman is the helpmeet. So many women argue over this yet have no problem obeying their boss at work. I haven't figured that out yet! Actually if you look at it the way I do, that makes him responsible for all choices and decisions he makes, I will only be judged on whether I submitted or not.

A woman is to be a helpmeet. She should be helping her husband where ever it is needed. This is what we should be training our daughters and young ladies to do. They do not need to be going off to college, where they will have a head that God never intended them to have, and where they will be learning to be outside of the home. Remember a woman's career is to be a keeper at home. She should be learning this from her mother and other women in the church. Do not be deceived by the world into thinking that she must have a higher education. What she needs is to learn to be a keeper at home. That includes going into the workplace before she marries. Do not teach her to be the breadwinner and to be independent. Train her in the way she should go.

Well, now that we are through with that part, let's move on to the things we should be teaching our daughters at home. There are so many things that can be covered in this. Please realize some these are age related. Use your judgment on when to implement some of the training. Keeping a budget. She needs to know how to shop, whether for groceries, clothing, gifts, etc and to stay within her budget. Teach her to balance a checkbook and to keep account of her spending. All of mine (around 12 years old) have been assigned grocery shopping, for a week at a time, where they had a given amount to spend. They had to plan the meals and stay within the budget. Obviously with planning meals, they need to know how to read a recipe, how to divide it or double it as necessary. Writing up a shopping list, comparing prices, using coupons, etc. And with this is the ability to cook and prepare a meal. Can she bake? Suppose her husband tells her he is inviting 3 men and their wives over for dinner. She needs to be able to plan and prepare the meal. Can she properly set a table? Does she budget her time so the meal will be ready on time? These are all things you can be teaching right now.

Can your daughter do the laundry? Does she know how to separate the clothing. Use this to train a young one her colors. When to use stain remover? If she needs bleach? How about folding the clothes. A young girl can start with folding washcloths and towels. How about ironing? Will she be able to iron her husbands clothing for Sunday or for work? Does she know if starch is needed? How about sewing? You can start out simple with a pillow, or simple skirt and work into harder items. Can she sew on a button that has fallen off? Give her extra buttons and let her practice sewing them on a scrap of material. I unfortunately did not learn to sew until I had little girls who needed bloomers and skirts that were long enough. Now, both my older daughters can sew. One of them liked sewing so much she has far exceeded my sewing. She can take sleeves from one pattern and adjust them to the bodice of another, and then add a completely unrelated collar.

What about cleaning the home? Teach her to sweep, vacuum, and mop. Does she know not to mix bleach and ammonia? Have you taught her to dust, clean windows, clean the sink and tub, and yes, even clean the toilet. Does she know how to remove stains from carpet? Cleaning the kitchen after meals? Wiping down the stove and appliances, even doing dishes. If you have a dishwasher can she run it? Properly? What about how long food can be refrigerated before being thrown away? I am sure there are loads of things you can think of to add to this list now that we have it started. Teach her how to make a bed, change a lightbulb, etc.

What about child care? Make sure your daughter knows how to change a diaper, give a baby a bath, how to nurse, properly dressing a baby. How to carry a baby. Teach her to support the head. Include health care here. What to do about earaches, sore throats, headaches, when to seek medical help. All of this will help her to be a keeper at home, and make her life a lot easier when she gets married. And if she does not marry she can use this knowledge to help and train others.

And of course do not forget to teach her the Bible. How it applies to her. Teach her to study, and how to teach a lesson to a child or someone else. Make sure you have taught her to pray. And most of all teach her ways to serve the Lord. Through training others, helping the elderly, cooking meals for families that are in need, watching children so parents can have a night out, sitting with someone who is sick,... I m sure you can come up with others.


Next on the list is good. This one should not need much explaining. She is trying to live a life pleasing to God. If it is in God's Word, she is doing her best to obey it. She does not live in a lifestyle of sin. No, I do not believe in sinless perfection, but I do believe that sin should have less and less of an influence in our life as we grow.

Obedient to their own husbands. We did cover this a little bit up above, but let's discuss it a little more. Obedient! Do you want your children to be obedient? Are you setting an example? Yes, there is a difference, because you are his wife, not a child, but would you be happy with your children if they obeyed you the way you obey your husband? Do the children see you argue and disagree with your husbands choices? Do they hear you say I told you so? Why? Shouldn't you be the example to them? This does not mean you are a doormat, you are just fulfilling your position. Remember what is important is that you are doing what the Lord tells you to do, which is to submit and be obedient. See also:Ephesians 5:22-24. Do you obey your husband the same way that the church is subject to Christ?

I know this has been long, but I hope it has been helpful. We are losing our young ladies to the world, and the only way it will stop is by obeying the Word of God and training our daughters and other young ladies. Are your children grown? Then take another young lady under your wing. Does your daughter have friends who could use a godly influence in their lives? Be that influence. Step up and do what the Lord has designed you to do, yes even requires you to do.

Look at God's Creation!

Grand Canyon in background.

Hi ladies!
It's been awhile.  We have been so busy lately.  I am barely keeping up with my review and giveaway blog, but I wanted to share some pictures from where we have been recently.  We did go and meet some street preaching friends in Utah for the Mormon General Conference.  We were able to take pictures on the way there, but the best pictures are from Arches National Park and the Grand Canyon.  I am just going to post some on here for you to see. This post is mainly the Grand Canyon, I will do another one shortly with pictures from the Arches.

This was one of the sites on the way to the Grand Canyon.

Look at this view!

This was looking down at one spot.

Aren't the colors gorgeous?

My husband did a video about creation.

Beautiful View!

She had a lot of fun!

We saw him wandering along the beside the sidewalk.

See how long!

That's a long way down!

This was off to the right of one of the lookouts.

These little guys got real close.

Cute!

Posing nicely!

We were able to get some up close shots.

They let us approach to within about 4-5 feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Children Are Arrows!

Psalm 127:3-5-"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

As a family we have been discussing these verses quite a bit lately, and I just wanted to share some of the thoughts we have had. And I hope this will help someone out there.

First of all, an arrow doesn't just appear, someone creates them. Mom and Dad have the job of shaping and forming these arrows. A bent arrow, an arrow without the feathers to guide it, or without a sharp tip is pretty useless. So it is our job to shape and form these arrows to fulfill their purpose.

An arrow needs to be straight to be of any use. You children need to be trained to have Biblical beliefs and standards. Help them to memorize Bible verses. This will help them to stay straight when temptations arise. Psalm 119:11-"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Only with God's Word will your children be able to stay straight. Are you training them in the Bible? Can they answer basic questions concerning their faith? Could they refute a cult member? Or would one of these temptations cause them to bend, or twist from the path God has desired for them?

An arrow needs to have a sharp point. It is a defensive weapon. We are in a spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12-"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand." Your child needs to be trained to be sharp to be able to stand while in spiritual battles. They need to be sharp, for the Bible commands us to not only "not sin", but we are to reprove sin. Ephesians 5:11-"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Proverbs 27:17-"As iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." A parent should do the main sharpening, but what type of friends is your child around. Are they going to help sharpen him, encourage him in his Christian life, or are they going to make him dull and useless? It is your job to be watching over who your child is with, are his friends spiritual? Not just Christian, are they going to encourage your child in his walk?

An arrow also needs to be clean. A dirty arrow becomes useless, and if not cleaned, will eventually be thrown away as useless. 2 Timothy 2:4-"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 1 John 3:3-"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." A dirty arrow will not fly straight, the tip will rust and the feathers will become useless. Are you training your child to stay clean? Or is your child dirtied by the world you have allowed in the home through worldly toys (characters from movies, the occult, supernatural, etc.), books (Are they encouraging your child in Biblical values? or are they teaching your child worldly views?), video games ( occultism and violence) and tv (once again occultism, violence, unbiblical standards, even anti-biblical)? Are your arrows clean?

Also, an arrow needs to be used. Do you take your arrow out of the quiver? Or do you so shelter them that they are never doing anything for the Lord? No, don't send your arrow out into the world unguided, and unprepared, but do some target practice. Take them with you when you witness. Allow them to see and learn under your guidance. The same with streetpreaching. Take them with you. Yes, there are some events children just should not be at. You should be training them though. Take them to streetpreach outside a rock concert and explain why the music and environment are wrong. Wouldn't you rather they learn it with you present and able to direct them? Explain to them why alcohol is wrong. When they see the affect of sin, and hear the Bible's directions about it, if you are training them properly they will become stronger and be able to stand. But, if you shelter them all the time they are in your home, and they have never had training, how do you expect them to stand, when they are no longer under your roof? Take them with you, allow them to witness. There is nothing like being stumped by a question on the street to encourage more studying of God's Word. Arrows are meant to be used! Your child needs to be able to defend their faith, stand up for what is right and witness to the lost. Are you preparing them to be a useful arrow? Or will God be unable to use them?



Well crafted arrows are used as models in designing more arrows. Would your child be used as a model for designing more like him? 1 Timothy 4:12-"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Is your arrow someone that other parents would want their child around because he is a good example of a Christian? Is your child showing qualities and characteristics of growing in his Christian walk? Would your child be a pattern for other arrows?

Remember, eventually an arrow must leave the quiver and do it's job. Is your child being prepared for this?

I really hope that this is an encouragement to you to press on and keep shaping the arrows God has given you.

Growing Children

Hello Ladies,

It's been awhile. We have been very busy on the road! I have also been busy starting and growing my review and giveaway blog.

Anyway, I was talking with a fellow street preachers wife and we were discussing how many parents shelter their children too much. Now, before you get upset, read through what I have to say and see if you agree.

Traveling around and visiting different churches I get to see a lot of parents and children and how they interact. I get to see how much they actually train or don't train. Before I go on here let me say, we are not perfect. We are constantly learning and readjusting, but I believe having six children, two of whom are at 23 and 25 are still traveling with us and serving the Lord, two teenage boys who are out on the street ministering with their dad, and two younger girls that are following in their sisters footsteps, that perhaps this might be something that would be helpful.

As a mother it is your job to shelter and train your child. You start out when they are very young and you guide them and protect them from things that could harm them. You should be deciding who their friends are and what they are allowed to do. You decide what they watch, the books they read, what they do for pleasure and play. This is like starting seeds inside under a plastic cover or with a plastic bag wrapped around them. You don't expose them to any harsh weather or extremes that may stunt their growth, damage them or even end the life of the plant.

But, as the plant grows, you remove the covering, still keeping the plant inside the house, sitting in the window still protected from harm. I compare this to when we take our child shopping and we actually start to point out things that are sinful or bad and begin to train a little more. We used to point to the beer, and alcohol in the store and say "Are you ever going to touch that stuff?" and they would respond "No!" usually rather emphatically because it was a little game to them. Before you raise your eyebrows and say, "You actually walked your children down the alcohol aisle on purpose?" Yes! For one it is usually on the same aisle as a main staple we use, like water or bread, but I wanted it instilled in them while they were young that alcohol and wine were bad. Same with cigarettes and magazines, or anything else that we saw. Billboards, music in restaurants, even different styles of dress.

As your young plant grows and begins more hardy and able to bear more, you move it outside. Sometimes under cover again, or with strings to attach it to a small pole to guide it's growth. During this time period, because all along they have been receiving training and have been fed the Word of God and have been nurtured, we begin to expose them to a little more. I may allow them to read books that I have not personally read (Use your head on this!), but that I have heard from a friend that it is a good book or maybe we saw at a church, and tell them if they find anything in it that is wrong to let me know. You would be amazed at what your children will bring to you when you have trained them to watch for things. This is also the time when they can play with friends and not be under your eye at all times. Everyone of my plants has been trained to tell me if friends bring up something inappropriate or uses language they shouldn't, or if they talk casually and constantly of things of the world. Once again they have been trained for this stage. Just as you watch your plant and decide they are ready for more exposure to the elements, you should do the same with your children.

Eventually, you know that your plant is hardy and can withstand more. We take our children to events to preach under our supervision. They do not wander off with friends, they stay near us where not only are we preaching and witnessing, but we are training. They can see the results of sin. They see what rock and country music produce. They see the person throwing up in the gutter from drinking alcohol, or the foolish way they act when they have been drinking. They see the young girl who is hanging on a young man, no longer pure and selling herself just for some affection. We use these opportunities to train the children. Tell them what happens when you sin and disobey the Lord and His Word. On the way home from witnessing we discuss people we have talked to and even how sin has kept them from accepting Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

Mothers, your children can not stay in the little hothouse you have created for them forever. If you keep them there until it is time for them to step out on their own, you have most likely ruined them. They will not be able to survive, because they have never been exposed or trained. Realize I am not talking about walking into a bar, allowing them to wade in sin, I am saying allowing them with you at their side to see the results of sin. I am seeing more and more children who are never trained about the results of sin, wallowing in the pigpen of sin the moment mom and dad lose control. Why? This child was sheltered from the results of sin and was never trained by the Word of God and mom and dad why certain things are wrong. I have seen too many parents say alcohol is wrong. Why? Because, I said so! How about giving your child some verses and telling them the results of sin. If you keep your plant in a hothouse for years, and then suddenly put them outside with no support, or preparation, they will be damaged and possibly not survive. Perhaps you will stunt their growth permanently, and they will never become what God wanted them to be. If they never spent time tied to the pole to guide their growth, they will fall and possibly grow in a direction they are not supposed to go.

Remember through out all this they are being fed the Word of God and watered, and guided. And, remember I am not saying allow them to experiment with sin. What I am saying is if they never are told, and they never see the results of sin and how it can ruin lives, when they are finally outside, chances are they will be damaged.

Just as an extra note, our home church has a boy's academy where my husband has been able to assist at times and talk with the boys and you would be amazed at how many boys who come from sheltered homes, tell him they feel like they are missing out. Or they just want the chance to experiment with things. Why? Because in many of their homes mom and dad just said no, and never explained why, or showed them the results of sin.

I am not teaching that you should not shelter, but I am using an example to show if you continually shelter and never prepare the plant (child) for exposure, you are dooming your plant. I hope this helps some one out there, and feel free to comment.

Friends in Ohio Starting a Church!

Hey all,
I am doing this post because some friends of ours are starting a church in mid, central Ohio. Do any of my readers live in that area or pass through occasionally? Obviously the family street preaches like we do. They are very strong on the family, only use the KJV, and have standards. They would love to find some like-minded believers even if just for occasional fellowship. If you or someone you know lives in this area please email me and I will send the information on to them. blessed6mom@yahoo(dot)com
Thanks!

WOW!! Have We Been Busy!

Hey Ladies,

We have been so busy since I last wrote. We went to the home church for a visit. What a blessing to be around friends that are family! It was really an enjoyable time. We also managed to get in a few weekends at Spring Break. We stay away from the beach area, but it still gets pretty wild at times. Our favorite corner is right in front of a Walgreens where a very busy intersection is. The Walgreens employees really do not like us, and apparently neither does their management as they went so far as to change their sign to read "We do not support this group". Amazing isn't it! I suppose they support the drunken spring breakers though!


Anyway we had some very interesting conversations. One young man driving by told my son that the Bible says "Judge not". When he was asked where that was found, he replied, "In the BLEEP Bible." Amazing! We were of course approached by several "Christians" who claimed there was a better way, but none wanted to demonstrate for us. I was told that John the Baptist had long hair because he was a Nazarene. Now one John was not called a Nazarene Jesus was, but there is a difference between a Nazarene and a Nazarite! The same young man told one of my sons that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He told him to go and sin no more. And I always thought He said that to the woman taken in adultery!

Of course we received the normal, "You're judging" and "I'll see you in hell" etc. We also received many number one signs. I am glad they thought so highly of us. One that really stood out was a young man who tried to tell us we were building walls and that no one was being reached. Mind you, when he said this we had approx. 20 people who had stopped to talk to us. When my husband asked him to show us the right way, he would not. Needless to say, my husband told him that if we were building walls, then people were climbing over them to reach us.

One last thing I would like to mention, we have friends in Ohio starting a Baptist Church who would like to get hold of other like minded believers in the Ohio area. If you would be interested in contacting them please email me and I will forward your email to them.
Thanks ladies!

UPDATE ON OUR FAMILY AND GASPARILLA!

Hello All,

I haven't done an update in awhile and thought maybe you would like to hear where we have been up to. If you follow any of my family member's blogs, you are aware that we recently preached the Gasparilla Festival in Tampa. Some of the men from our home Church were able to come down, along with friends from Sopchoppy, FL, Brooksville, FL, Buffalo, NY, and Chicago, IL.

The night before Gasparilla we went out to Ybor. It was a pretty quiet night there. We didn't stay late as we knew we would be on the street most of the day Saturday. Saturday morning we took a busload to Tampa for the Gasparilla Parade. There didn't seem to be as many people as previous years. I am not sure if this was due to more Police Officers, or perhaps the rain expected that afternoon.

We had some very interesting conversations. One being a woman who approached me because I was holding a sign about women being keepers at home. She could not believe I would choose to stay home. Then she said we could not survive on one salary, and that we MUST be on welfare. When told we were not and that we had a family of 8 total she asked if my husband made 100,000 a year because that was the only way we could make it as you need to make 15,000 per person per year. AMAZING! We then told her it was easier when you don't purchase alcohol, cigarettes, cable, etc. That is when she finally got mad and walked off with her girlfriend.

I was asked how much money we were paid for holding signs like that on the street. I responded with, "If you know someone who will pay me to do this, please let me know." I was also asked if I would sell my sign that said women should be keepers at home. He even promised to walk up and down the street with it. Of course we had the normal responses of cursing and vile talk, along with throwing food, beer, and beads at us. And people say America is not that bad.

That evening we went back out to Ybor. This was not a quiet night. A woman tried to spit in my husband's face and when I stepped in between them with one of our signs she punched the sign into me twice before dodging into a bar. Then we had a young man confront my husband who kept saying that he was a Christian. Needless to say the truth came out after a conversation with him and he took off with his friends to a gay bar. We did have some trouble with the police until a supervisor came out and said we were fine and to leave us alone. This was a really vile night. A young man flipped his hand in my son's face and knocked his cap off. We also had a several good conversations that night.

We will be doing Spring Break soon. Please continue to pray for us and safety on the street for our family and for other Street-preachers also. We recently received news that 2 street-preachers were gunned down in south Florida. It is getting worse out there!

OTHERS MAY, YOU CAN NOT

I have always enjoyed this; poem?  Tract?  Have you ever felt this way?  This
was written by G D Watson 1845-1924.  Just thought I would share it with you.
Also if anyone has a personal salvation, please email me. Enjoy!

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life
of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience,
that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by
other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do
things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may
push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans,
but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such
failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of
their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such
thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification
that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy
left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants
you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence
upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by
day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden
in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for
His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.  He may let
others be great, but keep you small.  He may let others do a work for Him
and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without
knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more
precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done,
and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER WHEN JESUS COMES.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and
will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time,
which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind
that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He
pleases with His own.  He may not explain to you a thousand things which
puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell
yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and
bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the
inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or
chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem
to use with others.  Now, when you are so possessed with the living God
that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this
PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule
of Heaven.