Comments on: Little Miracles

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:55:13 +0000

I love that, “The Lord always blesses a faithful heart”…thanks, that blessed me!

You are going through a difficult “training” ground for learning “trust”. It’s amplified when it has to do with your children, isn’t it? You hang in there, I’m glad God has given you peace!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:55:15 +0000

That is very interesting. My husband is a huge Dave Ramsey fan. He was just telling me last night how we may be broke for several more years and even a few when he first gets out of school but we will never be poor because poor is a state of mind.If you are poor you are a victim if you are broke you made unwise decisions. When my husband and I first graduated from college we were poor and we had more money coming in then we do now. Today we have two young children and we are broke making mostly wise decisions with what we have, but I can sympathize I have spent are budget to quickly at times. The Lord Always blesses a faithful heart.

I think the thing that the Lord has taught me lately is to trust him with big sisters hair. It does not upset me either way. If she keeps it great if she looses it we will praise him any way.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:05:13 +0000

It is a good reminder. That was one thing that impressed me in the Tightwad Gazette books…the author made a big point to say that you should never have a “we’re so poor, poor us” mentality when pinching pennies…rather, to take on a “we’re responsible and smart with our money” approach.

That’s one thing I’m very thankful for…so far…our girls have never felt like they’re “missing out”. They don’t ever tell me that they wish they had what so-and-so has…and they have little concept of name brands, etc. However, their cousins definitely put a huge value on owning MP3 players and wearing Nike shoes, etc. If this is a big perk of homeschooling (not being surrounded by peers wealthy enough to have all they want) then I’m all the more sold on this lifestyle! I know there is a lot more to it than our choice to homeschool…but my girls’ self-worth doesn’t seem to be at all affected by their (lack of) material abundance.

By: Cena

Cena — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:55:41 +0000

This last weekend I went to a Homeschool Encouragement Day, put on by a friend’s church. The main speaker talked in the morning about raising daughters and in the afternoon about raising sons. The son’s part was about power/leadership. But the daughter’s part centered on raising a girl towards contentment. She called it Contentment Curriculum. It’s interesting that we can set our little girls up to have a hard time in whatever financial situation they may find themselves in in their futures, by our example and teaching. Or we can show them by word and deed that they always can have joy with absolutely whatever God puts in their hands. The seeds of discontent breed grouchy bitter women. It was a good reminder for me as I set the tone in our home.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:24:03 +0000

Thanks, Amy and Juli for sharing these things with me. I love that verse, Amy! Seasoned with grace…such a great directive, wouldn’t life be peachy if everyone played by that rule of speech?

Juli, we’ve been there too…living on beans and homemade bread, etc, during my dh’s self-employment years. I lived by the Tightwad Gazette book, stretching every last dollar. So now when I do crazy things like run us close to no money, it really makes me mad at myself. I was really encouraged by what you shared though, it helps to know that other Christian wives have been in the same situation and to find understanding and not condemnation means a lot. I think with the economy as it is, more and more families are already feeling their belts tightening. I can’t believe how expensive milk is!

By: Juli

Juli — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:28:25 +0000

Mary…I know just what you mean. God shows his strength to us during our daily trials, and like the loving father he is, he loves us even when we mess up, and provides for us. I have had to stretch food until the next pay check quite a few times in my life. Perhaps the hardest was when I was in Colby, about ten years back. We were going to college and living in a basement apartment. We were expecting student loans which did not come until half way through the school year. Our land lady allowed us to pay her when we got our loans, so that was not a problem, but we had no money for food. I did the nursry and children’s church there, and the church gave me 10.00 per week. That was all we had to buy food and dipars. LOL God took care of us though. Tristyn was nursing then, so he got his milk from me. I purchased flour and dry navy beans. Every day I made biscuts and beans, and boiled water so we would have bottled water to drink. (as Colby’s water was not the best.) I also had a thing of vitamens that daily we took. We lived like that for months. My parents came down for a visit, and of course I cooked them the meal we ate daily. They loved it so much that at Christmas when we went home, Mom had made it for us. I could not eat it, and I told her why. Of course she told me I should have told her about it, and they would have helped, but I was glad we did not. God gave me so much appriciation for what I had that it was a blessing. I also read the long winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and realized my hard ship was not that hard. God has blessed you and your family, for knowing where true riches lie. Hugs. Juli

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:00:03 +0000

I think you’re right Mary, I also think that trusting in God has alot to do without it as well.
What has God done for me lately? Well…He’s been focussing on my mouth - in particular my speech:

Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Amy’s last blog post..My Family - Cartoon Style