Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

ONLY A MUSTARD SEED

Michelle Kauenhofen — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:03:28 +0000

God doesn’t need much of anything to make a fabulous, amazing, incredible, humongous result, does He?
When talking of His kingdom, He tells how the small mustard seed, the smallest of all the planted seeds, becomes the largest of all the plants in the garden (Matt 4:32).
In marriage, it only takes small acts of obedience, small steps of faith, and small bits of trust for Him to bless us with huge, gigantic, overwhelming and unimaginably good results. Perhaps not overnight, but certainly over time. Watch and see!
Even if only one spouse is making the effort, He blesses! Even if the effort is minuscule, the blessing is returned ten fold! He ensures that each and every act of obedience on our part is always rewarded! No effort comes back void, ever! We only need to do our part, even if we can only handle a small teenie tiny part, the investment comes back with terrific returns. Try and see how God will work unbelievable results. Love Michelle

NOTHING LIKE PARENTAL LOVE

Michelle Kauenhofen — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:02:07 +0000

When Mother sees her child in pain, worn down, hurt or suffering, she is filled with compassion. Everything in her wants to comfort and restore, and return peace and joy. She longs for her children to have the most blessed life, full of health, safety, wisdom and goodness. God the Father parents us with a parental love even more powerful! He designed parenting! He is the original parent, and He longs to restore us, longs to comfort us, and to see us living in His joy and peace. His goal is not to have us worn out and run down (Ps 127:2) He wants to fill us with His peace and His rest (Matt 11:28). If you are feeling run down today, lift up your eyes to your Father, who will not fail to give you rest and restoration. Walk forward in a step of faith and watch Him provide! Love Michelle

LESSONS FROM JACOB

Michelle Kauenhofen — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:01:12 +0000

Today we were reading Genesis 30 at our family meal table. It is the chapter about Jacob, having sons born to him from Bilhah, Zilpah, Leah and Rachel. At the end of our reading, our 11 year old daughter said, “I am glad I am not a man in those days, having to lie with all those women!”. In this day and age, a man lying with so many women would not cause even a blink of an eye to many. Praise be to God, our daughter saw that not only was that undesirable, but exhausting and unwelcome. Oh, thanks be to God! Dear Lord, please keep our children pure in this morally corrupt culture they are living in. Love Michelle

WHY DON’T WE LIKE OBEDIENCE?

Nancy Campbell — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:14:11 +0000

God’s kingdom is based on obedience, starting with the God-head. Even Jesus Himself, the Son of God, was obedient, obedient to the death of the cross–and we are commanded to have this very same attitude (Philippians 2:5-8).

Every blessing hinges on obedience. God told His people in Isaiah 1:19, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” And yet why do we resist obedience? We are so prone toward the flesh, aren’t we? We want to do it out way, and yet it never brings blessing.

We cannot run our homeland unless it is based on obedience. Titus 2:5 commands us wives to be obedient to our husband. We set the example for our children who to be obedient to us. When obedience is established in the home, the home runs smoothly.

When a wife resists her husband, there is no peace. When children are not trained to obey, there is chaos! No mother can enjoy mothering disobedient children. No wonder many mothers don’t like mothering. They have children who are out of control.

Establish obedience in your home and the blessing of God will come down.

Love from Nancy

INFLUENCE OTHERS; DON’T LET THEM INFLUENCE YOU!

Nancy Campbell — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:13:03 +0000

Jeremiah 15:19 reminds us to stand strong and not be lured back to worldly ways, deception, and humanistic thinking through the words, “Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.”

It is very clear in the New Living Translation, “You must influence them; do not let them influence you!” I am sure you constantly hear conflicting voices and reactions against what you believe. You are laughed at for embracing more children. You are scorned for homseschooling. Are you influenced by these comments? They should roll us off like water on a duck’s back. We know we are walking in truth. Why should we be affected by the ignorant and deceptive words of others?

The Message Bible is even more powerful in its translation, “Let your words change them. Don’t change your words to suit them. I’ll turn you into a steel wall, a thick steel wall, impregnable. They’ll attack you but won’t put a dent in you because I am at your side, defending and delivering.”

Stand tall, dear mother. Stand strong. Constantly influence others as you speak words of truth. Don’t be influenced by their words. Even when you are attacked with words, it won’t even put a dent in you because God is with you. Praise the Lord.

Love from Nancy

GOD SPEAKS TO FAMILIES

Nancy Campbell — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:12:02 +0000

God speaks to us individually, but did you know that He also wants to speak to us as families? God is vitally interested in our individual lives, but He also sees us collectively as families. This is the way He planned for us to live, as families. Jeremiah 2:4 says, “Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the FAMILIES of the house of Israel.”

God wants not only you and your husband, but also your children to hear His words. This is why it is paramount to come together as families, evening and morning, and listen to God speak to us as a family as we read His Word.

We discuss together what He is saying to us a family. We learn together as a family. We press on in the ways of God together as a family. We pray together as a family. We do not leave our children behind.

As you hear God speaking to you as a family, you will be cemented strongly together as a family.

Love from Nancy

UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT

Michelle Kauenhofen — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:19:34 +0000

We know that we are not status quo, but who wants to look like everyone around them anyway? Even though I have a degree, we choose that I not work outside our home. Even though no families in our neighbourhood or church have 11 children, we continue to pray for more children. Even though most families around us send their children to the public school, we choose to teach ours at home. Even though most homes have cable or satellite television, we choose not to in ours. We don’t want to look like everyone else, and there is no shame in that. We teach our children that the Lord make them each uniquely, with a specific plan and purpose. Why is there an expectation then to conform to status quo when we are all grown up? Be proud of how non status quo you are, instead of feeling pressured. Love Michelle

PITY OR PRAISE?

Michelle Kauenhofen — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:16:33 +0000

Part of being a helpmeet to our husbands is to help them be the very best they can be. Phil 4:8 ends with “if there be any praise, think on these things”. When I complain or say I am overwhelmed, I immediately see the negative effects on my husband. The light in his eyes darkens, and his countenance saddens. It is as though I instantly deflate him and remove all the wind from his sails. When I am upbeat and positive, he shines and energizes, ready to take on the world! There is a reason we are told to think on the positive, because it benefits us, as well as all those around us. Turn pity into praise and watch the powerful, persuasive and potent results! Love Michelle

GET UP AGAIN!

Nancy Campbell — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:38:07 +0000

Have you blown it? You’ve fallen again! You feel as though you have failed! Don’t despair. God has put a principle in the universe that we fall we will get up again. Isn’t that great? Jeremiah 8:4 says, “Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not repent?”

If you’ve fallen, just get up again! That’s the way! Isn’t that how we encourage our little ones when they are learning to walk or when they are learning anything new as they grow older? This is the same way God treats us. He knows that we are weak and frail, but He encourages us to get up again. If you have sinned, repent and receive God’s forgiveness which flows freely to you through His blood that He shed for you.

Psalm 37: 23-24 says, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

Even if you fall seven times in one day, you can get up again each time (Proverbs 24:16, Psalm 145:14 and Micah 7:8). Praise the Lord.

Love from Nancy

CHECK OUT THE BLESSINGS

Nancy Campbell — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:37:16 +0000

Here are the 15 specific blessings God pours out upon us in our land of motherhood. Take some time to look up these wonderful Scriptures.

Deuteronomy 15:4 says, “The Lord shall GREATLY BLESS thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it.” And you must read Deuteronomy 28:8; 30:16

Blessings of fruitfulness (Genesis 1:28; 22:17; 28:3; Deuteronomy 7:13-14; Psalm 107:38; 115:14).
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25).
Blessings of weddings and celebrations (Jeremiah 33:10-11, cf. Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9; 25:10).
Blessings of bread and water (Exodus 23:25).
Blessings of God’s watchful care (Numbers 6:24-25).
Blessings of peace (Numbers 6:26; Psalm 29:11).
Blessings upon all that we do (Deuteronomy 2:7; 14:29; 15:10, 18; 16:15; 23:20; 24:19; 28:8, 12).
Blessings of health (Deuteronomy 7:15)
Blessings on our children (Psalm 115:14; 147:13b; Isaiah 44:3).
Blessings if we live in the city or the country (Deuteronomy 28:3).
Blessings on our cattle and produce (Deuteronomy 28:4-5, 11; Psalm 132:15; 107:36-38).
Blessings on our daily walk (Deuteronomy 28:6).
Blessings of reigning instead of servitude (Deuteronomy 15:16; 28:13).
Blessings of lending to others instead of borrowing (Deuteronomy 15:16; 28:12).
Blessings on our land and gardens (Deuteronomy 30:16; Psalm 107:37).

Love from Nancy