Yesterday we talked about nesting in the home. But we must look at something more in Psalm 113:9 which describes the mother as JOYFUL. Did you know that God equates motherhood with joy? And it’s not an average kind of joy. It’s exceeding joy.The Hebrew word is “sameach.” It means “to be blithe and gleeful, to be merry-hearted.” It’s the same word used in Proverbs 14:13: “A MERRY HEART maketh a cheerful countenance.” And again, in Proverbs 17:22: “A MERRY HEART doeth good like a medicine.”
But there’s more. It’s the same word that is used when people drink wine and get happy (Isaiah 14:7). When you are “eating and drinking, and making merry” (1 Kings 4:20). It’s the same word that was used when Solomon was made king and the people “rejoiced with GREAT JOY, so that the earth rent with the sound of them (1 Kings 1:40). Did you get that? The HCSB makes it clearer: “rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth split open from the sound.”
This the joy of motherhood! “This is a bit over-the-top” you exclaim! Dear mothers, it’s meant to be over-the-top! God is not average or ordinary in any way. He doesn’t only give us life, He gives us ABUNDANT life. He not only gives us joy, but EXCEEDING joy and “JOY UNSPEAKABLE and FULL OF GLORY” (1 Peter 1:8).
So, why aren’t mothers joyful? Unfortunately, most women are brainwashed against motherhood by in-laws, out-laws, the media, and the education system. They are told that motherhood is an insignificant career and they should be doing something more beneficial. Because of this they have the wrong attitude about motherhood, and if you have the wrong attitude, you’re not going to be very happy.
The truth is that God created you for motherhood. Your body is created for this purpose. When God gives you children to raise in your home you are in the very perfect will of God. God does not see motherhood as insignificant. He exalts motherhood (Ezekiel 19:10, 11), He glorifies motherhood (Hosea 9:11), and He enthrones motherhood (Psalm 113:9 Sugden).
Tomorrow we’ll look at how we can get the joy in motherhood. I know you’ll be wanting to hear that!
Love from Nancy Campbell
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Psalm 113:9 says: “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.”
Yesterday we talked about how God wants us to settle in our homes (Hosea 11:11). The ESV and some other translations give another thought to this Scripture: “I will RETURN them to their homes, declares the Lord.” In other words, when we get away from our homes, God wants to return us back to our homes for this is where He has placed us.
Are you nestled in your home? God wants you to nest, rest, and invest in your home. He made the home for you. He created the home for you to raise your children. Before God created Eve, He first prepared the home for her. When she woke up to life, she was in her delightful home of Eden. Adam had already been created before the home, but not the woman!
(Question at the end about the picture).
Nothing in this life comes easy. Nor does motherhood. It’s the greatest career God has given to women. It’s fulfilling. It’s filled with joys too big for the heart. It’s our DNA. It’s what we are born for.
Writing about parenthood, the great preacher and writer, J. R. Miller says: “Duties cannot be transferred.” I happen to agree with him, although many modern Christians would not.
What do you do when someone hurts you or says something that cuts deep into you like a knife? How do you feel when it is someone very close to you, perhaps your husband? Maybe you retreat into a shell with self-pity and bitterness. Or you shout and yell. You want to pay them back.
A Facebook question popped up on my Facebook awhile back: “What do yo think about having a male friend apart from your husband? Vice versa too? Can it be a purely platonic relationship?”
I love this old painting. I just Had to share it has it brings back such memories. This is how we used to roll a hank of yarn into a ball. My father often held the yarn for my mother as she rolled the wool into a ball. We children also had to take turns of holding the wool for her. This dear old husband has drifted off to sleep. But if he was awake, he would be holding his hands in place and keep the wool tight to make it easy to roll without getting tangled. Is there anyone else old enough to have these memories?
David said in Psalm 4:6: “There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” In other words, ”Where can I find true happiness?” Some look for happiness in material things, pleasures, entertainment, prestige, or the favor of people around them. David answered his own question. He replied that he found his happiness in knowing the presence of God and His friendship. The GW translation says: “Let the light of your presence shine on us, O LORD.” It is only God who can truly satisfy the longing and deepest desires of our heart. You cannot find it in “things.” You cannot even find it in your closest friend, your husband. Only in God.
The devil wants our children. He will take the souls, minds, and hearts of our children if we let him. He wants to take them down his road of destruction. We cannot give him an inch or he takes a mile. We must be fierce guarders!
Can you imagine what the world would be like if God’s people had not limited their families? The land would be filled with righteousness and the image of God. We would have a landslide for righteousness at voting time. 
I hope you picked up some ideas from yesterday’s post, BLESS YOUR FAMILY. Here are a few more ideas for you today.
I wonder what you have planned for your family meal table tonight? It’s good to hink of different ways you can bless and encourage your husband and children. One nice idea is to get your children to write a card to their father with all the great things they love about him. They can also draw a picture and make it very special. If you have little ones who cannot write yet, get them to draw a picture for daddy. You can then put them by his plate when he comes to the evening meal. During the meal he can read them aloud. The children will be excited to hear him read them and your husband will be blessed.
Have you, or are you planning to have a “Color Night” at your table. Yesterday I shared about a Red Color Night. Today, I am sharing a testimony from Val Stares about when she planned a “Green Color Night” at her table. Val Stares is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia. Val has been with me in the vision of Above Rubies from its very inception when we began in New Zealand over 43 years ago. She and her family moved with us to Australia and after 10 years when we moved on to live in USA, she took over the managing of Above Rubies in Australia. Val is now a great-grandmother like me, and this story happened a number of years ago. But I am sure you will enjoy it.
We talked yesterday about making every meal a love affair. This won’t just happen. You need to take time to think about your family meal table. Think about creative things you can do to bless the children. When raising our children, I tried to do something different at the meal table at least one night a week. One of the things our children loved when growing up were COLOR NIGHTS. For example, I would choose a color and put up a notice:
There used to be an old saying: “Children should be seen and not heard” I don’t agree with this statement. I believe the table is place for not only eating, but fellowship. Food and fellowship go together. They are TWINS.
What’s the atmosphere like in your home? What’s it like at meal times? Do you gather together around your table? Talk and fellowship together? Open God’s Word and pray together? Do you do dishes and clean up the kitchen together? Or is Mom left with the mess and everyone goes their merry way?