My Baby For God's Glory and Purpose

On Friday morning we went for an ultra sound scan, during which we couldn’t see a heart beat on our 12 week unborn baby. This was such an unexpected shock and so painful for our whole family - we were all looking forward so much, to welcome this baby in our midst.

We decided to wait on the Lord, He is daily performing miracles and could still bring our baby to life.  In God’s wisdom, He decided to take our baby Home and I miscarriage on Monday morning.

While crying out to the Lord for His peace and comfort, I found this on the Above Rubies website and the Lord gently spoke into my heart:

A PRIVILEGE

After a miscarriage, I felt God spoke these words to my heart,

"Most people view a miscarriage as a loss-- a victory for the enemy because he stole a life. That is not the perspective I want you to have.

I want you to see it as a privilege to have made and carried this baby for my eternal purposes which you know nothing about. I wanted a Fowler child but chose not to take one of yours that you already know so well. You will share eternity with this baby but I didn't need him/her in this world.

You gave me permission to give you whatever children I want for My glory and My purposes. You have understood all of your children to be gifts from Me - only lent to you for a time.  Only I can decide how long or short to grace your earthly life with each child. Remember, My purposes and plans are always eternal. You are limited to an earthly perspective.

Do not be cast down, but rejoice, and take joy in the child I've shared with you. You may call him/her 'Angel'."

TONI FOWLER, USA

I will not blog for some time.

With love

Linnie

Glorious and Beautiful for God!

A few days ago, I read in Exodes 20 about the garments that God ordained the High Priest to wear.  They were garments for “glory and beauty.” (v. 2) 

Every part of the High Priest’s garments had spiritual significance. Because God has made us “kings and priests” unto Him, they have spiritual significance in our lives too.  Wherever we work, right there in our home, we should continually drop seeds of God’s glory and beauty!

I also thought of Ephisians 2:22-24 were God instructed us to “...PUT on the new man”, the J.B Philipps translation says: “Fling off the dirty clothes of the old way of living... and put on the clean fresh clothes of the new life...” and the beautiful spirit God is looking for in 1Pet 3:3-4 “the hidden man (woman) of the heart, meek and gentle and quiet spirit which is of great prize for God”

*Now when we read the Holy Word of God, we must read it in the natural as well as in the spiritual.  God is a very natural God, as well as a spiritual God.  There are always three levels on which we can read the Word of God. Almost like the three levels of the tabernacle. Firstly on the surface, reading just what you see (the natural) then a little deeper, and God says more to you and then your enter the Holy of Holiness, and God reveal Himself to you, giving you revelation (the spiritual)! 

Often we only focus on the spiritual and forget about the physical.  We are so afraid we are the woman talked about in the first part of 1 Peter who only work on her physical beauty, that we almost want to make a statement about our spiritual beauty by ignoring the physical beauty!  But ladies, God is as much a physical God as a spiritual God. *It is so in everything in the Word of God, first the natural then the spiritual. It is amazing how many times we read of beautiful women in the Word of God.  We read about Eve, who must have been the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth! I think God meant for all women to be beautiful. All women wants to be beautiful!  Who does not want to be beautiful? 

I see it in my girls!  Heidi-Mari and Danika is constantly playing dress-up, without any one telling or showing them how to do it!  When friends come to play, they play dress-up.  

Over the years I’ve made numerous princess dresses and even more ballet costumes for ballet concerts, so there are always costumes for their dress-up! 

To be beautiful is inherently in us!  But most interestingly, the Bible take up quite some space to talk about beautiful women!  Lets look at a few of the beautiful women, the Bible talk about:  We read about Sarah - “You are a VERY beautiful woman.” Abraham was afraid they would kill him for this beautiful woman of his! We read how when they arrived in Egypt, “Everyone spoke of her beauty.” And twice she was taken in the King’s harem because of her beauty!  

Then it talks about the young Rebecca. “And the young woman was very beautiful to behold!” Wow!  Isaac was really getting a very beautiful bride! And when Isaac was married to her, they went to live near King Abimelec and they asked him about his wife and he did the same thing as his father!  He said she was his sister, he was afraid the men would kill him for her, because she was beautiful to behold! And Rebecca was also taken into the harem of the king! 

Now we read about Rachel. “Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance!” said the Bible!  The Bible, not a magazine, and it don’t only talk about a woman who has a beautiful face, but a beautiful figure too!!  Do you know the Bible talks about this and did you notice that these three women were the wives of the three patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God gave to each of them beautiful women! Yes!  

Their were others too:  Abigail - intelligent and beautiful in appearance; Batsheba - very beautiful to look upon; Tamar - she was very beautiful; Vasti - the queen before Esther, she was very beautiful and Esther herself was beautiful of form (figure) and face.  And the Bible actually talk about both! Beautiful of figure and of face! There are more - Abishag, Job’s daughters, then their is the Song of Solomon, a beautiful book in the Bible, in which we read over and over again: “You are beautiful, my Love!”  

God desire to see beauty in us, our husbands desire to see beauty in us. You see, God loves beauty. Look around you to His creation, a beautiful sunset, all the beautiful flowers during spring and beautiful garments, as we see in Exodus 20, all for only one purpose, for His pleasure. 

While I was reading the above verses in Exodus, the words beauty and glory jumped out at me. This challenged me in that how much of God’s beauty and glory that He put in me as a woman am I radiating right here in my home? As a Stay-at-Home-Mom between my little ones, as a Home Schooling Mom between all my children? Me - being the crown of His creation, do I see myself as beautiful, glorious and worthy, as much as God value me beautiful, glorious and worthy, to send His only Son to redeem us for Him? To have everlasting life with Him! Am I practicing, here on earth in my every day walk of life, to bring God beauty, glory and praises, as I am going to bring Him beauty, glory and praises into eternity?  Do I radiate this beauty and glory only in my spiritual life or also in my physical appearance?  

Dear beautiful ladies, we must always read the Bible as a whole, taking into account all the verses about a certain topic.  God loves beauty, God loves beautiful women, but not all of us have beautiful faces and beautiful figures, and therefore we need God’s beauty.  

We often need to forget about our feelings and by faith but on happy, smiling faces to change the atmosphere of our homes.

Who doesn’t love to look at a physically beautiful face, but what is even more beautiful is a face that has a beauty of rest and radiance upon her face. There are women who walk in a very submissive, tender and peaceful way with the Lord and their husbands, and their faces just glows with beauty!  This is the greatest beauty of all!  

Then there is the beautiful countenance of a calmly woman. A woman at peace with being at home, which is only possible for her by looking unto the Lord.  The more time you spend in His presence, the more your countenance will radiate His love!

Don’t forget, someone with a thankful heart towards the Lord, will have a beautiful countenance!  Make thankfulness and praises the habit of your life!

We need the distinct aroma of Christ - kindness, long-suffering, forbearance and forgiveness.  We also need to diffuse the perfume of His knowledge everywhere we go!  

We need the beauty of holiness and purity!

Part of a beautiful woman is beautiful speech, right there in her home, not only when she goes out! A beautiful wife and mother speak sweet, encouraging words to her husband and children! 

The most precious beauty in the eyes of the Lord is a meek, gentle, quiet spirit, because it is only possible through the beauty of His spirit, the power of the Holy Ghost, who lives in us. We can’t work it up by ourselves, it is worked in us by the spirit.

We also need to put on the expensive wardrobe, purchased by Jesus Christ Himself, for us.  Beautiful dresses of gentleness, delightful garments of tender mercies and don’t forget the apron of humility and a servant heart!

And then when we are working on all the above beautiful characteristics of a Godly woman, I truly believe God wants us to take care of ourselves in the physical.  We may put on clean fresh AND beautiful clothes, and arrange our hair so it is a delight for our family.  My children just love my hair to be long and let down... 

I challenged a few very dear home schooling friends of mine to dress beautiful for a week. Right there in their homes and they fervently took on the challenge with excitement and great expectation!  I want to challenge all women, and especially Stay-At-Home-Moms and Home Schooling-Moms, who feel comfortable with physical beauty, because God loves beauty, to dress beautiful for a week! 

Put on a colourful skirt or dress, just don’t forget your apron when you need to clean up after yet another mess by your children. Put on some perfume, even on your clothes and when your husband walks in the house, that he may smell: “Oh, how delightful!”  Dare to put on a little make-up. A well-known evangelist was once asked if he thought a woman may wear make-up, his reply was: “If a boat needs new painting, paint it!” Surprise your husband and children with freshly, washed hair every day!  Do something to your physical appearance that communicate to your children, your husband and God, that you delight in being beautiful and glorious in your service to them and to Him!

If you take up this challenge, or like to challenge a personal group you are part of, please comment here and let us see how many women become part of the beautiful and glorious creation of God!

* Parts taken from Nancy Campbell’s, Beautiful Women Teaching CD.

With Love

Linnie

Melkbos Outing

Over the weekend, a virus invaded our home!  It’s such a long time since one of us were ill that we were in actually in denial for a day or two.  By Monday afternoon, Andrew, both girls and I were down. Luckily Christo recovered well enough over the weekend, to be at the office on Monday morning.  On top of it, Cape Town experienced a heat wave, like it usually does this time of the year.  

CJ and Josua clearly gave the virus a cold shoulder and they looked after us very well!  Thanks to the schedule we have been using since the beginning of February, (more about that in another post) CJ, Heidi-Mari and Josua could do all their work on Monday (before Heidi-Mari got sick after lunch.) They could still do some activities with the little ones in the morning, while the only thing I could do was sleep on the couch!

Monday night the Lord came to my rescue by allowing Michael to sleep from 22h00 till 04h30.  I had a solid six hours of uninterrupted sleep, that hasn't happened for months! This was just what I needed to wake up very refreshed and almost recovered from the virus on Tuesday morning!  But the girls and Andrew were still not well.  

By the time Christo left for work at 09h00, Tuesday morning, it was clear we were in for another extremely hot day.  On his way to work my dear husband gave me a call to tell me he will be thinking of me, good luck with the sick ones and if we are to hot, we must get in the bus, and just drive around with the air conditioner on to cool us down.  Just there I got the idea!  The impulsive side of me once in a while get the upper hand and then I do things in the spur of the moment! 

We will go to the beach in the afternoon!  

My children needed to breath in clean, fresh, ozone rich air, to conquer this virus! As a bonus it is a long drive, although we live in CapeTown, we are at least 40 minutes from the nearest beach. During which we can cool down with the air conditioner, and at the beach it should be cooler.  I also guessed the anticipation, excitement and fun on the beach would do them the world of good and lift their spirits!

I texted Christo to tell him about my idea, and if it is possible by any chance, will he please join us!  In the mean time, poor CJ and Josua were sulking in the kitchen under the thought of yet another day during which they have to do all the chores between the two of them and have to help out with the little ones, without the girls help!  How special it was to see the transformation in their faces as I told them of our plans for the afternoon!  It was almost like I turned on a light in their souls!  

Not to mention the excitement of the little ones by mentioning the word beach-outing!  The whole atmosphere of our home changed within minutes and I just realized again, how a mother determines the atmosphere of her home! The girls looked like they had a reason to fight the virus too and after a toasted Marmite sandwich, Andrew announced he was healed! 

For me, I had no time to focus on how I felt, I needed all my energy to plan and prepare our picnic dinner.  Buying McDonald’s along the way for dinner would be to defeat the object for the Lues family, especially since we are fighting a virus (no need for MSG, hidden sugars and trans fats...)

The little ones went for their naps without one word of objection, and even I could rest for an hour with little Michael playing around and at some stages, on top of me!  By 15h00, Christo said he would be joining us and final preparation took a full swing!  Heidi-Mari recovered so much she could make the sandwiches. Josua got water bottles filled up and getting cool drinks ready. CJ was responsible for packing the meats, making carrot salad and make sure everything was in the cool bag. Danika was still weak and after his afternoon nap, David complained of similar symptoms the rest of us experienced, indicating the virus was getting the better of him too! But I trusted the outing was going to change everything. 

I quickly gave Michael a 20 minute nap and while I nursed him, I prayed that the Lord would please give us a blessed afternoon, with no wind!  The Cape is known for it’s windy conditions between November and February, but early March the weather makes a turn for the better and till April it is the best time to visit the Cape - no rain, no wind!  

It was the 1st of March and on our side of the Tygerberg the wind was blowing strongly! By 15h45, we were all lined up in the Vito and on our way to Melkbos beach on the Western Coast of the Cape Peninsula! 

The little ones couldn’t stop talking and laughing, in their imagination they were already running the beach, riding waves and building sand castles!  Danika’s voice was getting stronger as we drove and David’s laugh sounded like crystal clear bells, no sign of the weak boy, only an hour ago!

At the beach it was an absolute perfect afternoon!  No wind, no clouds, only the distinct smell of the sea and a desperately needed cool breeze! 

The children played an hour in the (very, very) cold water - not minding at all.

It  amazed us to see how Michael just love playing in water!  

He doesn’t have any fear of water.  At one stage he lost his balance in the water, while holding daddy’s hand in the very shallow water and went “under” the water!  He didn’t even cry, he just gulp for air and held onto daddy, as he sweep him out of the water. 

After I dried him and nursed him a little, he pushed me away and made for the water again! 

In contrast to Michael, David and Daniel have no love for water!  

They stay as far away from the water as possible. 

David normally can’t even stand the sound of the waves, but he took it very well and walked all along the high tide water mark, looking for shells!

After an hour in the water, we played on the beach.  

Then we had our cold meat, salad and sandwich picnic on the green grass next to the beach.  Two hours later we were on our way back home, under many promises of doing it again next week for the rest of March and April, while the weather holds! 

What a delightful afternoon! 

Danika played with no sign of illness, David and Andrew too. 

Heidi-Mari looked weak by the end of our outing, but after a luke warm Epson salt bath, and a back rub with Traumeel S, she went to bed.  I too, felt much better.

Thank you Lord! What a blessing to have such a blessed, fun afternoon, just enjoying the beauty of Your creation!

With love

Linnie

Is There A "Biblical Model" for Education?

I can't add anything to this posting by Generation Cedar. End of debate.

Regarding my opinion that homeschooling is a “better” way…I would hope all of us have strong opinions on “better” ways to do a lot of things–especially important things.  If we don’t ever form carefully studied opinions on “better or worse” ways to do some things, we become dangerously apathetic.  This, I think, is a tragic side-effect of our obsession with “tolerance”.

All things are not equal and to suggest such kills the human spirit, erodes ambition and unravels the very fabric of a society on too many levels to count.

And where it involves the very upbringing and transmitting of our values to the next generation, I’d say we better all study to form VERY strong opinions about such a life-impacting endeavor.

But is homeschooling “biblical”?

First, allow me to define what I mean by that:

Saying a thing is “biblical” does not always mean everything else is “sin”.  I do NOT assert that any form of education besides homeschooling is a sin. (And yet, this crime has been continually ascribed to me.)

To say a thing is “biblical” is simply to say that there are principles in Scripture to guide and offer insight into a particular area.  Just like there are biblical principles for handling money, one is not necessarily in sin for ignoring those principles.  So, if I say, “not co-signing on a loan is biblical” that is a true statement.  But it doesn’t mean that it is sin to co-sign on a loan. There would be a lot less anger if opponents viewed my stance through that lens.

Many people claim “the Bible doesn’t speak on the subject of education” and so we can’t talk in terms of what is “biblical”.  I disagree.

It’s interesting to compare the Greek (pagan) model of education to our current public school model and contrast that to the Hebrew model (practiced by God’s people) upon which the homeschooling model is patterned:

“The Greek model of education shapes our modern American educational theories. Greek education focused on content. Hebrew education focused on relationship. Greek teachers tried to shape students’ minds. Hebrew teachers tried to shape students’ hearts. Greek students were to learn what their teacher knew. Hebrew students were to become what their teacher was. The notion that one can merely teach the mind and body of a child without involving the heart and soul is the method of the Greeks. We see no precedent in Scripture for the teaching of children’s minds for the sake of academia.” http://www.homeschoolbuilding.org/Item.php3?id=2291

In a nutshell, the “biblical model” of education is Hebrew in nature, based primarily on relationships, specifically between parent and child.  And that’s just the starting point…

Read more...

Satan’s Biggest Threat!

People still don’t understand why we choose, to gave our family planning over to God!  

I thought by now, pregnant with #9 it wouldn’t be an issue or a puzzle anymore, but quite the contrary.  From different sides I’m hearing the objections and ridicule of people, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

As I was sitting next to my 2 and 4year old, to put them to sleep for their afternoon nap. I looked at their sweet faces, and the question came to mind: Why would anyone not want such a sweet little one?  All mothers love and adore their children, they cannot imagine a life without their precious children, yet they don’t want more.

And that is fine with me! Living in the 21st Century, every woman have rights and she can choose and control her own walk of life. But that is not where it ends! People seem to find it impossible to stop criticizing families who choose to have more than the average amount of children!   

God implanted motherhood into each woman and we just cannot ignore it!  Wanting to nurture something, a baby or even a pet if it can’t be a baby, is natural to every single woman on the face of the earth. 

A few days ago while I visited with friends in a coffee shop, the sound of an almost newborn baby’s cry made everyone stop midway in their conversations to see where the precious little voice was coming from! As all eyes laid hold of the tiny baby in her mother’s arms, every single woman’s face glowed with a softness, in adoration for the mother and her baby!

The same day, a few hours later, I was in a queue at a local store with my five well behaved little ones (7years and under).  Everyone was intrigued by their behavior, until one lady couldn’t resist the question any longer and asked me if all five were my children.  On my ‘Yes’, everyone was listening. Even more, when she asked if I was ‘finished’ now. When I mentioned my 10 week pregnancy, the whole atmosphere changed before my eyes!  It was almost like a demonic manifestation and I was the centre of attack!  One after the other derogatory comment was thrown in my direction and the eyes which was filled with approval only seconds ago, glared down on me with disapproval and disgust! 

What made this happen?  

Why on earth, would people react in anger and antagonism towards a total stranger in the local store, who mentioned she is expecting her 9th baby?  Would they react with such criticism if I had my shopping chart filled with ten to twenty pounds of butter, asking me if I knew how dangerous it was for my health?  Would they also have given me disapproving glances if I wore a low cut t-shirt and high-cut shorts, asking me if I didn’t have something ‘more appropriate’ to wear?  Chances are that they wouldn’t even have noticed me and do not care about my cholesterol or my moral standard of fashion.

Why then do people react totally bizarre when they learn that a woman, whom they don’t know from a bar of soap, is pregnant with her 9th baby?  Why would anyone care how many children I want?  Why am I such an irritation to people (even more to Christians!), when I gratefully except another blessing from God?

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  (Eph 6:12)

God is the God of the kingdom of life! Satan is ruler of the kingdom of death and destruction! These two powers are constantly in opposition with each other, since the fall of humanity! 

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”  Gen 3:15

I have just realized again, I’m opposing the biggest lie of Satan.  It is against natural design to NOT allow God to determine your family size.  It is when you choose against the biological function of the womanhood God put into each woman, that you are acting opposite to the natural.  During the past 50 years Satan subtly (but effectively) imprinted the lie of family planning deep into humanity. Even the church fell for it. It is laughable to see and hear the shallow opposing arguments, criticism and open attack of Christians against fellow families in Christ, who allow God to determine their family size! 

Satan knows that the Godly seed brought forth by women, is his biggest threat in destroying his dark works of deception and destruction.  We read that Satan has already tried twice during Bible times to kill babies. In Egypt during Moses’ time, Satan killed babies using the Pharaoh, trying to avoid the birth of a Leader that would lead God’s nation to the promised land and again through Herod, Satan killed 1000s’ of babies trying to kill baby Jesus.

We all know we are living in the final hour, before the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, more than ever Satan is killing millions of babies, which should be the part of the End-Time-Army of God!  The sad part is that not only non-Christians, but Christians also, has bought into Satan’s lies to destroy the children again, this time though ‘family planning.’ 

Why would people react bizarre towards another pregnancy?

Because the family who allows God to determine their family size, is Satan’s biggest threat!

“To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”  II Cor 2:16

You decide.

Speaking the truth in love

Linnie