The Story of Hamlin

This past Monday, my dear little one turned three years of age. It only seems like yesterday when he was just a wee infant in my arms, helpless and vulnerable.

Now he runs about under a full head of steam! But still, he has that sweet innocence of baby-hood.



Every time I look into his sweet face, I am reminded that God DOES hear my prayers and that He delights in answering them. I'm reminded that there is nothing too hard for Him.



There is a bit of a story here, and I would like to share it with you.

There was a time in my life when I struggled with an independent rebellious spirit against God and his plan for me as a wife and mother. We can go to the book of Genesis and read how He made Eve to complete Adam~ to be his help meet. We can also read how he made her suitable
to the care and nurturing of children.



I had never given much thought to what it means to be a wife and mother. Life was OK until I decided (in my rebellion) that I was through having babies! Enough was enough! No more children! My hands were full. The End.



Soon I became aware that our family had problems, and they were bigger than I realized. I began to really seek solutions from the Lord.



But first, He began to show me even more problems; those within myself. I began reading my Bible; for the first time in my life I was looking for God.



I also began reading No Greater Joy, and of course Mike and Debbie Pearl always lay it out on the line, not sparing for any one's delicate feelings! From there I went to the only book I had ever heard of at the time regarding the role of the woman. (Me, Obey Him)

I was searching for something that I was unable to find in our feministic culture~ I needed to know how God designed my life to work. I needed Him. I was willing to do whatever it took to get on track.



He began showing me that I was trying to be in control. He showed me that I could never expect my children to be anything that I was not willing to be myself. Ouch.

I began to realize that I must spend much time with God. I must be in His word, seeking Him as for hid treasure. I confess that reading the Bible had always been difficult because I couldn't understand it. But because I had a need to understand it, I sought to understand it.

I also must be God's friend, by praying. Nothing fancy, just learning to adore Him and NOTICE the blessings. Simple things, like the lovely yellow, red and orange, in the leaves that fall; a hug from your child; the kiss of love from your husband; the headache that you don't have today but did yesterday.

It did take time. But the more time I spent with the Lord in the quiet of the morning, the more I was able to understand what I was reading!

It became joyous to open the pages and understand! Our Pastor taught us that the Bible is not hard to understand; it is hard to obey! The real test is what you do with it.

It took a lot of years for my to grow out of my cultural thinking. It has taken even longer to begin to win battles withing my own heart. Self-centered thinking isn't changed overnight, but by God's grace, He is able to transform us into the image of His own Son, Jesus.

During these years, I began to realize that children really are a gift. God is the giver of life, not us. But I have to confess that I wanted to limited these "gifts" because of all it would cost me: my strength, my interests (sewing gardening), my life (fun with the girls, oportunities to do things I enjoyed doing-alone!), my reputation (what will people think of me).

I was really afraid I couldn't handle all the demands. And the truth is, I couldn't. Especially theway I was. What I have had to learn is that God's strength is always made perfect in my weakness.

When our then youngest child was about eight, we began to realize our reasons for limiting our family size was based on our own selfishness. We realized we were not embracing the opportunity to bring up potential servants of Christ, nor had we been willing to love them and give of ourselves for their benefit as Christ gave of Himself.

The Lord gave us the opportunity to undo the decision not to have children. We then prayed for another child. After nearly a year, the Lord blessed us and we found out we were expecting!
At the age of 47, I gave birth to our sixth child, Sawyer Hamlin. I know that God answers prayer!

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
they shall be fat and flourishing;
To shew that the Lord is upright:
he is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him."

Hymn For The Lord's Day

NO OTHER PLEA

Lidie H. Edmunds, 19th Century





My faith has found a resting-place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.



I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Saviour's name,
Salvation thro' His blood.

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His Life He gave.

I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching . . . and saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. . . . Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. . . I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier that I. . . he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

A "Must Read" for Your Husband and Son

Here is a web-log that I would love for all men and boys to read. Inspiring!

Go Here

A Hope Chest Party For a Dear Young Lady

On Saturday, Ashley and I were privileged to attend a Hope Chest Celebration for Bethany. She has turned thirteen, and her parents wanted their friends and family to gather around them as they look toward her future, and thank God for her.

The following is the charge I gave her, as her dear mother translated it into Spanish.










Bethany, it has been my privilege to have know you from your birth. You have been blessed to be the member of a family whose parents have hearts that seek seriously after God. Our family has been blessed to see your Father’s intensity of love for God, and his manly integrity. It has been with much joy that I watched your Mother wisely guide and nurture your heart through your youth. You have a very special place in my heart personally, because of our families love for your family.








Now, you and your friends are gathered here to celebrate a time of life when you begin leaving the days of your youth, and are entering the courts of womanhood. This is thrilling, because you were created for a great purpose! You are the daughter of The King! You must realize that. Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, as has been told us very clearly in His word. You must honor your Lord by being his special ambassador in this world and living a life that is worthy of so great a position. Your failure to do this will reveal the unbelief in your own heart.


You must know that we are living in very perilous times. The world has always contained much evil, but as the Day of the Lord approaches, you must be keenly aware of the warfare all of God’s children are engaged in, and not flee from the fight. The culture around you will try to lure you with glossy magazines which instruct simple young women that they can have all they want-and should stop at nothing to get it! They should put aside modesty and true beauty for cheap thrills. Unfortunately, they have never found anything in life that has any lasting worth because they are “simple women laden with sin”. They value the “freedom” to sin. You should value the “freedom” from sin!

You are to be a good faithful solder who does not pass her days in “fun” and frivolous activity. Your purpose for living is not to bring yourself pleasure and satisfaction. Rather, it is to serve your King. This service is for the noble of heart: those who have a cause much larger than their own life, and wish to leave great legacies to future generations. It is for the future great things are done in the present.





Bethany, your parents have been given the special responsibility to guide and protect you. They do not take that lightly. Honor them with your love and obedience as you would one day wish your own children to honor you. Remember the admonition to all of us to “Honor thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” This principle of honor is what sustains the preservation of a Godly line.












As a woman of God, Your area of service will be in the home. The home is intended to be a much loved haven for the family and a vibrant center of hospitality to friends, neighbors, and strangers. The home is truly where hearts are. It is your realm over which to reign. Your attitude and disposition will greatly influence the people who come under your roof.







You will be responsible to “wash a lot of feet”! Many menial – yet absolutely necessary tasks will be your great privilege to perform for the Kingdom of Christ! Remember, even Jesus Himself was not above serving his own disciples, the very ones who followed his example. It requires much humility and strength of character to impart to the home a service oriented outlook, and a cheerful disposition to add the small details that are the essence of gracious living.



One of the most important parts of your education is to be a well-prepared home maker. Now is the time to learn the skills that will enable you to function as the Proverbs 31 woman. This is a serious undertaking and one not to be undervalued. There is no “job” more important that this one. Not one. The culture around you will look down on the homemaker, considering her unskilled, and unable to make it in the workforce. What they fail to realize is that the homemaker, in order to be highly effective, must be highly skilled in diverse areas of expertise. She has the wonderful freedom to rule her OWN domain, to use high levels of creativity in limitless areas, and to develop skills for the advancement and pleasure of her own household! Furthermore, it is all done with great purpose-the Glory of God and love of her family!






We read in Titus 2 that the young women are to learn 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. It is a woman’s faithfulness in nurturing her home that gives credibility and weight to her testimony and influence to the lost. It is necessary that the work of God in her life be the impetus for her faithfulness in her home –which is her first responsibility- and will in turn, naturally touch the lives of others.






You must also be a great learner. It is a great waste to possess a lazy ignorant mind. Seek to acquire discernment for good reading. You will only learn this by reading quality writing. Develop your mind, as well as your heart with much purposeful exposure to the Bible. It will enlarge your heart for thoughts that are substantial and meaningful. It will impart virtue into your heart if you put it into practice. It will also prepare your heart for Him to come in and fellowship intimately with you.







You will one day be the gentle Mother passing on your own knowledge to your children, so be sure your mind is filled with an abundance of great thoughts. You will make the difference in their lives by inspiring them to great deeds for the glory of God, or deadening their spirits, causing them to follow after lackluster, unimportant pursuits.





The great hope of civilization is in its children. You are not a product of this godless culture, but instead your parents have faithfully taught you the Holy Scriptures and have shown you by their example how to live. Their hope is in you; that you will be faithful to the good work that God began in their lives, is doing in your own life, and will continue to do in the lives of your children yet to be born.








May you build upon the foundation that has been laid in your life and be faithful to raise up the next generation of faithful servants.

On Being A Mother

I always wanted to get married and be a Mother. Don't you think most women have that same desire? God created us for that purpose, so of course he put that drive within our hearts. I love this picture of the nest because it pictures so well how it is with women. We are all nest-makers, whether married or not.



It is a blessed privilege to have a family. There is NOTHING as fulfilling as this. There is nothing so exhausting as this, but God gives us just one day at a time and the strength to do the things he wants us to do.


When my older children were much younger, I remember how physically exhausted I was at the end of the day. Mother's of young children need to be strong; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She also needs to be prepared in all areas of home making. The prepared wife and mother is in the best position to be her husbands helper and companion, as well as rear children that seek after God and are noble in character.



Unfortunately, young Christian women of today have not had this focused preparation. Instead they are prepared to be exceptional schoolteachers, capable nurses, and frustrated accountants. And for the most part, they do very well in these occupations. Many of them really WANT to meet the needs of their families but they just do not know how. Some would love to learn, but are not given the opportunity to stay home and do it. They know that there is no such thing as "supermom".
These dear ladies have the admiration of many who consider it a virtuous thing for a woman to have children AND a job. However, this idea is completely contradictory to what we read in scripture. In Proverbs 31 we read that the virtuous woman was very accomplished! AT HOME MAKING! It was her husband that was praised in the gates!
I believe young women are under much pressure to "make something of themselves" because that is what this con fussed culture tells them. It is not a concept that comes from scripture.
Somewhere, early in childhood, the God-given nurturing instinct and nesting desire is discouraged. Little girls are encouraged to be tough; their Mother's don't want them to be too prissy. After all, they have to take care of themselves someday:(



I like this image above, of the older lady, offering a cup of coffee to the mailman on such a cold day! I suppose it doesn't take much skill and formal training to make coffee, but it does require a bit of preparation of the heart to care about someone else. And that is just what being a homemaker is all about. Caring about others ~ the others in your nest. Others who come under your roof.



If you are a young or older woman who finds her heart is turning toward her home, I encourage you to look to the women of the Bible for direction. They were not perfect because they, like us, were frail flesh. However, the Lord can use their example to show us the way He intended for us to live. When I think of how I have failed as a wife, mother, and homemaker, my heart is lifted in praise of His mercy, love, and kindness. His grace is sufficient to do what I can not for my loved ones.