A Roomful of Thoughts

By Charlotte M. Wholters

I read something interesting about Martha Stewart. The person who wrote the piece basically said that using her ideas was a way to show off to your friends. I was stunned when I read that because it sounded very like the truth to me! I had never thought of Martha Stewart in that way before. In fact, I've admired her work. Bur what is really more fun; spending three hours making color-coordinated coasters or showing them to your friends? It struck me that Martha Stewart is very appropriately named - Martha.

"It came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His Word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, doest Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)

Then I read a quote by Benjamin Franklin that said if all the world was blind but him, he wouldn't care to have a fancy home or furniture. Wow! It makes me wonder how much of what we do is motivated by what others think? I want to spend some time mulling that over and I want to dissect my decisions with that scalpel. This could take a while. It's painful to think this way. Sometimes I think the Lord leads us in a particular direction for a reason.

I think there's a reason why I stumbled across both that point made about both Martha Stewart and Benjamin Franklin's quote recently. It's certainly normal for a married lady and mother of three to worry and grieve about not managing to be like Martha Stewart. But I think the Lord has something better for me! I'm going after that good part; the one thing that's needful: sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing His Word.
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Editor's Note: Charlotte, her husband James,and their three children; Camilla, Joshua, and Grace, live in Sterling, Virginia. They attend The Original Pentecostals (Pastor Raymond E. Windsor,) in Leesburg, VA. 

Parenting in Tough Times

(A Mother's Story)

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text:  I Kings 17:8-24

We're living in tough times, it's true. But tough times have been a constant throughout history. And parenting in tough times is always a challenge. Here are three things to remember in tough times...

The widow's story... After three and-a-half years of drought and famine, she was working on her last meal - a little bit of meal and oil, and a few sticks. Put together they would make one last little cake. She and her son would eat it and then, because there was no more, they would die.

Elijah's story... The prophet of God was also hungry. He'd experienced the same years of drought and famine. The difference was, the drought and famine were the result of Elijah's prophecy at the command of Jehovah. What's more, During those lean years God had sustained His prophet, and even now had sent him to Zarephath in Zidon (not Israel,) to this very widow woman, telling him that He had commanded her to sustain His prophet. So, Elijah approached her asking for a drink of water. As she was going to fetch it, Elijah added, "Bring me a morsel of bread." The widow responded with her sad tale of tough times, but Elijah said, "Fear not. Go and do as thou hast said, but make thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth."

1. Don't stop parenting just because times are tough. Be available! Be faithful!
2. Keep doing what's right. The same things that make you effective in the good times will make you effective in the tough times.
3. God has unlimited resources. They're available to those who place their trust in Him.

The end result was - Just as God said; Elijah ate, the widow ate, and her son ate many days - until the drought ended.

God's Story... "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11) God is both Author and Finisher of our faith. What He started, He will finish! Remember...

• He changes circumstances!
• He changes you!
• His resources are limitless!

My Mother

By Charles R. Grisham

Thank Thee God, for my sweet mother,

She stands by me as would no other,
In each prayer, I ask of You,

To protect her, Lord, I beg of You.

Her worth to me I cannot tell,
For hearts like her's, they do not sell,
A heart of gold and eyes that shine,
She's worth a lot, that mother of mine.

When day is done and it's thime for bed,
I kneel in reverance and bow my head,
To thank the Maker far above,
For one like her for me to love.

If I could be at home tonight,
I'd kiss her cheeks and hug her tight;
Tell her all she means to me,
And talk of days that used to be.

I know that Jesus loves her too,
For she is one of His chosen few,
He's led her daily by the hand,
She has a home in His Promised Land.

I'm sure in prayer she thought of me,
That we might both in Heaven be,
To dwell with God upon His Throne,
And live forever in our new home.

Editorial Note: Bishop Grisham wrote this poem in 1951. His mother, Sis. Fern Grisham, was a blessing to her family and to the housefold of faith. After raising her children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sis. Fern later traveled throughout the contnental U.S. as a children's evangelist, winning many souls to the Lord. Bishop and Sister Grisham retired in 2007, and are now living in Ashland City, Tennessee. They attend First United Pentecostal Church (Pastor Ron Becton) in Nashville.

Covered

By Laurel D. Williams

I love to go to estate sales. There are always so many treasures to discover. My favorite finds are vintage linens. I purchase tatted, crocheted, and embroidered linens. I've bought dresser scarves, crocheted pot-holders, embroidered tea towels, and tatted runners. Vintage aprons are special finds. I especially enjoy gingham "chicken scratch" aprons. Each one is unique in design. I have frilly hostess apons, full-length embroidered ones, quilted aprons, and feed-sack aprons. Even my Aunt Barbara contributes to my vintage apron collection. I keep most of the aprons. But, I have passed along a few at bridal showers and special fund raising events at church.

When I think of aprons, two women come to mind. My grandmother Ruby and my mother Betty have donned aprons. Grandmother Ruby was a continual hostess. Every day she had company and she cooked three meals a day expecting to feed a large crowd. Grandma always wore a very servicable apron. It fit over her head and had large pockets in front. She usually wore this over a duster or a housedress.

My mother, Betty, always wears an apron to cook. It is a full-length apron. She is a wonderful cook. She bakes beautiful cookies and cakes. She is always trying new recipes. (We call these "guinea pig meals.") I can't picture her in the kitchen without her apron. When that apron comes off, she is finished with that kitchen!

Women in simpler times faithfully wore aprons. They did not have the large wardrobes of clothes that we have today and it was very important to protect what they had. Washing was a difficult and time-consuming chore. It was necessary to wear clothing wisely and protect it with aprons. Housework, gardening, and farm chores were accomplished by the apron wearer.

Many occupations necessitate the wearing of aprons. Maids, waitresses, bakers, and chefs readily come to mind. Welders wear leather aprons to protect them from sparks, as do workers of iron. Chemists wear aprons to protect themselves from exposure to harmful agents. X-ray technicians wear aprons to protect themselves from radiation. Even patients don lead aprons to protect vital organs during x-ray diagnosis.

Through the years, women at home have abandoned the use of aprons. It was a symbol of servitude to a generation seeking "liberation." It was a symbol of a woman who placed her priority to family, home, and children. It was a symbol of her committment to making her home a loving, secure, and orderly place. It is a symbol of love to her husband - I choose to serve you with the love of the labor of my hands. When she dons the apron, she is ready to work for the ones she loves.

It is essential that we, as women, are covered! It is God's plan. God is the Master of the Universe and everything is governed by His exact rules. It is HIS order of the commandment of His creation. God is the Head of us all. We come to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as we are covered by His blood and Name in baptism. The head of man is Christ. The head of woman is man. If we want to be effective in our homes, families, marriages, and occupations - we must follow the order to be covered! The order is: God, Christ, man, woman. Rearrange the sequence and the results are chaos.

In the tabernacle in the wilderness, God had a plan for every part of His dwelling place. There was a plan for what the coverings of the tabernacle and the Holy of Holies would be. There was an order for setting the tabernacle up and for dismatling. The precious, holy objects were covered before being transported. Aaron and his sons were the only ones that could cover those sacred objects. The holy things were for God, they were covered from the gaze of common man, How important in our marriage is it to keep the sacred and holy covered?

We are covered by Christ through baptism in His Name. His blood covers our sins! When we are covered by Jesus, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. When we are covered by His Name, we are His! We are committed to Him. He is committed to us. As the groom adores the bride, so God adores us when we are covered by His Name!

When we are covered by Christ and covered by the covenant of marriage, we are protected. Not only are we protected by our husband, but our minds and hearts are protected as well. The mind and heart are essential for our survival! Not only are we physically protected by our husband, we are spiritually protected. When two or three are gathered in His Name, (man and wife joined in covenant marriage with God,) He will be in the midst.

So, the next time you don an apron - dance to the Lord like Grandma Ruby! Let it be a spiritual renewing. You will be saying, "I am covered by His blood, and I am covered by His Name!" You will be displaying to your husband and children your love, your commitment to them, and that you are ready to dig in and work to give them your all. When you don that apron, you are a picture of the service God calls us to be. You are putting on holiness, you are proclaiming the sacredness of marriage. You are proclaiming, "My marriage, my family are my treasure." You are an example of love shining for your children. You are a beacon of security and refuge to your children and spouse, a safe place to dwell. In years to come, your memory will be sacred to the ones you've served. Then, the Master can say, "Well done!"

I Corinthians 11:3, 5, 12 - "But, I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of every woman is man: and the head of Christ is God. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman, but all things of God."

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Exodus 33:22 - "And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in the cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by."

Isaiah 51:16 - "And I have put My words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art My people."

Galatians 3:27 - "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put Christ on as a garment." (HCSB)


Editor's Note: Laurel Williams is married to Johnnie Williams. Their family lives in Orange, Texas and attends Eastgate United Pentecostal Church, (Pastor George R. Edwards,) in Vidor, where Laurie teaches Sunday School and is faithfully laboring in her Father's vineyard..