Yesterday we went to Mary's to help her with some things. Brandon went to work. Mary has been so downhearted lately. I told her, "Betsy (nickname), you gotta just keep on goin'." Christian Joy wanted to join the Peace Corps when she was just outta high school. Jim thought it was too dangerous and didn't want her to go. So she runs off to NYC to be a fashion designer. How dangerous is that? But I talked to Mary about that yesterday. I said, "Nina (another nick name), this is an adventure. If you were a missionary, you would go through this stuff."
They had to move out of their house and are living in this like motel? And this motel looks like a really bad joke? But it will be for just a month. Then they will move into a nice duplex. Jim and I prayed over the motel. Um, that place is a piece of work? But we felt like everything was ok after we left.
We told Mary how proud of her we are that she isn't giving up. I said, "Mary, I had plenty of adventures being married to Dad." Jim stood up to tell her a few adventures but we just didn't have the heart to tell it. Our adventures are well, um -- well, they were adventures, alright! But I told Mary, "Make a nest here, Nina, for you and Brandon and you will be moving out in a few weeks."
And, ya know, we want things to be nice for our kids. But we have to give them to the Lord. How many mothers' hearts broke as they saw their daughters go off to a mission field in another country? I talked to Mary about all of this. "But, Mom, I never wanted to be a missionary." Well, really, who would when ya think about it. I mean its hardship, right? But if a woman can bring JOY to wherever she is, this is so important. And last night in my bed I prayed for the Joy of the Lord for Mary and me.
We have to praise the Lord in the tough spots. We have to be thankful for what we have in the hard places. I mean we can make a home a nest wherever we are.
Let's talk on the group today about some things that bring Joy to a home. For me, lit scented candles on the table and on the counter tops brings Joy to a home. And something in the crock pot and in the oven.
One meal that I love to fix and it brings me such joy is beans and wieners. I love to get out my big cast iron skillet and put some grease in it and fry hot dogs with onions and black pepper. Then, when the hot dogs are brown, I put the seasoned beans over the top and stir it all up to bake. For the pork and beans, I just drain them good and put in a bit of mustard and ketchup, salt and black pepper. Just stir the bean mixture up and then pour it over the fried hot dogs and bake this in the oven. And I use just the cheap hot dogs.
Last week I made burritos. My kids are all nuts for them. I brought some over to Mary's for her and Brandon's supper last night. They freeze so well. All I do is brown a pound of hamburger with onions. Then I drain it and add a taco seasoning mix and a can of refried beans and some diced tomatoes and green pepper if I have it. I just smash this up in my skillet and, when it is mixed up, I just put tablespoons of it in the soft shells and roll them up and put them on a greased cookie sheet. Then I put undiluted tomato soup over all of them and cheese over that and then bake them. Just smear the soup on. Don't use water in the soup. All of my kids are crazy over these.
Also I think if you can make chocolate chip cookies, this seems to bring joy to a home. And have Christian music playing in the background.
Often Mother's heart is broken but she has to hide that. She has to put an apron on, and a smile, and trust in the Lord. All is well. It really is. Jesus Christ has promised us that He will look over our children and protect them and He will. So we mothers have to walk that out and bring Joy and faith to our homes. We just have to get to cooking and baking and sweeping and washing.
And, ya know, we did the courting with Mary and Brandon. And both of them seemed so ready to get married. But if I had it to do over again, I would rethink this. And yet a girl is ready to be married at 18. I never wanted Mary to be dishonored by this boyfriend and that one.
Brandon wasn't sick when they got married or before. He had a good job and maintained a house. Mowed the lawn and kept up with repairs. We just thought he was a good man and Mary loved him and wanted to marry him. And, of course, we love Brandon. But they have had so much hardship in this marriage.
I think, "Man, should we have stood against the marriage? Should Mary have gone to college before she married?" No, I guess we did what we felt the Lord was telling us to do. Why is it all so hard? I don't know. Ya try to walk with the lord and do right. I didn't want my daughter Mary to be thrown to the world. We guarded her and protected her all of her life.
I trust in You, Lord. We trust in you. I guess when I think of my own life, I wouldn't have wished it on a dog. But, ya know, I landed on my feet and I have been able to bless others. I am a walking target -- I feel that always.
I just went to pray and the Lord gave me a picture. He is painting Mary's life as a picture and I am standing over Him trying to tell Him how to paint it. Not good. "Lord, I give Mary and Brandon to you. Do what You will with them. Make Your own creation. Be the author and finisher of their faith." The Lord shows me the breaking of Mary's heart and He shows me a picture of me pouring oil into her heart. The oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness.
He gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of Joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. We are the trees of righteousness, the plantings of the Lord and Jesus is glorified. The Joy of the lord is our strength. And the Lord shows me as I write to quit taking on the grief Mary feels and to ignite the holy Joy of the Lord in both of us. I refuse in Jesus' name any grief and sadness for her and I. And we, right now by faith, take on the Joy of the Lord.
Take it on with us, dear saints, on this group. Take on the Joy of the Lord. Get up out of your ash heaps and go to a land of Joy and victory. Let us today be happy fruitful Mothers who make homes for strong boys and girls. May we older mothers be examples of faith and gladness. Oh, I think of Mother Teresa's faith and some of the women in history that had faith in God when everything around them was falling apart. I am going to purpose in my heart to be a rock of faith.
An older woman relative has called me and said, "Mary should just give up and go find another man to marry." Yeah, what a good idea. Why didn't I think of that. What a curse of curses to divorce a sick husband and go look for another man to marry. What kind of decent man would want a woman like that? No. Mary and Brandon are faithful.
I told this woman relative, "We are proud of Mary that she has been such a good nurse to Brandon." This woman always wanted Mary to go to college and be a nurse. Well, Mary is a nurse but not one who gets paid. Well, yes, she is being paid by the Lord. She will receive rewards of wisdom and faith. That stuff money can't buy. Only through suffering at times do we learn to know the Lord. And my dear daughter of my prayers is learning to know the Lord. And as her mother I am purposing today in my heart to be full of joy and to pray this onto Mary.
They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength they shall mount up on wings as the eagle. They will run and not be weary and walk and not faint. I will stand in strength today for my family and let the Joy of the Lord be my strength.
Let us as homemakers today be about our Father's business. Let us make homes of Joy and gladness as happy housewives of faith.
