Spirit of Homesteading

Good Morning!

Ya know, I get into a lot of trouble when I come against lady preachers. But lately, had I not had this discernment and telling it like it is, I would be wallowing in such confusion. I just praise the Lord that I don't have to be confused. Anyway, back to homemaking.

Now, ya know, I just can't imagine that more of you aren't howling over Carla Emery's book called The Encyclopedia of Country Living. Man, I have been reading this book since the 1970's when I saw Carla on the Phil Donahue show. She brought her goat to the show and, man, I loved all of that. It's too bad that more women don't bring their goats when they come on shows like Oprah. They need a goat on that show. Anyway, I asked for Carla's book for Christmas that year and, oh, I love this book. She kept updating the book. I had the first one. I read it until it was in shreds. Then Dixie gave me about the second edition of the book. I still read that. But at our library I got the ninth edition. Carla was never really satisfied with her book and so she kept updating it. Now, from what I read, she was satisfied with the ninth edition and then just lately she died. It was like she was born to write that book and, when it was like she wanted it, she died.

Well, I will have to live to be 145 because I am so slow at writing books. And if God won't let me die until I get my book written, then, well, I guess I will be very old when I die. My mom thinks I am going to be a popular writer so she is always asking me if I am working on my next book. But doesn't my life have to slow down and then I write a book?

Anyway, I got Carla's book in the early 70's right when I needed it. It's about survival on the land and living off the land. But at the time, I needed that spirit of back to the land. I did go back to the land to some extent. But mostly I needed the spirit of moxie. I needed a spine of steel to hoist up my slumping, weary shoulders. I would sit up in my bed at night and read this book about home and making it on the land. I had so little. I had no husband. I had a son and a baby to take care of. And I just needed someone to tell me that I could make it, one way or the other.

The survival skills come. But first the spirit of homesteading has to come. It's like an independent spirit. A spirit that says, "I don't need anybody to make this work but God." Because, see, when I was so down and so needy, then few people wanted to help me. Once I got up, I had plenty of friends. But I had to learn to be brave and to make a light for my own steps. I had to be someone when everyone told me I was no one. I had to decide I was someone when I had no place to stand or to be. I was alone and the darkness surrounded me. I had children who needed me. But I got so little comfort from the others. God was all I had. And at the time, ya know, I didn't know Him like I do now. But I loved to read Carla's book, as it told of a woman making it on the land. She found a way to survive, and I needed to survive and live and care for my children.

The spirit of Homesteading is a spirit that decides to make it, no matter what the circumstances are or the lack around you. You plan to make it, one way or the other. And, ya know, I don't always agree with Chrissy Joy. But, ya know, she ran away to NYC and had no money. She bought old prom dresses at the Salvation Army and made 'em look crazy and sold them to women who are top designers. Our son Jimmy laughs his head off at his sister who sold her dresses to women who only wore the best and most expensive clothes. Chrissy would buy shoes from the Salvation Army for a few bucks and then she went and sold them at a consignment shop for 30 bucks a pair. I guess she learned survival and this is how she acted it out. Her Mama's god wasn't good enough for her at the time. But my God will be her God in the coming years. And then she will teach me about survival.

A Homestead Heart

Ya know, sometimes you just have to reel your own self in and home your own heart. The world don't have an answer for ya. No one loves ya, Darlin', like God. Most people are fair weather friends... a few are sincere. But this ballgame is up to you. I mean, yes, God loves you. But, ya know, you have to decide to make it yourself?

See, the unbelievers will tell ya this, too. The difference is that you are a believer. So you have a helper, the Holy Spirit. But the first call is yours -- are you gonna make it or not? God can't make that decision for you.

And, ya know, there is a truth in feminism. And there is a fine line between her and the Godly woman who has moxie. A feminist won't bow to anyone but her boss at work? But a woman who won't bow or learn godly submission can't lead, either. One who won't follow can't lead. A feminist has no dignity or patience in her quest for purpose. But the woman of God will bow and weave with God and find her place in Him. A feminist will run for all that glitters in this world. But the woman of God seeks as her treasure the voice of God.

And the danger for Christian women at times is that they will submit to anyone. And this is not good. Her power is that she submits to her own husband. The virtuous woman is the woman of power. She knows that there is power in the heavenlies. Man was made for God and she is made for her man. And as she submits to her husband, she comes under God and His power. When she submits to other women, she finds some power. But there is more power in submitting to your own husband. And sometimes you need an independent spirit of moxie to go ahead and submit to your husband. Because the world, the local church, and the devil ain't gonna tell you to submit to your own husband.

Ya know, the Lord taught me all of this the hard way. I was so exasperated in the first years of my marriage. I would have to go to the jail to have a conversation with Jim. Well, they have a new jail now. But back then it was a rat hole. I had to balance myself on an old tall stool so Jim could hear me talk through the screen. This stool was supposed to have four legs but only had three? It was a tall stool and you had to sit on it just right to not fall off. And it took a lot of prayin' to sit on that stool. And I made up my mind that I was going to talk to Jim in faith. And my 15 minute visit with him was gonna glorify God. So I asked him what bills I should pay that week.

I treated him like he was the priest of my home. The devil wanted for me to sit there and cry but I wouldn't. I laughed and made our visit happy as I would if we were home. I was alone as I lived in my faith world. I spoke to Jim as the priest of my home. Because he was the priest of my home. Not a good man, no. Not a holy righteous priest, no. But he was the one God set over me and, by faith, I submitted to my own husband as unto the Lord.

So often folks would say to me, "Connie, when will you write a book?" Well, I thought they were crazy to say that to me. Heck, livin' my life was hard enough -- who would want to write about it? Little did I know that God was watching me in my obedience to Him, as my heart was broken, as I sat on that danged 3-legged stool. Jesus was there with me all the time. I thought that surely God hated me. He knew that I would write about this many times in the years to come. And that I would glorify Him and, through this, I would bring hope to those who have suffered as I did. God knows His stuff.

But, ya know, the Lord does sometimes call you to the wilderness to stand alone and be tempted. The props are kicked out from under you and you have to stand alone. And in this place of utter hopelessness, we must be found faithful. And the victory comes and the Lord gives you double blessings for all that you have suffered.

Jesus wants to be glorified on this earth and He shares His glory with no man. And a woman's place of power is under her husband.

A Candle in the Window

Ya know, back in the old days, the Homestead Mother at night would put a candle in her window. Often the husband or children would be coming home late in the dark and they would see the light and it would guide them home. Mother's light and fire never went out in the cold wintertime as she tended her fire.

The candle in the window is like the prayers said for family. We have to keep the lights shining in the darkness. The window of Mother's heart is always aflame, calling and wooing her loved ones home. Home to her heart and home to Jesus. The world screams at mother to come away from her window and to not light the candle again tonight. The world screams, "Your kids are hopeless and your husband, too." But Mother, each night, goes to the window and lights her candle again by faith.

The Lord speaks to her:
Keep the candle in the window, Mother,
and the fire blazing low.
Keep the soup on simmer, Mother,
just a few hours left to go.

The Lord promises Mother that soon all of her children will be in to sup at the table of faith Mother has made with her prayers. Papa's chair is there, by faith, and he will be home to sit there as priest of the home. The Lord whispers sweetly to Mother's ears, "If you don't give up, you will see His glory."

Mother is not proud and arrogant, and she trusts only in God. As Mother goes to her cupboard to take out her flour and yeast to make her bread, she sings and rejoices in the Lord. She makes supper in the evening and her candle is in the window. She forgets about the candle and she does her homestead chores. No one sees her but the angels and they are happy to see her light in the window. The light looks small to the world but it lights heaven and causes the angels to sing because of Mother's faith. She won't give up and take her candle out of the window. She will light the darkness, even though she is busy doing her work.

The candle in the window is the never ending prayers to God. The flame burns and Mother's hands are busy working on her homestead. Her trust in God causes her flame to burn steady and not go out. Mother trusts in God. She doesn't have a cell phone to find out if the kids are alright. No, Mother has the Lord and He alone is her bread and wine.

In my home, I have electric candles in my window. And in back of the candles I have a picture of angels. Folks used to walk by my house and say, "You still have up your Christmas lights?" One neighbor walked by when Jimmy was in the Navy, and she said, "You have those lights in the window because Jimmy is in the Navy, right?" And I said "Yes I do." And the children across the street tell me that sometimes this light shines in their bedroom at night.

Mother's prayer reflects and glistens in many ways. And her faith is powerful as she trusts in God.