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November 12, 2005

No Children!

No children in the house to play —
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that’s been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!

No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled —
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give —
Oh, what a lonely way to live!

No children in the house! I fear
We could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love’s brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.

And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we’d become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!

By Edgar Guest


Oct. 19,2005

"Precious, no doubt, are these little ones in your eyes; but if you truly love them, then often think about their souls. Nothing should concern you as greatly as their eternal destiny. No part of them should be so dear to you as that part which will never die. The world, with all its glory, will pass away; "The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." But the spirit which dwells in those little creatures, whom you love so well, will outlive them all, and whether they spend eternity in happiness or misery will depend a lot on you (speaking from man’s perspective).

This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind in all that you do for your children. In every step you take about them, in every plan, and scheme, and arrangement that concerns them, do not leave out that mighty question, "How will this affect their souls?" "

                                                                    From The Duties of Parents by J. C. Ryle


Oct. 13, 2005

"The Christian parent may ask, What am I to teach my child? The answer is simple. Teach him only such things as will prove useful to him as a servant of Christ. Do not teach him aught which you know would prove a positive source of defilement or weakness to him; should he remain here. We are seldom at a loss to know what kind of food to give our children. We are tolerably well aware of what would prove nourishing and what would prove the reverse. Now, were the instincts of the new nature as true and as energetic in us, as those of the old, we should, I am persuaded, be at as little loss to decide in reference to what we should teach our children. In this, as in everything else, it may be said, "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." If we have a deep sense of Christ's glory, and a sincere desire to promote it, we shall not be left in perplexity; but if our body is not "full of light," we may be assured our “eye" is not “single.""

         From Thou and Thy House, or The Christian at Home  by C.H. Mackintosh (C. 1850)


Sept.28,2005

The Seven Pillars of Biblical Womanhood:

1. A helpmeet, Genesis 2:18

2. Fruitful bearer of children, Genesis 1:28

3. Keeper at home, Titus 2:4

4. Teacher, Ephesians 6:1-4

5. Demonstration of unfading beauty, I Peter 3:4-6

6. Humble, obedient, respectful toward a husband, Ephesians 5:22-33

7. Domestic entrepreneur, Proverbs 31:10-31

                    Thanks to Mr. Scott Brown's Blog


Sept.7,2005

A word to sons...

Your Name

You got it from your father
It was all he had to give
So it's yours to use and cherish
For so long as you may live.
If you lose the watch he gave you
It can always be replaced
But a black mark on your name,  son
Can never be erased
It was clean the day you took it
And a worthy name to bear.
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonour there.
So make sure you guard it wisely,
After all is said and done
You'll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your son.

                               ~ Author Unknown


August 14,2005

"There are different kinds of shells in the sea. Some of them are very coarse, ugly and unsightly; others are lovely, like the nautilus, "many chambered, softly curved, pearl-adorned, glowing with imprisoned rainbows." But each shell exactly corresponds with the nature of the creature that lives in it. Each little creature builds a house just like itself; indeed it builds its own life into it. In like manner every home takes its color and tone from its makers. A refined spirit puts refinement into a home, though it be only one plain room without an ornament or a luxury; a coarse nature makes the home coarse, though it be a palace filled with all the elegances that wealth can buy. No home-life can ever be better than the life of those who make it. It is nothing less or more than the spirit of the parents like an atmosphere filling all the house."

                                                                     From Homemaking by J.R. Miller 1882


August 5 ,2005

Mother! Mother! Watch and pray,
Fling not golden hours away!
Now or never, plant and sow,
Catch the morning's earliest glow.

Mother! Mother! Guard the dew,
While it sparkles clear and true.
No delay! The scorching noon
May thy treasures reach too soon.

Mother! Point them to the sky,
Tell them of a loving eye,
That more tender is than thine,
And doth ever on them shine.

Mother! Lead them soon and late
To behold the golden gate;
When they long to enter there,
Lead them to the Lamb by prayer.

Mother, seize the precious hours,
While the dew is on thy flowers!
Life is such a fleeting thing,
Mother! Mother! Sow in spring.

Selected

From Verses of Virtue Complied and Edited by Beall Phillips


 

July 18, 2005

"There is, I should say, a very serious error involved in a Christian parent's committing the training of his children to unconverted persons, or even to those whose hearts are not one with him as to separation from the world. It is natural that a child should look up to, and follow the example of, one who has the training and management of him. Now, what can a teacher make of a child, save what he is himself? Whither can he lead him but to where he is himself? What principles can he instill save those which govern his own mind, and form the basis of his own character? Well, if I see a man governed by worldly principles — if I see plainly, from his whole course and character, that he is an unconverted persons shall I commit to him the training or instruction of my children, or the formation of their characters? It would be the height of folly and inconsistency so to do. As well might a man who desired to make an oval-shaped bullet cast the melted lead into a circular mould. The same principle applies to the reading of books. A book is decidedly a silent teacher and former of the mind and character; and if I am called to look well to the character and principles of the living teacher, I am equally so to look to those of a silent teacher. I am quite convinced that, in reference both to books and teachers, we need to have our consciences stirred and instructed."

 

From Thou and Thy House or The Christian at Home by C. H. Mackintosh
(c.1850)


July 1, 2005

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
 Psalm 78:1-7


June 16,2005

Father of Mine

Father of mine, some years ago
You showed me the way I ought to go;
You led my feet past the treach’rous sand
By the gentle clasp of your own strong hand.

Father of mine, let me thank you for
The prayers you prayed and the burden you bore.
Like a guiding star thro’ the tempests’ strife,
All your precepts have shone on my path of life.

Father of mine, when the time has passed
And the work of my life is complete at last,
When I step ashore on the glory strand
With a grateful heart I will clasp your hand.

                                                  —Sarah K. Marinee

Taken from Poems for Patriarchs: The Verse and Prose of Christian Manhood, compiled and edited by Doug Phillips.


June 1, 2005

"Wherein lies then the maintenance of God's order in the family? The answer to this question is found in both Ephesians and Colossians. (Eph. 5: 22-33, Eph. 6: 1-9; Col. 3: 18-25, Col. 4: 1.) The husband is the head, and as such has to act as God's vice-regent, to govern not according to his, but according to the divine will. The authority put into his hands is from the Lord, and it is his to wield for Him, and it cannot therefore be delegated to another. The wife is in subjection to her husband, even as the Church is subject to Christ, the husband on his part having to love his wife even as Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it. The responsibility of children is to obey their parents in the Lord. Their obedience is to be absolute, qualified only by the condition — in the Lord. Servants have likewise to obey their masters, parents and masters having on their side their respective obligations.

With these instructions before us, it is easy to perceive that if the wife govern instead of the husband, or if the children are permitted to have their own way, to please themselves instead of living in subjection; or if, again, servants are allowed to govern the household, it could not be productive either of blessing, harmony, or happiness. No; the pathway of blessing is the pathway of obedience in the several spheres we are called upon to fill. And when this is acknowledged by the various members of a family, that household becomes a testimony for God in a scene where all have departed from Him — a bright circle of light in the midst of surrounding darkness, and an anticipation of millennial blessing when the Lord's authority shall be acknowledged throughout the whole world."

                                                                                                                                 E. Dennett
                                                                                                                         From God's Order 
                                                                 Published in The Christian's Friend, vol. 9, 1882, p. 225


May 16,2005

Oh, Happy House

Oh, happy house! where Thou art loved the best,
O Lord, so full of love and grace;
Where never comes such welcome, honoured Guest
Where none can ever fill Thy place;
Where every heart goes forth to meet Thee,
Where every ear attends Thy word,
Where every lip with blessing greets Thee,
Where all are waiting on their Lord.

Oh, happy house! where man and wife in heart,
In faith, and hope are one;
Thru life, and not till death doth part
The holy union here begun;
Where both are sharing one salvation,
And live before Thee, Lord, always,
In gladness or in tribulation,
In happy or in evil days.

Oh, happy house! whose little ones are given
Early to Thee in faith and prayer -
To Thee, their Lord, who from the heights of heaven
Guards them with more than mother's care.
Oh, happy house! where little voices
Their glad thanksgivings love to raise,
And childhood's lisping tongue rejoices
To bring new songs of love and praise.

Oh, happy house! and happy servitude!
Where all alike one Master own;
Where daily duty, in Thy strength pursued,
Is never hard nor toilsome known;
Where each one serves Thee, meek and lowly,
Whatever Thine appointment be,
Till common tasks seem great and holy,
When they are done as unto Thee.

Oh, happy house! where Thou art not forgot
When joy is flowing full and free;
Oh, happy house! where every wound is brought -
Physician, Comforter — to Thee.
Until at last, earth's day's work ended,
All meet Thee in that home above,
From whence Thou comest, where Thou hast ascended,
Thy heaven of glory and of love.

                                                    ~ Author Unknown
Found in The Christian Household by Edward Dennett, Published in 1877


May 8,2005
Mother's Day

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD...Psalm 127:3

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm 34:11

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:28-31


March 25, 2004

Just as I am, Thine Own to be

Just as I am, Thine Own to be,
Friend of the young, Who lovest me,
To consecrate myself to Thee -
O Jesus Christ, I come.

In the glad morning of my day
My life to give, my vows to pay,
With no reserve and no delay -
With all my heart I come.

I would live ever in the light,
I would work ever for the right,
I would serve Thee with all my might -
Therefore to Thee I come.

Just as I am, young, strong and free,
To be the best that I can be
For truth and righteousness and Thee -
Lord of my life I come.

                                  ~ Author Unknown


March 4, 2005

"You are in the very center of His will as you embrace His little ones to your heart and raise them to be mighty arrows for God's kingdom. You are at the very heart of the kingdom of God. There is nothing more powerful that you could be doing in the whole of the world. Be encouraged. And may you be filled with the joy of the Lord as you fulfill this mighty task in your home today."

                                                                                             ~ Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies


Feb. 23, 2005

Thoughts on the "old paths"

For Fathers...

"When a people who used to walk in wisdom go astray to their hurt, the smart thing for them to do is to return to the old paths so that they can find rest once again. As a culture we used to do the family thing right, but over the last few generations we have lost our way to the point that we won't even survive as a culture given our current course. It makes sense to get back to the ways that worked. It makes sense to get back to biblical patriarchy...

 Many men will say of the old path "We will not walk in it." But that needn't stop you  and me. Let's adopt the attitude expressed by Job:

For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow: Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? (Job 8:8-10)

We need the humility to realize that we don't know very much at all. We need to learn from the past, from our forefathers who will still speak to us from their hearts if we will just listen. 

Even if the crowd doesn't follow, even if the larger culture continues it's path to downward destruction, you can do it right in your own home. You don't control the world, but by God's design you do control your own choices and your household...

...We've all been led astray, but we can get back on course.

Let's set our eyes on the future because that is where we and our children are going to live. But as we do, let's learn the lessons of the past so that we understand the times in which we live today.

Let's take the "old paths" into the future." 

                                                                   ~ Philip Lancaster - Patriarch Magazine
                                                                      From
Family Man, Family Leader 

For Mothers...

"A dear friend once gave me a profound challenge. When I told her how hard it is to find like-minded women, she said, "Are you willing to be that woman even if you never get the encouragement yourself? Are you willing to be the generation that does without so that the next generation may be richly blessed with the teaching and godly example you so desire?" I had to admit that I really wasn't willing to be a part of the generation that was having to take the first steps back into the "old paths." I wanted to be living in a time when millions were on the road with me. But for most of us, this just isn't going to be the case. We are going to have to sacrifice so that the next generation will be prepared to serve in a way we'd love to be served."

                                                            ~ Jennie Chancey - Ladies Against Feminism
                                                               From "Mommy Madness" or Materialism Run Amok?


January, 2005

The Day of Small Things
(Dedicated to all the young mothers whose weariness and frustrations I understand...Zechariah 4:10)

Fretful wailing pierced the night;
I wearily switched on the light.
Calming babies, soothing fears,
Shedding bitter, angry tears.
Must my strength be all poured out?
So, discontent, I start to doubt.

Seeing others free to roam,
With pretty clothes and spotless homes,
While little ones to my legs cling.
Dirty laundry and apron strings
Seem to be my lot in life—
Grumpy mommy, weary wife.

Packed away in mothballs now,
Diplomas, ribbons, awards show how
The world once gave me accolades
As all my talents I displayed.
So many dishes now crowd the sink,
My overflowing brain can't think.

As I grumble, baby sleeps—
Quietness over my spirit creeps.
My joy comes not from flimsy stuff:
His strength in weakness is enough.
It's wrong to think I'm in a cell;
Wide's the space God gives to dwell.

How could I forget that when
I willingly submit, it's then
My joy is full, I'm made complete,
Prostrate and worshipful at God's feet?
Small things and trials I mustn't despise,
But see them, trusting, through His eyes.

                                  ~ by Carmon Freidrich
                                    
Buried Treasure Books


"The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing; but in our culture, we apply for a curse and reject blessings.  Something is wrong with this picture."  ~ Doug Phillips


Some will hate you, some will love you
Some will flatter, some will slight.
Cease from Man and look above you-
Trust in God and do the right. 
                                       ~ N. MacLeod


Copyright Old Paths 1999-2005


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