College Part 2

I realize my article What about College? wasn’t very clear on what my family and my convictions on this subject are. First of all, I don’t believe college is wrong for women at all.  If a woman can live in an environment where she is under godly authority and in covenantal relationships, college may be a good option.  God’s pattern for accountability has always been the family.  It has only been in the last 50 years or so that it has become normal for a woman to leave the family environment and go out “on her own.”  It is not higher education that it is the issue; it is the living out of the independent, unaccountable lifestyle that is wreaking havoc upon women in our culture.  Women are to use their minds, but this can be done within the protected environment of my family and church.  We as Christians need to examine the culture around us and determine if the norms in our society are really based upon biblical principles.

            Secondly, we follow Scripture, not the world. Our first priority is the specific commands of Scripture for women (Love husband and children, wash the saint’s feet, etc.) If we have time to learn and do what the Scripture says and still have time to gain some form of higher education, that’s great. In fact, I should have made it more obvious previously that I will consider getting a college degree at home (whether by online programs or taking CLEP tests, etc.) if I have time after learning the more important things.
            Thirdly, my goal is to use my gifts to glorify God and further His kingdom operating in the Biblical pattern for women. If college or some form of higher eduation will further that purpose, I will pursue it. The picture is much larger that "being a homemaker." Many people imagine stay-at-home women to be bound-to not be able to accomplish their full potential. Far from it, God's pattern frees up women so that we can accomplish far more through God's grace. When a women goes out into the world without protection, she binds herself to people that might want to hurt her, to guilt, to bitterness...the list goes on and on. Instead, when a women is protected she is able to fully express the gifts God has given her. Yet she can only do so within the liberty of God's law.  

            College and homemaking can compliment each other. I know many young ladies who have been able to attend college while still living under the protection of their families and are great homemakers. I’m just not sure that that will work out for me. I think it’s possible as well for a woman to have a job and still be under God’s will. Some single moms have to get a job to support their families. However, such a case is an exception, not the norm. I think So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin explains this issue well.

            Like all of us, I am constantly being sanctified and “renewing my mind in the blood of Jesus.” The last few days I’ve had the opportunity to clarify with my parents what we believe about this issue.

-Jewel

Dieum declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

           

           

What about College?

            My family and I were at our local caucus last night. I was sitting in the back sewing when a lady leaned back in her chair. “Where are you going to go to college?” she asked. It wasn’t a bad question. Seeing that I am in my high-school years, it is a normal question to ask to get a conversation going. For me, however; the question hit like a hammer. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about the matter before. I knew my answer.   It was at that moment that I realized my long-hidden thoughts would have to become words.

            “Well, I’m actually not going to college…” I tried to explain softly so as not to distract the meeting. “I’ll be pursuing some of my own study as well has helping some ladies in our church. My goal is to be a homemaker...” Thinking back, I probably could have explained it better. Yet, it caused me to think about a better answer for the future.

            Why am I not going to college? It’s not that I would be unable to enter one. With the privileges of home education, receiving a scholarship would be no difficult task. The question is, would going to college help me in my goal to achieve my life purpose as a woman of God? Would I have time if I were to go away to college to prepare more important skills in homemaking?  In Titus, Paul specifically calls the younger women to be “keepers at home.” How can I be a keeper at home if I’m out in the workforce every day? The Proverbs 31 women works mainly at home; her husband is in the gates. This does not mean I will not be working. Far from it, raising a family is a full time job.

            Some have raised the question of home education. Wouldn’t college enable me to teach my children better? I’m not so sure. I believe I can learn more at home studying what really matters. Most likely my children will take a different course in life that I will. If I were to receive a degree in Chemistry, say, what if my children decide to become musicians? In addition, there are hundreds of resources out there to help me teach my children should they decide to go into a specific field.

            Our modern culture has turned college into a place to hang out and try life on your own instead of a positive learning atmosphere. Youth are so excited to leave for college so they can be “on their own” without the authority of their parents. However, while away, many foolish choices are made that will bruise these youth for the rest of their life. Following the biblical model of a women staying under the authority of either her father or husband helps avoid many of these mistakes.

            What am I to do with my time? The years between high school and marriage are an opportunity many women miss to serve their families and churches and to grow in their relationship with Christ. Being a help-meet to our mothers and fathers will train us to be good helpmeets for our future husbands. The time we are able to spend building relationships with our siblings will greatly edify our relationship with our own husband and children someday. These years are a great opportunity to further our education at home as well, whether it’s reading, online courses, or attending some classes at a local community college. Even more, the churches of today are sorely lacking young women to help young mothers, organize events, and encourage the younger generation. This time-period is also an opportunity for building our own skills, whether it’s music, writing, cooking, art or whatever. Someday our husbands will greatly appreciate our gifts as we use them to support their dominion work.

            I have also known many young ladies who have been able to start their own entrepreneurial endeavors or work for their fathers’ or brothers’ businesses. Although I hate math, I have a feeling I’ll be the one doing the bookkeeping and accounting work for my brother’s construction business. (I already am helping him some…today I was out there in the 30 degree weather helping him raise framing for our house’s extension!)

            I’m not saying college is inherently sinful. I believe it is fine for men to pursue brick and mortar colleges if it will help them provide for their families and if they are accountable to a solid church or family. Neither do I think it is sinful for women to go to college unless they refuse to be held accountable. Yet, I firmly believe women can attain something much higher by embracing God’s pattern of life.

            Well, I’m afraid such an answer will not due for caucus meetings…I’ll have to think of something shorter…!

Why I Write

               Some people write to express their political views, while some write to express their emotions. Some write just because they have to, others because they enjoy it. Some people have a revolutionary idea to express; others have a lot of words without saying anything in particular. Some write to anger people, some to humor, some to sober. Amongst an innumerable amount of vastly different books, papers, articles, and magazines, why do I write?

                I write because I enjoy it, but my purpose is far larger. God has given each of us gifts, and I believe one of mine is writing. God desires that we use our gifts for him, and to the fullest extent possible. Why waste what God has given us? I write for my King, and I write for others’ edification. Although I was reminded this Sunday by my pastor’s sermon not to rely on others’ words of encouragement but rather on Christ, many times the encouragement of others has helped me greatly. During a period of time when I was extremely discouraged about music some friends of ours wrote a note to us explaining how much my piano playing had encouraged them. I was reminded once more that my skills don’t have to be perfect to help others.
                I remember the first time I began to write on my own. When I was about eleven or twelve I decided to write a book about pioneers. A young lady from the church encouraged me to write and even sat down with me and listened to the story. When I read it now I realize there were a lot of mistakes she could have corrected me on, but instead she realized that her job was to encourage me- the grammar would come later. When I was finished, my Aunt helped me edit it (believe me, it needed a lot!) and typeset it and we took it to the office store and had them spiral bind it. The best part of the book were the illustrations done by my brother. The story was about an eighteen-year-old girl named Becka Forsythe (what did I know about eighteen-year-olds?) and her family who traveled west in a covered wagon (of course!). On the way out to Kansas they meet a buffalo stampede and just barely escape by jumping onto a mesa type rock. Because their wagon was ruined, they settled there, near Lecompton, Kansas. Most of the family is captured by the Ute Indians in the Walker War and are freed by Becka and her brother Peter. Just when they arrive home, their older son who was away studying law shows up and they live happily ever after. Anyway, I remember being disappointed that it was only sixty-one pages long and you could read it in less than an hour!
                I’m not sure in what ways God will enable me to use writing to advance his kingdom. Right now it may only be writing for Joyfully Jewel and The Prairie Times, a local magazine I have recently been involved in. Whatever it is, being in God’s will is the best place for me to be.
                So many girls I talk to enjoy writing, but are afraid to show their work to anyone. That’s sad. Sometimes failing a few times in front of others teaches you a lot more than hiding your skills. Remember, our goal is not to make a good reputation for ourselves, but to showcase God’s glory. Writing is a great way to share the gospel and encourage others, most of all pointing them to Christ. So I write on, for Christ and His kingdom!

Let it Snow!

                How many times have you watched the snow fly outside while sitting by the hearth or taken a single snowflake in your hand and examined its intricate design? Snow is one of the many wonders of God’s creation; a wonder that far exceeds the power of the pen. In the wild recesses of your mind, could you ever come up with something so wonderful, so beautiful, yet so useful a substance as snow? Not only does it store water in an almost dry element, allowing for more precipitation without flooding and washing away earth, it protects the earth by allowing only a steady melt of water to soak the plants below it and seep into the earth’s groundwater. So where does this snow come from?

               Snow begins in a process called the Bergeron Process. The Bergeron process takes place in cold clouds, or clouds with below-freezing temperatures thus clouds subsisting of ice. When water condenses out of the atmosphere and gathers in the cold cloud, at a certain point, the ice crystals in these clouds weigh too much to stay suspended in the air. As the ice crystals begin to fall through the air, they pick up more water which freezes and continues falling. When they become too large they break, creating even more crystals falling through the air. When they reach the lower troposphere they either melt causing rain, or stay frozen, depending on the temperature.  

               The intricate design of snowflakes is caused by the ice crystals breaking, collecting more ice, and then breaking again numerous times. Although it’s not impossible for two snowflakes to be identical, it’s highly unlikely due to the vast number of possibilities.

                Next times you see snow, remember God’s amazing creativity in designing the snowflake. Whether you’re caught outside in it, or watching it swirl from your window, don’t forget to thank God for creating such a beautiful and useful substance as snow. God could have made the earth all brown and dull, but that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?

Living on the Land

            A few years ago, my father caught a vision for taking dominion of the creation by learning how to live a more rural lifestyle.  The problem was we lived in suburbia. So, we decided to work with what we had.  Instead of impractical green grass, woodchips, and shrubs, we began to recreate the landscape on our ¼ acre to include a large vegetable and herb garden. Our first animals to get were two rabbits. They provided great fun and good composting manure until one day we didn’t close the cage properly and they escaped. That was the end of our rabbits.

            Next we went to the feed store and bought six fluffy chicks-one for each in the family. Not long after we had brought them home we became the neighborhood petting zoo. It started with letting one child hold the birds, and he told his friends, and they told their friends...and you get the point.

            But our real goal was to have some land where we could raise as many animals as we liked. After two stressful moves within five months of each other and a providential set of events, we finely found a homestead that fit us perfectly. We had waited for this for years! Jumping right in, and before we had even unpacked the house, we started working on the garden and orchard.
            First, we constructed a seven foot tall fence out of landscaping timbers to keep out the deer. We then wrapped a hodgepodge of fencing around to help with the rabbits. In his excitement to get started, my dad bought twenty-four fruit trees at a sale to plant in between the garden rows. Talking about a lot of fruit! In our old house, we tilled the garden by hand, but we weren’t so keen on breaking 300 square feet of thick sod by hand. So, we started researching rototillers. We came a across a pretty-good sized rototiller at a used sale. Thinking that bigger could only be better, we bought it. The giant size still works well for breaking up clay-like dirt, but it’s not so easy to push!
            Now, two years later, looking back I am glad we followed the principle found in Proverbs 24:27: “Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field, and then build your house.” Our garage may not be completely unpacked, but we are two years farther into getting fruit from our trees.
            Yet, we have found homesteading a lot harder than it looks in the books! After all that hard work of putting in the garden that first summer, our farm was hit with an intense hail storm. We came back from vacation to find the garden in a miserable condition. Nevertheless, we now know to put hail guards over some of the more sensitive plants before leaving town!
            Over the last two years, our farm has grown to include milk goats, chickens, and egg-laying ducks. There is nothing more satisfying than coming in from feeding the animals and enjoying fresh eggs, milk and produce. We also have the fulfillment of knowing where our food comes from and what nutrients are on our plate.
            Some of my father’s goals in originally moving us to some acreage were to be able to teach us children to work hard, to serve others, and to take dominion for Christ’s kingdom. Having animals that must be fed no matter what the weather has definitely taught us to get out of bed in the morning! Even more rewarding are the countless people from all stages and walks of life that have found our homestead to be a welcome rest from the toils of this world. Many children who might not otherwise get to experience farm life have been able to help feed goat kids, gather eggs, or harvest the garden. Through the creativity the farm life has brought, my siblings and I have been able to prune our skills and use them to further Christ’s kingdom. Whether it’s building a swing for a local ministry, writing, music, or hospitality, I hope we will be able to tell others about the gospel through our example. I know not what new animals we will be able to work with or what new adventures we will add to our little farm in the coming years. Whatever they are, I hope we can use them to bless others and most importantly, to glorify God.

Face Your Troubles-They're There for a Reason!

               Face your troubles- they're there for a reason!   This idea really came alive to me after listening to The Hedge of Thorns today. We tend to think of trials as bad things-but they’re really  for our good. God is not only teaching us a lesson, He is protecting us from something.  How many times have I been upset that God has not allowed me to go somewhere or do something I wanted to do.  I cannot even imagine what God was protecting me from; I will probably never know.

                Most of our trials aren’t glorious. Someone isn’t going to pat me on the back for facing another day of math with a good attitude. Those are the circumstances that really count though. Some big trials like losing your job or getting martyred for the faith are hard, make no mistake, yet it is the daily difficulties that teach us to place our hope in God.

                A lot of that difficulty includes battling down our flesh. It’s like Paul said in Romans six, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do practice; but what I hate, that I do…but now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Sometimes it’s much harder to deal with self than anything else.

                I’m talking to myself more than anyone else. It’s those little troubles that are so hard to deal with-loving others, facing your work with a joyful attitude, etc. Go…and face your trials for the Lord!

(By the way-you can get The Hedge of Thorns from Lamplighter in either book or audio format. If you ever have or ever will deal with difficulties, I highly recommend it!)

Busy...

I’ve simply been too busy to write in the last week. I’ve been busy cooking for my family; busy trying to figure out negative numbers. I’m busy plodding through physical science without the math necessary to do even the most basic physics problems. I’ve been busy trying to meet the demands of learning two instruments, and learning that half an hour a day doesn’t cut it when it comes to learning some of the harder pieces! I’m busy teaching my sisters piano, even when it means going overtime to explain the difference between common time and 6/8. Sometimes it’s frustrating when you sit down to read at the end of the day and get interrupted every other sentence! I’ve been busy trying to make sense of life, spending time with siblings, and learning from my mistakes. Busy thinking of articles to write with no time to write them! But, it’s not necessarily bad to be busy…as long as you’re busy doing the right things.  After all, it says, “That they may teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4) I’d better go, my sister is calling me to come teach her piano…

Do justice, Love mercy, Walk humbly with your God

Jewel

Dieum declectare, dieu laudes decorare