Little Okie Homestead

19  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,   20   for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.   21   Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21 I don't feel like I struggle with this like I have in the past. Of course I still struggle with this today, after all I am married and have a 3 year old ;) but I think this verse is important to everyone in today's world.  We live in a time when it's common to use hand signals to show our anger on the road or to yell at our spouse or children. Or when we know that someone is having a difficult time we want to share our experience or share what we think the solution should be. But instead God calls us to "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." This is a verse that I try to live by daily ...

2   Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,   3   because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  4   Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  12   Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of the life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:2-4, 12 Don't you just love it when you start going through a season of trials? Whether that season is just a bad day or maybe an uncomfortable year? I know I don't enjoy them and we have had our fair share of  seasons of trials  this past year. More than I have shared here.  For me this verse lets me look at the trials in a different way. I hear God telling me that the trials we are going through are to build up to be "mature and complete" so that we are lacking nothi...

There is so much that I'm learning just from studying this one chapter of James. Today I will share with you the chapter in full and then expand on the highlighted verses later this week. James 1    1 James, a servant of God and  of the Lord Jesus Christ,  To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:  Greetings. Trials and Temptations     2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.   5  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That m...

My Bible study group is currently reading a Francine Rivers book together because we just ended a very long study of Proverbs. Reading this book allows us to still be hearing stories from the Bible and there are questions that follow each 'book' (this one has 5 books in one) that allow us to be in the Bible and have the real story as well. Even though I will be doing this study I still want to be in the Word so I'm going to do a personal Bible study of James.  I don't actually have a reason to why I picked James. I was looking through my Bible trying to decide what I wanted to study. I knew I wanted a shorter book because I'm trying a new way to study the Bible that my wonderful sister in law has shared with me and James just popped out at me. Probably God's doing. He knows what I need and probably has something for me to learn by studying James. So I will be starting this week with finding out the history of James and this book. I'm excited to dig ...

Having Goose around has made me into a tired and lazy mom. Now I know he isn't even a month old yet and I deserve some time to rest since I'm up several times a night but it's starting to feel like it's going to become a habit unless I start working on it now. Then I read  this post  which helped me to think of a few things about the mom that I want to be. Here are a few things that I want to do to help me be the mom that I want to be and that God has called me to be... Figure out a flexible schedule for us . (I despise list and schedules but it is a must when having young children and great practice for us because homeschooling years will be here before we know it). Start my day with the Word . Studying the Bible is always motivating. I want to find scripture that I can read daily to remind me of what my role is in my house. Start a To-Do List . Once again I despise lists but I need to have a way to keep track of everything that I need to accomplish during the w...

In our Bible study group we are talking each week about a Proverb and a controversial/important to us topic. This is the first one that we discussed.  In today's world this is something that isn't always easy to see. We wanted to look at what God said were the roles of the household and it wasn't surprising to me because we are living mostly this way but I know for some, these things aren't always easy to hear. Let's first start with the husband's role. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:4 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his boy, of which he is the Savior. Ephesians 5:23 Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church. Ephesians 5:28-2...

Bible Study Tuesday...very late on Friday! I want to apologize that this didn't get done and written out for Tuesday. It really was just because I haven't had the time or the words to write it.  Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you;  embrace her, and she will honor you.  She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor. Proverbs 4:5-9 I still can not get over how much Proverbs is talking about wisdom and understanding. How important must it be for us to have to live in this world. God knows us so well. He knows to keep repeating and repeating it because we won't get it just the first time. One thing that was share...

1My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones, 9Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your cats will brim over with new wine. 11My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12Because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. ...

Every week on Tuesday I have a Bible study group I attend for the mom's group that I am in. I love going and talking through what I learned this week and learning even more from what other people learned from the Scripture. This gave me an idea...I would share with my blog readers what I learn each week on Tuesday. Right now we are studying Proverbs! This week Proverbs 2!  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,  and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver  and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom,  and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright,  he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,  for he guards t...