Category: Homemaking

A Prayer for a Husband — Going Out, Not Knowing Where You’re Going

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 3:9-10; Genesis 12

"Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you." - Genesis 12:1 ESV

Abram, too, finds his way into the Hebrews Hall of Faith, like Abel and Noah that we read about recently. 

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." - Hebrews 11:8 ESV

In reading Genesis 12, I wanted to either focus on Abram failing to protect his beautiful wife from the advances of the Pharaoh or on Abram choosing to trust God and go out to an unknown land.

But, instead, I’m going to choose Door #3, that in spite of Abram’s great shortcomings, he was God’s chosen man called for a specific purpose. Like Noah, a righteous man, chosen by God for a great purpose who became drunk with wine shortly after surviving the worldwide flood, Abram obeys God in going out to this new place, yet he gives way to fear.

Like we read in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

From Abel to Noah to Abram to Bill and Kim Endraske, each of us have been saved by our faith, not by our works. Yet our faith will lead us to do works of faith, whether in offering good sacrifices, or building big boats, or going out to foreign lands, or writing blogs one-day-at-a-time, may we walk faithfully with our God.

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the precious gift of faith. You did not choose me because of any deed that I had done. In fact, You cast Your eyes and Your love upon me while I was Your enemy. You called me and chose me and drew me and put faith into me … and all I can say is THANK YOU!

Lord, I pray for my husband to hear You loud and clear. Help him to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid. Help him to resist the temptation to take the easy way out. Father, I pray that You will be faithful to complete the good work that You have begun in him. Direct his steps and protect him from the schemes and lies of the evil one. Give him the strength and wisdom to follow You. Help him to know Your Word and hear Your voice as You lead him.

Father, help us as wives to submit to our husbands, not to fear anything that is frightening. Encourage us to sit daily at Your feet, that we might trust You when life is scary. Help us to keep a careful watch over our mouths and our minds, thinking and speaking the truth in love. Make us godly helpmeets, doing good to our husbands all the days of his life, so that his heart can trust us and he will have no lack of gain.

Lord, we submit to You and Your will for our lives. We will go where you send us, when you send us, trusting that Your ways and thoughts are always better than ours.

In the Good and Sovereign Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

The Gift of Being Created to be a Helper

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Genesis 1-2

I like to read Genesis one and two together because I see Genesis chapter two as an expansion of the account of the creation of man in chapter 1. There’s so much in these two chapters that I read both of them together, two days in a row.

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 

Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 

Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." - Genesis 2:18-24 ESV

God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so He wanted to give Adam a helper who was fit for him. Not just any helper would do. He didn’t just need the strength of an ox or the beauty of a peacock or the loyalty of a dog. No, Adam needed a suitable helper, designed especially for man, and so God gave him a woman.

Being a helper is a gift to both the man and the woman. The man needs the woman … And the woman has been given a very important job.

In God’s perfect timing, I’m writing this as I’m visiting my parents hundreds of miles away from my husband. I can assure you, my husband misses me. Yes, he misses me cooking and cleaning for him. Yes, he misses me making his morning coffee. Whether he misses them or not, he needs my little reminders and extra set of hands. But I think he especially misses my company, having to talk to and share life with.

And this is a great blessing! It is good to be needed and missed.

We need to be so careful to not allow our children to take our husband’s place. Children are made from the seed of their father, not from his rib … or yours. Children are created to leave their parents, but husbands and wives are created to become one flesh until they are parted by death.

Sisters, don’t leave your husband in the dust while you’re attending to your babies. Those babies are going to grow up and move away, but your husband will be by your side for the rest of his life. He needs you and you need to be needed. Make sure you keep your children and your husband in their rightful places in your hearts, minds, and lives.

I speak from personal experience – this is hard, but it can be done. Here are a few ideas I’ve learned (and am still learning) over my 28 years of marriage.

  • Schedule regular dates with your husband to keep those flames of friendship burning.
  • Look for something small that you can do to serve your husband every day – make him a cup of coffee or write him a little note or send him a text over lunch.
  • Express to your husband (and others) how grateful you are for him. Let them know how much they mean to you and how much you value them.
  • Keep a careful watch over your thought life. Complaining thoughts turn into complaining attitudes and complaining words. Nothing works more powerfully against your marriage than having a complaining Spirit. When those thoughts (true though they might be) come into your mind, grab hold of them and replace them with the truths of hope and grace found at the foot of the cross.
  • Make praying for your husband a priority. Ask God to bless him and guide him. Check out this video to a wonderful prayer for your husband – from his head to his feet.

Let’s pray now.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for the gift that my husband is. Thank You for making me his helper. Thank You for making him such that he needed me. And thank You for making me fit for him.

Help me to recognize the blessing it is to be needed. I pray that I would make my husband a priority in my life. Help me to do him good and not harm all the days of his life. Help me to submit myself willingly and cheerfully to him, and to trust You, Lord, in the process.

Father, help me not to grow weary of doing good and to trust that in due season I will reap harvest if I do not lose heart.

I pray that You would bless my husband with every spiritual blessing according to the riches of Your glory in Christ Jesus. I pray that You would take care of him physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Give him the strength and wisdom that he needs to lead our family. And give him the humility that he needs to turn to You in his weakness.

In the good and gracious name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

Chores for Homeschooled Teens

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

Hi! I love to make cool charts on the computer. We used one similar to this all summer, but I just updated it a little for the schoolyear. For perspective, I have a 16 year old daughter and a 13 year old son.

All three of us (that includes me!) choose chores from this list. The daily morning and afternoon chores are completed every day, but the chores on the bottom half are completed over a week. I hope this makes sense – I didn’t type any instructions on the chart.

I laminated the chart and put it up. Every day / week we mark off what we’ve completed until it’s all done. If we don’t finish something during the week, we will use Saturday morning to finish it. This means a clean house every week. YAY!

I’d love to hear your suggestions or questions. Feel free to comment below.

TWIG

You’re welcome to download a PDF copy here!

chore-choices-fall-2020Download

Weary

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

Week after week passes, each week the same.

Dishes to wash.

Classes to teach.

Dinners to cook.

Groceries to buy.

It is so easy to grow weary. It is so easy to think that life is without purpose or meaning. Yet, the light shines in the darkness. The Lord gives strength to the weary. In His mercy, the Lord opens the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf and the hearts of the captives.

I find encouragement in knowing that our Heavenly Father never grows weary. In my weariness and weakness, I am able to recognize the enormity of God’s power.

God alone is almighty. He alone is outside of time and space. He alone is able to do everything and know everything. He intentionally created me to need food and rest, that I would recognize my humble state and praise His almighty glory.

So, today, sisters, let me encourage you. Do not grow weary of well-doing. God is not finished with you. In this world you will have trouble, but you can take heart because Jesus – Son of God and Son of Man – has overcome this world! This world is temporary, but the new heavens and new earth are eternal. Do not work for the food that perishes! Instead, work for the treasures which are everlasting. (John 6:27) God Himself is your peace in the storm, the giver of every good thing.

We are together in this earthly journey. Let’s encourage one another as we see the end drawing near. As my Chinese friends say, “Jiayou!” (Keep going!)

All glory to His Almighty name

TWIG

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 ESV

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

Trust = Obedience. Distrust = Disobedience.

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

“If deep in our hearts we suspect that God does not love us and cannot manage our affairs as well as we can, we certainly will not submit to His discipline.” – Elisabeth Elliot (Nor His Word or His plan for our life.)

The more we know the Lord’s loving goodness and mercy, as well as His almighty power, the more we will trust Him and His plans for us.

You can know God. Imagine that! God has given us His Word, so we can know and trust Him. The more you know and trust Him, the more closely you will follow and obey Him.

How can I come alongside you?

Message me or leave a comment.

Life Skills and Habits to Develop Before Finishing High School

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

Having graduated my oldest two and now looking at my 11th grader and 8th grader, I took the time to write down a list – 6 pages long – of the skills and habits I’d like to help them develop before leaving home. Can you think of anything I missed? 🙂

Bible reading

  • Daily Bible Reading and Prayer Journal
  • Genesis – Deuteronomy
  • Joshua – Ruth
  • 1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles
  • Ezra – Esther
  • Job – Psalms
  • Proverbs – Ecclesiastes
  • Isaiah – Daniel
  • Hosea – Malachi
  • Matthew – Acts
  • Romans – Colossians
  • 1 Thessalonians – Revelation

Scripture Memory

  • John 3:16
  • Romans 5:8
  • Romans 6:23
  • Books of the Bible
  • Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
  • The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
  • Psalm 1:1-6
  • Psalm 23:1-6
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  • Philippians 2:1-16
  • Colossians 3:1-25
  • Romans 12:1-21
  • Matthew 5:1-16

Books to Read

  • Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, Gladys Aylward by Benge (or other Christian Heroes books)
  • The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by Lewis (The whole Narnia series)
  • Mama’s Bank Account by Forbes
  • Man of the Family by Moody (the whole series is great)
  • The Hiding Place by Ten Boom
  • The Knowledge of the Holy by Tozer
  • Knowing God by Packer
  • The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Hymns

  • Amazing Grace
  • The Doxology
  • Come Thou Fount
  • It is Well with My Soul
  • Take My Life and Let it Be
  • Be Thou my Vision
  • How Great Thou Art
  • To God be the Glory
  • In Christ Alone
  • Before the Throne of God Above
  • Silent Night
  • The First Noel
  • Oh, Holy Night
  • Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Joy to the World
  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Missions

  • Support a missionary in prayer, as well as financially and corresponding with them
  • Visit a missionary or serve with a local outreach ministry
  • Share the gospel clearly in 2 minutes

Social skills

  • Serve others – an elderly neighbor, a sick friend, your church – however the Lord leads
    (write a letter, cook a meal, help out)
  • Answer the phone properly and take a message
  • Set the table properly for your family
  • Use proper manners eating at home using silverware and a napkin
  • Order and pay at a fast food restaurant
  • Eat at a fancy restaurant using proper table manners
  • Express thanks consistently when others serve you
  • Greet and converse with adults with eye conduct, proper voice volume and listening attentively
  • Make a phone call to order pizza or other food delivery
  • Make a phone call to set up a doctor’s appointment
  • Life skills
  • Childcare
    •  Play with, change diaper, feed bottle, make lunch, clean up, child development
  • Woodworking
    • Hand saw, table saw, miter saw, electric drill, hang a picture, repair nail hole, repair dry wall, caulk sink or shower
  • Electrical work
    • Check breakers, understand types of light bulbs, install a light fixture or ceiling fan, change outlet, install light switch
  • Plumbing
    • Plunge a toilet, unclog a drain, understand how a toilet works, turn off water to house at street, turn off water at a sink or toilet
  • Painting
    • Wall, trim, cabinet, door
  • Car repair and maintenance
    • Change oil, replace windshield wipers and fluid, change tire, jump battery
  • Tie a variety of knots
  • Pack for a trip
  • Plan a trip
  • Set a mouse trap
  • Tie a necktie
  • Shine shoes
  • Organize a closet, cabinet or dresser and your bedroom
  • Iron a button-down shirt and dress pants
  • Sew on a button
  • Mend a hole in a sock or shirt

Healthy Living

  • Plan a week of meals as well as make a list of meal and snack options
  • Grocery shop for a week’s groceries
  • Cook dinner for the family
  • Understand a variety of over-the-counter medicines and supplements
  • Know the name and phone number of your doctor, insurance and medicine you take
  • Learn how to store food – fruit, vegetables, fridge, freezer, pantry
  • First aid skills (choking, fainting, heart attack or inability to breathe, cuts, burns, fractures or sprains)
  • Make a First Aid kit

Academic skills

  • Tell time using an analog clock
  • Use a dictionary, a thesaurus and an encyclopedia
  • Read a book or story aloud to a group
  • Speak in front of a group
  • Find a book at the library using the Dewey decimal system
  • Put books on hold online
  • Check out and return books on time
  • Check out and listen to a digital audiobook

Computer skills

  • Keyboarding skills of at least 25 wpm
  • Type a chapter of the Bible
  • Write a letter to a political representative
  • Write a cover letter to apply for a job
  • Write a resume
  • Write a family newsletter or Christmas letter
  • Make a blog
  • Make a PowerPoint presentation
  • Build a computer from parts

Financial and Time Management Skills

  • Discuss stewardship – stewarding our time, talents, treasure and testimony
  • Make a daily schedule
  • Make an online annual calendar with important dates and birthdays
  • Open a bank account
  • Write checks, use a debit card at a store, use an ATM, set up auto pay, track your expenses and check your bank balance online
  • Learn about car insurance and health insurance
  • Discuss paying taxes
  • Discuss tithing and giving offerings
  • Memorize your social security number and know why you need it
  • Make a weekly, monthly and annual budget
  • Clothing shopping on a budget
  • List and price what you need to buy other than food and clothing (shampoo, deodorant, cosmetics, feminine care, shaving, laundry soap, dish soap, TP, first aid …)

Cleaning skills

  • Vacuum
  • Dust
  • Clean mirrors, glass doors and windows
  • Wash dishes by hand
  • Load the dishwasher
  • Empty the dishwasher
  • Scrub a toilet
  • Clean the shower
  • Clean a whole bathroom
  • Clean blinds
  • Wash, dry, fold, hang up and put away clothes

Cooking skills

  • Breakfast – muffins, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, bacon, sausage
  • Eggs – hard boil, fry, scramble, egg salad
  • Lunch – grilled cheese, ham, PB & J, macaroni + cheese
  • Dinner – spaghetti, hamburgers, fettucine alfredo, tacos
  • Potatoes – baked, mashed, roasted, potato salad
  • Vegetables – salad, broccoli, green beans, corn casserole
  • Dessert – cake, cookies, pudding, pie

Arts, crafts, creative skills

  • Take, edit and share photos digitally
  • Make a video with music from digital images
  • Make an album from digital images
  • Sketch with pencils
  • Watercolors
  • Oil painting
  • Embroidery or cross stitching
  • Knit or crochet
  • Sew curtains or a pillow with a sewing machine
  • Play a song on a piano, guitar or other instrument
  • Read music accurately
  • Sing a song on pitch from memory
  • Make a model from scratch or from a kit
  • Write a poem
  • Memorize and recite a poem

Outdoor skills

  • Build a fire and learn about fire safety
  • Cook a meal on a fire or grill
  • Set up a tent and camp outside for 24 hours
  • Mow the lawn
  • Use a trimmer
  • Use a blower
  • Rake and bag leaves
  • Plant and maintain flowers or garden
  • Weed a garden or flower bed
  • Shovel a sidewalk or driveway
  • Archery
  • Marksmanship, gun safety, and maintenance
  • Go fishing – tie a hook, put on bait, catch a fish, take it off hook
  • Gut and cook an animal or fish

Download a PDF of this list here:

life-skills-listDownload

Micah 6:6-8 with a 21st Century American Twist

Published on by kendraske2 Comments

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God most high?

Shall I go to church every Sunday morning and Sunday night?

Shall I attend Wednesday morning Bible studies and Wednesday night choir practices?

Will the Lord be pleased if I post Bible verses every morning on Facebook and every night on Instagram?

What if I homeschool my children from birth to high school graduation or put them in the finest Christian schools?

Shall I wear long hair and long skirts and bake homemade bread and desserts for my family?

He has told you, O woman, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. Faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.

See Micah 6:6-8, Matthew 22:34 – 23:39 and 1 Corinthians 13.

Moms as Missionaries

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

I love reading missionary stories, whether by myself or with my children. I love hearing about the gospel being proclaimed to the ends of the earth. I love to see the biggest to the smallest prayers answered. I love to see people set free from their chains to sin, pride and selfishness.

For many years, I’ve wished that I could be a full-time missionary on the front lines or that one of my children would be called to go to an unreached people group on the other side of the globe, but so far that hasn’t happened.

But, do you know what has happened?

I’ve still had plenty of opportunities to be a missionary on the front lines outside of my home, in spite of being a full-time homeschooling mom. I’ve shared the gospel and seen people saved. I’ve discipled and seen people grow. I’ve prayed and seen God respond in mighty ways. I’ve spoken and written the words that God has given to me and I’ve seen people touched.

But I’ve also gotten to be on the front lines of my own home – a privilege NO ONE ELSE has.

My children have read and studied and memorized the Word – at my dining room table, in my queen-sized bed, and on my sectional leather couch.

My children have prayed bold prayers for themselves, for those they love, and even for those they’ve never met.

They’ve seen prayers answered and lives changed.

And they’ve learned how to share the gospel themselves and seen the power of Christ transform lives.

Moms, don’t lose heart. Our God is a God of eternity, of yesterday, and today and tomorrow. Make the most of today. Pick up one of the Christian Heroes books by Geoff Benge – maybe Hudson Taylor or George Mueller or Gladys Aylward – to read with your kids. Read “The Insanity of God” or “God Smuggler” or “The Hiding Place” or “Tortured for Christ” for yourself (or with your older children).

Read the book of Acts.

Memorize a verse or a passage or a whole chapter with your younger disciples.

Pray boldly and watch God move.

You are on the front lines in this battle between good and evil. You are training up warriors for God’s kingdom. God has called you to this and He will equip you to do it.

And I’d love to help you.

Of Building Up and Tearing Down

Published on by teachwhatisgoodLeave a comment

I’m 33 days into my second “40-day Sugar Fast.” Wendy Speake’s book is really encouraging me to see fasting as a spiritual discipline focused on Jesus, rather than merely a dieting mentality.

Over the past 73 days, I am beginning to recognize the stronghold that sugar has been in my life. I’m trying to tear down that wall, to free myself of its grip.

But there are other walls that God has given to us for our good, for our protection.

According to Speake, “Our job is to yield to the good structures that the Lord has protectively placed around us, as we continually invite Him to bring down the strongholds that have held us back…. So often, we tear down the WRONG WALLS….” (pg. 172-73)

Am I building up or tearing down others with my words and actions? (Ephesians 4:29)

Am I building hedges for protection or am I building strongholds for sin?

Am I building my house or tearing it down?

Another word for ME today.

– TWIG