Exodus 20:12 - “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

This verse is referred to again in Ephesians 6:1-3. “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy and mother; which is the first commandment with promise. That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

I chuckle to myself over this verse at times. You see, we memorized the latter verse in Sonbeams, when we learned the letter C - plus we’ve been singing the song for over a year now.

Well, apparently I’ve mentioned it to my children more than once, because my 4 year old son is often heard telling his 3 year old sister to “Obey her parents in the Lord”. Mind you, he doesn’t remember to do this himself quite as much.

As a parent, I try to teach my children how God places importance on children obeying their parents - immediately and with a good attitude. If they can’t learn to obey us in small matters, how can they learn to obey God in big or small matters?

Delayed obedience isn’t obedience - don’t be fooled. Obedience with mutterings isn’t obedience - it’s hatefully going through the motions. As mothers, are we pleased when our children obey in ‘less than desirable’ ways? No we’re not!

So then, do you suppose God is happy when we obey in ‘less than desirable’ ways? Hmm… think on that one for a while.

I know at some point, honor and obey get separated - when we get married for instance. Daughters no longer submit in obedience to their fathers, but to their husbands - he is her new head.

Sons become the leader of their households when they get married. Again, honor and obedience is different. They must now make the decisions for their homes/ family - even if at times it might not be what the ‘parents’ are desiring.

I faced just recently someone arguing that their son should honor them as their parents. Well, yes - in a sense. Honor the way they saw it was to put them before the son’s wife. When in a marriage, God has a man and woman leave their parents - cleaving to one another. Read again - this is GOD’s doing.

There are different meanings of the word honor. Obedience, reverance, esteem, etc.. - some are action related, some are inward. To be honest, I’ve never really looked at this verse relating to some of the inward parts - especially in regards to teaching my children.

I’ve taught them that God says to obey, but haven’t really thought about teaching them that God wants them to inwardly esteem and respect us. The commentaries I will insert at the end of the post are a little long, but I thought some of you might enjoy reading them. They discuss the outward and inward meanings of honor.

This commandment has a promise - we WILL live long on the earth. Before I leave you with the commentaries, let me go a little further in Ephesians 6.

 4)And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

—Me: Parents must bring up their children in the ‘nuture’ of the Lord! When we as parents deal with our children, it’s done in one of two ways. One will provoke them to anger, and one will nuture them.

Years ago, when the subject of how dh talked to me came up with a counselor, the counselor brought up a very clarifying point that has stuck with me. He completely understood how a husband could get frustrated with his wife, not understanding why she couldn’t get some things, or get over other things.

“What if God handled our sins the same way?”, he said. “Does God get angry every time He has to keep reminding us of something, or every time we just don’t get it?”. NO! God still loves us, and in LOVE he disciplines us.

Wow - though spoken in relation to marriage, I still relate that to my children. When they continue to ’sin’ the same way over and over again, do I respond in love as God does to my own sin, or do I lash out in anger?

 5)Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

 6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

 7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

—Me: Verse 7, with GOOD WILL doing SERVICE. When we are true servants, we are wanting to please those whom we are serving. We must be doing the ‘will of God FROM THE HEART’.

This applies to this verse - honor thy parents - from the heart, because it is God’s will.

I’ll close by leaving you these commentaries from http://bible.cc/exodus/20-12.htm.

Wesley’s Notes

20:12 We have here the laws of the second table, as they are commonly called; the six last commandments which concern our duty to ourselves, and one another, and are a comment upon the second great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

As religion towards God is, an essential branch of universal righteousness, so righteousness towards men is an essential branch of true religion: godliness and honesty must go together. The fifth commandment is concerning the duties we owe to our relations; that of children to their parents is only instanced in, honour thy father and thy mother, which includes, an inward esteem of them, outwardly expressed upon all occasions in our carriage towards them; fear them, Lev 19:3, give them reverence, Heb 12:9.

The contrary to this is mocking at them or despising them, Obedience to their lawful commands; so it is expounded, Eph 6:1 -3. Children obey your parents; come when they call you, go where they send you, do what they bid you, do not what they forbid you; and this chearfully, and from a principle of love.

Though you have said you will not, yet afterwards repent and obey. Submission to their rebukes, instructions and corrections, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Disposing of themselves with the advice, direction and consent of parents, not alienating their property, but with their approbation.

Endeavouring in every thing to be the comfort of their parents, and to make their old age easy to them; maintaining them if they stand in need of support. That thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee - This promise, (which is often literally fulfilled) is expounded in a more general sense Eph 6:3.

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayst live long on the earth - Those that in conscience towards God keep this and other of God’s commandments, may be sure it shall be well with them, and they shall live as long on the earth as infinite wisdom sees good for, them, and what they may seem to be cut short of on earth, shall be abundantly made up in eternal life, the heavenly Canaan which God will give them.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

20:12-17 The laws of the SECOND table, that is, the last six of the ten commandments, state our duty to ourselves and to one another, and explain the great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Lu 10:27. Godliness and honesty must go together.

The fifth commandment concerns the duties we owe to our relations. Honour thy father and thy mother, includes esteem of them, shown in our conduct; obedience to their lawful commands; come when they call you, go where they send you, do what they bid you, refrain from what they forbid you; and this, as children, cheerfully, and from a principle of love.

Also submission to their counsels and corrections. Endeavouring, in every thing, to comfort parents, and to make their old age easy; maintaining them if they need support, which our Saviour makes to be particularly intended in this commandment, Mt 15:4-6. Careful observers have noted a peculiar blessing in temporal things on obedient, and the reverse on disobedient children.

Please forgive me for no post yesterday (Monday). As I mentioned last weekend, we’ve been sick. We all managed to feel much better Sunday morning, in time to visit my husband’s nephew for his b’day party!

It was a LONG drive to Atlanta, at least with children. As soon as we hit the state line, our oldest assumed “we’re in Georgia” meant that we were there. Not quite…. another 1 1/2 to 2 hours from there. They actually did pretty good on the way over - no complaints there.

But, while we were there, the baby (17 months) got still, and we discovered he had started running a fever. We stayed longer than we thought - it was turning dark already - and NONE of the kids like to ride in the van when it’s dark.

Needless to say, it was a LONG ride home - fussy, crying children. The baby was so pitiful, falling asleep only to wake up screaming - hitting his head and wanting out of his carseast. I wanted so badly to hold him - but it was better to keep going than stop and only delay the ride home.

We pulled into the drive around 8:30 - and much to my surprise, all 3 slept pretty much like normal even after sleeping 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours of the ride home.

Monday, yesterday, was just surviving for us… thus, no blog post. There are times when I just have to stop. Plus, the baby pretty much needed to be held all day. Isn’t it sad when they feel so bad and you don’t know what’s wrong!

He’s possibly cutting his bottom ‘pointy’ teeth, running a fever, little bit of a runny nose… but main concern being he went head first off of our bed last week, then just days later was crawling up the kitchen chair/ table and fell. He has a pretty good bruise where the back of his neck hit either the table or chair.

DH says he’s fine from that, if he hurt his neck that we’d see other symptoms, but this Mommy has been worried. He has been extremely fussy ever since he fell on the kitchen floor (we live on a slab). Any words of wisdom?? I guess a fall wouldn’t give him a fever… But he’s not sleeping good either, waking up quite often screaming and thrashing around.

All this said, I’m having to be “Mommy” right now, and will resume blogging as normal when they are feeling better.

OH -I can’t forget to share with you that if you are a Mommy to a young one, you don’t want to miss a sale this Sunday. As most of you know, I’ve put together the ’school’ material I use with my children into an online download. This is found at www.Sonbeams.com.

Well, as I was teaching my children the ABC Bible verses, I started putting them to music to help them learn them easier. The Lord eventually led me to share these with others, so after 1 1/2 years - the songs are written, the music recorded - and the “ABC Bible Memory Verse Songs” collection will be available as of Feb. 1st, 2009!!!

On this ONE ‘premiere’ day only, I will have it available at a special discount. This collection will feature the 26 ABC songs, optional Parent/ Teacher Guide teaching mini lessons on each verse, and optional accompaniment track downloads. Samples of the music and more info at: www.Sonbeams.com.

Blessings! Candace

I’m writing a little ahead this weekend. As of Wednesday, we began a downward spiral in our home. Meaning that on Wednesday we began the chain of sickness once again in our household. Fever, headaches, coughs, sneezes, extreme tiredness (there’s something I welcomed - until it hit me!). It’s so frustrating that people STILL go out while they’re sick - cause we’re gonna catch it!

Basically, my very productive week hit a brick wall - all was stopped while I tended to sick little ones, and now I’m trying to fight it off under the load of exhaustion. Thus the post now while I’m awake and able. But all this did bring to mind a good lesson…

I was awakened at 4 AM Friday morning - unable to breathe. Not just a stuffy nose, but I really couldn’t make myself breathe. Being asleep, I don’t know how long this lasted, but it was scary for sure! I woke up quickly and somehow managed to make myself take a deep gulp of air. This was good, but the fact I couldn’t go back to sleep wasn’t.

In those very quiet early morning hours, I thought of how we as Christians can have our ‘air supply’ cut off. Something blocking the way of our relationship with the Lord. We don’t realize it if we’re ‘asleep’ spiritually until it’s almost too late.

Since it was 6:45 before I was able to get back to sleep, I decided (after 30 minutes), to get up and finish some work on the new ABC Bible Verse Songs project hopefully releasing next week. Even as I was typing on the Parent/ Teacher Guide, God was speaking to me in the lessons I was writing for children!

When I do spend time reading the Bible, or meditating on verses, it’s such a blessing to hear God’s voice speaking to me - calming me. Why then such it’s such a blessing do I ‘fall asleep’ sometimes, and neglect this time with Him?

Just as we can’t live and breathe without air - we can’t live and thrive as Christians without the life He breathes into us through His Word.

There’s no specific verse for this weekend, but just a reminder to ’soak in the Word’!

Exodus 20:8 - “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

I struggle with this one, really. As a mom of three little ones, it’s not easy to rest/ cease from work on Sunday - the day we set aside as our ’sabbath’.

I struggle with it because today’s world seems so different from Bible times when this was written. Yes, I know God’s Word is the same today as it was then…

In Moses’ day, the Israelites weren’t even to gather food to eat on the Sabbath. God was feeding them manna from Heaven while on their way to the Promised Land. Each day they were to gather only enough to feed them that day.

If they disobeyed and ’stored up’ (Not trusting God would meet their needs the next day basically), the manna would rot - and others would know their disobedience.

BUT, on the day before the Sabbath, God instructed them to gather enough for that day AND the next - keeping the Sabbath free from any labors and therefore holy to God. God didn’t even provide manna on that day - He rested too. Those that didn’t trust Him once again we revealed - they had nothing to eat!

It’s easy for me to see some cutting grass, or washing cars on Sunday and condemn them - those are areas that are easy for me to avoid. But what about washing laundry, or cleaning the kitchen, washing dishes, preparing meals??

These are things not easy for me to avoid, much to my husband’s dismay (which is another sign that I shouldn’t be doing it!). This year, if I am seeking to follow the Lord and His ways - starting with the 10 Commandments - this is an area that I must surrender to the Lord and truly seek HIS direction in.

What are my limits as a mother and wife, how much is too much? I know it’s too much now, because my focus isn’t on keeping the day holy for the Lord - but rather, “What can I get done before DH goes off to work for another week?”

Don’t forget to join us each day from March 20-27th for our Bloggy Giveaway Week!

5 Minutes For Mom is hosting the “Ultimate Blog Party Week”, and we’re joining in the fun - so don’t miss out!

Have I said it before? I’m really starting to get tired! I’m just at 28 weeks, but already feel like the baby thinks it’s too cramped. I don’t really wake up, but can say for sure that this little moves during the night. It’s also clear that it’s an early bird. Pretty much from 6:30 AM until 7:15 it doesn’t stop…. not looking forward to that part in 12 weeks.

Well, due to slowing down, I dropped the ball this week…. Two different days I failed to make my bed! I can’t believe how much of a difference it makes just to have the bed made.

I’ve really enjoyed walking into my room and see it all picked up and tidy recently. Of course, I HAVE missed having the bed unmade for one reason - it makes it hard to pull the covers back and take an afternoon nap.

But really, on the days that we DIDN’T stick to our morning rountine, I could tell it all through the day. We never got much accomplished, it never seemed as good of a day as it had been before.

How about you? Is there anything that really helps your outlook on the day, and if you neglect to do it - you can really tell it?

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”  John 14:6

It’s late Saturday night as I’m typing this up, almost forgetting to post due to the hectic season we’re in - trying to wrap up the new Sonbeams CD.

I began going through the ABC verses on the collection, and when I reached “I”, I knew this was the verse I needed to share on - for myself!

Jesus is the Way! He’s the Way to what? To the Father!

So often we go this way and that way, but those paths always lead us in ways that don’t necessarily end up at the Father, do they? They aren’t always true, they don’t always give life.

But when we go to Jesus, HE takes us the way we ARE to go in - to the Father. All these ‘things’ that have stressed me out over the past few weeks and only paths that I’ve put myself on - trying to direct my own way.

Well, let me rephrase that. While yes, I believe God gave me the desire and necessary things to compose and publish these songs - the ‘roadblocks’ along the way weren’t His paths.

I’m looking off to the side, wondering about this, worried about that- when all I simply have to do is give it to God! HE WILL DIRECT MY PATHS, when I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways!

We must always make Him our end destination, for the path to our Father is the only real way we need to go.

As I mentioned yesterday, my friend Tawra Kellam from Living On a Dime, is running a one week sale on her site this week. She has put together a WONDERFUL 17 product package together for only $17!!

What’s included in this deal?? Glad you asked!

You’ll receive these e-books/ courses:

Supermarket Savings 101 eCourse
by Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom

Grocery Shopping On A Budget eCourse
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Money Saving Meats e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Saving On Cleaning Supplies e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Eating Healthy On A Budget e-booklet
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Is Eating Out Eating You Up? e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Grocery Savings e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Menus That Make Cents e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Plan Ahead Leftovers e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Quick Dinners e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Menus On A Dime e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Kids’ Recipes e-book
by Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam

Simply Centsible Breakfasts
by Crystal Paine

Simply Centsible Suppers
by Crystal Paine

Crock Pot Recipes

Menu Planning Made Easy
by Sheri Graham

224 Meals In A Hurry e-book

60-day 100% risk-free money back guarantee!

 Visit Living On A Dime to get more information on this deal!

Exodus 20:7 - “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Alright ladies, I’ll say upfront that I’m not judging what someone else does or says (smiles) - this is written based on what God has shown ME.

We are not supposed to take God’s name in vain. What exactly does it mean to ‘take God’s name in vain’? Well, it means to say His name with no meaning, no respect to Him as our Father and Creator, in an empty way.

Look at it this way: A child is frustrated… They say “Oh Mom!”, or find another way to turn your ‘name’ into a word used lightly. This isn’t saying your name in love and in respect of you - they’re just throwing your name around in their 1) laziness or 2) frustration. It doesn’t please you, honor you, and plainly put - just makes them look either bad or foolish.

Now, look at how the human race has treated God’s name. “*osh”, “*olly”, “*-whiz”, or even His name directly - all of these are takes on God’s name. Many don’t even realize it - my husband was one of those up until years ago, and thankfully God opened His eyes to that and it’s been such a blessing to our family.

It’s just a loose term thrown around. But that’s what makes it wrong - it’s a loose term of God’s most High and Holy name! It makes me shudder when I hear it, cringing at how careless people are with our Lord.

It’s all I can do when I’m in public not to say something when other’s begin throwing around my God’s name like they do. Or worse, on tv - you can’t even watch anything without hearing “Oh My …”, can you?

We were able to cut a LOT of television out of our lives simply based on this phrase. We became extremely burdened by this when our first son was born. Mainly because we were big fans of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

We quickly realized that they couldn’t hardly let one eposide go by without having God’s name trashed at least 10 times! We most certainly didn’t want our son’s first words to be “Oh My …”. AUCK!! That wouldn’t be good for a Christian family now, would it!!

I realize that there are probably readers that say this - either knowingly, or hearing this for the first time. I’d encourage you NOT to get defensive, but to pray and ask GOD to burden your heart with HIS Words and truths. Ask Him to guard your mouth, to only utter praises to Him.

For those convicted of this already such as we have been, you’ve probably found it’s a constant battle. We’ve had to even begin to pull some cute tv shows because they’ve introduced some of these words or phrases - such as Bob, Clifford, Berenstain Bears.

For myself years ago, just simply watching these shows brought these words and phrases to my mind more often than I wished. I found myself fighting NOT to say them.

How much harder it would be for a child! They wouldn’t even realize it was against the 3rd Commandment from God. Be wise as serpents!

This might involve finding new friends/ playmates, limiting time spent with family members. It’s not about judging, but about teaching your child what GOD says and then following it. If we expose ourselves or our children to something constantly that we know is wrong, would we not be completely ignorant to say that it won’t affect them?

I’ve reached 27 weeks into my pregnancy now, and two things have hit me - nesting and the result of extreme nesting, contractions.

This past week was kind of a mixed up week. We started out the first part finishing up the last of the recording on Sonbeams new “ABC Bible Memory Verse Songs” CD. This was a LOT of fun to produce and record, but exhausting at the same time. Day after day making the trip to record, and then spending at least 3 hours each time recording.

Thankfully, the children were able to spend time with their dad some, and then we had the blessing of a girl at church helping out another day, and my aunt/ grandmother yet another. (The one day they came with me was the first and last time I attempted that!)

Anyway, we finished up recording last Monday - and Tuesday we just crashed. My children, though well taken care of by loved ones, missed their Mommy tremendously! We did NOTHING on Tuesday - just took time to hold and cuddle, relax and do nothing/ go nowhere.

By mid week, I was ready to once again resume a routine around here. So, I dove head first into my resolutions! We pulled our chore charts and revised them a little. Each morning now, we wake up and tackle some of these chores before we even eat breakfast - well, at least I do. I began making my bed and opening my blinds before I even leave my bedroom each morning.

It’s amazing how much better I feel just having my bed made! My argument has always been that I’d be back in my bed after lunch, if the little ones allowed me a nap.

After breakfast, I’ve delegated some of the clean up to my two oldest - 4 and 3. Each week, they will rotate chores - one clearing their plates and cups off of the table, the other sweeping under the table. As I’m getting larger, it’s getting more difficult to squat down and sweep up the crumbs that seem to equal more food than what is going in their mouths!

Once done, they get their stickers (and praise) for helping me with that - then we move down the list. Next, they get dressed on their own (I’ve already laid out their clothes) and make their beds. They started out helping one another make their beds, but this weekend actually made them up themselves!

These are two easy tasks, but ones that take a load off of me. Job done - more stickers and congrats. Next, we tackle what is now becoming an easy task - cleaning our rooms. This started off hard, since they would keep pulling out so many things. But now that this is a daily task, their rooms can be cleaned in less than 5 minutes - mine too!

Again - another sticker, and I’m already feeling great just at having our rooms clean (and hopefully ready for another house showing!). Last on our list is ‘Helping Mommy’ - and in the mornings, I choose to use this to clean up the living room.

As I mentioned before, since we’re doing this daily now, it takes less than 5 minutes to do. They grab up the things that go to their rooms, and then the school room - and I take the rest to where it belongs. Yea! We’re done! We have 5 things listed on their charts, and they’ve now received 5 stickers. Of course, as the day goes on, we’ll have more helping Mommy, clearing the table, and sweeping under the table.

This has been such a blessing to once again restore order to our mornings. Somehow in the midst of this pregnancy, I got slack - and things only went downhill from there. Our house still isn’t 100% ready to show all of the time, but we’ve got most of it clean every day now.

Note - while they do their rooms, this gives me time to unload/ load the dishwasher, do a quick sweep over the floor, or start a load of laundry.

They have play time until 9:40 (if we’re done by then), and then I give them an Elmo break for 15 minutes. This gives me time to check emails and take care of them.

At 10, we begin our school. We had gotten slack on this as well, but this week began again - mainly a review. Each day, instead of going through the entire Sonbeams curriculum again, we just take a letter a DAY. No specific number or shape at this point.

My oldest has known these for years, so with him we’re working on penmanship. My daughter recognizes most of the letters, but I haven’t worked with her on writing at all. We begin by using the chalkboard or another writing toy to write that day’s letter. Then we review the sound and the Bible verse, Bible verse song.

I found some cute school books at WalMart on clearance, so we’re beginning those now. They teach how to draw letters correctly. They don’t go in ABC order, which is a little confusing to them since we’re writing a different letter than we’re talking about that day.

DS finishes his quickly, having to redo some that were a little messy. DD doesn’t quite make it through halfway - but it’s a lot of writing for such a young age, so I leave it and praise her for her attempts!

Next comes Word World - which has been great teaching letters and sounds for my kids. After that, we pick up school again - usually with a craft. We’ll continue to talk about words that begin with our letter that day while they’re cutting/ coloring.

This takes a good 30 to 45 minutes! I’ve been amazed at how much attention they give to their cutting and coloring now. They are doing school and are estatic about that, which takes a burden off of me. My only hard job is keeping our 17 month old occupied while they to their work.

It’s not as much as we used to do, but it’s as much as we can do for now. In fact, some of the constant cleaning and picking up thoughout the day this week has already started to bother me. I’ve started having more contractions, and this weekend brought some new back pains/ spasms.

It’s still another week before I go back for my next OB appt., and I’m hoping to be able to make it that long. I’ve had preterm labor before - at 32 weeks, so when I hit the 3rd trimester, they really start watching me close. I’m usually 2 to 4 cm by 32 weeks, and contracting. So, these contractions this weekend have me a little concerned - but mainly because I know that bed rest isn’t an option with 3 little ones! Especially for the next 13 weeks!

It has been so nice though having just this basic structure. My home is more peaceful, cleaner - and I have more time and energy to spend with the little ones since it’s not going to cleaning a constant disaster on my own.

FYI - I’m in the final weeks of my Clearance Sale, and the chore charts are part of this. I’ve marked the price down from $9.95 to $6.50!! Be sure to visit www.Sonbeams.com/products to get yours before they’re gone - once they are gone, they’re gone!