Verbal authority? Yelling: the cause, the casualty, the cure

Elisabeth Elliot, friend and mentor, said the following in regards to verbal authority as it relates to parenting:

"The Bible tells us children are to obey their parents. 


In our many travels Lars and I observe that few young parents have any idea that a child can be taught to obey.  Some of them, alas, feel that it would damage their little egos to correct them, but God's word is clear. 'He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him."


For those who don't know and wonder, 'where do I begin?' There's no need to fret.   


Lorrie Flem, author of  the new e-book Yelling: the cause, the casualty, the cure, shows us in her book that we are to, Respond.  We don't react.


I am so delighted that Eternal Encouragement aka The Gabby Mamas ask me to review this book and tap out my thoughts.

I find this book to be sound biblicaly, laced in wisdom toting timeless treasures.

In Yelling, Lorrie methodically walks us through her heart felt feelings on the unbecoming behavior of yelling and why many women indulge. In it, she shares stories of women suffering with the problem or who have put her steps into practice and are sharing their personal results.Ms. Flem starts off by giving us—her readers, some reasons on why some mothers yell.

After the above explanation, she encourages us to cover ourselves in prayer, reminding us that "God wants to carry our burdens."


I'm a big believer in the next step and was even surprised that she listed it. The reason I found this next step surprising, honestly, is that I'd come to believe that the "new wave" of parenting seems to find the training of children to be uncouth. Needless-to-say, I was comforted to see that Lorrie found this topic to be important enough to add in the book.  She understands the importance of training our children.  Allow me to add that training our children, is the most important aspect of parenting, next to leading them to Christ.

It seems today that parenting is all about making the child feel good about himself and overindulgence, thus the making of a very non-contented adults.

In her third step she explains how to identify the triggers which lead us to belt out that old familiar tune. Some of those triggers are:

• bickering, and
• whining

To see the complete list of these triggers and to learn more about yelling and to get help with it, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of the e-book

This post is linked to The Gentleness Challenge at Women Living Well  

xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Related articles

• Yelling as the New Spanking (dramykids.com)
• Stop Yelling At Me: Trying to be an Authoritative parent in an Autocratic world. (todaysdadblog.com)

Saturday's are for Thanking God

This weekend, on a rainy Saturday morning, I'm thanking God over here.

Thanking Him for allowing me to right my wrongs ... again and again.

Thanking Him that I can get on my knees and come to here right here from the quietness of my room.

Thanking Him for the Bible that is available, but at times taken for granted by me.

xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name {Two post today}

For many years I've wanted to do foreign missionary work.  But for one reason after another, I always had things that came up, prohibiting me from experience my dream and taking action.

At this point in my life now, I am finally seeing God slowly moving in my desire.  I must say that, He is moving in a new and very different way.  From the comfort and safety of my home, I am able to sit at my computer, write to you and share my hearts desire of wanting to help children ocean miles away.

The video that I am choosing to share with you today is a "webisode from Missions in Actions highlighting children in poverty where Compassion works."


Dear friend, just like me, you have a voice and a sphere of influence.  You may not be able to jump on a plane to go help a child in impoverished circumstances, but Your God and their God has given you a way to help them in the name of Jesus.

Today, please slow down.  You can start by slowing down long enough to watch this video and then help someone.  Help someone who is less fortunate than you.

Get involved.

What is a Compassion Blogger, read about it here.

Not a Compassion Blogger, sign up today.

Missions In Action, please visit their site.

Please visit the site and read the story of one of my favorite Compassion Bloggers.  She and her husband has just recently, I think Nov. 12, returned home from a mission trip... seeing first hand the difference they are making as sponsors and her being a Compassion Blogger.

Her blog is here, A Holy Experience.

Thank you.


xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Related articles

• Compassion Bloggers (lynhallewell.wordpress.com)

Sponsored Children success stories ... {Two post for today}

 { Don't forget to pause the music on the side.}

Hear, from the mouths of children in poverty, the impact of Compassion's intervention in the middle of desperation. These testimonial videos show you children marked by hopelessness and how they are now receiving the love and opportunity they need. These are success stories at their BEST. 

When you step out to help a child who is being defeated by poverty, you not only change a life – your life is affected, too. Partnering with God and His heart for the poor is a great act of faithfulness. Learn how sponsors encountered the difference they were making in the lives of children in need. 

Many of your favorite Christian musicians have seen Compassion's work firsthand. What they encountered has led to a powerful partnership between our work and their voices. Hear what they have to say about the mission of releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. 

I just want to thank You Lord

Today is Thanksgiving here in the states.

As I sit in my room listening to the happy voices of my children and my mother go back and forth in conversation and laughter, I'm reminded to be "thankful" for the "so-called" small things.

But aren't those small things, really the big and most important thing.


Things like family and generations . . . things like love and sharing in our expression of love to each other.


Thankful that each one of us and those who we love are here another year, able to partake in the breaking of bread and fellowship.


. . . And thankful for the love and memories of those who blessed us with their presence, but have gone on.  The ones who helped in shaping us.


As much as I am thankful for those I love and those who love me, I am most thankful for God's love, mercy and His unfathomable grace.


Had it not been for God bestowing the above attributes on me daily, I would for sure have perished.

So today, I just want to come before my God with arms raised high and a heart bowed low and say, "Thank you God."


While writing this blog post, my heart sings a song that I haven't sung or heard in years.


Would you join me in singing in to yourself today.  


"I come before you today, and there's just one thing that I want to say; thank you Lord.  For all you've given me, for all the blessing that I cannot see, thank you Lord.


With a grateful heart, with a song of praise, with an outstretched arm, I will bless your name.


Thank you, Lord, I just want to thank you Lord.


Thank you, Lord, I just want to thank you Lord.


For all you've done in my life, you took my darkness and gave me your light.  Thank You Lord.


You took my darkness and gave me your light.  Thank You Lord.


You took my sickness and healed all my pain.  Thank You Lord.


Happy Thanksgiving my dear friends :-)



xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Will you go wherever He leads you?

How do you respond to God when He tells you to "go" or "do?"

Does your heart say, "Anywhere you lead Lord I'll go?"

Yesterday, while fellowshipping with some of the ladies in my neighborhood, I found myself telling my "new" young friend and neighbor, Veronica, a mother to a three year-old, wife of five years and new to the faith... thedetails of when the Lord called me to be a homeschooling mom.

In telling the story my heart went back and I reminisced on the early years of my obedient heart.  Back then it seems that all of my prayers were, "Lord what is your will for my life?"  "Anywhere you lead me God, I will go."


Sometimes it seems like I get so far from that in my heart now though my sentiments are still the same.

What about you dear friend?  What is your hearts cry to the Lord concerning "the thing" He is and has called you to do?

In her book, "Wherever He leads me," Corrie Ten Boom writes,

It is a wonderful life that is guided by a God who never makes mistakes. The only condition laid upon us is obedience. 'When are you going to bring this message to the Japanese?' a friend asks me after he hears one of my lectures.

Until then I have worked only in America and Europe, Japan being far from my thoughts.  In my quiet time the instruction comes distinctly: Go to Japan.  I almost answer,'Yes, but...'

Obedience says, 'Yes, Lord,' and I have learned to obey.  I want to say, 'Yes, but I know

nobody there; I can't speak the language and it is so expensive.'

Again and again, I begin counting and forget that my heavenly treasurer reckons

differently from me.

The money comes, enough for a flight to Tokyo, where I arrive safely.  It is raining,

and from the air Tokyo looks dark and dreary.  I am not at all sure of myself.  In the

customs office a man asks me where he is to take my suitcase.  I tell him I don't know.

'Is someone going to meet you?'

'No, nobody,' I answer.

In his car he takes me to a hotel.  It is small, dirty and dark, but the manager understands some English.  But now there is conflict in my soul.  Was that really God's guidance?  What if it was a mistake?

I hardly dare go outdoors for fear I might lose my way back to the hotel.  Who would

understand me?

It becomes a real temptation from Satan.  How terribly God's children are tempted in

these times.

Then I read in 1 Peter 1 that we are guarded by God's power until we fully enter into

our spiritual heritage.  The passage continues,' This means tremendous joy to you, I

know, even thought at present you are harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations.  

This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable

than gold, and gold as you know, even though it is ultimately perishable, must be

purified by fire.

This proving of your faith is planned to bring you praise and honor and glory in the

day of Jesus Christ.'

No accident —planned!

God makes no mistakes!  How it happens I cannot explain, but trust takes the place of

doubt and I can say, 'Lord, I know I am safe in Your everlasting arms.  You are

guiding me and will surely make the next step plain.'

Then comes to mind: David Morken.  Is that God's answer?  years ago I met David at a

Youth for Christ meeting and he told me he might be sent to Japan.  Fortunately the

telephone directory is printed in English, and there is his name.

How wonderful, for the next step is clear.

I pick up the telephone and hear a voice saying, 'Mashie, mashie.'

In confusion I replace the receiver.  I cannot even make a telephone call in this strange

land of strange people speaking a strange language.

Finally, the manager gets the number for me and I speak to David.

That day I am his guest, after which he secures a room for me in an InterVaristy

Christian Fellowship house.  The first week I speak three times, the second week

eighteen times and the third week twenty-six times.  A season of unusual blessings

awaits me.

How happy I am that I said, 'Yes, Lord,' instead of 'Yes, but ...'

Friend, how has God been asking you to obey Him?

This post is linked to Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience.

xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Just call me stained!

Naomi said to call her, "Mara." 

I say call me, "Stained."

I'm blemished.  And as hard as I try to make it not so with them, it seems that my children are cursed with blemishes too and I'm sad.

At times I just want to throw up my hands in surrender and say, "Forget this!"  It's just too hard.  Not only is parenting hard, but the children have no idea of what I'm trying to invest in them.  It's as if they don't care.  So I'm wondering early this Saturday morning, "Should I?  Should I care?"

It is very easy for me to distance myself and get into a mechanical mode, to protect myself, you know?

Hmmm.  Choices.

As I'm thinking these thoughts I look on my bed and see the book that I bought at the Women of Faith Conference by Patsy Clairmont: "Stained Glass Hearts." 

I'm really getting into this book.  While feeling sorry for myself—something I do oh so well.  I saw this phrase written on the book, "Seeing life from a broken perspective."

Broken.  That sure sums up everyone in this household.

"Broken.  Broken.  Yeah, that's it . . . we're all broken Lord.  Stained." 


But broken, stained folks is who the Lord works with, isn't it?  Why do I forget this often?


Why do I set out looking for perfection when it doesn't exist?

If  I want to be like Christ I must learn to love, what I deem, the unlovable.  The hard and difficult people.  The people that cause me much grief sometimes.  I must learn to love them.  Love myself even. 

"In acceptance lieth peace," Elisabeth said so often.

I wanna tell you a story.

Have you heard of Dale Chilhuly?  Dale is a glass artist.  In 1976 he was in a serious automobile accident that threw him through the car's windshield, causing him to lose his left eye.

Vision is an important part of an artist's ability to maintain balance in his art and scope.

Then Dale injured his shoulder scuba diving, and those combined accidents forced him to step down from his coveted master glass grinder position.  It appeared Chihuly's career in the art of glass would be greatly altered or perhaps even be over, but then a life-changing moment occurred.  Listen to Dale in his own words ...

Once I stepped back, I enjoyed the view.  I enjoyed the view.

He lost his vision in one eye, he lost his esteemed position, and he likes what he sees?

What he saw was his art from a new angle.  His unwanted change gave him a different perspective.

Dale couldn't have imagined that his limitations would position him to see limitless possibilities.

You and I can not imagine that our life-limitations would position us to see our limitless possibilities the way God does?

Dale is now considered by many to be the premiere glass designer in the world.

Here is some of his glass work:

Now I want to show you some beautiful stain glass displays.  Keep in mind that before we see the finish product there is a process that takes place in making this "broken glass" presentable.

Broken pieces are useful in the displaying of stain glass.  As Pasty Clairmont says, "Stain glass art doesn't begin to show its beauty or its inspiration or release its story until light touches the dark.  The light transforms an otherwise subtle picture into a brilliant, dimensional experience.

It's how we are... broken... in need or repair, longing, frightened of being seen in the light.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that God has a plan for your brokenness and for my brokenness, isn't it?

... Longing to be . . . but yet frighten to be seen in the light ~ P. Clairmont.

"God through the Holy Spirit interceding within us, uses everyday circumstances to touch the whole world with His saints." ~ Oswald Chambers

 It is my sincere hope that you are being touched by God through the writing of this blog, no matter what shore you reside on beloved one.

 xo, Angela

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a repost from the archives

Spiritual Warfare

I got up early this morning, again.  Here lately, I've been rising much earlier than normal.  I've been disturbed by my thoughts—my actions, my desires.

This morning, I decided I would do a more in depth reading of the Bible.  The only thing is that I left my Bible in our Suburban last night and I'm too afraid to go outside by myself in the dark.

No problem, right, just pick up another Bible.  I can't find any of our other Bibles.  I'm in the dark looking stepping over kids . . . people, trying not to wake anyone so locating the other Bibles are made harder this morning.

So what is a girl to do?  Well, I went to my bookshelf and pulled down a book that I've been wanting to read for years, but hadn't because the title scared me: "Spiritual Warfare."  It's written by Timothy M. Warner.  It's an old book, but so many truths are still prevalent today.

"Spiritual Warfare . . . hm.  That's exactly what I think I'm going through"  I note to myself.  "I think it's about time I muster up some courage and begin reading,"  I tell myself.

The below words are words that are taken from Timothy M. Warner's book, 'Spiritual Warfare.'  In the coming weeks I hope to share with you all my take on Spiritual Warfare as it certainly pertains to my life and how I see it affecting things around me.

I found the first chapter of this book to be very enlightened, not scary at all.  I also believe that it is not by accident that I was led to it so below I share some of the author's words with you for food for thought.


. . . The fact is, however, that neither God nor Satan has changed since the first encounter in the Garden of Eden.


Spiritual conflict has been a part of human experience from that time on.  Genesis 3:15 provides a key element in establishing the context in which all the rest of the Bible must be viewed:


'And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.'


Spiritual conflict permeates the Biblical record from that time on, and today we are involved in this conflict whether we want to be or not.  We have tried to ignore the enemy, but that only gives him a strategic advantage in the ongoing battle.

Let it be stated clearly at the beginning of this study however, that the outcome of the war is not in doubt.


God's sovereign power is in no danger whatever.  


Through the Cross and the Resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ decisively defeated our enemy.  For His own good and sufficient reasons, however, God has not yet executed the final judgment against the enemy.


But it is time that we take our enemy seriously because of the high stakes for which this war is being fought.  Spiritual warfare is often misunderstood because it is assumed that demonic activity in our lives only begins with overt activity which can clearly be assigned to demons.  


The truth is, however, that the battle begins the minute we are born.  Satan has a consuming desire to control the destiny of every person on Planet Earth.

He is the one who blinds the minds of unbelievers, "so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." { 2 Corinthians 4:4}


The battle takes on special significance when a person turns from the realm of Satan's control and begins life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The essence of the conflict before conversion is a matter of the truth about salvation.


After conversion it is still a matter of truth, but now the focus changes to the truth about God,

and the truth about ourselves.


Satan's primary tactic is deception, or clever lying, and the degree to which we believe any of his lies and come under the influence of deception is the degree to which Satan or demons have control of our lives.


The arguments about whether a demon can be in the body of a Christian and whether a believer can be 'possessed' by a demon often serve to divert our attention from the more fundamental issue of deception in these basic areas of belief about God and about ourselves in relation to God.

Now to recognize this "truth encounter," as Neil Anderson calls it, is to continue in bondage to the deception which is guiding one's life."


Pick up your copy of the book, 'Spritual Warfare' so that you can go through the study with me, or to just have it to reference you can


xo, Angela
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