From the beginning of Raising Maidens of Virtue, Stacy McDonald sets the tone; the anticipation level rises in expectation to be encouraged for women both young and old in raising the bar in godliness and purity. I always enjoy reading Stacy McDonald’s material and Raising Maidens of Virtue met my expectations. I expected a lot and I got it!

What I appreciate about Stacy the most is that she is a straight shooter with a clear message of grace and truth. She has an eloquent and articulate voice for women seeking godliness, while tactfully, and lovingly, causing each of us to examine ourselves in such areas as selfishness, root sin issues, and more.

Stacy respectfully recognizes the structure of authority and begins teaching and exhorting each of us far beyond the “appearance of godliness.” She causes the reader to reach deeper to the foundation, reminding us that, “A woman with an unchaste heart will remain an unchaste woman regardless of what she wears until God convicts her of her sin, she repents, and the transforming work of Jesus creates in her a clean heart.”

This study, Raising Maidens of Virtue, gives a beautiful example of a balanced view of modesty and chastity, which is a refreshing, and yet, world-shattering message that, in itself, could revolutionize our homes and our local fellowships from the inside out. A mother could go through this study with her daughter today, and the message would be just as pertinent and timely in the future when the same woman goes through the study with her daughters-in-laws and granddaughters.

With gracefulness, older women are given the groundwork, the blueprints, to teach younger women. In fact, I would recommend any woman, whether single, widowed, with young daughters, or older daughters to read this study so that they may be equipped, as with a tool, along with their Bibles, to teach and encourage younger women, and disciple maidens of virtue, rather than waiting until problems arise and then trying to head off wrong worldly thinking when it is almost too late.

Stacy McDonald’s Raising Maidens Virtue contains foundational concepts. The earlier you can inculcate these truths into your daughters, the better.

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Raising Maidens of Virtue…. Updated!

The below links will show you how to cut up a whole chicken, similarly to how my mama showed me.

Cutting up a chicken in photos

Cutting up a chicken in photos (A little more detailed).

And a video: Cutting up a chicken Enjoy!

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How to Cut Up A Whole Chicken

My family knows I am a caption kind of gal, but let me be sure to start with a couple things:

• Please do us all a favor and wash your hands.
• Tools you will need:  Cutting board, knife, a large bowl for the slices, a smaller bowl for the garbage, a glass bake pan (9×13)
• Ingredients you will need: One yellow box cake mix, about 8 large peaches, one cube of butter (1/2 cup) chilled, shortening to grease pan (spray oil will do).
• A nice hot oven preheated to 350º.

Let's wash about 8 large peaches.

... and slice them.

See how nicely that pit comes free from the peach meat? That's what we call "free stone." It makes life so much easier when handling these lovelies! Be sure to choose free stone peaches.

Peel. If the peach is nice and ripe, the peel will come off easy as you please.

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If it is not ripe, it will be stubborn and more difficult to work with and you may have to use a paring knife to cut the peeling off.

Slice 'em up!

Now try to have self-control not to snitch them!

Grease up your baking pan. I especially like glass for this dessert.

Pour the peaches into the prepared dish.

Time for the yellow cake mix. Any brand will do. In my opinion, the least expensive, the better in this case!

Evenly sprinkle the cake mix over the peaches.

See how easy this is so far? Even a small child could help with this project.

Don't let the lighting fool you! It's the same dish LOL

Let's get that butter from the refrigerator. Here it is in all its glory.

Slice the butter.

Lay the pats all over the dessert.

Can you imagine trying to do with with soft butter? Not!

Oops! This piece is a little too large. Let's just divide it... then conquer!

Make sure the pieces of butter are not too big. Lay them out evenly.

Ohhhh this is gonna be good!

Time to go into the preheated oven.

Bake 20 minutes or until it is golden.

Enjoy it warm or save it for later when it is cooled down. Vanilla ice cream is great with this, as well.

I think I missed sharing the photo op on my plate. My mind was elsewhere…. focused on eating! We will be getting some peaches in tomorrow, so maybe I will come back with a final photo… if I can control myself.

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Easy Peach Cobbler

Submission is not being a doormat. Everyone has an authority. God has laid out the structure to make the man be over the woman. It doesn’t mean that women are anything less than men, but things work in harmony when there is a head. Then we each have a role.

Genesis 2:18-23
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone ; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  19  Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever  the man called a living creature, that was its name.  20  The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.  21  So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept ; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  22  The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.  23  The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh ; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

Submission is putting yourself under your husband so he can be the leader/head that God intended him to be.

It is not an option, but a directive given to us in Ephesians 5:21-24

And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 says, A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

Titus 2:5, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Perhaps your husband has a wrong idea of what submission means. Do you not expect your children to submit to your authority? But at the same time, they are not your slaves to treat poorly. We raise them for the Lord’s glory. Your husband is told to treat you with dignity.

Ephesians 5:25-30 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 says, The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Does this help in getting a different picture of what submission and authority are?

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Beautiful Submission!

• Play cherades
• Sing songs like Father Abraham; head and shoulders, knees and toes
• Play Simon Says…or Daddy says
• Make popcorn
• Play Candyland
• Make play dough
• Play dress up
• Make and/or play with puppets
• Read books
• Learn portions of scripture
• Sort laundry together. The older one(s) can make sock matches, fold washrags, put clothes away, identify clothes
• Play with bubbles
• Make pictures for grandma
• Set up a fish tank and enjoy it
• Make instruments with paper plates, oatmeal boxes, etc.
• Plant some seeds
• Visit the elderly
• Make butter
• Make ice cream
• Make yogurt
• Bake cookies
• Dance with music
• Play with cars. Make roads.
• Color with you.
• Find a paper plate craft book and make crafts
• Play a board game with them making up the “rules”
• Finger paints
• Play “hide the battery”
• Play hide and seek
• Do sommer saults and stand on your head

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Activities With Littles

* Bread made with 100% whole wheat bread will be shorter. To help improve the height try the following suggestions:

Add 1 whole egg for better bread structure. When doing this you must reduce the liquid amount by the amount of egg being added. Most large eggs are 1/4 cup.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten for better bread structure. When doing this you must also add 1 tablespoon additional liquid.

The Most Important Tip of All – Check the Dough

Another very important tip to follow is to check the condition of the dough during the knead cycle, especially when making a recipe for the first time. After 8 to 10 minutes of kneading, open the machine to check the dough. It is alright to open machine during the knead cycle. The dough should be in a soft, tacky ball. If it’s too dry, add 1 teaspoon of water. If it’s too wet, add 1 tablespoon of flour. Always allow any added water or flour to be blended into the dough for a minute or two before making any further adjustment. The dough is just right when it is soft to the touch, smooth in appearance and the bottom of the pan is clean.

Q. Why does my bread collapse as it’s baking?

This may indicate the dough is too wet.  Next time reduce the liquid amount by 1 tablespoon.

OR

Make sure you are using the recommended amount of sugar, yeast and salt being used. Salt especially cannot be eliminated.

OR

If you are at high altitudes you may need to make some adjustments. Reduce yeast by 1/4 teaspoon at a time. You may also need to reduce liquid by 2 to 3 teaspoons. Some experimentation on your part will be needed.

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Bread Machine Figures For Experimenting

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20 Great Reasons You Homeschool

Oh my… what that must look like in the spiritual world! It’s easy enough to fix, though.

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains…Ephesians 6:10-20

Did you read that? So cool! Go back and reread it. Let’s highlight some things. Let’s see what we are told to do…

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains…Ephesians 6:10-20

Let’s highlight WHY we want to do those things highlighted, or what might happen if we do or don’t.

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains…Ephesians 6:10-20

Are you ready to get dressed each day?

Lord,

May we be people of the Word, doers of the Word, not just hearers who delude themselves. May we be a sweet fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing each day. We know that we cannot glorify You in our own strength, but by Yours.

Help those that are strong to bear the weakness of those without strength and not just please themselves, but let each of us please her neighbor for their good, to their edification, just as Christ did not please Himself.

Remind us not be caught without our armor so that we may give way for the devil. Help us each to keep our priorities and make the most of our time, as the days are evil, for if we live, we live for the Lord. Help us to make these habits for Your glory.

Thank You that You have made it possible for us to talk to approach the throne anytime. To You be the glory!

In Christ Jesus’ name… because of what He did on the cross…. AMEN

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Let’s Face It, You Can’t Fight Naked!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

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1 John 4:1-21

Let’s begin with the pronunciation so you can read the rest of this blog post thinking it in your head correctly. Click here to hear it pronounced correctly. Just click submit and listen.

Working backwards from my initial questions, let me share what this is used for. Oscillococcinum, often shortened to be called Oscillo, is a homeopathic remedy that is to be taken at the earliest onset of flu symptoms.

The ingredients are as follows:

* Active ingredient: Anas Barbariae Hepatis et Cordis Extractum (extract of Muscovy Duck liver and heart) 200CK HPUS 1×10-400g[7]

* Inactive ingredient: 0.85 g sucrose, 0.15 g lactose (100% sugar.[8])

The amount of duck live in this little product is less than 1%, so don’t worry, it won’t make you quack. It tastes like sugar and no need to swallow it whole. It just melts under the tongue.

While the instructions suggest you take an entire vile (several viles come in a box), we have found success using  just a few grains under the tongue.

What is neat about this is that even the smallest person in your family can take just a couple grains and there are no side effects.

This product was introduced to us in the early 1990′s and we have used it since then to ward off flu. It works very, very well. Those that we have shared it with have been more than thrilled with the results because they didn’t have to miss work or other activities, as has been our findings.

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Oscillococcinum… Passing Along What I Know