The theme of our irregularly scheduled family newsletter for the month of October is "Giving to Others". God's Word is sufficient for every area of life and as His children we are to be reaching out to those in need with the love of Christ. May these series of articles be a great blessing to you as you read them and may you be inspired by the great privilege that we have in ministering to the needs of others. This first article is written by my beloved bride, Jill, about the Gleaning the Harvest ministry.
Gleaning the Harvest
By Jill Jachim
When a Christian homeschooling mother, for various reasons, finds herself without a husband to financially provide for her and her children, what should she do?
The world's wisdom would tell her that now she must obtain government assistance, place her children in daycare and public school, and get a job outside her home. This would create more upheaval in the already fragmented family, and most importantly, the mother would be abandoning the God-given commands to train her children and keep the home (Titus 2:5).
God's wisdom as found in Scripture, however, would instruct the mother to do all things commanded by Christ (John 15:14)--that means EVERYTHING commanded in the Bible, not simply the things that are comfortable or convenient. She is to teach her children and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Deut. 6, Eph. 6:4). She is (as is everyone) to seek first the kingdom of God and all these things (food and clothing) shall be added unto her (Matt. 6:33).
Just how will these things be added unto her? How IS the mother who stays at home without a husband's income going to provide for her family? The Lord Himself will take care of the mother who trusts in Him (Matt. 6:26).
There are several ways the Lord will provide. To the prayerful mother, He may give creative ways to save on expenses when she is seeking solutions. Our God is a wonderful, creative God and He made us in His image. We can be very creative when we are devoting our trials to prayer and asking for help (Psalm 55:22).
Another way the Lord provides is through the mother's (and sometimes children’s) industry from the home. She may be able to sell things she no longer needs. Perhaps she even makes things that can be sold. There are so many wonderful avenues through the internet now that enable a woman to stay home and yet sell her wares. Being industrious and creative and doing her best work will often help supplement her income. This, too, is supported by the Bible in Proverbs 31.
God supports a single mother through the gifts of His people. We are to feel compassion on those that need help (1 Peter 3:8). We pray for them, and give to them.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27, KJV). When God brings a need before you, prayerfully consider just how you can help. Even the smallest gift could make all the difference. If everyone gave even a little bit, how much better off these moms would be!
Gleaning the Harvest is an internet ministry that helps you to minister to the needs of widowed and single home schooling Christian mothers. Gleaning seeks to support the single mom who chooses to obey God’s commands to train up her children and keep the home. This ministry does not take any portion of your gift--they are simply a clearing-house. Your donation goes directly to an account of the family of your choice. It provides you with an outlet for leaving “gleanings” from your field, albeit a virtual, though not literal, one (Deut. 24:19-22). There are currently six families listed on Gleaning the Harvest, and you can read a profile on each family at the following website:
One of the families on the roster of Gleaning the Harvest is my friend, Bridgette Silvas. She was suddenly thrust into the position of acting as a single mom when her husband was taken to jail a few months ago. She desires very much to obey the Lord’s commands to stay home with her 8 children--to continue to teach them at home, and to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She is fearful at times, yet she has learned to have greater trust in the Lord. He has shown Himself to be faithful to take care of her as she obeys Him. God has provided in part by moving in the hearts of others to give to her.
Please pray for her! She has greater responsibilities now, and needs wisdom, endurance, and grace to persevere each day. Please consider giving to her Gleaning fund if you are able. As we reach out to help others with the love of Christ, we can dispel the darkness of the world’s wisdom with the light of God’s wisdom.
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