Raising Kids That Stay In Chruch

I am the oldest of 6 children. I, and the sister just under me, are still in church. We are both actively trying to raise our children to stay in church. 
The four siblings under us all have decided that they don't want anything to do with church. They've been in and out of prison, multiple arrests, bad friends and influences, and even have decided that there is no God. I've been told many times "I don't believe like you".
Why the difference? What made the 2 older ones of us thrive in the Christian walk, and the 4  younger ones run the opposite direction?
Proverbs 22:6- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
I recently read an article that says there are 3 common traits of youth who don't leave church. They are as follows:
1) They are converted.
2) They have been equipped, not entertained.
3) Their parents preached the gospel to them.
Looking back on my own teenage years, I can see these 3 things in my life. I trusted the Lord at the age of 10. I knew what a sinner was. I knew what salvation meant. And I made a conscious decision to accept Christ as my personal Savior, knowing that was the only way to heaven.
II Corinthians 5:17- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
My sister, just under me, and I revelled in Bible trivia. We wanted to know the in's and out's of the Bible. We would read our Bible together. Play trivia games together. Memorize Scripture together. Sing together. We encouraged each other to love the Lord and to  desire to serve Him.
We also went to a Bible believing, Bible teaching church. My youth group was the greatest! My youth pastor put a love of God and service in our hearts by example and practice. 
Proverbs 27:17- Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10- Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
And, lastly, my mom preached to us. She gave us Scripture for everything we did wrong! We knew not only what was wicked, but why it was wicked.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19- Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
My 4 younger siblings didn't get that. My mom and step dad divorced, and they left that church. Life became a battle between the parents instead of a fight to raise the children right. My step dad thought that turning my siblings against my mom was the best way to get revenge. The only thing it did was doom them to a life of questioning all authority, and accepting only what made them feel good no matter the cost.
As parents we are called to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We are to lead them to Him. It's our job to guide our children in the principles stated above so that they grow into strong Christian leaders who choose to stay in church and serve God.

Healthy Minute- Castor Oil

When I think of castor oil my mind sees an old woman with a spoon ready to put it into the mouth of a very unwilling child!
Castor seeds contain a toxin which has no antidote. However, castor oil doesn't contain the toxin once it is extracted from the seed. Never eat castor seeds!
Castor oil has some amazing benefits besides scaring children. It has been used for many ages and for many ailments. It can be used as a massage, a pack, put on topically, or taken internally (with some precautions).
Castor oil has been used for easing health conditions, such as arthritis, as a rub for wounds, to help with the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks, to encourage hair growth, and to relieve constipation, to name a few.
It is said that you can help boost your immune system with castor oil. You don't have to ingest it, just put it on your skin. Your body can absorb what it needs from the oil through the skin. It's rumored to help your thymus gland and increase lymphocyte production- which helps your body clear out waste and promotes healing.
To use as a pack, get a few layers of cotton or flannel. Put castor oil on the pad, and then place the pad on the area of the body that you want it. Next, cover the pad with some sort of plastic wrap- you want the castor oil to touch your skin, but not rub off on the heating pad or heating bottle that you put on top. Keep it warm and pressed on the body for up to an hour.
When taken internally, castor oil is a very effective laxative. Take no more than one teaspoon. It can cause severe cramping, and even bring on labor- but labor with diarrhea and nausea is not fun! Plus, it can mess up your digestion and intestinal flora.
Castor oil can also be rubbed directly onto the skin morning and/or night. It is rather sticky, so if you're using it for massage you may want to mix it with a carrier oil. It can also be rubbed into your hair to help with hair growth or frizz control (easiest to apply and less sticky if mixed with coconut oil).
For more information, please check out the video below:

Believer's Heritage- Hugh Pyle

Hugh Fletcher Pyle was born on December 30, 1918 in Virginia.
He got saved when he was 10 years old. He worked in the news paper business, the Tampa Tribune, before he was called to preach.
At 22, he married the love of his life- Esther Webber, with whom he had 3 children. He was called to preach in 1940 and was ordained a Baptist preacher.
He preached in  many small churches in Florida before becoming a pastor himself. His first pastorate was two small country churches near Tampa. Later, he pastored at First Baptist Church in Groveland, Fl. Then took the spot as pastor at Brent Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL.
It was on March 14, 1949, that Hugh Pyle met a young man in the studios of WEAR radio in Pensacola. This young man, Pete, talked to Mr. Pyle and eventually gave his life to Christ. Peter S. Ruckman went on to graduate from Bob Jones University and start his own Bible college in Pensacola, the Pensacola Bible Institute. Thousands of souls have been won to Christ the world over because of this one conversion.
He took over the pastorate at Central Baptist church in Panama City in 1957. The church met in the back of an airplane hanger at Reaver Airport. They put down a small down payment for the 35 acres in 1958. This is where Central Baptist Chruch is now located. A radio broadcast was started in 1958, and in the 1960, he started the Panama City Christian School. He pastored here for over 15 years.
In 1973, he left the pastorship and became an evangelist. He went around the continental United States, the Bahama's, the Virgin Islands, and Canada. For the next 25 years preaching where ever he could.
He would start with dramatic children's stories, then preach his sermon. At the end, he would give a little sermon for teens.
One of his most memorable sermons was "One More Night With The Frogs" about Moses and Pharaoh. You can google this and listen to this sermon yourself.
He served on the Sword of the Lord publication, and authored over 40 books, most about home, marriage, family, and preaching. He is best known for his book What Every Preacher Should Know, and his Scamper The Squirrel series which has won the hearts of children all over America. His Good Ship Courtship talks to teens and Family Life conferences have changed many lives and encouraged countless people. Many of his sermons were printed in different editions of The Sword Of The Lord magazine.
He left this world in the presence of his friends and family, and stepped into eternity on May 3, 2010 at home in Bay, FL. He met with his Savior and his beloved wife, Esther, who had passed away 2 weeks earlier.
I was blessed to be able to hear him preach personally in the 1980's at Bible Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fl. Only God knows how many souls have found the Lord as a result of this man's life. To think of the lives that have been changed by just one of his converts gives us a staggering idea of the ability to change the world if we just live for Christ alone!
To learn more about Hugh Pyle read his autobiography The Time Of My Life.

Funny Happenings-Science Experiments

My husband grew up in a city type setting. He lived a few blocks from Home Depot in one direction and Winn Dixie in another. They could walk or catch the bus to anywhere they needed to go.
I, on the other hand, grew up on 10 acres of land out in the middle of no where. If the power went out we had to drive at least 15 minutes just to get to a gas station. Our neighbors were few and far between, and it wasn't unusual to have farm animals wandering down the street because they escaped their pens.
Living on 10 acres of cleared land was great! We had a fort, a pool, a gazebo, and plenty of room to learn new things- baseball, driving, etc. We were also afforded the ability to try out interesting science experiments that in a city setting would be quite dangerous.
There was one particular time that my husband and my younger brothers were going to try a certain experiment. You needed to take an empty 2 liter plastic bottle, and shred aluminum foil into it. Then you'd pour a certain cleaning product in with it. Placing the cap back on the bottle and screwing it on tight would keep the chemical reaction contained until the bottle swelled and burst.
My brothers happily watched as Seth began putting everything into the bottle. As soon as he had tightened the lid, they looked up to see a large hog walking onto our property. Not knowing what the animal would do they all ran and climbed up into the fort to watch.
The hog wasn't at all interested in them. It had caught sight of the slowly expanding bottle and was jogging towards it.
My brothers started to giggle as the hog got right up to the 2 liter bottle just as it exploded!
The hog squeeled and ran away as fast as it could while my husband and brothers disappeared into the fort with howls of laughter!

A Live Interview With Mr. Death (video sermon)

In Revelation 6:8, we see that death is a living being riding a pale horse. He is more than a presence. He is going to visit every person on this planet, unless God intervenes. If we were to interview Mr. Death, this is how it would go.

Entering the kingdom of the dead would be a very frightful experience. His domain would be fearful, twisted, dark, and leave the feeling of frozen terror in the person standing there. His voice would summon you from your place, and you couldn't ignore or disobey him.

If you were to ask him about all the things through the years that have been said about him, he would say, "There's 3 things:

1) I make over 250,000 calls every day.

2) There are no favorites or exceptions.

3) I don't feel sorry for taking any life."

6,000 years ago, death was brought into existence by the sin of one man- Adam. Since then, he has taken many souls. There were only a few exceptions; interventions by God. Death has no feelings about who he takes or when he takes them. He will leave sorrow and pain in the family of anyone without a second thought.

If you were to ask him how people die, he would say, "There are 3 ways that people die:

1) As one who rejects Christ, unprepared and scared- Without hope, without peace, and without God.

2)  As one who has accepted Christ, but lives the life of regret because he threw his life away for the pleasures of this world. He dies wishing He could have done something different, but it's too late.

3) As one who has accepted Christ, and lives his life in God's will for God's glory. The last breath of victory and triumph leaves the lips with a smile of knowing that he's done everything he could."

It doesn't matter how you've lived your life. It isn't determined by how much you obtained or the multitudes that you have helped. What matters is whether or not you've accepted the One who has the keys of death and hell- and whether you've told others about Him.

God will be done with you one day. Death will get the go ahead to come and take you to your eternal home. Where will the bony hand of death take your soul? Will it be a dark place full of the fiery judgement of God, or will it be the bright home of the peaceful blessed?

From the Kitchen of Two Sisters book review

So, this is not a reading book that I am reviewing. It is actually a cookbook!
From The Kitchen Of Two Sisters was written by the Voeller sisters. They are Christians who have put together a book based on the knowledge that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made". They cut out processed and artificial foods a while ago, but, they noticed they were still getting sick, having trouble maintaining their weight, and having other issues that pointed to something off with their diets. Thus began their search for better health.
This book is written from the approach that our bodies' blood has a very specific ph level- 7.35-7.45 to be exact. Since a change in this ph could lead to health problems and even death, the Voeller sisters put together a cookbook of recipes that help to keep your body in this alkaline state.
None of the recipes contain meat- not saying that our bodies don't need meat, but most people know how to cook meat. You will find wonderful juice recipes, salad and dressing recipes, soup, sandwhich and bread recipes, and vegetables recipes. There are also a few dessert recipes in here.
I have had this cookbook for a good 4 years now, and I have never been disappointed with any of the dishes that I have made using his book. I absolutely love the muffins!
To check it out for yourself, please visit their website.

A Voice From Hell (poem)

Oh, Why am I here in this place of unrest
When others have entered the land of the blest?
God's way of salvation was preached unto men;
I heard it and heard it, again and again.

Why did I not listen and turn from my sin
And open my heart and let Jesus come in?
For vain earthly pleasures my soul did I sell
The way I had chosen has brought me to hell.

I wish I were dreaming, but ah, it is true.
The way to be saved I had heard and I knew;
My time on the earth, oh, so quickly fled by,
How little I thought of the day I would die.

When God's Holy Spirit was pleading with me,
I hardened my heart and I turned from His plea.
The way that was sinful, the path that was wide,
I chose and I walked till the time that I died.

Eternally now, I must dwell in this place.
If I from my memory could but erase
The thoughts of my past which are haunting me so.
Oh, where is a refuge to which I can go?

The torture and suff'ring, how long can I stand?
For Satan and demons this only was planned.
God's refuge is Jesus, the One that I spurned;
He offered salvation, but from Him I turned.

My brothers and sisters I wish I could warn.
For better 'twould be if I had not been born.
The price I must pay is too horrid to tell
My life without God led directly to hell.

Oh, soul without Christ, will these words be your cry?
God's word so declares it that all men must die.
From hell and it's terrors, oh, flee while you may!
Oh, come to the Savior; he'll save you today!

-Oscar C. Eliason

How Can I Fear With Jesus? (song)

Thai Noodles recipe

1 lb shrimp or chicken
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 TBS minced ginger
3 cloves minced garlic
5 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 carrots, grated
1/2 diced red bell pepper
1 cup sliced mushrooms
olive oil
1 cup chicken stock or fish stock
3 TBS sugar
3 TBS Thai fish sauce
2 TBS oyster sauce
3 TBS lime juice
1 tsp chili sauce
1 pkg glass noodles (rice noodles)

Cook the chicken or shrimp by slowly frying it in olive oil or boiling it.
Mix the soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and 3 cloves minced garlic. Marinate the meat in this sauce.

Put the 5 cloves garlic, green onions, parsley, carrots, red bell pepper, and mushrooms in a pot with a little of the marinade. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Combine the stock (chicken stock if you're using chicken; fish stock if you're using shrimp) and sugar in a pot and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add fish sauce, oyster sauce, lime juice, and chili sauce.

Soak noodles in water for 15 minutes.
Boil according to the package directions. You want them tender. Drain and rinse.

Remove meat from marinade and toss the noodles with the meat and other veggies. The marinade can be discarded or added to the meal (your preference).

NOTE: If you want a spicier meal, you can add more chili sauce.

The Gardener's Ground

I am using the book A Gardener Looks At The Fruits Of The Spirit by W. Phillip Keller to help me in this study.

Soil
Anyone who has tried to garden will know that there are certain things that effect your plants. The amount of sunshine and water are a given, but the type of soil you have can also determine the health and fruitfulness of your plants.
When speaking in a spiritual sense, the type of soil you are determines the heartiness of the fruit you spiritually bear. Christ mentions these soils in Mark 4:3-9- Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:  But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Wayside
The first type of soil, or ground, is the way side. The way side is the road. It's hard and tough, and very few plants can even germinate, nevertheless grow roots! It is a wasted seed. There is no hope of it becoming fruitful. The only thing it can be used for is bird food! The end result of this man's life is an unprofitable waste.
Mark 4:15- And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. This man heard the gospel, but never got saved. He is so distracted that the devil easily makes him forget what he heard and he ends up missing his chance for salvation.
If we look at this spiritually (pretending this was a saved man), we see that he allowed the influence of others to determine his values. His friends and associates made him hard. Their impact was one that led into the world, instead of closer to Christ's will. Christ tries to till and plant, but all he finds is hard, unmoving soil. They are used by the devil to make us unprofitable wastes.
Other things that he allows to influence him is worldly music, books, etc. The things we read, or listen to, will be the things that we endeavor to become like. These things can manipulate our emotions, opinions, and even our character. When Christ comes to show us that we need to bear fruit, our hardened answer is that of indifference, or worse yet, full of worldly ambitions.
Jeremiah 45:5a- And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: Matthew 6:33- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  To keep from being unprofitable wastes in our Christian walk, we must seek God's will, not our own.
Stony Ground
The second type of soil is stony ground. Mark 4:16-17- And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.  Scripturally, these are people who get saved. As Christians, though, they never grow. They endure in the Christian life for a time, yet when troubles arise they quit. Unfortunately, many of these types of Christians quit when they are offended by other Christians.
Stony ground is not something new in the world. Long before Christ came to die for us, the Israelites were already showing the fruit of a stony soil- Ezekiel 36:26- A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. This is a sad story, but it is also one of hope- stony ground has hope of being fruitful!
Who is the one that determines if this type of Christian is fruitful? Christ? No, he works just as hard on this type of Christian as He does on all the others! It is our own willingness to be worked on that will determine the outcome. This Christian has the choice to be productive or not.
What makes a stony Christian?
One type would be that which looks like fertile soil on top, but underneath is as hard as cement. A good picture of this is the Pharisee. He knew God's Words, but he didn't practice them. When Christ showed up, His insight into these people was Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matthew 3:27-28).
The one who you thought had so much potential, turned out to be a pathetic disappointment! Why? Unbelief. Perhaps they don't trust that God is able. Maybe they can't let go of their lives long enough for God to work in them. Or, like the Pharisees, they think they're already good enough and they fight God's moving in their lives.
Another type is the shallow soil that's hiding the hardness. Shallow Christians who want the social life of Christianity without the trust, faith, and labor. Matthew 11:6- And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  The Christian life is not all roses. It's not what we want when we want it. And it's not a liberty to sin without consequence.
This Christian is only in it for the fun and fellowship they could get out of the church. There was never really any desire to grow in Christ. They come to church when they feel like it, but the moment they get offended it's over- they're through!
And place in our life where we prefer to go against God's will and do our own would be considered "stony soil". These areas have hard rocks all through the land which stubbornly refuse to yield to God's will. The Holy Spirit has to work very hard in these situations, and it isn't pleasant for the Gardener or the garden! Hebrews 12:11- Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Digging out the rocks isn't fun, but the end result is fruitfulness.
Thorny Ground
Weeds and thorns make it very difficult for plants to grow. They can suck up vital nutrients, and even entangle and choke out the other plants. They aren't only a problem for the garden, but for the gardener. Many a hand has been scratched and pricked by these nasty problems. Mark 4:18-19- And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
This Christian wants more of the world than he does of Christ. He gets side tracked with the cares of the world- spouse, job, bills, etc. The lusts and desires of everyday life distract him and choke out any hope of spiritual accomplishment.
When talking of false prophet, Christ says in Matthew 7:16- Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? The fruits people bear spiritually tell a lot about the person themselves.  Why were the Pharisees in such a bad way? They cared more about how people viewed them than how the Lord saw them. They wanted their spouse, their boss, the leaders to view them as spiritual giants; to do this, they avoided humbling themselves to John the Baptist's and Jesus Christ's preaching.
The question here isn't "Are they bearing fruit?" Because something is growing! The question is "What type of fruit are they bearing?" Is it the blessed fruit of the spirit? Or is it the thorns of fleshly desire and the thistles of worldly lust?
What takes up the most time in your life? What do your thoughts focus on? The thing that you live to accomplish, the person that you desire to please, these are the things that are growing in your garden. Luke 12:21, 34- So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 16:13- No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. A Christian can't grow spiritual fruit if he's serving a worldly master!
Good Ground
The last type of soil is good ground. This is very different from the previous three mentioned. This ground is productive. Mark 4:20- And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
The best soil will bring forth fruit. But, even the best soil has to be broken first. Even if we are saved at a young age, there are still things that the Lord has to remove from our lives before he can plant. Sometimes, he has to break up the ground or tear out the top layer of grass and weeds. It takes time and effort, and a willing spirit to become ready for planting. Luke 8:15- But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. The heart has to be honest and willing, and most of all, patient.
So, how do we bear fruit? We hear and we do. It's not enough to sit in a good, Bible believing church once in a while and hear truth. You have to put that truth into practice in your life, you have to spread that truth to the lost souls around you, and then you will start to see the fruit.
How much fruit? That depends on the soil. The first three soils didn't produce good fruit because they were conformed to the ideologies of the world. Romans 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. This verse shows us that the fruit is good (thirty fold), acceptable (sixty fold), and perfect (one hundred fold). Eventually, the good soil will be covered by fruitful plants- one no longer sees the soil, but the fruit.
Lets say the thirty fold Christian is the one who attends church regularly, tithes, obeys the Scriptures, and raises his family in church. His fruit, his family and his contribution to the church, is a small circle of thirty fold.
The sixty fold Christian is the one who steps outside of that small circle. He has a ministry to reach others for the Lord. It may be at a nursing home, or a prison, or even passing out tracts on the streets. He not only brings his family to the Lord, but he finds others to bring to Christ. His fruit is sixty fold, his family and church and the souls he picks up along the way.
The hundred fold Christian is very rare. It's one who submits his will and his life to Christ. This Christian would gladly sacrifice everything to see souls saved. Many times, you don't see the full extent of their ministries. But you do see the fruit of Christ's attributes in their lives. You see His mercy, compassion, selflessness. You won't see all of the fruit, but you'll see enough to know!

The Rewards
II Corinthians 5:10- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. The fruits will be judged. Christ wants us to bring forth fruit, but He's also going to look at the type of fruit. I Corinthians 3:11-13- For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 
So, what are these things?
Gold and Silver
Proverbs 22:1- A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. The gold is our testimony. We earn gold by learning and doing what the Scriptures say. Psalms 19:7-10-  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalm 12:6-7- The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. I put these two together because they seem so similar. Both have to do with the Word of God.  But, whereas Gold has to do with how you respond to the Word of God; silver has to do with how you respond to the trials of daily life as you live out the Word of God. Zechariah 13:9- And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
I believe it is possible for a Christian to earn these two together. In fact, you really can't earn one without the other. If you learn and do God's Words, then you will use them to endure the trials and come forth purer.
Precious Stones
Exodus 28:21- And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. Precious stones are people. I Peter 2:5- Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
It is possible that these precious stones are set into crowns. Zechariah 9:16- And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.  There are five crowns mentioned in the Bible that a Christian can obtain, but they can also lose- Revelation 3:11- Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. They are the  crown of rejoicing (I Thessalonians 2:19), the crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12), the crown of glory (I Peter 5:4), and an incorruptible crown (I Corinthians 9:25).

In contrast to the first three, which are purified by fire and endure when placed in fire, the next three are burned up when they go in the fire. These are works done in the flesh.
Wood
II Kings 19:18- And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.  The work of our hands, anything done for self and not for Christ, that is wood. Notice, these works are religious. There are many things done in the name of religion that have nothing to do with God's will.
Hay
Hay is everything worldly that you've acquired. Isaiah 15:6-7- For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.  Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows. These are things that you wanted, your own fleshly desires.
Stubble
Stubble is the things that are done blatantly against God's will. Malachi 4:1- For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.  It's the things done out of wicked pride, knowing you were going against God's will and doing it anyway!

You have the choice, not only as to what type of ground you want to be, but also how much fruit and what type of fruit you want to bring forth. Deuteronomy 30:19-20a- I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: