christian walk

The Beauty of Grey

I’ve always changed my blog design. That’s not new. But I’ve never been one for grey. I’ve previously thought it to be mediocre, dull and lifeless with zero personality. Oh! What a turn around! I’ve come to love and appreciate all things grey. From light grey to darker shades of grey, the complements and contrasts speak of my life. Grey is not just grey!

I used to be fairly black and white. Not that I thought so at the time. But I was. And that is probably not a bad thing when you’re trying to teach and guide your children. But every day, every week I realise how broken, how messy, how imperfectly grey our lives are. No one has it all together – they just might look like it. Or maybe they really do feel like they’ve got their ducks in a row… but life has a way of teaching us painful lessons. Lessons such as the world simply isn’t only various shades of black or white but many shades of grey. And whilst they may seem painful things to learn at the time, they are indeed profitable and I’m thankful for them.

More Children Equals More Humility: Letter To My Daughters

Dear Miss Graceful and Miss Joyous,

Lend me your ear as I talk to you about a conversation I overheard at a Mother’s Meeting awhile ago. It is something many mums might say to one another, especially in groups of of mums of many children. It may be spoken as a pithy yet affectionate acknowledgement of motherhood and the trials that go hand in hand with it. It goes something like this,

The more children one has, the more one grows and becomes more humble.

But is this right? Is this godly advice?

In my own walk as a woman of God and as a mother, I have gone through the gamut of emotions that comes with parenting. And the Lord certainly has used my life as a parent in order to grow me. Only God knows how much you children have had me on my knees, drawing me closer to Himself when otherwise I might not have. Yes, I do believe that part of His plan for parenting is that we, the parents, are drawn closer in our walk with Him. Parenting is one of the tools He chooses to use in His transforming work.

When I was a new bride, your father and I wanted to become pregnant straight away. We sure tried hard enough, but it was not to be. Oh, my heart ached to be a mother, to have a child to hold in my arms and care for. I remember the pain of Mother’s Day, made all the more painful for me when I’d hear some women’s comments at church: women jokingly talking about their family in that slightly-Aussie-put-down way that only we seem to do. I saw mother’s who were not full of joy with their job of parenting, I saw women who lamented over the burden that one extra child brings. Oh my heart would scream in hurt and anger because I dearly wanted a child and was not able to and here they were, with a child or a few and they didn’t seem to rejoice in their blessing. My time of infertility, although short lived, taught me a lot.

People would make comments like, “Oh, you just need to enjoy this time as a new wife” and I knew they meant well and there certainly was validity in their statement but it still hurt. I’m not sure they used the THINK Principle. What I really needed to see was women rejoicing in their blessing – a blessing that I was not blessed with at that time. What I needed was a hug and an ear that would listen. Sometimes we speak far too often.

To say to a woman who is blessed to have one child that the more children one has, the more one develops in humility is not only wrong but quite insensitive. It could be quite hurtful. We do not know the life story of most people we meet. We don’t know if a couple desires many children but they are only able to have one child. The infertile woman or the woman of one child is no less a woman than the woman who hasten children. Femininity is not about the number of children we have but neither is humility.

As I look through the Scriptures I simply cannot see where being a mother means that I will become more humble. I have learned that God uses the everyday circumstances of our lives to do His amazing, transforming work in our lives but He can do this with any circumstance. He’s not limited to using parenthood!

Humility begins with self awareness- awareness of who we are: unworthy sinners.Humility is an attitude… an attitude that we can put on.

My darling girls, let us be careful when we speak. Let us use the THINK principle– it will see us through many situations. May we always consider others and their feelings before we consider ourselves. Maybe our need to speak is not as important as we often feel it is.

Father God, We come to you as unworthy sinners… so utterly unworthy. We humble ourselves before you and ask that You would humble us by whatever means necessary so that we might manifest the love and power of Christ, for Your glory. Help me Father to be sensitive to the emotions of those who I come into contact with. May my speech be seasoned with grace and mercy, pointing always to You and Your glory.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
~Philippians 2:1-4

It’s Not All Up To Me

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
~Philippians 1:6

Throughout most of our homeschooling years I have felt ‘behind’. Not being in the school system nor of the school-at-home approach we have never believed that a child is ‘behind’ yet I put this on myself. I often felt that while others were doing ABC curriculum in Yr 8, we were starting it in Yr 9. I doubted myself and my ability and thought I was letting my children down. But I’ve learned that I didn’t let my children down.

They were learning valuable life skills. The less I do, the more they do. I don’t do anything for a child that he is able to do for himself. (Sure, there are extenuating circumstances but that’s not the point of this post.) It is empowering for a child to be able to do much for himself.

Even being left with no scheduled school work for a short time can be good. It allows the parent ascertain the maturity level of the child and the responsibility or ownership level of the child toward his lessons. Rather than see my character trait as a weakness or a flaw (which can enable the child to use it as an excuse for not getting on with things) I see it as an opportunity. The children have an opportunity to put into practice that which they have been taught!

It’s not possible nor reasonable to train or teach every child every thing they need to learn. I don’t need to do it all. Just as God is perfecting in me His work, so He is with the children. I am not perfecting them – He is. God has begun a good work in me and He will continue it until the Day of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, give me the grace and strength to accept that this verse applies to my children as well as to me.

Reflect

Do you doubt your ability to homeschool? Don’t worry… God will give you His grace and His strength when you ask for it and when you need it.

My Flesh Is Weak But…

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 14:38

Like the disciples, I know Jesus. I haven’t seen Him in the flesh, nor walked and talked with Him in the flesh like they did, but I know Him. I’ve witnessed His power and seen some mighty acts of God. And like Simon, I fall asleep all too easily. I get caught up in the busy world of children, housework, meals, bill paying and church… my life becomes full of these necessary things and I not as focussed on the still, quiet voice of God. The problem isn’t so much that my life is full or that I lack time. The problem is that I don’t stay alert… I don’t stay in prayer. I desire to be a part of the move of God, I want to hear from Him. Yet my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.

It’s hard to find the time.
I’m tired.
I’m busy.
I have little children.
I have teenagers.
I have a night owl husband.
I’ve worked all day

The excuses go on… and on.

Jesus tells the disciples (and me) to watch…”to keep alert”. He tells them (me) to pray – to keep in touch with God via the Holy Spirit. Why? So that I will be able to discern temptation… discern when I am under spiritual attack.

The Spirit Is Willing…

I desire to practice righteousness but I am human. I live in a flesh and blood physical body, which fails me, constantly.

But…

I take comfort in the lives of the disciples… the ones who fell asleep instead of watching and praying. For it was through their failure that God taught them many valuable lessons and revealed Himself to them. And so it is with me. It is during my failures, my weaknesses that I see more of Him and His awesome power and righteousness.

In My Life

I can have all the best plans, good intentions, perfect schedules. But I lack the energy and the self-discipline to see those plans through. My spirit is willing but my flesh is very weak. Like the disciples, this is where I learn the most valuable lessons. It is here that God speaks to me, here that God works through me and in me. Not when I have everything under control for that is usually when I am operating in my own strength. Accepting that my flesh is weak, accepting that I fail is when I turn to Him. And rely upon Him and His grace: trusting and expecting that He is glorified. When I am weak, He is strong. He doesn’t want me to work it all out by myself, in my flesh. He wants me to rely upon Him!

Prayer

Father I do thank you for showing me my weaknesses… for it is my weakness that you are strong. Thank you for working in my life and through my failures. Help me to see more of You. Draw me nearer to You Lord, that I may rely upon you for all my daily strength.

Reflection

Remind your children to use their gifts and talents and interests for God’s glory and not their own. Share some of your (appropriate) struggles and God’s victories with them today.
Are you aware of your own weaknesses? Have you heard the voice of God speaking to you during your weakest moments?
Have you experienced moments of grace, where God has carried you through a weakness?

Galatians Bible Study with Teens

A commentary with a difference!

Letters to Brian and Daniel is written as letters to two young teenage friends of the author. It is a walk-through commentary on the New Testament book of Galatians. The book is twenty-four studies and it will guide through the book, highlighting the major points that the Apostle Paul was making in his letter to the Christians in Galatia.

There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter to keep focussed on the major points. There are extra Bible references to reinforce the teaching and may help the reader learn about cross referencing.

How We Used It

I used this book with my two boys, aged 14 and 16. It can be used for younger children or for older people who have never read through the book of Galatians, or for new believers. Especially helpful for those parents who are not fully acquainted with Galatians.

The book contains 24 lessons and they can be read through in any manner. They could be read one chapter per day or one chapter per week. We did about 3 chapters per week. There is minimal teacher preparation.

Our Lesson Format

Introduce
Each day I would ask the boys the main points from the earlier lesson. Most times, I simply looked back to the previous lesson’s questions as they emphasise the main points of each passage. Then we would read the passages aloud. The boys took turns in reading aloud from their own Bible.

Digging Deeper
I would read through the chapter in Letters to Brian & Daniel. I emphasised the areas where the author did. Some words or sentences are bold whilst others are in italics. It’s all quite self-explanatory. Not at all cumbersome or confusing.

Examine & Expand
The boys would write a selection of the passage for copywork. I would simply select a key verse or small section from the reading. Often we would just write out the memory verse. This further reinforces their learning. Using the verses or chapter as oratory practice/ recitation would also be helpful.

Apply
We concluded with a short time of prayer.

Phrases & Concepts

Focussing on one book of the Bible at a time is an excellent way to learn. The Holy Spirit revealed a lot to us throughout our study of Galatians. The boys also became familiar with various Christian phrases. Not Christianese but terms and phrases that are constantly referred to in the Bible, especially by the Apostle Paul. I don’t necessarily want my children to be well versed in Christianese but I do want them to understand Paul and the other books of the Bible.

This book is not devotional in nature. The concepts it deals with are meaty. But it is written in a way that even children can understand. There’s no reason not to learn doctrine when there are truth-filled, helpful books such as this. Letters to Brian & Daniel will clearly impart wisdom on the nature of God, the nature of man, the sovereignty of God, salvation, grace, faith, law and freedom.

This handy guide already has discussion questions revolving around the central points of the passage! But don’t be fooled by its simplicity for the concepts examined are heavy. I was quite surprised at the understanding level that my boys displayed, thanks to the Holy Spirit and John Dunn’s book.

This is a fantastic resource for teens, families, small groups, pastors, parents… anyone and everyone who wants to dig into God’s Word.

It may be purchased through Koorong for $5.00 but the publisher offers it as a free download.

I thoroughly recommend this book and a study through Galatians. If you don’t know what to do next for Bible study, why don’t you grab a copy of this book and do it? It’s free. And meaty. Filled with practical nuggets of essential truths. Please let me know if you use it with your family for I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

What have you been studying with your family?

Trying harder

The war on truth

A sweet lady named Susan (how could she be anything else with a name like that?) visited my blog and left a comment. Over a cup of coffee, I popped over to her place and just so adamantly agreed with her words that I thought I’d quote them here and point you to her place.

Susan is a follower of Jesus The Christ, wife to fellow follower who happens to be a pastor, and mother to his eight children. You can find her blogging over at MomsHeart48.

I heard a quote from Franklin Graham the other day. He said “Truth is Provocative”. Whee! Thank you so much. I am so tired of apologizing for simply telling the truth. Shoot yes, the truth hurts. It hurts because the sting of sin is real! When truth hits sin it’s like peroxide hitting an open wound …there will be a reaction. We must let truth do it’s work. We must stop apologizing for it’s provocativeness! The fact that the truth will hurt all on it’s on is why we are warned to speak it in love. We don’t need to shout it …a simple whisper will hurt and will make it’s point because truth is a work of God. All truth is God’s truth. We must embrace it …not evade it. We must speak it …not soften it. We must let it sting the sin right out of us and then let it restore to rightness with God…Jehovah God… the eternal self existent one who hates sin but loves sinners.

The reason that her words resonate with me so strongly at the moment may have something to do with my current reading list. Have you read The Truth War by John MacArthur? Free excerpt is also available from this page.

Right now, truth is under attack, and it’s going on within the boundaries of evangelicalism. There’s a lot at stake and there’s no middle ground—no safe zone for the uncommitted in this war.

John MacArthur has written this book to unveil the enemy’s tactics and equip you to fight. Here’s what you’ll learn

The pitfalls of postmodern thinking.
The inherent flaws of the Emerging Church Movement.
The historic skirmishes in the truth war and their effect on the contemporary church.
The vital importance of truth and certainty in a postmodern age.

Grace in the Garden

Were Adam and Eve sent to the Naughty Corner?

A Garden of Grace

If you’ve been reading your Bible for a few years I’m sure you’ll nod along in agreement when I ask if you have ever read a passage many times and yet one day, a point just jumps out and smacks you in the face. That happened to me again recently. I don’t know the amount of times we have read Genesis. We’ve read it, copied selected passages, read a few commentaries and read other works that tie in with it.

I’ve always known that God showed great grace in the garden of Eden. But this passage blew me away when I read it. I rushed to share it with my children the next morning.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”– therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3: 21 – 24

I’ve always seen that God made the first sacrifice. Sin brings about death. We know that Adam and Eve deserved an instant death yet God slaughtered the substitute (which he provided) and covered the sinner’s shame. (Atonement)

But awhile ago, the Holy Spirit showed me something further of God’s grace. I’m sure it’s not new to you… and you might think it shouldn’t have been new for me having been a believer for over 20 years but this just slapped me in the face as I read it.

… Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever“– therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden…

The world yearns for eternal life… and that promise is for the believer in Christ Jesus- those who have salvation by His name. But can you imagine eternity in that fallen, depraved state? Imagine eternity with no hope of deliverance, filled with sin, removed from right relationship with God? Ugh! So God sent them out from the garden. He didn’t banish them as a punishment (He’s not SuperNanny sending us to the Naughty Corner) rather He was extending grace and mercy to them again. Banishing them from the garden was an act of merciful grace – thereby preventing them from being sustained forever (in their depraved, fallen state) by the Tree of Life. God the Provider. God the Protector.

And that is my life story too. Fallen, wicked, depraved and sinful was I, till He drew me unto Himself. He revealed Himself to me, leaving me with little choice but to believe and repent. (I could have seen the revelation of Him and tried to run but He is patient and gentle and brings things about in His right time) He provided me with a covering cloak through the atoning work of Jesus Christ- a substitute on my behalf.

I could write more and more about God’s merciful grace… but I’d rather you read the chapter again and dig into it anew, looking for God’s merciful grace in the beginning. And when you find it, please share with me.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
~Jude 1:24-25

I Will Never

I will never send my children to a public school.

Our children will not ‘date’… they will ‘court’.

We will never eat… pork.

We will never sing choruses.

I will never have XYZ [insert medical procedure] done.

We will never use workbooks in our homeschool.

No child of ours would ever disobey me. Our girls will never wear shorts, pants, t-shirts, etc.

My child will never do drugs, drink alcohol, smoke, swear … [or XYZ].

Have you ever heard those type of definitive statements before? Maybe you’ve uttered those type of statements before. I have.

But life… the experience of life is teaching me to never say never, especially with things that are not within my own control. Not the easiest when, for many years, I strove to get ‘in control’ of my house, my behavior, my children, etc. What I failed to understand was that I cannot and should not be controlling my children’s every action, thought or attitude, especially once they get older and into their teen years.

When we first started to home educate I loved the lifestyle. I loved what it did for our family. I searched the Scriptures and could see how the family was the model or institution that God had designed for life long learning. In my haste and naiveté, I remember proclaiming, “Our children will never attend a school!“. Oh dear, if you know God and His nature you can well imagine the lessons He had in store to teach me. Fast forward a few years and one of my children asked to go to school… keep fast forwarding and you’ll see that she started at a private, Christian school and ended up at a public school.

In our homeschool adventure, we had learned the value of living books and the Charlotte Mason method and I recall thinking, “Oh, we will never use workbooks ever again.” Oh dear, you can see here I was headed. Fast forward a few years and the boys learned a lot through their time on ACE Paces.

Then came the upper or teen years. You know the ones where girls start noticing boys and boys start noticing girls. Well, we had read and researched all about ‘courtship’. And being that we ourselves didn’t practice ‘Christian dating’ thought it a wonderful idea. Certainly none of our children would have a ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’. Surely not! Surely…. Surely? Oh dear. I think you’re starting to get the picture. 😉

Why am I so slow to understand and apply the lessons the Lord wants to teach me?

Yes, I am Susan and I’m a control freak. Actually I now think of myself as a recovering control freak. I may always have those tendencies but I’m learning to deal with them properly. I liked to think that I could control things… things which, as a Christian, seem okay to control like my children, our homeschooling, etc. But I’ve learned that my control freak tendencies grew like tendrils of a weed … seeking to climb over flowering plants and eventaully drown out the sun (or is that Son?) .

My prayer from 2007… and is still my prayers today.

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Bible Reading Plans

“I am much afraid that the schools will prove to be wide gates to hell unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not constantly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt.”
~Martin Luther

Here are a few different types of Bible reading plans. Most are printable but a few (as marked) are received via email.

The Bible checklist at Heart of Wisdom is a printable check list to read the Bible chronologically though in a year.
Daily readings from the Narrated Bible
Daily reading guides from Back to the Bible
Here is a reading plan from Coromandel Valley Baptist Church
Bible Reading Plan from Practical Homeschooling! Read through the Bible in a year with this handy planner in printable pdf format!
Another valuable reading plan is taken from Eric Liddell’s The Disciplines of the Christian Life. Especially good for older children/teens.
This chart is another popular chart for printing. It is based on McCheyne’s Daily Bible Readings for daily readings: a concise course whereby one can read through the whole Bible once a year, and the Psalms & the New Testament twice. This link is where you will find the monthly schedules and the Scripture portions for each day.
The Story of the Bible: Follow along with the story of the Bible in this chronologically arranged daily reading. Add the greatest story ever told to your day!
Daily Bible reading and daily Bible card in various versions.
Daily reading Plans from Heartlight
Here you can choose the default reading plan for your daily Bible reading program.
Fruits of the Vine have various Bible reading plans and devotionals via email.
A few different formats and types of Bible reading plans
Bible reading Plan for Beginners at Learn the Bible.
A Bible reading chart from journal33
This chart looks quite good… from bible-reading.com
ESV Bible Reading Plans can be found at this link.
BiblePlan has some very helpful plans.
Professor Grant Horner’s Bible-Reading System which I talk about here. **New**
Daily Bible Meditation Plan – the aim of this schedule is not to read less, but to meditate more. **New**

Regardless if you use a plan or what type of plan the most important thing is to Read God’s word. Study it. Pray it. Live it.

Consider Our Ways this New Year

Consider your ways!
(Haggai 1:5)

Life… it’s full of new beginnings! Unlike yesterday, today is the beginning of a new year. Who knows what this year will bring each family? God, the author and finisher of our faith does!

I love a new year. I like new starts. Maybe that’s why I get itchy feet and don’t mind moving regularly, I don’t know but I love fresh beginnings. Each new year reminds me of a time way back, before the history books began, even before Creation – to when Christ was.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2

I love my husband and my children. I love my dad. I love my friends. However, they too, like me, are flesh and blood. I do not know for how long I will toil upon the earth nor how long my loved one will either. I cannot trust in them for everything- for my safety, provision, joy, happiness nor salvation. But I can trust in Jesus… who was the Word and was with God and was God.

God has a plan, a purpose for every single life. Moses, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul were no doubt men of God but were they exceptions? God gave them specific missions. But are we not sent from God also? Do we not have a message to share? Am I doing what He wants me to do each day? Am I living with a sense of purpose? Am I living intentionally?

How To Find Purpose

There have been countless books with with much pop psychology for eager persons to devour…but they make much out of something quite simple… that which may not be easy (because we so often live by the flesh) but simple. I will find my work, my mission, my purpose, by living in obedience and submission to the Father! He does the preparing of me… He will lead me into that purpose in the right time. My duty is to keep obedient to Him and submit every part of my life to Him. He requires me to act justly, to love mercy and kindness and to walk in constant, sweet fellowship with Himself.

Do I know what my purpose is? Have I set my goals and plans for 2011 according to His ways, to His plan?

Looking Ahead

It’s the last day… of the year 2010 and this is a re-post from last year with a few updates.

I’ve reviewed the year…various aspects of our life and family. Yes, I’ve taught manners, English, Maths and Science. I’ve taught life skills, domestic skills, health, fitness and Bible study. It’s been a pretty good year for us in terms of academics and growth. But it’s also been a hard year, filled with ups and downs, hurts, disappointments- in general this year has been a hard slog. But there’s little to be gained from bemoaning all that… tis better to look ahead!

Do you love me?

But what of these are my greatest passion to share? Have I shared my greatest passion with my family? What is my passion? I can say it but is it true? Is my greatest passion truly Christ? Do I love Him before all else?

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
John 21:15-16

Feed my lambs

Have I fed the lambs that God has entrusted to my care? Have I fed them Christ Himself? Have I opened up God’s word and shown them Christ… have I taught them to love God, to trust Him and to do His will by way of a living example?

Feed the lambs… tend the sheep. Have I loved the children with a shepherd’s love? Love, protection, guidance and provision of needs is very important but they also need Soul-Food … the pure word of God.

Follow Me (v19)

Evaluation, assessments, outcomes all look for fruit but the truest form of learning in the life of a believer is to follow Christ. Knowledge, even of spiritual matters, may have some value but it does not attain for us that much needed salvation. The outcome of seeing and knowing is living and doing.

All year I have seen Jesus through the gospels. I’ve read His words. Now I need to follow Him. This past year with all its ups and downs cannot be changed. And whilst this past year has been quite a difficult one for our family we are still here, walking the road one step at a time, thanks be to God. I want to learn from my mistakes but I also know that regrets are a waste of time and energy.

However a New Year is upon me. The only way for it to be better is by following Christ more closely – to go where He leads, without questioning or rationalising. I don’t know what 2011 will bring for me or our family. It may be a year of struggles, of trials, of suffering or it may be a year of joy and peace…it may be a year of all! That is not mine to question – my only duty is to obey and follow Him.

As I close this year on my blog I’ll enter a new one – 2011. I want this next year to be fruitful, peaceful and beautiful…not by my circumstances or my surroundings but my walk with Jesus.

My Greatest Joy

Is there anything better as a parent, than to witness one’s adult child profes their love for the Lord? I don’t think so. 🙂

All my children professed their love for the Lord from a young age and whilst I took great delight in it I always felt that the true measure of their faith is told once they mature and become adults or reach an age of accountability. And so it was with just a touch of pride that I witnessed my eldest daughter get baptised yesterday. We have never pushed baptism as we don’t believe it is a decision that anyone else can make for another person. It is an individual choice and declaration. What a blessing and an honour to observe this young lady grow and mature over the last few years… she has sought after God and has a a heart that seeks to honor the Word of the Lord.

Afterwards, we all shared a meal together and broke off into small groups to have a time of fellowship and sharing.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4

In But Not Of

Be in it but not of it.

It is 10min long but grab a cuppa and be prepared!

Homeschool Phony

I am a homeschool phony.

Or rather that was how I felt. About five years ago one of my daughters approached me and asked THAT question. You know the one… that one question that can evoke more emotions than I care to count: hurt, fear, anger, sadness, a sense of betrayal…
Boom. Boom. Boom.

How could such a question come from MY child’s mouth? Surely if she understood how much sacrificed, how much I’ve invested into her she wouldn’t be able to ask THAT question. Surely?

But she did. And not once. Not twice. Repeatedly.

You know the question, don’t you? I’m sure I’m not the only one who used to dread it.

“Can I go to school”?

How can those five little words carry so much weight?

[I wouldn’t have minded so much if it were my decision (remember me- the control freak?) but.. but.. but..that’s another story for another time]

So to cut a long story short, this beloved daughter eventually trooped off to school. It’s been a few years now and I’ve had lots of time to ponder why my reaction was so deeply emotive. There is no one reason. It’s not that simple. It is enough to say that along with the fear, anger and hurt were also issues of pride. Oh my, what would people say? Would they be shocked? Surprised? Would they look sideways with that knowing glance that shouts, “I knew it wouldn’t last”? Oh dear, what would other homeschoolers think? Have we let the homeschooling community down?

A few years later and I can honestly say that only some of my initial feelings were valid. Most of them were selfish and sinful. And God has been revealing them to me- showing me the ways in which I tried to camouflage and hide them. But they can’t be hidden from God. And honestly, we do nobody any favours when we try… least of the very parents that we often want to help the most.

Fast forward a few years and here I sit… still homeschooling my younger two children (The eldest has graduated. She is now 19). I am so thankful for the opportunity to be at home with my children and to have contributed to the AussieHomeschool community. I love homeschooling! I believe in it! Can you tell? However, there are so many myths that surround homeschooling. I don’t mean the average, run-of-the-mill myths that society believes. I mean the myths that we (as homeschoolers) buy into. We buy into them because we want what we believe it will deliver. And, like many people who invest greatly into something, we will work hard to justify that investment. But in doing so we can hurt each other by perpetuating the myths. It has to stop. We have to stop. We’re hurting our own.

As a parent with a child who has been to school I have seen all kinds of parents. Most parents I have met all have one thing in common. They all want the best for their children! But school parents have one thing that we (as homeschool parents) do not. One thing that we can learn from. They are not afraid to share the turmoils. They don’t seem to be afraid of other parents. They don’t have an overwhelming sense of judgment and condemnation from their fellow parents. I envy that.

As I have shared about my teen’s rebellion and difficulties I have had many others share with me privately. And let me tell you, there are heaps of Christian, homeschool parents who are going through similar things with their teens but they are scared to speak it out loud. They often thank me for doing so… but they fear the condemnation and sense of judgment and it prevents them from sharing about it! How sad is this? How wrong is this?

Not everyone travels a rocky path with their teen. My 19yo daughter transitioned from childhood to puberty to adulthood with only a few potholes along the way. She has fully accepted Christ as her Lord and Saviour and is a lifelong learner. My two boys? Ask me again in a few years. 😉 However, I know that everyone’s journey is different and that’s the way it should be. There is no one right way to homeschool. There is no one perfect example of a homeschool student. It’s a myth. One of many.

Not everyone wants to share their journey. I get that. But I am a sharer. I love to share. But I have wrestled with sharing my journey as it affects more than just me. It affects the child and all the others in the family as well. I’m not about to start going into graphic details. No one needs details… I just want to be honest about our ups and down of the homeschooling journey (and the parenting journey). I don’t want to wear a mask or a protective, flame-retardant suit. Then again, I’m not about to be stark naked either- after all, this is a public blog open to all.

So there you have it. For a few years I felt like a homeschool phony. It truly knocked my confidence. But a few things have happened since the beginning but since learning that many of my previous beliefs were ‘homeschool myths’ I don’t feel like a phony anymore. I am free.

I Am Empty

I’ve been busy with all sorts of projects. Been having a ball. I didn’t plan to have a blogging break but it just happened. I’ve got some blog posts but they’re all in my head. They probably won’t make it to the screen but that’s okay… the blogosphere will carry on just fine without me. 😉

And just now I’ve had a huge shock. A shock that will ripple through out whole family and cause distress and hardship. If I haven’t been writing over the last 2 months then I’m not about to pick it up again soon. I’m empty: I have nothing physical or emotional left. And whilst my faith in our wonderful great God hasn’t wavered my emotional and physical energy levels has.

If you are so inclined, please pray for our family. Father God knows our needs but intercessory prayer is always a beautiful thing.

Parenting Pain

I remember when my children were little and we would be at the playground. The children would be running around, jumping, shrieking with delight, skipping and climbing the playground equipment. On more than one occasion would one of them fall and scrape their knee, which would result in a mass of tears. As a parent I would watch the children carefully, almost anticpating a fall. And then splat!… it would happen! I’d see it happen, as if it were in slow motion. I knew it was happening yet was not able to prevent the fall and subsequent wound. As the fall or tumble was occurring I would hurt. I felt pain.

It was as if I could feel it in my own body. My knees would jar sharply or my ankle felt twisted, depending upon what type of tumble or scrape the child incurred. Within seconds the tears, screams or sobs (depending upon the child) would ensue. I would take the child into my arms and whisper very quietly. The whisper was usually one of a prayer- asking God to take away the pain and replace it with His peace and joy or some such similar request. I loved that moment… where they loved being in my arms and comforted by me. Where my words were helpful and comforting and offered assurance. Where we were connected as mother and child. For some parents, this heart connectedness stays this way all the way through until adulthood and even beyond, which can be healthy. For some others, this doesn’t happen at all and children become disconnected. Some children disconnect well before they reach adulthood. Just as parents of toddlers experience pain when their child is bruised or scraped so do some parents expereince pain when a child disconnects.

I know because that parent is me.

I feel intense pain in this step of my parenting journey… for one of my children has disconnected well before they are ready. The child is bruised and hurting, therefore I am too.

I hurt in many ways… I grieve for the loss and pain that I see my child in and for the possible pain I see that they are headed for. But I also hurt in other ways.

I feel alone. I’m going through all this with my husband (Thank you Lord!) but I mean, in a sense, that ‘we’ feel alone. I’ve tried to reach out to others. I’ve tried to find parents in similar situations but it seems that there aren’t any others. At times I feel like we are the only Christian, homeschooling parents to go through this. I know for a fact that this is not true… but it feels like it. Maybe others are too busy, maybe they don’t know what to say within a situation that doesn’t seem to change with every passing week. And then, there is the occasional parent that looks at me with a shocked expression and starts asking a few questions… but they’re asking the wrong questions! The questions they ask aren’t necessarily for my benefit or my child’s… rather for themselves. I can sense when someone wants to know details only for their own benefit… so that they would not make the same mistakes that we did. If it were all so cut ‘n’ dried then I would be marketing the formula instead of writing a blog post!

I don’t ask God, “why?“. Well, in all honesty I have done so in the past but I don’t anymore . Oh,I have screamed at God at times; cries wanting to know why, what I had done (as though it were all about me- how ego-centric), etc? But praise Him, He is so much bigger than my ego for He didn’t shoot me down with a bolt of lightning or anything like that. But no, He didn’t answer me either. He has never condemned me for asking a heart question… He just may not answer. And, He is, after all… God. He can do that!

However, I digress… back to the point. Better questions that I do believe God answers are ones such as,

“Where do I go from here?”
“What can I do now to redeem the situation?”
“How can I serve the needs of my child in this situation?”
“How do I show love without condoning their behaviour?”

This stage of the journey, for me, is a difficult and tiring one. I don’t want simplistic formulas which don’t hold up… neither do I need a theology of clichés. Therefore I cannot write about formulas or clichés. But I can write about the things that I do know. They may not always sound theologically correct to others and for that, I apologise in advance. I wish to lead no one astray yet I desire to share what I am learning, not just in my bookish learning of the Bible but in my relationship with the Lord God. Sometimes I write before I have completely processed my thoughts. Sometimes my posts will sound all garbled. Despite my best efforts, I will get it wrong. [Apology over] So keep reading at your own discernment.

I do know that God indeed has a plan!

A plan and purpose for mankind, for me and for my child! He has promised to finish what He started in me… and He uses painful experiences to grow me in endurance and patience. He also uses these trying times to reveal my flesh, the flesh nature which may have been slightly buried in my clean-living and cosy life.

And I know that I am never alone.

This journey is plunging me into a relationship with the Lord God that I have not known previously. I can say that I’d rather live a life of hard times with the Lord God, my Father, than a life of ease and comfort without Him.

Jesus said that He will never leave or forsake me. And I know it. I don’t just believe it. I know it.

Chosen!

Ephesians 1:4-6
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
NIV

Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)
The MSG

John 15:18-19
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
NIV

“If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.
The MSG

John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
NIV

You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End.
The MSG

Romans 8: 29-30
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
NIV

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
The MSG

1 Peter2:4
As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him
NIV

Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor.
MSG

1 Peter2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
NIV

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—
The MSG

Can you tell that I’m doing a little word study on ‘chosen‘ and ‘chose‘ lately? It’s really interesting. Of course in this post I have just plucked a few out but already it builds a story, doesn’t it?

God chose Moses to lead the Israelite’s out of Egypt. God chose Israel to be His chosen people. He chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus Christ would be born. God chose David to be a King of Israel. God chose Mary to be the earthly mother of Jesus.

I don’t have the answers to everything. I could not get into a lengthy and deep debate for I do not have all my theological ducks in a row... but I do know this:

That before the creation of the universe God thought of me! For some reason known to himself, He chose me to be on his team. He didn’t choose me because I had made a decision (for I was dead in my sin when I realised that I was on God’s team). He didn’t choose me because I am holy or righteous. Rather, that through Christ I might become holy.

All that I am is grounded in the fact that God freely chose me. What then do I have to boast about except His goodness, His mercy, His grace?

Obedience or Relationship

In the beginning, in the garden, what do you believe The Father most desired – obedience or relationship?

Is obedience all that God wanted? Is it possible to obey God yet not trust Him thus missing out on a relationship with Him? Can we trust without obeying?

Pondering this quote from Catherine Marshall in Beyond Ourselves

By giving humans freedom of will, the Creator has chosen to limit his own power. He risked the daring experiment of giving us the freedom to make good or bad decisions, to live decent or evil lives, because God does not want the forced obedience of slaves. Instead, he covets the voluntary love and obedience of sons who love him for himself.

Share your thoughts with me… I’d love to hear them.

Proverbs 31

Originally posted in Jan, 2006.

This isn’t an original idea but something that I have just printed up and put in my kitchen. The idea was one of Christa. Christa doesn’t have a website but she shares on the FamilyLife Fellowship board. Thanks Christa!

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Prov 31:27

WATCHES

W – Water and weight
A – Adoration (time with the Lord)
T – Teaching
C – Celebration (something special for someone or all in the family)
H – Home Blessing (cleaning)
E – Exercise and Eating
S – Study God’s Word

Leaving a legacy?

Friday, from the archives.

Driving in the car…washing dishes…sweeping the floor, preparing a meal…reading a good book…visiting the new neighbour…running errands and paying bills. What do these have in common? These are a few things that I have had opportunity to do this week…to do with my children. And it is through these tasks and delights that I have opportunity to share the good news of God with them.

One of my favourite verses in God’s word is Deuteronomy, chapter 6. I particularly like Chapter 6: but that’s only because of the surrounding verses. The writer of these verses is Moses.

Moses went to Egypt and led the Israelites out of Egypt. They wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years. So close yet so far away from the Promised Land. During all this time the people of Israel had fallen away form the Lord and the teachings of Moses. Moses goes to Mt. Sinai and receives the Commandments from God. I often need to remember why the Law was given. It was given to reveal divine holiness! It showed who God is… His standards of righteousness. When I look at the commandments I can see how far short I have fallen…and how I can never attain adherence to them of myself.

I was intrigued to learn that it took the Israelites about 40 hours to get out of Egypt but it took 40 years for the Israelites to find the promised land- or as I’ve heard is said somewhere before, “It took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.” However, the other interesting point is that Moses didn’t get to enter the promised land. Only two of the Israelites who were taken out of Egypt got to enter it and they were Joshua and ‘Master C’ . Al the others had died and there was a new generation.

Just before his death, before the entrance to the promised land, Moses gave a final word of admonition and exhortation or additional instruction. (Interestingly, Jesus also quotes this verse)
Moses was their leader. He helped them to live godly lives amongst heathen nations. As THE Word was taught to us, so we must teach it to our children.

God knows that our teachings, lives and beliefs can influence future generations. He wants us to think this way. How many generations can you see in the verses? Three! That means me, my children and my grandchildren!

I’ve heard many people say that they wish there was a handbook or guidebook for this whole parenting caper. And there is! It is the Bible!

So, what are we to pass down to the generations- to our children. Head knowledge? It may start there but it must be more than that. It must be in our lives. The word must change us. Along with a knowledge of God we must also have a fear of the Lord. It starts with love. Otherwise, all we have is religion.

I wasn’t raised a Christian although my mother converted before I came to know the Lord so I say that my mother is the first generation Christian. It began with her. She started to live out her life in God in front of me…and I picked up on that passion. I think that a possible danger for me is that I may become complacent in the living out of my faith and thus my children will become that way or even acknowledge God’s commands but not live in the fear or love of the Lord. Oh Lord, create in me a clean heart…keep my heart drawn to you.

Am I excited about what God is doing in my life or has done for me? Do I share my walk with them? How are they to ‘catch’ my passion if I don’t share it with them?

Grace: Received, Not Achieved.

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
1Corinthians 4:7

Why, oh why do I (man) like to think that I have something, just a little something, to do with my salvation. Do I not realise that in thinking this way I am blaspheming? I had nothing, NOTHING, to do with my salvation. God has given me all things richly to enjoy. Everything created by God is good. Every good giving and every perfect gift comes down from the Father God.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

In this passage, Paul means ‘you were poor’ and ‘without strength’. He means that I was totally impoverished, wholly weak. I could not lift a finger, nor raise a whisper to effect my salvation… in any way! I was a sinner, with no way of escape and I deserved nothing – certainly not mercy nor grace. Yet God not only loved me freely but through the act of grace He redeemed me. Did I deserve it? No way! Did I help the process along? Of course not! From the Cross flowed the grace of God.

Maybe there was something about my actions or attitude that moved God to grace? Eek! No! God can not be manipulated! It is sheer favour on His part. Only God could turn the heart of this sinner toward Himself. I didn’t deserve to be shown grace or favour. I could not obtain nor procure this grace… there was nothing I could do to warrant this grace – it flowed from God. It still flows from Him. No sin that that I commit lessens His grace from being poured out and any good works do not procure more grace from Him. It was grace. It is grace and it flows abundantly from the Father all the time.

God showed me His grace by giving me gifts; the gifts of repentance, faith and forgiveness. I didn’t find the Lord. He sought me and found me! I didn’t make my decision for Christ! How could I when I was dead in my sins? How could I convert from sinner to saint? Only by His grace. As Jeremiah said:

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
Lamentations 5:21a

What Do You Use To Measure

Friday: From the Archives

Each Friday I plan to post a previous post from the archives. Hope you enjoy it!

What’s your measuring stick?

(Originally posted here in Nov, 2005)

What do I use as a yardstick to measure my family’s growth by? I think a lot of us can fall into this trap of listening to others. Sometimes this ‘others’ can be friends or it can just as easily be the local support group, or email group/message board or curricula. I think the key is that peer pressure of the homeschool variety can happen whenever we take our *seeking* eyes away from God and look to others. Ultimately, it isn’t about what everyone else is doing or using or how they home-school as that is all external- it should be about us and the work of God in our hearts.

I think that this homeschool peer pressure is real and it does exist. I think a lot of us have been taken in by peer pressure at some stage or another. Sometimes it takes us to hit the (home-school) pit or rock-bottom (burnout for some???) to realize that we are all individual and need to put our eyes back to God. In this home-school journey where a lot of our results are not directly seen, we look for reassurance as this provides a certain measure of comfort. We do this because we no longer have delegated the responsibility of teaching academics to a school or teacher and that responsibility is ours now and we don’t want to muck it up. However, using the person next to you, or another family is not THE measuring stick we should be using. We need to go to God and allow Him to direct our path.

Lord, draw us to you. Bring our hearts back to you and show us when we are using something else as a yardstick.

What is the Chief End of Homeschooling?

We started the learning-at-home adventure toward the end of 1996, so this is our 13th year. Over that time I have been bamboozled, ferhoodled, and lacking in confidence through to confident, visionary and fulfilled. I have gone through a many seasons, each bringing their own emotions, ups and downs. On the AussieHomeschool forum, a dear lady asked the following questions:

Come on ladies, tell me – who has some secrets for keeping your cool? How do we get a grip on those flaky days? Any overcomers out there?

It’s not often that I get to answer in the positive in things like this… but I’d really have to say that after 13 years of home based learning and raising 4-5 children, I am an overcomer! I am surviving and so are the children!

No, it’s not because I am perfect or that I have it together– because nothing could be further from the truth. So, what is my secret? Can others experience this peace too?

Trust. Surrender

Knowing that this journey is also about me. Knowing that this journey is more about relationships than academics.

I have a temper. And a short fuse although, by the grace of God and learning to practice the presence of God, it is lengthening. I also have a potty mouth. I have been known, in the past, to speak in a way that cuts people to the core, leaving them drowning in a pool of blood. I hated myself. I hated my actions and the complete lack of self control I had over my emotions and my tongue. And yes, sadly, my older children do remember my propensity toward uncontrollable, verbal rage. I am thankful for the Cross, and its power to heal. My journey does not end there, That was who I was, not who I am.

I have learned that homeschooling is not about perfection or anything closely resembling it, but it is about developing relationships.

I’ve learned that homeschooling is an extension of parenting and this is still the same whether or not my child attends public school, private school, homeschool books or unschooling.

I’ve learned that homeschooling is not a goal… it is a process. I’ve learned that the children growing up to *look like* a perfect homeschooler is just nowhere near good enough.

I’ve learned that this homeschooling journey isn’t about academics, nor is it even about character, for character will not get anyone into heaven!

The goal of this homeschooling business is that I should become so dependent upon God that I fall onto my knees daily, seeking His face, hungering after a touch from Him. Parenting should drive me to my knees!

What does this practically mean when I’m knee deep in laundry and eating cereal or toast for tea? It means that there is an eternal reason for all this mess, untidiness, and constant training. That reason is that God wants ALL of us- our entire life. Our goal is to love God and glorify Him forever – in the midst of spilled Weetbix and poopy nappies and children that can’t spell.

I know this isn’t the most practical advice you’ve ever heard but in all honesty, it is truth and reality for me. I’ve tried everything over the years. I’ve tried great schedules, quiet times, days off, and all those other things but for me, they are all temporary reprieves. Seeking after the heart of God in earnest, before ALL other things is the only way I have been able to flourish, not just survive.
The only practical thing I can offer is that this too shall pass. Things do get easier. As the children get older, as they invariably do, things will get easier. I promise. Of course, the developing ages bring their own unique set of curve balls but again, it’s back to the beginning…

What is the chief end of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Photo credit: Forgiven by Greg Olsen Art

Daily Quiet Times

I’ve always felt a bit like a loner when a discussion turns to ‘Quiet Times’. I usually offer my thoughts as they relate to me and my relational walk with the Father. But my thoughts seem somewhat different to many other Christian women. Why? Am I a freak? I know I don’t have all my theological ducks-in-a-row but I know my Father.

Sometimes life feels as though it is against me. Dare I say it? Sometimes it feels as though God is against me. Yet I know this is not true. God isn’t my personal fairy God-father. rather, He is God and He allows the processes of life to cause me pain but He has not, and will not ever abandon me.

However, I’ve learned that I don’t have to try to have a relationship with my Father…He reveals Himself to me and reveals things about myself to me. He’s real in my life, whether or not I have a devotional time in the morning, the evening or in the shower!

I don’t want to play the game of religion. I don’t even want to play the game of Christianity. I want to know God and I want to walk with Him. There was a time when I felt secure in my life because of certain ‘religious’ activities, but God has been pruning these things out of my life, showing me how unimportant (and sometimes detrimental) they really are to relational living with Him. Instead of filling week nights with ‘worship’ practice, worship nights, writing Sunday School curriculum, leading Kids Club, being a puppeteer and a handful of other activities I am re-learning how to live in His love, to follow His voice and totally depend upon Him.

This is what it means to me when I say I am a believer, a follower of Christ. It means relational living with God, not one day a week nor several days a week at activities. Every decision I make centres around the Lord. Yet that is not to say that I get it right- far from it! But He knows my heart.

So why do I feel like an odd ball when talking to other Christians about my ‘ daily quiet time’?

I have never been one to use devotional aids. I find them contrived and largely artificial. I’m not one who religiously reads several chapters every day before breakfast. But in keeping with breakfast and eating, my ‘quiet time’ is akin to my diet. I simply don’t recall what I ate for breakfast 6 months ago. But I know it was nutritious and healthy and strength giving! If my diet goes downhill then so does my physical status after a time. Soon afterwards I’ll pick up again with my vitamins for it is this buildup of nutrients that will keep me strong and healthy – even in times of famine. (Not that we experience famine in the true sense of the word)

My Bible reading is similar: I may not read three or four chapters every day. I may not remember what I read several months ago…but reading the Bible is is pure nourishment for my soul. It is this buildup of nutrients that keeps me strong – even in times of famine or the dry, hard times.

Is anyone else an odd-ball or am I the only one?

Joshua Harris: Proverbs 3:7

Proverbs 3:7 says, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Joshua Harris uses a beanbag chair to illustrate how we often fail to “turn away from evil.”

As analogies go, it isn’t perfect in its illustration but the point is still real and valid.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY1iWVBszV0

In the beginning… a new year

Life… it’s full of new beginnings! Unlike yesterday, today is the beginning of a new year. Who knows what this year will bring each family? God, the author and finisher of our faith does!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2

So, how to find this purpose? There have been countless books with with much pop psychology for eager persons to devour…but they make much out of something quite simple… that which may not be easy (because we so often live by the flesh) but simple. I will find my work, my mission, my purpose, by living in obedience and submission to the Father! He does the preparing of me… He will lead me into that purpose in the right time. My duty is to keep obedient to Him and submit every part of my life to Him. He requires me to act justly, to love mercy and kindness and to walk in constant, sweet fellowship with Himself.

Do I know what my purpose is? Have I set my goals and plans for 2010 according to His ways, to His plan?

The Last Day of the Year

It’s the last day… of the year 2009.

Do you love me?

He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
John 21:15-16

Feed my lambs

Follow Me (v19)

All year I have seen Jesus through the gospels. I’ve read His words. Now I need to follow Him. This past year with all its ups and downs cannot be changed. Regrets are a waste of time. However a New Year is upon me. The only way for it to be better is by following Christ more closely – to go where He leads, without questioning or rationalising. I don’t know what 2010 will bring for me or our family. It may be a year of struggles, of trials, of suffering or it may be a year of joy and peace…it may be a year of all! That is not mine to question – my only duty is to obey and follow Him.

As I close this year on my blog I’ll enter a new one – 2010. I want this next year to be fruitful, peaceful and beautiful…not by my circumstances or my surroundings but my walk with Jesus.

Who, Why, What, When: Christmas In Our Home

Yes, yet another re-post from the archives…

We don’t ‘do’ Christmas. Years ago when the children were small, we tried. But we would get a knot in the pits of our stomach. A few years ago, the commercialism of it all used to be a huge bother to me…now I’ve pretty much accepted that is the way it is and I’m not gonna change the world but I can impact or influence my own family so I’ll stick to that. 😉

We have no problem with anyone who does celebrate Christmas though. For us, it is not a divisive issue – we are free to visit people and receive a gift (at the risk of our refusal offending them) and we are free not to. It isn’t an issue of salvation – our salvation is not dependent upon whether we celebrate Christmas or not.

Everything we do should be expressly Christ-centered; God-honoring.

We don’t talk much about it either as it is our walk, our decision, our beliefs and as is isn’t salvation dependent, there are more important issues to preach about! I have many discussions on forums about this and after receiving a personal email about it I thought I’d post here.

a) Why did you make the decision to not celebrate Christmas.
Firstly because of the commercialism but then because it all seemed to so empty and meaningless. We tried hard to think of ways to ‘put Christ back into Christmas’. Some people have said that there is no scriptural basis for celebrating the birth of Christ, but I don’t see that…I see that God desires us to teach our children His ways and he is into object lessons in a big way, so I don’t have a problem with doing things to remember the birth of Christ as it is all part of God’s redemptive story! We teach God’s story but we do it all the time. Plus the whole white Christmas thing is a bit over the top, especially as Aussies! 😉 We did try a few of the unit studies centred around Christmas and the symbols of Christmas, just in case I was being a stickler, but the more often we did them, the more the whole things stuck in my side and I couldn’t get past it. We tried doing Advent readings but I lost track of it all. We have read some of the books by Arnold Ytree but these are beautiful books that can be enjoyed at any time of the year! We’re about to start another one real soon.

When I went researching this whole thing a few years ago, I found some real loopy sites (be wary of what you allow your mind and heart to ingest) …some real genuine sites, some real genuine articles…but the more I read, the more confused I could sense I was getting. One could find a thousand articles against Christmas or celebrating it and another thousand articles for it…a lot of Scripture is thrown in there on both sides. What is one to do? I reckon its like most issues – we each need to seek God, study the Word and trust that in this, the Holy Spirit will lead you in all truth – John 14:26

‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’
Matthew 15:8

It’s not something I think one can be convinced of – the Holy Spirit needs to convict us, we don’t need to be convinced by man. 🙂 I am glad that I am not saved because of this issue. I do believe that each person must seek God for themselves and not be lead my man’s teaching alone. God is our judge and He alone. I’m also glad that we are not bound by our stance with Christmas. Jesus gives us freedom, not bondage.

b) My family likes Christmas. I can’t not celebrate it. What can I do?
Rather than ask the question of should we or shouldn’t we, maybe we can ask God “how should we”? Sometimes a different question is the way that we can turn our ear and heart to hear His still, small voice. It’s really a matter of personal study, conviction and relating with God and His word. Do your own personal study. Learn the history of Christmas. It’s all very interesting.
If we take Christ out of everything Christmas, what would we do? What would we be left with? A get together, BBQ’s, presents, cards, holidays, lots of food, etc. If we take Christ out of everything Easter, what would we do? Take Christ out of Easter and you still have a holiday, eggs, chocolate, bilbies and lillies.

‘In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.’
Matthew 15:9

I have taught my children how to bless me for Mother’s Day. I’ve taught them how to bless their Dad on Father’s Day. It is about honoring the person. (I teach my children to do this so they can bless and honor others- it isn’t all about me ;0) You wouldn’t honor me on Mother’s Day by giving me a drill and taking me to the hardware store! But you wouldn’t honor John by giving him a box of chocolates or a new PDA. 😉 You would consider the person who is due the honor. In what way would they want to be honored?

We should consider how God wants to be honoured. The things that are honoring to God are the songs we sing, the prayer we pray, the Scriptures we read, the talks we have, the way in which we live and breathe. But these things are to be done all the time or regularly as worship. If we want to have a get together with lots of food and give presents then we can- we don’t need to make an excuse which we think and the world says, is about Christ, when it really isn’t about Christ. The way the world treats Christmas (generalisation) is often nothing more than self indulgence! The world loves Christmas time with all its celebrations. Holidays, food, gifts, etc. Yet it denies the very one whom it is supposedly about! Oh it’s okay to remember Christ as a babe but not the Saviour of the Human race. For many, it is just about *me*. That is largely how the world sees it.

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world…wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important?has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out…but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
1 John 2:15-17

So, if Christmas is going to be something that you do, then how you do it needs to be considered. Who is it about? Why are you doing it? When are you doing it? What will you do? Where will you do it? And how will you go about it? (Sorry my little brain uses the 5 W’s and H) If it is the Lord you are seeking to honor, then go to Him and see how He would be honored? (Like the Father’s Day principle 😉 See, I did have a point in there somewhere)

I know these thoughts are not for everyone, and that’s okay. This is our walk and our journey. But I also want you to know that we don’t judge other’s for celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah.

A few links:

Spurgeon on Christmas
The Christmas Irony
What does Jesus want for Christmas
When there is crisis at Christmas
Christmas and Advent
The Babe who will not be tamed
We did this Christmas quiz a few years ago and we’ll go through it again this year.
Is Christmas Necessary?
Robin Sampson’s article: Holiday Dilemma’s.

To celebrate or not to celebrate…

Yes, it’s that time of the year again…I have previously written about how we do, or don’t, celebrate Christmas. Rather than try to rewrite old thoughts I will just copy and paste from the archives. You can find the original post here.

Well it’s that time of year again eh! A time when we get loads of sideway looks from people who question us as to why we don’t ‘do‘ Christmas. In actual fact we do ‘celebrate’ Christmas…every day of the year! The way in which we celebrate is a decision that John and I decided upon…not through reading of others opinions and lifestyle choices rather, through our faith in God and our walk along the path of life.

I have an issue with our modern society and feel that we have been sucked into much consumerism and materialism. Don’t get me wrong; I love tradition. I love creating memories for my children. I love doing things together that form family bonds. But I don’t see how spending money on presents, decorating our homes with unnecessary items (that for those Down-Under are out-of-season) is celebrating the birth of the Saviour of mankind. So many people are caught up ‘doing Christmas’ that they miss the true wonder of it all…they’re drowning in a sea of tradition and of trying to ‘keep up’.

I love to give of my time, money and energy…I look for ways to give. But is it wise or prudent to go into debt in order to give presents simply out of a sense of obligation or because everyone else is or because it is ‘Christmas’. In the name of Christ, I can give to others any day of the year.

I feel prickles whenever I hear children exclaiming to their parents or friends what they WANT for Christmas. As though it is expected! I don’t fully understand how someone can be truly grateful and thankful if they know that their gift is coming. I know, as believers, we do this: as sinners we cry to the Lord for salvation and God delivered us through Christ and it is this that compels me to be thankful for Christ every day…to teach my children the ways of God, every day…to give honor to Him, every day. But to give presents simply because it is this time of year doesn’t teach our children much at all. I still don’t even see how the whole gift giving thing comes into Christmas. Christ was the *gift*. The Father God was the *giver*. The gift has been given. What that has to do with giving my child a new toy or new clothes in December escapes me.

I love getting together and having a family feast and a sweet time of fellowship at any time…and we can do this at any time while also giving thanks to the Lord. The focus can be on the Father, each other and serving but not about decorations, presents or things that can distract us from Jesus, The Truth. In fact, I see a danger in becoming too familiar with the way the world celebrates Christmas: familiarity with Christmas and all things Christian *can* breed familiarity- which isn’t necessarily a positive thing. Luke 4: 16-24 describes how the local people missed seeing the true identity of Jesus, as they were so familiar with Him. That’s why it’s important that the traditions we build are meaningful, rich and not done frivolously.

John and I decided that we would not teach our children about Santa…despite the local Christian school embracing the philosophy. (I remember when I first learnt that Santa wasn’t real…that he didn’t bring my presents and eat the milk and bikkies I left. I wasn’t devastated at the reality of his non-existance…I was devastated to realise that my parents knew about this untruth and let me believe in it…that they found some sort of happiness in having me believe a lie! I couldn’t believe that they lied to me! I recall adamantly telling my Mother that I was very sad because of that. That was my persepctive, as a child.) Anyway, as our children got older, we started to learn about St. Nicholas and the symbols and traditions of Christmas…yet we couldn’t see the relevance of it in the Christian’s life or in the celebration at Christmastime. We found that a lot of the tradition and symbolism was taken from pagan origins…so I started investigating this further and further… We tried celebrating Christmas by putting ‘Christ back into Christmas‘, but it was still like pouring new wine into old wineskins- it still clanged.

So much of our traditions and customs are not based on Scripture. So much of what I believed to be truth actually came from Hallmark and all those greeting cards! I get a little annoyed at how many people get all sentimental at Christmas time and they all are fine with Jesus…as a baby! But, how many recognise that He was God’s purpose and plan to redeem mankind? I like a bit of emotion and sentimentality…but when it comes to matters of faith then I think that if we need to whoop it up, then the thing (object of our faith) our faith is in, isn’t very solid. I like this article: The Power of Christmas Truth

Am I a wet-blanket or a party-pooper? Some will certainly think so! But, this is my walk to tread…I would never propose to tell anyone else that they should or should not celebrate any day in any certain way. I’d rather point out truths and facts and have everyone make an informed decision for themselves. It isn’t so much about whether you do or don’t – it is do you know WHY you do what you do? In it all, WHAT are you passing on to your children– a legacy of timeless truth or of empty consumerism?

A few years ago, Miss R went to the community Carols by Candlelight last week, that was held at our church grounds. The church was working with the local council and hosting the event. The youth leader asked her to go early and help to paint childrens’ faces to which she was more than happy to help. After I picked her up, she was covered in paint, but I was dismayed to see that all the face/body painting was of Christmas trees and non related pictures! Okay, I know it’s a bit hard to paint a true Nativity scene on a face but is that the best that we (as the body of Christ) could do? Oh boy.

“Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen . . . for the CUSTOMS of the people are vain.”
(Jer. 10:1-3)

Speaking of those Hallmark Christmas cards…and the Nativity. A few years ago, when we were ‘putting Christ back into Christmas‘, the children made their own Nativity. It was really nice and sweet. This led us to really examine the Scriptures as to the truth of the Nativity. Here’s a picture of a fairly common nativity scene: Let’s have a quick quiz while we’re looking at it eh?

How many wise men were there?
What animals were present at the Nativity?
How soon after Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem was Jesus born?

Checking with Scripture (Luke is good here), how many did you get right or how much of your knowledge comes from paintings of the Nativity and greeting cards?

Here’s another quiz to do with your children:

Take the Christmas Quiz!

and discover some more Christmas myths:

What is Christmas to you…really? Is it a time of feasting, laughter, praise, remembrance, sadness, loneliness? How about we remember why the gift was given: The Ugliness of Christmas:

For us, this is not a divisive issue – we are free to visit people and receive a gift (at the risk of our refusal offending them) and we are free not to. It isn’t an issue of salvation – our salvation is not dependant upon whether we celebrate Christmas or not. We don’t believe that Scripture commands believers to celebrate or not celebrate Christmas, despite the fact that Christmas wasn’t observed until after the biblical era. We believe that Romans 14:5-6 and 1 Corinthians says it well.

One man esteems one day above another. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives God thanks.

We can set aside any day as a day unto the Lord.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether you do or don’t, or how you do or don’t, the main point, (in my opinion) is to not be ignorant of what you do (know why you do what you do), don’t be caught up in the worldy ways so that you miss the wonder of the eternal perspective, don’t get caught up in idolatry, consumerism or materialism and don’t treat the Saviour of the world with too much familiarity, lest that familiairty breed contempt.

LINKS

The Truth of the Nativity
Is Christmas Necessary?
Why I don’t celebrate Christmas by Tim Hegg
This paper looks historically at the holiday, showing how many pagan symbols and practices are actually at its core.

Helping the Weak: The Lesson in 1 Thessalonians

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, (Or ‘disorderly’, or ‘undisciplined) encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Ah, this verse leaped out at me this morning. I don’t know about you but I never know what my day is going to hold. I live with a person who is an emotional roller coaster. When this person is happy the whole world is smiling, the flowers blooming, the sun is shining and life is sweet. But when this person is on the downward side of the coaster, life is… just hard. (And that is a major understatement)

Today, this verse is for me. In my walk as a parent.

I know that Paul was not referring to Susan, the parent when he wrote these inspired words…but nevertheless, they are for me today.

As a parent I need to admonish the idle, the disorderly or the undisciplined child. To warn the child who is being wayward, inconsistent or following their own will. I need to esteem the children when they have put in a good effort- not easy praise but an acknowledgment of their work, effort and attitude.

In fact, after praying and asking the Lord what I need to teach the children today He showed me this passage…and whilst this verse leapt out at me the whole passage is very applicable.

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
1 THESSALONIANS 5: 12-18

Know my children. Observe them.
Be at peace today…cultivate an atmosphere of peace within the home.
Warn and admonish the disorderly or undisciplined child. Encourage the child when they are downcast.
Acknowledge their efforts and attitudes.
Help them, serve them.
Be patient.
Teach them not to repay evil for evil.
Encourage them to good to one another.
Rejoice!
Pray, without ceasing- develop an attitude of prayer submitting everything to the Father.
Give thanks…encourage the children to always give thanks.

But first I must examine my own heart before I can attempt to teach the children about such things. How is my attitude? Do I need to repent of any attitudes? I need to apply this verse to my own life before I open my mouth. So I’m going to be busy today eh? What about you? What lessons does Father have for you today?

You are who you are for a reason….

This poem really touches me…means a lot to know that I am not an accident and that God has a purpose for my life.

You are who you are for a reason….
by Russell Kelfer

You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb.
You’re just what He wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones He chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into His likeness you’d grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!

Russell Kelfer (1933-2000) was an elder and Bible teacher at Wayside Chapel in San Antonio, Texas for more than 20 years. During his life time he was active in a broad variety of Christian projects ranging from education to a World’s Fair pavilion. His legacy of practical application Bible studies, poems, and fictional stories know no denominational boundaries.

Chook the LyreBird

Just a quick thought before I head off to bed…

Not everything we hear (and could that be ‘read on the Internet‘?) is as it seems. Not everything we read or hear is true…sometimes it may be close to the truth, it may sound like the truth yet not be the whole truth. We can learn such a simple lesson from creation.

Chook is a lyrebird at the Adelaide Zoo where much construction work has been done recently and Chook has picked up many of the machine sounds.

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
J.R.R. Tolkien

The zoo keepers can hear the following sounds:
1. Hammer
2. Chainsaw
3. Jack hammer
4. Lawn mower hitting sticks
5. Leaf blower starting
6. Power drill
7. Wood saw
8. Human voices
9. Two-way radio
10.Worker whistling

What can you hear?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeQjkQpeJwY

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Freedom versus Bondage

I’ll confess. I’m struggling with writing online lately. I know what the Lord has done in my life and what he is doing in my life currently but I struggle with writing it in such a way that I will not be misunderstood or that may cause others to stumble.

I know that I will be misunderstood by some, simply because I am not the best writer and when communicating I rely heavily upon tone of voice and facial expressions as well as physical touch. I also rely heavily on knowing a little about who I am talking to, thereby being sensitive their situation.

I can’t begin to tell another person how to live, what decisions to make, the best way to homeschool their children, what to eat or what not to eat…so what can I write about? I can write about the things that I experience, the things God reveals to me and the changes He makes in my life…but there’s always the possibility that it will be misunderstood by some and that they will be led astray. Or maybe the freedom I have will cause them to stumble. Oi voi, what a dilemma!

Self imposed boundaries

There are things that I struggle with in my life. Some things I have even had to set boundaries for. These boundaries give me the opportunity for accountability…they help me to be strong in areas that I am weak. Rules, boundaries, safe-guards, guidelines, do’s, do not’s…call them what you will but they are boundaries nevertheless. We all have them. If not in one area then in another, sometimes known only to ourselves but we all have them. I believe that Christians have many of these self built boundaries…especially Christian homeschooling parents!

Personal Freedoms vs. Scriptural Commands

There are some areas which fall into the ‘freedom‘ category and some which are God’s commands. Clothing is one area, as an example. Dressing modestly is a biblical principle. Women should not dress to look as a man and vice versa. (I won’t go into lengthy detail as way too much opinion and study abounds on the ‘interweb’ already). Scripture tells us all we need to know. But man would like to interpret (or is that control?) and tell us exactly what it means… even down to the fabric, colour and length in centimetres! These things add burdens… yet Christ came to set us free that we may be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not man!

Personally Convinced by the Spirit

Many years ago, (BC: Before Christ) I dressed in a manner that was clearly set to impress the male audience. I know this not because anyone told me but because I know what was in my heart. After being a believer for some time, God spoke to my heart about the way I dressed. He did not tell me to wear dresses only or ankle length skirts only. He didn’t give me the tape measure and a set of measurements to abide by (which would have made it easy for me to try and fudge here and there) However, He did address my heart. Ouch! That was harder hitting! I had freedom to dress how I wanted so long as I followed the boundaries that He set in my heart. The Holy Spirit guided me. Just as He can guide other women. But I also know that God opens each heart at to different things at different times in their walk.

As a young Christian, I found it helpful to put boundaries on myself. These were not so much rules for me to follow, although they could be interpreted as such. Rather, they were steps or markers that I had put in place that offered me some accountability. I had to this because of my weakness in an area. I was weak so I put markers in place to help guide me. Naturally I noticed that other people did not have the same boundaries around themselves…for they weren’t as weak in the same areas as I was.

Perceiving Weakness as Strength

Strangely enough, someone in the youth group noticed my self imposed boundaries and thought this showed a deep spirituality. I was commended for my strong faith. Of course, being young and full of ego (okay, so I may not be so young anymore but am still prone to having my ears tickled) I lapped it up. How sad. What others perceived as strength and tried to imitate was actually my weakness!

Some people esteem some foods as better than others. And while no one actually says it, one can often be left with a feeling that some are more spiritual or holy because of their [self imposed] dietary lifestyle. While other people esteem certain days as being more holy than others. Scripture tells us that the weaker or less mature believers consider these things to be vitally important in the Christian life, while the strong do not place such importance upon those matters.

But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
1 Corinthians 8:8

Lifestyle

Many new homeschoolers look to the more veteran homeschoolers and want to emulate their lifestyle. There are many reasons for this but amongst fear and doubt is also a certain sense of security. Yet it is false security as it is not found in Christ but in a lifestyle.

Boundaries may be necessary for an individual to put in their life (As in the case of an alcoholic, drug addict, gambler, etc) and I’m not disputing that at all. At times, these boundaries have been ropes of grace in my life. So long as I acknowledge that they are my boundaries set in place because of my weakness. I shouldn’t impose those boundaries upon others nor presume that they aren’t spiritual because they don’t have my boundaries. These boundaries are not freedom or liberty, but neither are they the ‘the narrow way’ nor does it mean that I am living a life of ‘greater obedience’. It may just mean that I am weak in my faith. The difficulty comes when we look at others and see their weaknesses and subsequent boundaries and mistake them for spirituality and we try to emulate that in our own lives. When we do that, we are not living as Christ called us to live.

Living out Romans 14

We need to be clear in using Scripture to divide what is holy, mature and ‘the narrow way’ and what is obedience, freedom and liberty.

I am fully convinced in my own mind of how I live. I try to not do things which conflict with my conscience. My faith guides me in matters of personal freedom but these matters are not the norm or the standard for the homeschool community or any other family. (As if )

I’m trying to be careful in what I proclaim from my blog. I can’t tell someone else what to do, (other than repent and turn to Christ) how they should teach English, what method to use, to avoid all meat or cover their head or observe every Saturday as the Lord’s Day. The difficulty with sharing my daily walk online is that it may be fine for people who follow my blog or know me in real life. But for those who simply stumble onto the blog, they might read something, which can then be taken out of context, and use it in a way that does not bring freedom.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Corinthians 8:8

It’s one thing to speak, knowing who I am speaking to face-to-face, being able to clarify my words if need be. It’s another thing to write, not knowing who will read it. If I can’t see the reader or communicate with them, then I don’t know if the reader is picking up what I’m putting down. I guess that’s concern that all believers face but I’m struggling with it of late.

Do you struggle with this too or have you reconciled it in your own mind?

Mapping the course- as the pilot

Yesterday I shared how much I had learned about education and homeschooling. Today I’ll share how God tapped me on the shoulder and straightened me out a bit.

We did Bible study and had memory verses and all those right things, yet something was missing. I knew that I was doing what God wanted- after all, I was doing this for Him, for His glory! Right? Oh boy, God was to show me how wrong I had been. After a few years, in His right time, He stepped in and didn’t leave me to wander for too long.

I had mapped out a course to get to the destination; I knew where I wanted to get to. I had gathered the tools for the journey: knew how I wanted to get there. I loaded the plane, buckled everyone in and took off! I turned to my co-pilot and asked him to bless the journey and to look out for us. After awhile, things got a little bumpy and I turned to my co-pilot and asked Him to help…but He was quite relaxed and had, in fact, been waiting for me to look to Him for help. I came to see that I was trying to take on the role of pilot when instead I am only the co-pilot and God is The Pilot. God knows the destination of each journey for each child. God knows what tools they need for the journey. He knows how to fly that plane better than anyone else: all I had to do was to recognise this and go to Him. I’m so thankful to God that He called me to a process of renewing my mind…to seek His design and not man’s. I had wanted to seek God for His plan for our family, but I got lost in the myriad of information regarding homeschooling.

I experimented on my girls with all these methods I was revising my educational philosophy, my dreams, goals and ideals for the children. In actual fact, my dreams and ideals drifted away from God and more to providing a ‘superior, successful, academic education‘. But deep in my heart I knew that something was missing.

A New Chapter

So began a new chapter in my homeschooling journey: that of putting God first…depending solely upon Him. I wanted Him to show me what to teach and when to each child. I was literally asking ‘What would Jesus do? What would Jesus learn? How would Jesus teach?’ Have you ever asked who is responsible before God for teaching your child? How about searching the Bible to see what God desires us to teach them? Hmmm, how about asking the when question? When to teach them? On the weekend? After school? Next question I asked was how do I teach them this then? I’ve always been one to ask questions (it’s how I learn) and so I wanted to know a few things…things that would impact every aspect of my family and the way I approach the concept of education. I have asked and studied these questions and I’d encourage everyone to do so- it’s a great topic! (I use the 5W’s and a H to learn most things and to teach most things. See my free download here; The Observation Sheet!)

God has a special plan for our family, for each of us and for our homeschool. This will look different to other families! But it is supposed to… I’ve learned that rather than look at what other’s are doing, I need to look only to the Lord. If I want Him to guide me, then I must seek Him, not man. God placed our children in our family. He wants me to diligently teach them His commands all throughout the day, every day, using ways and means that convey His eternal truths and build solid, loving, healthy relationships between me and them. He knows my abilities and theirs. He knows my strengths and weaknesses and theirs. He also knows my needs. I’ve learned that I can turn to Him, I can rely upon Him, die to self and trust in him for peace and assurance. This isn’t just something that I’ve learned about on Sunday, it is a result of trusting in God for everything, even homeschooling. Tomorrow I’ll share the ‘how’ we developed a Gospel based, discipleship approach to our family life and homeschooling.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Our Homeschool Journey

Something missing…

Yesterday I shared how we started the journey toward home education. Today is a continuation of that story…

I bought a series of progressive workbooks, worked out some schedules and away we went! I didn’t give the girls a break that Christmas. I had them do the testing to see precisely what levels to start with. Then we started with what I knew of education– public school style. I brought school into the home. It was kinda fun…for awhile. But I started to get bored of doing the same thing day in and day out and wondered if I’d be able to do this for another 10 years or so. A few months later…

We connected to the Internet – wow, a whole huge, new world opened up for me! Even though the ‘net is a lot bigger nowadays there was still a fair amount of information on various methods of homeschooling. I started researching unit studies and we delved into them for awhile. This led me to the Charlotte Mason and the Classical approach which led me to Unschooling and Natural Learning but the CM method was what I really wanted for my family. All methods offer something valuable but as Christian parents, we wanted something more – we wanted to pass our faith onto our children…we want for them to take ownership of that faith and experience a life filled with God for themselves. Throughout the years I started working very hard to become more like a ‘proper CM homeschooler‘ but I’d fall short and then feel like a failure and well, suffice to say that this time was fairly tumultuous for me as I was caught in a vicious circle. It was a great time where I learned a lot but also had its ups and down. I wanted to ‘take the meat and spit out the bones’ but felt an internal pressure to be a CM purist yet I couldn’t attain to the CM ideals! What a quandary…it’s always going to be hard when we keep looking at others instead of God.

Anyway, as I experimented on my girls with all these methods I was revising my educational philosophy, my dreams, goals and ideals for the children. In actual fact, my dreams and ideals drifted away from God and more to providing a ‘superior, successful, academic education‘. But deep in my heart I knew that something was missing. Oh, don’t get me wrong: we did Bible study and had memory verses and all those right things, yet something was missing. I knew that I was doing what God wanted- after all, I was doing this for Him, for His glory! Right? Oh boy, God was to show me how wrong I had been. After a few years, in His right time, He stepped in and didn’t leave me to wander for too long.

Our Homeschool Journey

Dealing with My Thorn in the Flesh

John is away for work. He may be away for approximately 10 weeks out of the next 16 weeks. We will miss him like crazy…and I just hope and pray that nothing too technical breaks down on our servers, but we’ll manage. I’m not particularly fazed or scared about him being away so much.

Except.

Except in one area. Those who know me in real life, or have followed my blog for awhile may guess as to my area of concern…which also led to my previous post where I voiced this concern about parenting from grace or law. Not that the two can be separated (imbalance is always the result) but my concern is the daily living. The practical reality of everyday life when it is not perfect or ideal.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There was a time when I was verbally and physically abrasive. I despised that about myself. I also inherited those traits as learned behaviour and I wanted to break that vicious cycle. So, I set about identifying my triggers. Once identified I became proactive in ordering my lifestyle and habits so as to avoid these triggers as much as possible. Yes sadly, I still need to be controlled by externals in some areas of my life. However, by the grace of God, He is doing a work in me and the things He has taught me have helped me to avoid being abusive toward the ones I love. The problem with external controls is that when they are removed or not in place for various reasons, then self control must take over or all hell breaks loose. I live with a situation that is a huge trigger for me. Much of it is allayed by the fact that I am under my husband’s authority and so he handles much of the situation which is a trigger for me. But when he goes away, he trusts me and delegates full authority to me.

I am not scared of the person. I’m scared of myself. I have seen myself in action and it is not pretty. It is harmful. It can be devastating. I am weak. I will be clinging to 2 Cor 12:9-10

Getting back to my previous post: I like to set fairly rigid rules for our family to live by when John isn’t at home. Problem is, we don’t have too many rules normally. As an example, sometimes, I’ll send the children to bed at 9.30pm and other times it will be midnight. There is never any fuss- this is part of how we practically live by grace. But one child cannot live that way. This child needs a concrete line drawn in the sand. Without it, the child simply will not go to bed at all. Even when the line is drawn, they will push, and push and push- nagging, whining, yelling, screaming: doing anything necessary to *win* (as seen in their eyes).

We parent using natural consequences. If one would like to wear clean clothes on Tuesday, then one will need to wash on Monday. Right? Fair enough? If one does not put them in the laundry or wash them for themselves, then they will not be ready. No, I will NOT run down to the store and buy some brand new socks! No, you may not use my socks. You will have to live with the consequences of your own actions. Harsh? maybe…but fair. However, there is one child who refuses to accept this way of life. Simply and point blank refuses.

So with John not home, the only way I know how to cope is to set firm rules and we all live by them. However, it is really quite draining and hard to live by rules all the time. I find it sucks the very life-joy from me. I know not everyone feels this way but in this situation, I do. We have lived by our Family Ways before and most of us can do it…but it’s wearing. It’s wearing because there is only one who sets out to make it very difficult. Hence my dilemma of what to do and who to do it. I do not want to be broken to the point where I resort to past behaviour. I am weak. I am not strong, like some women have mistakenly believed about me. In fact, I’m not even nice. I can be horrible. I need God’s grace. I need His peace. And I need Him to be very real in my life throughout the coming months.

I know God will help me. I know He will be with me. With all my pro activeness and practising of self control, can I, without God, do that which is commanded of me? Can I submit my flesh, to God? Will I ever be at the point where this ‘thorn in my flesh’ will be able to be used for my own good…let alone God’s glory?

Living By Grace…Or By the Law

Living with others, by grace, is not always an easy thing, is it? Oh, it’s easy when one is away at church camp or at fellowship meeting but what about when one of those other imperfect people lives with you, in your house?

Let me be honest. At times, I feel it is easier to follow rules- to live BY THE LAW and to heed whatever my Overland Park Theft Lawyer says, than to live in grace. So many times I want to establish house rules, family rules, and by golly (as I punch my fist into my hand) I WILL assert those rules. Sometimes I want to run my home as if it were a military base (and I’m not the family member in the military!). Strangely, John (the military member) is one who cannot tolerate any form of legalism…yet I sometimes find myself strangely drawn to it. I think I find safety in it. If I obey XYZ rules, then God will protect me, right? Nothing bad will happen, right? I will be blessed, right? I will be happy, free, at peace, right?

WRONG!

It doesn’t happen like that. Unless you follow popular, modern teaching of prosperity or legalism teaching (in which case, it is unconfessed sin in my life or something I haven’t done right that resulted in an unfortunate situation) which is unbiblical. Sometimes stuff just happens! For various reasons- and only God knows why. I don’t believe that’s the issue though. The issue is more “Ok Father, how would you have me live within this or through this?”

A time is coming where I want to lay down the law in my home. I want to set a set of rules and by golly, everyone (except John, of course) WILL obey. But will they obey in love…will I have their heart? In all situations is that what is important? Where do we draw the line? Where is that line that is drawn between allowing attitudes and behaviour in order to keep lines of communication open and/or protecting/guarding the others in the family? How much can a parent take, before they have to draw the line?

Sorry for the incoherent ramble. This probably doesn’t make any sense…it’s just tumbling out of my mouth and onto the screen.

I don’t know…I don’t have any answers. Do you? Any words of wisdom to impart?

Just Let Go

This poem sums up ‘letting go lessons’ that I’ve learned over the years. I’m sure though, that my time of lesson learning is not behind me…I still have some ways to go yet.

To ‘let go” does not mean to stop caring;
it means to accept that I can’t do it for someone else.
To ‘let go” is not to cut myself off;
it is the realization I can’t control another.
To ‘let go” is not to enable,
but to allow learning from the natural consequences of the choices we make.
To ‘let go” is to acknowledge that which I cannot change and
to pursue that which I can.
To ‘let go” is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is out of my hands.
To ‘let go” is not to try to change or blame another;
it is to make the most of myself.
To ‘let go” is not to care for but to care about.
To ‘let go” is not to fix but to be supportive.
To ‘let go” is not to judge
but to allow another to be a human being.
To ‘let go” is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes
but to allow other to effect their own destinies.
To ‘let go” is not to be protective;
it is to permit another to face reality.
To ‘let go” is not to deny but to accept.
To ‘let go” is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.
To ‘let go” is not to adjust everything to my own desires
but to take each day as it comes and to cherish myself in it.
To ‘let go” is not to criticize and regulate anybody
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To ‘let go” is not regret the past nor fear the future
but to grow and live in the present.
To ‘let go” is to forgive, not to condone.
To ‘let go” is to free myself of my collection of past hurts and resentments.
To ‘let go” is to fear less and to love more.

Anonymous

Noteworthy Free Bible studies

Further to my post about not profiting from the preaching of the gospel I’d like to highlight a few sites that give free Bible studies suitable for home and family use. There are many more I’m sure but these are some that we’ve used. If you know of others, feel free to leave a comment and share the URL.

Free Bible curriculum for use in the homeschool and family setting!

Calvary Chapel Sunday School lessons have been created for the purpose of supporting and blessing those who minister to children. Excellent!

Bible Class Books are excellent for elementary, OT, NT, Topical studies and character traits. Do check them out. Well worth your time. http://www.bibleclassbooks.com/index.html

Coromandel Baptist has many free resources, including a SS program that can be easily modified for home use.

The Christian Basics series and the Christian Faith series makes a great study for older children/teens.
http://www.corobaptist.org.au/articles/index.html

New Creation Teaching Ministries has many resources which are free…but even if you wish to purchase their books they are sooo cheap, only charging for printing/publishing costs. Help Me to Grow by Rev. Dr John Annells is a bible study for new Christians BUT I suggest that it is also great for teens.

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus by John R. Cross, from GoodSeed: http://www.goodseed.com/
This fully illustrated, 304-page book is written for adults and teens who know little or nothing about the Bible. It explains in a straightforward way the greatest themes of the Bible, step by step creating an understanding of sin, substitution and atonement. Available chapter by chapter download.

Corresponding free workbook
Corresponding Answer Booklet
Free Audio download of the book

Bible 101 – A Self-Paced Course
It’s been called “the greatest story ever told.” Now the central message of the Bible is brought to life in this eleven-hour online video series. This self-paced course has been adapted from the popular award winning DVD series – The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus.
http://www.goodseed.com/learning/bible-101/

By This Name is was written to give to or teach people who come from a polytheistic or pantheistic background. It is also geared for those who don’t believe in absolute truth, or say things like “That’s true for you but not for me.” Great study for teens!
http://www.goodseed.com/products/btn-eng-book/

The Lamb by John R. Cross
186 page full color book for children that explains the main message of the Bible

EBible Teacher has lessons for the slightly younger children.
Old Testament and New Testament lessons and Books of the Bible

All that the Prophets have Spoken
As the influence of Islam becomes more widespread and you start to meet more Muslims, you want to be able to communicate with them what you believe to be the central message of Scripture. But where do you begin? How do you even start?

And Beginning with Moses
Are you looking for a way to clearly teach the Bible in a world where truth is relative and God is seen as a force? Have you been noticing a shift in our culture and are struggling to know how to share the gospel with this new generation? You want to teach the Bible, but when people don’t even understand who God is, where do you begin? Great for teens!

Sunday School Lessons on the Tabernacle
The following lesson plans have been designed for a Sunday school class or weekly Bible study for adults or young adults. Each lesson, which can be completed in 45 minutes to an hour, includes one or two main biblical passage(s) on which the lesson is based, a short background description, and several discussion questions. Through these lessons, your students will be able to better understand Christ’s redemptive work on the cross and how He fulfilled every aspect of the tabernacle. Our hope is that they will come away with a stronger, clearer and more accurate grasp of the Gospel.

Bible Explorer
Bible Explorer is the fastest and easiest to use free bible study software. Over 2,800 Bible and Bible reference works available!

I’d like to encourage you to use the materials above to teach and instruct your family. If you use the materials, consider donating to the ministries. While this isn’t necessary it will further help spread God’ word. Please don’t fall for the trap that says ‘just because a book costs a few dollars it must be better than the free ones’. It’s just not true.

Jesus Died!

Listen to this short presentation today or tomorrow. Watch it with your children, your husband. Pass it on to others. It is about the fulfillment of the Passover…it is The Easter Story.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a11ASw5NRUw

Messianic Seder: Celebrating Passover

The Messianic Seder

There are no set rules for the basic order of the seder. Just like with Thanksgiving dinner, traditions vary among families. In this chapter is an example of:

1.) a very simple seder with no specific readings.

2.) a traditional seder outline. This outline consists of eighteen traditional steps you can adapt for your family.

3.) an easy-to-use twenty-four page step-by-step Haggadah* (you may reproduce for your family’s use) that explains just what to say for each blessing as you pour the wine, when to eat and drink, and a list of the Bible verses to read. The leader simply reads aloud the text from the gray box on each page as the rest of the group follows the directions.

4.) a basic checklist of what you need to have at (or close by) the dinner table.

The one thing you should not do is get all bound up in “doing it right” and ruin the dinner. That would defeat the purpose. Pray and trust God to lead you. Passover was reintroduced by Hezekiah in Bible times (Numbers 9). They were unable to follow every step outlined in Leviticus; however, God knew their hearts. He had grace towards them and healed their people.

*The 24 page reproducible Haggadah is included in the book A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays.

An excellent Passover video is available from Sojourner Ministries. You can view a clip online. Click The Unleavened Messiah Video

More About Passover

If you think these articles were interesting you haven’t seen anything yet! Wouldn’t you like to have all this information fully illustrated at your fingertips in one volume? All of the REALLY GOOD stuff is in the book…
Click to Order the A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays or Order Electronic Files and Begin Reading Today!

An excellent Passover video is available from Sojourner Ministries. You can view a clip online. Click The Unleavened Messiah Video

Kindly used with permission from Robin Sampson, Biblical Holidays

Are You Really Saved?

This will only take 5 minutes but it’s good to listen to…and assess exactly what we teach our children. Are we teaching good manners, good behaviour? Are we trying to teach good fruit? We can’t! We can’t present the gospel message to our children…ask them to repeat the sinner’s prayer after you and then think they are saved.

When I listen to messages it affects every aspect of my life – my own spiritual life but also how I interact with others, including my children. My husband has often said, “We have nothing to do with our own salvation. We aren’t saved because of any decision we made…if we do, ooohhh, we’re on shaky ground” . This short message by Paul Washer goes into that a little further.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc5lY9YP_bE

Messiah in the Passover

Several symbolic clues during Passover are fulfilled in Christ. John the Baptist introduced Jesus by saying, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). The Jews had been celebrating Passover for 1,500 years. They understood the significance of John’s statements.

Isaiah 53, written hundreds of years before Christ, records the suffering the human lamb would experience.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand (Isa. 53:7-10).

Triumphal Entry of the Lambs

In the first century, a lamb was chosen by the high priest outside of Jerusalem on the tenth of Nisan. Then the priest would lead this lamb into the city while crowds of worshippers lined the streets waving palm branches and singing Psalm 118, “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.”

Jesus our Messiah entered Jerusalem this same day, on a donkey (usually ridden by a king), probably right behind the High Priest’s procession. The crowds that had just heralded the entrance of the sacrificial lamb heralded the entrance of the Lamb of God. Accordingly, Jesus identified himself with the Passover sacrifice (John 12:9-19). The next day, as Jesus entered Jerusalem, His entry fulfilled prophecy.

Enthusiasm filled the air. All Israel knew that it would be in Jerusalem where Messiah would be enthroned as their King. Edersheim writes,

Everyone in Israel was thinking about the Feast, Everyone was going to Jerusalem, or had those near and dear to them there, or at least watched the festive processions to the Metropolis of Judaism. It was a gathering of universal Israel, that of the memorial of the birth-night of the nation, and of its Exodus, when friends from afar would meet, and new friends be made; when offerings long due would be brought, and purification long needed be obtained and all worship in that grand and glorious Temple, with its gorgeous ritual. National and religious feelings were alike stirred in what reached far back to the first, and pointed far forward to the final Deliverance.

The High Priest would then take the lamb to the Temple, where it would be tied in public view so that it could be inspected for blemish. In the same way, Yeshua sat and taught in the Temple courtyard for four days. He was inspected and questioned as the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the teachers of the law sought to trip him up in His words and entrap Him. They could not, because He was perfect and without blemish (Lancaster1996).

Passover pronounces redemption. To believers in Messiah, the Passover feast has a special meaning. Though we are not slaves, as God’s people in Egypt, we were slaves to our sin, our own wants and desires. Sin was our master until Jesus, the Passover Lamb, delivered us from our Egypt. The lamb slain during Passover is a foreshadow of the redemption we find in Jesus, the Messiah, our Passover lamb. The principle of redemption is the concept of bondage to the slavery of sin and freedom from its domination (John 8:31-36). To be “redeemed” means to be purchased from slavery. Jesus Christ purchased our freedom with His blood as the payment for the redemption (Ps. 34:22; 1 Peter 1:18,19; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:7).

Jesus ate the Passover meal with eleven of His disciples (see Passover in Bible Times). Just as the priest was to teach, pray, and offer sacrifice, Christ, the High Priest, taught, prayed, and then offered Himself as our sacrifice.

After the Meal

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. (John 18:1).

Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. The garden has many ancient olive trees today, some of which may have grown from the roots of the trees that were present in Jesus’ time. (All trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 a.d. Olive trees can regenerate from their roots and live for thousands of years.) The name Gethsemane comes from the Hebrew Gat Shmanim, meaning “oil press” (Kollek). Since oil is used in the Bible to symbolize the Holy Spirit, it may be said that the garden is where “the Spirit of God was crushed” (Missler 1995).

It was here that Jesus agonized in prayer over what was to occur. It is significant that this is the only place in the King James Version where the word agony is mentioned (Strong’s concordance). The Greek word for agony means to be “engaged in combat” (Pink). Jesus agonized over what He was to go through, feeling that He was at the point of death (Mark 14:34). Yet He prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done” (Terasaka 1996).

Of medical significance is that Luke mentions Him as having sweat like blood. The medical term for this, hemohidrosis, or hematidrosis, has been seen in patients who have experienced extreme stress or shock to their systems (Edwards). The capillaries around the sweat pores become fragile, and leak blood into the sweat. A case history is recorded in which a young girl who had a fear of air raids in World War I developed the condition after a gas explosion occurred in the house next door (Scott). Another report mentions a nun who, as she was threatened with death by the swords of the enemy soldiers, “was so terrified that she bled from every part of her body and died of hemorrhage in the sight of her assailants.” (Grafenberg) As a memorial to Jesus’ ordeal, a church which now stands in Gethsemane is known as the Church of the Agony (ibid).

Immediately thereafter, He was betrayed by Judas (Mark 14:43), and captured by the high priest and taken for trial before Caiaphas (Luke 22:54). Consequently, Jesus was crucified between two thieves, fulfilling His own prediction that “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (John 3:14). Most of His disciples fled at His arrest; only a group of women and one disciple, called “the disciple whom He loved,’ were present at the cross when He died (John 19:25-27; compare Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40; and Luke 23:49).

Jesus’ Trial, Death, and Resurrection

Many of us have a hard time grasping the pain and suffering Christ went through on the crucifixion day. Television today has de-sensitized our feelings pertaining to the horrifying violence of the torture and slow death of Jesus.

The following is just a portion of an article by Dr. C. Truman Davis, M.D., M.S., titled: “The Crucifixion Of Jesus: The Passion Of Christ From A Medical Point Of View,” which explains some of the agony of Christ:

In the early morning, Jesus, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, is taken across Jerusalem to Pontius Pilate. The prisoner is stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. A short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each is brought down with full force again and again across Jesusÿ shoulders, back and legs.

The condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum [cross bar], apparently weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of execution. Without any historical or Biblical proof, medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. Many of these painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixes today show the nails through the palm. Roman historical accounts and experimental work have shown that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when they support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words to Thomas, observe my hands. Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrists as a part of the hand. A titilus, or small sign, stating the victims crime was usually carried at the front of the procession and later nailed to the cross above the head. A small bundle of flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. The heavy patibulum [crossbar]of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession headed by a centurion, begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa. In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross.

The crucifixion begins. The legionnaire drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading, ÿJesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews is nailed in place.

Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber; then another agony begins. A deep crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

The body of Jesus is now in extremis, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out possibly little more than a tortured whisper, ÿIt is finished.ÿ

His mission of atonement has been completed. Finally He can allow His body to die.

With one last surge of strength, He once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, ÿFather, into thy hands I commit my spiritÿ (Truman 1965).

Jesus died as the lambs for the Passover meal were being slain. Not a bone was to be broken in these sacrificial lambs (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12). Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 Cor. 5:7).

During the Passover time, a sign hung on each lamb’s neck, bearing the name of the owner of the lamb. Jesus was crucified with a sign hung over His head with the name of His Father. Studies have shown the Tetragrammaton probably appeared over Jesus when He hung on the cross. During Bible times, messages were commonly written with the first letter of each word. An example in English: UPS, stands for United Parcel Service. The phrase Jesus of Nazareth and King of the Jews was written in three languages on a sign above Jesus as He hung on the cross (John 19:19). The Hebrew initials for Jesus of Nazareth and King of the Jews was YHWH. That is why the priest asked Pilate to change the writing. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written (John 19: 21-22).

The story does not end with the death of Jesus. His body was placed in a new tomb that belonged to a man named Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42). The greatest event that separates Jesus from all others is the fact that He overcame death. In three days He rose again and lives today. He arose from the grave on the Feasts of Firstfruits!

On Nisan 17, when Israel emerged from the Red Sea, this emergence was a shadow of the fulfillment of the day of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:9-14). This was the first of God’s people to emerge from sin (Egypt). It was fulfilled 1,478 years later on Nisan 17, 30 a.d. when Jesus was resurrected and ascended to heaven as our high priest, the Firstfruit of the resurrected (John 20:17).

Two Passovers

The gospels appear to say that the Messiah ate a Passover meal with the twelve on the evening beginning Nisan 14, and John appears to say Jews were having their Passover meal one day later. There are different theories to explain this.

1. The Sadducees and Pharisees disagreed on the day of Passover. The Sadducees (more conservative group) believed the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread were separate feast days. They held Passover on the fourteenth as God decreed in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Those of the majority opinion, including the Pharisees, held Passover on the fifteenth. Jesus may have been following both dates by having Passover with the disciples on the fourteenth and becoming the Passover lamb on the fifteenth.

2. Thousands of people would come to Jerusalem to have their lambs ritually slain in the Temple. If they only had one day in which to prepare for the Passover, it would have been extremely difficult to have slaughtered all the lambs brought in to be sacrificed. Therefore, they worked on two different time scales. The northern part of the country went with the old way of dating (starting from morning and going to the following morning). The southern part of the country followed the official dating method (from evening to evening). Thus, there were two times when lambs were being killed in the Temple for sacrifice.2

This controversy as to what day Passover should be is not the purpose of this. You must study to decide for yourself which day is correct. Some families celebrate both days, one with their church and one at home.
Three days, Three Nights

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt 12:40).

Friday to Sunday does not equal three days.

Click here to view a chart of the last week of Christ’s life on earth. (Acrobat file)

More About Passover

If you think these articles were interesting you haven’t seen anything yet! Wouldn’t you like to have all this information fully illustrated at your fingertips in one volume? All of the REALLY GOOD stuff is in the book…
Click to Order the A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays or Order Electronic Files and Begin Reading Today!

An excellent Passover video is available from Sojourner Ministries. You can view a clip online. Click The Unleavened Messiah Video

Kindly used with permission from Robin Sampson, Biblical Holidays

Never Givin’ Up – Devotional

Never Givin’ Up
Thoughts of a 12 year old girl

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5

This scripture spoke to me in a remarkable way. When I think of this song it helps me to remember that God will never give up on me.

I ran as fast as I could to the softball dugout, put my hair up into a pony-tail and hid behind the chair. I had just been prank calling, and called the Police. A live voice on the other end said, “We know where you are, you will be charged.” and then they hung up.

Later that night, still at the softball field, I just couldn’t hold it in. I had to tell my parents. Were they happy? No way! I got grounded and a huge scolding in the middle of the softball grounds. On the way home we saw some police cars and my mother said “A, I am very disappointed in you.” I had a guilty conscience all week.

“When the sky opens up to rain on you,
I’ll be there with open arms to cover you,
don’t give up now,
there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do,
Never Givin’ Up On You”

I knew that prank calling was wrong. I thought to myself ” Why? Why did I listen to my friends?” Now I know that they were not my true friends at all.

That night I thought about the Bible verse Joshua 1:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. And then I realised that God had forgiven me because I had asked Him for forgiveness and He forgives those who have done wrong through Jesus. Everything was ok.

Jewish Customs of Passover Today

Passover is the most popular Jewish holiday. The dinner celebration is called a seder. The Passover Seder is a meal with special foods, practices, and Scripture readings that commemorate the liberation from Egyptian slavery, in accordance with God’s instructions (Lev. 23:1,4, Exod. 12:14,24-27).

Seder means “order.” The seder invites each family to recount its own version of the great story of Passover with each family member actively involved. The meal induces the experience of going from slavery to liberty through the food experiences and story as the meal turns into an elaborate feast. There is no “right way” to conduct a seder.

The seder is usually a family dinner but can also be held with your family or with a church group. During the Seder, the narrative of the exodus is related and prayers of thanksgiving are offered up to God for his loving protection. The dinner table is beautifully set with fancy dishes and candles. There is a special pillow on the chair for the leader of the seder to lean on to symbolize the comfort of a free person reclining (as opposed to a slave who never rests). Orthodox Jewish tradition directs that, during Passover, meals be prepared and served using sets of utensils and dishes reserved strictly for that festival. The readings, songs, and prayers of the Seder are included in the Haggadah.

The Haggadah

The Haggadah is the prayer book used at the Seder, or ritual dinner observed at Passover. Sometimes there is a small book for each person participating in the seder. Haggadah means “telling.” The Haggadah is a “script” of what the leader and participants should say and the order of eating and drinking during each part of the meal as it tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The Haggadahs were not used until the eighth century a.d. before this oral tradition was used to tell the Passover story. There are over three thousand different Haggadah versions available.

We have included a Messianic Haggadah in this chapter that you may reproduce, for your family only. This Haggadah is written to be used with a family with small children. We have also included a Messianic Seder Outline so you can make your own Haggadah, if desired.

The Seder Plate

There is a special plate in front of the leader called the seder plate. The Seder consists of three directive foods listed in Exodus 12 and customary foods later added by the Rabbis. Each of the foods symbolizes some aspect of the ordeal undergone by the Israelites during their enslavement in Egypt

Foods listed in Exodus 12

Bitter Herbs (usually horseradish) representing the bitterness of bondage
Shank Bone of a Lamb symbolizes the lamb eaten before they fled Egypt.
Matzah– must be made solely of special flour and water (no leaven).

Customary foods later added by the Rabbis

Haroset (it looks unappetizing but is delicious) is a mixture of apples, nuts, grape juice, and cinnamon. It represents the mortar the Israelites used to build the Egyptian cities and the sweetness of a better world.
Roasted Egg is said to be the symbol of life, but we believe it came in with the pagan fertility rituals (Boaz 1996). (Our family decided to leave off the egg.)
Karpas or fresh greens (usually parsley or celery) symbolizes the new life for the Jewish people and the hyssop used to sprinkle blood on the door post. The parsley is dipped into salt water representing the tears of slavery.

| Four Questions | Four Cups | Matzah |
An excellent Passover video is available from Sojourner Ministries. You can view a clip online. Click The Unleavened Messiah Video

If you think these articles were interesting you haven’t seen anything yet! Wouldn’t you like to have all this information fully illustrated at your fingertips in one volume? All of the REALLY GOOD stuff is in the book…
Click to Order the A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays or Order Electronic Files and Begin Reading Today!

Passover Overview

Passover Overview

The name of the festival, Pesach in Hebrew, passing over or protection, is derived from the instructions given to Moses by God (Ex. 6:6-8). Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God commanded Moses to tell the children of Israel:

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD (Ex. 6:6-8).

Passover is the time of beginnings for Israel. This festival ushers in the coming of spring on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated on the fourteenth1 day of Abib (the first month of the Jewish religious calendar, later called Nisan). Each of the three pilgrimage festivals Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles has an agricultural basis as well as an historical significance. Many different things are celebrated during Passover. A few of these include: the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the growing season; the new lambing time, and the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt during Passover.

It cannot be overemphasized as to how foundational Passover is in God’s eternal redemption plan. Only Nisan can be the first month in God’s calendar. Though other cycles and other aspects of life in the LORD are important, it is the sacrifice of the Lamb that gives it all meaning. Except for the sacrifice of the Passover and the blood on the doorposts, Israel would have suffered the same fate as the Egyptians.

The promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would have then become void. With no Passover sacrifice and with no blood on the doorposts, then no Torah could have been given and no other celebrations could have followed. Apart from the sacrifice of the Passover and the blood on the door posts, there would have been no basis for Messiah, our Passover, to be sacrificed on the anniversary of that momentous occasion. We would have no hope and remain dead in our sins; however, the command was obeyed and deliverance was accomplished. Indeed, for us, this is most certainly the first of all the months, the first month of the year, truly the real beginning of all spiritual life (Michael 1996).

God directs parents, this special night of the year, to take on the role of teacher, and pass down His story of the exodus from Egypt to future generations. This ceremony not only looks back to the miraculous story of God delivering His people, but it also presents the promise of Messiah’s death and resurrection. It is an exciting experience centering on a mixture of ritual foods. The matzah, bitter herbs, wine, and the rest, provide a lasting link through the march of history.

Israel’s Redemption from Egypt

( Exodus 1:1-27 )

The Old Testament story of Passover has more light, more splendor, more vividness, and a richer application to life than any other story in the book of Exodus. Moses and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him that the Lord said to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites, even for a brief visit to the desert to worship their God. In fact, he made life for the Israelite slaves even worse. Moses had warned Pharaoh that God would send a series of plagues upon Egypt unless the people were freed.

God sent the plagues to show the people that He is the one true God. He confronted the things that the Egyptians called gods. The ten plagues were righteous plagues, and justly inflicted upon the Egyptians because each plague had something to do with the false gods that the Egyptians worshipped. God makes those false things that we worship a burden to us.

The word plague is from the Hebrew word oth, which means “sign”. The Egyptians believed in magic. They were always trying to override the laws of nature to perform their “tricks” God used the laws of nature to bring about His signs and wonders.

The entire episode of the plagues is supposed to have happened within eight to ten months. Each of the plagues spoke as a sign to the Egyptians, showing them that He is greater than their so-called gods. The first three plagues affected all the people, even the Hebrews. The next three plagues were much more intense and only happened to the Egyptians (I will put a division between my people and thy people v. 23). Before each plague, God commanded Moses and Aaron to warn Pharaoh, Let My people go or I [God] will bring a plague upon you. Before each plague, for three weeks, Moses warned Pharaoh. The actual plague lasted one week.

Click here to Read about the Ten Plagues

Seder

During the Passover celebration, Jews and Christians remember this great event by eating special foods associated with the bitterness of slavery and the sweetness of freedom. The entire meal, called the seder, is eaten as the story of Israel’s freedom is told. Everything in the Seder is directed toward the prime command from the Bible: And thou shall shew thy son in that day saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt (Exod. 13:8). See a Messianic Seder Process in the next chapter.

Redemption

The great miracle of the splitting of the Red Sea is the climax of the departure from Egypt and the inspiring wonder that forged a group of slaves into a nation. The redemption from Egypt is not only that of Israel but also a salvation by faith in general. The celebration of redemption from Egypt will be a pattern for salvation from all other evil.

During this God-ordained night we celebrate the doctrines of our salvation. Thus, like ancient Israel, we are sovereignty brought to the edge of the “sea” with no hope except to trust His deliverance and to follow Him. We marvel at His overwhelming sufficiency. Like ancient Israel, when we trust Him for deliverance and walk through the “sea” with Him, we end up singing and dancing on the other side. That’s Pesach! (Berkowitz 1996)

Note: A day on the Jewish calendar begins at sunset. When a date is given for a Jewish holiday, the holiday actually begins at sundown on the preceding day.

Kindly used, with permission. Robin Sampson, Biblical Holidays.

Stop Meddling – A Lesson from Proverbs

This past week we discussed Proverbs 26:17

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
Proverbs 26:17

Often when using Proverbs I find I don’t need to dig all that deeply in order to understand. This Proverb is pretty clear. What a word picture!

When you butt into an issue, [argument, quarrel, fight, etc] that is none of your business it is like grabbing a mad dog by the ears as you walk by.

Grabbing my Archeological Bible I noticed that it had a section on Dogs in the Ancient World. In ancient Israel dogs were generally not domesticated and ran in wild scavenging packs. They are depicted as roaming carnivores that hunted in packs, even inside cities. To have one’s corpse devoured by dogs was a dreadful fate, the epithet “dog” was extremely insulting and humiliating… implying that a human being was either worthless or evil. Some other cultures viewed dogs more favourably but we do not know how the ancient Israelites viewed dogs (or cats for that matter). What we can say however, is that the dogs this Proverb is referring to are not the cute puppies or Labradors that we have as common house pets. Grabbing one by the ears would be inviting serious harm.

I then asked the children to imagine an ancient Israelite scene. Could they imagine wild, carnivorous dogs roaming the city? Would they reach out and grab such an animal by the ears? Could they see the folly/stupidity in such an action? That’s exactly what we do when we add our 2c worth to an argument or quarrel in which we have no business.

Do we have any responsibility in the matter?

Do we have any authority in the area?

Will my words be ones of encouragement, bringing comfort, peace, grace or will they be ones that cause unnecessary grief and concern and cause hurt?

I reminded the children of the THINK principle. How do we know what is our business or affair?

Do we have any responsibility in the matter?
Do we have any authority in the area?
Will my words be ones of encouragement, bringing comfort, peace, grace or will they be ones that cause unnecessary grief and concern and cause hurt?

The proverbs are fantastic for instilling life principles in our little ones. They are literary and filled with vivid word pictures which also help keep them open to hearing to God’s word. Even resistant teens respond to this type of lesson! In fact, I’ve learned that I can teach my proverb principles to [biblically] resistant people by learning to speak in a proverbs way, quoting straight from the Scriptures without pointing out the references. After learning about this proverb that contains such word pictures it is then easy to reinforce this lesson as we live our days side by side: walking down the street, sitting down and and working and resting.

Spring Holydays

Guest post from Robin Sampson at Biblical Holidays

Three of the four spring holidays are celebrated within an eight-day period (Abib 14-21). The three spring festivals overlap or run into each other. The fourth and final spring feast is the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost). The Feast of Weeks is held seven weeks or fifty days following the morrow after the Sabbath of Passover.

The spring holidays of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits are a portrait of the death and resurrection of Y’shua (Jesus). He sacrificed Himself on Passover, was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and was resurrected on Firstfruits. The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost) was the day the Holy Sprit fell on believers.

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are held in immediate sequence. The lamb was slain on the fourteenth and the Feast of Unleavened bread began on the fifteenth day of the first month. And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten (Num. 28:16-17). This passage might account for why Jesus began His Passover seder on the fourteenth. These are distinctly different holidays falling on different days; however, due to their closeness they are usually treated as one festival. (The scriptures seem to teach that these are two names for the same festival. See Exodus 13:3-8.)

As you study the Spring Festivals, you will see the plan of God fulfilled in such dramatic detail that you cannot help but be stricken by the awesomeness of our Eternal King. The spring festivals clearly prophesy the first coming of Messiah and the fall festivals are prophetic of His second coming.

Dates

All holidays begin at sundown of the preceding day and end at nightfall of the final day of observance.

Passover (Pesach)
April 09, 2009 (15th of Nisan, 5769)
Pentecost (Shavuot)
May 29, 2009 (6th of Sivan, 5769)

Click to Order the A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays or Order Electronic Files and Begin Reading Today!

The Shack

If you want to read a treatise on theology or religion then do not read this book. If you want to read a fictional account of one believer’s journey from religion to an intimate relationship with God, then maybe you’ll enjoy The Shack. Maybe.

I wanted to know what all the hype and controversy was about. I like to read the reviews of others but I won’t base my opinion on them. “Don’t let someone else think for me” is one of my mottoes. In my opinion I don’t think the book warrants either- the hype or the controversy. There has been so much discussion on this book that I’m not going to post all my thoughts, nor will I dissect the book. It’s been done to death. Just do a google search on it and you’ll see what I mean. (Then again maybe it would be quicker just to read the book- it’s easy reading.) However, I wanted to read it myself. So I did. I asked my husband to read it also. We thought about the possibility of having Miss A read it but decided that it wasn’t really necessary for her to read. She has a relationship with the Lord-her relationship with Him is not based on rules and we didn’t believe she’d really benefit from reading it. However, she is reading another book called “CCM: Why I left”

Yes, there are much better books out there- both in literary style and theology. Is the book the work of the devil and to be avoided at all costs? Well, if your faith rests on your own doctrine and upholding all the rules to perfection (having all your theological ducks in a row) then yes, you should avoid it. Otherwise, read it. But read it as it was written. It was not written as a theological treatise. It’s a work of fiction! (Some people seem to forget that at times). What I find weird is that some people will go on about the evil of this book yet not bother looking too closely at the theology within the Narnia series! Yet if the theology paralleled in the Narnia series doesn’t agree with your own, then it too, is harmful- even more so because parents often put it directly into the hands of their children and then pull it to pieces with a unit study! Now I’m not using Narnia for any other reason other than to say it is fiction also…treat the book as such.
‘The Shack’ was endorsed by Eugene Peterson and put ‘up there’ with Pilgrim’s Progress.

“This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good.”

Wow, bold claim but I remembered that this was Mr. Peterson’s statement and not that of the author. In fact, it’s a bizarre statement- one I don’t understand. John Bunyan wrote the Christian classic Pilgrim’s Progress while in prison for the sake of the Gospel. Every word was rooted in the Scriptures. John Bunyan never took propositional truths of Scripture to mould/modernise/paraphrase then into a modern, easy-to-read fictional book. I believe there will always be much room for error when we attempt to portray a dialogue between God and man, aside from text straight from the Scriptures. Some people believe this book will damage the Church. Well I’m not so sure of that. The book generates a lot of discussion, a lot of Bible study and surely has pointed many people toward a deeper and real relationship with The Father. However, if any book is going to do global damage to the Church maybe it is more so Eugene Peterson’s work, “The Message”…or Rick Warren or the Emerging Church…but that’s my 2c worth, for another post, maybe, one day. 😉 The book does not cover every doctrinal teaching of the church- although some think it should and other think it did, by mere omission of any concrete statements or references. I wonder if some people read more into it than what was actually written?

The author desires to teach the reader about God and God’s relationship to his creation. He labours some points but this is obviously something he did purposely, to the exclusion of other points. I didn’t agree with everything…but then again, who do I agree 100 % with? 😉 Not even my favourite authors! I’m not about to take the superior attitude that all my beliefs are right therefore you are all wrong! 😉

The book will be helpful and beneficial for some…for some that had/have a skewed image of God…of God as Father and Creator. As a believer for over 20 years I didn’t have issues with the book. I chewed on the meat and spat out the bones. However, I believe that I am learning to be more discerning…trying to develop that skill (when in doubt I ask my husband). I won’t recommend the book to anyone and everyone though.

Throughout reading this book, I was driven to the Scriptures to search out various issues. This was a good thing! For in the analysing and comparing it with scripture and then learning to articulate my position (striving for discernment) I grow in the knowledge and understanding of God.

I was blessed, encouraged and strengthened to read of the relationship between the Godhead. I enjoyed seeing how God and the Holy Spirit were portrayed. People who have an issue with God being portrayed as a dark skinned woman may really have a few issues that God wants to deal with- in the area of Himself and His nature – His sexuality – True sexuality. Many people have this view of God as male – 100% male and are totally horrified to think of God in any way, as maternal or nurturing. God presents Himself to us in the Scriptures as male but he created us in His own image

Why does God allow evil? Why doesn’t He intervene in a real, tangible way? How can God be three yet one? What does it mean that Jesus lived here as fully God and fully man?

The book shows me that I can have a real relationship with our Father…shows me that The Father desires it! I don’t see the big picture…I certainly don’t see how anything evil can ever fit in with or be a part of the fulfillment of God’s plan. But I am learning to trust in God more…to trust in the faithful Father of the Bible. Even when I can’t see it or am not experiencing the feeling or sense of His love I am trusting In Him. I don’t have to understand it all but I can trust in Him and His heart.

How can I presume to know what God does and why? I do not know the whole Truth…I know God but I don’t know all the mysteries and truths of God. What I do know is that He is a just God, a righteous God, a loving God who rules over all with omnipotence and in omniscience.

That, I know from the scriptures…but as to anything else, I do not know. I don’t know much. I don’t understand much. I don’t have all my theological ducks in a row…and for what it’s worth I’ve met people who have seemingly had their theological ducks in a row and then been affected by personal tragedy and their theology has not held them – this is where relationship comes into play. God desires relationship with us- not strict adherence to a set of rules, or a prescribed way of living but a relationship – fellowship with us – communion with us, His creation.

This is my theology- when I don’t understand God’s ways or His doing, I look at trusting His heart. ( I remember reading that quote years ago- it’s a Spurgeon one from memory)

Ultimately if you choose to read it I pray that it will drive you to the Scriptures to seek more clearly the God of the Bible…that you will desire a closer walk with the Father. If you choose to not read it, then buy or listen to Pilgrim’s Progress or better yet, grab a pen and paper and your Bible and get into The Word. My relationship with my God was strengthened and deepened by reading The Shack…but again, that’s my opinion from my perspective. Your mileage may vary. It’s fiction. God’s word is not. Read The Shack if you want to…read it alongside your Bible. Line it up with the word…but don’t be scared of a book. It won’t turn you away from God- it will point you to a deeper relationship with Him. Go to Him. run to Him. Hide in Him.

“And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
(1 Timothy 4:4)

How Do We Parent?

Do you get sick of reading parenting books? I did. I’ll be honest. They get on my nerves. There are more different kinds of Christian parenting books than coloured jelly beans. How’s a parent supposed to know what to do? Ezzo? Pearls? Tripp? Barth? Grace-based? Law based? Where on earth does it end?

Good Information – Wrong Time

Sometimes reading books will actually provide us with information that is wrong at the time. We should not read parenting books BEFORE we have gone to God. Bold statement, I know. I used to read the books, arm myself with lots of information and then go to God, trusting that He would guide me in this parenting/homeschooling journey. Pfft! Talk about putting the cart before the horse!

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
Ecclesiastes 12:12

Parenting Experts or The Parent?

Why do we continually go to ‘the experts’ when we can go directly to THE Expert? Why do we need a writer, an author to tell us when, where, and how to discipline? Is it because we don’t look to see The Father’s parenting in our own lives? It seems to be a superior attitude to me; that we don’t like to see ourselves as children when we are parenting our children. We separate or compartmentalise areas of our life. Sometimes we’re parents; other times we are children of God…yet the two are intertwined.

How did God treat me before I was saved…before I came to believe on His son?

How does God treat me now?

In other words…

How does God parent me?

I am His child.

When I see the way that God parents me I am more able to parent my children in love, in grace…with discipline as it should be – loving discipline. Discipline that restores, not tears down or breaks hearts. Every action the Father does toward me is one of restoration, although I don’t always see that at the time. But it is. That is His nature and I trust Him.

How do I parent my children?

How does God parent me?

The blessing of our relationship with The Father should have us teach our children in the same ways – not holding back anything that is good for them, not disheartening them with our requirements. As we are being taught by Our Father, as He disciplines those that He loves, He does not despair or get impatient when we are slow but He continues to work in our heart and mind and in our family by his grace.

Let us seek the favour of God upon our homes!

Relationship or Religion

To do what is right and just is more pleasing to ADONAI than sacrifice.
CJB

I’m a simple kind of gal. I love the poetic richness of the KJV but there are some times when I like to read other versions of the Bible as well. I’ve found it helpful in my walk as a believer but also as a parent, to learn the language of various Bible versions. I don’t talk in a ‘King James’ way. I can talk in a ‘ESV’ way but I often talk in a paraphrased way. I want to teach my children to walk in the ways of the Lord…to instill in them a love of God’s ways and discussion is one of my most influential and common ways that I can do this. It has something to do with living every day with my children- allowing them to see my life- letting them share in my life, that equals= relationship. This is why I tend to speak in paraphrased proverbs…it’s a natural thing for me to do.

I make mistakes. My children make mistakes. That’s okay. I don’t want them to grow up in an atmosphere of fear- scared to make a mistake. I don’t parent out of fear. None of that pleases the Lord.

Yes, it might good that my children would sing in the church choir, help lead the Sunday School class, and score highly in their Bible study curriculum test. But that alone does not mean that their hearts are serving the Lord.

I can sacrifice my career to stay at home and teach my children, cook from scratch and sew all my own clothes yet my heart can still be far from what the Lord desires.

Good works aren’t bad. But by themselves they are just religion. Religion is simply ‘man trying to work their way to earn God’s favour’. God isn’t interested in religion. He’s after relationship! He desires us to simply trust and obey Him more so than running around trying to prove our worth or earn His favour.

Proverbs 21:3
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
NIV

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
King James Version

To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
New KJV

Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Holman Christian Standard

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Amplified

Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors
mean far more to God than religious performance.
The Message

Father God would have you live right, to spend time with Him, to think of others, rather than running around working hard, trying to impress, by working for Him.
Susan’s paraphrase.

Again, some might say this is heretical of me to do but it’s real life- it’s allowing the word to penetrate my heart and my life. It’s then how I speak with my family. Speaking biblical principles in an everyday way that we each relate to. Speaking

What about you? Do you encourage yourself in the word this way? Or any other ways? How would you paraphrase this proverb? Go on, have a go – leave a comment and link to your post so other’s can see it and be encouraged. 🙂

Perspective

Fount this at Fish n Cans…thought it was too good not to share.

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
“That laundry is not very clean”, she said.
“She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

“Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life.. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

Participating in…

I was browsing some blogs (again) and I thought this post was so true and yet so applicable to my life, and no doubt, the life of many other homeschoolers…although it isn’t specifically about homeschooling at all.

Go check it out! And The Rock Was Christ posting ‘Things that matter’

It seems to me that there are lots of things that matter in life. But, sometimes one is faced – or confronted, with the brevity of life. Like when someone you know is suddenly taken from this life. Death, can come so quickly. It catches us, it takes by surprise. It leaves its deep shock in our spirit.

So then, what matters? Just having fun? Doing lots of good things? Having lots of friends? Laughter? Joy? Or, as the cynics, might say… nothing.
http://nwcc.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/things-that-matter/

Calvinist? Homeschooler? Something else?

This quote sums up why I don’t call myself by any particular label. Granted I don’t know the complete context in which Mr. Washer is talking about or to whom he is addressing but the general thought is still good.

“Anytime your banner becomes anything other than Jesus Christ you ought to be afraid of Hell. If your banner is “I’m a Calvinist”, if your banner is “I’m a homeschooler”, if your banner is this, that, or anything else, if you’re rallying under any other name than Jesus Christ; you’re in danger. You are in danger!”~Paul Washer

Conformed or transformed? (P3)

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

“Transformation” is different in that it is a process…an outward expression that does come from within! Did you know that the Greek word underlying the word transformed is the verb, ‘metaorphoo’. Yup, from that we get the English words ‘metamorphose and metamorphosis.’ The word of God, the Living Christ transforms us from the inside out. (James 1:21,22).

So how can I be transformed instead of conforming?

1) Come before the Lord daily. No, not for a 7 minute devotional or a 30 minute prayer session but with a wholehearted, dying-to-self prayer…and all day attitude. It means giving over everything, even homeschooling. (Homeschooling used to be so all consuming for me- all my time and energy went into learning about new ways, new books, talking about it) For some it is a job, career, spouse, house, university, sport, methodology, church, ministry…but we all struggle, just with different things. Wherever our thoughts, time, energy is, that is where our heart is. We can set our mind upon Christ…yes, for awhile it may need to be a conscious decision but we can turn our eyes upon Jesus.

2) Make a conscious to not conform. Who do you think is watching you? The homeschool police? The Charlotte Mason Police? The church pastor? Your boss? Who am I aiming to please? The other ladies at homeschool group? Who am I trying to impress? Oh, our hearts need to turn back to the Lord in thought, word and deed. It is only then that we can find true freedom, abundance and joy in every area of our lives.

3) Be transformed! By dying to self…by not conforming…by sitting at the feet of Jesus daily…by saturating ourselves more in God’s word than any other book/movie is the way to have our minds renewed and our lives transformed.

Our Father God will give us direction, forgiveness, transformation, a new mind, a purpose, His rest if we turn to Him- yield everything (our desires, dreams, ambitions, etc) to Him.

The wonderful thing about God’s grace is that we don’t have to wait until a Monday or a New Year or a new month. We don’t even have to wait until tomorrow.

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
(English Standard Version)

Posts in the ‘Conformed or Transformed’ series

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
To read posts in other series, click here.

Conformed or transformed (P2)

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

“Conformed’ means to assume an outward expression that does not come from within. It is basically to masquerade, to put on a mask. If we are doing ’something’ for Christ then it is possible it is an act of conformity.

I often write that I went through a time of bondage – in regard to homeschooling. In fact, while the bondage manifested itself through my homeschooling life, it was in fact a spiritual matter…isn’t that usually the case?

I found myself being convinced of many things…things that sounded so good and worthy. I wanted them for my life, for my family. But in fact, I was conforming to the world…even though in this instance it was conforming to an ideology – the Christian homeschool community. I spent hours on forums (blogs weren’t around then) reading about how others lived and what they did…and I wanted it too!

I failed to see any contradiction when it came to this conforming issue. As a Christian I didn’t recognise this conforming struggle…I was blinded by well meaning, articulate arguments instead of being renewed in my mind. I was trying to conform, not to the ‘non-believing word’ but the Christian homeschool world – which is still not Christ! So with that in mind I’ll list some of the things that I struggled with – in my process of trying to conform to the “Christian homeschool community”

Wearing dresses only – long, plain dresses so as not to draw too much attention to myself.
Going without makeup and jewelry, although I did continue to shave my legs.
Dressing my girls in similar attire.
Being impractical with our lifestyle: Hey! We really do like SciFi and white bread!
Watching only tv shows or movies that other Christian homeschoolers approved of!
Training the children to outward obedience.

The list goes on…

Conformity is outward based. It is rules based. Don’t touch. Don’t associate. Don’t eat. Don’t taste. Be in fear. Make rules, guidelines, policies, ways based on that fear. (Col 2:20-23)

Another problem is that conformity isn’t In-Your-Face-Obvious. It is subtle. I can feel good, maybe even just a little righteous…I can feel that my life is pleasing to God…that my stances and actions are pleasing to Him. In fact, I could really enjoy this nice, clean, noble, higher life. But it doesn’t mean that the Lord is pleased. I’ve had to ask myself. Is God pleased with me? If so, WHY is He pleased? (In other words, is any righteousness or pleasing my doing or that of Christ?) What have I done that pleases Him? If the answers to these questions don’t line up with the same theology of grace that I read in His word, then something is wrong!

Often all the rules that we build our lifestyle around are based on outward attributes – dress, behaviour, food, manners, etc. In the Colossians verse, Paul says these things are the commandments of men. Let us not be fooled into thinking that our man made rules will please God. Our good, clean life…our living according to the rules is flesh based. It is not grace based and it does not please God. (See Romans 8:8)

I had to look at my heart. Assess my motives. Ask God to reveal the depths of my heart to me, for in my flesh I can be quick to deny my sin. However, God heard the cry of my heart…He knows that my desire is for Him…He was faithful. Through revealing my sin (of pride, comparison, conformity) He has shown me more of Himself…of His total grace and He is now doing a transforming work in my heart and my life. I haven’t lost anything by giving up or by dying to self – but I gained an immeasurable wealth. Go on, I urge you to also, it’s worth it.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
(English Standard Version)

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Conformed or transformed? (P1)

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
Romans 12: 1-3

Many people pull their children out of school and begin to homeschool and they cite Romans 12:2 as a favourite scripture. Oh, I don’t have a problem with that per se, but have you ever noticed how we can soon start to conform to a whole nother system or set of rules – the Christian homeschool way of doing things?

You know what I mean, come on admit it. You might visit a forum and realise that no one there fesses up to watching science fiction and you don’t want to be the one to open your mouth and dump your family in it. Or a slightly different angle might be that you doggedly get out of bed at 5.30am every day to do devotions before the children awake and you believe that this is the key to being a successful Christian homeschool mum? Maybe if everyone else did this, they wouldn’t have their problems eh? 😉

Ah…God wants so much more than that for us! Just as he doesn’t want us to conform to the world, He doesn’t want us to conform to a system, a set of activities or walking by the rules. He does want us to be transformed…

What’s the difference?

“Conformed’ means to assume an outward expression that does not come from within. It is basically to masquerade, to put on a mask. If we are doing ‘something’ for Christ then it is possible it is an act of conformity.

“Transformation” is different in that it is a process…an outward expression that does come from within! Did you know that the Greek word underlying the word transformed is the verb, ‘metaorphoo’. Yup, from that we get the English words ‘metamorphose and metamorphosis.’ The word of God, the Living Christ transforms us from the inside out. (James 1:21,22).

So what do we need to do? Surely we need to do something?

All we need to do is to soak in, breathe in, be immersed in the Word of God. The word will renew our minds and transform us, from the inside out!

When we stop trying to conform and instead yield ourselves to Christ, He expresses Himself through our daily lives. This is the metamorphic process – this is a truly radical transformation. Once we experience this ongoing transformation in our lives, why would we want to substitute our freedom in Christ to become bound or try and conform to another system, method or way of doing things? God wants so much more than that!

You think the learning-at-home journey is radical? It is nothing compared to being transformed by the renewing of our mind, according to His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
(English Standard Version)

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

How do you feel about Christmas? (guest post)

Today’s post is by guest blogger, Robin Sampson from Heart of Wisdom. Robin has a particular focus on the Hebraic roots of Christianity.

How do you feel about Christmas?

Do you observe it differently now compared to how you observed it when you were a child? Do you observe it at all? Did you know Christmas has pagan roots? Does that bother you?

Don’t get nervous. I’m not going to tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing this time of year. I can’t because I don’t have it all sorted out myself.

Since the beginning of the Church, there has been controversy over pagan customs. On one side were those who wanted to ‘christianise’ the customs to win over the heathen and on the other side were those who rejected anything to do with paganism.

Some Christians observe Christmas as they always have with family traditions, Santa, etc. but with a focus on the Savior’s birth. Some avoid the Santa scene, try not to get wrapped up in materialism (pardon the pun) and focus on Christ.

Some have completely given up Christmas because of the pagan roots, or because the Puritans didn’t observe it, or the materialism, etc. Those that have given up Christmas usually face a lot of flack from friends and family.

Our Christmas Evolution

Our Christmas in the Sixties

As a child we did what everyone else did in the 60’s. Full blown Santa is coming, tinsel-decorated tree, with a big-time focus on presents. We didn’t leave out Jesus but He wasn’t the focus. My mother would read the Christmas story in front of the nativity scene on Christmas Eve. Jesus got about 15 minutes of the holidays rush.

Our Christmas in the Seventies

When my first children were toddlers (over 30 years ago) we had a birthday cake for Jesus each year. Our traditional centerpiece was a Santa kneeling over the Baby Jesus in the manger. I also took my children to have their photo taken with Santa. Santa even came to our church to pass out presents.

Our Christmas in the Eighties

By the time my oldest children were school age we dumped all Santa décor and focused on Christ. (We also stopped all Easter bunny traditions that year). We made Chrismoms (symbols of Christ) for the tree out of white and gold felt and sequins and hung them every year as we read Scripture verses for the symbol (door, crown, sheep, bread, etc). We sent out “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” Christmas cards. I remember my mother was disappointed we didn’t accept Santa and reindeer presents. The tree and stockings were still a family tradition.

Our Christmas in the Early Nineties

About 15 years ago I learned about the Bible holidays and the pagan roots of Christmas and Easter. I wanted to give up Christmas and Easter. My children were horrified. All those holiday memories! Mom has lost her mind!

We went back and forth on the topic for a few years. I wanted to at least get rid of the tree (based on Jeremiah 10:1-5). We finally made the decision not to have Christmas. It was hard. My Grandmother was crushed. (The shocked reactions from telling family and friends of homeschool and homebirth decisions pale compared to reactions we got from giving up Christmas.)

When a Christian is raised to believe that devoted family traditions bring glory to God, then finds out about pagan history and God’s ways, it’s quite a blow. God’s ways should have been taught since childhood and are now being learned in adulthood. My motives were pure. I only wanted to do what I believed God wanted us to do.

Our Christmas from Late Nineties until Now

Ten years ago we went back to celebrating Christmas. I remarried and my new husband did not want to give up Christmas (mainly because it is the only time his family gathers). I still don’t feel at peace with this decision but it is really not my call. So I make the best of it and focus on Christ. I feel God can use all things for His good.

I want to Celebrate the Birth of Christ!

I have no problem that celebrating Jesus’ birthday wasn’t commanded by God. Purim wasn’t commanded by God, but suggested by the Hebrews as an observance to remember a miracle of God. I want to celebrate the birth of Christ as a miracle of God. The most wonderful miracle of all! I would just prefer not to merge the celebration with a pagan festival. It’s a compromise I don’t feel good about.

12 Things I like About Christmas

1. Focus on Christ
2. Families getting together (for some, the only time of the year)
3. Church programs (giving to the needy, the elderly, plays, songs, etc., focusing on Christ)
4. Nativity scenes
5. Generosity
6. Caroling
7. The music (especially Handel’s Messiah)
8. The lights
9. Baking
10. Homemade gifts and cards (especially from children)
11. Goodies (fudge, cookies, nougat, and peppermint–yum)
12. Creativity (crafts, gingerbread houses, decorations, Chrismoms, etc.)

12 Things I don’t like about Christmas

1. Lack of focus on Christ
2. Pagan roots
3. Lonely people feeling lonelier
4. Christians disagreeing
5. Greed (coveting)
6. Materialism
7. Shopping, shopping and more shopping
8. Debt
9. Family stress
10. The good are rewarded philosophy that spills over in “saved by works” mentality
11. Santa worship (idolatry)
12. Political War on Christmas

God Wants us to Have Holidays (Holy Days)

God created us with a desire to have celebrations. He gave us instructions for observing seven holidays listed in Lev 23. The holidays contain more divine information of spiritual and prophetic value than any subject of scripture. Why aren’t we taught these marvelous lessons in church? The answer is found during the first through the fourth centuries.

Read What Happened to the Holidays for more information. I give you the link with a warning. Once you learn about God’s Holidays (they are God’s holidays not Jewish holidays) you will face controversies.

How does God feel about us ignoring the holidays He gave us and replacing them with other days? I’ll answer in a parable and let you decide.

A Parable

Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved his Father very much. His Father asked the boy to prepare and serve a special dinner on a particular day. The Father wrote out all the specific instructions clearly and departed for awhile expecting these instructions to be executed.

While the Father was gone the boy shared the instructions with a family friend. The family friend said, “I have a better idea. We had a party that was much more fun, let me tell you about it.” We tell mythical stories, dress up in furry costumes and make beautiful decorations and have tasty treats. The friend gave all the details and suggested they change the dinner date to another day. The boy decided the party would be more fun than the dinner and felt his father would understand. The boy undertook the friend’s party plan.

Was the Father disappointed?

The Father loved his precious son but was probably disappointed in his disobedience. To what degree would depend on two facts. 1. the age or maturity of the boy and 2. the motivation of the boy.

God Looks on the Heart

Yes, I do believe the pagan holidays are offensive to God. I also believe He is merciful. . . God looks on the heart and views our motives.

“Man looks to the outward appearance but God looks to the heart.”

The Reason for the Season

The attention of the whole world is called to acknowledge the birth of the Savior at this time of year, even if they don’t believe. Let us be careful not to get our focus off of what is important. If our desire is to celebrate or not to celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time of the year, then let that be done according to the purity of the heart and with integrity of conviction without judgment toward others.

God looks at the heart. Jesus taught against condemning one another—He taught the most important things: 1. Love God. 2. Love others. This should be our focus. Too many are condemning others on either side.

Christmas is a merging of pagan and Christian religions—it is a fact. The ultimate would be to abandon all forms of pagan worship and teach our children the ancient paths—only God’s pure worship. Then our children won’t be faced with this holiday dilemma each year.

How do we get there from here? I think it’s going to take time. Josiah changed things (2 Ch 34:3-8). He got rid of the paganism that crept in—but over a period of time. If we commit to seeking God through His Word and teach our children His Word, we will grow spiritually and God will reveal His paths.

A Season of Peace?

With so much controversy how does one have peace? Isaiah 26:3 says that if we keep our mind stayed (focused) upon God we will have perfect peace. Perfect peace was put in this verse when it actually says Shalom, Shalom.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Let not your heart be troubled: John 14:1a

Bring peace to this season by focusing on Christ. Then celebrate Jesus in every season by loving one another.

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors. (Luke 2:14).

Of further interest:

“Should We Celebrate Christmas?” – online booklet
We Should Not Celebrate Christmas – a blog entry with several Links (pro and con)

Walking By Grace

Some of my readers may remember my where I talked about having a child who is trying to run away from the reality of God. I have shared how heart breaking this is. While it is still hard and every day brings its own challenges I would like to share some of the wonderful lessons I’m learning throughout it all.

I love to proclaim God’s grace- oh, that He should save a wretch like me and pour out His mercy, love and forgiveness upon me…me who is so undeserving. I am so aware that there is nothing I can do to earn God’s favour or His love. In fact, any of my attempts at being righteous are just as filthy rags. They are contrary to the good news of the work of the Cross. Early on in my conversion God revealed His grace. Grace is the middle name of one of my daughter’s. Grace is almost indescribable; too extraordinary. But I am thankful for His grace. I’m also thankful that while I am going through such daily heartbreak with one of my children, He has shown me more of Himself…more of what it means to live *in grace* and live *by grace*.

Every day I experience what it means to ‘live by the law’ or live by rules. Alternately, every day I also experience what it means to live in fullness of grace. How can this be? Oh, anyone who has lived with an unsaved person will probably know what I mean.

In an earlier post, I touched upon living by certain acceptable rules. You know, conduct becoming of good Christian homeschooling families. 😉 There seems to be certain codes of what is acceptable or not amongst homeschoolers. There is good behaviour and not-good behaviour. There are good activities and not-good activities.

I’ve been reassessing why I do what I do and why I don’t do certain things. Is my lifestyle determined by the rules of my faith? (Or acceptable Christian conduct) Or is my lifestyle determined by my relationship with Jesus Christ?

How about you? Have you stopped doing certain things since beginning to homeschool? Have your reasons been because of rules (being convinced by others) or by relationship with Christ and His transforming power?

It's 'that' time of year again: Christmas

Rather than totally re-post the whole post, which may make readers miss out on the great comments from a previous entry, please visit today’s post, which is actually a re-post.

How we do Christmas.

Scroll right down and read all the reader’s comments and the links to further reading.

Are you convinced or convicted?

Issues, Ideals, Convictions and being Convinced…
originally written in 2000

Married at the tender age of 18, I was blissfully ignorant of domestic duties and all that married life would entail. I loved my husband dearly and I thank God for giving me such a gracious and patient man, with which to spend and share my life with. We have just recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary and we tend to get a little sentimental around this time of year. Only the other day John recalled the first meal I ever made him, before we were married – ham, cheese and mustard sandwiches! Well, it really is a testament to God’s greatness that we ended up married as I’m surprised that John went through with it after I nearly burnt his mouth and oesophagus with an over abundance of mustard. He had seen how I kept my bedroom in a complete and utter chaotic mess and had observed how my mother waited on me, hand and foot. How he was not at all worried or apprehensive about life after marriage I will never understand.

On our honeymoon (as a matter of survival) John taught me how to cook 3 min noodles. I already managed toast and hard boiled eggs so we lived on these for some time. After we had moved into a house I worked hard at making it into a real home, a castle for my king ! I taught myself to cook and clean house, largely through trial and error. For instance, I have learned that nylon petticoats do not fare very well if ironed. One by one children started to come along and I would read and research on parenting babies, toddlers and so forth. I have always desired to be a Proverbs 31 woman (or as close as I could possibly be), to love my husband and train my children.

Then some time later we started on this fabulous journey of Home Based Learning. Typical to my nature, I researched and devoured anything I could get my hands on. (Thanks to a good friend for all her time and patience with me during that time) I then came to a point where I was happy and content with the “what and how” of what we were doing.

In my hunger for reading and fellowship with other like minded women I read quite a few periodical magazines and many websites that are designed to encourage and teach women in their calling at home. These magazines are great and a real source of blessing. Nevertheless, there is an issue that I believe the Lord wanted me to see clearly.

I need to continually remember my salvation. My salvation came at a great price to the Father and it is only the Cross that saves. Many issues that I held dear to us are simply that. Issues! Ideals! Yes, they can add fruitfulness to my life, make us healthier, wealthier and wiser but I need to be careful that I keep preaching the Gospel of Christ. I need to see these distinctions clearly and understand the differences. There are so many issues that today’s Christian woman needs to be aware of. I can homeschool our children using the finest Christian material, while my husband runs our own home business. I can sew all the families clothes or shop exclusively at second hand stores. I can bake our own bread and grind our own flour, eat our organically grown fruit and veggies, I can wear non-patterned dresses only and never cut or colour my hair or wear makeup. To wear a head covering or not? We may not watch TV nor attend any function that isn’t termed “Christian”. To celebrate Christmas and Easter? We may listen to “Accapella” singing only, avoiding any music other than classical or ‘spiritual’. We may choose not to use soap or apply any chemical laden substance to our body. Home birth or hospital birth? Where does it end?

These are just some of the issues that I have pondered, questioned and had to speak with my husband about. I’m sure there are more as there is nothing new under the sun. Some of these issues are quite valid and can be of immense benefit to our families . Often times though, when we as wives, have either stumbled across something that has been wonderful for us or that the Lord has led us to, we latch on to that and become so convinced of its merit and excited about it that we want to share it with everyone. Somewhere, somehow, amidst all this, something goes awry!

These things become the measuring stick. Oi voi, this is not good nor right. We stand ourselves up against these things to find out how we are going as a Christian woman. It is no wonder I often feel inadequate and as though I fall short! My dear husband even asked me to stop reading some of the material. The articles and books themselves aren’t bad but that they can be used in ways to take our focus away from the Truth! The Reality! Jesus Christ! Let us only preach the gospel of Christ. I have learned that I need to sit back and allow the Holy Spirit to convict me rather than being convinced of all manner of things that sound noble or righteous. When the Holy Spirit convicts, it is solid and real. The Holy Spirit doesn’t need all manner of sound logic and reasonable persuasion. If you have an ‘issue’ in your life, that is causing you angst or doubt or concern, take it to the Lord. Seek Him, study the Word and trust that in this the Holy Spirit will lead you in all truth.

Home Based Learning, for John and I is a conviction. Not a preference, but a conviction. It is not just another educational alternative but a calling from God. We don’t want to ever convince another family to homeschool but if the Holy Spirit convicts them, then I’d like to offer them encouragement and be there for fellowship. We need to be careful that we don’t spread the “Gospel of Homeschooling” before we spread the Good News of Jesus, which is essential for salvation.

The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you.
John 14:26
The Message

Free Devotional Journal download

Our Devotional Journal that we used with the girls. I designed this as a simple way that the girls could do their own Bible reading and were prompted to follow the steps in our Kerugma Bible study approach, using the 4 step process with the anagram of IDEA. (Introduce, Digging Deeper, Examine & elaborate, Application to my life)

I show the children how I use this approach in my own day and how it need not take hours each time. It can take 15 min or one and half hours. We need not study one new passage each day…a passage may spread over two days or more! The focus needs to be on process, not outcome. We need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and not be directed by the clock, or the day.

Here is what the various fields mean:

Date: Helpful to record the date
Passage: Record the passage being studied
Key Verse: to be filled in at the end of the study
Pray: asking God to reveal His truths

Introduce
Read the passage– out loud or silently
Reread the passage, possibly in another translation

Digging Deeper
Dictionary words: Use the vocabulary sheets for words not known
Other resources used: Record other books used for reference. eg: Journey Through the Bible, etc.
5W’s and H: Understand as many of these that apply.

Expand and Elaborate
Paraphrase ..write the passage out in your own words or narrate the passage orally

Application
How does this apply to my life?
Is there a promise to believe?
A truth to be believed?
A duty/an action to perform?
Is there a command to obey?
A prayer to echo?
Is there a positive example in this passage that I can follow?
Is there an action in this passage that I need to avoid?
Is there an attitude in this passage that I need to have?
Is there something I need to be thankful for?
Pray: asking God for help to apply truths learned … To give thanks.

Bible Based education, Our family goals, Getting Started.

Teaching Approach,

IDEA: 4 step lesson format

Our [download#10] for you to print out and use

Other downloads

HOWTA Book Study: Ch. 2

Chapter 2

God Called you to be a part of His Plan.

Here we are in chapter two of the Heart of Wisdom Approach. In this chapter, Robin is going to address the common feeling of fear and calling. She has taken the basic foundation of living as a believer and related that to home schooling!

Fear is an obstacle that can hinder us in our spiritual and home school journey. Sometimes those fears arise from life circumstances and other times, they are more home school related. Robin tells us that it was during the writing of the HOWTA that she received some tragic news that she had to shoulder alone. Yet, within moments of taking the burden to the Father she felt unburdened and she knew that God was in control.

It was once Robin let go of her fear, her burden, that she was able to function fully, with joy and purpose. The object of her joy was God, but not because she was resigned to accept the situation, rather because she knew that God was in control.

Robin goes on to say that as Christians we have a viewpoint (perspective) that is different to a non believer. As believers, we can have trust in God (trust that produces peace) amidst hard times whereas non-believers tend to experience anxiety and worry due to fear.

With regard to home schooling, fear comes from many sources: what method to use? What curriculum? What subjects? How many hours to school? Learning styles? Socialisation? High School? Family/friends thoughts? Housework? Aackk, where does the list end?

Robin encourages us to remember that we need not worry about curriculum or home schooling issues! Philippians 4: 6-7 tells us that: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Robin also reminds us that God wants to develop patience and endurance in our lives: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ~ Romans 5:3-4

But how do we acquire this faith?

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Robins points out something very interesting ;

We have fear or concerns about home schooling. We need faith.
Faith comes from spending time in God’s word.
Home schooling gives us opportunity to spend this time.
When we home school by following God’s plan, our faith grows’our worry diminishes AND we teach our children!!!!

The book then talks to us of Moses and the leading of the Israelites out of Egypt. God told Moses all that He would do and Moses was still anxious! He tried to give God reasons why he couldn’t do the task. Hey, how many of can relate to those objections? Lack of eloquence, (lack of academic knowledge, etc) and fear that the Israelites wouldn’t listen (How many times have you heard or said, “Oh, my children don’t listen to me like they do their teacher”?.

Is our task as hard as Moses call? God called Moses and he enabled Moses. He’ll do the same for you! Trust in Him, that He will provide all your needs, even in the home schooling aspect.

Robin goes on to encourage us to have faith in God. Rather than declare that we can’t or that we aren’t smart enough, patient enough, time enough or anything else, we can declare that you will walk by faith, not by sight.

We need to seek God to learn how He thinks.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. ~ Isaiah 55: 8-11

Robin tells us that “The root of our weakness will always lie in not trusting God, step-by-step, moment-by-moment. We can only be as strong in faith as we are in direct communication with God, it is then that He will work in us the fullness of Christ.” (page 36-37)

Take heart! Those whom He calls, He equips. He knows what your children will face in the future, and He will give you what you need to educate them in the way they need to be educated. Just trust in Him for what you need.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Points to consider privately

Do you have any fear that you are making the wrong choice in home schooling your child/children?
Do you know that you are able to give your children a good education?
Do you know that you will be able to accomplish this task of home schooling.
Why are you home-schooling?
Are you home schooling with a purpose?

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Some articles for further reading

Don’t forget the “The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach” ( 70-page excerpt PDF File) if you don’t have the book. –
Are Parents Qualified to Teach Their Children? by Robin Sampson
Listening to God by Dr. Charles Stanley
Seek Ye First by Oswald Chambers

Gods Puts Us In Place

God sets the lonely in families, [Or the desolate in a homeland]
he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
Psalm 68:6

I’d like to share a lesson that God has been teaching me over the last few months. Even though I have been learning this lesson on one level, over the holiday break a situation caused me to look at the lesson again and I was able to learn it at another level.

I know that God is in control of my life, and the life of my children. Yet, so often I try to control or manage situations so that they will prosper (not necessarily in a financial sense, which is why it can be deceptive). If it works then God gets the glory. If it doesn’t, then God still gets the glory yet deep down I’d wonder what else I could do to help the situation. Sounds horrid eh? It is. But the Lord revealed my sinto me. Not pretty, not at all. Downright ugly. After I had tried to reason it away, then justify it, I knew I had nowhere else to go but to the Cross – the cross of Calvary where blood was shed for my sin, once and for all. Yet I knew that I’d have to give up – ive up my control, my plans, my efforts to see this situation work out well. Eventually, I knew I really had no logical choice and I sat at the foot of the Cross.

God, the creator of all, who sets the heavens in place, who appoints the sun and the moon to do their job has also ordained the path of my children and their successes and failures. Oi Voi! I can plan and struggle and toil and network but the bottom line is that unless God has ordained it, my children will not reach the ‘high places’ that I dream of and plan for. I am realising more and more that any success they may achieve only comes from God for He will set them in a ‘high place’ or a ‘low place’.

My role isn’t to strive for the success. It is simply to apply myself at that which He has given me- He will set me (or my children) in place! I can stop fussing over it! Oh boy, I can stop toiling and stressing over situations. 😛 Sometimes I lament over the lack of opportunities that my children have and I worry that they may be disadvantaged in some way because of it. Oh boy, how self centred of me! God will set them wherever He sets them– regardless of me, or their upbringing, their opportunities or lack thereof!

I have been learning what it means to be a servant, His servant. I am too selfish to be a servant really. I think too much of myself…plan for myself, toil to get ahead. I look at my life and wonder how I can still be in this place after all these years. Surely after 20 years of serving God I should be in a better place or position, you know, a ‘higher place‘. Oh dear. Now my theology doesn’t agree with the ‘name it & claim it‘ teaching or the prosperity teaching makes me ill. I find it contrary to my reading and understanding of Scripture. If I am truly His servant, then I must accept all that He has given me and be thankful for it. It isn’t my role to question Him or to bemoan or curse what He has not given me. I know that my Father doesn’t always give me what I want, or what I think I want but He always supplies my needs. He has forgiven my sins and remembers them no more- what else do I need? He reached down from his heavenly high place, He lowered Himself to earth, He came to me and took away my guilt and shame and He washed me clean, by the blood of His Son. His mercy is new every morning, great is His faithfulness.

I may not know the reasons He does things but I can set my heart to accept that it is His will. Sometimes, when bad things happen to me I need to accept that even that is God’s will for me. Sometimes, I have a too-small view, a narrow self centred perspective. Everything that happens in my life is under His control and serves His purpose. I am His servant.

I know I have been a little jumbled here. I started off talking about how this related to a situation involving my children but ended with it being about me. But that’s exactly how the situation happened. Through my life as a mother, I looked in the mirror and saw my sinfulness. Putting feelings aside I went to the Cross and laid myself at His feet, allowing His blood to cleanse me. I am His servant. Lord do with me what you will. I am yours.

This is what the LORD says,
he who appoints the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar
the LORD Almighty is his name:
Jeremiah 31:35

Prodigal Children

I’ve been reading a good book called Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin. I have really enjoyed book one and am looking forward to the next books in the Chronicles of the Kings series.

Following the lives and legacies of King Hezekiah and his son Manasseh, this series takes readers through the history, drama and promises of the Old Testament. Embracing God’s law, following God’s will, and growing in faith is easier said than done for the father and son.

1. Gods and Kings
2. Song of Redemption
3. The Strength of His Hand
4. Faith of My Fathers
5. Among the Gods

I have to admit to not knowing an awful lot about this period in biblical history. But I have been digging deeply into my Bible and encyclopedia’s in an effort to make connections. Many things have touched me and spoken to me but something has been nagging at me…do you ever get those times when a thought just nags at you? When you think about it often for days or weeks? This is how it is with me at the moment. My pondering relates to the efforts of child raising and prodigal children. You may remember my previous posts about this. If not, feel free to look at the related posts at the end of this post. I’m just going to ramble here as this is where I process my thoughts. I don’t claim or pretend to have all my ‘ducks in a row’ or know what I’m talking about…I’m pondering. I know that there will be people who disagree with my train of thought…and I’m not looking to justify anything..however I can’t help but ask the question…(which I’ll get to in a minute)

I’m looking at the lives of three kings: Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
2 Kings 16:2

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was ‘Miss A’ jah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.
2 Kings 18:1-3

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done.
2 Kings 21:1-3

Many times we want ‘The Formula‘ for parenting yet it would seem to that there are no guarantees with our children. Ahaz did evil in the eyes of the Lord yet his son, Hezekiah did right in God’s eyes. Then again, Hezekiah’s own son who was raised knowing and obeying God’s ways went on to be king and do evil in the eyes of the Lord? How can this be? If Hezekiah followed the formula, then how did his own son turn out to rebel against God? How did Hezekiah come to follow God’s way and do right in the Lord’s eyes yet not have a Godly father? Hmmm, I know that I was not raised as a Christian. Far from it! Yet God had my name in His book! He called me and drew me to His sovereign and gracious self. He redeemed me! Despite my upbringing. He is THAT big!

Oh I know we all want that guarantee- that if we do A,B and C then everything will turn out okay. Controlled crying, attachment parenting, bottle feeding, TV or no TV, homeschool or school, whole foods or not, dresses only or not, workbooks or natural learning…ahh what’s a parent to do? If we base our lives on a methodology then we do need to be sure that we get it all right…that all our i’s are dotted and our t’s crossed. But what if it still doesn’t work? What if we know that methodology isn’t the right way? Then, we’re in a good place, I believe! For it is then, that we can be truly dependent upon Him for His grace, His power, His strength…that He may work in our lives and in the lives of our children.

I don’t want to read things in the Scriptures that aren’t there but this seems obvious to me. This seems to be glowing like a neon sign- “not your way but lean on Him“. So, what I will take from all this is that I will still try to live my life as pleasing to the Lord…letting my love and faith be evident. I will continue to point my children to Jesus Christ and His ways. In other words, I will continue to try and ‘walk the walk’ and not just talk the talk. Then, I will relax in the knowledge that God is in charge of the results, not me. He will do the calling and the drawing, in just the right time.

How about you? Do you come from a childhood home that was spiritually weak or strong? Did your parent’s faith directly influence yours in any way?

How We 'Do' Christmas

Everything we do should be expressly Christ-centered; God-honoring.

‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’
Matthew 15:8

‘In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.’
Matthew 15:9

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world?wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important?has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out?but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
1 John 2:15-17

A few links:

Convinced or Convicted

Issues, Convictions and being Convinced…
originally written in 2000

Married at the tender age of 18, I was blissfully ignorant of domestic duties and all that married life would entail. I loved my husband dearly and I thank God for giving me such a gracious and patient man, with which to spend and share my life with. We have just recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary and we tend to get a little sentimental around this time of year. Only the other day John recalled the first meal I ever made him, before we were married – ham, cheese and mustard sandwiches! Well, it really is a testament to God’s greatness that we ended up married as I’m surprised that John went through with it after I nearly burnt his mouth and esophagus with an over abundance of mustard. He had seen how I kept my bedroom in a complete and utter chaotic mess and had observed how my mother waited on me, hand and foot. How he was not at all worried or apprehensive about life after marriage I will never understand.

On our honeymoon (as a matter of survival) John taught me how to cook 3 min noodles. I already managed toast and hard boiled eggs so we lived on these for some time. After we had moved into a house I worked hard at making it into a real home, a castle for my king ! I taught myself to cook and clean house, largely through trial and error. For instance, I have learnt that nylon petticoats do not fare very well if ironed. One by one children started to come along and I would read and research on parenting babies, toddlers and so forth. I have always desired to be a Proverbs 31 woman (or as close as I could possibly be), to love my husband and train my children.

I need to continually remember my salvation. My salvation came at a great price to the Father and it is only the Cross that saves. Many issues that I held dear to us are simply that. Issues! Ideals! Yes, they can add fruitfulness to my life, make us healthier, wealthier and wiser but I need to be careful that I keep preaching the Gospel of Christ. I need to see these distinctions clearly and understand the differences. There are so many issues that today’s Christian woman needs to be aware of. I can homeschool our children using the finest Christian material, while my husband runs our own home business. I can sew all the families clothes or shop exclusively at second hand stores. I can bake our own bread and grind our own flour, eat our organically grown fruit and veggies, I can wear non-patterned dresses only and never cut or color my hair or wear makeup. To wear a head covering or not? We may not watch TV nor attend any function that isn’t termed “Christian”. To celebrate Christmas and Easter? We may listen to “Accapella” singing only, avoiding any music other than classical or ‘spiritual’. We may choose not to use soap or apply any chemical laden substance to our body. Home birth or hospital birth? Where does it end?

These are just some of the issues that I have pondered, questioned and had to speak with my husband about. I’m sure there are more as there is nothing new under the sun. Some of these issues are quite valid and can be of immense benefit to our families . Oftentimes though, when we as wives, have either stumbled across something that has been wonderful for us or that the Lord has led us to, we latch on to that and become so convinced of its merit and excited about it that we want to share it with everyone. Somewhere, somehow, amidst all this, something goes awry!

The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you.

John 14:26
The Message

Christian Labels

Who likes those Mac/PC ads? Oh, when they air and we’re all watching tv the children and John all turn the volume up so we can have a giggle. um, er belly laugh. Even though we don’t own a Mac, the reason we don’t own a Mac is a financial one.

Anyway, GodTube.com has put together a series of parodies, based on these characters and they’re quite good. Oh some may find them offensive but those who are either ‘in the trenches’ or have worked in ministry, or those who have simply been a believer long enough to see the changing tides of the appearance of Christianity might see the irony in the subtle humour. These kind of things are meant to be exaggerated. There is more to being a Christian than looking like one. It is less about how we dress and how big our Christian library is and more about how we live…how we love and serve other’s who are not able to return that kindness or those who do not know His grace. Around our country we can see many people who identify themselves as ‘Christian’ yet they live to please themselves. Have you ever asked yourself what would you do if you were on the way to church and there was a car broken down on the side of the road? Would you stop and risk being late to church or not making it there at all? Or would you just pray for them asking that God would send someone along who could help them?

Jesus was not a Christian. He never asked anyone to become a Christian, never built a steepled building, never drew up a theological treatise, never took an offering, never wore religious garments, never incorporated for tax purposes. He simply called people to follow him.
Jesus with Dirty Feet

So, this begs the question, what is a Christian? Is it someone who goes to church? Puts a bumper sticker on their car? Decorates their home with pretty pictures with scriptures on it? Someone who dresses well for church and rarely misses a prayer meeting? Or is it someone who doesn’t swear, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t dress fashionably? So then, what does a Christian homeschooler look like? Do they wear brown dresses and braid their hair? Do they wear makeup? Do they bake their own bread? Do they use an approved Bible curriculum? I believe we all have our own ideas of what Christian should look like, or what is acceptable. We have put labels on Christianity! We have put Christianity into a box and labeled it. We love to have the Holy Spirit in our church meetings so we can feel His presence but do we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in the lives of that young, unmarried mother who still runs outside after church to have a cigarette? There are so many ways in which we try to be the Holy Spirit in other’s lives. We need to stop! I need to stop! I need to rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit will do the work of convicting others…surely I have enough to tend to by acting justly, loving mercy, walking humbling with my God?

Am I a Christian or a follower of Christ? Do I preach Christianity or the good news of Jesus Christ: that He, being the Messiah, died, rose again to conquer death and that all we need do is to believe in Him, repent of our sin and receive forgiveness.

Living by Rules

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.?

Ephesians 2:8-9

Law. Rules. Trying to live according to them. Does funny thing to people eh.

Here in our city, we are heading into level 5 water restrictions, due to the dams being at 20% capacity…it’s not a good situation. People have made many changes to the way they do things, good changes- our family has tried too. One of the things not allowed is washing the car with a hose although using a bucket is permitted for now. Now our family is not big on washing the care regularly but our car, which is parked outside, has been getting ‘egged‘. Now if you know anything about ‘egging’ you’ll know that not only does it smell disgusting and look awful but it can damage the paintwork of the car thus devaluing it. So, after being egged again, John grabbed some warm soapy water in a bucket and cleaned it all off. What I don’t understand is some of the looks he got from the neighbours. Maybe they thought he was wasting water and looked down upon him for that. Who knows?

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 2: 19-21

I noticed some things about myself in all this. I desire to be obedient…to live according to His ways. His love, His grace that He poured upon me compels me to obedience. Nevertheless, sometimes, somewhere, I start looking at my own obedience and then I look at others around me. It’s so easy to stand on the outside and look in…and question why someone else isn’t living according to the same rules. I know that when I do this, I’m no longer living in grace but my own performance is driving me. I can’t even be obedient without stumbling into sin. Oh what a wretched creature I am. Oh what a marvellous and gracious God is he!

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it? the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
Romans 3: 20 – 25

Lord, help me to not look at others in any other way than how to serve them…help me to live according to Micah 6:8. I thank you for your grace…thank you that I have been crucified with Jesus and that He lives in me.

Responsibility With Our Words

For many years, I didn’t have an opinion. I was raised to listen and learn and be careful when I did speak and I often felt that I wasn’t being listened to. Yeah well, sometimes life is like that eh? But then came the Internet, email groups, forums, the power of seeing my own words in print! Wow, there’s something powerful about seeing one’s own words in print, if only on a document or an email. (I try to harness this and expand on it with teaching my children various writing skills.)

I realised that I really did have an opinion but it was learning how to voice it that was the tricky part. We all have opinions! Many of them! The difficulty isn’t in having thoughts, feelings or opinions; it is in the expressing of them. Over the years I have been offended and done some offending! I have written in haste and also taken so long to write a response that I was considered rude, but I have a learned a lot.

I’ve learned that it’s best for me to only write from my experience- that is something that I can talk about. I cannot write logically (although I’m learning through writing) or even in a concise manner but I can speak about my life experiences, lessons learned and my journey throughout life. But mainly, I’m learning that the power of words is awesome and a great responsibility- even on a blog. As home-based-learners we value the written word. So often we read something that one has written and we take it as ‘gospel’ or absolute truth without truly looking at where it came from and assess it carefully. We seem to forget that anyone can have blog or a website or even write a book!

How many times have you read a raving curriculum review? A positive note of delight about a resource that makes you feel like you can’t be without this new resource – to read a little more carefully and discover that the writer has only used it for a week or so, or a month. Really, is that truly a testament to the positive fruitfulness of a resource? Well to be fair, it doesn’t mean yay or nay but it does need to be considered. I have tried many resources that have worked for a season, and then the novelty has worn off and the monotony returns. This doesn’t mean the resource is lacking in any way though. I’ve also read rave reviews of curricula and thought that I needed it, yet I lacked some vital information. E.g: has the person writing the review used product ‘A’ with one or two children, or with several? The writer may have had a degree in history thus able to use the product more efficiently than a woman who doesn’t have a degree in history. The same can be said with negative reviews- I’m learning to read things more critically now.

I try to be aware of these things when I write a review nowadays. It’s not pleasant to sense that one’s own words have had an effect upon someone so that they’ve rushed out to purchase a much needed resource only to find that it was a waste of money for them. Of course the reader must take responsibility but this certainly doesn’t negate the responsibility of the writer. Just because something is in print doesn’t mean it is right.

Another example is something I read recently. A couple had strong feelings about issues of birth control and then wrote a book about it. A few years, and children, later they changed their mind. Now of course, its one’s prerogative to change one’s mind right? But let us not forget the power of the written word. How many people read this book and formed their own life changing thoughts based upon the information contained therein? Who knows? Thankfully, the couple have written about their change in thought. However, it’s a good reminder that just because it is written, doesn’t make it true! Only the Bible is infallible and without error- not even well intentioned, honourable men are infallible and without error.

I often look back to some of my beliefs and opinions that I held years ago- I’m thankful that I didn’t air them publicly so as to possibly affect others. When communicating we have a certain responsibility to say what we mean and while we cannot be responsible for exactly what others hear us saying, we do need to be as clear as possible. That, is effective communication. Yes, we all change our minds and positions occasionally, which is why we need to be careful when we speak or write. It’s quite a humbling thought to realise that what I say today, I may not be quite so adamant about in 5 years time. This doesn’t mean that I’m wrong or weak or anything other than we’re always growing, developing and maturing as people. Generally, *time* and *experience* are a wonderful thing to consider.

The book of 1 Peter addresses this somewhat. As children of God, He has given gifts- whatever He wants to whomever He wants. He desires that we serve the body of Christ with our gifts. This is an awesome responsibility. Writing and speaking is a gift. We should give all honour and glory to God while serving with our gift.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11

Lord, help me to write and speak carefully. Help me to read critically. Be with me when I speak or write?help me to communicate effectively and to recognise that part of communication is what a reader hears, not just what I say, whether it be my husband, children or someone else. Let my words be weighted with this right responsibility so that I may give glory only to you.

A quick note on Biblical advice for bloggers

Waiting on God…

I’m slowly reading and studying through the Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson. Now, I really liked this book the first two times I read it…but I’m still learning and gleaning from it.

In chapter 3, Robin is talking about focusing on God and not on our circumstances and she mentions ‘waiting on God’. She goes on to say that waiting on God is four-fold.

The first part is of ‘wait’ is to be silent. Not always easy in this modern age. But it is when we are quiet in His presence, that we can hear His voice.
The second part of ‘wait’ is expectation and hope. This implies dependence upon Him.
The third part of ‘waiting’ is to watch, observe and take notice. Proverbs 27:18 gives us a good picture of waiting, watching, and taking notice.
The fourth part of ‘waiting’ is to serve or to minister. Read 2 Samuel 23. David had many mighty men but three of them were chief. What set them apart? Servanthood.

Am I silent and waiting upon Him with hopeful expectation…watching, observing and taking notice of Him? Then, He will reveal Himself to me. I’ll be in fellowship with Him. Am I prepared to serve Him through the needs of my family and whatever else He gives me?

Then, as promised, God also gives us a blessing for waiting upon Him: renewed strength, ability to mount up with wings as eagles, ability to run and not be weary and then ability to walk and not faint.

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Put your hope in ADONAI, be strong, and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in ADONAI!

Psalm 27:14

but those who hope in ADONAI will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.

Isaiah 40:31

Put your hope in ADONAI, keep to his way, and he will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Psalm 37:34

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says ADONAI.
“As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out from my mouth – it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.”

Isaiah 55:8-11

Does God Say ‘Oops’?

Ever heard someone say that they are going to do something because God told them to do it? I’m sure you have. I hear it often. I guess I don’t really have a problem with it, in itself. However, I do have a problem when a person is fairly adamant about a decision or choice they’ve made, claiming that ‘God told them to do it’. Some of these things aren’t black or white areas; they’re just every day decisions in life that we all have to make. What I don’t have a lot of tolerance for is when God [apparently] says oops.

Of course God doesn’t say oops! Yet that is what it must seem like to non-believers when we march on, adamantly proclaiming that God told us to do it … and then a few weeks later, we completely change direction. What? So does God get it wrong or are we too quick to use God’s name as a justification for our choices, hoping He will bless it … only to find that life takes us down another path? Why do we find it so difficult to simply take responsibility for our own choices and decisions in life?

God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. And I believe that it is bigger than whether or not we drive a Ford or a Holden! He is with us when we’re wandering through the wilderness … and he’s with us when we’re in the land of plenty. There’s nothing wrong with man using his mind to make reasonable and rational decisions, while living in the understanding that all his way are ordered by the Lord.

When God says to do something, He means it! He does not say oops or get it wrong! Let us not to be too hasty in proclaiming that God told us to eat Weeties or CornFlakes that morning … just eat what you believe to be best for your body and go on with your purpose in life, which is to love God and enjoy Him forever.

That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Colossians 3: 17

Seasoned Speech

I took one of those online personality test quizzes, which often are a little silly but this one had me seriously thinking…

My score told me that:

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing,practical, and always interesting; someone who’s constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who’ll always cheer them up and help them out.

Hmm, I wonder if this is really how people see me? Who knows? I do know that some friends, both online and In Real Life have told me that I can come across as opinionated. I’m trying to teach my girls about having an opinion but voicing it with discernment, grace and tact. Tehee, the hard part is discernment, grace and tact eh? It’s not so difficult to ‘teach’ one to have an opinion though, is it?

As a child, I often felt like my opinion didn’t matter…that I wasn’t smart enough to voice my opinion. This largely came from my experiences at school more so than home and family. As time went on and I started to mature, I found that there were areas that I could voice my opinion. Then, after awhile more, I found that there were actually some things that I started to know a little about…and had the freedom in which to voice my opinion! As is so often the case with me, I probably took it to the extreme – stating my opinion whenever given a chance. Thankfully, the Lord has pulled me up on this a number of times…sometimes it has been through a painful experience while other times a quiet, individual experience. But, I am learning that just because I have an opinion or a thought doesn’t mean that I have to verbalise it. I’m even learning that just because I might be asked for my opinion, doesn’t mean that I have to take the soapbox and proclaim it loudly. I need to use discernment in each situation.

Some things that I am learning…and am trying to teach my girls is:

Do I have any responsibility in this area/matter?
Do I have any authority in this area/matter?

Usually, the answer to those questions will dictate to me, whether or not I need to speak and if so, how much and in what manner I need to say them.

As an example: Years ago, as a recent convert to homeschooling I thought it was wonderful and that everyone (or as many as possible) should homeschool. I used to be fairly verbose with my thoughts too. Over time, and situations, I came to see that this is one way but the Lord, in His wisdom, has not decreed that it is a command necessary for salvation. So, do I need to preach it?

Years ago, I used mostly Charlotte Mason’s methods to educate my children, and I thought it was all the bee’s knee’s. However, I realised that it is only one way…amidst many ways… and that the CM method isn’t purely right or wrong or the only way nor necessarily the best way for everyone, so did I need to preach it?

There are so many issues or ‘hot topics’ that I have an opinion on and that are important to me…but is it essential for me to voice them? Do I have responsibility or authority to speak of it? Sometimes yes and sometimes no! I’m trying to ask myself these questions before I speak.

What is it that I want to speak about the most? A method of homeschooling? A style of cooking? A brand of clothing? Something particular that may have worked for me? I want to share what I’ve found to be the best – in life, in homeschooling, in everything! And that, is the all gracious, all powerful, all knowing God…the God of the Bible. This is the only gospel that I want to ‘preach’ for that is what is essential for salvation…for that it truly worthwhile. We don’t know how long we have on this earth, to do that which He has called us to do- may we make the most of our time and our resources. May we seek His grace, for our lives… that our speech would be seasoned with grace when we speak to our husband, our children, family and those that we come into contact with.

Basic Wi-Fi behavior could enable a passing public user, who is connecting to the Wi-Fi router through its internal Wi-Fi link, to see the Wi-Fi network name from another location on the network and exploit that information in order to find out where the victim is, enabling the attacker to find out the precise location of the victim and/or access the victim’s private data.

The bug was initially reported in July, but the researchers only reported their findings to Cisco late Monday and have publicly disclosed the bug on Tuesday, the researchers said.

Cisco published a blog post Tuesday detailing the bug, which it says is the result of a “flaw in the device-to-device communications path within the WPA2 Wi-Fi Protected Access II network protocol.”

“This flaw was introduced by a third-party vendor when deploying the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi Protected Access II standard in 2012,” the researchers wrote.

“An attacker could exploit this flaw by connecting directly to an unauthenticated access point without first authenticating himself as a member of the access point’s authentication domain.” The researchers said they have not been able to replicate the flaw but noted that they were able to capture audio streams between devices within a private network, and that it was possible to manipulate the audio on a stream as a means to “obtain sensitive information.” The researchers said their findings should not “affect end-users that are unaware of this vulnerability.”

A Cisco statement said that “cisco believes it is important that vendors disclose known security issues to the public.” The company said it is continuing to work with researchers to “address this vulnerability.” Cisco Security Advisories can be found at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7/productssecurityadvisories.html

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christian walk

But is this right? Is this godly advice?

Prayer

Reflect

What do you collect?

Is there an area of your life that needs to be de-cluttered? Meditate upon this verse throughout the coming week.

The Spirit Is Willing…

In My Life

Prayer

Reflection

A commentary with a difference!

How We Used It

Our Lesson Format

Phrases & Concepts

What have you been studying with your family?

How To Find Purpose

Do you love me?

Feed my lambs

Follow Me (v19)

Be in it but not of it.

I am a homeschool phony.

“Can I go to school”?

I know because that parent is me.

I do know that God indeed has a plan!

And I know that I am never alone.

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Prov 31:27

WATCHES

What’s your measuring stick?

Trust. Surrender

So why do I feel like an odd ball when talking to other Christians about my ‘ daily quiet time’?

Is anyone else an odd-ball or am I the only one?

Do you love me?

Feed my lambs

Follow Me (v19)

Self imposed boundaries

Personal Freedoms vs. Scriptural Commands

Personally Convinced by the Spirit

Perceiving Weakness as Strength

Lifestyle

Living out Romans 14

A New Chapter

Our Homeschool Journey

Our Homeschool Journey

Free Bible curriculum for use in the homeschool and family setting!

Triumphal Entry of the Lambs

After the Meal

Jesus’ Trial, Death, and Resurrection

Two Passovers

More About Passover

The Haggadah

The Seder Plate

Israel’s Redemption from Egypt

Seder

Redemption

Good Information – Wrong Time

Parenting Experts or The Parent?

How did God treat me before I was saved…before I came to believe on His son?

How does God treat me now?

How does God parent me?

How do I parent my children?

How does God parent me?

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

So how can I be transformed instead of conforming?

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

What’s the difference?

So what do we need to do? Surely we need to do something?

Conformed or Transformed~ Part 1-3

Our Christmas Evolution

A Parable

The Reason for the Season

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Prov 31:27