“The question is not, -- how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education -- but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?” 
― Charlotte Mason, School Education: Developing A Curriculum


This is the philosophy I go by in our homeschool.  It's a good reminder to see this quote again when I get bogged down in life!  I am not, and cannot teach my children everything there is to know but I can make sure they grow in character and live a life of learning and caring!


My God is my strength and guides me through it!

What I am praying...

I have several prayer partners that I pray for and who pray for me.  Plus I pray regularly for my family and my church family.

This is what I'm praying for each of them (and me!) from Ephesians this month:

I pray for you constantly, 

·        asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 

I pray that

·        your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that

·        you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.

Isn't praying God's word amazing?! If you read this page, I encourage you to pray this prayer too.

Spiritual Warfare

I don't often post about spiritual matters, I'm not sure why that is...hmmmm
But I really just needed to write down what God showed me this morning.  I have this Bible reading schedule that a friend and I do.  We read the scripture, write our thoughts or what God revealed, then we pray.  I've been doing this sort of quiet time for well over a year now.  So as you go through the Bible you LEARN no matter what your reading schedule.  My Sunday school teacher calls it "the as you go principle".  It's so true!  I've been so amazed at what God has revealed to me in some very unusual or obscure passages!
Right now we are reading 2 Samuel and we were on chapter 21 today.  (This is copied from a NLT version of the Bible.  I know some people don't like this version, but I have been enjoying reading it because it's worded different and it allows me to have less preconceived ideas.  You know?)
Anyway here is the passage:

Battles against Philistine Giants

 ¹⁵ Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted. ¹⁶ Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him. ¹⁷ But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men declared, “You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?”

 ¹⁸ After this, there was another battle against the Philistines at Gob. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of the giants.

 ¹⁹ During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!

 ²⁰ In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. ²¹ But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea.

 ²² These four Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.

I found it interesting the enemy was kin to Goliath in a way, and David is still battling and conquering them, although he almost got killed himself.  It makes me think of spiritual parallels.  The way we go into a "battle" but we are worn out and not refreshed and ready to handle it, but praise God for prayer partners who swoop in and save us!  Sometimes we need rest and renewal and we DEFINITELY need each other! And I also noticed that the same enemy cropped up again and again in David's life. Sound familiar?  It is to me.  This was so amazing to me that I decided to share it.   I love God's word and I love to learn from Him every day.

Malachi

Malachi 2:1-9 (Taken from HCSB @ Biblegateway.com)

Warning to the Priests
1 "Therefore, this decree is for you priests: 2 If you don't listen, and if you don't take it to heart to honor My name," says the LORD of Hosts, "I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. In fact, I have already begun to curse them because you are not taking it to heart.
3 "Look, I am going to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread animal waste over your faces, the waste from your festival sacrifices, and you will be taken away with it. 4 Then you will know that I sent you this decree so My covenant with Levi may continue," says the LORD of Hosts. 5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and fairness and turned many from sin. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
8 "You, on the other hand, have turned from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have violated the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of Hosts. 9 "So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in [your] instruction."


Hmmmm “life and peace” or “despised and humiliated”.

Which one would you choose? (cue game show music)

I choose life and peace, Alex!

And what do you have to do to get this?

Revere and stand in awe of HIS name!

And what could you do to deserve the other?

Turn from the way, and cause others to stumble.

NO thanks!

I choose to revere God and I stand in awe of Him!

Immediately I am reminded of the chorus (and this is my prayer this morning),

I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

Sunday

I didn't go to church today, sick kids etc.  But I did have to go in to finish up some things for children's church and on the way home I was listening to Dr. Robert Jeffreys of FBC Dallas.  His sermon was right along the lines of some things I have been reading about.  God is cool like that!

I want to record my notes from his sermon here.
Base text - Nehemiah mostly chapter 3

In order to complete a large project
I. Organize and delegate-
II. Assign responsibility wisely-

1. according to interest "in front of his house" Neh. 3:10
2. according to giftedness. Phil. 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
3. Praise those who work hard (didn't catch reference here)
4. Ignore those who decline to work. Neh. 3:5

III. Begin to do the work - 

Prov 26:13-14 
A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” 
As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 

The sluggard knows the saying that it's harder to begin something than to keep it going, so he never begins anything. Just BEGIN doing something and the motivation will follow.

Neh 2:18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.   They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

The "good work" is actually a holy work.  Work is of God, he created us to work, he worked to create us.  When we work we are in the image of God.  But the work is to be by Him and through Him, not futile.

We should be doing what He created us to do 80% of the time.  In our giftedness and interests that He put in us.

This is where I'm at today...

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Praying for your kids

I have a book that I've had for a long time. Called Power of a Praying Parent. If there's one person to whom God gave the gift of intercessory prayer, it's Stormie O'Martian. God has really used her in my life over the years, even though I've never met her in person. I believe that "where two or three are gathered together, God is in the midst of them". I sense that presence when I'm praying one of Stormie's prayers.

I've recently gotten this book back out and started using it again. It's amazing to remember some of the times I prayed for my kids in the past and now that two of them are married I have added a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law to the list. Also I pray for my grandson. God is so faithful!

I have a family picture and I look at each face and name each name as I'm praying. Oh, I pray that it touches their life, but wow does it ever touch mine!

First off, God sticks a mirror right in my face to humble me and cause me to examine whether I am being a good model of these things as I am praying for my children. Many times (okay, all the time) I have to stop and confess and repent before I can continue. He is so amazing.

I love it. I love Him. I love my children!!!!

If you aren't praying for your children in a consistent manner, I highly suggest you begin today. The rewards and blessings are indescribable. You don't have to have a book to pray. I started out praying for the four "P"'s for my children -

Partner (future or present)

Path

Protection

Purity

These seemed to cover just about everything in general that they may experience in their lives. I also choose a "life" scripture or two for each child according to their personality or needs. I would personalize the pronouns to fit the child.

For one daughter it's Psalm 30:11-12 "Turn her wailing into dancing; remove her sackcloth and clothe her with joy, that her heart may sing to YOU and not be silent. O, Lord my God, her God, may she give you thanks forever."

Another one for a son was Psalm 5:11-12 "Let him take refuge in YOU and be glad, let him sing for joy. Spread Your protection over him that he would love your name and rejoice in You. For surely, O Lord You bless the righteous; you surround him with your favor as with a shield."

About 12 years ago I typed up some of these things on a page for each child and as I prayed I wrote new requests and praises along the way. It's amazing p look back and see how God has worked in their lives as they've grown. My youngest son has had one of these pages since before he was born!

God has really grown my family over the years. I can't thank Him enough for that. I'm making a fresh commitment today to pray for my kids and their families everyday not just "God bless them" prayers, but truly seeking God for what He wants to do in their lives and joining Him in it.

Teen Sex and TV

I read this article on Lifeway.com Teen Sex Linked to Children's TV Viewing

Okay, so this wasn't a shock to me. I know that repeated visual input can shape ideas.

This is so important!

I have recently been very discouraged of even the shows targeted for children, much less the adult shows. They don't necessarily contain sexual content but the dating boyfriend/girlfriend issues are so prevalent. It does concern me.

Once again I'm reminded of how important it is that we pay attention to what goes in those "little eyes and ears". Even if they aren't so little anymore.

Too Blessed to Be Stressed

Interesting; I saw this saying a couple of times today in different places.

It's not exactly scripture but God used it to get me to examine my attitude.

It wasn't pretty.

There are always things going on that are stressful around me and yet how am I handling it?

Am I being "salt and light" in those situations?

Am I thinking of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy?

Or am I stressing over things out of my control?

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

Why God Made Grandmothers! I thought this was too cute!

Memory Verses for Masterlife

I'm taking a class at my church called Masterlife: The Disciple's Cross.

These are the first two memory verses I have to learn. Luke 9:23 is the theme verse of the course. John 15:5 is week 1 verse. I already have these memorized but I'm going to post them here to remind me to meditate on them and apply them through my days.

I like making little pictures or posters when I'm learning verses. I get more familiarity as I'm designing the poster and I enjoy seeing them and therefore get the scripture into my mind and heart in a relatively casual manner.

Hiding God's word in your heart is a way to get closer to Him and to know Him better. It's not easy for me but these pictures make it easier.

BTW I used Shabby Princess' electronic scrapbooking free sets to make these.

Special People Part 2

Another recent event that we had the privilege of attending was the Bar Mitzvah of another young man whose family are Messianic Jews. I'll call him "G". He also has Down syndrome. But he learned his Torah portion in English and Hebrew. He worked really hard to meet the requirements for becoming a "son of the Commandments".

I've never attended a ceremony like this and I think G's ceremony was blended with their usual Shabbat service on Friday night. I was surprised to find a familiar order to the service: singing worship songs, I even knew a couple of the songs, prayer, respecting the Word (more on this in a moment) and then a message. Interspersed throughout were G's Torah portions and some special candle lighting ceremonies.

I think two things stick out in my mind as the most special, the dance of the Hava Nagila, per G's special request for his birthday; you should have seen the smile on his face! He loves dancing! The other thing that stands out for me would have to be the Torah Procession. At our church we have scripture reading each Sunday and we all stand in honor of God's Word. This was a little different. Several men proceeded around the room in single file, almost like a little parade, and the man in front (G's father) carried the Torah. Did I mention it is HUGE!?! Anyway, as he walked by the people the tradition is to touch the Torah and put your fingers to your lips to show how much you love the Word. It was very moving for me. I’ve never seen anything like it. Showing how much you love the Word by “kissing” it. I loved that part!

It was such a special honor to attend G's becoming a Bar Mitzvah. I thank you and your family from the bottom of my heart! Congratulations G!!!!

Another voting post

This article reflects exactly my point about not being afraid of the presidential election outcome.

"Let Christians Vote as Though They Were Not Voting"

Why we don't need to be afraid of the upcoming election...

Jeremiah 27:4-5

4 Give them a message for their masters and say, 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Tell this to your masters: 5 With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.

There's more to the story than posted here. In this chapter God is telling Israel and other nations to submit to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Yes, a king who does NOT know God! Go read Jeremiah for yourself, or Daniel, or Exodus or the gospels for that matter.

God is in control no matter what.

We do not need to be afraid.

My new favorite song

Praying for Muslims

The call for prayer officially starts September 1, but I'm praying this today...

Isaiah 37: 16
O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

My prayer for guidance today...

Titus 2:5

KJV's next word is "chaste". Which simply means "pure". I don't see how anyone can be "pure" without the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. That is my prayer today, that I would be "pure" in the sight of God and my husband.

Titus 2:5

I'm studying and trying to put into practice the words describing women from Titus 2:5 Today's word is "discreet".




I must admit I usually associated this word with speech and it certainly applies, but after doing the word study I learned it means so much more! I may be camped out on this one for a while. 0:)

Why is Easter so Early This Year?

Classical Astronomy