Homeschool Ideas: Blends Cards

My Abeka curriculum called for blends practice cards, but I had not purchased them.  I'm sure they are not the same format as Abeka, but I decided to make my own.  I printed out a list of blends, cut them out, then overlaid them with contact paper.  The neat thing we discovered was that you could write on them with dry-erase markers!  I usually have the kids read the blends, then I add letters to make the blend into a word.  I even let the kids experiment with making their own words!

Need a new skirt?

I just entered a contest at Life In a Shoe!  The winner receives a brand-new skirt from newCreation Women's Apparel.  I just love the classic designs of their long skirts.  Definitely in-style!  I am wishing I discovered this website when I was pregnant.  They have a huge selection of maternity skirts!

Here are the contest rules:

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY – 7 ways to win!
New Creation has agreed to give Life in a Shoe reader the skirt of her choice!  You probably know the routine by now, but here are the details on extra entries to help you pump up your chance of winning!
One very happy winner will receive the skirt of her choice from New Creation Apparel.  To enter the giveaway, do any or all of the following.  Please leave a separate comment here for each entry.

1. Look around New Creation Apparel and leave a comment on this post telling which skirt you plan to choose if you win.
2. Like New Creation Apparel on Facebook
3. Share this giveaway on Facebook.
4. Join the Life in a Shoe newsletter mailing list.  No spam, we promise.  We haven’t even figured out how to send a newsletter yet.  :)  Note: this is not the same as subscribing to our blog posts.
5. For 3 bonus entries, blog about this giveaway. Remember to leave 3 comments for this so you’ll be entered 3 times.

We will take entries until Friday, September 16, then choose a random winner!

A Flower For my Hair

My son came running toward me.  "Here, Mommy!  I picked a flower for you.  Put it in your hair, Mommy!"

I did.

"You're a sweet mommy!  I love you."

Not to be out-done, my two daughters came running up with their flower offerings.

"I love you, Mommy!  You're the best mommy ever!"

All this really smote my heart.  I had not had a particularly good day, nor did I feel like I had been a sweet mommy.  What brought on this sudden burst of loving-kindness from my son and my daughters?  They love me!  They are so quick to forgive my short-comings and my failures; quick to forget.  They love me because that's what they do.  I've got amazing kids!  I'm blessed.

 

..........................................

I'm moping.  I'm getting older and my body sure ain't what it used to be after having four children in five years.  I tell my husband so.

He's so understanding.  He gives me a big hug and tells me I'm beautiful. He loves me even though I don't iron his shirts or fix him a lunch to take to work.  He knows I'm busy with our four small children.  He encourages me and helps me!

He's wonderful!   I'm very blessed!

.........................................

Someone Else loves me.  He loves me, not because of who I am or what I've accomplished.  He forgives my failures, and my sins.  He covers them up so that He can no longer see them.  Then, He forgets!  He loves me!  Because that's what He does.  He loves!  He is LOVE!  

I'm thankful for God's love.  I'm thankful that he gave me a husband and kids to love me!  And I pray that I can be a vessel to show them His love.

Butterfly Poject

I'm continuing to share our homeschool journal with you in this post.  Enjoy!

August 20, 2011

Completed our first week of Kindergarten! We combined two phonics lessons on Thursday and took Friday off to do our shopping in town. I thought about doing school today, Saturday, but I think we'll take a break. I felt a little apprehensive about taking the kids out during “school-time” and risk some people asking questions. But the way I see it, if I get my shopping done earlier in the day, I'll be out of some poor working-mother's way who can't shop at any other time. We're a couple of days ahead of public school anyway!

A couple of weeks ago we collected some black- swallowtail caterpillars from our parsley plant. Four out of five of them have become chrysalides; the first due to “hatch” in a couple of days! I also caught a tiny tree-frog and we made a little habitat for him. I believe he's eating the fruit-flies that get into his cage. We've got quite a science lab going!

Gettin' Back in the Saddle

Homeschooling...What an adventure!  This year we are beginning Kindergarten with my oldest.  I'm attempting to hit it full force and get a running start.  We are using the A Beka curriculum, which I love!  It is definitely right for me since it is all laid out, and includes games and teaching ideas.  I know could come up with my own curriculum, and perhaps some day I might give it a try, but with a busy two-year-old and an up-and-coming toddler zipping around the house, its definitely nice to take the shortcut of a laid-out curriculum!

I have been considering sharing my journal I started this school year.  As a new homeschool mom I love to glean every idea and encouragement from others out there.  I just wonder if maybe my sharing my early experiences would help someone else.  I'm definitely a beginner, dog-paddling my way around, trying this, and attempting that, failing, succeeding, and failing again...but all the while, loving it.

There are MANY reasons we have decided to homeschool our children...but one of reasons is simply this: I'm SELFISH!  I love my kids.  I want to have them with me.  As I teach them their phonics, and watch their shining eyes light up as they begin to read real words for the very first time, I just want to soak up the moment like a wet sponge!  I don't have to shed the tears as I send my baby away for seven or eight hours a day...I would hate that!  I don't necessarily believe that EVERY family should homeschool, but I am thrilled that I "GET TO!"

So, here is a log of the first couple of days: (Keep in mind that I was not intending to write this in blog form, but as a simple journal for my own records.)

August 15, 2011

First day of Kindergarten! My husband and I made a beautiful banner for the wall using the Cricut. I wish I could have done more to make the classroom look fresh and exciting. But I think it turned out well!

The lessons went well. They've retained so much from Preschool that I didn't have to spend much time on the letter of the day. I will have to come up with some more supplemental material, or fun ways to review, until the lessons pick up on new material.

We began the day kneeling in prayer and asking the Lord to help. Without His help, it would all be a waste of time!

At the teacher's store, I bought a DVD called “Meet the Phonics, Blends” from the Preschool Prep Co. It is for consonant blends, which we haven't covered yet. I hope this gives them a head start. They make little animated characters out of the blends and repeat the sound over and over while the character does a task which begins with the blend sound. For instance: “sp” shows a little guy using a sponge. Then it gives examples of words with that blend. Its great, really!

August 18, 2011

The school week has been going pretty well so far. The first twelve weeks of Phonics Reading and Writing is everything we learned in Preschool. I know that repetition is the key to learning, but they've pretty much got letters and sounds down. I still plan to go through the lesson plans, but I may combine a couple of lessons at a time.

This morning I got a facebook message from a friend asking if she could come over with her two-year-old boy. I cringed inside, knowing it would throw off our schedule, but I said yes anyway. When she arrived she told me that she really needed someone to talk to and knew I would understand. She said that her first-grade boy got beat up by some older boys on the playground. The school staff blew it off as if it didn't happen and told her they would take care of it by not letting her kid play in that area any more. My neighbor was so upset that her son is the one being disciplined when others did him wrong. She SHOULD BE upset! The principal didn't even want her to come in and discuss it!

I believe the Lord wanted me to hear about all of that just to remind me why I'm doing all of this anyway! I'm so thankful that I have the freedom to keep my kids at home! 

And I PRAY, PRAY, PRAY that we continue to have this freedom in our country!  

Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts or questions!!   

"Stay Out of My Sweetpeas!"

  

     A few weeks ago, my wonderful, industrious husband made a rain-barrel out of an old garbage can to help us save a little bit of money when it comes to watering the garden.  I decided to put my unused trellis in front of it and transplant some flowering sweet-peas.  We have a patch of them that grows along the fence in the back yard.  I went back to the patch and sure enough, little green shoots were starting to poke up!  I knew they would be just the thing to climb the trellis and hide the unsightly, although thrifty, rain-barrel.

     I carefully tended my little shoots for a whole week, watering them when it was dry, checking their progress, shooing the kids away, and coaxing them up the trellis.  I was quite happy with how well they were doing!  One day, I went back to see how the big patch of sweet-peas was coming along.  As I got a little closer I burst out with a belly-laugh.  What I had thought were sweet-pea sprouts were in fact a climbing WEED!  My real sweet-peas were just starting to show themselves!  My husband also enjoyed a good laugh at my expense...apparently he had discovered my blunder that morning.  I wonder how long he would have waited to tell me!

     It caused me to think of times in my younger years when I saw something (such as a friendship, or dating relationship) that I thought would be good.  I thought of all the time and effort I spent cultivating those relationships which only served to suck my energy dry, drain my emotions and distract me from the things that were most important; like my walk with God, or pleasing my parents.  There are other types of "weeds" I deal with, even now.  "Weeds" called bad attitudes, discontentment, pride, and others.  Sometimes I plant these weeds in my life on purpose; sometimes they blow in with the wind and catch me unawares.  I am thankful for a Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit who whispers to me, "You need to pull the weeds!"

This is the type of weed I carefully tended for over a week!

Lucky!

Last week our family was rushing out the door for our mid-week church service.  As our oldest daughter, Lillian, age five, ran out the door, the screen door caught her foot and she went flying over the edge of the porch.  My husband said she amazingly regained her footing and landed on her feet almost like a gymnist!  He looked at her and said, "Girl, you're lucky!"

A few minutes later, my husband was buckling the kids in their seats, and Lillian asks, "Daddy, what is 'lucky?'"

He gave her a simple, but profound answer.  "Lucky means God was GOOD to you."

I know that there are many god-fearing people out there who ban the word luck from their vocabulary, but when you state it that way, then yes, I am lucky...and God is good!

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45

Good things happen to good people and bad things happen to good people.  But, don't you find it amazing that good things also happen to the unjust, or unsaved, people?  Why is that?  Because God loves them too! And he is GOOD to all!

I AM LUCKY!  I feel like He has been extra good to me.  He spoils me!  If you stop to look at your life, you'll find he spoils you too!  A few weeks ago I was introduced to this amazing song and I'd like to share the lyrics with you.

I Have Been Blessed
by Michael Compton
 

When He moves among us—all that He does,
All of His mercy—all of His love,
If the pen of a writer, could write everyday—
Even this world could never contain—How I’ve been blessed.

Warmth in the winter—Flowers in spring.
Laughter of summer, the changing of leaves,
Food on my table, and a good place to sleep
Clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
I have been blessed.

I have been blessed, God’s so good to me
Precious are His thoughts of you and me
No way I can count them, There’s not enough time
So I’ll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good, so good
I have been blessed.

Arms that will raise—a voice that can talk,
Hands that can touch, legs that can walk,
Ears that can listen—eyes that can see
I’ve got to praise Him as long as I breathe
I have been blessed

A mother and father—nurtured and raised
Sisters and brothers—memories made
Our pastor to lead us—this altar to pray
Stripes that heal—the blood that still saves
I have been blessed.

I have been blessed, God’s so good to me
Precious are His thoughts of you and me
No way I can count them, There’s not enough time
So I’ll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good, so good
I have been blessed.

We live in a country—the greatest on earth
Where the flag stands for freedom and what it is worth
She stands in a harbor—Miss Liberty calls
All have given some, but some gave it all
So we could blessed.

He’s my shoulder to lean on—when I am down
The Rock where He leads me when I’m overwhelmed
The place where He hides me under His wings—He’s not just a song
He’s the reason I sing—I have been blessed.

I have been blessed, God’s so good to me
Precious are His thoughts of you and me
No way I can count them, There’s not enough time
So I’ll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good, so good
I have been blessed.

 

 

Yes, I'm lucky, I'm BLESSED!

Perfection

I am a perfectionist...wanna-be that is! 

I would love to have a "Martha Stewart" home where EVERYTHING is neatly organized and sparkly clean; creatively decorated and fresh.  But...I have children.  Four of them to be exact; a five-yr-old girl who has a passion for art and all things paper, a three-year-old boy who is very much a BOY and loves to rough and tumble, an extremely cute little girl who is a spittin' image of her mama and can't help the fact that she is TWO, and an up-and-coming crawler, our six-month-old baby girl.

All of my "pretties" are still packed away, my raggedy, old couch is secure in its position, because we can't chance ruining a newer one.  There are pencil marks and marker marks on the wall still waiting to be scrubbed off by Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.  Every window and mirror has finger-prints, the fish-tank too, from curious little hands.  Though we eat in just one room of the house, crumbs are quickly transported all over the house by the two-year-old who escaped before her hands were wiped clean.  And then there's the occasional catastrophe, like this morning.  My two early-birds decided to have a cupcake party on the couch.  The cupcakes were on TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR! 

Life around here is just like the game;  I work really hard to get all the pieces in the right place and then, POP!  Everything tumbles back out everywhere.  Please know, I am not a slob.  I work very hard sun-up to sun-down, and yes, I do get frustrated at times.  I am also actively training my children to be neat and clean up after themselves.  Perhaps you know the key to keeping a perfect house while raising four children under the age of six.  If you do, I would LOVE to know some of your secrets!  I will not give up my quest of keeping my house clean and tidy, but it will NEVER be spotless.

It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm NOT!  I know there are hundreds of women out there who cannot have children.  I personally know a few!  My heart aches for them and I pray the Lord will give them children to love and hold!  Honestly, I wouldn't trade places with Martha Stewart for the world!  I wouldn't trade places with ANYONE for the world, for you see, my house is PERFECT!  Perfect for me.  My husband loves to quote, "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean..."  I'm sure I'd have a beautiful home if I didn't have children, but I'll take the children!

I remember when I was in Bible college I passed two of the maintenance men in the hall and I overheard part of the conversation.  One said, "You see this," gesturing to the bricks, floor, the windows, "this is man's idea of perfect, all straight lines and perfect angles."  Then he gestured outside toward the trees and beautiful pond.  "God's perfection has no straight lines."

Our idea of perfect for our homes, may not be God's idea of perfect.

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."  I Peter 3:3-4

Just as God's idea of a beautiful woman is not in her appearance, but in her spirit, I believe that God's idea of a perfect home is a good spirit.  This should be our focus!

So things may be a little "dusty" around here, but I have happy kids!  And I'm striving to be a happy mama, even while vacuuming the cupcake crumbs off the couch! 

Hit Between the Eyes: Again!

I thought this picture was funny!  This is exactly the way I felt as I studied my Bible last night!   Have you ever struggled with something very basic in your Christian life?  I mean something so simple and you wonder "What in the world am I doing wrong?  This should be easy!"  Then, hopefully you pick up your Bible and begin to read and, BAM!  The answer hits you upside the head! 

I've been at the Christian walk for what seems like a very long time, but sometimes I forget the basics.  Right now I am teaching my two oldest children phonics.  The reading program I use starts off teaching each letter and focusing on the sound it makes.  As my children learn, they will soon be recognizing the words more than seeing each individual letter.  So it is in the Christian life.  Bits and pieces make a whole.

Last night I read, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

heartily=sincerely, warmly, cordially, vigorously, eagerly, earnestly, zealously


I'm afraid I've been acting more like a drill sargent lately.  Sometimes I take care of my children's needs in the same un-caring, un-loving way as I would feed the cat, or dump water on a houseplant.  I have been VERY BUSY, but my work has been lacking in heart and soul!  No wonder my wheels have been spinning, but I feel like I'm stuck in the mud!  I've been forgetting some of my "ABC's."


Also, I do not work for my husband, or my children, or for myself.  I work for my Saviour, Jesus Christ!  My Boss is ALWAYS watching!  I must forever be working to attain a new height of excellence.

I thank God that He hasn't given up on me yet!  He is SO patient!  He is SO kind!  He is my Saviour, and I love Him!

The Sea and the Waves Roaring

I heard about the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on Saturday afternoon.  Not having a television nor being a big radio listener, I'm usually pretty behind on the news.  Amazingly, my brother was in Tokyo for a layover just hours before it hit!  I am so thankful the Lord kept him safe.


Yesterday I watched a video clip online of the tsunami.  It was INCREDIBLE.  The man with the camera was up on a hill and filming the street about fifteen feet below.  In seven minutes I watched the water flow up over the street.  A few cars float by, a semi, a boat flips over and rushes on down the street.  The water gets higher and higher and soon the cars parked at the bottom of the hill float away.  The camera zooms in on a white vehicle and I wonder if that might not be the camera man's car.  A minute later an entire BUILDING floats down the street.  The camera man moves higher up the hill as buildings crack and crumble.  I could actually hear the buildings caving in!  AMAZING!


I am hurting for the Japanese people and I do hope the Lord sends them the Gospel in their time of sorrow and devastation.  I believe the Lord is coming back SOON!

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:25-28

I believe the Lord is coming back, but to be honest with you, I am not always looking up.  Often the cares of this world and the duties and responsibilities I have come crashing over my head like a mighty wave.  Often I feel like I'm sinking just as Peter did when he was walking on the water, and the Lord looks at me and says, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"  This old life is not in vain!  There is a Purpose, and that Purpose is Christ.  Our whole duty is to bring honor and glory to him.  We cannot do that if we are fearful and unbelieving!

Christ is telling us in these verses to "look up, and lift up your heads."  I got excited after seeing that video!  HE IS COMING BACK SOON!  I don't know when exactly, but I'm anxious to leave this old sin-sick world and sin-cursed body and get my new body, white robe, my white horse and my mansion!  Let's get up out of the mully-grubs and look unto Jesus!  Let's do something today that matters for eternity!

Wanted: Your Thoughts

I had a Bible verse hit me between the eyes today!  Has that ever happened to you?  I began to throw myself a little pitty party and began to think negatively about certain things.  As I was murmuring and complaining (in my mind) I heard that still, small voice say,

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"  2 Corinthians 10:5 

I don't suppose that I've ever thought of my mind as a prison before, but the Bible states that I am to be in control of my thoughts...ALL of my thoughts.  Now, sometimes I feel like saying, "I can't help it!  It's just the way I feel."  But I CAN help it!  God never commands us to do things that are impossible, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 9:26 b.  It is so easy to just let my thoughts roam free over the grassy meadows of indifference, or trudge through the valley of despair, or climb the mountains of self-will.  But that should not be!

I.  Cast down imaginations.

   As a young girl I was very much a day-dreamer and my school-work definitely suffered because of it.  I would much rather spent time in an imaginary world of fairy-tales and make-believe than to think about cold-hard facts.  On into my single years I still loved to day-dream about the future and imagine what I wanted my life to be like.  You know, this has been a very hard lesson for me to learn in my married life.  I have arrived!  This is it!  This IS what I always dreamed of for my life.  I should no longer be day-dreaming about un-obtainable goals or wishing for things that are different.  I need to be content with what I've been given, focus on today, and keep my eyes on the Prize, which is Jesus Christ.

II.  Cast down high things.

   I think that high things are anything that takes the place of godly thoughts.  Our minds should be filled with Scripture. 

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."  Joshua 1:8

Have you ever gone a whole day and realize that you have not once thought of the Lord or His Word?  Ouch!  I know I have!  Let's try to fill our mind with Scripture!

III.  Put your thoughts in prison.

   A.  Take command!  You are the warden and You are in charge!  Why are our thoughts so important?  Because God sees our thoughts!

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."  I Chronicles 28:9

   B.  Reform your thougths.  It is always a wonderful thing to see a prison inmate get out jail and begin to live his life for God.  It is also a wonderful thing to take a bad thought and turn it around into a good thought!  I know that we cannot always keep ourselves from thinking negatively, but if we find ourselves thinking critically about someone, we should stop ourselves and replace the critical thought with a positive one.  I have found that this helps me to keep my heart soft and loving!  If you start to feel self-pity about different circumstances in your life, start counting your blessings and you will find that you have SO MUCH to be thankful for!  I know that I do!

   C.  Obey Christ!  Did you know God tells us EXACTLY what we are to think about?



"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8

Use this verse as a filter and run all of your thoughts through it!  Pure thoughts make a pure mind.

There are so many more great verses on thoughts.  Why not do a word study on thoughts?  It has surely helped me!

"I Can Speak Four Languages"

Recently my mother and I took my children to a wonderful little city park.  It was a beautiful spring day, the sun was shining and the children got to enjoy playing with other boys and girls.

I was pushing my little boy on the swing when out of the corner of my eye I young boy, about six or seven years of age, come running top-speed for the swing-set.  He was gangly as most boys that age are and his ears stuck straight out.  He looked up at me and I smiled at him.  Immediately he began talking and it was soon evident that he quite enjoyed doing so!  Talking, that is!

"Do you know what?  I am an animal specialist..." he continued with a steady stream  of other titles he had somehow obtained in all his years of study, ending with, "...and I'm also an animal c-c-communicator."  I smiled and listened as this young child uttered all his mind.   I was envisioning my kids reaching this age soon enough.

"What is your name?" I asked him.

"I am John Clark."  He said importantly, carefully pronouncing each syllable.  "My dad lives with us.  He is a veterinarian."  I thought it very interesting that this young boy so proudly announced that his dad lived with them.  In this day and age, that IS something to be proud of!  John Clark spoke of his father for several more moments.  I noted that he had a self confidence and a very well-cared for appearance and manner.  I very much enjoyed my rather one-sided conversation with him!  I did manage to ask him if he got to go to church.  He nodded and told me that he did and that he knew Jesus!  I was very glad!  He is a very blessed little boy indeed!  To have two parents who love him and care for him, plus take him to church.  Praise the Lord!

My mother informed me later that she also had a conversation with John Clark.  He walked up to her and said, "I can speak four languages."

"Sprechen sie Deutsche?"  She asked him.

"No, but I can speak four other languages.  I'm speaking one right now."

"Oh, that's English!"

"Yes!  And I also speak British, Irish, and Australian!"  He said with all seriousness!  What a special young man!

Not Always Black or White

Recently a facebook friend (acquaintence) posted that he wanted reference and verse from the Bible on a whether or not it is okay to drink alcoholic beverages in your own home.  He said, "I don't want guideline verses such as 'abstain from all appearance of evil.' Give me something solid."  He claimed that he really wanted to know, and I hope that he really did want to know.  It was very interesting to me some of the responses he received and the argument that ensued...I was very tempted to throw in my two cents. Since it was men I didn't want to step in.  So, I'll get it off my chest here! 

But this post is not about whether or not drinking alcohol is okay.  I think that anyone who would chance to read my blog already knows the answer to that.

At this point in my life I sure like things that are basic.  I like directions to be simple.

   Step one: Open the box

   Step two: Pull out the contents of the box

   Step three: Open the individually wrapped packages

Wouldn't it be easier if the Bible was like that?  If God would just list the "Thou shalt's"  separately from the "Thou shalt not's" and give us five point outlines and of course put it in large print with spacing between each line for those of us who have a hard time focusing!  Some parts of the Bible are very basic, such as, the ten commandments, the Lord's Prayer; Proverbs is pretty simple, but God has reasons for not doing that.

God likes to test people to see where their heart is.

"The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."  Psa 11:4

We were created to bring honor and glory to God and to have fellowship with him.  God WANTS our love, but he does not demand it.  The best way to show our love to God is to obey!

John 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.


If you really want to KNOW how God feels about something:
 
   1.  Is your heart open?
        I mean are you really searching for His heart on the matter or are you just trying to prove your own views?  If you have just "decided in your heart" what is right and what is wrong, then you have set yourself up as your own god and God will not be willing to give you His input on the matter.  If you are not seeking, you will not find.  If you are not knocking, the door will not be opened.
 
   2.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
           Of course, if you have quenched Him, He won't be much help.

   3.  Search the scriptures.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

       This fellow did not want guideline verses, but that's exactly what he needs! THERE ARE NO GREY AREAS WITH GOD!  He has a DEFINITE will about EVERYTHING!  There are guidelines in scripture to all sorts of "controversial" issues.  Such as:

Drinking alcohol
Women's dress
Length of hair on men and women
Makeup
Spanking children
Divorce
Head coverings

I could go on and on!  Study your Bible!  I recently found a great online concordance.    Its a FREE download!  http://www.e-sword.net/  It is so awesome to just type in a word and have every verse with that word in it brought up for you!  We sure have it easy in this computer age! Get in there and study, study, study!


   4.  If you still have questions, go to your Pastor. (Not your facebook friends)

       The word pastor means shepherd.  It is his job to feed the sheep, guide and protect them.  A good pastor will not seek you out to give you his counsel, you must be willing to draw it out of him.

Pro 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

The Bible is an Amazing book!  As the preacher I heard this week said, "I believe it, cover to cover.  Even where it says Genuine Cow Hide!"

Unfeigned Faith

   There are women in this world that I greatly admire.  They seem to have it all together.  They have a great spirit, they love the Lord with all their heart, they seem to have perfect homes and perfect children and perfect peace!   I love to be around them and to learn from them.  I try to copy them and do what they do to achieve what they have achieved in their lives.  I am certainly not one of these people!  I do not have it all together and sometimes I find that my spirit is in pretty bad shape as well.  I DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY, want God's blessings and wisdom, strength and peace.  I know that these women that I so admire are not perfect.  I also know that at one time they were in my shoes, standing on the brink of the decision to either let Christ be Lord of their lives and have His way, or live for self.

   I recently delved into my Bible, seeking, searching, and BEGGING God to help me.  I NEED His help every moment for my sake, my husband's sake, and my children's sake, and my friend's sake!  I would just like to share some of the truths He gave me over the next few days.

Unfeigned Faith

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”   II Timothy 1:5

Faith= unquestioning belief in God; complete trust, confidence, or reliance; allegiance to; loyalty.

…the just shall live by his faith.  Hab. 2:4

   Sometimes it seems like the hardest thing in the world is to trust God.  Why do we think that God can’t handle our problems?  Often times I believe that God CAN answer my prayer, but I don’t always believe that he would WANT TO  answer my prayer.  By faith I need to believe that God loves me and wants the best for me.

   It is so vital to be real, or unfeigned.  Don't fake it!  Live it!  Your children see you, your spouse, your co-workers are watching, and most importantly, God knows you inside and out!

Demolition

  Several months ago there was an auction at an old farm house in a nearby town.  A few weeks later they began to strip the house, a few boards here, a couple of windows there, the beams off the porch.  Yesterday, the house was completely demolished and a back-hoe was busy digging out the rubble.  How sad!  I just hate it when they tear down old farm houses!

  Have you ever said something critical or harsh to someone, particularly a family member or a close friend, and watch their countenance, seemingly bit by bit, almost crumble.  First you see it in their eyes.  They are still smiling, but the hurt is evident.  Slowly the smile fades, head lowers, shoulders sag.  The spirit is being torn down.

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."  Proverbs 14:1

   Let's be builders.  Not a demolition crew.

A Strong Foundation

  Every building has a foundation.  My Bible says, "Add to your FAITH..."  Faith is our foundation.  Faith in Jesus Christ.

   Sunday evening, my five-year-old daughter went forward with me to pray at the altar.  Usually she just snuggles with me and tries to climb on my lap and pretty well distracts me from my prayer.  This time, however, she kneeled next to me and I could hear her just a praying away!  I stopped to listen for a moment and I heard her say..."and Jesus, please come into my heart."  I was so excited!  I didn't interrupt her and she continued to pray about other things that were on her five-year-old mind like asking God to help her find a particular toy she had lost.

   After the service was dismissed I said, "Honey, did I hear you ask Jesus into your heart?"  She shook her head emphatically.  "And did He come in?"  Again an affirmative head-shake and a big smile.  I proceeded to make a big deal out of it so that in the future she would remember her special day.  We told the preacher, who is also her daddy, and everyone else who was still hanging around the church!

   It was a real learning experience for me as a mother.  I had a gripping fear in my heart that perhaps my children would never get saved.  When is the "age of accountability" anyway?  I was saved at a very early age and really don't remember how much I understood, but I have no doubt in my mind that when I asked Jesus to come into my heart, He DID! 

  Years ago, during my first Christmas break home from college I had the wonderful opportunity of leading my much younger sister to the Lord when she was only four.  I was reading my Bible in my room and she came in with her new Bible and began looking at some of the pictures.  She turned to a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross and began asking me questions about the picture and who were the other men (the soldiers.)  I very simply told her the plan of salvation and said, "...and all we have to do to go to heaven is pray and tell Jesus that we believe in him and that we want him to save us from our sins."  Her eyes were as big as saucers when she said, "Oh!  We should do that right now!"  At that moment it seemed the Lord said to me, "See, you understood at that age too!"

  I heard a preacher once say that one sign of the "age of accountability" is when the child shows a sense of modesty and doesn't want to be seen without clothes on.  That is when you start pumping Scripture into them.  I began teaching my daughter, as well as my other children about Christ and His reason for coming to earth.  She seemed to understand everything, but I never did ask her to pray with me.   I didn't want her to pray with me just because I had asked her too.  I wanted her to WANT to be saved.  I pray fervently for my children to thirst after God and to learn to love him more each day; and I have learned to trust the Lord with their souls.  After all, they are His children!  Sunday was an answer to my prayer!

  My daughter has laid her foundation of faith for building her life in the Lord.  The earlier you do this the better, but it is not too late to begin if you haven't already.  It is my duty as her mother to be a good example and see that she learns the Bible and Learns to love her Savior.  What an awesome responsibility!  If I only succeed in one area of my life, I pray that it is this one!

   What about you?  Do you have a sure foundation of faith in Jesus?  If you are not sure I would love to help you and to pray with you.  Just send me a message and I will be in contact with you as soon as I possibly can!

Pardon Our Dust

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."  Proverbs 14:1

   This past summer, my husband did some remodeling in our  basement.  We were going to put in a nice large room, our bedroom, with a NICE walk-in closet.  The planning for the room actually began the previous fall.  Sketching, planning, buying the material, changing our (my) mind about things, re-planning, buying the building material...Finally, the project could really begin.  To save time, my husband brought all of the power tools into the basement, he cut boards, dry-wall, ceiling tiles, wire and numerous other things.  Walls went up, lights  and electric went in, ceiling, paint, carpet...you know what?  There was a LOT of dust!  We hauled out bag after bag of scraps and dust.  So it is with any building project. 

   Life is no different.  We begin planning as little girls.  (I did, didn't you?)  We decide what kind of man we want to marry, what kind of job he will have what kind of house we will live in, how we will decorate each room, how many kids we will have, what their names will be, where we will live...the decisions are endless.  We soon realize that we are not the Contractor; that there is Someone out there that has been planning our lives since the beginning of time!  A choice is made.  We either gathered up our own armful of cheap building supplies and started off on our own to make our own mess, our we wisely took the blueprints, and the supplies given us by the contractor, followed His directions and His plan, and begin to build our house.

   When I was fourteen, I surrendered, the best I knew how, my life to the Lord.  I remember that I wanted His will more than anything in the whole world.  I wanted to serve Him with my life and do great things and see miracles!  In my heart, I knew that I would marry a preacher!  As a junior in my christian school, I began to consider Christian colleges.  I wrestled with the decision (for I knew that this would be the place I would locate a good Working Supervisor for my building project) and suffered many sleepless nights.  I cried and prayed and begged and pleaded with the Lord to show me his direction.  Did he give me the answer and a view of the future?  No.  He gave me a song,

                           "Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
                            Look full in his wonderful face. 
                            And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 
                            In the light of His glory and grace."

   Such a peace filled my heart and the burden was lifted!  I was beginning to realize that my God knew the path I would take, and that when it was time, He would show me the way!

  Through a series of events, God led me to the right place at just the right time.  His direction and leading were so clear that I had NO doubts that He was in control.  When I got to college I certainly kept my eyes peeled for "Supervisor" that I would marry.  I picked him out myself several times!   But, alas, my Contractor had other plans!  I graduated from college and served on staff for over a year before He revealed that part of the plan to me!

   Now, I've been married for just over six years.  My Supervisor (husband) and I have four beautiful, healthy children that keep us so busy our heads are spinning.  My husband IS a preacher and pastors a quaint country church in the cornfields of Indiana.  We live in a sturdy little house in a small farm town and we are very happy and content!

   You know, sometimes I am still tempted to take a crayon (red is my favorite)  and add and edit the blueprints my contractor gives me each day.  You would think that after the beautiful way he has handled my life so far that I would easily trust him with my daily plans, and with my future.  Each day, I have to meet with the Contractor for my day's instructions, and submit myself to the will of my Supervisor.  Thankfully the two of them are pretty close and both are crazy about me!  Each day I pick up some tools (Bible, prayer, a meek and quiet spirit, to name a few) and get to work.  There's no cancellations for bad weather and no calling in sick!  And yes, there is a LOT of DUST!  I'm not perfect.  I make MANY mistakes, sometimes I don't use the right tools, and sometimes I get rebellious and try to do things my own way.  Several times my Supervisor and my Contractor have to undo some of my mistakes for me, but it's the BEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD!  And I love it.