I just wanted to share another resource for those of you who may be interested in self-directed learning.
Bettina Langerfeldt has some wonderful information on her website and blog. Check it out here at Freedom Pioneer.
Have you ever wished for days of old? I do not just mean an era of the past, such as the Victorian Era, but I mean the home of your parents, old friends, an old church?
When I initially moved here to Illinois from Canada, it was a hard adjustment. It took me about six years to really feel like home. Island Lake became my home, but I went “home” to people.
Since the loss of my Dad and Grandmother, we have not been back to Canada. I go to reach for the phone to call my mother and I think of my grandmother, but she is not there.
I thought that I had put the old behind me, but find that I have not. I find myself wishing for the old - the way things use to be.
In the June 2007 issue of Homeschooling Today Mrs. Amy Howard has a good article on A New Thing. As I mentioned previously, her article mirrors our current situation except we are still waiting for the Lord to reveal our new thing. So while we are waiting, I find myself wishing again for things of old. Just for things to be the way they use to be.
Well, that is not what the Lord desires for us, though, is it?
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
The Lord has used these verses in our lives more than once over the years. They are filled with hope of what the Lord is going to do.
In my recent reading of The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, it was interesting to ponder his thought that it is better for us to have another burden added to our load than for us to have a burden taken away. What?! I know, but reading the full context really made sense. And like a friend told me, how better to learn contentment than by practicing it?
Forgetting the old and being content with the new. Forgetting the days when we had more money, forgetting the days when we thought we were content with what we had (or were we, really?), forgetting the days when Grandmother called out of the blue, forgetting the days when we believed our dreams would come true, forgetting the days of lower gas prices (had to insert that one!), forgetting the days of regular pay raises, forgetting the days of working for an employer who appreciated you, forgetting the days when holidays like Memorial Day were paid days off, forgetting the days when you were surrounded by people who loved you even though they did not agree with you, forgetting the days of living in a place where you know everyone and everyone knows you and you can trust 99% of the people there. On I could go. We all have golden days that we wish we could return to.
But let’s purpose to value the golden days of today and tomorrow, for the Lord promises us that He will do a new thing. It is a blessing to wait upon Him…remembering that contentment with godliness is great gain, remembering that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, remembering that with God nothing is impossible, remembering that the joy of the Lord is our strength, remembering that God’s love and mercy endures forever, remembering that welcoming new friends does not mean that old ones are completely forgotten, they have their place, but so do the new ones…remembering that the Lord delights in us.
Follow this link to learn about a couple who lived on cash for one month…no credit cards:
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/indexFP.php?rn=3906861&cl=9425290&ch=4226720
Every now and then Giant Despair enjoys visiting the homes of God’s people and every now and then he gets the best of them.
Giant Despair roams to and fro upon the earth seeking whom he may devour. So beware….your home might be next!
Now you all may be quick and have caught on to my little story, but keep reading and see if there is a Giant Despair in your home.
You see, Giant Despair is sly and cunning. There is no way he desires to be detected! He slithers into our homes in various forms, such as disheveled disunity, sharp shooting words, whirlwinds of angry outbursts, unresolved conflict and harboring hurts.
He discourages wives and mothers, who work day after day teaching and training, cooking and cleaning, only to see no visible fruit to their labors. He tortures husbands and fathers with feelings of inadequacy. With children he simply whispers, “Your parents aren’t fair!” to bring much discontentment to the joyful hearts of many.
Giant Despair’s initial visit occurs so subtlely that the God-fearing family may have no clue there is a giant in their midst. However, his presence becomes known as soon as the havoc is wreaked…. well, most of the time.
That is my reason for writing. It is for the express purpose of warning you that Giant Despair does come a-knocking, or rather, a-slithering and you must be on your guard and not let it drop for a moment.
To conquer Giant Despair…
What else do you all do?
Whenever relationships are thought of, I think this should be sung as a theme song:
“He’s still working on me,
to make me what I ought to be,
It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
and the sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars.
Oh, how patient He must be,
He’s still working on me!”
Relationships take a ot of time and energy. They take a lot of wisdom to cultivate and there are some days that I just want to burrow in a hole away from it all. But that really does goes against building relationships, don’t you think? So, tell me, what do you all do to build up the relationships with your family?
In one week, we are blessed to be a part of Amelia’s Aprons biggest give away! We are one of four websites/blogs hosting this event. Beginning September 1st you will have the opportunity to enter your name to WIN one of four Regency aprons or one of four Amish Apron patterns that will be given away in the month of September. Be sure to check back for sign up and drawing information beginning September 1st.
Have fun!
Some time ago I read an article in May/June 2007 issue of the Home School Enrichment Magazine written by Dr. S. M. Davis entitled, “My Son, Give Me Thine Heart.” (Proverbs 23:26) It was very good. What I wanted to share with you about it stems from one of his very last sentences. Here it is, along with my thoughts that I had at that time:
“Everyone needs to make sure that they have given their heart to the right people, but a young person especially needs to make a conscious, deliberate commitment of their heart to their parents. And parents need to accept their children’s hearts as a solemn charge that should always be handled with care and love.” (italics mine)
I was challenged to evaluate how I have been handling my children’s hearts. As I am home today alone with our one-year-old, I was playing with a toy train with her. It has a little whistle that toots when a part is pressed down. I did it, but her fingers are not yet coordinated or strong enough to get the whistle to blow just right. Therefore, I gently guided her hand to press the part just so in order for her to get the whistle to work. She just smiled at me when we did that! The thing is that tender moment of childish play and enjoyment brought back that one line of Dr. Davis’ article and the verse in Psalm 128:3 ~ “….thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Call it an enlightening moment, but the Lord just impressed upon me the fact that our children and their hearts are like tender plants that need nurture and care! I could not help but think of my little daughter, “You just need tenderness and care, don’t you?” Some days it is very hard to remain nurturing and caring when things are in a disarray from household projects like painting or homeschooling or the clutter that comes with day-to-day living. There are times that I feel anything but nurturing and caring as the 100th squabble breaks out due to one (or more) child’s selfishness, or another child’s adventurous spirit leads another to do yet another childish antic. It is enough to put anyone in a grumpy frame of mind and lose sight of our family’s vision.
But the heart of the matter is that we need to keep and reach their hearts. It is us, the parents, who should have our children’s hearts. Not anyone else. It is hard work to keep our own hearts turned to God, let alone adding one, two, three or more children’s to that list. It takes every waking moment, to be honest, coupled with a lot of prayer because if we are honest with ourselves and others, we know how short we fall. It is only by the grace of God that any of us can keep the hearts of our children.
May each of us turn our hearts fully to the Lord, trusting Him to use us in our children’s lives. Let us not grow weary in well-doing or slack off in nurturing our dear children’s minds, bodies and souls (hearts).
Have you ever noticed how easily discontentment seeps into your life? I have and I must admit to having succumbed to it slowly over time.
We live in a relatively small home (less than 1200sq ft.) When we moved into it as newlyweds of a year, I was excited to be in our own place after living with Robert’s mom for a year. Even though my parents had a large home, I was content to have the home that the Lord provided for us. And it was the Lord who provided it because we were looking and looking and looking that whole year for a home that we could afford. Even though the two of us were working at the time, we wanted to be able to continue to afford it once children started coming along.
Robert wanted me to work until we started having children, which I happily did because he wanted me to. However, in my heart, I longed to be home.
Once I was home with our first child due in three short months, ten years ago now, I was content and eagerly awaiting my initiation into motherhood.
Reality hit. I did not have the natural birth I desired for our first child. Seep.
Motherhood was harder than I thought it would be, even though there was joy in it. Seep.
I longed to live back in the country again so my children could have that experience. Seep.
Seep. Seep. Discontentment changes us, whether we admit it or not. We lose our sweetness and joy.
It was not until people would make comments about our home that I became discontent with it. Comments came, such as, “Can you fit all those people in your home?” when inviting people over. Not until visiting friends whose homes were large and decorated like a Better Homes magazine. Seep. Seep.
It was not until we started attending a church where other children were better behaved than ours that I became discontent with our children. Seep. Seep.
Praise the Lord that His mercies are new every morning and if we do not latch onto those new mercies the first time, that they are still available to us on that morning that we look at things anew!
Praise the Lord for strangers in stores who say how well behaved our children are. Praise the Lord for folks who say what a beautiful home we have. Praise the Lord for the lessons He teaches us each moment, each hour, each day and every year. We sure wouldn’t change if He didn’t send the refining fire, now would we?
August 16, 2008
BOLIVIA
Thank You for Praying for Bolivia!
Dear Praying Friends,
We were so encouraged with all the responses of individuals and churches that were holding up Bolivia in prayer on and around August 10. The referendum, to determine whether the Bolivian president, vice president and governors would continue, took place without any incidents involving violence or large scale protests. The Lord answered your prayers with no known casualties. Of course, this does not mean that everyone received what they wanted. There are still demonstrations and strikes predicted for the near future but things were quite settled in the entire country during that day.
Let me explain the results. President Evo Morales and his vice president, Alvaro Garcia were backed by about 67 percent of voters in the recall referendum last Sunday. Three of Bolivia’s governors lost their positions and so there will have to be elections to replace these three leaders.
Bolivia finds itself these days far from settled and full of conflict. Negotiations between the government and eastern states, that are demanding autonomy from the centralized government, have failed and so despite the recent referendum, Bolivia remains divided and in turmoil.
Friends, please continue to remember Bolivia in your prayers. We believe that God is at work and He wants to hear our prayers on behalf of others.
1. Pray fervently for the Salvation of Bolivia President, Evo Morales and his Vice-president, Alvaro Garcia.
2. Pray that the Bolivian Church will remain strong during this time and will not succumb to Political pressures to trust in man.
3. Pray for unity in Bolivia amongst regions, social sectors and people groups. Bolivia is very divided right now from East to West, between city folk and country folk and between European decent and Indigenous people.
In Christ,
Greg and Lily Muir
I finally got to read The Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch. It is a very short book, only 53 pages, plus the study guide in the back.
This little book would be a perfect read for those of you who are short on time and just want an overview of the Biblical command of showing hospitality.
Here is a powerful quote:
“Christian hospitality is not a matter of choice; it is not a matter of money; it is not a matter of age, social standing, sex or personality. Christian hospitality is a matter of obedience to God.” ~ Helga Henry, wife of writer and theologian Carl F. H. Henry, pg. 34 of The Hospitality Commands, by Alexander Strauch.
Another quote:
“I am convinced that only by studying the living, breathing, life-changing Word of God can we find hope for overcoming our fears, excuses, and apathy regarding hospitality. Only the power of the Word and the Spirit can convince us that hospitality is to be an essential part of healthy Christian living and can move us to act.” ~ Alexander Strauch, pg. 33, The Hospitality Commands.
One more for good measure:
“Your home is the best tool you have to enhance loving Christian community. Your local church can become a friendlier, more loving community if you - and others you know - consistently open your homes to one another.” ~ Alexander Strauch, pg. 19, The Hospitality Commands.
So, as you can see from just these three quotes, this booklet is sure to provoke some thought, especially if you have never thought much on the subject of hospitality.