"...and a little child shall lead them"

Being a Christian, we are told that we will come under fire, endure trials, be mocked and laughed at, etc. Yet that does not make it easier when it actually happens. I know that by living in the U.S. we have been spared a lot of the persecution that goes on in other parts of the world. So when the persecution starts to hit closer to home it really gets to me. I am speaking of the news articles and polls that have come out recently in response to our homeschool science books teaching creation rather than evolution. I was forwarded a poll the other day (which I took) asking if people thought it was ok for us to teach creation as homeschoolers. This poll was generated by MSNBC so the results didn't surprise me to begin with. When I voted the count was about 3 to 1 against us being allowed to teach creationism. I read some of the comments and was just struck at the anger, resentment, malice that came from these people voting against creationism. There are some very angry and resentful people out there that would love nothing more than to force us into teaching evolution, which is one of the main reasons I homeschool.

Then in another email I received just this morning I came across this article from Fox News (the more conservative of the news networks) that made me angry again. In those news reports I listed above some homeschoolers who aren't Christians were complaining about the lack of non-Christian resources available on the market. I say, "yay!". Don't we live in a world that typically caters to non-Christian's? This is how we have to live daily. I'm glad we have a little section of society that caters to us.

After prayer and time alone in the Word with God here is what HE showed me this morning. (Isn't God so very faithful?!) I will need to break them up into a couple of posts because He showed me quite a few verses and I feel led to share them with you as well.

Isaiah 11 begins "there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." He is speaking of the coming of Jesus. "And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth..." He is here and He is for us. He hasn't forgotten us and He will settle our disputes and the righteous will prevail.

I see something happening in our homeschooling generation. I wonder if God is raising up a generation that will follow Him and bring this country back to Him. There are untold millions of children that are being homeschooled right now (some reports say 86% are evangelical Christians) and are being taught God's ways, God's history, God's Word. Yes, they are able to perform in society even after they leave the home. Not only are they performing, they are excelling! These are the future leaders of our world. We have such a responsibility to make sure that they are taught the truth and taught to fight for the truth. God is doing some amazing work right now! Isaiah 11:6 says, "...and a little child shall lead them"! Wow!!!


Psalm 25 was the next passage the Lord showed me. "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous." This verse gave me hope, hope in the future grace that is to come, hope in the future world that will live in (either in heaven or in the NEW earth).

"Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. leat me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long." (Psalm 25:4-5)

"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." (vs. 8-10) This is simple reassurance that what we are teaching our children is the truth and the only way to follow the Lord.

Remember I mentioned the hate that was displayed towards Christians in the poll comments that I read? Well, the Lord showed me this in response, "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heard are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel (I added America in my prayer), O God, out of all his troubles." (vs. 16-22)

The Lord is so faithful. He knows when we're burdened and He sees our worries and fears. He gave us His Word as a comfort and if we only look we will see the promises and remember that HE is in control.


more to come...

Jill

CM education in the Bible?

I love it when the Bible teaches me something new. Isn't it glorious that each time we read it, God can lay something special and specific on our hearts? This weekend He reinforced the method of homeschooling that He's led me too, Charlotte Mason.

My husband teaches a college SS class at our church. On Sat. night we were reviewing the lesson and something amazing struck me. The passages are found in Mark 12:28-34. Earlier in this chapter the Sadducees and the Herodians and the Pharisees had been trying to trap Jesus by asking questions that, no matter how He answered would make some people mad enough to want Him dead. Of course, Jesus answered perfectly "and they were amazed at Him".

Verse 28 picks up with one of the scribes who had an honest question and was really wanting to know the answer. He asked Jesus "what commandment is the foremost of all?" (Mark 12:28) Jesus answered him in verses 29-31 stating that "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "

Here comes the lesson: look at verses 32-34. In these verses the scribe narrates back to Jesus exactly what He just spoke and even added in some of his own interpretation to prove that he thoroughly understood the Lord's words when he said, "...is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."


Notice Jesus' response, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." Wow! Even Jesus taught this way. It struck me immediately that that was what Miss Mason says about narration. If we're able to repeat the passage, story, or lesson back and add some interpretation of our own, then we've truly mastered the content.

I am so pleased with the way in which God has guided me in our homeschool. He continues to show me daily where I need to pick up the pace, slow down, or switch all together. Daily I thank Him for this gift that he's given me, the gift of my children and the ability to teach them in His ways to the best of my knowledge.

Jill

The family that prays together...

I was stunned the other day when Tink (dd7) looked at me from across the lunch table and said, "Mom, we don't pray enough in our school". Wow! I was stunned. Of course, she was right. We focus all of our school day around learning our Bible story, our Bible versus, our books of the Bible, even our science is Christian. Yet here my daughter hit the nail on the head. We don't actually pray enough. Don't your kids just amaze your sometimes?? It's like the Lord speaks directly through them! I am in awe of some of the spiritual statements or actions that my children have said or done! God truly uses them to teach me daily about His love and His mercy!

I set forth immediately to rectify our little "situation". We designed a "prayer jug" (so named by Tink herself) made from an oatmeal container. I cut out the construction paper and Tink and Man-Man decorated it together. We then taped it to the outside of the prayer jug and cut a slit in the lid. We cut little slips of paper so that at any time of the day the kids can go by and write a prayer request down (or ask someone to help them write a prayer request in the case of Man-man) and slip it into the prayer jug. Each day we have a family prayer time and someone volunteers to pray for each request. This has been amazing and a wonderful addition to our school and our family in general. After all, the main reason that I don't send my children to school is because my kids aren't going to go to a school where our Lord is not allowed. I want to make sure He's in our school each day! Thank you, Tink for reminding me to invite Him in!

It's a Favorite time of the Year!

It's hard to believe that 8 weeks have already passed since we started school. I know some people are just starting but we're almost ready for a Fall break! Oh, Fall! I love Fall! It's my very favorite time of the year. The crisp chill in the air (which has yet to reach us, I might add), the beautiful colors of the leaves falling to the ground, the football games and candy apples! Oh, so many wonderful experiences to enjoy for us all.

I try to point out these changes in weather and nature to my children as much as I can. This is for their benefit as well as my own. I find that so many times I can rush through life and find that I've missed so much of life. I love our school days and I'm trying to make them less stressful for us all. I'm trying to have fun, do wonderful nature projects, and just enjoy the art of learning. Miss Mason has been teaching me this and I'm trying to put in into practical applications. I'll let you know how I do!

But I urge you, as you venture into this new season, look for the things and experiences that make Fall different from any other time. Explore those and come up with some of your favorite fall activities or observations. This will make your children, as well as yourself, take time to explore all that God has created and be appreciative! Happy Fall!

Life lessons

We took a break from school this morning to get a real lesson in life. We have to take these opportunities as they come and I'm so glad we were able to this morning. Isn't that one of the joys of homeschooling? We are able to teach and guide our children in the way we see best. And when life lessons come up we are able to drop everything and go!

This morning a unit from our town was deployed to Mosul, Iraq for a year. I don't have the privilege of knowing anyone from this unit however the tears ran down my face just the same. As the unit left there was a parade of police, motorcycles, and busses through the town. Our city asked everyone to line the streets to wave goodbye to them and to tie yellow ribbons in rememberance. I explained (in as simple terms as I could) to my 7 year old daughter and 5 year old son where they were going and why. I explained that they were our heros and we were going out to wave to show our support and let them know that we love them and will be praying for them. I still get emotional as I write this...those brave men and women giving their lives for us. My children asked why they would do something like that. I said, because they love us and they love our country and want to protect us.

Isn't this what our Lord Jesus did for us. Many say, why would anyone do something like that...give their own life so that others may live. Because He loves us with an undying passion. He created us. He adores us. He has provided a way, through His death, that we may spend eternity in heaven with Him. I feel so ashamed that I sometimes go through the day without giving Him much time. He stands always waiting to talk, guide, protect. Look at all He's sacrificed. He deserves so much more than I can give.

Like Jesus, we also go through our day without giving much thought to those brave men and women who are risking their lives for us as well. Not that they are equal in any way to our Lord. That's not my point. But they are giving all they have and are we truly grateful? Let us remember to support these troops, pray for them, and help to take care of their families while they're gone. I'm proud that my church has adopted this unit's families. We've already had a dinner for them in their honor and will be doing much more as the year progresses. I pray we'll have a great celebration in a year when these brave men and women come home!

Jill