Aug. 12, 2008 - A Mother's Back to School Prayer
A Mother’s Back to School Prayer
“Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
If we just hope for the best, flying by the seat of our pants, we are not being careful how we live. How, then, do we be careful how we live? In a typical day, we are faced with dozens of decisions that affect our lives in great and small ways. How we approach these decisions, even the seemingly unimportant ones, matters greatly. Big results come from little decisions. The Lord’s will is found in prayer and quiet meditation upon God’s word. Prayer must be the foundation of all Christian endeavors.
As I prepare for the coming school year, I am thankful that I don’t have to do it all by myself. God is there to help me; to plan, prepare, teach, lead, and evaluate our progress. I must lean on Him, for the responsibility is weighty, and he will carry me, if I only ask.
In 2 Corinthians 5:7 God tells us to “live by faith, not by sight.” I don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does.
Lord, please help me to know your will for our homeschool. Please guide me as I plan subjects and set goals. Lord, please use me to instill your word in my precious children’s hearts. You love my children even more than I Lord; please direct me in their education. I prize Your wisdom and wish to walk in Your counsel. Lord, help my words be a blessing to those who hear it. Please let no polluting language, evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk ever come out of my mouth. Help me to control my anger and frustration Lord, please direct me that I may not sin in my anger. I receive your infilling of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for the innumerable blessings you have bestowed upon our family. “….Let me throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let me run with perseverance the race marked out for me. Let me fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. I will consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that (I) will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
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Jun. 12, 2008 - Floodwaters Still Rising in Iowa: God Help Us
Floodwaters Still Rising in Iowa: God Help Us
Our flood-ravaged Iowa is bracing for historic floodwaters still to come. Throughout Iowa, rivers are swollen and topping levees, reservoirs are filled to capacity, farmlands look like lakes and low-lying city areas are rapidly disappearing under murky sewer-contaminated water. All of this continues as rain is still pouring over Southeastern Iowa.
Our home is along the Middle River, one of the many smaller tributaries of the Des Moines River. Yesterday it was amazing to see the river rise over three feet in a few short hours and flood the surrounding fields for the second time in the past week.
Already challenged by wet weather conditions throughout the spring, farmers were forced to delay planting by weeks and now face massive crop devastation. It is certainly reasonable to predict that corn, soybean and pork prices will rise quickly due to the inability of Iowa’s farmers to meet demands, both here and abroad. Sadly, I also believe that many small family farms will not weather this extraordinary storm, referred to as a five hundred year event by Iowa Governor Chet Culver. Although Iowa’s people have a tremendous resilient spirit, that alone will not pay the mortgage.
In Des Moines, there is an eerie calm. Residents have been assured that the city’s water supply is safe and that shored up levees will hold. However, the cities of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are inundated with water and still rising.
Please join with us here in Iowa to pray for relief from the massive statewide flooding.
“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.” Psalm 69:1-2
“But I pray to you, O Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O god, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.” Psalm 69:13-18
In Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen.
by Sallie A. Hagen
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Mar. 12, 2008 - Spring Purge: One Bag per Day
Spring Purge: One Bag per Day
Spring break is almost upon us, the ice and snow are melting and I went outside without a jacket today for the first time in months. Never mind that the basement was flooding and I was out digging drainage trenches in the ice to direct the snowmelt from the hill away from the house. It was still good to be outside.
We tore up the basement rooms - moved furniture, pulled back carpet and sucked 30+ gallons of water from the concrete floor. But my heart is still thankful. I can take the flood. I just can't take moving junk. And so the real harbinger of spring begins: glorious, but onerous, spring cleaning.
Here's what I told the kids: Starting tomorrow, every person is responsible for taking one bag of junk out of the house every day. That will mean the 1945 encyclopedias, the VCR tapes, the old paperbacks, the drawer full of sample size toiletries, the clothes that don't fit, the clothes that don't get worn, the games that the children have outgrown, and the rest of the junk that is stashed away in almost every room of this house.
I get overwhelmed thinking about it, but I think I can handle one bag per day, for a while, at least. We'll sort everything into three categories: throw away, give away and sell. John and I picked a date for the garage sale and I have exactly 6 weeks to purge, purge, purge.
So pray for us, brothers and sisters. We will need to suppress the foolish sentimental attachments, ditch the "But I'll use it some day attitude" and completely forget what we paid for everything.
For now, I must go check on the seeping water in the basement, check on the cost of installing drainage tile and decide what goes in the bag tomorrow. One bag, one day, one person. I think we can do it. 
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Mar. 7, 2008 - The Egghead Report- March 3
Click here to read The Egghead Report- Vol 1, Issue 1. March 3, 2008
The Egghead Report is a newspaper written entirely by my writing students, ages 12-14. Enjoy!
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Feb. 29, 2008 - Morning Teenage Revival
Morning Teenage Revival
I’m not a coffee drinker. Quite frankly, I don’t know how anyone ever gets past the first cup since it is so yucky tasting. However, since half the world (or maybe more) disagrees with me, I’m willing to accept that I’m the quirky one. This morning, as I was about to pour out my husband’s Columbian coffee leftovers, I had an ah-ha moment. At that very instant my fourteen year old, anti-morning son walked in the kitchen in a haze. He wasn’t really awake enough to converse or even begin making his breakfast. His hair was poking out in every direction, his pants were falling down and he was shielding his eyes from the sun. You know exactly where I’m heading now, don’t you?
“Here you go honey. Wouldn’t you like to be just like Daddy and get your day going with a hot steaming cup of coffee every morning?” I coaxed.
He wasn’t sure, but he was willing to try it-- one more step to being a big guy like Dad. He hung his head over the mug I gave him, doctored up with milk and sugar, and sipped it with a spoon. A little while later when I handed him his bagel with cream cheese, I saw he now had the cup at his lips, sipping steadily. With bites of bagel, he drained the cup.
School went quite well today. For the first time in months, or possibly ever, Taylor finished every single assignment during the allotted time and left the school room by four o’clock with absolutely no homework to do over the weekend. Oh glory be! Could it have been the coffee? I think maybe so.
Oh there’s much more to this story, and maybe you are thinking that I am incredibly dense for writing about how coffee helps get you going in the morning. Uh….. duh. I know, but how many moms would love to coax their teenagers into joining the living in the morning and haven’t found the solution yet?
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Feb. 10, 2008 - Concerned Citizen to Washington State GOP: The Count Must Go On
Concerned Citizen to Washington State GOP:
The Count Must Go On
Here's a copy of my e-mail to Washington State Officials, I'll let you know the response.
Dear Washington State Official:
Having read the Washington State GOP response (below), I would like to make it perfectly clear that a win is a win is a win, regardless of the the delegate count. If you do not do a full accounting and an accurate count of the "presidential preferences" of the delegates, then you will subject to legal action, as well as the disgust and disdain of the Republican party throughout the country. Get your act together and get it together now.
This is the official Washington State GOP response to inquiries that I read online:
"Please let me explain because there is a lot of confusion out there.
First of all, the counting was never stopped. We just haven't heard from all the precincts yet. The numbers continue to trickle in.
Second, there was no "vote" yesterday. All we did was elect delegates to their county conventions. The numbers we're reporting is the Presidential preference of those people. It's basically a straw poll. No delegates were won by any campaign. That doesn't happen until the state convention on May 31st.
Additionally, this is not a "winner take all" situation. It is very likely that Washington State will send delegates to the national convention for 2 or more candidates."
A Concerned Citizen and Outraged Republican
Sallie H.
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