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Mar. 11, 2010
Birth Control...God's Plan or Man's Plan?
Here are a couple of quick links to get you started on the subject of birth control. Notice the progression between what the original pro birth control discussions and the path that we have since developed on.
- Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions? by Randy Alcorn
- PDF download of booklet HERE
- Foundational documents that chronicle the beginning of the birth control debate in America
- Downloadable tracts about birth control
- Information from Patrick McCrystal Pharmacists For Life International
- Here is the Package Insert for ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN Tablets ORTHO-CYCLEN® Tablets (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol)
- Male Sterilizaton
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Mar. 11, 2010
I have children already, but I still long for more! How can I cope with this feeling?
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Repost from 11-3-2006:
I, too, know how you feel! I feel this way even now even though I just had a baby a year ago and we are in the process of adopting. My womb still longs for more. Sometimes I feel that people would think I was crazy if they knew I felt this way, especially since I have been blessed with children from my womb and through adoption, but I just can't help feeling the emptiness of my womb. The hope of having another little one inside of me is everlasting! I have been told by older women that this feeling really never goes away.
My perspective on this type of trial is that the Lord is refining the believer through all of this. The refiner's fire is not an easy process to go through, but the end result is always worth it. The fire is HOT. Remember, it is a race (marathon, rather) that we are running. We should be slow and steady to finish, waiting on the Lord's timing. After we are refined in this area or another, we will be able to stand before the Lord, presenting "offerings in righteousness." Wow! Now, that is a wonderful reward for withstanding the Refiner's fire! These verses bring me peace through this and I hope that they bring you peace too.
"He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. " Malachi 3:3
"...so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:7
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" Zechariah 13:9
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10
Peace be with you.....
Lisa Metzger, keeper of our home, help meet to Mark (a financial planner),
2nd Generation Homeschool Mom to:
Annalise (14 - adopted from Kazakhstan at 10), Kaitlyn (7), Ethan (5 1/2) and Julia Claire (1Year - 10/7) &
MORE TO COME (God-Willing)! Currently preparing for a domestic adoption of #5, and possibly #6, from the U.S. foster system.
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Mar. 11, 2010
FREE Geography Game!
Mar. 10, 2010
Will Your Childen Be Christians? GREAT ARTICLE!
We find comfort in our delusional beliefs that "our schools are different" or that "my child is salt and light." If we are forced to confront some of the uncomfortable facts about the government's schools, we nervously shuffle our feet and try to change the subject. Why? The reason is our need for self-deception.
Self-deception is a form of self-indulgence. It substitutes a comforting, but false, version of reality for the truth, all in the service of a subliminal desire to avoid changes in our lives that an honest appraisal of reality would require. But self-deception also protects itself by building a fortress – it erects crenellated battlements, excavates moats, and raises up ravelins that protect our comforting faux-reality by rendering us nearly impervious to evidence and argument. While all of us have indulged this vice, how much harm it does depends upon which uncomfortable reality we are seeking to avoid.
Over the last 60 years, Christians, leaders and laity alike, have deluded themselves by believing that we can provide our children with more than 14,000 hours of "seat-time" receiving a secular education in the government's schools during the course of 12 years, and that our children will be none the worse for it. And, like self-deceivers in all times and places, we refuse to notice the evidence to the contrary or respond to argument.
Recently George Barna reported that only 4 percent of our teens can be considered evangelical Christians, down from 10 percent in 1995. To be sure, an overwhelming majority of teens say they are "Christian," but their responses to a few simple questions concerning biblical doctrine clearly demonstrate that, despite what our children say, they are not. These findings aren't unique to Barna. The Nehemiah Institute's worldview surveys of Christian children, for example, have resulted in similar findings.
Similarly, Dr. Christian Smith, the lead researcher for the National Study of Youth and Religion, a large sociological survey of the religious beliefs of teens between 13 and 17, reaches many of the same conclusions regarding the religious life of teens. According to Dr. Smith, no matter what religion the surveyed youth professed, in general their actual religious outlook was what Dr. Smith characterizes as "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism." This is a religious worldview featuring an undemanding, distant god, whose only commandment is to be "nice," and who doesn't become involved in anyone's life except when he is needed to take care of a problem. This religion, according to Smith, conceives of its god as "... a combination of a divine butler and a cosmic therapist." Rather than being commanded to take up his cross and follow Christ, the Moralistic Therapeutic Deist believes that "... the central goal in life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself." Unfortunately, this is not merely a problem with teens – increasing numbers of ostensibly Christian adults and some pastors hold these views in whole or in part.
Awareness of our failure to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is only now beginning to percolate into the consciousness of pastors and the broad Christian public. With this growing awareness, of course, come the obvious questions: "How is this happening, and what should we do?" The Rest HERE...don't miss it!
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Mar. 10, 2010
Adopting children is fulfilling their calling from God...
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'The Bakers' dozen': Claremore family keeps expanding
Adopting children is fulfilling their calling from God, Daughn and Karen Baker say.
CLAREMORE — When they first started building this house, on 10 acres of old farmland west of town, the construction crew thought the laundry room was going to be the kitchen.
"It's that big," Karen Baker says, leading the way past the stairs. "It has to be."
Just off the family room, the laundry includes a washing machine and not one but two dryers, along with a full-size air-hockey table to entice the children into the room while their mother is folding clothes. Baker obviously has a lot of folding to do.
"It can be overwhelming at times," she admits. "Three, four, five loads a day. And that's not a particularly busy day."
The actual kitchen is around the corner, where some of the kids have decided to bake cookies in a whirlwind of opening cabinets, breaking eggs and spooning sugar.
One of the oldest, 22-year-old Rachel, reaches into the pantry for an apron, a recent gift from another family.
"Our friends have already picked up on this," she says, pointing at the words embroidered across the front. "It's our family nickname now." "The Bakers' Dozen."
'Never regretted it'
The property used to include a dilapidated 600-square-foot farmhouse, where the entire family camped out on the floor while the new house was under construction.
Of course, at the time, the entire family included "only" seven children, all biological offspring.
The youngest, Timmy, was born in 1998 with Down syndrome.
Read more from this Tulsa World article HERE
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Mar. 10, 2010
Humanism in the Homeschool
I had to pass on this article from www.pearables.com This is an impressive article that brings up a subject that many homeschoolers do not really want to discuss in detail. When the subject is brought up, there is usually a nodding of heads, but there is usually little to no action that follows. Even though many of us agree with what this article has to say, it is still hard to actually follow through with our convictions and ignore society's pressures and society's aspirations for our children - God's children.
Although, I believe that there can be a healthy balance in teaching godly principles and academics, there is definitely a push to teach and meet the criteria in the world of academia. If we teach godliness first and foremost, everything else will fall into place!
~ Lisa
Humanism in the Homeschool
www.pearables.com
Why did we start home educating our children? One of the main purposes for most home educators to train their children at home, was they had the goal of training their children in Biblical knowledge first, with academics following. The number one priority was that they wanted their children to not follow the ways of the world, but rather follow the ways of God and His Word.
Many of these parents were not fortunate enough to have had a Christian education. The majority of us were trained in a mass environment within the public school system. The belief of that public school system was and is based upon the religion of HUMANISM.
As believers some of us have never even questioned worldly philosophies or "knowledge" that the world has taught us as "TRUTH". To instill godly character in our children, we must each first examine ourselves and find out what secular thoughts are still ingrained in our minds. Then we must ask the Lord to cleanse us of all humanistic philosophies.
Our goal is to take a look at philosophies that the world deems "normal" and see it they line up with the Word of God.
Our battle is against the religion of our system and culture. Each of us as believers and parents must uncover these wicked philosophies and teach our children the Truth of God's Word.
The public education system claims that it will not teach religion. This is not true. For many years now the governmental stand has been to educate the adults of tomorrow in feminism and humanism, both religious beliefs.
WHAT IS HUMANISM?
Humanism is the belief which looks at the world and emphasizes the importance of man - his nature and his place in the universe. Humanism teaches the exact opposite of Christianity, for they believe that all persons are born with innate dignity and merit; and that they should command the respect of their fellow man. They teach that mankind is inherently good, and will evolve to even become better!
Job 15:14 "What is man that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints, yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"
Psalms 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Eccle. 7:20 "There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
Eccle. 9:3 "The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead."
Isaiah 64:56 "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are a filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the iwnd, have taken us away."
Romans 3:10-23 "As it is written, 'there is none righteous, no, not one. there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. And the way of peace have they not known, there is no fear of god before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.'"
There are many, MANY more scriptures that tell us of the innate depravity of man. Mankind is not good, he is wicked. The religion of humanism voids out the need for a savior. This is the philosophy under which we were trained in public school.
How Long has Humanism been Around?
Humanism started in the Garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve and planted in her mind that she would become like God and KNOW good and evil.
Genesis 3:5 "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Satan is at the root of the religion of humanism, for humanism, under the name of intellectualism, claims that there is no God and that man has ALL wisdom and knowledge. This is what the educational system of today is found upon.
According to history, the heart of humanism started in Greece and then spread to Rome. Scripture also backs this up:
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness."
One of the greatest movements of this religion was during the early Renaissance, for this was when the rediscovered the writings of the classical Greeks and Romans. They used the writings of the past to guide them in an understanding of the meaning of life. This new way of understanding was in direct opposition to the emphasis of the Christian faith, which teaches that life on earth is really nothing... that we are to live as aliens and ambassadors for our one TRUE GOD, and to be in the world but to not be of it. Where Christianity believes that we should devote our lives in the service of our Lord and King, humanists reject the thought of living for anything other than self and life their lives to pursue the pleasures of this world.
This type of Greco/Roman philosophy is what our educational system is based upon now. A Macchievelian type of education which concentrates on being a PRINCE of everything. A little knowledge here, a little knowledge there. But not versed enough in anything to be specialized.
EDUCATION TO A HUMANIST MEANS TO TRAIN A PERSON TO BE SKILLED IN MANY FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE, INCLUDING ART, SCIENCE, SPORTS, AND POLITICS...
The goal is to train a "universal man". They will be a jack of all trades, but the master of none. Educating the world in the motto "The best that has been thought and said in the world", is instituted. The belief is that a person whose powers are all in balance, who has knowledge, who knows how to live with his fellow man, who appreciates beauty, and who has his own standards of moral judgment, but DEVOID of God, is the ideal man.
THE WORD UNIVERSITAS DEVELOPED DURING THE RENAISSANCE AND MEANT A PLACE TO EDUCATE THE UNIVERSAL MAN.
When this mode of education evolved, the world at this time developed schools where they could start training young men in this mindset. Unlike the American tradition of apprenticeship, many people were lured into the seductive influences of having a well-rounded education in Universities. Today, once one completes University they are considered to be fully educated.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
We are given a variety of examples all throughout the scriptures. Were any of the Godly men spoken of in the Bible educated in humanism? Did any have college degrees? Were they submerged in worldly philosophies? Did they have titles and degrees behind their names to show their worth?
You already know the answer. God says that the wisdom of this world is FOOLISHNESS to Him.
How is it then that so many home educators get caught up in trying to compete with the public school system and wanting their children to also be submerged in humanism?
The Lord wants our children to read and write (otherwise there wouldn't be a Bible to read), he wants them to be able to communicate the gospel to others, he wants young men to be able to learn to have a skill or profession in order to take care of their future families. He wants young women to be able to educate and teach their children at home as they are "keepers at home" as the Bible teaches. Why then, do we see home educators simply copying the public humanistic way of teaching their children in their homes? Is it because this is all we know?
We truly believe that if you seek the Lord with all your heart, that he will direct your paths.
Many parents are becoming burned out with teaching their children at home. It is no wonder! When we take on public education in the home school we are taking on more than the Lord ever intended.
We need to seek first the Lord's Kingdom and then everything else will fall into place. This is a given promise.
Take a step back and take a look at your children's education. If you are barely making it through a day, drop back a bit on academics. Do you start your day with Bible? If not, are you seeking His Kingdom first? Sometimes we get so entwined in our habits of life that we can't see what we are really doing. God is there for us. We really need to seek Him. Sometimes what we think are his ways are really our own, or simply someone else's. Ask yourself if you are copying secular schooling or if you are being obedient to what God wants you to do. When we walk in His will and start hearing His voice and doing what He tells us to do, there is freedom...
Did you know that Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, at first only prepared men for the ministry? Today, we would call such a school a college of theology, or seminary. Later, they broadened their courses to teach the Liberal Arts.
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Mar. 10, 2010
Others Praying Against a Future Pregnancy - Who Will God Hear?
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Someone asked this question on a Quiverfull list I am on. It's a great question, but very sad that it needs to be asked! The question and answer are below.
Q: What do all think happens when a family member is praying against you becoming pregnant again? Do you think that these prayers can keep you from getting pregnant?
A: God answers the prayers of the righteous, and I have to believe that those praying AGAINST the beginning of another little life are not righteous (at least not in that area of their life). "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b).
This is an excellent quote I found......."Hezekiah prayed, “Please remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” He had lived an upright life of integrity before God. The Lord’s ear and heart are most attentive to people who have a right relationship with Him, people who are pursuing holiness, people who are obedient and living by faith. The Lord is gracious and is the Giver of all good gifts, but unrighteousness can prevent answered prayer because He does not reward rebellion or disobedience."
On another note........God might choose not to bless you with another child at this time or any time in the future, as I'm sure you already know. What God desires is a willing servant's heart, which you have! He knows what you need and He is in charge of your fertility because you have been willing to give that over to Him. So, do not worry about what other's have prayed for you....you are in HIS Will for your life! God will pay attention to the prayers of the righteous; to those who are pursuing holiness!
Just remember Mary's willing heart! "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.'"
Blessings to you in your walk!
Lisa
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Mar. 10, 2010
Preschool Woes - How to Occupy Small Ones While Schooling
Preschoolers can occasionally (well, more like frequently) get "in the way" when you're trying to teach an older sibling. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for distracting them.......
I always have boxes of educational toys, games, books, etc. in shoe box-sized Rubbermaid containers. I switch out the toys/books/games every so often to make the box seem new. The preschooler can ONLY play with these items when I'm doing "school" with the older children. I also utilize educational DVD's since the TV is near the school room. Another idea is to buy one of the $4 preschool workbooks from Wal-Mart for him/her to use to do their own school work. We did this too and it worked well. I just play "round robin" at the kitchen table with all the kids during that seat work time.
There was a GREAT article about "The Pleasures of Preschoolers" in a back issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine. The author talked about buying a few bags of dried beans and give him measuring cups, spoons, etc. to play with. This seems a lot less messy (if contained to one area on a sheet) than play dough. She also suggested a book that she wrote called "Making the Most of the Preschool Years" by Valerie Bendt (www.valeriebendt.com). It was $20 and had 176 pages.
Another family in the magazine commented on their day. They have four kids - the two youngest are preschoolers. They start their day with "doing preschool" altogether. This is an idea that we have used in the past. It teaches the older children HOW to teach and to enjoy their younger siblings! This family counts, rhymes, stretches, does exercises, sits in circles and sings and reviews the alphabet. Apparently, this really isn't very time consuming. They, too, use a "school box" (like I mentioned above) and they start projects on their own. Their box contains: simple phonics activities, beads for sorting, puzzles, papers for cutting out shapes. They are organized into small sealable plastic bags. I would suggest some other things too: pipe cleaners (they can spend hours on making shapes with these), blocks, Leap Frog games, play clocks, stackable cubes/cups, etc. A lot of this can be found at Wal-Mart for just a few dollars or less.
Lisa Metzger
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Mar. 9, 2010
Can I be fulfilled while staying at home?
This was written in response to someone who thought that stay-at-home-moms did nothing. She was truly inquiring as to how we could be content and fulfilled in our jobs as mothers. Below was my reply. ~ Lisa
Allison,
I truly admire you for looking into something to which you are not familiar to find out the truth for yourself! I am positive that if you seek the whole truth, you will certainly find it.
My mother joyfully chose to stay at home with my brother and I, and to teach us at home. In turn, I joyfully looked forward to filling my future role as a wife and mother. Today, I am a stay-at-home, homeschool mother of eight (with more to come, God-Willing). Not once, did I ever anticipate my job at home to be as fulfilling and joyous as it has been! It was and still is my "dream job."
I love looking into my dear ones' eyes and seeing the "lightbulb moments." To see my husband look at the dinner, that I have worked diligently to prepare, with delight and to hear his comments on how well I have kept the house clean, is a reward like no other. I love being able to see the "firsts" happen with my children, instead of having someone else tell me about them. I love to teach them and show them the world around them. My longing is to prepare a home as the woman of Proverbs 31 faithfully did. The end result TRULY justifies the means in this career choice!
Please do not take offense, but I do have to chuckle at your comment about staying home and doing nothing. Being a wife, mother and homemaker is not at all an easy job. Contrary to what you might think, I do not have time to sit around, watch TV and eat my bon-bons. It truly is a full-time job to keep house, be a helpmeet to my husband and to raise a family! Although, as much as it is a job, it is the most rewarding position that I can imagine having the privilege of occupying! Every single hour of college credit and every moment of life experiences will never hold a candle to what I can accomplish, with God at my side, through my chosen career as wife, keeper at home and mother!
I hope that you will someday have the opportunity, as well as the desire, to choose the role of wife, homemaker and stay-at-home mother! Then, you too will be an advocate of the career that many of us women have chosen!
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Mar. 8, 2010
THE INDOCTRINATION OF OUR KIDS: An American Epidemic (Glenn Beck)
Mar. 8, 2010
20 Questions.....
All of my 8 kids LOVE to ask questions, as most kids do...some more than others. They especially love to ask questions when we're traveling somewhere in our 15 passenger van. They ask about everything they see...how things work, who invented this or that, why God made such and such, and the list goes on.
A lot of moms would find it tiring to answer these questions non-stop while trying to drive - especially when driving could be considered a "down time" in the busy days of mothering and homeschooling. But I love it! I love that they are so inquisitive and that they still think I know the answers to their questions...although sometimes I think I give it away that I don't know everything! Ha!
Carschooling has always been a "thing" in our family. We use each and every life experience as a learning opportunity, no matter how small it may seem. These open ended question and answer sessions that are "forced on us," when errands must be run, are priceless!
I hope and pray that these "sessions" will spark a continued interest in learning AND will keep those communication doors open well into their teens and young adulthood. I want them to feel like they can really talk to me....about ANYTHING!
I certainly would rather have my kids talking to me than to have them watch hours of DVD's in the back of a van (which is why we'll never have a car DVD player). This is a simple routine that can really add to fond family memories and create lasting family relationships! It's also a great learning experience!
Lisa
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Mar. 8, 2010
As one God has blessed with a home....
As one God has blessed with a home....
My duty is to create and maintain a space that honors God, nurtures the spirit, enhances growth, and ministers to others.
My delight is to enjoy the home I've shaped and the sense of accomplishment that comes from obedience.
by Donna Otto
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Mar. 8, 2010
Metzger Kids go Ice Skating!
Mar. 8, 2010
Join me on Facebook!
Mar. 8, 2010
I Need God in My Daily Tasks!
Mar. 8, 2010
Spiritual Breathing
I was raised by two parents, who met and married while on staff for Campus Crusade for Christ. The "philosophy" of spiritual breathing is highly encouraged by CCC. My parents instilled this in me and I will never forget it! ~ Lisa
Breathe in…breathe out…You do it 12-14 times a minute without thinking.
At rest, your lungs take in six liters of air per minute. When you're working hard, you can take in more than 100. Breathing is a miracle we don't stop to think about very much. It's involuntary; we just do it. In the same amazing way God created us with the capacity to breathe to sustain our natural lives, He has given us as Christians a way to "breathe spiritually" for our spiritual well-being.
"Spiritual breathing, like physical breathing," said Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, "is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure, an exercise in faith that enables you to experience God's love and forgiveness and walk in the Spirit as a way of life."
"But the average Christian does not understand this concept of spiritual breathing as an exercise of faith and, as a result, lives on a spiritual roller coaster. He/she goes from one emotional experience to another living most of his life as a worldly Christian, controlling his/her own life--frustrated and fruitless."1
Betty Lau, now a campus ministry leader, once felt that way. "I'd get a fresh start in my Christian life, then something would happen, and boom, I'd lose it." She recalls coming home college for a break, feeling good spiritually, only to have a blowout with her sister. "There were words, slamming doors, and my sister walked out. Afterwards, I felt like though being filled with the Holy Spirit sounded good in theory, it just didn't work." Later she would discover the active daily discipline of spiritual breathing--and the freedom that discipline would bring.
Spiritual Breathing Defined
Physical breathing provides the body with a constant supply of oxygen, which is necessary for energy production. It also releases the byproduct of the process--carbon dioxide, a gas that is lethal in large quantities.
Spiritual breathing is like physical breathing in that:
- You "exhale" by confessing your sins immediately to God and claiming His forgiveness
- You "inhale" by asking the Holy Spirit to control and empower you and to keep you from returning to sin.
Usually, we don't think about our physical breathing. But spiritual breathing is something that requires conscious action--a readiness to "exhale" or confess our sin and to "inhale" or trust God to fill us with His Holy Spirit.
Amy Aker, mother of three boys under age six, has found that spiritual breathing makes a difference in her parenting. "If I'm not disciplining my children correctly--if I yell or use manipulation--once I realize that I've done it, I will calmly tell them, ‘Why don't you go to your room for a little while. I'll be right there.' Then, I'll go to my room for a few quiet minutes and God will reveal to me the heart of my sin, whether it's impatience or just wanting to impose my will on others. I'll confess it to Him, and then I ask the Holy Spirit to give me the power to change, because without His help, I can't do it. Then I'm ready to confess my wrong actions to my kids and have a fresh start."
Don't Wait to Exhale
It's been said that one measure of Christian maturity is the shortness of time between when we sin to the time we confess it. If we keep short accounts with God, our "old sin nature" can be kept on a short leash. We can confess our sin as soon as we entertain a sinful thought and before we speak an ugly word or act on evil desires.
"Spiritual exhaling" is agreeing with God about our sin, whether in thought or deed, and thanking Him for His forgiveness and expressing a willingness to change our attitude and actions. It does not require us to continue asking Jesus into our hearts after we sin.
"The more immediately sin is confessed and forsaken, the more sensitive and tender the heart remains," says a pamphlet on the subject by Life Action Ministries. "Spiritual breathing is an integral part of maintaining personal purity… The practice of breathing spiritually aids in developing a God-consciousness, which in turn serves to keep the revived heart spiritually focused and less susceptible to continual iniquity."
This has been Amy Aker's experience. "Confessing my sin is the key to a peaceful life. If I don't readily confess, it pulls me down and eats me up. As a mom, I don't always have time for an extended quiet time or Bible reading. Spiritual breathing helps me to stick close to God, to get right with Him moment by moment."
"Breathing in" the Holy Spirit
To inhale spiritually is to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. How do you do that?
When you receive Jesus Christ as your leader and forgiver, the Holy Spirit immediately enters your life and He never leaves (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9,10; John 14:16,17).
The Holy Spirit lives in you so that you can:
- Demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23) and become more like Christ (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
- Experience a meaningful prayer life and study of God's Word
- Experience power in witnessing (Acts 1:8)
- Be prepared for spiritual battle against the world, the flesh and the devil (1 John 2:15-17; Galatians 5:16,17; 1 Peter 5:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-13).
- Experience power to resist temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 6:1-16).3
Though all born-again Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all are filled with the Holy Spirit. Not all are experiencing what He has to offer.
To be filled (empowered and controlled) by the Holy Spirit, we must, in faith, acknowledge our dependence on Him and "hand Him the reins" of our life.
We are commanded in Ephesians 5:18 to "Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit."
Betty Lau has been learning what that means since she started practicing spiritual breathing 10 years ago. "It is a continuous, conscious choice I make to walk in the Holy Spirit's power. Repentance isn't a one time thing; it's giving my life over to God and asking Him to direct my decisions on a moment-by-moment basis." The result? "My Christian life is no longer about self-effort and defeat," says Betty. "It's about allowing the Holy Spirit to permeate every area of my life. Though spiritual breathing is a conscious thing, the more I choose to do it, the more it becomes second nature."
Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit to direct your life? Why not pray this simple prayer right now and by faith invite God to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Mar. 7, 2010
Ideas for Family Devotions or Family Worship
It is vitally important for the health of your family to start and maintain regular family worship! This is the foundation to raising godly sons and daughters for God's Kingdom and His use! Do you need some ideas to start you in the right direction? How about trying The Picture Bible ? Read one story a night (all Biblically accurate), sing a song or two and maybe come up with a Bible verse for everyone to memorize! This only takes about 10 minutes a night (or more if you'd like!). Ten minutes a night is very little to start leading your family in a direction that will prove multi-generational!
Mark Metzger
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Mar. 7, 2010
Olive Plants in the Bible ~ Obedience Results in Blessings of Children
by Lisa Metzger
A few years ago we did a study on olive plants as it relates to children as blessings upon a household. That same year we used some of the verses in our Christmas newsletter as our family's verses for that next year. As most of you know, one of our family's passions is letting others know about our conviction to let GOD plan our family. Of course our beliefs must always be Scripturally aligned with our convictions, which is why we seek out GOD’s opinion on the issues first and foremost. Below are some interesting verses about olive plants in relation to children.
“How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!” Psalm 128
NOTE FROM LISA: This is a complete family picture! A biblically-blessed family consists of a family who eats the fruits of the husband’s labor (no one is hungry), a wife who is fruitful and productive WITHIN the house and children who are like olive plants surrounding the table. The reward for obedience is seeing your children’s children!
Notice, also, that these children around the table are olive PLANTS, not olive branches. They are individuals, capable of carrying on for generations to come. When the fruitfulness of fertility has ceased, you can look forward to a potential blessing of seeing your children’s children carrying on the faithful obedience to Scripture! This is not only a potential blessing for the immediate family, but a MULTI-GENERATIONAL blessing!!!
Geneva Study Bible Commentary - Because God's favor appears in no outward thing more than in the increase of children, he promises to enrich the faithful with this gift.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary Psalm 128:1-6 The blessings of those who fear God. - Only those who are truly holy, are truly happy. In vain do we pretend to be of those that fear God, if we do not make conscience of keeping steadfastly to his ways. Blessed is every one that fears the Lord; whether he be high or low, rich or poor in the world. If thou fear him and walk in his ways, all shall be well with thee while thou livest, better when thou diest, best of all in eternity. Such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways, are the only happy persons, whatever their station in life may be. They shall have abundant comfort in their family relations. And they shall have all the good things God has promised, and which they pray for.
[Psalm 128] - A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Psalm 128:1). God's blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Psalm 128:2-4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Psalm 128:5-6).
NOTE FROM LISA: After reading the Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary commentary, I want to note that we do not believe that we are holy by letting God have complete control over our family size. However, we are STRIVING to follow God and live as holy a life as possible by following God’s commands and blueprints that He has laid out for us. By following these blueprints and seeking to follow God’s Word closely, we desire the promised generational blessings he has given within His Word!
With our family, being quiverfull is a “heart-issue” of wanting to follow God and His commandments – seeking those blessings (in this case, children) – not a “praise-issue” of wanting to be viewed as being holy. We do not strive for man’s praise in following God by letting God have control over our family size. Instead, we seek GOD’s praise!
"The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 'Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.' But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever." Psalm 52:6-8
NOTE FROM LISA: Proverbs 3:5, 6 comes to mind…”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Those who trust in their own ways (including those who believe they have been given knowledge when “planning” blessings) will ultimately fail. Their paths will not be straight. They will be crooked and difficult to follow. Those who are like “olive trees in the house of God,” cling to the walls of God’s house and trust solely in Him. Their paths will be straight when they rely on God’s Wisdom, rather than their own understanding.
“Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right and of falsehood. Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up olive plants, and our daughters as polished cornerstones fashioned as for a palace.” Psalm 144:11, 12
NOTE FROM LISA: I think this also applies to those who try to justify their belief in attempting to “control” their family size; the number of blessings they “plan” to receive; the number of children they will welcome in the name of Jesus. Words, spoken out of the wisdom of mere men, are falsehoods. Following the cry for help is a cry for blessing – He desires that his YOUNG sons will be as MATURE olive plants and his daughters as polished cornerstones, fit for a palace. He seeks protection from lies and blessings upon his children; his olive plants and polished cornerstones!
Through this study of olive plants I have discovered the blessings when being faithful to Jesus! Our family has chosen to seek God’s ultimate blessing of children. If He views them as the ultimate blessing, then I want to view children as those kinds of blessings as well! I pray that you will discover and receive the same type of blessings as we have.
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Mar. 6, 2010
This is How We Do It - Large Family House Size, Sleeping Arrangements and Clothing Storage!
I was wondering how big your house is and how you have the children arranged? How many bedrooms and how many in each room, etc.? How you organize their bedrooms and clothes and such? ~ Alicia
I’m sure that two extremes come to mind when picturing a house filled with 8 children, 2 adults, 1 dog and 2 frogs (yes, frogs). The first extreme would be to picture 10 of us crammed into a shack in someone else’s backyard. The second extreme would be that we are so filthy-rich that we live in a 10,000 sq. ft. mansion. After all, how can anyone have 8 kids and live in anything much smaller! Now, I do consider my home to be quite comfy and nice, but it is no gargantuan mansion. Neither is it a cardboard shack. It’s perfect for our 8 children and for any other children that God sends! It’s HOME!
Our home is 4000 square feet on 4 acres in a suburb of Charlotte, NC. Since our home is three levels, it is divided rather differently. When we moved in, the house was very much dated (1980’s) and needed a good dose of T.L.C. It had a mostly unfinished, walk-out basement with two bedrooms and a bath. Total renovation had to be done to the basement upon move-in just to make it livable down there. The main level has the master bedroom and another bedroom, as well as all the usual living spaces. We made plans to make the walk-up attic two additional bedrooms, but that didn’t happen for another 3 years. Since we only had 3 children when we moved here, we didn’t need any more than the 4 bedrooms at that time anyway.
Well, 5 children and 4 1/2 years after moving in, this is how we have our house situated for all the kiddos. The finished attic is beautiful! It’s “Perfectly-Prissy-Pepto-Pink” with white built-ins and window seats. You can guess whose domain that is! That’s right…Annalise (17), Kaitlyn (10), Julia (4) and Ellie (2). The room is one large room, divided into two. The two older girls live on one side of the stairwell with two canopy beds and the two younger on the other side with a toddler bed and crib. Eventually, Julia (4) will move to a trundle bed under Annalise’s bed, Ellie will move to the toddler bed. Then we will have room for another girl’s bed/crib on that side, if God so desires to send us another bundle of pink! There is also one rocker, one dresser and a mirrored chest in their rooms. Their closet, which spans the length of the garage (couldn’t be used in any other way) is their humongous closet! We store Mommy & Daddy’s out of season clothing in there, as well as, coats during the summer, sheets, towels, sleeping bags, sewing supplies, doll necessities, etc. It’s the perfect closet for girls!
The boys’ territory is in the walk-out basement (can’t you hear the creepy music now?)! No, seriously, the basement is really cool! There’s a playroom/game room/former school room (now we do school around the kitchen table), a full bath and two bedrooms. Each of the 2 bedrooms has two small closets. The boys’ room is home to Ethan (9), Trey (8), and Jake (5) has two sets of bunk beds and all three boys sleep in there. Judah will someday move to the empty bunk, but for now he’s in the nursery, which is next door to the master bedroom. The two closets in the boys’ room are rather tiny. They store the older boys’ clothing, as well as out-of season clothes that are stored in Rubbermaid containers for easy access. Across the hall is the “guest room”, which really isn’t one since it still has boys’ toys and clothing in it, but that’s what we call it. The closets also have shelves for towels, sheets, presents (our gift closet), swimming gear, games, etc. Like I said, this bedroom can be used for guests, as it boasts the most privacy, BUT it only has a single twin bed and a shelf.
Clothing storage and organization is so much fun around here! Okay, I lied.  It’s a big hassle when it’s time to switch our seasonal clothes. We have tons of great attic space in the girls’ room, so we store all of the clothing up there that waits making its rounds again on the children who will wear them someday. Each clothing size is stored in Rubbermaids for future use. Storing hand-me-down clothing has saved us SO MUCH money. If you have the room available and have (or might have) children to pass those clothes down to, store them! Just do it in Rubbermaids, unless you enjoy little critters in those bins! You can stock up on Rubbermaid containers at discount stores or when they have specials on the end caps at Wal-Mart. It’s about $4 for an 18 gallon if you can get a deal.
I also leave one empty container per child in the attic so that we can quickly declutter their closets throughout the season, should they grow out of clothing mid-season. This helps to keep the clutter down in their closets, as we seem to have most our children grow out of items before the next season rolls around.
Now, living in Charlotte really makes it hard to assess when to bring out the clothing for the next season. Our weather goes back and forth quite irregularly for quite some time. So, to solve that problem, I keep one Rubbermaid per child in his/her closet full of what might fit them the next season. Everything that they’ve grown out of goes up to the attic Rubbermaids for passing on to another sibling at the end of the season. Having this convenient access to these out-of-season items makes it a bit easier with our crazy weather here!
Every spring/fall, right before the area consignment sales, we set aside a day for girls’ clothing and a day for the boys’ clothing to be sorted (see above: this is just 1/8th of the mess from sorting clothes for the following season). We bring down the bins to our den and fish through all the clothes that have been passed down. A list is made of items that are needed (let’s just face it…jeans, socks and such do not pass down to the next child without a good many holes!). All other clothing that works for that upcoming season is brought out to be washed and put away in their closets. This takes a good long while to complete, but it saves so much money that I can’t resist!
So, there ya have it! Please post a comment with other questions regarding this topic or other topics relating to large families. Hey, if you have tips that have worked for you, pass those along, as well…I’m all about tips on making life with a large family easier!
~ Lisa Metzger
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Mar. 6, 2010
Year-Round Homeschool Schedule with a Large Family
Here is a sample of our schedule for school and otherwise. For information on the curricula we use, look on the right-hand sidebar for links under "Homeschool Tools".
To peek in on our USUAL homeschool day, here's our daily homeschooling schedule. I thought that it might give you a better picture on how our homeschooling works. Now, we are VERY flexible, but this is generally what we do and times are approximate (I had to guess for the most part, except for wake up and nap times).
We do school year-round so that the kids don't go through the "summer absent mindedness" that other kids go through. There's also no need for review (you can usually skip through the review sections at the beginning of each year of seatwork if you school year round since review is not needed). Kids who school year-round also usually get ahead in their school work and can usually graduate early because of this. Moms also have less chance of the infamous "homeschool mom burn out" because of the MANY breaks during the year. We take off when babies are born, kids adopted, etc. Around Christmas we take nearly a month off, a few weeks off around Thanksgiving (although I count all the cooking and baking as home economics, math, science, etc.), etc. So, we really enjoy what a year round schedule offers. It really allows for year-round flexibility.
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Our Schedule
7:00 - wake-up, make bed, tidy up rooms, put away night clothes and eat
7:45 - kitchen chores (95% done by children) and teeth brushed
8:00/8:15 - seatwork (kids sit at kitchen table and do math/spelling/geography/typing - different requirements on different days)
10:30 - Ellie (2) and Judah (1) nap. Yes, Ellie still likes to take 2 naps. I don't cut out the naps until THEY want to do so. Bible and then the Preschool! The older kids teach younger ones preschool (it is really neat to have the older ones learn to teach their siblings...it develops abilities in so many ways!)
12:00 Ellie and Judah wake up
11:00/12:00 - everyone has finished school USUALLY
12:00 or 12:30 - Lunch
After lunch - outside play time/educational games/reading/educational DVD's or YouTube unit studies (this varies according to my whim...ha)
3:00 - Ellie and Judah nap
4:00 - Kids are inside. Afternoon chores (usually it's a pretty light workload). Reading.
5:00 - Get ready for Daddy's homecoming (vacuum, set table, ready dinner, etc.) and wake Julia and Ellie
Dinner
Kitchen Cleanup by kids while Mark and I discuss our days (this is GREAT therapy for Mommy) or read to Judah
Nighttime routine is here.
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While the kids do their seatwork, I am readily available to help or instruct, while I am overseeing them at the table in a "round robin" fashion. However, they don't need help as often once they can read the directions and know how to do the problems, so I use this time to work with the younger ones or catch up on e-mail/internet if Ellie is coloring (which she loves to do). I am very encouraging of independent learning, and this is a good way to begin! I also love to have the older children learn to TEACH! This is a valuable skill that most children and adults have never learned. For instance, in our home, the oldest two teach pre-school (under my watchful eye) to the younger ones. This consists of saying the pledge, counting to 100, saying the months of the year and days of the week, learning their address and phone number, phonics sounds, singing songs, saying Bible memory verses, etc. This has proven to be extremely beneficial to both the older and younger children. The younger children learn to have and show a unique form of respect to their older siblings, and the older ones learn that valuable skill of passing on knowledge to a younger child in an exciting, age-appropriate manner!
As for housework, I usually have laundry started right after I am ready for the day. The girls and I prepare a crock pot dinner first thing in the morning or lay out what needs to be out for dinner if no crock pot is used.
Now, sometimes we'll have field trips or outside lessons at The Homeschool Hut, so we do move things around for those events or lessons. Fortunately, The Homeschool Hut gives EACH of our 7 oldest children 2 lessons (sign language, Judo, ballet, art, Bible, etc.) and is only on Tuesdays with one class on Thursdays. This is so nice because we are home most the week. On those days, the children will do multiple lessons in history (Mystery of History), science and reading. They also "double up" on seatwork (math and English) the day before or after. This schedule allows us to take care of science and history for the entire week in only one or two days per week! In addition, we do "carschooling" (review of school-related things while traveling in the car) on the way to extracurricular activities.
Here's some info on carschooling, if you're interested -
Well, that's about it! Each family is different, but it is nice to see what others do to make their homeschooling easier and more efficient!
~ Lisa Metzger
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