As my doggie and I embarked on our early evening walk, my eyes were drawn toward the heavens. I noticed the Big Dipper. It hasn't changed since childhood, had I expected that it would?
My first thought was of "Living Water" and all who thirst can come to Jesus and drink of the water that He provides and never thirst again.
It's no accident that these and various other stars are displayed in a recognizable pattern in the sky for us to see.
The Big Dipper is one of the most popular and easy to find of the constellations among students of astronomy.
Psalm 19: 1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; Night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, Their words to the ends of the world.
There is an account recorded in the Bible of woman who met Jesus at the well. I'm sure that after her conversation with the Messiah, she never saw the Big Dipper the same way again! She was no stranger to sin. She was also a Samaritan.
We read in John 4: 1 - 42 about this conversation. Jesus was tired and sat down to rest at the well. As she came to the well to draw water, she had a conversation with Jesus.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?
12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.
14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4: 9 - 15
Jesus then asked her to go get her husband and He then proceeded to tell her about all the husbands that she had in the past! She perceived Him to be a prophet.
It's interesting to note that this woman then ran leaving her bucket behind to go and tell the others about this conversation she had with the Messiah. Many came to believe upon Him that day.
His message is still the same for you and I today. As we drink water that Jesus provides, it becomes a spring of water welling up to eternal life .
I pray that you will spend some quiet evening time in the last days of summer to look at the stars and really take a closer look at the Big Dipper. It's a mighty big cup!
I intend to add this bit of wisdom to my mommy journal very soon, but for the time being, I am posting it here so I'll know where to find it again.
In His Love, Cathy
A man and a woman were walking along
a beach
where thousands of starfish had washed up.
The woman kept bending down and
throwing starfish back into the water. The man asked
her,
“Why do you bother throwing some back,
there are thousands, what difference are you making.
She bent down again and threw another into
the water, replying, “It made a difference to that one.”
It has been too loooong since I last posted on this blog! We've been experiencing a very hot summer along the east coast this year and any excuse I can find to hop in the pool, then I'm in there!!! Lol When I'm not trying to declutter and plan out our educational path for the upcoming year you can find me at Talk a Latte Near the close of spring, Cindy began to kick off her online podcasts. She interviews other moms (plus a dad here and there, Steve Beck from Family E-Biz). I don't know about you but from the time that our family began to utilize the internet when we started to homeschool, I've always been on the lookout for positive homeschool encouragement in the form of audios. We bought tapes from people like Diana Waring and through homeschool conventions. I also found some freebies at a place called the Online Virtual Homeschool Convention. They had audios from the Bluedorns, Ken Ham (AIG) and quite a few others. I've noticed some have tried to maintain live online interview but they must have lost interest. Cindy's podcasts will AMAZE you to say the least! She is so filled with the Word and those who she interviews you will find the same pouring from them. Take a few minutes and visit Mom to Mom Radio Show Back to Talk a Latte ! Have you ever wanted to attend a weekly Bible study just for Moms but couldn't afford to spend one more day on your calendar? We are in the middle of a refreshing study called Ooops My Cup is Empty and My Coffeepot is Broke! There is a fee but it is small in comparison to what you will come away with. There is also a seperate workshop called Gearing up for a New Homeschool Year. The last session required some homework of us and I was kind of pleased with mine so I'm planning on sharing it here on my blog in the next day or two but for now I've got to run and say hello to those of you who left a comment on my blog. I don't want you to think I've forgotten about you!!!!
Hello all! I said in my last post that I would share some of the Biblical applications we learned at the classes from our visit to Spruce Lake and I have found some free time to do just that. This was one of the very first classes after the introductions and I was "very" surprised at the end result. Our group was comprised of approx. 12 children and 5 or 6 adults. We formed a circle and had a few warm up exercises. We then proceeded to learn to play a game called {Ah, So, Co}.
Each person must say Ah and place their hand on their chest then say So then place their hand over their head and upon saying the word Co point to someone in the group and then it is their turn to repeat the chant in the correct order and motions. Sound easy? It's NOT. If you say it wrong or perform the incorrect motions you are OUT and not only that, you get to DISTRACT those who are trying to do it correctly!
We played the game twice and each time either Dave and Annette or I were the last two in the group!! I couldn't believe it! Why is this significant you ask and how do the scriptures apply? Well, as Christians we are always being distracted from our walks. The devil and his gang are ALWAYS competing for our attention. When someone misses and becomes a distraction in the game, the voices get louder and it gets harder and harder to focus on the correct words and motions.. The same holds true in our lives as Christians. As we seek to follow our Savior more each day, the distracting voices get that much louder BUT it *IS* possible to shut them out and keep our eyes focused on Jesus!
God planned for you a destiny When He fashioned you to be; An image to His glory From now ‘til eternity!
Sometimes it seems as though Wandering is all life has in store; But look again, dear child of God, For He will open the unknown door.
A door which beckons, “come hither and yon” When all you see is naught; But God sees the other side And the plans which He has wrought.
His plans for you are perfect His plans are made in love; A love so great and awesome It comes only from above.
So seek ye, your Lord of Love And in your life you’ll find; A vision planted within your heart Of a holy, blessed kind.
As you surrender your will Into the hands of Providence; His Spirit of Truth will lead you Even past your reasoning sense.
He’ll then begin to gather Life’s fragments into a whole; And your spirit will leap within you At the plan, He’s only begun to unfold.
Listen to the anointing that abides within! Let it guide you and teach you all things; You need not labor and strive in God’s plan For His will in your life He will bring.
You must seek earnestly and worship your Lord, Learn to walk through your days in His presence; For He’s bringing you your heart’s desires Wrapped in the fragrance of His essence. -Marilyn Howshall
I'm
going to blog one more time before retiring for the night. If you
have a webside dedicated to Christian homeschooling, please consider
being a part of our webring
(Christian Homeschooling Moms On-Line).
I've
been the ring-mistress for quite a number of years now and we are
always looking new and interesting websites! Here is the
statement from the CHMO hub page: The
Christian Homeschooling Moms On-Line (CHMO) Webring exists for
Christian homeschooling mothers both new and veterans, who enjoy
researching via the internet and seek to offer and recieve
encouragement through the web sites within the ring dedicated to
Christian homeschooling.
If you'd like to join
but are not familiar with how a webring works, I'd be happy to help
you, just send me a quick email and we'll get your site listed!
What are you thankful for? When I begin to feel run down, worn out and feel like complaining, the
Lord reminds me to think on those things that are good and pure.
Being thankful is another. It is no fun being on the edge of a
complaining tongue. We must admit that we feel much better both
spiritually as well as physically when we concentrate on those things
that are joyful. Soon those "eat away at your brain" worrisome
thoughts begin to go away. We can't give in to them, time is too precious to waste even one minute on looking at what's wrong with our day.
I'm thankful for the extra energy God has given me to get my household chores done so that I can take a few moments to blog.
I'm thankful for the new friends that I am meeting here!
I'm thankful for my daughter who I now see before me reading her book without my nagging her to do so!
I'm thankful for the quiet peace that I sense over my home at this moment.
I think now I'm going to grab a couple of books and catch up on some reading myself. I'm thankful for books and eyes to read with!!!!
WhO SaiD LeaRniNg CaN't Be FuN??
Welcome to our homeschooling treasure trove of learning and ideas. This is our place to share some of the exciting things that we are doing and learning together in our family's homeschooling adventure. We are Christians, and our goal is to yield to our Heavenly Father's will. We hope to encourage others who may be considering homeschooling and help to dismiss some of the misconceptions they may have about living a life of learning!
I noticed the Big Dipper. It hasn't changed since childhood, had I expected that it would?
from Family E-Biz). I don't know about you but from the time that our family began to utilize the internet when we started to homeschool, I've always been on the lookout for positive homeschool encouragement in the form of audios. We bought tapes from people like Diana Waring and through homeschool conventions. I also found some freebies at a place called the Online Virtual Homeschool Convention. They had audios from the Bluedorns, Ken Ham (AIG) and quite a few others. I've noticed some have tried to maintain live online interview but they must have lost interest. Cindy's podcasts will AMAZE you to say the least! She is so filled with the Word and those who she interviews you will find the same pouring from them. Take a few minutes and visit 
the
Lord reminds me to think on those things that are good and pure.
Being thankful is another. It is no fun being on the edge of a
complaining tongue. We must admit that we feel much better both
spiritually as well as physically when we concentrate on those things
that are joyful. Soon those "eat away at your brain" worrisome
thoughts begin to go away. 
We can't give in to them, time is too precious to waste even one minute on looking at what's wrong with our day. 
