|
Heart of Wisdom Blog
Dec. 31, 2007
Top Heart of Wisdom Posts in 2007
Dec. 21, 2007
Homeschoolers Call for Boycott
 A four-year-old boy was killed by his adoptive mother. The boy refused to stay in bed at night so the mother wrapped him so tightly in blankets he suffocated. Other children in the family were badly beaten.
The liberal media has pointed out that the mother read the book To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl. This story has led to an amazing backlash.
Several homeschool bloggers are demanding a boycott against The Old Schoolhouse and HomeschoolBlogger (hosted by TOS) because TOS accepted ads from the Pearls.
There exists a long-standing and ongoing friction between those who hold a Christian homeschool philosophy and those who are secular in their approach to homeschooling. Some in both camps strive for unity but it rarely works because of the vast difference in world views.
Those who cannot reasonably defend their views often resort to attacking their opposition in an effort to divert attention and redirect focus to something or someone else. You’ll see this often in politics (the liberal left does this all the time). Those who cannot win their argument create a persuasive diversion to keep their message alive.
The motivation for the boycott is an attack against a Christian magazine and blog host. The boycotters would have you think their efforts are sincere; that they are trying to rid the world of evil, but don’t be deceived.
The boycott is not an effort to ban the book. If the goal was to get rid of the Pearl’s book, the boycott would include libraries, Amazon, and other bookstores and vendors carrying the book.
The boycott is not an effort to find and stop the motivation behind the reason the abuser killed her child. If it was they would also look at other influences in the abuser’s life such as medication, mental illness, violent TV shows and friends, family, etc. They would investigate the woman’s home and boycott other authors as well as businesses that advertise or have advertised those authors. They would then call a boycott of all such influences. To blame one book as the reason for the abuse is ridiculous; the abuser obviously had several mental and spiritual problems.
I visited several blogs of those advocating a boycott and found that most are secular homeschoolers. A quick browse through their blog-a-sphere revealed anti-Christian tirades, pagan god teachings, witchcraft, profanity, tarot cards, new age beliefs, etc.
My post is not an endorsement of the Pearls’ book. It has been several years since I read this book and I don’t remember everything in it. However, I certainly think I would recall any discipline methods that could lead to death.
I don’t feel a need to encourage TOS to get rid of any advertisers. I know the staff at TOS and I know they make decisions based on prayer and the Holy Spirit’s leading.
The father of lies continually attacks Christian companies like TOS because they are bringing motivation and encouragement to Christians. Pray for TOS.
If you have a comment please post on my regular blog at http://heartofwisdom.com/blog
I moved to my blog to HeartofWisdom.com a few months back but I am posting this here because it is about homeschool Blogger.
|
• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 22, 2007
My Blog Has Moved
May. 18, 2007
Fruit of the Spirit Friday / Peace
I have to write about peace for this Friday’s fruit because that’s what I am feeling now. Beautiful peace. Shalom, shalom. I had two huge things going on one with my health and another with business. Things that would normally make me fret. But I have been praying and asked others to pray for me and I feel perfect peace just waiting on God to provide.
" Thou wilt keep him (her) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he (she) trusteth in thee. Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord GOD is everlasting strength" Isaiah 26:3-4
The word shalom derives from the root shin-lamedh-mem (ש.ל.ם), which has cognates in many Semitic languages, and means completeness, fulfillment, wellbeing, harmony, a concept usually encapsulated by translation in the word well-being. (Wikipedia) This sheds new light on “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”
God says those who wait on Him will be blessed. (Isaiah 30:18) Praying for His will and listening for an answer always the wisest action we can take. That’s how God’s Spirit leads us--gently. We don’t determine our course by human reasoning or by appearances in the world. There are things in the spiritual word we don’t know—God is taking care of of all of it. Our job is to follow God. He is the one who instructs us in the way which we should go. (Psalm 32:8)
When we give it to God and wait to hear from Him we are keeping with His plan. When we follow God’s timetable He blesses u by giving us the peace and strength to deal with is that difficult circumstances (and sometimes difficult people) .
Peace comes when we understand God knows everything and all outcomes in all our situations. We must give over our worries, moment by moment, to Him and then we experience His Peace.. Trust and God will lead, peace will always come with our obeying His will. When peace comes, keep following His lead. He never fails.
|
• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 13, 2007
A Tribute to my Grandmother
|
This Mother's Day I'm writing a Sunday Seven Meme tribute to my Grandmother. My sweet grandmother went to heaven in February of this year. Hundreds attended her funeral with glowing testimonies of her Christian work, dedication, and loving spirit. My grandmother was the kindest, most loving, giving person I have ever known. Several people who came from all over the state said she never said a negative thing about anyone. Every nurse that cared for her made a point to tell me she never complained and always smiled no matter what pain or discomfort she was experiencing. There are no words in this earthly language for me to adequately express the love I have for her and felt from her.
- My grandmother was the youngest graduate of Salvation Army Officer's School in history at age 17. She worked with the Salvation Army Home League for over fifty years. She followed the motto of the Home League: ‘I will live a pure life in my house ...’ (Psalm 101:2b). She was buried in her Salvation Army uniform. The banner that draped the coffin said, "Promoted to Heaven."
- Grandma is the reason I know Jesus. She told me Bible stories and took me to church. But mainly she showed me the unconditional love of Christ. She helped me memorize Scripture (and the capitals of 49 states). My Grandmother was a prayer warrior. Throughout my life, in unexpected times, I've felt a special grace around me and I know it was from her prayers. I always knew I could depend on her over the years to lift up me, my children and grandchildren.
- Grandma played the piano and loved to sing. She had throat problems and couldn't sing well but she made up for it in enthusiasm. She bounced as she played hymns. Every song I can think of that I taught my children and they taught to their children -- from Jesus Loves Me, Deep and Wide, The B-I-B-L-E, Jacob's Ladder, This Little Light of Mine, Jesus Loves the Little Children, This is My Father's World, .to Onward Christian Soldiers -- were taught to me by my grandmother.
- The best memories of growing up were at Grandma's house in Florida. I lived with my grandparents in a two-room cabin (combination living room/dining room/kitchen/bedroom and a tiny bathroom) from ages two to five. Poppy poured a concrete walkway from the cabin to the lake and wrote "Robin's Roost" in the wet cement. (It is still there today). While they lived in the cabin they built a large home next door as they could afford it. It took many years (they bought one door or truck load of bricks each pay day). When the 2000-square-foot house was complete it was completely paid for.
- Later visits to my grandparent's house included lots of home cooking, bedtime stories, beautiful flower gardens and citrus trees, Cracker Jacks, M & Ms, and playing with the border collie (they always had a border collie -- five that I remember in my lifetime). My absolute best memories are of the lake -- long exhausting days of swimming and/or boating and fishing. After an early, busy morning we all collapsed in lawn chairs for afternoon naps on the lovely screened porch that ran the length of the house. The breeze of the lake mingled with the smell of constant blooming flowers was like a sleeping pill.
- In the early 70's my grandparents bought a home in North Carolina and lived there, but wintered in Florida. I married in 1972 and went to North Carolina to live near my grandparents. We attended church and Bible studies together. Grandma taught me to plant and grow vegetables. For several years I helped them plant, maintain and harvest a garden at their home. Later, as my family grew, the family garden was moved to my home. I have wonderful memories of hours on the porch watching children play while snapping beans or shucking corn. Grandma taught me to can and freeze almost any vegetable. She taught me to make jelly, jam or preserves from apples, plums, peaches, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. She taught me how to pickle cucumbers and watermelon rinds. She taught me to make delicious buttermilk biscuits.
- The seeds my Grandmother planted in me – her love of Christ and God’s Word and her love for the Jews -- continue to grow today. Grandma introduced me to Corrie Ten Boom, Phillip Keller, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, various missionaries, and others when I was a teenager. I was horrified to find out the Holocaust happened in my mother's lifetime. These small seeds developed a passion in me for the history of the Jews. I began promoting the books about the Christian's Hebrew heritage in the homeschool community twenty years ago. The fruit from these seeds she planted can be found in my life, my children's lives, my grandchildren's lives, the books I've written and my websites.
My Grandmother's Final Lesson to Me
When you get a call about a loved one in ill health in another state, it seems heartless to even have to have to think twice about being there for them. But the reality is alternatives must to be considered. We received a call that Grandma had possibly had a stroke. She was unable to talk and was in and out of consciousness. We had the same thing happen in May last year (see My Grandmother's Lesson http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/heartofwisdom/130963/) and we stayed by her side for a month. We just weren't sure we could afford another trip. My husband and I prayed about it and waited on the Lord for an answer.
Three days later I woke with the feeling it was time to go to Florida. My husband immediately agreed (when it is from God you and your spouse will have the same answer.) We left that day and arrived at 9:00 a.m. the next day. The hospice nurse was sitting with Grandma who was lying very still and quiet. I went to her bedside. Her stunning blue eyes grew wide and she began to make guttural noises trying to talk to me. She knew who I was; I could tell she had been waiting for me. She tried to talk for over thirty minutes before I convinced her that I knew what she was trying to say and that I wouldn't leave her. She calmed down and drifted to sleep. The hospice nurse told me she hadn't made any sounds or recognized anyone for several days!
I spent the next day with her while she drifted in and out of sleep. My mother, aunt and I sat with her reading Scripture, singing her favorite hymns and sharing stories. Her eyes were open but it was unclear if she knew who we were. She went to be with the Lord around 5:00 p.m. I will never forget the precious moments we had together the previous morning where I know she was saying she had been waiting for me and she loved me. Years before she became ill she told me repeatedly to remember Ecc. 7:1 The day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. I knew she was saying that to me again.
At the funeral when I looked at her body I knew I was looking at an empty shell. Her body remained but she was gone to be with Jesus. I realized how blessed I was to be with her in her final hours. I thanked God for leading us at just the right time. My grandmother's final lesson for me is nothing is too insignificant, to take to the Lord in prayer and His timing is perfect. God is never late. He who created this universe from nothing, who sees the end from the beginning, who is, in Himself, all wisdom and knowledge, works all things out perfectly at the right time. It may not be "in our time," In His perfect time Yahweh will accomplish His divine purpose. "He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ). God leads us step by step, moment by moment if we will listen. Afterwards, when we look back in hindsight we discover how God led us God uses important moments of our lives to lead us in His will through life. When you pray about a difficult decision God will answer and you will know in your deepest being, in your heart of hearts, what God is calling you to do. Our job is to pray, listen, and obey.
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
(Rom. 12:1-2).
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
(Proverbs 3:6)
Mother's Day 2007
Early this morning my husband and I took my boys fishing. The smell of the lake and the feel of the lake breeze brought back memories of those happy days with my grandparents and I thanked God again for the blessed, precious memories and influence they had on me. I am so happy to know grandma is in heaven with a new strong perfect body. And I know that she is doing something she always wanted to do --worshiping God with a beautiful singing voice.
I made and shared this Scrapbook with her before she passed. In it you can see she was an exciting, vibrant, lovley woman.
Rest in Peace, Grandma. I can't wait to see you again in your beautiful new home!
http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/scrapbooking/my-grandmother-scrapbook/
|
• Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 11, 2007
Fruit of the Spirit Friday Meme
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Jesus Said, “A tree is judged by its fruit.”
I’m starting a Meme. I like to begin Bible study on Friday evenings and continue through Saturday so I’ve created Fruit of the Spirit Friday. I’d love to hear from you!
Meme Rules
- Write about one fruit each Friday or about a person who exhibits fruit.
- Tag at least two people to do the same.
- Pray first.
- Write as much or little as you feel led to write.
- Share your link here (not your blog url, but the link to the direct post)
- Feel free to use the image above and link back to this page.
Ideas
What fruits do you struggle with? What fruits do you see in your children? What fruits would you like to see more in your children? What do you do to develop fruit? How do you define each fruit? Who is someone you know that demonstrates fruit of God’s spirit? What drew you to that person? What are the fruits you see in Bible people? What Bible people were lacking in fruit but changed? What changed them? How does fruit in our life affect our spouse? or children? What is something that hinders fruit? How can we fix it?
See My Blog Entry on Self Control
Remember this. Fruit does not come from efforts (of legalistic rule-following) but grows naturally (out of trust).
I’m looking forward to next Friday.
|
• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 9, 2007
Library Thing
This is the program for book lovers (or should I say bibliophiles). Years ago I spent days attempting to record all the books I own (and want keep). It took too long just to type in the title and author (forget copyright and ISBN) so I gave up.
Librarything.com is a free program (for up to 200 books) will allow you to click on a book to make your own library database (from Amazon or the Library of Congress). This program is incredibly well-designed and very easy to use. With Library thing you can enter dozens of books in your personal database in less than a half-hour.
What you can do with Library Thing
1. Arrange your books on a virtual shelf or as a list. This program automatically records all the info with ISBNs and details–with one click!
2. You can add random books to you blog using simple cut and paste widgets. Here are a few examples of different way to display books on a blog.
3. You can choose how to view (or print) all the books in your home library by cover, by title, by author, etc. If you choose list you can sort by : Title, Author, Date, Tags, Rating, or Shared. I have not added my children’s books yet (big job) except for a handful. If you want to stay under 200 you may need to leave off “Goodnight Moon” and Green Eggs and Ham” type books.
4. Connect to people with similar libraries. You can click on a book in your library to see who else has the book in their and talk to them about it! Or find a book you want to buy and ask the person who owns it what they think. On your main library page you can view who has the same books as you. If you have 200 and someone else has 25 of the same titles you are given that person name to click on to browse their library or leave a comment.
5. Write book reviews for each book. Light bulb moment–Better- Have your children write or dictate) book reviews on each book you read as a family.
6. You can tag books and view by tag (or tags)– like homeschool or Creation science, classic, etc. Tags are one-word descriptors a little like keywords but non-hierarchical. You can assign as many tags to a book as you like and easily rename or delete them later. Tagging can be a lot easier and more flexible than fitting your information into preconceived categories or folders.
Tag notes: Some homeschoolers have tagged almost every book in their library “homeschool” NOT very helpful unless its a book on “How to Homeschool” I prefer tags like “ancient history, childrens, eyewitness” or Christian living, Proverbs 31, etc.
You can view by tag cloud or author cloud (larger text=more frequent usage).
Visit http://www.librarything.com/buzz.php to read what others have tosay about this program.
Signup for a free account at Librarything.com. Help Heart of Wisdom by posting a review about any of our books.
|
• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 7, 2007
Websurfing with Stumble Upon
Stumbleupon is a collaborative surfing tool for finding and sharing great sites. Every time you hit the stumble button on the toolbar a new page will appear based on your interests! Wikipedi describes it best ” …allows its users to discover and rate webpages, photos, videos, and news articles. These webpages are typically presented when the user clicks the Stumble button on the browser’s toolbar. StumbleUpon chooses which new webpage to display based on the user’s ratings of previous pages, ratings by his/her friends, and by the ratings of users with similar interests. i.e. it is a recommendation system which uses peer and social networking principles. There is also one-click blogging built in as well. Users can rate, or choose not to rate, any webpage with a thumbs up or thumbs down, and clicking the Stumble button resembles “channel-surfing ” the web. Toolbar versions exist for Firefox, Mozilla Application Suite, and Internet Explorer.
It’s a really nifty way to experience the Internet. I use Stumbleupon frequently. I have it installed on my office computer and my laptop. I “stumble” while waiting for an upload, download, or when I’m just feeling burnt out and need a break. It may seem counterproductive to use the web for random navigation but this is like channel surfing to assess and determine if the channel is worth watching. Plus it is relaxing, fun and exposes me to content I’d never see on my own.
 Stumbleupon sounds like a social bookmark site (like Digg, Del.icio.us, Reddit) the difference is in the the random stumbling. StumbleUpon set interests and then ‘channel surf’ the web by simply clicking on a button on Stumble Upon tool bar. Once you set your interest you will be randomly directed to specific websites which adhere to your interests. You have the option of tagging a page by giving it a ‘thumbs up‘ or ‘thumbs down‘ to indicate if you want to see it again. You can keep track of which websites you like and share it with others.
You can add friends - the concept of friends is that when you stumble stories your friends will also see them. StumbleUpon lets you add up to 200 friends. You can browse the People section to find others interested in your topics. Check out their favorite pages, view their tag could, etc.
You can join communities - there are communities within StumbleUpon where people with common interests such as “Apple” or “Web 2.0″ hang out. Join the communities that you are interested in so that when you stumble, web pages that will interest you come up.
You can get started by installing the toolbar, which is compatible with I.E. and Firefox at Stumble Upon’s website.
If you like Stumbleupon and HOW stop by Heartofwisdom.com and give us a thumbs up.
|
• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 4, 2007
Fruit of the Spirit/ Self Control?
|
A friend and I have had an ongoing conversation about walking in the Spirit. This morning we discussed handling stressful situations.
You know the type situation I am talking about. You were up all night with a vomiting child, the phone rings at 7:00 a.m. it’s the realtor with a potential buyer that has to see the house at 10:00 a.m. You scramble out of bed, throw the pile of soiled sheeting, wash cloths, towels from last night’s projectile vomiting episode into the wash, and rouse hungry children while hubby is in the shower. In the dining room you encounter a large puddle reminding of your dog’s weak bladder--lovely. Go to the kitchen for paper towels and a quick survey of the house tells you it is physically impossible to have this home show ready by 10:00 a.m. without a bulldozer.
You clean up dog urine, wash hands, pour bowls of cereal, skip your much needed coffee and give yourself a much needed pep talk. You can do this. You have to do this. Flashback to the previous night’s movie in which Spiderman’s uncle said, “With great power comes great responsibility!”
You courageously charge through the house, laundry basket in hand, snatching toys, newspapers, school books, magazines, etc. You ignore the children arguing over the toy in the cereal box because you are on a mission. You remove enough clutter to see the carpet only to see it is covered with smashed orange Doritos. You reach for the vacuum only to discover the bag is full, not just slightly full but about-ready-to-explode full. And surprise, it was the last vacuum cleaner bag.
Your children’s verbal argument escalates into a physical battle of flying wet cheerios. You stop the war, demand everyone drop the weapons, I mean cheerios, and instruct them to pick up the plethora of Legos and G.I. Joes under the dining table-- skipping the urge to explain what plethora means – this is no time for vocabulary lessons.
You move outside to fight your own battle to empty the overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag in to overstuffed garbage can. Your pretty pink bathrobe acts like Velcro attracting pieces from the disgusting dust cloud of dirt, dog hair, food items, and dust of revolting who-knows-what.
Back inside with a less full vacuum bag you (somewhat loudly) instruct the rowdy and still arguing children to get dressed and not to pull all the clothes out of the drawers. The Legos and G.I. Joes remain untouched under the table. About this time, your sweet hubby appears freshly showered, dressed and ready for his day and yes, he is actually humming. . His smile quickly disappears as he hears your dark mumblings as you stuff cereal bowls into the dishwasher. He quips, “Why are you in such a foul mood? That’s it--the last proverbial straw; the camel’s back has just snapped. You are 100% in the flesh ready, willing, and able to dispense a savage tongue lashing to your one true love. There is absolutely nothing, nada, zero, zip inside of you prompting you to walk in God’s Spirit of love and kindness.
Ok, you probably already guessed, this was not some imaginary housewife. This happened to me yesterday. My poor hubby got an earful and I woke up this morning on a guilt trip (not even a shiny clean house has helped my mood). I recently did a study on the branch abiding in the vine. How do I so quickly rip myself away from the vine? How is it I am so quick to jump into the flesh? Where was my self-control? Where was the love? Where was my witness? Where was my firm foundation? What kind of spiritual fruit was I showing? What is the secret to walking and remaining in the Spirit? Where is the list of steps to follow?
This morning I poured all this out to my friend on the phone. She was in her car and didn’t have a lot of time for a lengthy response. But before we hung up she left me with something profound. She said, “The key is preparedness.” So I began thinking, how can I be spiritually prepared for the next mishap or disaster? How do cities prepare for crises such as hurricanes, tornados or a tsunami?
Hurricane Preparedness
I am originally from Florida. Hurricane season is a fact of life in Florida and must be dealt with just as all of life’s problems must be dealt with. Preparing in advance is the key to avoiding catastrophe. Most who die in hurricanes could have been saved – if they prepared and followed the instructions and directions given to them.
Shelter from the Storm
The first thing on the hurricane preparation list is getting to a solid strong shelter (home or school); you need to be inside during the storm or you need to evacuate to a safe shelter. First on the spiritual preparedness list is also a firm foundation –a relationship with God through Christ. Without this, disaster is certain.
Hearing the Warning Signs
To prepare, you must recognize warning signs. A hurricane watch means conditions are possible. A hurricane warning means conditions are expected. Did I have any warning signs? You have to have communication to hear the warnings; i.e. radio, phone, TV, Internet, friend. God gave us warning system to prepare people in the Bible. He gives us these stories to prepare ourselves.
God gives us the Holy Spirit to warn us of possible danger. There is one thing that stops us from hearing the Holy Spirit—sin. Rejecting sin in our lives is a process of moment by moment saying no to the flesh and praying to God for strength to resist temptation. taking every thought captive, and not giving Satan a foothold.
Stocking Supplies
Bottled water and batteries are the main preparation supplies for hurricanes. Prayer and Bible study are the main preparation supplies to prepare for life’s problems (well, actually, for life). I became somewhat defensive at this point. I argued, “Wait a minute, I pray daily; I’m in the Word daily! Just how much do I need to die to self and walk in the Spirit?” Obviously the answer was more prayer and Bible study than I was doing —because I was not prepared. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Reaping flesh means I was sowing flesh. I need more prayer and Bible study.
As I began writing about this experience I realized the overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag in my story symbolized me! (Wow, writing to learn really works.) Was this one of my warning signs? While I was emptying the bag I was mad. Maybe if I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself I would have seen the lesson. Did a repentant heart this morning allow me to see a lesson from the Holy Spirit?
My Warning Sign
I was just like the vacuum cleaner bag – full of yucky stuff ready to explode if one more tiny thing was added. It had not just been a stressful night but a stressful month. My husband had a heart attack, we had several family overnight guests, my business had several technical problems this week (email, shopping carts and web design disasters), sick children, etc. It was one hectic month. Overall, I was already bursting at the seams from an imbalance between demands and resources. Don’t misunderstand, these are not excuses. But they are warning signs. I (and/or my dh) should have recognized the warning signs.
Bagged vacuum cleaners require that you change the bag when it becomes full. Some vacuum cleaner models have an indicator light that will let you know when the bag needs to be changed. Wouldn’t that be neat? Imagine a large red indicator light on your forehead indicating your stress level. Hubby and the children would have a warning. “Mom’s light is glowing again, stand back!”
Fixing the problem would be replacing the bag before it is full. How does that relate to a mom full of stress? If the dirt is stress, is the bag our brain? Our emotions? Our spirit? How do we empty self of stress? (by the way, stress can also be good—but that’s another article).
Preparing involves mostly prayer and Bible study to strengthen our relationship with God. We also need the relationship of people, fellowship—to strengthen us to be able to withstand storms. While reading a book on marketing, I came across a surprising study. When women's brains were scanned during various experiments, their dopamine rose five times the normal levels when talking to other women. Dopamine is a powerful neurotransmitter that affects pleasure and motivation. Conversations with a friend can help dump a lot of accumulated dirt from our quickly filling bags.
People Need People
The Bible instructs us to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2); encourage one another (Heb. 10:25); minister to one another (1 Peter 4:10–11). Christ sent the disciples out two by two, knowing that “it is not good for a man to be alone” (cf. Gen 2:18). Lonely Christians are often defeated Christians. Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 states that “two are better than one.” When Elijah thought he was the only one faithful to God, he began to backslide. Jonah ministered alone and developed a bitter spirit. When we share, we are getting rid of some of the build up. That is why there Bible often talks of brotherly love (Heb 13:1; Rom 12:10;1; Jn 4:20–21; 1 Pet 1:22).
Throughout history people have lived in close knit groups with extended families in the same homes. The last few generations of Americans have been much more independent. It’s my guess that this is this why homeschool support groups, blogs, message boards and egroups are so popular. People need people!
I am emptying my bag now telling you this story. I plan on a conversation tonight with my hubby (yes, I already apologized) about overstuffed vacuum cleaner bags. Together –with God--we will brainstorm a way to prepare for future storms.
Now I leave my list for you.
Spiritual Preparation List for Disaster (or life in general)
- A shelter: You must have a firm foundation; a relationship with God through Christ.
- Prayer: Ask for help from your loving Father who is waiting to help you. Don’t wait for your bag to be full to start praying. Ask God before the crisis to give you the strength, energy, and kindness to deal with stressful situations. Confess sin; ask not to be led into temptation; enter His gates with praise and thanksgiving.
- Bible: Start each day in God’s Word. You can’t build without the blueprint. Immerse yourself and your children with God’s stories. See how others were able to handle crises because they trusted Him—even when things looked bleak.
- Walk in obedience to be able to hear the Holy Spirit. Resist sin; take every thought captive. Don’t give the devil a foothold.
- Love one another: bear one another’s burdens. Be there for someone and ask them to be there for you.
 
|
• Comments (7) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
May. 2, 2007
HOW Wins Excellence in Education Awards
 The 2006 Excellence in Education Awards from The Old Schoolhouse magazine have been released. Here is how Heart of Wisdom placed:
Best Resource Book: 2nd Place
Most Unique: 2nd Place
Bible Curriculum: 2nd Place
Character Building: 3rd Place
Thank you for voting!
|
• Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Apr. 26, 2007
Thankful Thursday with Thursday 13
- I am thankful that my dear husband Ronnie is home from the hospital and growing stronger every day after his heart attack.
- I am thankful there never was a moment when Ronnie's life was not, or is not, in God’s hands. I’m grateful that when we are weak God is strong.
- I’m thankful for the answer to prayers for the healing power of Jesus Christ not only in healing but in providing a peaceful assurance that God was in charge.
- I am thankful for my husband's health, my health, and our family's health. No one in our immediate family is in the hospital; we have no broken bones, and no illnesses. After daily trips to the hospital watching so many others suffering I can rejoice in the things I usually take for granted.
- I am thankful we live close to a hospital, for compassionate paramedics, ambulance drivers. and for committed, gifted hospital nurses, dedicated doctors and skillful surgeons.
- I am thankful for loving friends who quickly jumped in to help by caring for our children and animals; for friends near and far and those I only know online for being there to care, to listen, and most of all for praying during our family emergency.
- I am thankful for family prayers, care, compassion, concern, visits, and phone calls.
- I am thankful our eleven children are all healthy.
- I am thankful our thirteen grandchildren are all healthy.
- I am thankful our animals are all healthy.
- I am thankful for health insurance and my husband’s diligence to always be sure we are ready for emergencies (from insurance to keeping my gas tank full for me and an emergency money stash in the car).
- I am thankful for the nutrition information in the Bible and other books that explain what foods are healthful or harmful.
- I am thankful for God's sovereignty, providential love, and the beautiful peace He gave us during the fragile moments in the hospital. There was a special calm and confidence that Christ can never be separated from us -- not even by death. That our time here on earth is only a speck on the timeline of eternity. I’m thankful for the speck but more thankful for the eternity.
To God be the glory!
"If we only endure our trials, then trials become our master, and we have a tendency to become hard and bitter. If we try to escape our trials, then we will probably miss the purposes God wants to achieve in our lives. But if we learn to enlist our trials, they will become our servants instead of our masters and work for us; and God will work all things together for our good and His glory. Rom. 8:28." (Wiersbe, W.)
|
• Comments (5) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Apr. 23, 2007
Creating Reminders for Our Children
 (Keeping with the vine and branch theme from the previous post, I'm reposting this article on object lessons from HeartofWisdom.com.)
In Joshua 4, God commanded His children to put up a pile of twelve stones as a reminder. The stones were specifically piled up in order to prompt their children’s questions! When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? (Josh.4:6, 4:21). The parents’ response is to explain what He has done for them. The lesson is that God cares for His people and provides for us.
And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever. (Josh 4:20-5:1)
In I Samuel 7 the Philistines took the Ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. God was gracious to Israel and allowed the Ark to return after punishing the Philistines for taking the Ark. Samuel then took a “stone” and set it near Mizpah six miles north of Jerusalem. This large rock became a “war memorial” a reminder of God’s power in battle.
In Numbers 15 God told the Hebrews to place fringes and ribbon on the borders of their clothing in rememberance of the commandments*. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring (Num 15:37-39).
The Hebrews have a tradition of placing a mezuzah on the doorposts of their homes (Deut 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). It is customary, upon entering or leaving a Jewish residence, to reverently touch the mezuzah. This reverence acknowledges belief in the "Shema Israel" Hear, 0 Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. (Deut 6:4). Several Christians have adopted this tradition as well.
I once read about a pastor who displayed a smooth, polished rock on his desk inscribed, “The First Stone.” as a continual reminder from John 8:7, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.
Some people wear a mustard seed pendant necklace as a reminder of Jesus words If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matt. 17:20). The rainbow is also a prompt, to remind us of God's covenant with Noah.
I have a friend who uses each shirt she irons as a reminder to pray for that family member. I have another friend who uses each day of the week as a reminder to pray for a specific grandchild. The superstition of walking under a ladder being bad  luck actually began as a reminder to remember God, because medieval theologians suggested a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle and therefore is a symbolic reminder of the Holy Trinity.
Creation reveals God. Jesus used ordinary things the people interacted with daily such as fish, sheep, fruit, and bread to illustrate spiritual truths. We need spiritual reminders, and we need to use such reminders to teach our children. We don't interact with the outdoors the way the people did in Bible days but we can get creative and bring reminders in our home.
I decorate my home with reminders of Bible lessons. We have the Ten Commandments on our living room wall, and a ram’s horn on display. We have a large picture of Jerusalem to remind us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We have a special meal and light candles Friday evening, the beginning of the weekly Sabbath, to remember to honor the fourth commandment.
 The Bible is full of rich spiritual illustrations using the vineyard and if we lived in Bible times we would probably be near or pass by vineyards often. However, since we don't pass by any vineyards I brought some vineyard reminders into my home through decor.
Our home is decorated with the rich colors of the vineyard—deep purple, burgundy, and greens. Our kitchen and dining area are decorated with a vineyard theme. The decor is a reminder like the stones in Joshua. John 15 records one of Jesus’ last messages to His disciples before His death.
Jesus chose a vine and branches to show us the way to a life of fruitfulness.
 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
 The vineyard motif gives me several opportunities to remind my children about how the vine's dependence on the branch is a model of our relationship with Christ. The vine reminds us that must stay in Jesus to bring forth good fruit. If we keep His commandments, we will remain in His love. As we abide in Jesus we see more and more of Him and grow more and more like Him. Our job is simply to remain. To remain is to hold fast and stay in loving obedience. We are not just staying with Him, standing nearby, watching what is going on. We are linked to Him, grafted into Him. Our identity and existence are bound up in Him.
Israel is also God’s vine or vineyard; see Isaiah 5:1–7, 27:2–6; Jeremiah 2:21, 12:10; Ezekiel 17:5–6; Hosea 10:1; Joel 1:7; Psalm 80:8–16.The vine symbolizes both the Jewish people and our Messiah and reinforces the close identification of Jesus with Israel (Mt 2:15). God's remnant, the Hebrews, and the grafted-in branches (Ro. 9:6ff., 11:1–10, 17-24) will obey His commands, stay attached to the true vine, and have the true vine’s power and strength that results in bringing forth good fruit (Matt. 7:16–19).
Drying the dishes with grapevine adorned dish towels or cooking with grapevine cookware is our prompt of several Bible lessons such as reaping and sowing or a discussion about how a successful harvest must be preceded by timely planting and on-going care (watering, weeding, etc.). Jesus taught using such parables. that show things we value take time and nourishment. There’s no quick fix for healthy, lasting, relationships in a friendship, marriage, family, or elsewhere. If we neglect them now, we can’t expect positive results later.
 I pray that my children will see the reminders and remember that Jesus taught If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. I want it to be foremost in their minds that in any living vine, the function of a branch is to bear fruit. But it cannot fulfill its purpose unless it remains in actual living connection with the vine. Without applying that cherished remain in Me relationship, it will never complete what it was intended for. They need to know that those who fail to remain in Him will be as unfilled as that of a branch torn from the vine with no prospect for fruit bearing. A real illustration of this would to bring in a vine cut from a branch, make it your centerpiece or conversation piece for a few days as it dies.
The vineyard images are also a reminder of the Proverbs 31 woman who saves up money and, instead of squandering it, buys a field, purchases some seed, and plants a vineyard.
 The husbandman pruning the vineyard reminds us there is sin in our lives. The Greek word for prune means, literally, to clean. To clean of excess foliage is to prune, but the context also clearly implies cleansing from sin. The only way to continue to be clean (pruned) and to bear fruit is to maintain a vital spiritual connection with Christ the vine.
Reminders are the method God told us to use to teach our children. Each of the Biblical Holidays listed in Lev 23 tells a story to remind us of God’s mercy and faithfulness.
Include reminders like these in your home decor. Wouldn’t a lamb theme be perfect for an infant or toddler nursery? Think of all the sheep and shepherd story prompts. Pray God will reveal things to you to teach your children. A quilt can be a prompt to talk about Joseph's coat of many colors. Baking bread has numerous lessons from the loaves and fishes, to unleavened bread being symbolic of Christ, or the bread of idleness mentioned in Proverbs. Of course, the greatest reminder of all is an open Bible.
Now if I could only find a shower curtain and set of towels with an olive or fig tree… |
• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
|
Mar. 27, 2007
Be the Branch
If you want to produce fruit remember your job is to be the branch. The branch is a growth from the main stem or root of a plant. Various Hebrew words are translated as branch or shoot. The most common one can be defined as any sprout of vegetation (Gen. 19:25; Ezek. 16:7; Ps. 85:11).
In John 15 Jesus is speaking to His disciples.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15: 1-8).
Sometime we feel like we just can’t live the Christian life—we can’t—without abiding in the Vine. It’s easy to lose focus and rely on working overtime to please God through our good works and righteous behavior but the only fruit this brings is burnout. We can’t do it in our own strength. That doesn’t mean we’re free from responsibility. We have a responsibility to submit to the Vine and the Vinedresser. The Spirit can do His work only as we yield to Him.
In this passage Jesus first points us to His father the Vinedresser (some versions say husbandman). All He was and did was from His Father. There is no fruit without the Vinedresser’s work. The vine is dependent on the Vinedresser.
At the very root of all Christian life lies the thought that God is to do all - that our work is to give and leave ourselves in His hands, in the confession of utter helplessness and dependence, in the assured confidence that He gives all we need. The great lack of the Christian life is that, even where we trust Christ, we leave God out of the count. Christ came to bring us to God. Christ lived the life of a man exactly as we have to live it. Christ the Vine points to God the Husbandman. As He trusted God, let us trust God, that everything we ought to be and have, as those who belong to the Vine, will be given us from above. (Andrew Murray, The Secret of God’s Love)
When we are saved we are graphed into the Living Vine, Jesus Christ. Without the Vine to bring nourishing sap to the branch there can be no fruit. Without the Vine we cannot produce character like Christ’s - full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The branch and the Vine become one life. The Bible tells us believers over and over the riches we have available to us through Christ, who is the storehouse where God has placed all the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:1–5).
Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Col 2:7
When we yield or surrender to Christ we abide in the Vine and no longer live for ourselves. Christ’s life flows through us and produces fruit. The Vinedresser is able to conform our thoughts and will to provide us with the strength and energy to develop Christ-like behaviors. Is this your goal to become Christ-like? Do you want to show love, forgiveness, kindness? Then stop trying to do it on your own. Be the branch!
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)
When you submit to the Vine you have this wonderful promise “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7. Whatever you desire—not the self-centered sin-natured desires of a branch without the Vine. When the Vine conditions and controls a believer’s mind, his prayers conform to the Vinedresser’s will. By allowing His Word to abide in us—to become part of our thinking and our standard for life —we will desire His plan, His righteousness. Be the branch and your life will be pointed in the right direction.
Branches are weak and not meant to stand on their own.
The branches of the vine are many, some on one side of the house or wall, others on the other side; yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all good Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, yet meet in Christ, the centre of their unity. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and insufficient to stand of themselves. (Matthew Henry)
Apart from the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit, we cannot live the Christian life. Each of us is to yield to the Vine moment by moment, allowing Him to achieve through us the work that the Vinedresser wants accomplished in our life. (Ephesians 2:10). We maintain our communion with the Vine by praying(v. 7), obeying the Vinedresser’s commandments (v. 10), and keeping our lives clean through His Word (3–4).
What happens to a branch without the Vine? “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:6).Without the Vine the branch dies. A life without the Vine experiences frustration, discontent, and guilt and eventually death—permanent separation from the living Vine. There are some in our churches with unfruitful branches. They are either too immature (need to abide in the Vine to grow to produce fruit) or they are not true believers. Those that depend on religion are doing what they believe is good in their own efforts, like Cain with the wrong motivation.
By default we walk in our flesh. It is our nature to be selfish. We focus on self instead of the Vinedresser. But even then the Vinedresser gave us the ability to abide in the strength giving Vine. Our job is to yield as explained in Galatians 2:20 explains it, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” But how do I yield? How do I be the branch?
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat 6:33)
Seek God. “They who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing” (Psalm 34:10). What is a good thing? The Bible defines the “good thing” very differently as the sovereignty, justice, righteousness, and love of God! Goodness is the character and being of God. God has no selfishness. Our Vinedresser is always giving—our lives, mercy, grace, love—He gives us the Vine.
Be the branch. Seek God though prayer and Bible study. Nothing else in life will change your life the way the living Vine will. Only through the Vine’s nourishment can we dwell and to walk in love. Love will conquer our selfishness. Be the branch and the Vine will give you the indwelling power to be self-sacrificing, to over come sin and unbelief and produce good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush (Luke 6:44).
Pruning
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2)
A fruit tree’s growth and productivity depends on proper pruning. Pruning is the removal of dead, diseased, short and weak or broken limbs. Fruit trees need pruning for two crucial purposes: to establish the essential structure and to give the plant the best exposure to sunlight. Properly pruned trees will yield high quality fruit much earlier and live significantly longer.
Without the training and pruning by the gardener fruit trees will not develop proper shape and form and will greatly reduce tree life. I was surprised to learn that proper pruning is the removal of as much as eighty to ninety percent of grape wood every year.
Cutting off and pruning are words that indicate pain and uncomfortable moments to us, but pruning is constructive and the way to bring forth fruit. Fruit-bearing branches are pruned. Fruitless branches are cast out of the vine, gathered up and burned.
The Greek word prune means, literally, “cleans.” To clean of excess foliage is to prune, but the context also calls to mind cleansing from sin. (Stern)
The Word of God is the pruning instrument. We allow the Vinedresser to lovingly prune us of sin and self by staying in God's Word we will experience the light of Christ. The removal of self-will in suffering will prepare you to sympathize with others and help us become what we desire—like Jesus, the servant of all. It is then that we will produce the fruit that will conveys His amazing love to others. Be the branch. Surrender to the Vinedresser’s wisdom, allow Him to prune you and you will bring forth more fruit for the blessed Vinedresser.
When you grasp the fact that the pruning is part of the Vinedresser’s long term care for your life, you can, through the power of the Vine, rejoice in the pruning. Read God’s Word daily to remind yourself the Vinedresser loves you, is caring for you, and needs to prune you so you can be conformed into the image of Christ. Don’t focus on the pruning—focus on the Vinedresser’s love. Then you will know it is all for your best, y | |
