Jul. 21, 2008
Quick Editorial Note About Last Two Posts
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Just a quick note, I am not aware that I have offended anyone recently, but that is because I haven't been posting anything of real value. For those who are new here, you'll notice several posts back that I went through and deleted most of the content of my blog, leaving only a few posts and having added to them only a little since then. Honestly, the two previous post have been on the back burner for awhile. I didn't feel I had the freedom to share what was on my heart. The Lord has brought me to a place of freedom, a place where He is more important and where I need to share the burden He has given me, knowing that there are those who will disagree, if not openly, then behind my back. Single mom's know that the Lord is your provider, your covering, and no matter how judgemental and unscriptural those around you are, the Lord knows your heart and he will provide for you, because his concern is not just the fatherless, but the widows, the poor, and the needy. If you're not a widow, and you're a single mom, you definitely have needs and are probably poor (at least by our countries standards). So while scripture may not say "single mother" the principle is still there for your care. Turn to the Lord and let Him show you the wonderful things He can do for you, with or without the church body. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 21, 2008
Changes Coming
Posted in Single Moms as Keepers at Home
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Most of you know I've been struggling for awhile over what to do about my blog. I can't seem to share without offending. I was going to set up a whole new blog that focused only on my quilting, as a way to share, teach and sell. Prayerfully, I've come up with a way to keep this blog up and going, without (hopefully) offending. I will also be able to share the quilts here. You'll be seeing some changes in the decor around here as well. Janet, at Pineblossoms has agreed to help me give this place a pick me up that will be more in line with what I'm hoping to share. I will still share an occasional thought of encouragement for single mothers who are homeschooling. I would leave you with this thought - scripture tells us that those who love the law, NOTHING shall offend them. So if you're here and you're reading and something offends you, I'd challenge you to check your own heart first. I have found that when I'm offended, it's usually my heart attitude and not the "offender" that needs adjusting. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 21, 2008
Single Mom's - The Church - Welfare
Posted in Single Moms as Keepers at Home
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This is a HOT topic, and so I'm really going to limit what I have to say here, this time. It was recently pointed out to me, that because of the sin in my life (in the past, and long repented of) that I "deserve" to be where I am, going through the things I do. There are actually people who do not want my family as a part of their regular fellowshipping/church. (If this offends you, read the previous post, please.) I'm so grateful that Christ didn't look at us, and go, "Father, the "deserve" to suffer, they are nothing but a bunch of worthless sinners." We all have sin in our lives -- mine just happens to be more obvious than some, because the results are walking talking reminders. Over the years, I've searched scripture and believe the things I do, based on scriptural principles, commands, and teachings. I've come to peace with much of this, and am sharing it with you moms, because I know many of you have experienced the same thing. Whether your husband has abandoned you, abused you or maybe you've never had a husband, many of you have experienced a great lack of empathy from fellow believers. The other day when I was doing my Bible reading (I'm doing the John MacArthur Bible in a Year) I read a Psalm that though I'm sure I've read before, I never thought of enlight of single moms, the church and welfare. I have debated whether to share it with you or not. Recently the Lord has spoken clearly to me about not fearing what man may so or do, as long as my stand is for Him. And so, while I'm not out to offend, I'm certain there are some who will be offended. I am sorry. I'll just say it now. I am sorry to offend, for that is not my intent. However, I can not remain silent, out of fear. Psalm 82:3-4 "Defend the poor and the fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and the needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." I don't believe there is anything more wicked and corrupt than our government system. It bothers me that churches say, "we pay tax dollars into the system there is no reason Christians shouldn't take advantage of it" One pastor even told me once, that if the church had the funds that all it's members paid in taxes it might be different, they'd be able to do more. Have we forgotten that the heavenly Father's treasury is limitless, when it is for His purpose? I believe that the church is making the government father of the fatherless, and I believe that this is unscriptural. Now, ladies, if this is where you are, where many of us are, take heart. The Lord blesses anyway. My advice to you, is pray, remembering we are in the days when churches are lukewarm. Claim Hebrews 13:5 & 6, " Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." For isn't it better to say the Lord is our helper than to depend on man (the church or the government) though the Lord may certainly use man as His vessel from which to pour blessings on us. The Lord has so blessed my life amidst trials, during the last few years. Yes there has been sin in my life, but there is sin in all of our lives, whether we neglect the poor, lust, covet, gossip, have a rebellious spirit there is sin in all of our lives and we should esteem others better than ourselves, coming along side them to encourage and edify them, when they will allow us to. I'm sadly certain that there are those who will read this and be offended, again, I am sorry that you are offended. But I have been keeping silent out of fear, and it is time to speak out and take a stand again for what the Lord has laid upon my heart, not for myself, but for others. May the Lord stir your heart toward Him, Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 15, 2008
Helping Haiti
Posted in Miscellaneous Stuff
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After I put up my last post, I realized it might be good to share with you the specific ministries we've connected with, so that, if the Lord leads, you might be able to help them, too. Homebound Missions www.homeboundmissions.org This is, of course, our largest commitment as a family. There is lots of sewing to be done, diapers is our thing. Collecting gently used summer clothing is another project we have done. My favorite is hosting baby showers, where all the gifts go to Haitian orphanages. The Livesay Family - livesayhaiti.blogspot.com We discovered this family through Homebound Missions. We love to read Tara's descriptions of life in Haiti. If you want high gloss, "missionary" stuff, this might not be the spot for you. Tara is very real in her writing about daily life with a house full of children in Haiti. We are praying for this family and hope to one day to be able to meet them in real life. We like meeting real live missionaries. His Hands For Haiti www.hishandsforhaiti.org This is our newest connection. We've known about them for awhile now. Sometimes the Lord just has to put something before you over and over (because we're "dumb as a hake" right Jamie?) before we actually follow through. We are blessed with the privilege of being able to sponsor one of the children from His House orphanage. Haitian Ministries www.hatianministries.com Through His Hands for Haiti, I learned about this ministry. We are currently working to prepare New Mom Bundles that can be distributed by their clinics to newly delivered moms for their babies. Heartline Ministries wwwheartlineministries.org Through Tara Livesay, we learned about this ministry. Their Women's Program will also be the recipients of New Mom Bundles. Haitian Children's Home www.haitianchildrenshome.org While we haven't officially begun helping this ministry yet, but I am exploring ways that we may be able to include them in what we are already doing. I just received my list of their most needed items. Still waiting for the Lord to direct on this one. When the Lord helped me to close one door, one I'd known I needed to, but had been dragging my feet on, He flung open, not one, but many windows all in one place Haiti. Do you suppose He's called my family to serve Him in Europe? Or maybe Canada? Sometimes I miss the obvious, but I think I'm getting the picture on this one. Has the Lord given you an obvious calling, that you just keep missing? Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 15, 2008
Throwing Open the Windows
Posted in Single Moms as Keepers at Home
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One of my favorite lines from The Sounds of Music is something to the effect (I'm bad at exact quotes) of, When the Lord closes the door, somewhere He opens a window. I feel as if He has been throwing open windows of opportunity around me lately. I made one decision recently, just one, and it seemed rather small, (read door closed) and as a result many opportunities for serving Him, from my home, with my children, have presented themselves(read open windows). I will be joining Homebound Missions as a full time volunteer beginning September 1st. I'll share more details about that another time. We are going to be able to begin sponsoring a child through His Hands for Haiti's orphanage His House, immediately -- it's not adoption, but it's as close as we could come. It is amazing how the Lord will use us, if we will but obediently get out of His way and stop trying to serve Him in our way. I still don't know if I'll ever get to set foot on Haitian soil, but He can use me there, even from here. This weekend, the long coveted corner station for my computer "appeared" at a yard sale for FREE. What a blessing it is to have everything so neat and tidy. I've been given two sewing machines (that work) in addition to the two I already had, guess we'll definitely be going ahead with doing sewing lessons. The irony in this is that with the exception of making quilts, I really hate sewing, especially clothing. One of my biggest classes is going to be making medieval costumes -- this should be interesting. And today I was paid two compliments - thus feeding my nearly starved vanity. The new short sort of whimsical hair cut looks really good on me, according to one friend. The other told me that my face really looks healthy and that the dark circles that are normally under my eyes seem to be much faded. Wow! I must have looked way worse than I thought!!! We've cut so much of the refined, processed, prepackaged food out of our diet in the last year that I hope my body is beginning to gain some health value from it. It is just not fun having to walk by the Little Debbies Swiss Cake Rolls knowing that I can't buy them, because I can't eat just one.... As if in reward, I received fresh lettuce, swiss chard, and black rasberries (not to be confused with black berries) today from my neighbor. Yum!!! Well, I don't know what the Lord is doing in your life, but if He's closing doors or opening window, and you'd like to share, please leave a comment or send me an email. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 12, 2008
Another Opportunity to Help
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Good Morning! Well, when I've asked for help in the past I've been truly blessed, so I thought I'd try it again. As you regular readers know, I hold regular baby showers for Haitian orphanages. I was about to order a doll online this morning to use for these projects, as part of my display and informational time. Simultaniously, I was reading an email from a mom, about another mom who might be able to help with the shower, when I realized that I should not spend the money to order this doll right now, but should first ask for help. So, here is what I need, if you can help, just email me. I need a life sized, life like, black baby doll. I'd also like a lap top so I can show pictures at the showers, but we'll figure that one out. I just entered a raffle that will be held on July 19 for one. So you could pray in the Lord's will that one of my 12 tickets would be the winning one. Let me clarify here that I almost never buy or sell raffle tickets because it is a form of gambling. However, I know the family and the business that I bought them from and it was a worthy donation. And if there is even the slightest opportunity to gain my long coveted laptop - it was worth it. Looking forward to hearing from you, Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 11, 2008
Counting the Cost . . .You Do the Math
Posted in Miscellaneous Stuff
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I recently have had contact with a nurse who does short term missions trips to Haiti, and helps in three clinics. I also "talked" with another lady about her womens program. One of their programs gives New Mom Bundles to mothers who have recently delivered or are near term. The bundle consists of a t-shirt, diaper, and receiving blanket, if I remember correctly. Because of my work with Homebound Missions, I decided this was a project I could and would like to take on, but I wanted to do it a little different. You know me, I'm just wanting to do my own thing. So the New Mom Bundles I'm putting together are pretty much the same, except that instead of one disposable diaper it has three cloth diapers and a set of diaper pins. Now here's the part where math comes in. A cloth diaper from WalMart costs $1 A days wages in Haiti $1 If you figure a days wages in the US based on an 8 hour work day at $7/hr. (American Poverty) that translates to $56. Would you be able to afford diapers if you had to pay $56 a piece for them? 4 diaper pins or 1 pair of vinyl pants cost about the same as one cloth diaper. How about a simple three snap front t-shirt from Gerber? Cost approximately $2.85 3 days wages in Haiti $3 Would you be able to spend three days wages ($168) for a single t-shirt? A home made flannel receiving blanket $5 A weeks wages in Haiti $5 Would you be able to spend a weeks wages ($280) on a single flannel receiving blanket? The total New Mom Bundle including the time to put them together and the cost of shipping them to Haiti will cost $15 and it may well be the only gift the mom receives to celebrate the arrival of her new baby. 3 weeks wages in Haiti $15 Would you spend 3 weeks wages ($840) on a single baby shower gift? How about $15? This math lesson certainly has made me reconsider my own American poverty. As a single mom with two children, I see, in comparison, how truly blessed we are in our poverty. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 7, 2008
Following up on BUSY and Amazing Message Posts
Posted in Single Moms as Keepers at Home
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I just spent 1/2 hour typing a long reply to the anonymous commenter who asked: A little confused. BUSY would be the mondane things not need in our lives. How does sowing the seeds with other Christians fall in to BUSY.? The thing is I can't really answer it without getting into a whole lot of other stuff. And I can't do that because I will certainly offend people, albeit unintentional. Suffice to say, that I think as Christians we often loose sight of the best things because we become distracted and BUSY (Brought Under Satan's Yoke) with the things that are merely good. I have been a very BUSY Christian for years doing church 3x a week, being involved in a multitude of ministries. My kids were a mess, I was a mess. It wasn't until this past winter when our lives went through some radical changes that I began to look at church from a very different perspective. It is a blessing to see the changes in my children, and my attitude toward them. This does not mean we've forsaken church or assembling with other believers. It does mean it's changed how we do it and more importantly why we do it. Even this is probably more than I should have said. Let me however close with this. Sowing seed is important, but not at the expense of our own children. Not at the expense of our own personal walk with the Lord. We don't have to look for opportunities to sow seeds. The Lord truly presents them to us where we are, I've seen this in the last few months. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 6, 2008
Amazing Message
Posted in Miscellaneous Stuff
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Today was a church at home day. The Lord knew, and earlier in the week, the John MacArthur CD I'd requested over a month ago, arrived. Perfect timing, as usual. The Message: A Biblical Response to the Church Growth Movement. It was powerful, it was amazing, it was convicting. I thought about all the churches I've attended, and measured them by this message (read "scripture"). There were very few who measure up - maybe two - out of many, many churches. Even allowing for our humanity, this is not a good thing. Interestingly, MacArthur goes back to the first church, which is a subject that has come up in several different places lately as I'm reading. How far away from the model Christ gave us we are. The last point in his sermon spoke the most to me, it spoke of the qualifications of the leaders -- not just the verses we typically think of from Timothy and Titus but also the character of those men who were chosen to minister to the needs of the widows in Acts. If we'd only return to these standards. If you're up for a great message, that will make you think twice about what the purpose of church really is and what the church really should look like, I recommend this for you. If you're comfortable being B.U.S.Y., doing all those church activities then you probably don't have time to listen to it anyway. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 3, 2008
BirthVerse
Posted in Miscellaneous Stuff
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Someone sent me a link to this really cool site, where you enter your birthday (day and month only). And it tells you what your BirthVerse is. Check it out! My BirthVerse Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jul. 2, 2008
How B.U.S.Y. Are You?
Posted in Miscellaneous Stuff
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A friend read this to me this morning, as we talked on the phone. She was going to give me a copy of it, but I had to have it now, to share, so I searched for it, online, and found it. It was just too precious not to share. It made me really stop and think. I hope it does you as well. Blessings, MaggieRaye WORLDWIDE SATANIC MEETING AGAINGST CHRISTIANS
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said; "We cannot keep Christians from going to Church". We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth". "We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Saviour". "Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken". "So let them go to their Churches; let them have their communion services, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a personal relationship with Jesus". "This is what I want you to do," said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this ?", his demons shouted. "Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, and borrow". "Persuade their wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles". "Keep them from spending time with their children". "As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!" "Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice". "Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CD's and their PC's going constantly in their homes and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly". "This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ". "Fill the coffee tables with sexy magazines and worldly newspapers". "Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards; Flood their mailboxes with junk mails, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes..." "Skip skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they will become dissatisfied with their wives". "Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. give them headaches too"! "If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly". "Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them Easter bunny so they won't talk about His resurrection and power over sin and death." "Even in their recreation, let them de excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted". Keep them too busy - (Being Under Satan's Yoke) to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays concerts, and movies instead". "Keep them busy, busy, and busy"! "And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus". "Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! " It's quite an effective plan". The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives. I guess the question is, has Satan been successful in his schemes? Over to you, dear Christian, be the judge! |
Jun. 23, 2008
What About Church - More
Posted in Book Review
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I just wanted to let you know that as I continue to read "What About Church?" I'm totally convinced that anyone who is in church, has left church, is thinking about leaving church, or starting a church or attending a house church or having any affiliation with church should read this. Jeff Barth, the author of this wonderful little gem, hits the nail on the head page after page. I believe if pastors, elders, deacons, husbands, etc. would read this book, and take to heart this man's message, we'd see a revival unlike any other. He takes you back to the early church and shows how far away from it we've drifted. He shows how the institution of the church has become, much like the institution of the public education system. It's sad and scary. I'm almost half way through the book and already the list of those wanting to borrow it is growing -- as is the list of those I'd like to share it with. May I suggest, that for it's nominal price, it is well worth the investment. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 23, 2008
God's Perfect Provision
Posted in Just Ramblin
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This morning was one of those humbling times when the Lord clearly showed me, that He is indeed in control of our lives, and that He is so very good to us. Sometime I'll tell you about the predicament of having a 28 gallon pop-up-aquarium fountain in my living room, but for now, let it suffice to say, that in the midst of this "situation" I decided that I'd made a mistake and to remedy it I was going to look for a 10 gal fish tank at yard sales or go to WalMart and buy one the first of the month. I forgot to take this seemingly trivial situation to the Lord. This weekend, He literally plunked into my lap a 29 gallon fish tank with all the fixens. And the cost? Dinner with friends, tough to take, huh?? Yup! Someday, I"ll learn to ask instead of trying to take care of it all myself. On another note, I've been really struggling over why I believe what I do and where I fit in things. What I know is that I've been feeling very unsettled about many things for awhile. I knew what I was looking for in a church and I knew no such church existed near me. I just "knew" it. The Lord has, once again, however, shown me that I don't know nearly as much as I think I do. I met a young homeschooling mom last year at a one day conference in our area. She followed up the meeting, by asking about LizBeth being able to help her occasionally with her children (5,3, & 6mo). We were thrilled at this opportunity. Over the year we've spent time together, talked, helped each other in crazy ways. She knew my struggle and my leanings with church and she told me about her church, but it is too far from my house, and I couldn't travel with her, because of her vehicle and the numbers of our children. . . and then the Lord blessed her family with a much needed larger vehicle, which, by the way, just happens to have enough room for my children and I to now attend church with her. LizBeth always says, "Mom, if you want to see God laugh, just tell him your plans" There is no disrespect meant in it - and she is generally right. "Lord, I really would like to be able to attend this church, but it is too far away (45 minutes) and there is no way for us to get there and, and, and. . . " Well, this past Sunday we visited the church - it is tiny - the pastor is elderly - the congregation is small - but we LOVED it! I'm counting down the days til Sunday so I can go back. The coolest thing for me, and perhaps because of his age, the pastor only preached from The Word. There were no illustrations, no secular references, nothing but the Word of God alone. And so much of what he preached, about keeping our eyes on the Lord (remember what happened to Peter when he took his eyes of the Lord?) and how the Lord lets us sink, so we'll get our focus off the world around us and back onto Him -- it was all so pertinent to where I'm at today. If you are out of church, between churches, seeking a church, let me encourage you to hang in there. Many prayers of friends and family have led us from our church at home, into a small fellowship of like-minded believers and I'm so excited about this! Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 19, 2008
Persecution
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I've had several months now of having withdrawn from normal social interaction, it was working so well for my children, that I decided a lack of socialization might do me some good. In that time, I've found that I had extra time to study God's word. Do you want to know something I learned? If not, stop reading now. If you're still reading, here is what I discovered. I always believed that Christians who were godly, righteous, humble, etc. were the ones who were persecuted. Only those who were really walking with the Lord. However as I've just finished reading through 2Kings (from Genesis) I'm discovering that this is not the case. God's children historically, and consistently came under the persecution of enemy rulers, when they drifted away from the Lord's teachings, commands, directions, etc. He used the persecution to bring His own back into fellowship with Himself. You have no idea what a revelation this has been to me. I really believed that I needed to fear persecution if I walked closely with the Lord. What I discovered is that indeed if I am being persecuted I need to stop and ask the Lord to show me where and how I have strayed from Him, to repent and to let him cleanse and restore me to fellowship with him. It was not the kings who walked with the Lord that were persecuted or taken captive, but those who fell away, those who were more worried about what others would think, say and do, than about what the Lord had already said and commanded to be done. Ouch! So, my challenge to you is this, do you feel you're being persecuted for your faith? If so take a close look around you, inside you, ask the Lord to reveal to you what you need to do to walk more closely with Him, and when He reveals it, do it. You won't be alone! Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 16, 2008
Cynicism
Posted in Just Ramblin
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I started to post about all the things I'm trying not to be cynical about, but it was such a long, depressing, rambling post that I just hit the backspace key and wiped it out. I wish sometimes my mouth had a backspace key. (I saw that on a sign recently, and it so fits!) Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 10, 2008
What About Church? Chapter 1
Posted in Book Review
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A friend recommended a book she'd heard about, but never read, What About Church? by Jeff Barth. Well, given all my recent struggles and dilemma's I thought, why not? I'll even pay full price for it and I did. I ordered it. It arrived the other day, but today is the first chance I've really had to look it over. I read the first chapter, underlined, made mental notes and can't wait to have time to read more. In the first chapter alone, this man has answered so many questions and struggles I have had. The biggest is this, that like minded homeschooling families can come together to worship, in spite of theological and doctrinal differences. If you're struggling with church, finding it too much like the world, or that there isn't a good solid church close enough for you to be involved in or perhaps folks at your church just don't get homeschooling -- if what I've read so far is any indication, this book is for you. If you've read it and gleaned from it, please leave a comment and share with me. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 8, 2008
God's "Little" Blessings
Posted in Home Education
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I wasn't going to do it, I just couldn't afford it. It wasn't just money, it was the time involved. For health reasons it was not a wise way to spend several hours with my back still bothering me -- though, praise God, much better than it was over the winter. I went to our states homeschool used curriculum sale. I did. I think I must be crazy. The amount of money I had was less than many of us pay for one brand new book for homeschooling, often times. I prayed. I made a list. I prayed some more. I prayed before I went to sleep the night before the sale. I prayed the morning of the sale. I prayed on my way into the sale. I prayed as I walked around the sale. "Lord you know what I don't have. I know you can stretch it in amazing ways. You know what we need most Lord. I'm trusting you for this" While I did buy a couple of small (less than $1) books, that were on my master list at home, that we don't have, I pretty much stuck to my list. And the one thing that I thought I would surely not find or if I did it would be much to expensive to purchase with my minimal cash on hand -- was not only there, complete and available, but well within my budget. The Lord is so good. I wanted to do Miquon Math with my son, because I already had part of the set. I just needed the student books (6 @ $6.95 ea. new, never mind shipping). I got all six, plus both teachers books for a grand total of $10. Yes, I am praising the Lord. But more so, I'm praising Him because upon bringing it home my son said, "Mom, it looks really fun, can I start it now?" Seriously, today we did our first math page in it. I also got Bronze Bow; Hittey, Her First Hundred Years; Lentil; several Magic Tree House books; and a couple other paper back classics that we were missing -- exactly which ones escape me now. My prayer is that all of you single mom's will be as blessed (and truly feel and appreciate it) as much as I have been as I prepare for the coming academic year. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 8, 2008
Winter Promise
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I went to a year end homeschool presentation recently and talking with a mom there learned about a curriculum called Winter Promise. I checked out their website and ordered their catalog. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of it or is using it? I love new discoveries like this. It's that time of year again, if you haven't already planned next year, I'm sure you're thinking about what you're going to need. You might want to go by and check it out. Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 1, 2008
One of those "Wow!" Devotional Moments
Posted in Single Moms as Keepers at Home
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It isn't so much that the devotional itself was a "Wow!" but more my thoughts on it ten years ago and then today. GOD'S CALLING JOURNAL
p. 163 "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." Song of Solomon 6:3 "The way of the soul's transformation is the Way of Divine Companionship. Not so much the asking Me to make you this or that but the living with Me, thinking of Me, talking to Me -- thus you grow like me. Love me. Rest in Me. Joy in Me." My journal entry from Monday, June 1, 1998:
"I often forget that for my family I can claim the Lord's promised companionship -the promise to be a husband (provider) and a father to the fatherless. I need to claim this perfect companionship as I struggle to raise my daughter. I am a single parent, but I'm not alone, if I claim this." Wow! This was before homeschooling, before I believed I could be a keeper-at-home, before I had ever heard of Doug Phillips or listened to Defending the Fatherless (click on this in the Link section of my side bar for more information). Ten years ago, the Lord was already laying the foundation, that would be built upon through my life. How quickly I forget what the Lord has already taught me. How many lessons He must teach me over and over. I'm so glad for His long-sufferings with me. How about you? Are there lessons that you find the Lord is teaching you again, and again, and again? Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Jun. 1, 2008
Update on THE House
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As perfect as it seemed, apparently this house was not THE house after all. We got the call today that it was a no go. Sigh! MaggieRaye |