~ About Me ~
Hi, welcome to my blog. I will be sharing our experience as we homeschool 5 boys - our struggles, trials, prayers, and blessings. There are many challenges along the way for any homeschooler and I hope you are encouraged by what you read here. We use Sonlight and My Father's World as our main curriculum. Thank you for stopping by and comments are welcomed.
I have decided to move my blog...if you would like to visit me head on over to Encouragement for the Day - I would love a visit from all of you. I am still settling in so please don't mind the mess and disarray...I hope to have it all sorted out soon. If you are wondering why I decided to move well there are several reasons actually:
1. Blogger seems to be easier to navigate and change things around...changing things here took me forever.
2. I have a google account & I think it will be easier for me having my email, calendar, blog etc. all in one location.
I have "met" some great friends and sisters through HSB & I hope to continue visiting and spending time getting to know each other.
Welcome to Thankful Thursday! Visit Iris at Grace Alone and be encouraged by the many thankful hearts represented there.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
We are finishing up our study on Romans in our Wednesday night Bible study. :-( I have learned so much and grown a lot in my walk with Christ - I will miss this precious book! I know it is always there for me to go back to and revisit but as always my focus will not be on this book but on the next book we tackle. I wish I had the time to absorb each book of the Bible over and over again...but alas that is not possible. I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to bring to my mind the things I have learned over the last few months. I am thankful for the group of people that meet each week in our home and are able to share this journey with them.
I am thankful for my faith...faith that brings so many blessings into my life. I was reminded tonight that faith gives us hope, joy, peace, salvation, my faith pleases the Lord and because of my faith righteousness is credited to me. The Lord is good - I do not claim to understand it all but I know He is faithful and He gives me the ability to take those steps of faith. As I walk in faith He is there to guide me and provide for me and my faith is strengthened. I also have the walk of others to encourage me - the scriptures are full of examples of those who have gone on before us and we can follow in their faith legacy. Their wonderful examples give us the courage we need to move forward and trust in the Lord. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage us and urge us on in our faith. I am so thankful for the Word of God and the people He has brought into my life.
Thank you Lord!
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A few verses on faith...may they be a blessing to you today:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
~ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.Ephesians 3:11-12
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...in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
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Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7
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And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Welcome to Word-filled Wednesday!
We are studying the book of Romans in our Wednesday study - what a wonderful book! It has been thought provoking, challenging and an encouragement to me in my walk with Christ. I am blessed to know that I no longer have to live my life in sin because Jesus has set me free. He has given me new life and I do not have to work my way into God's favor. The Lord is so gracious and loving as He reaches out to sinful man and welcomes him into a relationship. He is good!
I love the picture of the rowers working together. I remember a time when I was working with someone to try and get our canoe across a lake. We were not experts and ended up going in circles most of the time or in a direction we did not want to go. It was frustrating but in the end when we figured it out - life became a littler easier. We were finally able to make it to our destination. It is the same with the body of Christ - we must work together in love. If we do not, we end up going in circles or not finding our destination. The Bible is full of examples of working together as a body - in unity...together not apart…complimenting one another...encouraging one another...
If you would like to know more about word-filled Wednesday visit The 160 Acre Woods!
My boys love to draw and so I have found these books from Usborne to be great assets to our homeschool library.
I Can Draw Animals is from Usborne's Playtime Series and is recommended for ages 4 to 8. It teaches kids how to draw sixteen different animals such as a lion, bee, rabbit and a dolphin. The drawings are simple and easy to follow even for the youngest child.
What Shall I Draw? is from Usborne's Activities Series and is recommended for ages for ages 4 to 8 also. This book also teaches how to draw animals but also rockets and castles. The book also gives creative suggestions for adding and changing your pictures.
Both of these books are easy to use and would be a great way to keep the younger ones busy while you are teaching your older children.
I haven't been very faithful with Fruit of the Spirit Fridays...I am not sure the reason why but I am praying about what the Lord would have me do...
Today I want to share with you some thoughts I have on a few verses from the book, Having a Mary Spirit Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out. We are using this book for our women's study at church. The chapter I read ended in this verse:
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us...(Eph. 3:20 NASB)
Wow! I have always loved this verse because it tells me God has more for me than I can imagine. BUT so many times I grumble and complain because I do not get what I want - how selfish of me, how foolish of me to forget that the Lord is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that I ask or think. Many times I settle for second best instead of waiting on the Lord, going to Him and asking Him what He wants me to do...how does He want me to respond...is this what He wants me to have...
My prayer is this verse will be engraved in my mind so that I do not forget and I will enjoy the blessings the Lord has for me not what I want for myself.
He is faithful and just to forgive me of those sins - thank you Lord! Thank you that you do not leave me as I am but continue to change me and mold me into your image. Thank you Lord that you give me what I need not always what I want. Thank you Lord that you are able to do far more abundantly beyond all that I ask or think...Thank you Jesus!
Let me close with the rest of the passage:
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:13-21 NASB
Nov. 6, 2008 - Thankful Thursday - God of Shalom....
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:6-8 (NASB)
As I meditate on these verses I find comfort in knowing that the Lord will take care of all things. We do not have to worry, fret or be anxious! Oh this is so difficult for me sometimes but I know the peace I can have if I will but trust in Him. I am thankful for the Lord's peace (shalom)! I am thankful that when I go to Him prayer and hand Him all my concerns, fears and failures - He will listen and peace will guard my heart and my mind. Hallelujah! Oh how I need my mind and heart guarded from those things - fears can plagued me, past failures can keep me from moving forward and the uncertainty of the future can make me want to hide until He calls me home. But thank you Lord I don't have to be plagued and unable to function in my walk with the Lord.
I am thankful the Lord guides us in renewing our minds and tells us what to think on...I don't know about you but I need someone to prompt me, remind me and tell me what to think on. I am thankful there are things truthful, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute and excellence things to dwell on. Thank you Father that you have not left us to our own devices...you know we are dust and need You.
I am thankful that the Lord is still on the throne, He is sovereign, full of grace and truth, He is love and gives it freely...
Therefore encourage one another and build
each other up... 1 Thessalonians 5:11b
Aug. 21, 2008 - Thankful Thursday
Iris at Sting My Heart is focusing on peace today. Everyone longs for peace - peace in their homes and in their countries. As Iris pointed out one definition of peace is: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Another definition, which encompasses the above definition is: Strong's Concordance 7965 - Hebrew Shalom ..... A word study in the New King James version for SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.
I am so thankful for the peace of God. It is more than being free from conflict on the outside...it is true freedom from conflict on the inside. So many times we appear to be cool, calm and collective but inside our emotions and thoughts are raging. I am so thankful that we, as believers, can have shalom even in our inner being. When the storm is raging call on your Prince of Peace and He will quiet you with His peace. Thank you Jesus for that peace...it is a strong testimony of your work in our lives.
I am also thankful for my MIL and her sister. They have offered to take the boys for a day so that I can have some time to myself.
I am thankful that my dh's new job is going well. The Lord has given him peace, wisdom and strength each day.
My prayer for you:
The LORD bless you, and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace (shalom). Numbers 6:24-26
Sonshine over at Glimpse of Sonshine presented me with this award - Thank you for your kindness!! It was not easy to choose only 5 blogs for this award because I enjoy reading so encouraging and informative blogs. Blessings to all of you...and keep on writing!!
Now I must:
1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
2. Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.
3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put a name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4. The award winner and presenter should post the link of the �Arte y pico� blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Please post these rules.
I nominate the following blogs for this award(in no particular order!)...
Tiany at Less of Me~More of Him: a beautiful blog plus homeschooling and homemaking resources
Stacy at By God's Grace: love her cute graphics, worship music & her willingness to be real about life and give God the glory
Dee at Boys 'R' Us: fellow homeschool mom of all boys; enjoy reading her humorous posts about life with all boys
Song of the Sagebrush: enjoy her poems & posts about her life on the ranch; brings me back to the simple way of life
Shorty Bear's Place: love to read her Thankful Thursday post; a beautiful heart that loves the Lord
"Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You..."Jeremiah 32:17
I am thankful there is nothing to difficult for our God. If He can create the heavens and the earth through His great power then we can be sure He is able to accomplish mighty things in our own lives.
I am thankful for my husband, who has worked tirelessly this week training in his second job and continues to accomplish work in the ministry. I am thankful for his dedication to the Lord and to his family.
I am thankful for my children. They are each a unique gift from the Lord. They may bring challenges into our lives but they are also a huge blessing.
Thank you Iris for hosting the Thankful Thursday meme. If you would like to know more head on over to her blog and check it out. You will not be disappointed.
