~ 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.
Sep. 27, 2007 - Where is your joy? Update on Esther Bible study
I missed Bible study last week. It has been a crazy week so I spent this evening catching up on Esther so that I would be prepared tomorrow night. I wanted to share some things with you that really struck me tonight as I was studying. Wow it is amazing how the Lord reveals things to you little by little. I love it!
Chapter 5 of Esther
Esther has gone before the King and he held out the scepter to her. She approaches the throne and he asks her what she needs. She invites him and Haman to a banquet that day. The king and Haman promptly go the banquet and he asks Esther again what she needs. Well Esther invites them to another banquet the next day and she says she will tell the king at that time. Well Haman thinks himself something special and he is full of joy because he is the only one to be invited to this special banquet. (I don"t think Haman would be so joyful if he knew what tomorrow had in store for him.)
Haman's joy doesn't last because he sees Mordecai, who still refuses to pay homage to him. This enrages Haman but he controls himself and goes home to find solace from his wife and friends. Haman has allowed a small situation to ruin his whole outlook on life. He has lost his joy and happiness mainly because his joy hinges on his circumstances.
As I was reading this passage it struck me that I so many times I loose my joy because I allow something or someone to take it away from me. We can also allow a situation or circumstance steal our joy. I am guilty of this. I can allow the frustrations and struggles of the day to determine my joy. But my joy should not come from people, circumstances or things it should come from the Lord.
We are blessed beyond belief and we have more than we deserve:
Ephesians 1:3-14 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
If we could remember that we have been blessed in these few areas and many more I think our joy would be more stable. We would not allow the "little" things in life bring us down. We could be a wonderful testimony to our families, friends and neighbors. In the strength of the Lord we can be joyful moms & dads.
Thank you for stopping by and remember comments are welcomed.
Grace, peace, & JOY,
Tammy
P.S. Please do not get me wrong...I know there are times when we are sorrowful because of a death or other tragedy. I am not saying there isn't a time or place for being sorrowful and mourning.
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.
It has been a crazy week so I spent this evening catching up on Esther so that I would be prepared tomorrow night. I wanted to share some things with you that really struck me tonight as I was studying. Wow it is amazing how the Lord reveals things to you little by little. I love it!