~ 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.
A fellow sister and I are studying through the book of Hebrews together. We just finished chapter 12 and next week we will be finishing the book. :-( We have had some good discussions and the Lord has brought many things to light as we have studied his word. Praise His name!
I wanted to share with you some thoughts about the first couple of verses.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The witnesses are those who before us followed God faithfully. Even in the midst of persecution, trials, and tribulation...even when they did not get to see the promises that were given to them they still kept the faith and followed the Lord God of Israel. After reading chapter 11 (the faith chapter) I felt a desire to have that faith and follow the Lord in the midst of ALL those things. Praise God that we have the Holy Spirit & through His power and might we can keep the faith no matter what! They (the witnesses) can be our encouragement to press on and push forward in our walk with the Lord.
If we are going to run the race we need to lay aside all the things that entangle us. If you notice it says "encumbrance and sin". In the past I always thought this was speaking about sin but that word encumbrance means weight or bulk. Yes, our sin is a weight but there are other things that can weigh us down. Are there things in your life that weigh you down and prevent you from running the race with endurance? I have never raced before but I know they do not carry around a weight or load themselves down with things because it would hinder their ability to finish the race. They would become tired and not able to run the course set before them. We too get tired when we are running this race that God has set before us - we worry and fret, allow anger and bitterness to remain in our hearts, hold onto our possessions and relationships...but God wants us to put those things away from us and give them to him.
I found it interesting that the word 'entangles' can mean encircle, easily avoided, admired, ensnaring and dangerous. WOW! Can you see how that can relate to sin and the things we let weigh us down? Sin can encircle, we can easily avoid it (but sometimes we choose not to), sin can be ensnaring and before we know it we are bound up in it, sin is also dangerous no matter what sin it is - it is dangerous but sometimes we choose not to see it that way, and yes at times we admire sin and want to follow the world and what it has to offer.
We need to have a focus when we run the race - Jesus is our focus. Just like a runner is focused on the finish line or the goal that he has set; we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. The word 'fixing' means to 'look away from other things'. We should not be looking at the world and what it has to offer, our family, our worries and troubles...our eyes must be on our Savior. It reminds me of Peter as he walked on the water...when he took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink. We too will "sink" if our eyes are not on the one who brings us salvation, hope, peace and joy.
Run...run the race with perseveranceor endurance...lay aside everything that hinders you and entangles...fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...
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.
