~ 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 really wanted to continue talking about love this week but I haven't had the time I wanted to put into it. The next fruit of the Spirit is peace and I am going to cheat a little and use a previous post from Thankful Thursday. I have a more thoughts to add to this post...here goes...
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Everyone longs for peace - peace in their homes and in their countries. One definition of peace is: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Strong's Concordance defines the
Hebrew word for peace..... 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.
It is more than being free from conflict on the outside...it is true freedom from conflict on the inside. It is at rest from worry and free from discord within us. So many times we appear to be cool, calm and collective but inside our emotions and thoughts are raging. Because we have the Holy Spirit our inner being can be at rest, complete, whole, and tranquil - shalom can be found in our inner being. How do we "get" this peace? I would suggest each one of us already has shalom but because we have not surrendered to the Holy Spirit and bathed ourselves in the Lord's promises - peace seems to be missing from our lives.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What a wonderful promise! Have you ever experienced that kind of peace? The peace that you cannot comprehend and those around you are wondering how you can be at peace with the circumstances you are going through. I remember a time when my dh and I were going through some financial turmoil and I just knew the Lord was going to take care of us. I had no worries because I had given Him the problem. An unsaved friend was so amazed that I was calm about it...she asked me why I wasn't worrying about this huge problem. I explained to her that my God is able to take care of anything. He will provide so I don't need to worry and fret. She wasn't able to understand - it was beyond her comprehension. I think it is difficult for unbelievers to understand this but there are also times when our brothers and sisters in Christ will not be able to comprehend; we will have times that we will not comprehend the peace of God in our hearts.
Surrender to the Lord through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and the peace of God will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. It may take perseverance and you may need to give it to Him many times and remind yourself of His promises but the shalom will come - it is a promise.
Thank you Jesus for the peace you give...it is a strong testimony of Your work in our lives.
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.
