Devon's Young Journey in Life. - Homeschool Blogger

Merry Christmas

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 11:58:00 -0600

Merry Christmas

The Christ Child is born!

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit...

Today is a day for celebrating gifts,
and we celebrate it with gifts.
But, Lord, help us to remember
that no gift we receive this season
can ever be as important
as those gifts we already possess.

We thank You for the gift of health,
and we remember and pray for those who are sick.
We thank You for the gifts of home and work,
and we remember and pray for those who are homeless or unemployed.
We thank You for the gift of plentiful food,
here today and every day,
and we remember and pray for those who are hungry.
We thank You for the gift of family,
those here with us today and those who are away,
and for the love of good friends.
We remember and pray for those who are alone.
We thank You for the gifts of Your constant guidance and numerous blessings,
and we remember and pray for those who do not know You.

Most importantly, Lord, we thank You
for the gift of Your Son,
whom You sent to us on this night so long ago.
Help us to remember
that it is for this reason alone
we gather here to celebrate.

Amen.

_________________________

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:21:00 -0600

Thanksgiving Proclamation:

The year that is drawing toward hits close, has been filled with blessing and fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extracotdinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almight God.

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other natiion has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessing were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficeient to feel the neccessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out thes great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficient Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

Abraham Lincoln 1863

Do You Know Bailey's Jesus?

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:21:00 -0600

Do You Know Bailey's Jesus?

God recently allowed me to see Jesus through the eyes of someone seeing Him for the first time. Having the advantage of knowing how the story ends, we can easily forget the cost of our redemption and the love of our Savior.

Every year we attend a local church pageant at Christmas time, which tells the story of Jesus from His birth through His resurrection. It is a spectacular event, with live animals and hundreds of cast members in realistic costumes. The magi enter the huge auditorium on llamas from the rear, descending the steps in pomp and majesty. Roman soldiers look huge and menacing in their costumes and makeup.

Of all the years we have attended, one stands out indelibly in my heart. It was the year we took our then three-year-old granddaughter, Bailey, who loves Jesus. She was mesmerized throughout the entire play, not just watching, but involved as if she were a player. She watches as Joseph and Mary travel to the Inn and is thrilled when she sees the baby Jesus in His mother's arms.

When Jesus, on a young donkey, descends the steps from the back of the auditorium, depicting His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Bailey was ecstatic. As he neared our aisle, Bailey began jumping up and down, screaming, "Jesus, Jesus! There's Jesus!" Not just saying the words but exclaiming them with every fiber of her being. She alternated between screaming his name and hugging us. "It's Jesus. Look!" I thought she might actually pass out.

Tears filled my eyes as I looked at Jesus through the eyes of a child in love with Him, seeing Him for the first time. How like the blind beggar screaming out in reckless abandon, "Jesus, Jesus!", afraid he might miss Him, not caring what others thought. This was so much fun.

Then came the arrest scene. On stage, the soldiers shoved and slapped Jesus as they moved Him from the Garden of Gethsemane to Pilate. Bailey responded as if she were in the crowd of women, with terror and anger. "Stop it!" she screamed. "Bad soldiers, stop it!" As I watched her reaction, I wished we had talked to her before the play. "Bailey it's OK. They are just pretending." "They are hurting Jesus! Stop it!"

She stood in her seat reacting to each and every move. People around us at first smiled at her reaction, thinking "How cute!". Then they quit smiling and began watching her watch Him. In a most powerful scene, the soldiers lead Jesus carrying the cross down the steps of the auditorium from the back. They were yelling, whipping, and cursing at Jesus, who was bloodied and beaten. Bailey was now hysterical. "Stop it! Soldiers! Stop it," she screamed. She must have been wondering why all these people did nothing. She then began to cry instead of scream. "Jesus, Oh, Jesus!" People all around us began to weep as we all watch this devoted little disciple see her Jesus beaten and killed as those first century disciples had.

Going back and forth between her mother's lap and mine for comfort, she was distraught. I kept saying, "Bailey, it's OK. Jesus is going to be OK. These are just people pretending to be soldiers. She looked at me like I was crazy. In my lap, we talked through the cross and burial. "Watch, Bailey, watch for Jesus!"

The tomb began to tremble and lightening flashed as the stone rolled away. A super bowl touchdown cheer couldn't come close to matching this little one's reaction to the resurrection. "Jesus! He's OK. Mommy, it's Jesus!"

I prayed that she wasn't going to be traumatized by this event, but that she would remember it. I shall never forget it. I shall never forget seeing Jesus' suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection through the eyes of an innocent child.

Following the pageant the actors all assembled in the foyer to be greeted by the audience. As we passed by some of the soldiers Bailey screamed out, "Bad soldier, don't you hurt Jesus." The actor who portrayed Jesus was some distance away surrounded by well-wishers and friends. Bailey broke away from us and ran toward Him, wrapping herself around His legs, holding on for dear life. He hugged her and said, "Jesus loves you." He patted her to go away.

She wouldn't let go. She kept clinging to Him, laughing and calling His name. She wasn't about to let go of her Jesus.

I think God in heaven stopped what ever was going on that day and made all the angels watch Bailey. "Now, look there! You see what I meant when I said, 'Of such is the kingdom of heaven?'"

~ Ginger LaGrone Tucker ~

The Promise

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:43:00 -0500

The Promise

The Promise

Isaiah 11 paints a beautiful promise from our Heavenly Father to us. I haven't seen many pictures of the wolf and the lamb together and curiously, not any included the child who would lead. I felt moved to depict this vision through my drawings. I had prayed and asked the Lord if Isaiah's vision would be what He wanted for my next project after "The Lion of Judah". The following weekend HIs answer came with a definite yes. On the way to a festival in the mountains, my husband and I took a scenic drive up. We noticed an older couple petting deer and elk in the wild! We pulled over to view this spectacle up close. The woman commented to us that this must be a glimpse of the future when Jesus reigns! A large young elk came up to me with a young deer by his side to be pet. What an answer to prayer! So I went home with the Lord's blessing to draw "The Promise".

The child's place in the Kingdom of God is one of importance. In our society today, children are not thought of in the way our Lord Jesus sees them. I feel this picture is appropriate to remind us of why we need them, to remind us of how we should be to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Children are vulnerable and sense the uncertainty in our world today. I feel this picture is important to display their position and validity in Adonai's eyes. The Promise is one of surety of who they are and what they have to look forward to. It's also to remind us to be like these precious ones in the sight of God as He warns up in Luke 18:16-17, However, Yeshua called the children to HIm and said, "Let the children come to Me and stop hindering them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Yes! I tell you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, will not enter it at all!"

Matthew 18:1-6, At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" And He called a child to Him, stood him among them, and said, "Yes, I tell you that unless you change and become like little children, you won't even enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So the greatest in the Kingdom is whoever makes himself as humble as this child. Whoever welcomes one such child in My name, welcomes Me and whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust Me, it would be better for him to have a millstone around his neck and be drowned in the open sea."

The lattice was an afterthought following the event of my cat walking with muddy paws across the work in progress. Fortunately the Lord remedied it with the idea of lattice to cover up the disaster. The lattice completes the message to when the lover peers through the lattice in Song of Solomon 2:9b "Behold, he is standing behind our wall, he is looking through the windows, he is peering through the lattice." Also in 1 Corinthians 13:12, For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

In the time the picture depicts, we will see Jesus face to face as the child does on the same side of the lattice! The pure in heart will see God! Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. A child's innocence is the most precious condition of the heart to obtain, cherish, and protect. Unfortunately this world is doing everything to destroy such beauty as the children are the main target for evil, like the rampant abortion, drugs and pornography.

I pray this picture speaks life to our hearts and minds to pray for the children effectively to know their value to God and restores hope and innocence in a time to be ready for "The Promise",
In His Holy Son's name Jeshua, Jesus, I pray. Amen. - Pamela J. C. Smart

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:43:00 -0500

THE AARONIC BENEDICTION

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:39:00 -0500

Yeshua: The Hebrew Word for Jesus

" Train up a child in the way he will go,
and when he is old, he will not depart from it. "
(Proverbs 22:6)

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:19:00 -0500

Paul N. F. (8 Oct 2007)
"TENNESSEE FOOTBALL"

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL
          This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the
football game at Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee , by
school Principal, Jody McLeod.

           "It has always been the custom at Roane County High School
football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to
honor God and Country."

          Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that
saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand
the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of
sexual perversion and call it "an alternate lifestyle," and if
someone is offended, that's OK.

            I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing
condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.

           I can even use this public facility to present the merits
of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If
someone is offended, no problem...

          I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve
students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess
"Mother Earth" and call it "ecology."

          I can use literature, videos and presentations in the
classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian
convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."

           However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to
ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then
Federal Case Law is violated.

            This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst,
diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and
anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

          Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff
an d students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily
agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at
worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough
unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

           For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is
Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

           "However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank
GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please
feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

            One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads,
held hands with one another and began to pray.

            They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team
huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the
Announcer's Box!

            The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court
of the United States of America -- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one
nation, under GOD."

          Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have
forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom
FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

           JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I
will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER."

----------
Yours In Christ,
Paul N. F.

As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14   "Heaven can be entered only
through the narrow gate!

The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the
multitudes who choose
its easy way.

But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a
few ever find it.

Notice that HE said that "only a few ever find it."

Meerkat Manor.

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 08:37:00 -0500

Devon and I love to watch Meerkat Manor. Friday night flower, the matriarch of the family died from a cobra bite. She was trying to defend her pups. That show is like watching a soap opra, it keeps you coming back every week to see whats happening. Devon is an animal lover like his mom. I would love to be one of those people who rehabilitate animals that have been hurt. I know Devon would love it too. There is a great zoo in Tyler that we have gone to. I want to take him back there soon. This weekend we are going to the " Red River Revel " in Shreveport Louisiana. There are a lot of great cajun bands that play there, and the food is gonna be great too. I love cajun food, its good and spicey.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:56:00 -0500

Someone posted this on a forum that I belong to. I thought it was to cute.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He
just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything
nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly
use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be
pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his bac kground. Like is he a crook? Does he
get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and
YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on. (I love this one!)

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a
goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by r oom inspection. She sees the stuff under the
bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power cause
that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside, she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of
plastic surgery.
2. Dye it. You know, her hair. I'd dye it, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get
rid of that.
2 . I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister
who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back
of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS,
GRANDMOTHERS, AUNTS and anyone else who has anything to do with kids
or just needs a good laugh!!!

Dog chewed the cable to my computer.

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:44:00 -0500

I have been off line for about 3 days now. The dogs decided I needed a break from the computer, so they chewed the cable into. I just got it fixed today lol. Devon is learning to write his name, do keyboarding, math and learning the sounds of his letters. He comes to me with it, wanting to learn. I want to keep this love of learning with him for the rest of his life. In a couple of months I am starting sonlight. I love the fact they stress so much reading, if he masters that then he has won half the battle. I am a big reader, I think he will be too. God bless !!

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:12:00 -0500

I think I will go ahead and go with sonlight. I have been reading the laws in Texas and it doesn't say anywhere that it has to be accreditated. I just worry that if and when Devon goes to college, that they may not take him because of the accrditation issue. I think sonlight would be a wonderful school. I want Devon to have a love of reading like me, and reading plays an extremely big part in this school. It is also christian based too. I think I am going for it. I like Calvert but it isn't right for us. Wish me luck.

Sonlight academy.

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:55:00 -0500

If anyone reading this is using the sonlight homeshcool course for their child, could you tell me if it is a good school. Thank you.

They won't let me in.

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:46:00 -0500

I found this story and wanted to share it.

They Wont Let Me In

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. People were filling the church to its full capacity! As they entered, each were given a bulletin filled with announcements, topic of today's sermon, what songs they would sing and who to pray for.

At the end of the line stood an older man. His clothes were filthy and you could tell that he had not bathed in days. His face was covered with whiskers, for he had not shaved for a very long time. When he reached the usher, he removed his tattered old brown hat in respect. His hair was long, dirty, and a tangled mess. He had no shoes on his feet, and wore only soiled black socks to cover the sores upon his feet. The Usher looked at him turning up his nose at the old man and said, "Uh, I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid we can't let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don't allow anyone to disrupt our service. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that he had underlined. But he was respectful, and didn't want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church.

He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen through closed doors and windows to the singing going on in the church. Oh how he wished he could be inside with all the others.

A few minutes had passed by when all of a sudden a younger man came up behind him and sat down near him. He asked the old man what he was doing? He answered, "I was going to go to church today, but they thought I was to filthy, my clothes to old and worn, and they were afraid I would disrupt their service.

Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is George." The two men shook hands, and George couldn't help but notice that this man had long hair like his. He wore a piece of cloth draped over his body tied with a royal purple sash. He had sandals on his feet, now covered with dust and dirt.

The stranger touched George's shoulder, and said: "George, don't feel bad because they won't let you in. My name is Jesus, and I've been trying to get into this same church for years -- they won't let me in either."

Addendum -- Hebrews 13:2 (GNB) "Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it."

[ Author Unknown -- from Denial -- Ed:Anon. ]

Fair Time.

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:54:00 -0500

Well it's fair time around here. It isn't very big but Devon thinks it's Six Flags lol. I remember going to the fair when I was young, and being so excited about it. I would ride the rides until I was sick. The food was the best ever, with all those cotton candy smells, and hamburgers and pies. I think I might fill up on the pies and cotton candy tonight and leave out the pukey rides . It usually rains around here at fair time, but not this year. I'm glad it didn't for Devon, so he can enjoy it. That's my Sunshine boy there.

Devons Noahs Ark.

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:00:00 -0500

So I am in the kitchen cooking, I go into devons room and he has built himself a noahs ark boat. He took a large rack down out of the bathroom, the covers off the bed, used his grannys walker, and his desk chair to build this thing. That's my baby. He loves to learn and build things. I need to buy him some large building blocks for him. I do worry that he doesn't have friends to play with. I know things will work itself out. God please help me to raise him in the way you want. Amen.

School in the afternoon.

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:45:00 -0500

Today there is no way we will get his schooling done in the morning. It will be later this afternoon. Today we will try and get 2-lessons in instead of the 1. The preK is just to easy for him. He loves art of any kind, and wants to paint, color, play with the clay. I'm proud of my baby!

Nothing done on Friday.

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:27:00 -0500

Well we didn't get his school work done friday. Everything was to hectic. We will double up monday. The preK is to easy for him, so I think we will double up on his lessons. He really wants to keep going when we finish a lesson, but I have been making him stop. I have been afraid of burning him out on it. He's like the little bunny that wants to keep going, and going, and going, and going lol.

Teach the Children.

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:39:00 -0500

“You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you. It is also for your children” (Acts 2:38&39).

In this day and age it is more and more important to teach our children to come to God and his son Jesus. Without our teaching them they will be lost. It is our responsibility to show them the love of God and his son for us. With Jesus and the Father in them, the sexual imorality, drunkenness, drug addiction, teen pregnancy, suicide, and dispair will be greatly lessened.

We must teach them to pray so that they will always know that God is there when we are not. Teach them that God will be a friend and warrior for them in times of trouble. If we teach them these things they may stray a little in life, but they will always come back to God.

Fall of the Year.

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:54:00 -0500

We are so ready for fall, I just love that time of the year. Everything feels so fresh and clean. We go to the mountains in Oklahoma, and walk through the trails there. Beavers Bend is a great little place to go. Devon loves the animal center there. They take care of animals that have been hurt. Some they rehabilitate, and some they have to keep because their injuries are to severe. The trees there are beautiful, with all the red, yellow and orange.

The Sunshine of my life.

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:35:00 -0500

Devon's Young Journey in Life. - Homeschool Blogger

Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Do You Know Bailey's Jesus?

The Promise

THE AARONIC BENEDICTION

" Train up a child in the way he will go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. " (Proverbs 22:6)

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL

Meerkat Manor.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Dog chewed the cable to my computer.

Sonlight academy.

They won't let me in.

[ Author Unknown -- from Denial -- Ed:Anon. ]

Fair Time.

Devons Noahs Ark.

School in the afternoon.

Nothing done on Friday.

Teach the Children.

Fall of the Year.

The Sunshine of my life.

" Train up a child in the way he will go,
and when he is old, he will not depart from it. "
(Proverbs 22:6)