Homeschool Blessings - Homeschool Blogger

Guitar Lessons and Looking for Instructional Guides

Wed, 4 Oct 2006 21:05:00 -0500

My 13 year old doesn't know it, but we are getting him a guitar for Christmas.

A few months ago a friend of ours taught him to play some chords. That took him from being curious to just having to play. Ever since then he has been full steam ahead researching all he can about playing. It appears as though he may have finally found an instrument that clicks with his personality. I've found a few resources, including a friend, for lessons. But I'd also like to find some instructional videos and/or books to give him along with it on Christmas.

If you have a resource would you please leave me a note? There was even one book series I found at the Michigan INCH convention this year. But upon returning home it seems I lost the business card. :-(

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Love in Christ,

Vicki

2006 Homeschool Family FIRE Camp - On The Prairie Trail

Fri, 12 May 2006 18:47:00 -0500

Fire Camp 2006 : On The Prairie Trail

The Affordable Homeschool Family Camping and Seminar Experience!

At FIRE Camp, we believe in strengthening the family unit. One way our family of ministries hope to assist families is through our camping program.

Consider joining us for one week of family fun this summer! Visit our site at http://www.inspirationstationseminars.com/firecamp for all the details!

CLEP prep courses are back! We welcome David and Laurie Callihan back as they teach Introductory Psychology. Read the importance of a Christian worldview in this subject on our website.

In the evening, Wisdom's Gate will be here to lend encouragement to the parents while the children enjoy a pioneer themed children's program with Joyful Kids Ministries.

In addition to this we also have these activities in the works: Candle making, Archery, High Ropes, Math pentathlon games, Corn Husk/Clothes Pin Dolls, Pioneer toy making and woodworking, Panning for (fool's) Gold, Clay marble making, Indian beading, Crochet and other pioneer crafting, Sling shot apples tournament, Booking It! Workshop, Camp town races, History of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Miniature covered wagons, and one stroke art lessons. To top all this off we have our week long team project to build 6 foot long covered wagons!!!

Visit our site often as we are updating it as we confirm more activities and projects. http://www.inspirationstationseminars.com/firecamp

Register by June 1st and your entire FIRE Camp Family Pass is only $200 -- That is for the WHOLE FAMILY!!! This includes all the activities we are hosting.* Camp sites are as low as $25 per night, per family with hook ups! Cabins are also available.

Visit our site today for more information! http://www.inspirationstationseminars.com/firecamp

May Your Day Be Blessed,

Your FIRE Camp Team

P.S.

While you are visiting the FIRE Camp site, take a minute to vote in our poll for future camp dates.

Feel free to forward this message to your friends and family!

* At this time the High Ropes, CLEP course, and Art classes are being hosted by other ministries.

Thoughts on Easter and our Passover Lamb

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 11:03:00 -0500

As we prepare to celebrate Easter and the glorious resurrection our our Lord and Savior, let us take a few moments to truly comprehend the magnitude of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

I can't imagine a day that goes by that I do not do something to fall short of God's Will for me. Maybe it was the tone I took with someone, maybe it was not following through on something I knew God wanted me to do. Either way, I fell short.

Christ, in all he did, never fell short. He suffered for each and every transgression no matter how small or large we perceived them to be because each and every transgression separates us from God. Yet, He was a spotless and blameless Lamb. The ultimate Passover offering of atonement.

He was tried just as much as, and I believe even more so then, any of us will ever have to endure. Still, He was the Son with whom the Father is well pleased. If He can suffer for a sinner like me, do I not owe it to Him to give a little extra? Shouldn't I try a little harder?

There is a song called "Here I Am To Worship" with the line: "I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross". Can you imagine being at the foot of the cross and finally realizing the prophecy of the old testament; realizing that each and every drop of blood shed was to free you; the pain was for you; the reward was for you? He suffered so we wouldn't have to!

We have such a selfless and loving God. The one true God who desires us to draw closer to Him and develop a true relationship with Him. Not a one way street of us talking away when we feel like it, but a conversation with Him. He wants to guide and direct our paths. Knowing what a giving, loving and selfless God I have, why would I choose to not listen? How can I do anything but collapse into His loving embrace and say, "Not my will, but Your's be done!" ?

The Nest, The Egg and The Yoke.

Wed, 4 Jan 2006 18:33:00 -0600

You may be asking yourself �What possible connection could a nest, and egg and a yoke have to a homeschooling family outside of a science project?�.

Connections are important to us as human beings. Most babies crave to be touched to confirm a connection. We seek out friendships to make a connection with others sharing the journey. Connections help us feel like we fit in and are established.

There is one connection, and one connection alone, that will fill our needs. And that is through a relationship with the Lord. Each and every action we are part of either builds or destroys a piece of that connection. This is where the nest, egg and yoke fit in.

I looked up the definition of yoke. There were quite a few of them. While some did refer to being under oppression, most dealt with being bonded or joined together.

Pour some oil and some water into a jar. No matter how hard you try to mix them, they will separate. Even when you shake them up, they do not stay blended. Ultimately, they only touch at the point they are separated. They can both be in the same jar, yet not be joined.

The same is true for our relationships. The Bible says in

2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

When we are searching for deep and meaningful connections we need to be looking for relationships that bring us closer to God. Does this mean that those who are not Christian or those who are more casual Christians should be totally removed from our lives? Let�s look into this scripture further.

�for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?�

Fellowship implies a relationship of common interests. It would be difficult for a child to resist using drugs if he or she kept regular company with drug users. The same is true if we spend our time with non-believers or casual Christians. We tend to get comfortable with that form of a connection.

When we get comfortable with views or behaviors that keep us from growing spiritually, we can become �tolerant� and even �desensitized� towards these things. This thought pattern can destroy, even if it only appears to be slightly, our relationship with the Father and opens the door for more destruction.

How then are we to be a light in the world?

This verse also says �Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers�. Unequally is what stands out to me. If your child spends one day a week with each of seven friends and one friend is a practicing Christian, but the other 6 are casual Christians or unbelievers with unsavory behaviors, which influence will be stronger?

Especially during formative years, be it a toddler, a teenager or a new believer who is 90 years old, we need to be sure our connections and relationships join us together with those of good practicing faith far more often then with unbelievers.

But there is one way to mix oil and water! That is with an emulsifier! If the water is dirty, you will make a nasty emulsion. But when the water is cleaned and the emulsifier is the Word of God, we blend together into a beautiful lotion.

When we add Christ, we have our preservative. As long as we keep our focus on Him, He keeps the lotion clean!!

Which lotion do you want to be part of?

To take this a step further lets introduce our nest. This nest is the home. It is a well built home in a mighty oak tree planted by living waters. The eggs represent each of us. And the yoke, our spiritual �heart�.

In nature, the yoke of an egg is where life begins. If the yoke is filled with that which is vile, our egg will not be able to develop as it should�.if at all. You might then be able to say that if our heart is not properly yoked it could easily have a negative effect on our spiritual life.

One of our goals should be that our lives, our thoughts, our actions are all lined up with the Lord�s Will. Doing this nourishes our egg�s �yoke�.

This does not mean that we have to avoid all communication with unbelievers. It does not mean that we do not go out to lunch with an unbeliever.

We do need to make wise choices as to whom we let into our nest and influence our yokes. If we are constantly inviting rotten eggs (and their influential and rotten yokes) into our nest we are going to do ourselves more harm then good.

The same is true when we have an unbalanced proportion of water, oil, emulsifier and preservative. We end up with a mess. Too much of one or too little of another could leave you with nothing more then a glop of bacteria attracting menace.

It can be hard finding the right balance when going out into the world. This can be especially true when we are investing so much of our time and love towards unbelievers. We want for them to know the Lord we know and love and whom loves us so dearly.

The key might be for some to love them with the love of God.

This creates a healthy yoking without binding and blending in of the unsavory into our own yokes.

Seek God for the balance that He has planned for you in each and every connection or relationship you cross paths with. Following His Will provides us with the best blend every time!

What is your faith worth?

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 18:05:00 -0600

This may seem like a silly question but far too many people, Christians included, have relied on others to tell them what to believe.

It is wonderful if, as a new Christian, you have someone to guide you; a person who will open the Bible and show you where to find the answers and even help you learn how to study. But you can't stay that way forever.

I realized I couldn't remember why I believed certain things. These were things taught when I was fresh in the Word. It was a time when any research that lasted more then a couple hours must have been exhaustive, at least in my mind.

In addition to spiritual growth, there are many reasons why we need to make each Biblical lesson our own. Many feel that Faith, Trust and Believing are one and the same. Our faith is given because we trust God. We trust God because we believe in His Word. But what do you believe? And more importantly, why do you believe it? I know that I am accountable for my believing. So, why would I take someone's word for it instead of making the Word my own?

Making the Word your own does not mean private interpretation. What it means is that we must study the word in order to be sure that it is rightly divided and to the point that we "get it". ( 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.) In my experience, every single study I have done to completion has always resulted in a "I got it" moment. That's the moment when it all makes sense to you and you know the spirit of God is saying...Yes!

The Bible says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17). This of course is completely true. We are called to witness. As such most people will hear the Word from our lips. Isn't it important that the Words we speak be rightly divided so that we bring others into truth?

So what I am asking you today is...What is your faith worth? Do you have first hand knowledge of what the Bible says or did you let someone show you and just took their word for it? Isn't it possible that as humans we are wrong sometimes? Isn't it possible that God has something new to reveal to you? Don't you want to be able to say "Father, I searched Your Word, I strived to understand You and Your Will with all that I am".

This is not to say that all those who share the Word have bad intentions. Not at all! But the adversary can more easily fool us by making it appear good then by making it obviously bad. How many of you would go out and commit sin full well knowing how hurtful your actions are? How many of you, unknowingly, did something that hurt someone but didn't know it until after you got the facts? This is what I am talking about.

We need to know that we know that we know the Word for ourselves. We can not be spoon-fed and self-feeding. We can not go out into this evil world standing boldly on the Word when we don't really know it. It is not wise to build a house without some type of foundation. It is only a matter of time before the house weakens and collapses. We need the Word and we need first hand study. We live in a world with so many false teachings and so many half-truths to steal us from our Father.

My Lord is my rock, what an awesome foundation I aim to claim!

May God bring you to His truth.

Below are some verses I felt led to share. All are in KJV.

Proverbs 10:13

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (we don't know the depth of our faith until we are tested).

James 1:6

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:3

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Whole chapter is awesome!)

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 14:23

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Queen of Foolish & Weak Things and Submission to His Will.

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:25:00 -0500

I have decided that I want to be the Queen of the idiots...or kindly said....of the Foolish and Weak Things.

I have an overwhelming desire to open myself up for God to use my life for His will.

Sometimes I feel so inadequate to fulfill the calling Father has placed on my life.

But it is in my weakness that He is made strong. I want to submit myself fully and in all things to His Holy Will. And if I must be a complete fool to do so, then so be it!!!

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

There are some areas in life that seem to come so easily to me to submit myself under His will. Many people are even amazed at times because they tend to be what people perceive as the "big things". But why, when it comes to everyday things, do I tend to want to do things my way? Who do I presume to know better then He?

What is funny (in a not so funny way) is that this attitude is a peeve of mine. My oldest son is a huge help to me, our family and our ministry. Every so often he will determine that the instructions or boundaries I gave him within a particular responsibility are not as efficient as his way. Doesn't he realize that the instruction I gave him was for his own good? Doesn't he know that the task is a little more difficult this way but it will bless him abundantly in the long run? How many times Father must have said that to me, but I didn't want to hear it? It doesn't matter that it was in yet another area He is refining me in and that I've been through this for what seems to be a million times already.

Father, refine away!!!! I submit fully to You in every way. If I dare try my own way, please knock some sense into me!

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Blessings In Homeschooling

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 00:32:00 -0500

As a homeschooling mother, it can be pretty easy to focus on all the less then perfect moments in our day. When we take just a minute and think about it, we see what an enormous gift and blessing we have in raising our children. These precious souls have been given to us to love, care for, nurture and most importantly, to train in the Lord�s ways.

This is not a simple task, but it is also not a painful burden despite what it may seem to be at times. Each moment is irreplaceable. Each second we are given is a joy, an honor. Each day provides countless opportunities to teach by example, showing our children how a Christian ought to behave, ought to pray, ought to worship and ought to live.

We have the ability to squander these days or to fill our children with encouragement, support and the Holy Word so that they may also one day be bold disciples.

I hope you will join me in my family�s journey of faith through homeschooling.