You'll find here a sampling of what the Lord is teaching me as I walk with Him through life. My thoughts, experiences, hopes, prayers, etc... It is only by His grace that I can live each day, and hopefully (yet again, only by His grace) bring HIM glory! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:02:00 -0500 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:02:00 -0500 The Cross-centered life, I mean?   This is what I want to know.  What I want to see.  What I want to, by God's grace, do.  Live it.  Daily.  So...as God has been revealing Himself to me in new and fresh ways, I have decided that one way to keep myself accountable to this focus would be to post here each day some new way He has shown us how to keep the Gospel of Christ at the center of our lives.   Yesterday it was through an experience where one family member felt that he/she should punish him/herself by hurting him/herself after sinning.  Our pastor graciously explained (we were at their home) to this person that by doing this, this person was saying that the punishment Christ bore, His death on the cross, was not enough.    I'm so grateful for this simple but profound truth being revealed to us anew.  Do you desire to punish yourself when you've sinned?  If so, consider why.  If Christ has paid the price, God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand, if HE is satisfied...why would we seek to "add" to it?  Why would we, mere mortals, not be satisfied?  After all, Scripture says...Jesus said...IT IS FINISHED.  No more payment is necessary.  The price has been paid IN FULL.  May we not cheapen the high price that was paid by our mighty and merciful Savior for our forgiveness and freedom!   May we live in light of God's glorious grace revealed to us in the cross of Calvary.  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ!  Praise His Name for that!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/737330/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:02:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/737330/ Okay, so now it's really been awhile since I've posted!  I've got great reasons, though.  Lots of cuddles, kisses, diaper changes and all of the other newborn joys.  Since mid-May we've been enjoying our sweet little one, and to say that we're grateful to the Lord for her just doesn't come close to our true sentiments!  Thank You, Lord, for this precious miracle that You've brought to us!   We wrapped up our last school year and had our evaluation.  Our evaluator is a precious woman and dear friend now.  A kindred spirit who is filled with grace and wisdom.  It was a joy to share time together here as she measured the boys' progress and also gave me advice and godly insights.  Another evidence of God's grace to us...the gift of bringing her into our lives!   We are enjoying the new year's academic material, as well as our daily life lessons.  God continues to humble us by giving us very specific, detailed lessons and teaching us to trust in and depend on Him.  It amazes me, how the Sovereign Lord of the entire universe cares enough to chip away at the ugly sin in my heart and graciously work to make me more like His Son, Jesus.  It's ALL about Him, after all!!!  How we long to bring much glory to Christ in our lives, our home.  Our actions, attitudes, words...Lord, please help us to make much of Jesus and bring glory to Your Name!   Baby's well visit (4 months!) was today, and it was impressed upon my heart,  once again, what a gift from God our pediatrician is.  I love this woman.  She is kind, funny, brilliant, gentle, gracious, patient...and so much more!  We are so thankful to have a doctor who truly cares about us.  Each one of us.  It makes all the difference in the world!  She never makes me feel like I am a fool because I'm not a health care professional.  She listens with a genuine attentiveness that I admire and appreciate.  Each time I leave her office, I am either bouncing off the walls with giddiness, or blinking back tears of joy, humility and gratitude.  Another evidence of God's grace in our lives...our sweet pediatrician!   Then...a visit to a friend today who cares so tangibly for my family.  Prays diligently for us.  Serves us by coming to spend time and help and encourage.  Being around her always lifts my spirits....  She encourages me in Truth and gives advice and ideas to help my daily life be more fruitful.  I believe she "picks me up" on a more frequent basis than anyone else I know.  It seems as though she's made it her mission to reach out to me and encourage me on a daily basis.  And she's got plenty on her own plate, so this is no small thing.  More of God's grace.   Lord, I'm so thankful to You for these things and many more!  Like the way you enabled me to fix the alarm on the sewer pump/grinder last night!  What a blessing that was.  You amaze me.  Nothing is too difficult for Thee!!!!  I do not want to take Your grace for granted.  Please keep my eyes fixed on You, I pray.  Please remind me of all the ways Your grace is made manifest in my life.  I am humbled, grateful, blessed, filled with joy...all because of You.  May I bring You glory, dear Christ!  I long to be a light in this dark world for You.  Thanks for Your grace, which You truly lavish on me daily.  I love you!!!   In Your strong, mighty and matchless Name I pray, sweet Jesus, Amen. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/729525/ Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/729525/ I cannot breathe without it.  Take a step.  Say a word.  Live another day.  And yet how often I forget that.  Rely on my own faulty, fallen self.  Fail.  Stumble.  Scold myself for doing the very thing I do not want to do.  Think I can somehow do better.  I can't.  Not in and of myself.    Oh, Lord, how I need to be reminded not just daily, but moment by moment, of Your matchless grace and how I truly depend on it for every single thing in my life!  And how Your grace to me does not often look like I would expect it to look.  Sometimes Your grace is a painful window into my prideful heart.  A difficult review of a day that I've caused much hurt or exasperation for my family.  These moments are Your grace to me, as is the brilliant smile from one child that brightens our entire block.  The sweet encouragement and cuddles from another one that bring such deep emotion.  Tears flood the eyes to think of Your great gift of grace in my children.  And a husband.  Oh, a husband.  Such a gift I've never known...one who is patient, gracious, loving, merciful, kind...so filled with the Fruits of the Spirit!  Such a man I never expected nor deserve.  Thank You for him.  He is a picture of Your grace to me.    Your grace is for my good.  Iron sharpening iron, fire used to refine.  These things are hard!  But GOOD.  YOU are GOOD.  Everything that comes into my life is from Your hand, Lord, and is a part of Your perfect plan to mold me and shape me.  I, the clay.  You, the Potter.  The Creator.  The Master.  I am Yours.  I BELONG to You.  You own me and can do as You see fit with my life.  Would You please remind me, Lord, that each moment I live is an extension of Your great grace to me?  That it doesn't matter what kind of moment it is.  It's all grace.  All in Your control.   Thank You for Your grace. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/686009/ Tue, 5 May 2009 16:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/686009/ ...since I've posted here, obviously!  It seems as though the days are a complete blur.  My energy levels wax and wane at different stages of this pregnancy.  I can't wait to meet this precious little one!  But there still seems to be such a long list of things I'd like to have accomplished before her arrival.   Do you struggle with focusing on all of the "to-dos" and task lists, to the detriment of what is truly of greater importance?  I really don't think I have a clue how often I make this mistake.  I imagine it's multiple times a day.  I am so selfish and prideful...I am easily irritated or frustrated when things distract me or interrupt me.  'Cause, you know, whatever I'm doing is the most important thing in the world at each minute, and anyone who wouldn't know that and act accordingly, well....  ARGH!  What incredible pride.  I continue to pray that the Lord would reveal this to me before I act or speak, and enable me to choose differently.   These are just some random thoughts here, but it's what is on my heart at this very moment.  I am really longing for the Lord to work in me a gentle and quiet spirit.  It seems so impossible, given my normal tendencies.  I'm so glad that His Word tells me that with Him, ANYTHING is possible!!!  So, Lord, I am asking You again, by Your grace and for YOUR ultimate glory, would you please work in me a gentle and quiet spirit?  May I be quick to extend grace to those around me and live in a way that brings peace and joy to our home and lives, and brings glory to You!  Father, I ask that You might reveal to me the things that I am doing that run contrary to that.  The things I don't even see when I'm in the midst of them.  I'm sure the list is long, Lord, but I humbly ask you to open my eyes and see what changes I can make to create a haven here in our home that is a blessing to all and makes much of Christ!   Father, I cannot do this.  With me, it is impossible.  But with You, it is possible!  Thank You that You never stop working in us.  I am SO undeserving of Your grace and mercy.  Thank You for continuing to give them to me, anyway!  I pray that You might do a mighty work in my heart and our home.  May our daughter be born into an environment that is different than the one that has stealthily crept in.  I ask You to work in all of our hearts for our good and for YOUR glory, Lord Jesus!  For it's in Your matchless Name I pray, Amen. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/675229/ Thu, 2 Apr 2009 00:11:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/675229/ Molly has generously offered a chance to win a Vision Forum audio set on her Counter-Cultural School blog.   I have learned so much from this wise woman...you'll have to check this out!  I've not heard any Vision Forum messages yet, but I've wanted to for some time.  Some of my dearest friends rave about them, and I'm excited about the potential for getting a set here.  Check out her contest post here:   http://counterculturalschool.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-contest.html   Have a wonderful week! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/662372/ Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/662372/ Ann at Holy Experience ( http://www.aholyexperience.com/ ) has reminded me, once again, of how we need to be grateful!  I am embarassed when I think of how much I take for granted in my life.  Back in November I meant to begin adding lists of things I'm thankful for to my blog, but haven't followed through.  Today, I'm attempting to start again.  Here are just a few of the things that come to my mind right now for which I am grateful:   Salvation - God's free gift of faith to me, by His grace! My incredible, humble, servant-leader, gracious, loving husband. My two boys who overwhelm me with great joy and teach me ever so much as we go through our days together. A precious little girl on the way, one whom I cannot wait to meet!!! God's Word - Truth - and all that it can do! Yorkshire tea and highlands shortbread Friends who are thoughtful Incredibly hospitable people Music Sunshine Time...I need to see it as more of a gift; use it more wisely and effectively, by God's grace! Sleep Thunderstorms.  LOUD ones. People who express genuine interest, care and concern for me and my family. Modern conveniences that make life easier.  Lord, may I use the ones You want me to, and set aside the rest!   Thank you, Ann, for your constant encouragement and your challenges.  I'm grateful for you, and for your reminder today to thank the Lord for the truly endless, limitless blessing He bestows on us daily!   Thank You, Lord!!!  May my eyes be opened to see all that comes to me by Your hand, and thank You for it, not taking You or anything You bring to me for granted.  I love You! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/661461/ Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/661461/ I've been doing pretty well getting back on track, thank the Lord!  I think our new eating habits have made an impact in this area, as well.  I do have more energy, and I'm very thankful!  Who would have thought that there would be a specific way to eat, depending on your blood type, that could seriously improve  your life and your health?  I've heard about it for awhile now, but hadn't given it a try.  We're seeing improvements already.  So...I believe that's enabled me to have more stamina for getting back on track.   Once again, Crystal at Biblical Womanhood has posted a place for us to be accountable in this quest.  I find it interesting that she and I have so much in common, though we've never met.  I must say that my goals are pretty much the same as hers right now, in this Getting Back on Track challenge.  Getting to bed earlier, getting up earlier, following my morning routine, and shining my sink.  I just started doing this (shining my sink) again during this past week, and it has made a difference already!  In the coming week I'm hoping to keep working hard and build consistency in these three things.  We've had one "off day" in the last couple of weeks, but for the most part it's gone really well.  Praise God!   You can find Crystal's latest post here:  http://biblicalwomanhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/getting-back-on-track-kitchen-sink.html     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/654466/ Wed, 4 Feb 2009 00:22:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/654466/ Well, first the progress from last week...  I did the reading assignment, tossed the trash throughout the house, and started gathering things for our yard sale.  We are having one in a couple of weeks, so this is perfect timing!  I am still in that process, trying to be very thorough and more ruthless than usual.  I expect to continue that part of the assignment throughout this "Spring Cleaning" time.  I think for me, this is really about nesting and wanting to be prepared and restful and peaceful when this little one arrives in a few months!  I have really made a great deal of progress in other unrelated areas, as well, which have been important for me and our family.  We've made a major dietary overhaul in the midst, as well, not to mention daily homeschooling.  It all feels very good, to drop into bed exhausted at night from being so productive!  I'm so thankful to the Lord that my body is cooperating in this stage of the pregnancy so I can do this.   As for this week, I have done the reading so far, and will be starting in the living room tonight or tomorrow.  I have been doing my scrapbooking there the last few weeks, so I am first working on the craft area to make it more workable.  That way, when I remove all of the scrapbooking things from the living room, they can go directly where they should in the craft area, rather than just being piled up somewhere in this process.  Like I said, I'm nesting, and trying to be careful and thorough this time around.  The progress in the craft area is going to be slow.  I keep too many things, and am working on purging that.  I have made some good progress in there today, and will continue until I can reasonably bring back in the things from the living room.  Then...I'll begin the work in the living room for this week's assignment.  I'm really looking forward to it!   Many thanks again to Crystal, at Biblical Womanhood, for the challenge to do this, and the accountability.  You can find her post for this week at: http://biblicalwomanhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/spring-cleaning-for-normal-people.html And thank You, Lord, for the many blessing You bestow on my each day!  Thanks for Your faithfulness and grace to meet each moment.  Thank You for my family and our home.  I pray that this process will bless them and bring glory to You!!!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/654103/ Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/654103/ Well, Crystal at Biblical Womanhood and I are in a similar stage of life - pregnant with little one # 3!  And...both hoping/wanting/needing to get our homes in order before these precious babies arrive.  So, when I saw her newest offer for accountability on this subject, I was thrilled to sign on!  Crystal has her assignment here:   http://biblicalwomanhoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/spring-cleaning-for-normal-people.html   I've already read the 16 pages in the e-book and gone through most of the house for trash.  Those were the easy parts.  Now I'll be on to the tougher items, and will post progress later in the week!    Lord, please help me make some significant progress in this area, as You know it's been on my heart for some time!  For our good and YOUR glory, Lord, I ask it in Jesus' Name. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/650593/ Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/650593/ Well, I did not do as well as I'd hoped last week.  That being said, I was more productive than I'd been the weeks prior, so that was positive!  I realize I'd forgotten something even in Revision # 1 last week, and I'm really wanting to make this become completely automatic.  So...here is my morning routine goal, even though it's more than five things:   1.  Rise, take meds, shower/get ready for day 2.  Make bed (unless DH worked nights and is still in it!) 3.  Get laundry going 4.  Breakfast w/ kids, read Bible together 5.  Empty/re-load dishwasher 6.  Check e-mail quickly 7.  Start school   Now, for my goal for this week....  I would like to be in bed between 10:30 and 11pm, and rise between 6:30 and 7am.  My hope is for this to push to the early side over time, but to give myself a window as I get used to it.  To help with this, I plan to put my alarm clock across the room, rather than on my nightstand.  I'll have to get up to turn it off, and I do not want to allow myself to climb back in bed!  I will also set an alarm on my watch for 10pm to give me a warning to start wrapping up whatever I'm doing, so I can get ready for bed on time.  I've never done this before, and hope it helps get me back on track! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/649346/ Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:27:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/baronsteam/649346/