A place to help other moms with the daily stresses of motherhood. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:22:00 -0600 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:22:00 -0600 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSUkEhfERuE   This video is good and there are 4 more parts on youtube. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/746052/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:22:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/746052/ Someone in one of my yahoo groups was saying they were really happy that I told them about the book by the Duggars family. That it really encouraged them.  I wrote her back with a list of some other books, we've been reading lately.  These are books I read this summer/fall to my daughter who turned 7 this summer.  She really enjoyed them! Missionary Stories with the Millers by Christian Light (Every chapter is an amazing true story of miracles that happen to missionaries!)   Glady Aylward, Missionaries then and now (One of the chapters in the above book was about her and someone from this group prob gave me this book in my happy box at the AR retreat!  My daughter loved the book and we read it twice.  Our friend had the cartoon version which we watched but not as good as the book.  What this woman endures for the sake of getting the gospel to China is amazing!)   Anita Dittman by Moody Publishers--Just finished this one and couldn't put it down!!!  True story of a girl who was half Jewish who lived in Germany during the Holocaust.  She comes to faith in Jesus and her faith is what keeps her going through such difficult times.  My daughter told me last night, "Mommy, I knew the Germans were bad to the Jews but I didn't know that they were that bad!" And this book didn't tell half of it because it was written for children!  But it really made us appreciate so much, what we have here.  Esp when you read about people so skinny, their bones are sticking out, going to bed starved and their hair falling out from malnutrition. That just breaks my heart.  Makes me really appreciate the abundance we have in this country as well as the fact that I don't have to be afraid to tell people I am Jewish here. It's also good for my daughter to see what goes on in the real world!   I think one lesson my daughter learned was that believing in Jesus does not mean life will always be rosy. He is just there with you during the difficult times and sees you through it! This is an important lesson in itself.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/728347/ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/728347/ http://www.clicknkids.com Both of my children are really enjoying this program and if you use my e-mail address, they will give you a discount: jewess4jesus@ca.rr.com     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/724816/ Mon, 7 Sep 2009 19:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/724816/ I recently had an article called, Finding Contentment, published in an Above Rubies magazine.  I have been getting swamped with e-mails about what things helped me with PCOS. Last yr I had cysts all over both of my ovaries and I bled for 4 weeks straight!  Now, I am pregnant with our third and no cysts.  I did mention in that article that an elder of my congregation annoited me with oil and prayed over me in Y'shua (Jesus) name and that week, I conceived! These are also some other things I did to try to help my body along: 1.  On Dr Mercola's website, he said there was a connection between Vit D deficiency and PCOS so I decided to have my dr check my D level and it was low! 2.  There are herbs that you can take from Insulite Labs that help with cysts and infertility, etc Glucaphage seems to work in a lot of people too but I heard it is hard on your liver. Go to www.Insulitelabs.com (I do not get commission on this. I wish I did! If you want to send in a donation to Jews for Jesus in our name that would be wonderful)  3.  I did a diet called Raw Food Boot Camp but kept in a little eggs and fish (wild salmon only) due to the low Vit D It was the ONLY diet that has ever worked for me. You can google it online. It's not easy but it works. I did 70-80% raw. 4.  Healthy at 100 was my favorite health book of all that I read--it looks at the cultures that live over 100 and none of them are vegan but mostly vegetarian. They do eat 10 servings a day of raw veggies. (I have read hundreds of books on diet and nutrition and this was by far one of the best.  Don't waste your time and money on anything else!)  When I gave up on having any more children, that's when God gave us a gift of a child. Are you on the aboverubies yahoo group?  It is a good way to stay in touch with a lot of women like us! A marriage book that helped me with my emotions: Created to Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl. I know it's contraversial but at least read it before you judge.  A book about why conceive at all: Be Fruitful and Multiply by Above rubies ministry. Let me know when you get pregnant!  Don't give up! Love, Rhonda Gordon   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/721953/ Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/721953/ This was posted on the Above Rubies Yahoo group: "I have a high tolerance for violence, high tolerance for bad language, and zero tolerance for nudity. There is a reason for these differences. The violence is make-believe. They don’t really mean those bad words. But that lady is really naked, and I am really watching." -- John Piper In the article, there was another sentence included in that paragraph and I think should be included in his quote: "And somewhere she has a brokenhearted father."-- John Piper "That sentence says alot..." http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/715658/ Sun, 9 Aug 2009 01:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/715658/ A Christian friend of mine was debating this topic with another friend on facebook. I thought it was such a good discussion, I wanted to post parts of it here: Ms M's response:         Many people make the mistake of reading what the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, “You shall not kill,” and then seeking to apply this command to war. However, the Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; murder.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.           In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). Deuteronomy 20:16-17 declares, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them…as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Also, 1 Samuel 15:18 says, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” Obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).              Jesus’ second coming will be exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 describes the ultimate war with Christ, the conquering commander who judges and makes war “with justice” (v. 11). It’s going to be bloody (v. 13) and gory. The birds will eat the flesh of all those who oppose Him (v. 17-18). He has no compassion upon His enemies, whom He will conquer completely and consign to a “fiery lake of burning sulfur” (v. 20).              It is an error to say that God never supports a war. Jesus is not a pacifist. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions of Jews would have been killed? If the American Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African-Americans have had to suffer as slaves?            War is a terrible thing. Some wars are more “just” than others, but war is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). At the same time, Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “There is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7). http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/711584/ Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:44:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/711584/ This was posted on pennyraine.com's blog.  She gave me permission to repost here:   how NOT to have backslidden teenagers It is Friday evening and your young people are going to the movies. Do you know what they are watching? Do you care? Do you know who they are going with? Would you go with them? Do you know what it is rated and what is in it? Here is a short excerpt of an email I just received. This summer, our sons and daughters have a lot of choices when it comes to what movies are playing at the local theater. It almost seems this year several new movies are coming out each week.   It’s clear to me that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) does a very poor job in the ratings department, and an even worse job is letting parents know what objectionable content is in a particular movie.   For example, a young lady I know recently posted on her Facebook page that she was going back to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen for a second time. Her parents had no idea that this PG-13 film contains extensive sexual scenes, violence, drug use, and 37 strong profanities. And, her Christian parents were shocked to learn that the Hollywood blockbuster used God’s name in vain 19 times!   As moms, it’s important that we know what our children and grandchildren are being influenced by. If we are going to trust the MPAA to do it for us, we’re in big trouble.  I am sure I know way too many people who have seen that movie already, and let’s just say I am ashamed if you liked it. And even more than shocked that they paid for it. God help us. But that isn’t what I am really sharing about here. I am wanting to share how NOT to have backslidden teenagers. First of all, around here we don’t call them teenagers. The word teenager is a social term, it doesn’t mean an age group, it means a cultural group. It reminds us of rebellion and peer pressure and no respect for parents, immoral activity, drugs, sex and rock and roll, reckless driving and being “cool” at all costs. Tell me if I am wrong. I didn’t think so. Now if teenagers are what you want with you as a testimoney  “here I am , I and the children God has given me” (Isaiah 8:18) then go right ahead. I choose to live for a higher cause. I believe my children will change the world for the better. That is what I have given my life for. That is my contribution to God’s Kingdom. That is my cause worth dying for. I have written tons of articles on this subject that have been published in several places so I won’t repeat everything, but here are my top 30 tips on how NOT to have a rebellious teenager.   raise them with the truth set an example walk in the light don’t call them teenagers pay attention to what they do as if their life depends on it love them like a parent, like them like a friend take time for them do things they want to do, not just things you want to do sacrifice for the cause pray instead of sleeping know what they are doing and who they are talking to audit your cell phone bill OFTEN be their friend on facebook pray without ceasing ad fast when needed make their interests YOUR interests become friends with their friends ask God for discernment and use it take time for them encourage them in what is right remind them that being right with God is more important than being cool with their friends remind them sometimes if they need new friends have household rules not suggestions don’t waiver on what God says is right tell them you love them OFTEN and make sure they know it is true remember the goal is to live for the Kingdom not for the flesh hold them accountable teach them responsibility, especially during the summer months, summer does not mean “free for all” remind them we are to change the world not have it change us remind them of eternity LOVE them, LOVE them, LOVE them   Remember we are raising young people to become adults who will contribute to God’s Kingdom and the community around them. added note- as a parent I am not here to be Hitler in my young people’s lives, my goal is not to govern them but rather to be an Aaron, holding their arms up and encouraging them to follow God’s voice. We are all on the same side. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/707440/ Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:15:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/707440/ I was listening to Paul Nison on RawMOM Summiit.  He was excellent and I found out he's a believer in Yeshua which makes me evern more excited!  He was saying that a long time ago, people ate only two meals a day: breakfast and lunch which was called dinner.  Once, people started working long hours and didn't have time to eat lunch, they would drink a drink at lunch and then at supper, they would have something light like soup.  He says we are eating way too much now. Not only three meals a day but snacks in between!  He says we really shouldn't be eating more than two meals a day. I also heard this advice from Gabriel Cousens although he didn't reccommend that for children.   So here's a new goal: Try to eat light in the evening! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/703262/ Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/703262/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nImmsxXoLO0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efacebook%2Ecom%2Fhome%2Ephp%3F&feature=player_embedded   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/701258/ Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/701258/ What are your top five best parenting tips? (For parents with families of all sizes.) Teach our children to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and memorize God’s word together as a family. Teach them to have a servant’s heart, leading by your example. Love your neighbor as yourself. Daily read the Proverb of the Day that corresponds with the day of the month and discuss it as a family. Diligently keep up with each child’s attitudes and actions and ask what is going on in their heart. Pray with them one on one letting them lead in prayer and then you closing the prayer time together. Ask God to help you conquer anger because it can destroy your relationship with your children. Praise them ten times more than you correct them. I took this from the Duggars website. They just had their 18th child.  I just finished their book.  Very inspirational! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/701085/ Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/helpmerhonda/701085/