Reaching For The Prize - Homeschool Blogger

My Little Cowboy

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:04:00 -0600

Boys will be Boys

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:02:00 -0600

It is Well

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:14:00 -0600

It is Well With my Soul

~Horatio Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Espresso Cardamon Bread

Thu, 4 Jan 2007 11:21:00 -0600

(makes 3 braided loaves)

1/2 c. lukewarm water

2 Tbs. yeast

3 c. whole milk, scalded & cooled to lukewarm

1 1/2 c. sugar

9 whole cardamon shelled & finely ground (or scant 1 Tbs. ground)

1 Tbs. salt

11 1/2 c. flour

4 eggs

1/2c. butter, melted

Glaze:

1/4c. espresso, brewed

1/2c. powdered sugar

1 Tbs. butter, melted

Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water, set aside. Place milk, sugar, cardamon and salt in mixing bowl. Add 5 cups flour and beat with mixer until smooth. Add dissolved yeast & water. Beat well. Then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add enough remaining flour to form a moderately stiff dough that is smooth & elastic. Knead well. Then add butter in 3 installments, kneading after each addition until it is incorporated. Cover with a damp towel, set in a warm place free from drafts and let rise about 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.

Punch dough down and divide into 9 equal parts. Roll each of the 9 pieces of dough into ropes about 18" long. Braid the dough strips, 3 at a time, into three loaves, each about 12" long overall.

Place loaves on buttered baking sheets, cover and let rise till double in size.

Bake at 375 F until crust is dark brown or until bread is well baked (about 30 minutes).

Brush glaze over the warm loaves. Place back in the oven for a minute to dry.

Is This Normal?

Wed, 3 Jan 2007 10:56:00 -0600

Early this morning, while it was still chilly and dark, my five year old boy crawled into our bed and snuggled up close. I could tell something was on his mind and finally he said, "Mom, I've been thinking and I just can't figure it out."

"Figure what out?", I asked

"Well, if a man dreamed for thirty-nine years that he was only one year old, would he be thirty-nine, forty or would he be only one?"

"Uhhh....What time did you say it was?"

Hope of a New Year

Tue, 2 Jan 2007 10:10:00 -0600

HOPE it may be the happiest year of your life, as I think each succeeding year of everybody's life should be, if only everybody were wise enough to see things as they are; for it is certain that there really exists, laid up and ready to hand, for those who will just lay hands upon it, enough for every one and enough forever. I am quite sure that the central mistake of all lives that are mistaken is the not taking this simple unchangeable fact for granted, not seeing that it is so, and cannot but be so, and will remain so "though we believe not." I think I can trace every scrap of sorrow in my own life to this simple unbelief. How could I be anything but quite happy if I believed always that all the past is forgiven, and all the present furnished with power, and all the future bright with hope, because of the same abiding facts, which don't change with my mood, do not crumble, because I totter and stagger at the promise through unbelief, but stand firm and clear with their peaks of pearl cleaving the air of Eternity, and the bases of their hills rooted unfathomably in the Rock of God?
JAMES SMETHAM

Yahweh Shalom

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:59:00 -0600

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:1-16

When Jesus was born, due to the census; all of the people in Israel were traveling to their ancestors land in order to be accounted for. Bethlehem was so crowded that first Christmas night that there was no room at the inn for this very pregnant and probably laboring woman.

Imagine the inn keeper, with a house full of bustling and excited guests, opening his door during this most lucrative season to find a poor man and his very young wife in the throes of labor. It must have been a touching site and yet he denied them; made no room for them in his home. But don’t you think he had a room that night? I’ll bet his tummy was full and his toes were warm as he crawled into bed that infamous night?

He didn’t outright reject them, so we know his heart wasn’t completely hard. He sent them out to take shelter among his livestock. He offered them his lowest priority place. The area that he knew couldn’t possibly be used in any more profitable way that evening.

Don’t we do the same? It’s legitimate, we are busy. Our days are non-stop. Our calendars are full. True, we don’t purposefully reject Him, but we do banish Him to the stable…assigning Him the lowest priority in our days.

In every stage of His life Christ offered peace for our busy lives, if only we will make room for Him. In His birth, life, death, resurrection and in His very name His message for us was peace.

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:14

In His birth, the angels declared that peace was for those “on whom His favor rests”.

On whom does His favor rest? It’s on you; it’s on me. We are the apple of His eye, the crown of His creation.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

In His life, He says His words are so that in Him we may have peace. That word ‘peace’ in the Greek is “tharseo” which means “cheerfulness and joy”. Isn’t that what everyone is searching for at this time of year?

“But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace…”

Isaiah 53:5

In His Death, He purchased peace with his blood. “He was beaten that we might have peace…”

Imagine your husband has had his eye on this spectacular diamond necklace for you for Christmas. So, the day after Thanksgiving, he heads out to fight the crowds and bring it home for you. He returns with cracked ribs, a black eye, bruises and scratches; but he has that necklace. Now, what if you looked at it briefly then tossed it in a drawer and never gave it another thought. That would be quite an insult to not cherish something for which such a high price was paid.

How much more so with the gift of peace He purchased for us on Calvary?

Paul says in Colossians 1:20 (in the Hebrew Names Version, which is simply the ASV with the Hebrew names inserted where applicable), “…having made shalom through the blood of His cross.” (I want to come back to this word shalom in a minute, so don’t forget it.) He is not waiting to create peace in our lives; He purchased it 2000 years ago on the cross.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!”

John 20:19-21

In His resurrection, His first words to His disciples echoed His angelic birth announcement, “Here is peace...take it!” He says it to them twice, just in case they missed it the first time.

Shalom is a Hebrew word, so much richer in its range of meanings than the English word “peace,” which usually refers to the absence of outward conflict or to a state of inner calm. The concept of shalom includes these ideas but goes beyond them, meaning “wholeness,” “completeness,” “finished word,” “perfection,” “safety,” or “wellness.” Shalom comes from living in harmony with God. The fruit of that harmony is harmony with others, prosperity, health, satisfaction, soundness, wholeness, and well-being. When you pray to Yahweh Shalom, you are praying to the source of all peace. No wonder his Son is called the Prince of Peace.

~Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler

His very name, Yahweh Shalom, is peace. You should know that in each of the verses cited thus far, the HNV translates the word peace as shalom. He himself is our peace (Eph. 2:14). Peace is not something Christ gives, peace is who Christ is.

Did you ever stop to think that Christ did not come for Christmas? He didn’t come so that we could have this cozy time of year full of friends, family, parties, food and gifts. He came for you. His desire is for you to come to Him and acknowledge that without Him you can’t. All those tasks, all those burdens, and those cares can’t be attended to without Him.

It was my five year old son’s turn to set up the Nativity scene this year, so I handed him the box and pointed to the table were it was to be displayed. Busy with other Christmas preparations, I didn’t get around to seeing how he had done until the next day when I glanced down in passing. There were all the shepherds, angels, wise men, animals, Mary and Joseph crowded in a tight circle around the manger. With a knowing chuckle, I carefully rearranged them the ‘right’ way and went on with my day. The following day I noticed that, again, the entire Nativity cast was crowded into one group around the manger. As I began to put them back in their proper places; the shepherds on the left with their sheep, the angels facing out near the stable, and so on, my son came up behind me.

“What are you doing, mom?”

“Well, I’m just setting up the Nativity the way it is supposed to be.” and I began to explain where all the figures went.

With his sweet little face showing great concern he said, “But I thought they all came to worship baby Jesus.”

My kids have a way of doing that. A way of saying what I need to hear in a way that can only be straight from Him.

Christmas is not about the outward appearances, celebrations or traditions. It’s about Him.

He came and the world was too full and busy for Him. Will He find it the same with us this Christmas?

He did the work He was sent for and now He waits for us to take it.

Can I encourage you to spend some time with Him this season? Grab your Bible and read the Christmas story in the books of Matthew or Luke. Go to Isaiah and read the prophecies about the Messiah’s coming. Do a topical study on peace (I didn’t include half of the wonderful verses that I could have). Talk to Him as you read. Reflect on it. Meditate on His Word.

In these last days before Christmas, I challenge you to find some quiet time to sit with your Savior. He offers the gift of peace to you…will you make the time to sit with Him and open it?

Bags

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:54:00 -0600

I made this bag for a friend, using a bag my sister-in-law made for me several years ago as a guide. Not being nearly as quick as some of these gals (not to mention, not nearly as talented!), it took me nearly a week to make.

When I was finished, I used the scraps to whip out these bags.

Advent Calendar

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:49:00 -0600

I love this Advent Calendar! The first year I filled each pocket with small gifts & candy and the kids took turns opening the days. I wasn't at all pleased with the "me-centered" attitude that it fostered in the kids. Or the focus it placed on materialism & the expectation that Christmas was all about gifts & goodies.

So, I spent all year pondering how to redeem this. I finally settled on writing out 25 small acts of service or sacrifice on slips of paper. I put one in each pocket along with 3 foil wrapped chocolate coins (one for each child). Each morning, we pull out the paper to learn what our assignment for the day is (mom & pop are not exempt either!). Then in the evening, usually around the dinner table, we take turns sharing how we performed our acts of love. I record them on the paper and put it back in the pocket. Then they each get a chocolate coin as a reminder that they are storing up treasure in heaven...not here on earth. On Christmas morning, before we tear into our presents, we read through all the slips of paper & recount all the gifts we gave to Christ throughout the month.

Our Advent Wreath

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 14:45:00 -0600

To dispel the myth that I've been smitten with the blogging blues, I thought I'd show just a few of the things that I've been spending my time on.

The first is our Advent Wreath. After 10 years of celebrating Advent in our family, I finally tackled the job of creating our wreath. We have used various things, but I have always wanted something festive & made of Evergreen branches. So after several trips to the craft store, I finally came up with this:

Jewlery

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:41:00 -0600

Since December brings out all things crafty in me, I had to pull out the old bead box too!

Jasper, Turquiose, Shell & Silver

Turquiose, Wood, Lapis & Silver

Fiber Optic Blue & Silver

Pink Pearl, Light Jade, Rose Quartz & Silver

Jade

Cobalt & Silver

Jesse Tree

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:16:00 -0600

Something new we started this year was a Jesse Tree. After wavering for several years over whether or not this was a tradition I wanted to start in our family, Ann Voskamp settled my mind. If you have never visited her site, you are in for a treat!

Pray for Your Man

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 11:12:00 -0600

I don't remember who gave me this list, it has been tucked inside the back cover of my Bible for some time now, but I thought to share it with you. It is a schedule to guide you in praying for your husband. There is a topic & scripture listed for every day of the month. (I have even used this to pray for my children, when it applies.)

Consider that as a wife, you are in a very unique position to cover your husband in prayer. Perhaps there is no one else in his life that is willing or inclined to lift him before the throne of God. As you go to your knees, imagine the blessings that God has stored up, just waiting for your supplications to release (Psalm 31:19).

1)   That he might become a holy man, a man of prayer, mature in the Lord, growing in his knowledge of the Lord. I Thess 5:23, Col                  4:12, Eph 1:18-19, 6:18

2)    That he might grow in all 11 descriptions of a man who will not be shaken as listed in Psalm 15

3)    That he might be a man of contentment as seen in Prov 15:16, Phil 4:11, I Tim 6:6-8, Heb 13:5

4)    That he might learn to take every thought captive, to not be conformed to the world's thinking and to think scripturally. Rom 12:2,               II Cor 10:5

5)    That he might daily seek God with all his heart, walking in the Spirit moment by moment, growing in his dependence upon Him. Psalm 119:1-2, Prov 3:5-6

6)    That he would ever be captivated by my love. Prov 5:18-19

7)    That he would be a man of courage. Duet 31:6, II Chron 19:11

8)   That the Lord might give him wisdom to lead his family physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Eph 1:17-19

9)    May he always look at the plank in his own eye before seeing others sawdust. Matt 7:3

10)    That he might become a called man, not driven, with well -thought-through-and-prayed-through goals in life. I Cor (:24-27

11)    That he might be a man of prayer, guarding his heart and mind, putting into practice what he has heard, seen, and learned. Phil 4:4-9

12)    That he might stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist Satan in all circumstances. Eph 6:10-18, James 4:7

13)    That he might grow in spiritual maturity by putting away childish things, cultivating, understanding, striving after the Christ        ideal, partaking of the deeper truths of the gospel, and overcoming temptation. I Cor 13:11, 14:20, Eph 4:13, heb 5:14, I        John 2:14

14)    That he might become holy, cleansed by the washing with water through the Word. Eph 5:26

15)    That he would learn to not depend on his circumstances for happiness but on God alone. Prov 3:5-6

16)    That he would be a man who enters into spiritual warfare. Eph 6;11-12, I Thess 5:8

17)    That he might have new strength in the midst of his busy schedule. And that the Lord might infuse him with His strength. Is      40:31, Eph 3:14-19

18)    That he might have a burden to see lost people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Matt 28;12-20

19)    That he would be kept from strange women and evil men, and that his friends would be men and women who walk with God.    Prov13:20

20)    That his self image might be reflection of the Lord's thoughts toward him. Eph 1:17-19, Rom 12:3, Ps. 139

21)    That he might be man responsible for family spiritual growth. Prov 4:1-14

22)    That he might not be deceived into unbelief, sin, or bitterness. Matt 13:7-10

23)    That he might learn to love as God has commanded. I Cor 13: 4-7, Rom 12:8-10, Eph 5;25

24)    That the fruit of the Spirit might be exhibited more and more in his life. Gal 5:22-23, John 15:8

25)   That he might grow in humility and in being a shepherd. I Peter 5:2-6

26)   That he might grow daily in character. II Peter 1:5-8

27)    That he might keep a clear conscience. I Peter 3:16-18

28)    That the Lord would protect him, guarding his course. Prov 2:8

29)    That he might learn to manage his time well. Eph 5:15

30)   That the Lord would put a song in his heart. Psalm 33:3, 40:3, Job 35:10

31)    That he might have a holy fear of God. Psalm 34:11, 111:10, Prov 9:10

Prayer

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 11:08:00 -0600

I am studying the power of prayer and I�m captivated.

I love what Beth Moore said in her Daniel study,

�The spiritual world is not invisible. It is only invisible to us.�

It is much more real than anything you or I can see in this temporal world. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that our battle isn�t against that person that�s testing the limits of our patience, it�s not against that political leader that failed us once again, it�s not against the culture of people decaying all around us, and it isn�t against this flesh warring against our spirit. We war against the �unseen�. In God�s words through Paul,

�We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.�

Ephesians 6:12

In going through this study, I feel as though my eyes have been peeled open. I�ve been missing so much! He not only hears us before we speak (Isaiah 65:24 & Psalm 139:4), He answers before we are finished praying (Daniel 9:23). True, we may not know His response right away, it may be many days or even years, but He is faithful to answer us. God�s actions are as sure as His Word. The God that I have the privilege of coming before every morning, noon, & night is the same mighty God of the Bible. He longs to have me pouring my heart out to Him; He waits for me to come to Him.

�How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.�

Psalm 31:19

Why do I resist?

To use one last Moore quote:

�We are so culturally indoctrinated to be fast-paced, high-energy, hands-on kinds of people that we tend to think of prayer as a passive, nearly �do-nothing� reaction. We tend to pray when we don�t know what else to do. Beloved, nothing shakes the heavenlies like prayer. Nothing moves the heart of God more than prayer. Furthermore, I�m not sure anything takes more energy at times than fervent prayer.�

Prayer is not a last resort; it is a first line of defense.

It's Then He Carried Me

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:00:00 -0600

A friend sent me the link for this story and I just had to share. It is absolutely incredible! Even if you don't consider yourself a cryer, have a few tissues on hand! My boys watched it with me and it had them very thoughtful and teary. It paints a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father carrying our bodies, crippled by sin, victoriously across the finish line! Make sure to watch the video at the bottom of the page...it's very impacting. Their family also has a website.

A Friend

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 09:22:00 -0600

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness,

blow the rest away.
~George Eliot

"Holding Hands" by Elans Photography

Fall

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:59:00 -0600

photo by: champy1013

Gazing outside,

Dancing leaves,

Spinning, falling,

Purpose gone,

Heaps still growing

On the ground,

Once so lively,

Hope of spring,

Stack of discards

Mounting up,

Thrashing winds race;

Branches beat,

Water dropping,

Filling cracks,

Old, decaying,

Melting down,

Maybe right here,

In my life.

(I'm really not feeling this morbid! I'm trying to expand my poetry styles, so I'm playing with imagery & rythm. I'm not sure why it came out so dark!?! I'll have to balance it with one on the rejuvinating effects of all that decay! I love the fall, if I had to pick a favorite season, fall would be it! But I'm much too attracted to change to just pick one season...I love the changing of the seasons more than anything!)

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God�s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (emphasis mine)

More Like the Master

Thu, 2 Nov 2006 10:27:00 -0600

More like the Master I would ever be

More of His meekness, more humility

More zeal to labor, more courage to be true

More consecration for work He bids me do

More like the Master I would live and grow

More of His love to others I would show

More self-denial like His in Galilee

More like the Master I long to ever be

~Charles H. Gabriel

Lunchtime

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 14:51:00 -0500

Building Strength

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:29:00 -0500

THE only way to restore a weakened will is by exercising itself in details of duty, it may be in smallest acts of obedience, regularly done, "here a little, and there a little," content to grow by slow degrees into the use of lost powers through repeated acts of observance however trivial or unobserved. Faithfulness to every smallest call of obedience, as it comes, is the means of gaining gradual accessions of strength, and thus tending more and more to higher degrees of conformity to the Will of God. Only by such simple practical dutifulness can habits be formed.

--T. T. CARTER