I suspect that most of you looked at the title of my post and thought, "Well, duh!"  Yeah me, too.  I will be speaking at my home church tomorrow night during our denomination's Week of Prayer emphasis.  I am excited and a tad bit nervous.  With all the research and reading I have been doing to get prepared, the Lord has really hit me hard with some things.

School has been hit or miss since our move.  Things hopefully will settle down soon, but it has caused me some mild anxiety over our lack of routine and such.  God know about this move before I did, didn't He?  What am I worried about?  I have gotten so busy with life, I let time with Him go and I am the one paying the price for it.  Since getting back to spending more time with Him and having just open and honest prayer (He knows it all anyway), things are much better. 

He also revealed to me that prayer is the daily business of a Christian.  And it is not only a right but a privilege.  Why don't I take advantage of more time with the Creator of the universe?  Heavens, if He could create this universe and world in 6 days, He can surely handle our one-child schoolhouse!

I have been reading Martin Luther's A Simple Way to Pray.  He wrote it for his barber and best friend at his request.  It is an awesome book to read.  Luther was known for praying 4 hours before he began his day.  People would ask him how he could afford to spend that long in prayer.  His answer?  "I can NOT afford to begin my day without it!"  Oh that I could have the same attitude.  Things go better when I spend that time with the Lord.  School goes more smoothly.  My strong-willed, occasionally rebellious child is more manageable and I have more patience and wisdom in dealing with him.  I worry less if at all and am a better wife and mother.  And I release my agenda for our days and follow His agenda and plan for us.

If you can, look into getting a copy of this book.  It is a simple read, but a transforming book.  You can also check out some more of Martin Luther's writings at the Project Wittenberg site.  To order, you can find it at CBD's site, too. 

Last month, The HomeFront team shared verses with you all.  They were verses for praise, wisdom, confidence, or encouragement. This month, we look at harvesting and gathering. With that in mind, let us look at how, through our homeschools, we can "gather" God's Word to impress on our own and our children's hearts. Or, even more importantly, why we should gather verses and teach them to our children.

Why do you homeschool? What is your philosophy of your child(ren)'s education? For us, and for many parents, it is to equip our child to be able to go out into the world once he is grown to impact lives for Christ. We want our son to be equipped with the knowledge of the Lord so he will be able to be 'in the world but not of it' as he pursues his calling in life. We also want him to be a harvester for the Lord when the time comes.

In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus was traveling throughout cities and villages, teaching and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. In those travels, He saw many with "every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:35,36)(ESV) In the next verse, Jesus talks to His disciples about the harvest being plentiful, but the laborers being few. Does the description of those crowds describe what many of us see each day when we look at families that don't know the Lord? How about everyday people you pass on the streets? Doesn't this describe most of the world today?

Our desire in homeschooling our son is to, first and foremost, train his character and his heart to be tender to God's leading. I believe that the academics will come if we place God first in our home in all we do. When he leaves our home, we pray that he will want to be a laborer for the Lord's harvest. So many in our world today are harassed and helpless. So many wander like sheep without a shepherd. They need to hear the Good News of God's love and release. That is why focusing on training our child(ren)'s heart(s) now is so important. I don't believe our children are equipped to be salt and light in the world until they are trained in their own faith and are allowed to grow in it and in maturity. That's why we, and many of you, keep our children home. As Gena (link to her blog here) says, "Keep them home where they belong." If our son stays with us, then he will be equipped to be the salt and light in the world when that time comes. He will be equipped to be a harvester for the Lord, and he will have the maturity, too. What do you see for your child(ren)? Do you desire for them to have a heart for the lost and to be a laborer/ harvester for the Lord's harvest? If the harvest is plentiful, let's pray earnestly for our children to grow in Him and desire to be harvesters for the Lord when they leave the protective shelter of our homes.

Memory Verse: Mt 9:38  "Pray the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into the
harvest."

Additional Verses: 

Ps. 91

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

For Further Meditation:

Pray daily for the Lord's leading for each minute of your school day.  Pray for His vision for your child(ren)'s education.

If you aren't already, start working on memory verses together.  This will be good for you, too. 

Ask the Lord to reveal to you (if you aren 't sure), what your child(ren)'s gift(s) are.  Ask Him to reveal to you ways you can nurture those gifts so that they will be equipped when they leave your home.

Pray now for your child(ren) and their future.  Pray their hearts will be tender to His leading that they will know their calling when the time comes.  Pray for them everyday.

Pray with your child(ren) about their gifts, their calling, and their future.  Let them see you in prayer for them as you prepare them and they prepare.  Model for them seeking God's vision for your life so they may seek His guidance and vision when they are able and ready.

This was too beautiful not to share.  HsKubes has a beautiful acronym with the alphabet for loving your children.Go check it out.  She has a beautiful gift for writing.

Another issue of The HomeFront military homeschoolers e-newsletter is out.  If you haven't signed up to start receiving it, do it now.  You can go to the bottom of my blog or any of the HomeFront writers' blogs, or The HomeFront blog and sign up.

This month, we began mobilizing for the new school year.  Each of us is in a different season of our homeschooling lives and God has given us many blessings to share.  So, without further ado, here is my article from The HomeFront.  In the newsletter itself, Trish has made the Scriptures into a bookmark format to print and clip to keep in your Bible. 

Deuteronomy 32:2 "May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like the gentle rain upon the tender grass and like showers upon the herb."

I imagine each of us reads this verse and desires for our teaching to be refreshing to our tender little shoots of grass or herbs; our children. As I become more deeply convinced to give each day of our schooling to God, even if it calls for "minute prayers," I desire to serve Him as He has called me to in our school. Over the course of this past year and as I look forward, I see the importance of prayer not just for school, but for our children's lives and ourselves. I would like to share with you some Scripture to claim and to cling to throughout the coming year as you face good and not so good times. Praying God's word is the best way to remain equipped to do His will and accomplish His work with our families and children so that we may be as the rain and dew..

When you need wisdom:

I Corinthians 1:26-29 "My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important." (CEV)

James 1:5-6 "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves." (The Message)

Proverbs 3:6 "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track." (The Message)

John 14:26 "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things." (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 32:8 "I will point out the road that you should follow. I will be your teacher and watch over you." (CEV)

When you need confidence:

James 5:16 "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." (NLT)

Luke 11:9-13 "So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks." (CEV)

Acts 4:13 "They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus." (NLV)

I Corinthians 10:13 "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." (NLT)

Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" (NIV)

Philippians 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything." (CEV)

Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." (NLT)

Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (NLT)

When you need encouragement/are discouraged:

James 4:7-8 "Come near to God, and he will come near to you." (CEV)

Isaiah 40:11 "He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young." (NLT)

Psalm 121:1,2 "I look up to the mountains--does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, 
who made the heavens and the earth!" (NLT)

Psalm 461 & 10, 11 "God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble....Our God says, "Calm down, and learn that I am God! The LORD All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress." (CEV)

Joshua 1:9 "I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go." (CEV)

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe." (NLT)

I Peter 5:7 "God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him." (CEV)

Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time." (NLT)

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (The Message)

When things are going well, praise Him:

Psalm 138:1-3, 8 "With all my heart I praise you, LORD. In the presence of angels I sing your praises. I worship at your holy temple and praise you for your love and your faithfulness. You were true to your word and made yourself more famous than ever before.... When I asked for your help, you answered my prayer and gave me courage." (CEV)

Psalm 8 "O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise.They silence your enemies who were seeking revenge. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you have set in place-- what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? For you made us only a little lower than God,and you crowned us with glory and honor. You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things--the sheep and the cattle and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!" (NLT)

Psalm 9:1,2 "I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High." (NLT)

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." (NLT)

Psalm 119:57 "You, LORD, are my choice, and I will obey you." (CEV)

I encourage each of you to begin practicing praying God's Word as you face each day. It takes some practice, but once you get the idea it becomes like second nature. Remember, He promises us that His word will not return to Him void. So with that in mind and His Word in hand, let me leave you with a prayer promising God to put Him and His Word first in our lives.

Heavenly Father, I come before you making the decision to put You and Your Word first in my life. I look to Your Word as the authority, the standard, and the final word to live my life by. I seek Your Word as counsel for every area of my life. I will be quick to obey the commands and instructions You reveal to me in Your Word.

Your Word is alive and powerful. It is the source of wisdom, instruction, and direction for my life. Reveal Your truths and principles to me and speak to my heart and life through its wisdom and instruction.

Help me to take time to study and meditate on Your Word and apply Your principles to my life and my children's lives. Enable me to discover creative ways to memorize Your Scriptures and teach them to my children so they may do the same. As I read and meditate on Your Word, speak to me. Bring correction, reproof, direction, insight, and guidance to every area of my life. Give me wisdom through Your Word that I may deal wisely in the affairs of my life. In Your Holy Name. Amen.

(Taken from Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, and Psalm 1:2).

Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 32:2 “May your teaching fall like rain and your words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants...”

Additional Verses:

I feel this month, all these verses will do.  However, we want to hear from YOU!  Please either post a comment on my blog or email me with Scripture God has used in your life to encourage or guide you.  We will post them next month.  The theme for next month will be sending workers for the harvest, gathering for the harvest. 

So, gather your verses and send them to me!

Well you all are in for a treat towards the end of the month.  The HomeFront team, the military homeschoolers' e-newsletter, has been working on our next issue.  Since we all seem to have so many ideas about planning and preparation for the coming school year, some of us will be posting our articles on our blogs. 

For those of you who receive our e-newsletter, you will be blessed by the wonderful insights of the lovely ladies on the team.  I always am.   If you don't receive it, go to any of our blogs (see my sidebar), TOS website, or the bottom of my blog and sign up! 

But, until it comes out, here is one article I have worked on.

Homeschooling Only One

Whether by God's design, or by the fact that your older children are grown and gone or for other reasons, most of us will all be homeschooling only one at some time or another. However, just as homeschooling many children has its own challenges so does homeschooling one child. Most important with all homeschooling is to determine God's leading and define the philosophy of education for your family. I’d like to share some of the different issues, both 'pros and cons'  regarding homeschooling one child.

One positive aspect to homeschooling only one is having one on one interaction with your child that has been proven to be the most effective teaching method. Your child will have your undivided attention and access to you for any questions or concerns that arise. But, along with that, they may also desire or even expect your undivided attention. Since they are the only one, the focus on them, their work, and behavior can be intense. You, as the parent, often become their friend and constant companion. This can be a hurdle to overcome as they learn to entertain themselves at times.

Another positive is you can readily identify strengths and weaknesses and nurture them. It is easy to focus on weaknesses and perhaps set unreasonably high standards leaving your child feeling a bit hopeless. So, relax. You don't have to drag your precious one through lessons, activities, or life. Look to their strengths and encourage them through the struggles. Enable them to learn how to acknowledge weaknesses and lean on God. Next, let's look at the issue of socialization.

Yes, the dreaded "s" word. If you look at the definitions of socialization, it is defined as "the state of being socialized," or being "made fit for companionship with others." In her book, Homeschooling Only One, Donna Conner states that, “True socialization should encompass all age groups and life situations." Homeschooling only one can provide the best of true socialization. Most older children are involved in activities that offer them many age groups to be around, not just their peers. For younger children or first time homeschoolers like myself, it may take some time to determine good activities without overloading your life but it can be done. One way to determine what kinds of activities you could pursue, after seeking God's plan, is to ask other homeschoolers of onlies. Remember, just because they are being homeschooled alone, they don't need to be busy every minute of the day.

Another challenge with homeschooling an 'only' is curriculum. We are so blessed to have so many choices today for every type of child or learner. It is hard to spend money when you will use something only once. Also, some curricula have so many activities it can be overwhelming to the point of frustration. Yes, it can be easier to fit a curriculum to only one child, but I have found it is easier to pick and choose from many sources and create my own curriculum. Though this more eclectic approach works for me, it doesn't always work for every family. Remember, look to God for His plan for you and your family. He will guide you.

What about homeschooling only one in a homeschooling world where 'onesies' are not the norm? It’s easy to feel alone when you are homeschooling only one. I have found it to be common most people will assume if you homeschool, you have more than one child. Be aware of those moments that may be awkward when you announce you are homeschooling only one child or even have an "only." If we work together as a homeschooling community, we can all learn from and grow with each other.

Homeschooling only one is a wonderful opportunity, especially when following God's plan for your family. I feel I could share more and more about this subject but, there is a much better resource out there for us; Donna Conner. (I mentioned Donna’s book earlier). You can find Donna sitting on HSB's Company Porch every Friday, on her blog at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/donnac or her own website/ message board (www.donnac.com) for homeschoolers of onlies.

As an addition this month, my knight and dear husband, Mike, is also contributing some of his insights on marriage.

Marriage, in itself, has plenty of daily troubles and concerns, and even the normal "wear and tear" can have an impact on any marriage relationship. Military marriages are not exempt from these challenges, and they have additional struggles that can have an even greater impact on the marriage.

First, frequent separations and deployments have a significant impact. Saying goodbye to your spouse in this situation is different than sending him off on a short business trip from which he usually returns. Saying goodbye in the military marriage has potential permanence.

Second, most military jobs are not comparable in pay to their civilian counterparts. Coming into or staying in the military often means a pay cut and therefore creative budgeting. Families often have to make every penny stretch each month.

Another hit the military marriage takes is frequent moves. On a Life Stressors list, moving ranks among the top five major life stressors. Military families move, on average, every 2-3 years! With all these added stressors, how is it possible to give your kids a good marriage and be a good "bunkmate" to your spouse?

For the wives, there are a few things we can do to strengthen our marriage. In Ecclesiastes 4:12 we are told, " ... though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (NIV). We need to invite God into our marriage and proactively keep Him in it. No matter the depth of love and commitment you may have with your husband (strand of two), God being in the center of your marriage will only strengthen that bond and increase the likelihood of the success of your marriage relationship (cord of three).

In the military, you will have to move. That is a given. Either your husband was in the military when you met and married him, or if he joined during the marriage, it was something that was talked about. So, you have to make a choice. As Ruth told her mother-in-law, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay" (Ruth 1:16, NIV). You must choose to follow him wherever God and the military leads your family. Cleave to your husband. He is your family. Though as a daughter your thoughts may often turn toward home, once married, choose your husband.

The most important thing you can do for your marriage and your husband is to pray. We have many roles and responsibilities as wives and mothers, but none so important, or priceless, as a prayer warrior. You should pray for your husband as often as God calls him to mind throughout the day. Remember to pray Scriptures over him. If he is deployed to a war zone, pray Psalm 91 over him. As he goes to work each day, pray for God to grant him favor in the eyes of his command and to increase his "field of harvest." Just pray for him.

Remember, a cord of three is not easily broken, and your marriage is worth defending. Give your kids that good marriage relationship so they can take those lessons into their own marriages one day, and you and your husband will have a thriving, vibrant relationship when schooling is finally finished and all the kids have left the nest. Next, let's look at what Mike says for the men.

According to the latest statistics for the military, we have had a 70% increase in divorce and officers are leading the way. Why? Most are quick to blame this increase on deployments, but I am unwilling to place blame squarely on the shoulders of the military. I feel the cause for this increase can also be found in the civilian community as well.

The reason is unfaithfulness. Many would assume that this means involvement with a woman specifically. Unfaithfulness to your marriage vows can take many forms, and the context that I am writing of is the "almighty career." Many officers and enlisted personnel fall into the trap of looking out of their curtains to see if their commander is still at work before they go home. Many pass this off as being "workaholics," but in reality, they are trying to prove something, mostly to themselves as much as to their commander.

In short, there is no excuse for sacrificing one's home, family, and marriage for their career. I can find nowhere in statistics where those who sacrifice family for career are guaranteed great advancement or favor in the military. Proverbs 15:27 says, "A greedy man brings trouble to his family" (NIV). Let's put things into perspective. You can sell out to the military, and with one snap, your knee is "gone" and it all ends. If that happens, you will want the support of a wife and family that feels loved and cared for.

Many soldiers I talk to use the excuse of "doing all I do for my family," but they are wrong. Take a moment and ask your family and you will find that, if given the choice, they would rather have you home than at work trying to impress someone for that promotion. Now, don't hear me wrong. You need to give your best at work. However, God is the foundation of any good marriage. Put Christ first in your life. In doing that, everything else will fall into place where it needs to be. (Proverbs 16:2-3)

I close with some wonderful words I received from my Chaplain mentor. He gave me this sound advice before I returned to active duty four years ago. He told me, "Mike, if this is where God wants you, they [commanders] can't write an evaluation bad enough to get rid of you. If this is not where God wants you, they cannot write one good enough to keep you." Invest in your relationship with God and then with your family. Your family and your wife will be what are with you when the uniform comes off for the last time.

Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (NIV)

Additional Verses: Luke 11:17 "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: 'Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.' " (NIV)

For Further Meditation:

I love our son.  I will say it again.  I love our son!  Know what else?  I love being with him. 

Okay, I will be real here.  I won't say I didn't gloat in Mike taking him to play Putt-Putt this morning so I could be by myself some and get a haircut by myself.  I really enjoyed my alone time.  The Lord and I had a nice talk.  The cat thought I was off my rocker as I walked through the house getting ready and talking (in his eyes), to myself.  But it was an uninterrupted "conversation" and I got that refreshing I needed.

After my haircut, I was waiting for Mike and DS in this area of the post lodge with lots of tables and chairs for people to sit and enjoy any assortment of goodies from the nearby bakery. In it is a very small kiddy ride similar to a merry-go-round, but on a much smaller scale.  It is for toddlers.  As I sat people-watching and basking in additional alone time, I observed a Dad come to the kiddy ride with his little boy.  I have seen this Dad and his son before. The boy couldn't be more than 2 years old, but probably is younger.  He begged for a ride.  It was apparent from the Dad's demeanor, that he was not having fun and caved to the little one's request.  He placed the little boy on one of the animals' backs and put the quarter in the machine.  The ride started.  I wish I could describe the face of that little boy.  It was absolute and pure glee and joy.  In his little mind, I think he must have been imagining being an astronaut, or a cowboy, or something like that.  It was simply precious to watch and it filled my heart with gladness and brought back many warm memories of our DS from that age.

What struck me, though, was the Dad.  He simply used the ride as a way to "check out" from dealing with his son.  Instead of sharing in his son's joy, he watched the nearby TV (which was behind him), and the game that was on.  He even kept feeding quarters into the machine to keep the ride going.  But this wasn't for his son's benefit, it was for his.   On the occasional times he did turn around, he didn't even smile at his son, but just nodded his head and said, "Yes, I see."  Nothing else.  Then he would turn his back again to watch the game.  It made me sad to realize he had missed out on a precious memory with his son.  And I felt even sadder when I watched the little boy's face go from glee and joy, to a flat expression evidently because he couldn't share his joy with his Daddy.

Don't get me wrong.  I have been there.  I have days when I hide in my bathroom because DS has literally talked for 3 solid hours and I need some quiet (feeling your pain, WaitingontheLord).  I have been there when he was a toddler and I caved to begging for some respite.  I am not saying I haven't even checked out on our DS at times.  But, I think what I saw was a Dad that isn't engaged in his son's life.   I have seen them before and this is the way it is everytime I see them.  It makes me sad.

I think God used that to remind me of one reason why I am homeschooling and why I do love being with our DS.  Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed lately with all the choices that go along with deciding what to use for next year, etc.  I have been feeling overwhelmed with the struggle of getting our routine and schedule down before we move.  I haven't been letting God handle these issues either.  I know better than that but I, too, struggle with wanting to do things in my own power.  Bad idea, Janet.

But, God is amazingly good and gave my husband the opportunity to take our DS out this morning and give me that time.  I think He wanted me to have our conversation in quiet today.  I think He wanted me to see that little boy and his Dad.  It gave me a renewed perspective and refreshed me so that when Mike and DS came walking around the corner, I got up and ran to greet them with a smile on my face.  I could honestly say to DS, "I missed you and I'm so glad to see you!"  Even Mike commented on how much more at peace I was.

Should I tell him?  Mmmm, maybe God and I will just enjoy our secret of our special time when He spoke to me more plainly than if He had been sitting right there with me.  Thank you, God.  I needed that.

The new edition of The HomeFront e-newsletter is out now.  Check it out.  For now, here is my article and the "extended" version.  My prayer is it will minister to you.

What does liberty truly mean and what does true freedom feel like? Engraved into the Liberty Bell is an excerpt of Scripture from the Jubilee call taken from Leviticus 25:10 saying "...Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." On July 8th, 1776, the bell rang out summoning the people to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Our Founding Fathers understood the importance of founding our country on God's laws and His Word. We are truly blessed to be able to call America our home and to live in freedom each day. How wonderful that our troops are part of bringing liberty to other nations now, so they may experience what true freedom feels like! But, what is so important about having those words from Leviticus inscribed into our Liberty Bell?

The word jubilee, in its essence, means liberty. The Jubilee call is taken from Leviticus 25, where God showed His chosen ones (Israel), His deep desire for forgiveness and to see their liberty. Set forth in this passage is the opportunity for all debts to be forgiven and the slaves to be set free. The Year of Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years in commemoration of the Israelites' flight from bondage in Egypt. God knew that they, and all peoples, would long to be free.

In answer to that longing, God introduced the Year of Jubilee in preparation for the Incarnation of the Year of Jubilee to come. That Incarnation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Jubilee! At God's appointed time, His desire for forgiveness and liberty for His chosen ones became Man. In Galations 5:1, it tells us that "it is for freedom Christ has set us free." (NIV). We are then exhorted, by standing in our Jubilee (Jesus), to "not let ourselves (italics mine) be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

So then, if 2 Corinthians 3:17 tells us "...that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," we are truly free. Jesus came and became the Sacrificial Lamb so that we could be free and He is our Incarnation of Jubilee. We can live a life of Jubilee every day! We are free from the bondage or slavery of worry or impatience or any of the other things that hinder us in our daily walk as His children and as teachers to our children. I, then, exhort you to not be burdened by that yoke of slavery and live in His freedom. Live in His Jubilee!

Memory Verse:

2 Corinthians 3:17(NIV) "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

Additional verses:

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Leviticus 25: 10 (NIV) "...proclaim liberty throughtout the land to all its inhabitants.  It shall be a jubilee for you..."

John 8:32 (NIV) "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

Application:

Spend some of your quiet time just praising the Lord for America. 

Thank Him for the freedom you have in Christ.

Pray for America, her leaders, her citizens, all government, and for the troops as they take her freedom to foreign soil.

This month, HSB's The HomeFront e-newsletter was not published as usual due to unforeseen circumstances.  Since the HF Team desires to share with you all that the Lord has laid on our hearts to share, we have posted the newsletter on the HomeFront military blog.  You can read all the sections there.

As I like to do, I am posting my thoughts with the additional verses and meditations here.  Don't forget to stop by the HF writers' blogs listed to the right and also the HomeFront blog.

Memory Verse: Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV): "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Additional Verses:

Psalm 19:8 (NIV) "The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart."

Psalm 81:1 (KJV) "Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Application:
Again, spend time in God's Word. Start out with 5 or 10 minutes a day and build from there.

Spend time just praising Him. Put aside the requests to just focus on Him.

Play your favorite (or your kid's favorite) praise music in the house, the car, or wherever you can.

Sing along, loudly! Remember, just make a joyful noise, it doesn't matter if you can sing or not. (Have your kid(s) memorize Psalm 81:1) 

Father's Day Tribute

An example would be praying Colossians 1:9-10.

"Heavenly Father, we have not stopped praying for ______ and asking You to fill ______ with the knowledge of Your will. We pray for spiritual wisdom and understanding for ______. Strengthen us with Your wisdom and discernment, to nurture our gift(s),_________.

We pray that _____will live a life worthy of You, Lord. We ask for Your guidance to help us teach him/her/them how to live in You. We lift up our child/children ________, that he/she/they may grow in the knowledge of You, bearing fruit through good works and pleasing You in every way. Amen.

Remembering our fallen soldiers

As another Memorial Day approaches, I feel somewhat at a loss for words. I have always loved our veterans and been so thankful for all the men and women over the generations that gave their lives for our Freedom. I get very sentimental thinking of all their sacrifices and their families' sacrifices.
It hit especially close to home 3 years ago when my husband lost a dear friend in the attack on the 507th Maintenance Company in Nasiriyah. It came home again a couple of months ago, when my brother shared that one of his Ranger buddies had been killed trying to stop a carjacking. For those reasons, I dedicate these words, which my brother wrote in an email, to Marty Ratazack (75th Rangers), and Robert J. Dowdy.

"I have lost fellow soldiers in places that no one ever mentions or cares about or maybe ever will. It's the essence of being a soldier, complete, selfless sacrifice. Many of them are "unknowns" to a country that is too busy going about their lives to notice or care. You don't care that anyone else will care, you do it because it's what soldiers must do. That is the essence of serving. It's done even for those who never stop to think about it and that's ok." (Mark Isbell, former Ranger and Grenada veteran)

Well put, Mark. God bless our beautiful Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. God bless their families.

Psalm 30:5 (KJV) "Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning."

In this week leading up to Mother's Day, I wanted to share some insights the Lord has been showing me in my own journey of motherhood.

A dear friend of mine once said one Scripture that got her through was Isaiah 40:11, where it says, "...He gently leads those that have young." (NIV).  It has also been my encouragement and one Scripture I have turned to over these short 6 years since I became a mother.

With Easter recently passed, I have also been looking at John 19:26-27.   This is John's account of Christ's last minutes on the cross.  I find it poignant that in those "final" moments, with the weight of all the world's sins on Him, Jesus was thinking of His earthly mother.  Here, with Christ's death iminent, Mary was still unable to separate that her firstborn son was the Son of God and her Creator.  I can't imagine her pain.  Can you?  In seeing her pain and  conflicting emotions, Christ gave her what He wasn't able to be.  A son that wasn't her Creator.  He saw her need even when His pain was at the deepest for Him..

If He did that for Mary, why wouldn't He also give to us what we need when we need it?  He was raised from a babe, just like each of us was.  He knows the needs of mothers the world over.  And He knows your particular needs today.  He can and will lead you as you care for His lambs.  He will give you what you need as your Creator. 
I pray that each of you has a wonderful and blessed Mother's Day.   And I pray that you will release to Him your cares and concerns over your children.  He is their Creator also.  Allow Him to lead you in the daily work with your children and ask Him to give you what He knows you need.  He will.

Happy Mother's Day!

This is my first year of homeschooling our precious son. Many people told me during the first year, especially Kindergarten, you are mostly trying different curricula, teaching styles, and different routines to see what fits you and your child(ren) best. One thing I have discovered is that no matter how many children you are homeschooling or how long you have been homeschooling, there is a constant battle common to all homeschooling moms. It is finding the perseverance to keep going. For me personally, I have battled with giving up on those days when it appeared so overwhelming. On those days when I felt it would be easier to let someone else teach him and me have my own time to myself. But, I have learned that is not the answer and God wants more for me and our family.

In Hebrews 12:1, we are told that we are "surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses" so we should "throw off every entanglement and run with perseverance the race marked out for us." If you are like me, you may be familiar with this verse but may have never looked at it closely. Several points stand out to me that I would love to share with you.

Who is our "cloud of witnesses?" The Greek word for witness used here is the origin of the word testifier. I believe that our witnesses or testifiers are fellow homeschool mothers that have been schooling longer than we have or have experience in an area we may need to learn more about. How about the wonderful veteran homeschoolers who now have magazines, websites, and books to encourage us? How better to learn about something we don't have confidence with or something we aren't familiar with than a fellow homeschooler who has taught it or is teaching it? They can testify to their knowledge of that subject.

The word perseverance used here is also from a Greek word that translates to "cheerful endurance" or "abiding patience." One thing I am learning with homeschooling is patience. We all want more patience but find ourselves being almost afraid to ask for it. But, notice it means cheerful endurance and abiding patience. God doesn't expect us to do this alone! He wants to be with us, to walk with us and guide us and help us find joy in our journey.

Another aspect of perseverance is that many times it calls for us to wait patiently on the Lord after the seed is planted to see it grow. We all desire to see that growth in our children when we are in the day to day drudgery of schooling and wondering if they are learning much less even listening. But, with even little things like letter sounds, I had to wait patiently till one day I was surprised to have Wyatt spouting off letters and sounds like a pro! Hallelujah! He really was listening!

I don't know about you, but I can sure get bogged down in some of the most trivial of things that take my eyes off what is important. I need to "throw off those entanglements" and focus on what is important for us and what God has called me to do specifically for our family. I need to monitor the TV time and what we watch more closely for all of us. I need to be more mindful of the time I spend on the computer. I could go on, but you get the idea. My focus for this season of life is my family and what we consider important for Wyatt's education.

I think what I like best of all about this verse are those 4 little words that are so easily overlooked while reading it. "...marked out for us." God has already gone ahead and prepared the way for us. He "knows the plans He has for us..." (Jeremiah 29:11). We aren't alone and we don't have to face each day alone. We don't have to figure this out by ourselves! God simply is asking us to give Him some time for Him to show us what His plans are for our family and our child(ren). He would love nothing more than to have us release it all to Him and let Him take us to each step, one step at at time. (Matthew 6:33).

As we each face the closing of a school year, whether we stop for the summer or are gearing up for school year-around, we can continue to persevere in this race God has called us to called homeschooling. He is right there with us. He longs to guide you and help you. Homeschooling is one of the greatest things we can be called to do. It can be one of the most satisfying. And yes, it can be one of the hardest. But we don't have to do it alone. We have our witnesses and we have our God!

Heavenly Father, thank you that You love us so much that even before You call us to something, You go ahead and prepare the way for us. Thank You for loving us so much that You never ask anything of us we can't do because You equip us and guide us each step of the way, if we will only let You. Bless these homeschoolers as they push on to the end of this year's race and bless their endeavors with the fruit of Your knowledge. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Memory Verse: Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (NIV)

Additional Verses:

Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (NIV)

2 Corinthians 8:11 "Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means." (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (NIV)

Application:

Spend time in God's Word. Take time to listen as He speaks to your heart.

Have some time of just quiet without an "agenda" of requests. Seek Him in the quiet moments.

Practice wholly depending on Him. Our families don't need Wonder Woman. Of course, this requires almost minute by minute dependence on some days!

Remember to patiently apply what He is teaching your heart. That is perseverance.

Ask God for godly mentors and begin seeking them as God leads you.

Don't be afraid to ask for help, not just from God, but from other Moms.

This post is on my other blog, but thought it would be good to include here.  Since we have been active duty, I have grown a deep love for military families and the military women (spouses) that are as called to this lifestyle as our husbands are. 
My prayer is this post will speak to all women, but most especially to my sisters all over the world!

We are living overseas. My husband is an Army Chaplain and the Army decided that we should see Korea! Now I was raised in South Carolina, and really never thought I would leave the Southeast, much less America. I am so thankful we have had this opportunity to experience firsthand another country. We love Korea and the Korean people. But, we do experience home-sickness occasionally.
Yesterday, as we were driving around, we were met with the usual insanity on the roads here. See, the Korean traffic laws are really more like suggestions than actual laws to be obeyed. It makes for an interesting roadway ballet. The bad part is that we, as Americans, don't know all the steps to this particular ballet! It can be quite interesting and it caused me to think about what we are told about our time here on this earth.
In Hebrews 11, beginning in verse 9, then moving to verses 13 and 14, we are told about those that have gone before us and how they viewed themselves as aliens and strangers on this earth. They did not remember or long for the homes they left, they were longing for, looking forward to a better home, heaven. To say that it has been culture shock for us to move to Korea would be an understatement. We long for our American home. We so often talk about how we miss our "American food" or our "American roads." We miss being able to walk the streets and understand everyone talking around us. We miss just plain knowing where we are going and how to read the signs to get there! Small things we so often took for granted become overwhelming ordeals on some days. But, this is not our home. It is only temporary.
We should also feel that way about this earth that we live on. This is not our home. It is only temporary. Our true home is with Christ in heaven. No wonder we don't feel at home here. As we grow in Him and He shows us more and more of His true nature, we slowly become less at home here. That is the way it should be. Someone once told me that he believed that as the last days (whether that be 1 month or 1,000 years), draw closer, it would be easy to recognize who were believers and who hadn't yet made that step of faith. He believed that as the world grew darker, our lights would shine brighter. That is the way it should be, too. We are to put on His righteousness and to shine our lights in the world. We should look more and more like Jesus each day we are on this earth. That way, as the world becomes darker, people can more easily find us. Remember, if you claim Christ as your Saviour, you are the only tangible evidence of Him in this world that some people will ever see!
But in that growth process, we should also become less and less comfortable with our surroundings. Our hearts should long to go home. We should recognize that the more alien we feel in this world, the more difficult it will be for us to move about here. Just like we, as Americans, find everyday life a bit more difficult since we live in a foreign country, so we believers should find living on this earth causing our hearts to want to go home.
God is waiting for us. He is waiting for you. He has the porch light on. He has the fire lit...I can hear it crackling now and smell the sweet smell of the wood. He has a feast prepared for us. A feast like we have never seen before. I can smell the potpourri of scents. He will be waiting with an eternal hug. I can't wait. I long for home. Not just for SC or America, I long for my heavenly home, I long to sit with my Father and spend eternity in my one true Home.

Father God, I lift up my friend now. We are all searching and longing for something. Many have claimed Your life-giving salvation, some are still on the path, others are seeing if the path is safe to travel. But, none of us should be at home here. This earth is temporary, it won't last. Turn our hearts toward Home, our one and only true Home. In Jesus' name, Amen.