Ezekiel 36:24-27
For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all of the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.
God is incredibly faithful and incredibly persistent. His love goes beyond anything I can comprehend. When I keep reading about His willingness to try again and again and again I am astounded. I see clearly how foolish and paltry my own offerings of love and forgiveness are. Why, oh why, do we cling to our worthless sin when we have a treasure much greater? Completely holy and completely unable to fail us.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Lamentations & Ezekiel
Lamentations 3:19-26
this is one of my life verses, one that speaks to my heart, encourages me, reminds me what I am to be about every.single.day. The LORD is my portion.
I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet I call this to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new ever morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
I LOVE this verse from Ezekiel, God asks Ezekiel in chpt 37:3 'can these bones live'? Ezekiel's answer?
O Sovereign LORD, You alone know.
this is one of my life verses, one that speaks to my heart, encourages me, reminds me what I am to be about every.single.day. The LORD is my portion.
I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet I call this to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new ever morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
I LOVE this verse from Ezekiel, God asks Ezekiel in chpt 37:3 'can these bones live'? Ezekiel's answer?
O Sovereign LORD, You alone know.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Jeremiah
23:16 - 18
This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes,
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.
They keep saying to those who despise Me,
'The LORD says: you will have peace.'
And to those who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'
But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see or hear His Word?
Who has listened and heard His Word?
This verse laid very heavy on my heart this morning. Sometimes reading through the Bible is like picking up a modern day news article, so many parallels. Praying this morning that we will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that follows hard after God.
This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes,
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.
They keep saying to those who despise Me,
'The LORD says: you will have peace.'
And to those who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'
But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see or hear His Word?
Who has listened and heard His Word?
This verse laid very heavy on my heart this morning. Sometimes reading through the Bible is like picking up a modern day news article, so many parallels. Praying this morning that we will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that follows hard after God.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Isaiah
For the first time I feel like I have glimpsed a small measure of God's heartbreak, His absolute sadness when His people turn from Him, repeatedly ignoring His calls for repentance, for a returning to Him....and yet, He still He sent His Son. He still made a way, He still provided forgiveness, He still was faithful. As a parent, I get sooooooo frustrated when I tell my kids to do something and they either ignore me or worse yet challenge my authority blatantly. It's so hard to remain consistent and loving and offer forgiveness over and over and over. It blows my mind with the holiness and awe inspiring loveliness of the God we serve.
Isaiah is one of my top favorite books of all times. Much like the book of Psalms, it is highlighted, underlined, smudged, and little notes take up the margins throughout. I tried to narrow down my favorite verses to type here for a blog post and instead settled on chapter 53.
(Copied and pasted courtesy Biblegateway.org, NIV version)
Isaiah is one of my top favorite books of all times. Much like the book of Psalms, it is highlighted, underlined, smudged, and little notes take up the margins throughout. I tried to narrow down my favorite verses to type here for a blog post and instead settled on chapter 53.
(Copied and pasted courtesy Biblegateway.org, NIV version)
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 53:8 Or From arrest
- Isaiah 53:8 Or generation considered / that he was cut off from the land of the living, / that he was punished for the transgression of my people?
- Isaiah 53:10 Hebrew though you make
- Isaiah 53:11 Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text does not have the light of life.
- Isaiah 53:11 Or (with Masoretic Text) 11 He will see the fruit of his suffering / and will be satisfied
- Isaiah 53:11 Or by knowledge of him
- Isaiah 53:12 Or many
- Isaiah 53:12 Or numerous
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs
imagine this, you deny yourself absolutely nothing. Everything you see, that you want, you take. And still you come to the conclusion that everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecc 2:10&11
I loved chapter five this time through. Previously I have found Ecclesiastes to be so depressing after reading through Psalms and Proverbs. But this time I found myself really enjoying chapter five, especially these verses:
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifices of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. vs1
Do not be quick with your mouth,
Do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few. vs 2
Beginning of verse six, do not let your mouth lead you into sin. Yes, yes, yes....this is one I need to pray daily.
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. vs 7
It ends with this, vs 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. Oh please let this be me!!! Let me be so occupied with gladness of heart I don't have much time to pour over the days gone past.
I loved chapter five this time through. Previously I have found Ecclesiastes to be so depressing after reading through Psalms and Proverbs. But this time I found myself really enjoying chapter five, especially these verses:
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifices of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. vs1
Do not be quick with your mouth,
Do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few. vs 2
Beginning of verse six, do not let your mouth lead you into sin. Yes, yes, yes....this is one I need to pray daily.
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. vs 7
It ends with this, vs 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. Oh please let this be me!!! Let me be so occupied with gladness of heart I don't have much time to pour over the days gone past.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
B90 Proverbs part two
other verses I love:
Have you heard the statement what is eaten in secret will be worn in public? When I read through chapter 9, and the woman Folly calls out and says, 'food eaten in secret is delicious' (verse17), I immediately thought of that statement. It applies to our thoughts as well, what we think in private will become our spoken words and actions done in public.
Chpt 14:26
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
South Beach phase one is tough. Especially when you love bread and fruit as much as I do. I found a verse to encourage me when I restart it on Tuesday morning.
Chpt 15:17
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
Parenting wisdom is abundant and plenty throughout these chapters. A few of my favorites are
Chpt 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death.
Chpt 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Chpt 24:3&4
By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Chpt 27:19
As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man.
This verse reminds me of Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45
Have you heard the statement what is eaten in secret will be worn in public? When I read through chapter 9, and the woman Folly calls out and says, 'food eaten in secret is delicious' (verse17), I immediately thought of that statement. It applies to our thoughts as well, what we think in private will become our spoken words and actions done in public.
Chpt 14:26
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
South Beach phase one is tough. Especially when you love bread and fruit as much as I do. I found a verse to encourage me when I restart it on Tuesday morning.
Chpt 15:17
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
Parenting wisdom is abundant and plenty throughout these chapters. A few of my favorites are
Chpt 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death.
Chpt 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Chpt 24:3&4
By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Chpt 27:19
As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man.
This verse reminds me of Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45
B90 Proverbs part one
I love words.
Talking, writing, thinking, talking, reading, talking...
As someone who loves words, I often land in hot water because of them. I speak before I think, I say too much, I talk when I should listen...on and on it goes.
A few years ago I noticed the wealth of wisdom regarding the words we speak nestled in the book of Proverbs and I jotted down 'words' at the end of each statement, for a quick easy reference. It's a gold mine!!!
A few of my favorites?
Chpt 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
Chpt 10:19 (an ouch verse for me)
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Chpt 10:31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
Chpt 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.
Chpt 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
THINK before you speak - ask yourself is it True? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind?
Chpt 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs it's answers
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil?
Chpt 16:21
The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.
Chpt 16:25
A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.
Chpt 17:27
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even tempered.
Chpt 18:13
He who answers before listening
that is his folly and his shame.
Talking, writing, thinking, talking, reading, talking...
As someone who loves words, I often land in hot water because of them. I speak before I think, I say too much, I talk when I should listen...on and on it goes.
A few years ago I noticed the wealth of wisdom regarding the words we speak nestled in the book of Proverbs and I jotted down 'words' at the end of each statement, for a quick easy reference. It's a gold mine!!!
A few of my favorites?
Chpt 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
Chpt 10:19 (an ouch verse for me)
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Chpt 10:31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
Chpt 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.
Chpt 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
THINK before you speak - ask yourself is it True? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind?
Chpt 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs it's answers
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil?
Chpt 16:21
The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.
Chpt 16:25
A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.
Chpt 17:27
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even tempered.
Chpt 18:13
He who answers before listening
that is his folly and his shame.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Psalm Days 39 - 45
today is day 42 of Bible in 90 days...we are three days from being half way there. I have no idea what to say about the Psalms except: dig in and enjoy. If you are feeling it, thinking it, struggling with it, or so happy about it you are about to burst wide open like a juicy watermelon...it's in there.
I.Love.The.Book.Of.Psalm.
It looks like a pen leaked all over the pages of my Bible because I have underlined, noted, cried, and smudged my way through this book multiple times. But there is soooo much, so many awesome things, I want to capture it all, I want to commit it all to memory, store it all in my heart.
I.Love.The.Book.Of.Psalm.
It looks like a pen leaked all over the pages of my Bible because I have underlined, noted, cried, and smudged my way through this book multiple times. But there is soooo much, so many awesome things, I want to capture it all, I want to commit it all to memory, store it all in my heart.
Part 2
We are currently on a light summer schedule. We usually do school six weeks, take one week off from the first Monday in July to the third Friday in May. On our week off and during the summer we still do a large portion of our routine (unless it is a holy day, then we rest completely). We don't do the block time of one on one unless needed to makeup for unexpected dr days, sick days, or to address a weakness. Nor do we do the subject a day in the afternoons.
This summer we selected a theme for each day. Make something fun Monday (art or science experiment), Time To Read Tuesday - off to the library or bookstore, Wet and Wild Wednesday (workout outside taming our jungle for me, water play for kiddos, Get Outside Thursday -picnic breakfast, and Go Somewhere Fun Friday -one aspect of this is we go have lunch with Daddy at his work (usually pb&j and chips...but they LOVE getting to pack and take a lunch), and Game Day Sundays.
Saturdays are our day of rest, Torah study, and worshipping God. Sundays are our free days. We play, we run around town (or walk if weather is nice), have lots of free time...fun fun fun!!
My Hello Mornings routine is something I strive to get done before kids or dogs wake up, doesn't always happen....but that's what I am shooting for. I wake up, start my coffee, drink 8 oz of water, grab my Bible and read. I am a co leader on my Twitter group for hello mornings so I try and pop in and encourage anyone I can, but usually I am the one getting encouraged. I try to check email, news feeds, my schedule and to do list Monday through Friday before 7:30 am. Again doesn't always happen.
Oh I forgot to add with my last post we do have a few set times throughout the day that offer a natural reset button to our schedule, and as with many things in our life, they tend to circle around food. 7:30 is wake up time for my kids & breakfast (usually) always follows at 8 am, 11:30 is lunch, 5:30 is dinner.
Exercise. Sigh. At the very least I try to do thirty minutes of walking, weights, or running. If it's a bad day this is the first to go from our routine. I need to be conscientious about incorporating this into our day, even when it's a hard day.
This summer we selected a theme for each day. Make something fun Monday (art or science experiment), Time To Read Tuesday - off to the library or bookstore, Wet and Wild Wednesday (workout outside taming our jungle for me, water play for kiddos, Get Outside Thursday -picnic breakfast, and Go Somewhere Fun Friday -one aspect of this is we go have lunch with Daddy at his work (usually pb&j and chips...but they LOVE getting to pack and take a lunch), and Game Day Sundays.
Saturdays are our day of rest, Torah study, and worshipping God. Sundays are our free days. We play, we run around town (or walk if weather is nice), have lots of free time...fun fun fun!!
My Hello Mornings routine is something I strive to get done before kids or dogs wake up, doesn't always happen....but that's what I am shooting for. I wake up, start my coffee, drink 8 oz of water, grab my Bible and read. I am a co leader on my Twitter group for hello mornings so I try and pop in and encourage anyone I can, but usually I am the one getting encouraged. I try to check email, news feeds, my schedule and to do list Monday through Friday before 7:30 am. Again doesn't always happen.
Oh I forgot to add with my last post we do have a few set times throughout the day that offer a natural reset button to our schedule, and as with many things in our life, they tend to circle around food. 7:30 is wake up time for my kids & breakfast (usually) always follows at 8 am, 11:30 is lunch, 5:30 is dinner.
Exercise. Sigh. At the very least I try to do thirty minutes of walking, weights, or running. If it's a bad day this is the first to go from our routine. I need to be conscientious about incorporating this into our day, even when it's a hard day.
Make A Plan, Work Your Plan Part 1
I am not sure who originally coined the phrase make a plan, then work your plan, but that thought combined with, 'You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit' is a recipe for a productive day.
I am not a natural born organizer, nor a naturally good steward of my time. It's work, effort on my part. I do not like schedules. Usually within days (sometimes minutes) of making one a chronic medical condition will rear its ugly head, someone will get sick, a water heater will quit....something, somewhere will happen to blow that schedule off its hinges. What then? How do I steer a ship that seems destined to pull us off course constantly?
Routine and rhythm. My two new favorite words. I have three main areas that I need to get stuff done in daily, six days a week. Hello Mornings Routine, homeschool/housekeeping, and exercise. I will start with homeschool/housekeeping and address the other two at the end,
So how do I begin building our rhythm? We start with something that happens everyday....we wake up. That's my first hook. On that I hang a routine. Get up, get dressed, brush hair & teeth, make bed spot etc; We practice the tasks in the same order, over and over until the habit is formed. One day it takes twenty minutes, the next an hour. It doesn't matter the amount of time, just that we get them done each day in the same order so that a habit is formed. Next we eat breakfast. That's another hook. On that I hang feed/care for pets & chore. After breakfast each kid needs to check their pets' food&water, and each day complete their chore. I have five main things that need to get done daily. Laundry, floors, pickup, dishes & counter tops. I took five index cards and titled each from above, on the back I listed the specifics associated with that task. For example laundry includes : sorting, start/maintain the load, switch to dryer, then fold and place in the person's basket or hang up in closet, and finally clear the dryer lint. The laundry cannot be completed if all tasks are not done. On each card I color coded each kid's name and beside it wrote the day of the week. So on Monday kid number one has laundry chore, Tuesday floor chore, Wednesday pickup chore, Thursday dish chore, and Friday counter tops chore. Since I only have three kids I won't have help everyday (for me this wasn't an end goal) but they will be practicing one aspect of keeping house daily (this was my end goal).
Next we gather at the table. This is another hook. We have table time. If you aren't familiar with table time, might I suggest the blog Morning Time Moms as a place to begin? Then take her awesome ideas and bend them to work for you and your kids. This is our Bible time, memory time, and any extras. Next I block off my three kids and work one on one with each of them in the same order. We tackle math and language arts. Two go before lunch, one after lunch.
After the last block of one on one, we are ready for a break.
We hang another hook here and have DEAR (drop everything and read -audiobooks count too!) and then exercise. After this we have tea time & poetry (aka snack), I hang on this peg poetry, read aloud, subject of the day. Then it's time to breathe. Free time for them, dinner prep for me. Dinner time at the table, baths and showers as needed, read aloud or quietly and then my favorite moment....bed time!!!!
Some days we don't get it all done, that's ok, we begin again the next day and try again.
I am not a natural born organizer, nor a naturally good steward of my time. It's work, effort on my part. I do not like schedules. Usually within days (sometimes minutes) of making one a chronic medical condition will rear its ugly head, someone will get sick, a water heater will quit....something, somewhere will happen to blow that schedule off its hinges. What then? How do I steer a ship that seems destined to pull us off course constantly?
Routine and rhythm. My two new favorite words. I have three main areas that I need to get stuff done in daily, six days a week. Hello Mornings Routine, homeschool/housekeeping, and exercise. I will start with homeschool/housekeeping and address the other two at the end,
So how do I begin building our rhythm? We start with something that happens everyday....we wake up. That's my first hook. On that I hang a routine. Get up, get dressed, brush hair & teeth, make bed spot etc; We practice the tasks in the same order, over and over until the habit is formed. One day it takes twenty minutes, the next an hour. It doesn't matter the amount of time, just that we get them done each day in the same order so that a habit is formed. Next we eat breakfast. That's another hook. On that I hang feed/care for pets & chore. After breakfast each kid needs to check their pets' food&water, and each day complete their chore. I have five main things that need to get done daily. Laundry, floors, pickup, dishes & counter tops. I took five index cards and titled each from above, on the back I listed the specifics associated with that task. For example laundry includes : sorting, start/maintain the load, switch to dryer, then fold and place in the person's basket or hang up in closet, and finally clear the dryer lint. The laundry cannot be completed if all tasks are not done. On each card I color coded each kid's name and beside it wrote the day of the week. So on Monday kid number one has laundry chore, Tuesday floor chore, Wednesday pickup chore, Thursday dish chore, and Friday counter tops chore. Since I only have three kids I won't have help everyday (for me this wasn't an end goal) but they will be practicing one aspect of keeping house daily (this was my end goal).
Next we gather at the table. This is another hook. We have table time. If you aren't familiar with table time, might I suggest the blog Morning Time Moms as a place to begin? Then take her awesome ideas and bend them to work for you and your kids. This is our Bible time, memory time, and any extras. Next I block off my three kids and work one on one with each of them in the same order. We tackle math and language arts. Two go before lunch, one after lunch.
After the last block of one on one, we are ready for a break.
We hang another hook here and have DEAR (drop everything and read -audiobooks count too!) and then exercise. After this we have tea time & poetry (aka snack), I hang on this peg poetry, read aloud, subject of the day. Then it's time to breathe. Free time for them, dinner prep for me. Dinner time at the table, baths and showers as needed, read aloud or quietly and then my favorite moment....bed time!!!!
Some days we don't get it all done, that's ok, we begin again the next day and try again.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Esther & Job
I never noticed before that it explains how the name Purim came to be. Esther chapter 9 verses 23 through 28.
Job
Feared God and shunned evil, when he lost everything he arose, tore his robe, shaved his head and said :
"Naked I came from my mothers womb,
and naked I will depart.
the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
It occured to me for the first time that God starts off the book saying this about Job, there is no one on earth like him, he is blameless, he is upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. It made a difference in how I felt about reading what his friends said to him. They speak a lot of good things about God, strong truths, but they were not wise in dealing with their friends broken heart. Also their knowledge of God was profound, but did it change their lives? Because if they lived what they spoke, wouldn't it have looked differently?
In chapter four verse two this question hit me like a ton of bricks...
"If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?" As a mom the number one thing that threatens to undermine all of the effort I make to pour into their lives is impatience. Especially if I am in the middle of doing something and the fifty questions start.
I love, love, love these verses...chapter 11 vs. 7-9
Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens-what can you do?
They are deeper than the graves-what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
Job 13 verse 15
Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him.
I want to say this to my children sometimes chapter 16 verse 3
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
The basis of my daily hope and the reason I get up every morning?
I know that Jesus, my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
Yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see Him
With my own eyes - I, and not another.
How my heart years within me!
Job 19:25-27
And why I can say this day is awesome no matter how hard it is?
The Spirit of God has made me;
The breath of the Almighty gives me life. 33:4
This post was written as a way to preach to myself, to my weakest spots. Thanks for letting me share it with you.
Job
Feared God and shunned evil, when he lost everything he arose, tore his robe, shaved his head and said :
"Naked I came from my mothers womb,
and naked I will depart.
the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
It occured to me for the first time that God starts off the book saying this about Job, there is no one on earth like him, he is blameless, he is upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. It made a difference in how I felt about reading what his friends said to him. They speak a lot of good things about God, strong truths, but they were not wise in dealing with their friends broken heart. Also their knowledge of God was profound, but did it change their lives? Because if they lived what they spoke, wouldn't it have looked differently?
In chapter four verse two this question hit me like a ton of bricks...
"If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?" As a mom the number one thing that threatens to undermine all of the effort I make to pour into their lives is impatience. Especially if I am in the middle of doing something and the fifty questions start.
I love, love, love these verses...chapter 11 vs. 7-9
Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens-what can you do?
They are deeper than the graves-what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
Job 13 verse 15
Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him.
I want to say this to my children sometimes chapter 16 verse 3
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
The basis of my daily hope and the reason I get up every morning?
I know that Jesus, my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
Yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see Him
With my own eyes - I, and not another.
How my heart years within me!
Job 19:25-27
And why I can say this day is awesome no matter how hard it is?
The Spirit of God has made me;
The breath of the Almighty gives me life. 33:4
This post was written as a way to preach to myself, to my weakest spots. Thanks for letting me share it with you.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Ezra & Nehemiah
Does anybody else get giddy when you spot prophets in other books than their own? It just drives home that these are real people, that really lived.
Ezra
Chapter 3 vs 3 Despite their fear of the people around them...
Chapter 7 vs 6 I want to be like Ezra, a teacher well versed in the Word of God & in vs 10 I want to devote myself to the study and observance of the Word, & to teaching it to my family.
Chapter 9 vs 15 Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in Your presence. Love this picture of humility.
Nehemiah
Chapter 4 vs 14 Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.
I really, really enjoyed the entire book of Nehemiah, but especially loved chapter 9.
Ezra
Chapter 3 vs 3 Despite their fear of the people around them...
Chapter 7 vs 6 I want to be like Ezra, a teacher well versed in the Word of God & in vs 10 I want to devote myself to the study and observance of the Word, & to teaching it to my family.
Chapter 9 vs 15 Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in Your presence. Love this picture of humility.
Nehemiah
Chapter 4 vs 14 Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.
I really, really enjoyed the entire book of Nehemiah, but especially loved chapter 9.
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