Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Bible Bee 2009
The Shelby Kennedy Foundation launched the first-of-its-kind, world-class National Bible Bee Competition. The competition began with local contests in communities nationwide on September 12, 2009. The top 100 finalists from each age group advanced to the National Contest in Washington D.C. to compete on November 5-6, 2009.Last night, my husband and I listened to a Family Life online radio program at: familylife.com, where hosts Dennis Rainey and Bob Lapine, interview the winners of the National Bible Bee 2009.
We were so impressed with the whole contest and with the winners, that we are making plans to have our children participate next year and also investigate the possibilities of them competing in local Bible Bees or Bible Bowls.
Listen online to Family Life's Broadcasts on the National Bible Bee 2009:
Part 1: Ready, Set, Remember
Part 2: And the Winning Question is...
Also, check out the Shelby Kennedy Foundation Bible Bee website.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Susannah Wesley on Discipline
When the will of a child is totally subdued, and it is brought to revere and stand in awe of the parents, then a great many childish follies ... may be passed by. . .
I insist on the conquering of the will of children betimes, because this is the only strong and rational foundation of a religious education ... when this is thoroughly done, then a child is capable of being governed by reason and piety.
From: www.familyofdestiny.com
...................................................................................................
We'd be wise to implement these principles in the discipline of our children. -Merisa
Susannah Wesley's 16 Rules
Susannah Wesley was the mother of 19 children, including John and Charles Wesley. Through much adversity, she dedicated her life to instilling a sense of Christian Destiny into each of her children. Her children went on to change the world.
Here are 16 rules she laid down in her home.
1. Eating between meals not allowed.
2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.
3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.
4. Subdue self- will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child's soul.
5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.
7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.
8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.
9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.
10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.
11. Comment and reward good behavior.
12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.
13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.
14. Strictly observe all promises.
15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.
16. Teach children to fear the rod.
2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.
3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.
4. Subdue self- will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child's soul.
5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.
7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.
8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.
9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.
10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.
11. Comment and reward good behavior.
12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.
13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.
14. Strictly observe all promises.
15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.
16. Teach children to fear the rod.
From: www.familyofdestiny.com
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday Fall Photos
Me and my man.
Nathan loves to have his picture taken. He is always ready to pose and smile.
Abraham & Abraham.
Daddy's girl.
I love this smile.
My children. This is the only photo I could take with Joshua in it. I couldn't get the little guy to stay still long enough to get a decent picture of him by himself.Yesterday, after church, we stopped at a park and had fun playing and taking pictures of ourselves. It was a beautiful, surprisingly warm afternoon and we enjoyed our time together.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Start a Fire!
Susanna WesleySusanna prayed daily, "Dear God, guide me. Make my life count."
As a young woman, Susanna once said, "I hope the fire I start will not only burn all of London, but all over the United Kingdom as well. I hope it will burn all over the world."
Little did she know that the fire would soon come and it came about through two of her children, John & Charles Wesley. These two sons became leaders of the evangelical revival in the Church of England in the eighteenth century. Susanna's son, John, while part of a group of men studying Martin Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans, was impacted by what he read and became profoundly aware of the love of Christ displayed by freely forgiving his sins and granting him eternal life. After experiencing the joy of this revelation, John and Charles Wesley began spreading this wonderful knowledge of the saving love of God, thereby sparking revival in the hearts of thousands.
Susannah was rewarded for her faithful labor as a mother. She was a highly disciplined woman who had a clear vision for her children. I am inspired as I read of her disciplined routine for her large family without the conveniences of today's world. I am sure that her routines were foundations in enabling her sons to be highly disciplined students of the Word and His ways.
After I read the quote aforementioned (in red letters) my heart was stirred, for I too desire to start a fire. I pray that I be a "match" to ignite a flame that will burn brightly in the hearts of my children. May the flame in each of their hearts shine in a dark and lonely world bringing hope to many.
Our lives as mother's truly count! Our faithful labor, be it changing diapers, helping our child memorize a Bible verse or disciplining in love, if done for the glory of God, will be rewarded! Join me in starting fires for God's glory!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
My First Post - Part II
A continuation of My First Post.
The Father & Son Retreat greatly affected my husband in a wonderful way. At the retreat my husband was charged to be the spiritual leader of his home and his understanding of this God given responsibility of training his children was renewed. Gathered together with other fathers and sons he observed their relationships and his heart was kindled towards our son. He began to understand that his role in our son's life was critical to his growth in becoming a man. A new vision was imparted to him and he was excited about it. Another blessing of the retreat was that my husband became friends with the director of the retreat and his friendship was a great help to us in the future.
My husband's excitement, upon returning home and sharing what God had spoken to his heart, was contagious. We both felt affirmed in the road we were now walking. As a result, my husband began to gather our family each evening to read the bible, pray and sing together. We also began concentrating our efforts on character training, discipline, family unity, and gaining our children's hearts.
Our first year of home school ended with a new knowledge that home schooling was not just an educational choice, but a life style. A life style of disciplining and walking alongside our children while teaching them God's ways.
To make a long story short, we continued our homeschooling journey for several years, gaining insights from websites, books and blogs. Two years ago we were blessed to make some wonderful friends at a family integrated church that my husband's friend (director of the father and son retreat who I mentioned earlier in My First Post) recommended to us. We began to make frequent trips to visit our new friends at this church and attended many get-togethers. What a blessing our new friends were to us! For the first time, I began to connect with other home schooling moms. It was a joyous learning experience for my husband and I to observe the interactions between parents and children. My children were happy to meet friends belonging to families with the same vision. I thank the Lord many times over for leading us to these beautiful families who encouraged us with their love and personal examples. We remain friends even after moving thousands of miles away.
Now to bring us to the present, several months ago we moved. After a job loss, the Lord provided my husband with a job opportunity across the country. We are now situated in a family integrated church with a loving spiritual family that the Lord has blessed us with.
During our first years of change, I had no experienced home schooling mothers to ask questions to or learn from. The writers of my favorite blogs and websites (see sidebar) became very valuable to me as they were a constant source of inspiration, encouragement, conviction and motivation through their writings and photos. It is true that words are powerful and as they say, "a photo is worth a thousand words." It is with this knowledge and personal reality that I have started my own blog; first of all to have a permanent record of my family life and thoughts for my own children to refer to, and secondly, in hopes of being a blessing and encouragement to others.
My family and I are still at the beginning of our journey. We have SO MUCH to learn and we must daily cry out to God for wisdom and run to his Word for direction. We've made mistakes and have insisted in following our own ways too many times. This so being, I thank God for his active grace in my life, for the moment by moment work of sanctification in a heart that is tainted by sin. His strength is made perfect in our weakness and His Word lights our path in the course of turning our hearts toward Him.
The Father & Son Retreat greatly affected my husband in a wonderful way. At the retreat my husband was charged to be the spiritual leader of his home and his understanding of this God given responsibility of training his children was renewed. Gathered together with other fathers and sons he observed their relationships and his heart was kindled towards our son. He began to understand that his role in our son's life was critical to his growth in becoming a man. A new vision was imparted to him and he was excited about it. Another blessing of the retreat was that my husband became friends with the director of the retreat and his friendship was a great help to us in the future.
My husband's excitement, upon returning home and sharing what God had spoken to his heart, was contagious. We both felt affirmed in the road we were now walking. As a result, my husband began to gather our family each evening to read the bible, pray and sing together. We also began concentrating our efforts on character training, discipline, family unity, and gaining our children's hearts.
Our first year of home school ended with a new knowledge that home schooling was not just an educational choice, but a life style. A life style of disciplining and walking alongside our children while teaching them God's ways.
To make a long story short, we continued our homeschooling journey for several years, gaining insights from websites, books and blogs. Two years ago we were blessed to make some wonderful friends at a family integrated church that my husband's friend (director of the father and son retreat who I mentioned earlier in My First Post) recommended to us. We began to make frequent trips to visit our new friends at this church and attended many get-togethers. What a blessing our new friends were to us! For the first time, I began to connect with other home schooling moms. It was a joyous learning experience for my husband and I to observe the interactions between parents and children. My children were happy to meet friends belonging to families with the same vision. I thank the Lord many times over for leading us to these beautiful families who encouraged us with their love and personal examples. We remain friends even after moving thousands of miles away.
Now to bring us to the present, several months ago we moved. After a job loss, the Lord provided my husband with a job opportunity across the country. We are now situated in a family integrated church with a loving spiritual family that the Lord has blessed us with.
During our first years of change, I had no experienced home schooling mothers to ask questions to or learn from. The writers of my favorite blogs and websites (see sidebar) became very valuable to me as they were a constant source of inspiration, encouragement, conviction and motivation through their writings and photos. It is true that words are powerful and as they say, "a photo is worth a thousand words." It is with this knowledge and personal reality that I have started my own blog; first of all to have a permanent record of my family life and thoughts for my own children to refer to, and secondly, in hopes of being a blessing and encouragement to others.
My family and I are still at the beginning of our journey. We have SO MUCH to learn and we must daily cry out to God for wisdom and run to his Word for direction. We've made mistakes and have insisted in following our own ways too many times. This so being, I thank God for his active grace in my life, for the moment by moment work of sanctification in a heart that is tainted by sin. His strength is made perfect in our weakness and His Word lights our path in the course of turning our hearts toward Him.
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