Oh...how He loves us so!...Counting Blessings Today and the "Little Things"

Think the Lord doesn't know the delights of your heart? Think He doesn't care about the 'little things'? Think He doesn't know how to say "I love you" really loudly to your heart, in a very quiet way?

Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

I am convinced that the Lord knows the keys to our hearts and wants to remind us of His love for us and His care over the smallest details of our lives.

Here's some of the ways that the Lord knows blesses me:
-Jesus, the bible
-my children (and when someone blesses them, I'm blessed!)
-chocolate and/or coffee (mixed? even better!)
-teas, especially herbal and exotics
-books (can there be too many books!?!?!)
-flowers, especially those for the yard and gardens, because they keep giving!
-treats for the kids (For some, this might be candy bars, but personally I get a real kick when God gives them some good-for-you food stuffs or gives things to me to feed them. It says to my heart; "I care about their health too.")
-needful items like cleaners, toiletries and the like

The box of tea in the picture above, is one of several little blessings the Lord has slipped my way in recent weeks. This is not just plain black tea...this box has lots of chai teas, lots of WHITE chai teas. A sweet blessing to me for you see, there's one flavor in this box that reminds me of a most special tea that was bought for me years ago at an (expensive) tea shop in Nashville. It was amazing!( ..Along with a chocolate tea that is most worthy of mention :)  ...It's a unique flavor and I'm sure it's yucky to some, but to me, it's bliss! And - God knew that! A little thing.

Ezek 47:12  And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat... and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

One day this week, we had 2 large bags of items that we were taking to someone, in hopes of being the 'blessor'....but, as God would have it, we walked away being the definite 'blessee'. We had a bag, that I almost couldn't carry, full of toiletries, a wicker basket, and some clothing items that had been on the 'needed list'. There were also multiple (at least 3!) items in this mix that the boys had told me within the last few days that we were "out of"...their little things. (God- He just wows me sometimes!)

 Luke 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

We were also given 2 very large stacks of books to borrow. ....Drooling....Lots of classics in these stacks. Dracula, Frankenstein, (I didn't know it, but one of the kids had been desiring to read those!)The Tale of Two Cities, Grimm's (Woo hoo!), Aesop's Fables, Nancy Drew (dd's favorites), and even a few Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, which a couple of the boys like. (There's also some Madeleine L'engle books in the mix that I don't know much about. Any of you girls????) ...She also told me when we finished them, we could come back and trade them out for more! Gasp!

Eccl 12:12  ... of making many books there is no end...

In that mix of books was also a boxed dvd kit of classics produced by PBS. The kids had been asking for a movie!

That's another thing I'm thankful for.....For the past three months or so, I don't think our television has even been on. We don't have a tv upstairs, just one in the den, where the wood stove is, which would make one think we'd be cuddled there all winter....and we were a lot of times, but not watching tv. We were building card houses, working puzzles, talking, reading books, breaking open hickory nuts (bartered for with bread), and one big chunk of time has been used for going through the Bible with this one book; Four Thousand Questions and Answers from the Bible   - given to us many months ago. This book is older, has quite a few grammar flaws and typos, and I think it stretches some of it's typology theology, but it's fantastic for going through the Bible stories, hitting highlights, tying verses from the OT and NT, and also geology. We've used the globe and the internet to look up the cities that it mentions, or more often than not, at this point, the ruins of the cities....But that book...that's stirred up so much interest, was just a little thing, almost passed over in the midst of other books. A little thing, that God is using, to stir the bigger things in His precious Word for my children. -Just, wow!

One year ago, I might have had a couple of skirts and a handful of shirts. That was fine, I wasn't involved in much and I really had no need of more. The Lord has filled my closet this year, just as I needed them. Giving me shoes, skirts, blouses, sweaters, coats, and jackets. I was given a pair of new shoes for Christmas! My son and precious daughter-in-law also sent me a gift card for my birthday and insisted I spend it on myself. I was able to add several denim skirts to my closet, which I love for comfort and lack-of-ironing! :)  The little thing in this was that I had ripped the favored denim skirt last year,beyond repair, and He gave me more than one back. You think He knows about my slackness in ironing?

1 Tim 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

The children have also been blessed. I think Kemmie has more clothes than all of us put together! But God knows, he is in those years where that is important and I think He is showing Kemmie now, in preparation for the future- I am your Provider and I can do exceeding, abundantly above all that you ask, or think. (Say on, Lord! Say on!)........And he might as well enjoy civies now- hooyah!

One of my children has taken a special interest in certain types of books. God has put some very, VERY special people in our lives this past year and this couple has seen to it, that this little fella has had numerous books to read on this special topic. (The goodness of God to my children is a bottomless well of blessing! When God taps into blessing in that area- my cup runneth over and over and over.)

Psa 90:17  And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

 Psa 29:2  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Why are flowers so special to me? I dunno, perhaps it's really a reflection of the beauty of God to my soul. When I see the individuality and the beauty of each flower, the attention to detail- it just stirs my heart. It reminds me God does care about the little things- the details- the specifics! And- there is beauty in the Lord.

Mat 6:29 .... That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.



My daughter has honed her love for drawing this year. God has blessed her with the needs to make that happen. ....Such a small, small thing in some ways; but giant in this child's life. (When God reaches out to my children, it humbles me to my core, reminding me of my great privilege to share in God's divine purposes for them, of which, I'm not worthy. (But that He allows me to; THAT, is awesome.)

Isa 54:13  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

We've been given several pounds of apples lately and a ton of home-raised pork fat to render for lard. Now, apples speak for themselves- they're just good! But- let me tell you about the little things hidden in the lard! You see, hidden in the DNA of my children, is a predisposition to some auto-immune problems. One of those is craftily connected to low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is stored in the fat of pigs raised on farms and raised naturally. Such were the former days of Wilbur! (Convinced you yet, that He cares about the little things?) 

 Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

You know what's in those jars? Bacon grease. Yep, just plain ole bacon grease. It was given to me. What's so great about that? ... I said on Facebook once; "You know somebody loves you when they give you their bacon grease!" ...But it says so much more than that. It says; "Every time I cooked bacon, I took the time to strain this grease off for you...Every time I cooked bacon, I thought about you. When I wiped the drips off of this jar, I did it for you. When I sat these by the door before I went to bed so I wouldn't forget to bring them the next day, I was thinking about you." Sure, this is just a little thing, in some ways, but how could I take for granted the times God had someone think of me during that process and to go through trouble, for me?! I don't see that as so little. That's a great big "I love and care about you", to me. (Thank you God. I heard it.)

And for me, I think the little things are humbling. They help with all of those yucky pride issues. And speaking of pride, and fat (lard-grease), this verse is almost funny to me, in that it reminds me of how old-timers would talk.

 Psa 119:70  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

Isa 44:4  And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
(Note- willows by water courses equals BIG trees very quickly!)

One final little thing which is really a big thing. The willows are starting to bud out with tiny leaves and even the grass is starting to regrow. No big deal, right? This happens every year. I doubt anyone but my family pays any mind to those willow trees. Little things. ...But, I've noticed something big about this process every year.You see, every fall, that tree 'dies' and goes dormant. It's a little thing especially since it's leaves don't really turn some magnificent color. The tree also goes through this seemingly little process of blooming back out every spring as well. No big deal. But you know what, it seems to me, that every time that tree 'dies', it comes back a little bigger, a little stronger, has a little more character, and more shade and beauty. I'd dare to make a wager, that tree grows when it's 'dead'. You reading between the lines about this little thing? :)

We go through winter sometimes- but even in winter God is doing something to our root system! Just a little thing, no one can see, as it's just under the surface. But oh how big it is! How great it is! How very important it is- these little things.It is good to take note of them, to be mindful of them, to watch for them, and to make full use of them- the little things.

A strand of hair is a very small thing but-

Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.


1 Pet 5:7  ... he careth for you.

Pocket Full O' Scriptures

Every year I try to come up with a new plan for memorizing Scripture as part of our home school plan.

I think the Bible is really the most important part of our plan :)

This year I bought a pack of pocket notebooks. I allowed them to lay out in the open and be seen as part of my sneaky plan. I waited til nearly every child had asked; "What are those gonna be for?" and stated; "I want one of those!" before I let them in on my plan. I just kept saying; "You'll see."

In my planner, I took the time one night to look up 2 months worth of verses that I thought would be good for them to learn and wrote a passage down on each day of the week.

On our first "official" day of school this year (we school all year really), I gave everyone their choice of color.

 That was exciting to them!

I then wrote the verse of the day on the dry erase board and told them they had to copy the verse twice in their notebooks and be able to tell it to me by the end of each day. 

After they told me the verse, they could check it off their assignment sheets, and if they filled the notebook this year, they will have memorized 160 verses!

That might be worth a little party :)

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
 

 

Another New Page-

I've got LOTS more I want to share, but I had enough to be useful, so I went ahead and published the new FrugallyFreeHomeSchool page at the top. I pray you'll find lots of helpful resources on the links to free home school materials.
Blessings!

Thinking Out Loud Tonight...Children, the Bible, and the Vipers that Await Them

During recent days, I took some time (too much really) to look around at the big, bad, and sometimes ugly world and see how things were ticking. Please don't get me wrong, I'm an optimistic person by nature. I can usually find something promising in a rock! But- looking at what others are saying here and there on the big WWW, I've nearly made myself vomit with nausea.

There are atheists and venomous vipers out there lurking and waiting for your children and mine, to come out of our warm, safe, Christian homes- and right into their traps.

They've made it their life's goal to educate themselves on logic, fallacies, ad hominem, and lunacy and rebellion against the Word of God....like NOTHING I've ever seen here in Smallville.

They know the Scriptures probably better than you and I, and they are so much like their father- the father of lies?- that you almost can't tell them apart. It's only a little flesh on their bones that gives them away... They take the blessed Word of God and they do just as our arch-nemesis did in the garden. "Thou shalt not surely die!" And they go on to say that "God lied" because Adam and Eve did not die right then and there. Do your children have an answer for that? The snakes have one that they are lying in wait to give to your children and mine.

Looking further my eyes and heart burned with indignation for our beloved God. And fear nearly rattled my brain at the thought of what this great God will one day do to those who refuse to turn from their sins. These vultures are lurking and they can't wait to pounce on our children and back them in a corner with; "If your God is so loving, why are kids starving to death this very night? And if your God is so loving, why did He order so many deaths in the Old Testament? And if your God is so much better than their god, then why did He say people who did certain sins in the Old Testament should die...after all, He is the same God as in the New Testament, isn't He? So what makes Him any better than their god?"

Oh but the madness doesn't stop there my friends in the faith! I had one tell me just today that the only things that mattered in the whole Bible were just the exact words that Jesus Himself spoke in the New Testament.... while telling me that I needed to go read my Bible. In my exasperation, I tried to quote some verses back to this person, but the Words of that precious Book were unacceptable on that forum. Seems that "Scriptures" are equated with "curse words" in many places today. But again I ask, do your kids have an answer for that?

I think of these verses and I'm convicted:
Deu 6:7-8 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And I think of this:
1 Pet 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh..


And this one;
Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

I'm forced to confess my inadequacies to God and beg for His guidance, knowledge, and help.
He promises to help you and me!

James 1:5-6  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering...


Well- what about faith and asking in faith not wavering?
Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

His Word is our supply of faith and the more we go to It, the more faith we can gain. The more faith we can gain, the more we can ask for that "wisdom" in prayer and be "given liberally"- it is a wonderful cycle that He has created!

Oh that God would help us, because the vain philosophers are there, crouching and waiting.

I shared this because it was on my heart tonight (after reading so much filth) but it is reading these things that has caused me to add a couple of things to our reading list this year. (One
and Two and I would love to get the series
for younger kids.)

Let us pray for one another!
And please do tell me if you have other suggestions for preparing children, spiritually, for the wild world!

A Unique and Free Civics Class for Your Whole Family

WTN, our local conservative talk-radio station, is hosting a unique but very informative program. I learned the other day about some very interesting things that were in the Constitution of my state. 1) A minister was held in high esteem and could only run for local office and not for the State as nothing could be allowed to come between him and his profession. 2) Anyone who professed atheism or disbelief in The Word of God was not allowed to hold office. Without Biblical morals, how could they rule justly?

Here's a link to the page where you can listen to the audio from Professor (and former State Representative) David Fowler, view notes, and there's even a test. They encourage you to do this as a family, which I think is very neat for homeschoolers! You can even receive your own WTN University diploma

Lots of history, Founding Fathers info, and Truth!

Will Memorize for Sugar...

My children were given a nice box of their favorite candy a few weeks ago. I decided to make the best of it!

The rule- you can have the candy anytime you want IF you memorize something :-)

The fun for me has been to find the things I want them to memorize!

I started with things they had memorized before but had to study over, like the Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23.

From there we've added more Scripture, songs and hymns, and poetry.

I try to pick several things a week and lay them out on the school table and they can study it in their spare time.

Here's one site I'm digging through for Poetry and here's another specifically for children.

This is my favorite for hymns and here is Ambleside's homeschool list of hymns.

The kids' choices this week are My Jesus, I Love Thee and God of Mercy, God of Grace.

Here are two from the last few weeks that I thought you might like:

My Books
By: Author Unknown

I love my books
They are the homes
of queens and fairies,
Knights and gnomes.

Each time I read I make a call
On some quaint person large or small,
Who welcomes me with hearty hand
And leads me through his wonderland.

Each book is like
A city street
Along whose winding
Way I meet
New friends and old who laugh and sing
And take me off adventuring!

************

A Student's Prayer

Now I lay me down to study.
I pray today I won’t go nutty.
If I should fail to learn this junk.
I pray today I will not flunk.
But if I do, don’t pity me at all,
Just lay down my bones in study hall.
Tell my teachers I did my best
Then pile my books upon my chest.
Now I lay me down to rest,
I pray I’ll pass tomorrow’s test.
If I should die before I wake,
That’s one less tst I’ll have to take.

by a suffering student.

Summer School Sources....

Super Teacher Worksheets is loaded with all kinds of free printables. There's every subject imaginable there! States and capitals, counting money, decimals, algebra, phonics, reading comprehension, grammar, etc.

Also, if you're working on Scripture memory, here's another place for more printables in the NKJV.

And this is one of my kids' favorites! At FreeRice.com, you can answer math, vocabulary, and other questions and with each correct answer, they donate 10 grains of rice to World Hunger.

A Scripture a Day Keeps the Zombie Away....

Our newest "game"! ....This my latest attempt to make memorizing Scripture fun...and mandatory!

After school work is complete, my kids almost turn into zombies trying to get to their video games- ugh!
Well, they get 1 big hour on it a day, so to them, that's the most important hour of the day. Now we moms know that it isn't, but sometimes its okay to wait until they figure some things out. In the meantime, I'm gonna make them do something that REALLY IS one of the most important things in life- in order to get that hour on their game! ;-)

Yep- a Scripture a Day Keeps the Zombie Away!
They have to tell me ONE Bible verse, by memory, EVERY day in order to get that hour.

-You don't know your verse? You don't play.
-You grumble and complain? You write the verse multiple times ...and you don't play.

Simple enough, huh?

I used an Awana system online to print the KJV Memory Verse Cards.
Here's one, and here's another.

You'll notice some are longer than others, so if you have littles, you can adjust the cards accordingly. I printed both lists, for each child. (Remember moms- if your child can talk, they can memorize Scripture!)

Each child has an envelope and a Ziploc bag. The envelope holds the cards that they haven't yet memorized. Once they are memorized, they are to fold them and/or check mark them and put them in the ziploc bag, along with the paper envelope. Every 1 to 2 weeks, they can take 5 minutes and go back over the ones they've learned. This will help keep them locked in!

So- you girls wanna play A Scripture a Day Keeps the Zombie Away? ....And by all means change the name to suit your kids' fancy!

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Scavenger Hunt: Here is a link to your third special My Memories Link! Have fun!

Happy Easter!

What frugal plans are you making for your Easter?


Friday night we got a big treat and watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader! It was super good.
(This will be on Netflix in another month or so...or you can use your Coke Rewards to buy a free rental ;-)




We will be doing this Bible study... from this site on Saturday....rather than our usual homework on Saturday. :-)

On Sunday we will have a small turkey dinner, an Easter Cake with homemade ice cream,  and watch:


This is a movie that we've had for years.
We also have an Easter Storybook that we read.

I have been making some homemade fabric 'baskets' and we have our old plastic eggs and a secret stash of candy. I made my baskets  like these at Brandy's.... but rather than measure them out, I made a silly 'pattern' of sorts out of the end of a pop box...yeah, crzy, I know!   But we always use the eggs and the signs of spring to remind us of "new life" and the "power of the resurrection". (Anyone heard CRI's latest commercial? They talk about a "resurrection plant" and a "resurrection fern". They dry up and will crumble if you touch them but at the first sprinklings of spring rain, they come alive again! Neat!)

******************************************

If you have Turner Classics:
"King of Kings (1961)" is playing on TCM on Sun, April 24, 2011 01:30 PM est.....
and  "The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)" is playing on TCM on Sun, April 24, 2011 04:30 PM est.
(We don't have this but I may try to find them online or Netflix.)

Happy Easter and may the Lord help us to make holidays Holy Days, for our families!

A Marriage Saver, link

I read this post through a link from WFMW.

I thought others might enjoy the wisdom this lady shared in the article.

Its so opposed to what the world (and Oprah) tell us today.

I wish that I had began to learn these things so much sooner, and had not had to learn them the hard way!

2kinds of Kings...

The book of Samuel deals with 2 kings; Saul-the people's choice and David-the Lord's choice.

I can't help but find these two completely fascinating! They seem to be complete opposites when it comes to the Lord, His will, and His way.

David is said to be a man after God's own heart. Saul is said to have 'an evil spirit from the Lord' sometimes and at other's 'the spirit of the Lord departed from him' and at the beginning; 'the spirit of the Lord was upon him'.

We have David, who refuses to kill Saul when he's seemingly in a 'kill or be killed' situation. We see David thanking Abigail for preventing him from avenging himself against Nabal.

We see Saul as, what surely appeared to be, bipolar! Seriously, he is a roller coaster of emotions!
Up and down, and round and round!

But I find myself laughing out loud, every time I read the account between Saul and Samuel. Saul claiming he obeyed God and killed all of the enemy, while saying at the same time that he kept their king alive and that his men kept the choicest of animals to sacrifice to God. And he repeats it several times.

Have you ever talked to anyone in that frame of mind? They claim they're doing right, while they are doing wrong!?!

Saul was instructed by God, through Samuel, to kill ALL of the enemy, even their animals. He tells Samuel that he did obey the Lord AND that he kept the king.

That's like saying "I'm not really reading this but I am"....or "No I didn't cook supper but here's your plate of hot food".

David, some time later, gets confronted about his sin with Bathsheba and immediately shows contrition. He's broken instantly.

I read the story to my children and I silently prayed...."God, please let them have the heart of King David and please, please, never let them have the stubbornness of King Saul"..............

Adultery and bloodshed, God forgave, but rebellion towards the Spirit of God cost Saul the kingdom.

Oh bugger- beggars!- and lessons we learn from them

My dh has taught these two about the love of food. Now they harass him every waking minute of the day, especially if he is close to the kitchen.

It's amazing how different their personalities are and how different they are treated as a result. The bigger one, Penny, is a little- how should I say it- dysfunctional! Yeah, she has separation anxiety issues and she's apt to just 'flip out'.

Then, Lil Abby. Abby is our "eternal puppy" and she knows it! She looks like a puppy and acts just as playful as one. She's also called "my humble servant" too. When I call her, she will come and sit in front of me, bow her head and roll over on her back. (Everyone else thinks she's being so humble, but this is only a trick- to a belly rubbin'!)

Our family is learning some valuable lessons from these two. To have mercy and compassion on those who are more helpless and/or who may be vulnerable emotionally.

The other day I used Penny in a lesson with the children. She was really acting up as we had been in and out, going back and forth to the garden. She was crying, howling, and shaking. We are taking steps working with her, but she still has a ways to go.

Well, some of the children had been picking at some of the others. I asked them what did they think would happen to Penny if she was in a pack of dogs. They said they would destroy her. I asked them why. They said they would weed out the weak.

They were right. I then told them that often times there is a tendency in humans to act this same way towards those who are weaker. We often see bullies pick on the kids who appear to be the weakest and least likely to pick back in school.

I then reminded them that we are not animals and we cannot behave that way.

I then reminded them of the kindness and compassion that we show Penny, when she is weak, yet we try to take steps to help her be strong and overcome her weaknesses.

I reminded them that the Bible teaches that a wise man "regards" the life of his beast and how much more people are worth if they are made in His image.

They understood this lesson very well....and they've gotten much better with that behavior!

Prov. 20: 11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Ok- WHY is there an army guy in the sink?

This Gratituesday, I'm grateful for: army guys in the sink!

This past weekend, my younger three children became quiet, so I stepped out of my dwelling (the kitchen) to see what they were up to. There they sat, so cute, on the couch whispering and giggling low and curled up with their notebooks! (Not enough school work guys?)

I wondered about the whispering and giggling but its not uncommon for them to sit and write stories and cut up about them.

I walked to the bathroom to find this:
Yeah, an army guy. Not that they are uncommon here, just that they are normally in the toy-box and not the bathroom sink, ya know?
"Ok, kids, WHY is the army guy in the sink?"
"Oh, we forgot about him."
"You forgot him? Well, why was he there in the first place?"
"Well, he got a little wet." (laughing)
"A little we huh? What- were you guys trying to baptize him or something?" (I question, thinking I'm the creative cute one.)
"Well, as a matter of fact...Joe the preacher (another army guy, uhmm chaplain?), was the preacher and Harvey (this army guy) wasn't saved...he had been out drinking root beer, and Joe went after him and told him he had to get saved and get baptized so he dunked him in the sink. Then he decided he wanted to swim around for a little while."
"Ohhhhh, ooookaaaayyyy."
******
Kids have a way of making you SO thankful for army guys in the sink, don't they?
...the story went on but I'm afraid the rest mandates the patience that only their own mother has ears for ;-).... like how Harvey can now smell sin!
-Too funny!-

Run from Giant Despair and Doubting Castle, keep Hopeful, remember the Promise!

The enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us has a great weapon. So great a weapon that the 2nd best-selling book of all-time mentions it; Pilgrim's Progress.

The weapon?

Its the ugly Giant Despair!
He's so ugly- and cruel- and scary!
And he's so wicked and mean!
He will hand you a rope, poison, and a dagger and tell you how much better things will be, if you will just use them!

He will drag you to Doubting Castle and shackle you in a prison, and make you want to die. He will drag you through all the bad things in your life- and in everyone else's. He'll make you believe that your prayers only go as high as the floor. He may keep you from food and drink, or keep you from seeing the lovely light of day. He will make you believe that there will never be better days in your future and the misery that you now abide in, will be your permanent stay.

And if you think the ole Giant is something, you must meet the wife! Oh she is a terror! In fact, she's the Queen of Terror and Fear! She has a murderous heart that is very deceitful and evil. She will do all she can to ensure torturous imaginations! You know, the kind that keep you awake and far from peace, rest, and safety!

Now the mystery- Christian sat there- tormented by Giant Despair and his wicked Wife, with a great Promise in his pocket, the whole time! What made him forget it? What kept him from thinking of it when he needed it most?

I suppose it is the power of Despair. It can blind you and confuse you.

Its so important to constantly remind yourself that the Promise is right there- right at your heart- all the time. Listen to Hopeful: *Then said HOPEFUL, "That’s good news; good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom, and try."*

Don't let him beat you! You have a key! A precious Promise! But don't be defeated, don't give up, for even our Lord felt this heavy creature too. Remember; “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?” As He cried to His Father, so can we cry to Him!

*'I will never leave you, nor forsake you,'
*For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to be, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
*"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil."
*Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
*Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

...Giant DESPAIR, who despises the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims." Many, therefore, that followed after, read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:
"Out of the way we went; and then we found
What ‘t was to tread upon forbidden ground:
And let them that come after have a care,
Lest heedlessness makes them, as we to fare;
Lest they, for trespassing, his prisoners are,
Whose castle’s ‘Doubting’ and whose name’s DESPAIR."

Leading Children to the Lord...

Using the Truth and the Word of God is really all you need, but if you are like me and want something put together on a child's level, something to read at bedtime in small easy lessons, or perhaps are like I have been in that, you may not have been raised in church and really don't know how to deal with this issue with your children- then this book will bless your home! And- its good for all ages!

My 7 yr old and me got to be alone on a ride home tonight, very rare since he has FIVE siblings... but, he began to tell me that he didn't remember if he was saved. He remembered a night when he asked me to pray with him about something privately but he couldn't remember what the prayer was about. Well, I remembered, but he's the one that I needed to KNOW remembered! So- I talked a while to him about being saved, praying again, even pulling over right now, and about what happens to those who don't pray.

But- how this ties to the above book-
I've been reading it again at night (for the umpteenth dozenth time) to the kids. They use Scripture in this book, but I'm thinking there must have been some serious prayer and fasting by those who put this book together, because EVERY SINGLE TIME I've read this book to my children, at least one of them has been stirred, spiritually.

Now, I'm not just tryin' to sell you something. If I had money, I would buy all of these that I could find and GIVE THEM AWAY! - But, I just wanted to share it with you. Its been in our home for years and I can't even remember where it came from- but God has used it, over and over, to stir my children towards knowing Him personally as their Lord and Savior.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY FELLOWSHIP...

WOO HOO! Our order from Scripture Memory Fellowship came today!

Everyone was so excited! I let them see all of their prizes, and then re-collected them to put up until they earn the prizes! They get to keep the memory books and each child has a set amount of Scriptures to learn per week. At the end of 4 weeks, they get the first prize! (Unless they can go faster!) Then a second prize is awarded 4 weeks after that, upon memorization of the next set. At the end of 12 weeks, the final prize is awarded! And the program is complete!

SMF, also offers a special camp every summer for memorizers. Those who have completed the program get to come for HALF price!

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How many verses do they have to learn per week?

Well, for the programs that I picked:

7yr old- 2 verses per week

8yr old- 3 verses per week

10yr old- 3 to 5 per week

12yr old- 6 to 7 per week

14yr old- 9 per week

17yr old- 12 per week

As you can see, it will be work!

Visit Scripture Memory Fellowship for more details and to enroll your family!

Remember- all ages can join!

To use Grains, or not to use Grains- that is the question!

From a practical standpoint, I have NO grounds to argue this- in fact, I don't desire to argue this at all! I just want to offer a different point of view and something to THINK ON! ;-)

My DH is the one who pointed this out to me some time back and its a verse from the Bible. This first verse doesn't deal specifically with grainss, but its where I want to start.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
.......1 Tim 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Tim 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving....

NOW, what's interesting here is; you see that word "meats"???? Well, it is translated and defined in the Greek as "that which is eaten, food, meat, victual". If this is "food" then this verse goes on to tell us that "nothing to be refused".

Ok, now, Jesus in a couple of places (John 6:35 and John 6:48) called Himself "the Bread of life". Now I only want you to think about that. If He used bread as an illustration of "life", don't you think bread and what it is made of was pretty important to that day?

And in the Lord's prayer, we are instructed to ASK for daily bread! Not daily meat or daily fruits and vegetables, but daily bread. (Again, I use this to support the notion that grains are not to be forbidden.)

I also was thinking about a verse that cautioned about staying too long at the wine table, but nothing about staying to long at the grain (carb) table. (Ok, I just threw that in to be funny!)

BTW, do you know the word "bread" is mentioned 361 times in 330 different verses? Fruit is mentioned 208 in 184 verses and some of those times it means fruit of the womb. The word "vegetables" isn't mentioned at all. 'Herbs' is mentioned 18 times, while 'herb is mentioned 19 times. 'Plants' is mentioned 8 times. 'Plant' is mentioned 42 times in 41 verses but is a verb in many of those. 'Corn' is mentioned 102 times in 94 verses. 'Wheat' is mentioned 51 times.
(Ok, that gets a little boring to some...)

Let's look at a few verses that talk about grains.
2 Sam 17:28 Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
2 Sam 17:29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine....
(See the food they brought? Legumes, dairy, and grains. BUT, the word pulse there does mean vegetables. Pulse is only mentioned 3 times in the Bible.)

In Gen 27:28, we see 'blessings' being pronounced and one of them being "plenty of corn". In Gen 27:31, we see him making savoury meat. Then on down in verse 37 we see this; "with corn and wine have I sustained him".

Do you remember what Joseph stored to prevent famine? Grains.
Gen 41:49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
Gen 42:1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt,
Gen 42:2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt:
Gen 42:3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
Gen 42:5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn
Gen 43:2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn
Gen 44:2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money.
......Let's see, there's a famine, Egypt has corn, they keep going to buy corn...is corn all they are eating do you think? I'm not suggesting that we live off corn, just that it should not be forbidden.
Once Joseph's identity is known, here's what he does;
Gen 45:23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father

Here's a little funny but just to illustrate the importance of corn and grain;
Exo 22:6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
A law was made to protect it!

Corn seems to be recognized as pretty important;
Deu 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deu 11:14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
Deu 33:28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn
Ruth 2:14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
(Grains were the food she went after to keep her and her mother-in-law from starving.)
2 Ki 4:42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
2 Ki 18:32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die:
Many places they tithed on their corn such as here,2 Chr 31:5.
Neh 5:2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
Neh 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
(They mortgaged their homes to buy corn!?!!?!)

Well, what about wheat?
Deu 8:7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
Deu 8:8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
Deu 8:9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness,
Judg 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
Ruth 2:23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
1 Ki 5:11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
1 Ki 5:12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
(Wheat brings peace?!)
2 Chr 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
2 Chr 2:9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
2 Chr 2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
(Wheat was part of the payment for the timbers needed to build the Temple!)
Psa 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Psa 147:14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

As you can see, grains were very important! (There's many more verses!) There were many times in the OT where God would punish through their grains; sending rain on wheat harvest day, sending enemies to destroy their corn.

As you seek to learn how to feed your family, please don't neglect the Word of God.
Prayerfully consider the first verse I mentioned in 1 Tim.4.
May God bless your homes and kitchens!

(I'm posting this link on Laura's blog in response to a question that she asked. Laura's been a great blessing to me! ..I love learning about eating healthier for the sake of my family. And I've loved NT and Eat Fat, Lose Fat and a host of others....but I love the Word of God more. Its authority is higher, therefore I feel it must be considered on this and all issues. God bless!)

Now, to soak or not to soak- leavened and unleavened bread- ....maybe I'll do a part two sometime....:-)

Have you heard about SCRIPTURE MEMORY FELLOWSHIP?

SCRIPTURE MEMORY FELLOWSHIP is a great program for the whole family!

It offers a fun and creative way to memorize God's Word! I can't think of anything better! Our family used this program several years ago, even before all of the children could read. This next time will be even more exciting (and easier for me) because now they all can read! Woo hoo!

Each person in your family can sign up! They will receive a memory book with scriptures to memorize. But that's not all!

There are 2 progress rewards- that you pick out! You get to give these as they progress along through the memory book.

And one final completion reward- that you can also pick out! This is the 'grand prize' so to speak, when all of the memory book is complete= all Scriptures are memorized.

The three rewards are your choice of -coloring books, jigsaw puzzles, games, and books.....even their very own KJV Bible is one of the choices!

So, here's what each participant gets (and adults can do this too!):

-the memory book with Bible verses

-2 progress rewards

-1 completion reward

And the price for the program is only $9 per person!

SCRIPTURE MEMORY FELLOWSHIP .....Works for Me Wedesday!

...a peek into our Bible lesson....

Tonight, at bedtime, we read from the book of James:


James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Highlights:
-if we offend one point in the law, we've broken the entire "law"
-if we hope to receive mercy, we should deal with others in mercy
-if your brother or sister have a need, if you have the means to help, you should
(help younger siblings tie their shoes, give them a drink if they ask you, play with them if you aren't doing anything...and we pointed out things that the children new we had done for others...not to brag, but to show by example being careful to remind them to keep quiet about others needs and don't allow one hand to see the other when giving)
-the devils believe in God, over 90% of Americans believe in a 'god', but to believe in God is not enough and the demons are proof
-the father of faith=Abraham was not justified by faith- his justification came when he did a "work"
-'justification' is made complete by 'works'; faith alone is not full justification

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It is very convicting to examine one's works.
But it is more important now than ever to do so.
We are living in a time where "sin" is not even preached in some churches, much less 'not measuring up'.
We're being taught that God is "love love love" but His justice and wrath are shunned.
We cannot have part of Him, nor can we recreate Him.
We must look to His Word to learn who He really is!
May God bless you and your homes, as you seek to search His word, and truly know Him!

verse of the week:

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18