I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my husband was having eye surgery. This procedure, PRK, went a bit like this: He had a thimble like thing stuck on top of his eye ball. Imagine the pressure felt because of it sitting upon his eye. Alcohol was poured onto his eye to eat away the top layers and was then wiped clean. They then used a laser to burn away and reshape his cornea. He is not seeing perfectly clear at the present time but his eyesight has been corrected. Although he is experiencing a bit of blurriness; things will become clearer over time.

Many times in our Christian walk we endure trials. We feel the pressure of the Potter's hands and the stinging and burning of the Lord's refining fire. Layers are eaten away and cleaned. We are to remain steadfast and let the testing of our faith have its full effect; that is, to reshape us into the image of Christ. During trials we do not always see clearly or understand. Through this process though, our understanding is corrected and our vision becomes increasingly clear. This is the process of sanctification, our spiritual PRK.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Jeremiah 18:4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Labels: Christianity

Laced with Grace is having a New Year's giveaway. As 2008 approaches, they wanted to thank their readers with this little giveaway. We pray that God will continue to use the team blog to encourage you in your walk with Him.

The package will include a Women of Faith study Bible (NIV/Hardcover); Lisa Whelchel’s Bible study tool for busy moms; a coffee mug from “Mugs of Truth“; the DVD “The Nativity Story“; the book “Love and Respect“; and a music CD by Becky Knight, who just released her first CD.

You can sign up to win this package through January 1st. They winner will be announced on January 2nd. To see the rules of participation and to enter, visit Laced with Grace.

Labels: Giveaways

Why Homeschool is having a contest for Carnival of Homeschooling graphics. Henry and Janine Cate from Why Homeschool write:

Over the last two years several people have suggested we have a graphic or two for the carnival. I haven’t followed up on these suggestions. I’m not a very artsy person, so I didn’t feel confident in my ability to generate a cool graphic for the carnival.
Here are some great carnival graphics. I’ve really enjoyed the graphic for the Homeschool Blog Awards. It recently occurred to me that one way to get some cool graphics for the Carnival of Homeschool was to invite others to generate candidates for a contest. This is taking advantage of the The Wisdom of Crowds. What we are going to do is have a two stage contest.

For the first stage people can generate and submit icons for the carnival. They can post the icon on their blog and use Mister Linky to generate a link back. Or they can leave a comment telling us how to get the icon. We want to make sure people have enough time to be creative, so the first stage will last until the 28th of January, 2008. I am hoping for a couple dozen entries for each category.

For the second stage we’ll have a vote on which images people like. Janine and I will select the four to seven graphics we like best in each category, and then everyone can vote.

There are three categories of images: small, medium, and whatever.

The rules for the contest are:
1) The graphics have to be available for others to use. The only options I can think of are a) you created the graphic or b) the graphic is public domain.
2) There is a limit of two images per category, per person.

Are there any other rules we need?

Put on your thinking caps and see what kind of cool graphics you can come up with!

Labels: Blogging, Homeschooling

I sang this hymn for the very first time a few weeks ago. I really enjoy it because it shows us some of the attributes of God that many have tried to forget or put on the back burner. It brings back the fear of the Lord that so many have neglected.

God the all-terrible! King, who ordainest
Great winds thy clarions, the lightnings thy sword,
Show forth thy pity on high where thou reignest:
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the omnipotent! mighty avenger,
Watching invisible, judging unheard,
Doom us not now in the day our our danger:
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the all-merciful! earth has forsaken
Thy ways of blessedness, slighted thy word;
Bid not thy wrath in its terrors awaken:
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the all-righteous One! Man hath defied Thee;
Yet to eternity standeth Thy Word;
Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee;
Grant to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

God the all-wise! by the fire of Thy chastening,
Earth shall to freedom and truth be restored;
Through the thick darkness Thy kingdom is hastening;
Thou wilt give us peace in Thy time, O Lord!

So shall thy children in thankful devotion
Praise him who saved them from peril and sword,
Singing in chorus from ocean to ocean,
'Peace to the nations, and praise to the Lord.'

To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.

Labels: Saturday Psalm and Praise

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
GALATIANS 5:22-23

FROM THE FATHER'S HEART
My child, do not be discouraged when you feel barren. Each of the seeds I have planted within you I prune, feed, and tenderly nurture to its full potential. Soon you will yield the beautiful fruit of love, joy, and peace - all the qualities of My nature that I have given you. The more you abide in Me, the more fruit you will bear. My Spirit is the One working through you. You can never bear fruit alone. Rest in Me today.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSE
Where else could I find a tree with perfect fruit? You, Lord, are the fruit of the spirit. You are the picture of perfection, and every good fruit we need is found in You. Thank You for planting seeds within my heart that I, too, might bear luscious fruit for You.

SIMPLE TRUTH
Fine tuning often requires severe pruning.

Short Devotion from: Daily in Your Presence by Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Labels: Christianity, Fruit of the Spirit

If you are in a reader, take a moment to click over and watch/listen to this!

Labels: Christmas, Videos

Labels: Thursday Thirteen, What to Watch

Our little one shown here is our first "reversal baby". We have been tremendously blessed by God with her! She turns six years old today! Happy Birthday sweet girl!! We love you!

Labels: Quiverfull, Wordless Wednesday

Please take a few moments to watch this, you will be blessed!

Shooting the Breeze: Still the greatest story ever told . . .

Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Labels: Christianity, Christmas

This week's hero was suggested by Cindy & Kathi


Each year, around this time, since 1992, the Arlington National Cemetery has something happen to it. It gets covered in vibrant green Christmas wreaths. The wreaths are donated by a man named Merrill Worcester who is the owner of the Worcester Wreath Co. in Maine. From the Worcester Wreath Co.'s website:

Each year Worcester Wreath donates Maine wreaths to adorn the headstones of those who serve and those who sacrificed to preserve our freedoms. In 2007, over 10,000 wreaths are destined for the annual wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington. In addition, 2,500 wreaths will be sent to Togus National Cemetery in Augusta, Maine. Worcester Wreath also donates ceremonial wreaths that will be used as part of the Wreaths Across America events at over 230 State and National veterans cemeteries all across the Country.

Sometimes a hero is one who sacrifices everything in their life to help others. And sometimes a hero is one who sacrifices nothing more than their time.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived.
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesday Hero, you can go here.

Labels: Christmas, Conservative, Military, Wednesday Heroes

WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM
Q. 119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required,[1] all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them;[2] all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful;[3]and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations.[4]

[1] Ezekiel 22:26. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

[2]Acts 20:7, 9. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.... And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Ezekiel 33:30-32. Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. Amos 8:5. Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
Malachi 1:13. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

[3]Ezekiel 23:38. Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.

[4]Jeremiah 17:24, 27. And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein.... But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. Isaiah 58:13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.

Labels: Catechism

Labels: PhotoHunt

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross he suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.


I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In his boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I'll tell,
How the victory he giveth
Over sin and death and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his heav'nly love to me;
He from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with him to be.

To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.

Labels: Saturday Psalm and Praise

O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight. Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice. For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter, multiplied thy promises, shown me my future happiness, given me a living fountain. Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy; I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of. Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy, at my work, business, duties. If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning. Let me rest in the thought of thy love, pardon for sin, my title to heaven, my future unspotted state. I am an unworthy recipient of thy grace. I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love, but can in repentance draw water from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness. Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath, where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification is finished and perfected for ever, where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy. There is no joy like the joy of heaven, for in that state are no divisions, unchristian quarrels, contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold, sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toil of duty. O healthful place where none are sick! O happy land where all are kings! O holy assembly where all are priests! How free a state where none are servants except to thee! Bring me speedily to the land of joy.

From: The Valley of Vision; a Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions.

This meme was started on the Heart of Wisdom blog.

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Fruit of the Spirit, Prayer, Valley of Vision

I cannot take credit for the following. It was written in a Christmas newsletter from one of my husband's former seminary professors, Don Whitney. It speaks a great truth and I wanted to share it with you all today!

Psalm 42:1-2
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

My soul does pant and thirst for God. But I must admit that every day—many times every day—my soul pants and thirsts for other things, too. Even though some of these desires are for good things, frankly, many of the thirsts of my soul are sinful thirsts.

Sometimes my desires for sinful things are very strong. Occasionally in such times, I am tempted to wonder how much true grace I have received. But I know this: I genuinely do thirst for God. To my shame, I also thirst for sinful things sometimes, but I do thirst for God.

When I thirst deeply for God, I often tell Him that I wish I never thirsted for sin. The Lord knows that I long for the day when He will totally sanctify me, so thoroughly renew my heart and mind that I'm never tempted by sin again.

But the fresh insight into this passage which brought me a joyful sense of assurance was this: when I am thirsting for sinful things, I never wish that I didn't know God. Do you see the contrast? I thirst for God, and often in the thrill of that thirst I wish I never had sinful thirsts. But in the midst of my sinful thirsts, I never wish I had no thirst for God.

Let me state it another way. When experiencing my primary thirst (i.e., thirst for God), I often despise my secondary (i.e., sinful) thirsts and wish they were obliterated. But never in my secondary thirsts do I want to eliminate my primary thirst.

I believe this is the experience of a Christian. I believe this is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is an illustration of how "the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" (Gal. 5:17). In both the genuine thirsting for God and the predominance of thirsting for God over any other thirst—there is evidence of salvation. God be praised!

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement

1. One amazing husband who is the perfect match for me.
2. Two cute dogs run around our home.
3. Three bathrooms in our current house is wonderful.
   
4. Four is the number of Turkish rugs in our house.
   
5. Five is the number of bedrooms in our current home.
   
6. Six is the number of different grades we currently have in our homeschool
   
7. Seven is when the children and I attempt to roll out of bed every morning.
   
8. Eight terrific children that the Lord has blessed us with.
9. Nine is the time we leave for worship on Sunday mornings.
   
10. Ten is the number of plates set at my table each night.
    
11. Eleven candles sit a'top my dresser.
    
12. Twelve crosses hang in my house.
    
13. Thirteen is the number of different houses we have lived in since we got married.

Labels: Thursday Thirteen

Labels: Christmas, Wordless Wednesday

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Weblink Wednesday Sponsored by: Valerie @ Just4homeschoolfamilies

Labels: Curriculum, Weblink Wednesday

This year, for our oldest child, we decided to try the auditing service and curriculum through Covenant Home. We have gone through our first quarter and auditing session and I am well pleased. It was a bit intimidating when we started and the extra time it takes to make sure everything is graded and recorded can become a bit tedious. There are also many positive aspects that I have enjoyed. Each subject you purchase from them comes with a day by day planning guide, so I do not have to make any lesson plans. The auditor is available if I have any questions. They keep all records, issue report cards, maintain transcripts, and provide diplomas. We are doing this only for our highschoolers. It has been a good fit. The auditor simply reviews a portion of the child's work and gives helpful comments, they didn't even make any adjustments to my grading. All in all we are very pleased! They are reformed and classical in methodology. They have complete grade sets but as we experienced they are very willing to work with you and adapt the curriculum to the individual child's needs. It is well worth your time to explore what they offer.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling

Every year we set up a nativity set. It sits upon our piano away from little fingers that could easily break the figurines. Our children do on occasion end up getting away with playing with it. It has almost become a tradition to do something to the set to see how long it takes for mom or dad to notice. That usually means the shepherds and wise men trade places or the donkey is turned around backwards. Some may say this is inappropriate but in our home this has become a way to make sure that we are focused on the correct thing at Christmas time, our Savior. Do we really notice the nativity set or is it just another decoration? Last year was one of the most creative and we even snapped a photo. I noticed standing between Mary and Joseph gazing down at the baby Jesus was a penguin. The phrase, "There is a visitor at the manger," was repeated over and over again. Do we visit the manger? Not just the sweetness of a newborn baby and the cute scene we display but the full picture? That day, even though glorious, showed the coldness of the world. Even in rejoicing that the Savior has come, we know He came only to die. Christmas is a time of wonder, joy, love, awe, and amazement. It should also be a time when we once again acknowledge our dependence upon a holy and just God. Let us not get caught up in the sparkling lights, pretty bows, ribbons, cookies, and presents. Let us make our main focus be the same as that which the little penguin upon my piano represented. Let us be a visitor at the manger and our focus be upon the Living Lord. Merry Christmas and may God bless you as you celebrate the risen Lord.

Labels: Christianity, Christmas, newsletter

Please be in prayer for my hubby today. He is having eye surgery this morning. This is