I found this today and I am excited to start receiving emails from this wonderful lady who has a passion for homeschooling.

Her name is Kerry and here is her “about” page.

Kerry has worked with moms, teachers & homeschoolers the past 30 years.  She wants to help you in your homeschool endeavors. Whether you are a newbie or have experience in homeschooling, you can be encouraged by spending time on her site.  Not only will she share fun activities to use in your homeschooling, she will encourage you in what God is teaching her.  Kerry regularly reviews homeschool curriculum.  Check out some of her video reviews today.  You’ll feel like you are sitting across the table from Kerry and “looking” at the manual yourself.

You can find out more about her and the new website here.

I am putting a link to her page in my sidebar.  Please take time to check it out.  There are so many  interesting things on there it will take me DAYS to find it all.

Thanks to Kerry for creating this site to help homeschooling moms.  Kuddos to you and your hubby for the time and energy you have put into this effort.  I personally intend on spending lots of time here.

I write another blog that I use for an online bible study.  I was wondering how much interest there would be if I started one on there again. There are currently two studies on the blog titled:  Seeking His Will.

The two studies are: Having a Mary Heart In a Martha World.  A book written by JoAnna Weaver that tries to help women realize the will God has for their lives and how to have a heart that wants to learn more about God than the Martha in all of us that tells us that we are supposed to be doing what the world wants us to do.

The other one is called Spiritual Exercise.  Written by Helen Krudop that details how to exercise our spirits so that we may learn more about God and in turn WANT to learn more about God.

I have several studies that I can make into an online study and it can be either weekly or daily.  The choices are many.

If this is something you would be interested in just leave me a comment here on this post.  If there is enough interest (at least 5-8) I will try to put one together in the next couple of weeks.

Today was a great day!  I can’t think of a better day I have had in a long time.

First:  I got to wake up to my wonderful hubby.  The only thing I can think of that gives me more pleasure than falling asleep in his arms, is I get to wake up in them every morning.  Thank God for that.

We had an awesome morning worshiping God at CSBC.  The spirit is moving in a way at the church we serve like I have never seen before.  The sermon was about the different “tators” we are within the church, such as dictator, imitator, amputator, sweettator, and well you get the picture.

On 5th Sundays, our church usually has a “5th Sunday Sing.”  Members of the congregation and from the community sing and play instruments in praise to God.  Tonight my wonderful hubby and I put on a program using song and testimony to bring the Gospel to our congregation.  It was amazing!  Mostly because I haven’t gotten to sing with him on that magnitude for almost 5 years.  We used to travel around to different churches singing and telling our testimony to others.  But also because singing is the ONE thing I LOVE to do for God.  I don’t have an angelic voice, but I love to sing, especially Christian music.

And last, last year on my birthday, my mother got me this wonderful necklace.

Today, my secret sister got me these to go with it!

She got me some other things including Ghirideli chocolates, some wonderful butterscotch creme tarts for my candle warmer.

It was a good day in the Lord indeed!

Originally posted 12/15/06 on Heavenly Ramblings.

Have you ever been around someone who seems to be so much more “spiritual” than you could ever dream of becoming? Maybe he speaks unceasingly about the Lord or is forever living his life for others. Or perhaps he is able to interpret and understand scripture in a way that seems impossible to you.

When I’m around those “super-spiritual people”, it is easy to feel inadequate and very intimidates and I usually end up beating myself up because I am not like them. Then I begin to judge my spiritual condition based on how closely my life compares to theirs.

As I read my daily devotion today (at the right), I realized the good news is we are not supposed to be like them. The only person whose life we are to imitate is that of Jesus Christ.

Now those of you who know me (us) knows I am speaking of HIM and THEM as my VERY spiritual hubby. I can say “Honey where in the bible does it say….” and he tells me. Or “Honey what does the Bible say about……..” and he tells me. He doesn’t have to look it up or even think about it for that matter he just knows. I used to get very intimidated by that and would always feel like I was bothering him when I asked questions. (as I write this I am asking him about spelling and grammar..LOL) He really doesn’t mind. And even if it is with a believer…he absolutely loves talking about the Lord. He says my brain is just not wired the same as his. He can read something once and remember almost verbatim. Me, I take weeks to memorize one scripture, and then if I don’t keep saying it over and over I forget it.

God created each of us with different personalities and gifts. Some people were made with more outgoing personalities or outwardly evident gifts, while others were made with more introverted personalities or less public gifts. Whoever you are, you are an indispensable part of the Body of Christ. Throw off your preconceived notion that some people are more valuable to Christ than others, for such belief only serves to discourage you, and believe that God created you perfectly to bring him glory and to serve the Body of Christ with the gifts you have been given.

In today’s day and age most of us struggle with the problems we face in this world.  The endless list of “problems” seems insurmountable.  It is easy to forget that we have a BIG God and He makes our problems look minute.

The last few months, I have struggled with things on a substantial level.  It would be a bit of a lie to say that every trial I have faced I have totally be reliant on God for His healing touch to bring me through them.  I can say this, however, I have NEVER doubted that God, the Almighty Father and His Heavenly Hosts are fighting my battles for me.

Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous,  But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

We often wish we could escape troubles — the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, and failure, of even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear us down.  God promises to be “close to the brokenhearted,” to be our source of power, courage, and wisdom, helping us through our problems.  Sometimes he chooses to deliver us from those problems.  When trouble strikes, don’t get frustrated with God.  Instead, admit that we need God’s help and thank Him for providing healing and rest for us.

Not only does God fight for us, but He promises to deliver us from what is troubling us.  It is us that has to be willing to be mindful that He is going to do it in His time, not ours.  If He did everything for us on our time schedule, we would never have the opportunity to learn patience, (one of the hardest, but most rewarding fruits of the Spirit we have been given).

In the movie “Facing The Giants”, the older gentleman that walked the halls everyday praying for the school and the students said this quote to Coach Grant Taylor:

Mr. Bridges:  Grant, I heard a story about two farmers who were experiencing a drought and desperately needed rain. after praying for rain, one of them went out and plowed his fields and prepared his fields to receive it. Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?”

Grant:  ”Well, the one prepared his fields for it.”

Mr. Bridges:  ”Which one are you?” Mr. Bridges continued. “God will send the rain when He’s ready. You need to prepare your field to receive it.”

God will send the rain when He is ready. All you have to do is to prepare your heart to receive it.  We pray and ask God so many times for help with our problems no matter how minuscule they are.  Everything from helping us pay the bills to curing a loved one from cancer.  No matter how big or small a problem is, we expect God to “fix” it for us.  When God addresses a problem we have, He chooses to help us with that particular problem in His time.  We expect Him to do it in our time.  If our hearts are not prepared for rain then we are not trusting in Him to handle any problems that arise in our lives.  If we do not prepare our hearts for rain it is like telling Him “God you really aren’t going to handle this for us, so we try to figure it out for ourselves.”

We spend time praying for revival,  for God to protect people I love. I spend time praying for a lot of things, but I wonder do I really believe God enough to prepare for the answer. I wonder am I preparing my field for the rain He plans to send.

God promises in scripture that he will send us rain.  Which farmer are you?  Are you preparing for rain? Will you be ready? What are you asking God for in your life?  Is it help?  Is it peace?  Is it something else? Do you believe He can provide what you are asking Him for?  If you answer yes, then why are we worried about our problems in life.  We should be sitting back with the attitude that “With God all things are possible.”

We should be saying in ALL things…”Dear problem, I have a big God!”

Have you ever tried to do it all?

I have, I do, and I probably always will.   Being a woman requires more stamina, more creativity, and more wisdom than I ever dreamed as a young girl.  And that’s not just true for today’s busy women.  It has always been the case.  It gives new meaning to the phrase from Forrest Gump “I’ve worn lots of shoes.”

Having a Mary heart in a Martha world is something we have all no doubt thought about.  Deep down we all have a calling, to learn more about and to know and love God more intimately.  To truly know Jesus Christ and the walk with Him daily is something I long for on a daily basis.  You’re not after more head knowledge – it is heart knowledge you are seeking.

Something holds us back though.  Exhausted, you wonder how to find the strength at times to continue on.  Nurturing our spiritual lives seems more like a duty at times, adding one more thing to our life of responsibilities that are already overflowing.

A Tale of Two Sisters

We’ve all felt that struggle.  We want to worship like Mary, but the Martha inside keeps bossing us around.  Here’s a refresher course in case you’ve forgotten the story.  It’s found in Luke.  It’s the talk of two sisters.  It’s the tale of you and me.

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His  word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”  And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  (Luke 10:38-42)

The first time I read the story of Mary and Martha in the bible, I thought that Mary was being very selfish.  After all I relate to Martha more than Mary.  I am the type of person that has to make sure everything is done just right.  I think they call that a perfectionist.

She was quite a woman…Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart all rolled into one.  She was the perfect hostess that could cook a huge meal at the drop of a hat, and then runs out to the flower garden and picks flowers and arranges them perfectly on the table and manages to sew new curtains so the sun shines through just right for her Lord.

I grew up in a house with three older brothers.  I was the youngest and the ONLY girl.  I understand how frustrated Martha must have been when she finally found Mary just “sitting around”  I understand the anger she must have felt at the sight of her sibling sitting at the Master’s feet in the living room.  There was still so much to do, and there sat Mary, happy as a lark, butting her nose in where it obviously didn’t belong, chatting with the men, totally uncaring of what Martha was trying to do for the Lord in the other room.

Mary had about all she could take.  She decided to do a little tattle telling and get Mary in some trouble.  She informs Jesus that Mary is being lazy and there is much to do and that her sister is being inconsiderate and not helping her in the kitchen.

Now me being the do gooder that I am the first thing I thought when I read this passage, was “you mean I have to do more than I am doing?”  Well there was just no way!  How could I possibly do more than I am doing.  I have something going on everyday for the Lord.  How could I possibly find time to do more than I am doing?

Mary and Martha both loved Jesus.  On this occasion they were both serving him.  But Martha thought Mary’s style of serving was inferior to hers.  She didn’t realized that in her desire to serve, she was actually neglecting her guest.

Jesus did not blame Martha for being concerned about household chores.  He was only asking her to set priorities.  It is possible for service to Christ to degenerate into mere busywork that is no longer full of devotion to God.

Are you so busy doing things for Jesus that you’re not spending any time WITH Him?  Don’t let your service become self serving.

I have been without internet for the last day or so, so this is my post that was supposed to go up yesterday.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY has arrived at Heavenly Ramblings!

On Wednesdays all over the internet, bloggers post a photograph with no words to explain it on their blog. Hence the ‘wordless’ title. The idea is that the photo itself says so much that it doesn’t need any description.  I will be participating in this intriguing idea every Wednesday on my blog.

I run a daycare in my home and I have been dealing with sick kiddos for some time now.  Snotty noses, coughing, fevers.  Everyone has had them including the 4 of us who live in this house.  I only keep 2 children at the present time and they are both in the same family.  Today they were both sick and made a trip to the doctor to once again get on antibiotics.

So today I decided I am tired of being sick and passing this stuff around so I went to the store and stocked up on Lysol and cleaning supplies and going to sanitize the house.  I am not keeping children tomorrow and my daughter and I are going to tear the house apart.  I hate cleaning especially spring cleaning in the winter time.  :(

Also my mother is going to be coming home sometime in the next week and she is going to be 75 in March and she surely doesn’t need all the germs around her.  Kelsey has already turned her room upside down and inside out cleaning it.

So a busy day it will be tomorrow cleaning and jamming to some Christian music I am sure.  I feel some Jars of Clay and maybe even a little Big Daddy Weave coming on!

On a different note…if you enjoyed the post yesterday from my husband…head on over to Slice of Home and check out his blog.  He is an amazing writer and an extraordinary man of God.  I love him so much!

I count it a joy and privilege to be able to share on her blog, because I know the many, many people that God has allowed her to reach out to with her posts every day. The Lord is changing lives, molding hearts, and shaping spiritual walks; and I know that a LOT of that is due to Jeannie’s increasing walk of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

For those of you who don’t know my darling wife like I do…all I can say is this: she is a humble servant of God who is always thinking and praying for others more than herself; she is a tough cookie on the outside but a fragile and delicate creature in her spirit. There have been many tragedies in her life (the greatest of these was burying our daughter Micah so long ago after her courageous battle with cancer) yet she has risen above them with the Lord’s unconditional love lifting her up. She loves to cook for armies literally God’s army!); she has the voice of a angel taking flight; she would be willing to lay her life down for her fellow brother or sister; she laughs unashamedly; cries over a lost soul; and is perhaps one of the greatest moms I’ve ever been around.

I say these things because during the past few months, she has experienced hurt, pain, and there were times when she has doubted herself; yet she has never, ever doubted God and His Word. It’s been a tough struggle, as she has bared her soul to others only to see them stab her with hurtful words or lying deceit…yet she has never wavered as she presses towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). I know that it brings joy to God’s heart, knowing that His servant Jeannie, even in struggles, persecution, and trials, keeps on pushin’ on for the Lord!

Edification is what each and every Christian needs in the world today: and I wanted to take just a few short moments to give encouraging birthday words to my helpmate, my spouse, and my best friend. Jeannie, God wants you to know that He loves you so very much, and that He is proud of you for your constant and unrelenting Christian witness to others. He also wants you to never forget that even though life on this earth can be so very hard and difficult at times, it is but for a time; a season (Ecclesiastes 3). And when this season on earth is through, your testimony will be passed down through the generations as a great reminder to our children as to the power of our living God, and to His promises that He gives us in John 3:16.

I love you, my precious Jeannie. You are a blessing to me, and to many others.

Happy Birthday from me, and from God.  :)