A Titus 2 Project

Helping Your Child Find His Place in the World

2009-02-27T11:20:00.000-08:00

Lately this has been on my mind alot, especially as the world we live in becomes busier and more complicated, offering endless opportunities, more than we can possibly pursue. It becomes necessary to prioritize and to limit both our commitments and our children's involvements.

Parents today struggle with peer pressure to have their kids involved in everything. Or at least something.

As a parent, I believe one of our foundational tasks is to help our children to discover their unique place in the world. "I see this quality in you. It's valuable for _____ and God may want to use you to ______". We must be a student of our child.

Rather than a list of do's and don'ts, to illustrate I will just share an example from our own family. We have one child who plays the piano, an interest requiring an enormous investment of time. When this skill is fully developed, it will be useful for ministry and for providing an income. But at this point, after many years, it still costs money and restricts her from being able to work. So we help her.

On the other hand, I know people who have skill in playing piano simply because they were forced to practice as a child. If they don't enjoy it, they usually don't use the skill to serve. Could it be that child would have been better served by being allowed to choose dance class, volleyball, or a job?

It's good to expose your child to a variety of opportunities. It's also good not to stack them on top of each other. Do you need to let go of some expectations for your child? Or is there something God is showing you that you need to allow your child to try?

What Weighs You Down?

2008-06-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

"I suppose we are all ready to admit that
it is not the things we do, but the things we fail to do, which fatigue us,
with the sense of omission, with the worry of hurry in overtaking our
tasks" (Vol. 1, p. 146). Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, p. 146, via Simply Charlotte Mason.

Stress. It's killing us. And I have said for a long time it's caused more by what we don't get done, but feel we ought, than by productive busy-ness.

Well, the Simply Charlotte Mason folks are declaring July 19th the day for a Planning Getaway. Details on the Loganville, Georgia, event here. Or set your own date and plan your own getaway.

I'm kinda sad to be done with home schooling. More on that later.

Are You Serving Your Kids?

2007-04-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Admittedly this is kind of a trick question. Because the rest of the question that's been bouncing around in my mind for a few weeks now is this: or are you training your kids to serve God? More properly stated:

Am I serving my kids or am I training them to serve God?

The differences can be subtle:

How's my attitude about them having to invite a friend to Awana? Do I try to get them out of the requirement or do I help them see bringing friends to the Savior as a lifestyle?
What about their friends? Am I content with them having a group of nice Christian friends or do I stretch them to look out for the lonely?

How are you training your kids to use their talents to serve?

How Stonehenge Was Built?

2007-03-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder why I post somewhat educational guy videos here? It beats storing them forever in email.

See this amazing youtube where a Michigan guy figures out (and demonstrates) how tons and tons and tons of rocks and blocks can be lifted without fossil fuels.

My hero works in the field of architecture. This is fascinating stuff.

The Ultimate Blog Party and Food, too!

2007-03-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

I've been having so much fun with the party at my everyday blog, I wanted to keep it going over here.

What you need to know about this one is that I keep no publishing schedule. Basically this information is for me, my friends, and anyone else who is interested. So if that includes you, and if you don't want to be bothered checking back all the time, email subscription is available in the sidebar.

Now, what's for dinner?

Easiest Ever Chicken Adobo (adapted from Sunset magazine)

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 3 large breasts
6 cloves of garlic, pressed
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 14 oz can coconut milk
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1 bay leaf

1. put everything in the crockpot.
2. if you had the forethought to thaw the chicken, cook for half a day.
3. if not, cook all day.
4. or cook on high.

Serve with rice. Or whatever.

This is not hot unless you happen to bite down on a peppercorn and chew it up without anything else in your mouth.

Thanks for dropping by!

Two Guest Posts, One Common Theme

2007-03-01T05:41:00.000-08:00

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22 :6 NASB

My serious treatment of this topic at MIntheGap.

A barely related plan for Raising Bargain Princesses at The Bargain Queen. This strategy is IMO the way to raise modest daughters, as well. One thing I would add, probably under the category "around age 9": When she expresses interest in magazines, buy her books instead.

Also new at The Space Between My Peers: a category for Teens! Every Tuesday I plan to post something on Teen Style. What would you like to see?

Scheduling vs Routine

2007-02-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

In response to requests for her schedule, Amy Scott has posted her order/routine, a must-read for those homeschooling (or considering it) with preschoolers. Incidentally, it has always been my opinion, and I've seen both sides, that homeschooling fits better with the routine of little ones than does having your older kids attending a formal school.

Some valuable excerpts from the attending comments:

Cindy says ~

Just make sure you are consistent with training and inspiring each child and they will be such a help to you when #4 and #5 come along! Cutting the clutter –in your home and in your scheduling does help quite a bit too–simplify, simplify!

Another Heather says ~

I have five at home from almost 8 to almost one and I am expecting again. The baby never did sleep well during the day (no morning naps) and now he is almost walking. In the meantime, 2yo big brother likes to sit on him or stuff his face in the carpet!! I try to just take school as it comes. Some days it doesn’t! I figure right now, keep the baby’s face out of the carpet, get the meals on, keep the clothes clean, keep the house as clean as possible (believe me, it is not like I like it) and do as much school work as we can. Oh, I try to clean the kids occassionally, too! I generally turn them loose on homework and monitor from the kitchen. Then I check it when I can.

My husband, bless his heart is my reality check. He comes homes and tells me not to compare myself to others, do my best (which he thinks is great) and ease up on my expectations.

And from Mx5, another "older" mom:

My 5 kids range in age now from 7 to 17. When they were small, we got into the routine of “doing school” whenever the baby (whomever that happened to be) took his/her afternoon nap ... . Since my dh was a youth pastor and gone most evenings, we felt strongly that in order for the kids to have face-time with him they needed to be able to stay up later, and get up later ...

We’ve afternoon schooled for all 12yrs. of our homeschooling experience and it really works for us, even now. Our kids are joyful, intelligent, and love Jesus. It works for us.

Last August I posted my own schedule, although clearly I am in a different season of life from these moms. But I love the questions at the end. Enough to repeat them here:

Where does your husband fit in? Are you giving your primary relationship your leftovers?

Is there margin in your life? That is why I use one and a half hour increments. I try to schedule only one hour’s worth of work in each.

Are you getting enough conversation? How about your kids?

How to Brown Sausages in a Crockpot

2006-12-31T07:12:00.000-08:00

Today, when we return from church, dinner will be ready. I started it moments ago. If you have a source of sausages (bratwurst etc.) that you like, this method may work for you:

Put down a layer of potatoes. Any kind: little red potatoes, bakers, today I used chunks of yam.
Lay the sausages in along the sides of the crockpot, kind of circular. Keeping as much as possible in contact with the side of the appliance, they can go all the way up the side.
Fill in the center with remaining vegetables.
Cook on high, around 3 hours.

It's almost like fast food!

Who Meets Your Children's Needs?

2006-12-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hosea 13:

As they had their pasture, they became satisfied,
And being satisfied, their heart became proud;
Therefore they forgot Me.

from the New American Standard Bible

As the mother of adult children, this passage, and others like it, become particularly meaningful. If I step in and take care of every need, will I in effect be deterring my children from seeking the Lord? Will I in fact be interfering with their growing in relationship with Him?

What is it that I really want for my kids? The best of what the world has to offer or the best that God has to offer?

Sometimes not helping is the most helpful thing we can do.

Riveting Question: Dating, Courting, or Something Else?

2006-12-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

Dating, Courting, or Something Else?

It was inevitable, not that we haven't been thinking about it for a long time, that with two lovely high school daughters we would eventually have to face this question.

Pop on over and leave your thoughts.

Study Bible Aimed at Families

2006-12-08T15:55:00.000-08:00

The Family Foundations Study Bible: Bringing God's Word Home (NKJV TRANSLATION)

Too often when people have questions or concerns about their family they run to books instead of the Word of God, which is the first place they should be going. The Family Foundations Study Bible helps families apply God's Word to their family life by addressing a multitude of situations and circumstances that are common in the life of a Christian family. It provides parents with biblical tools and resources to help their families grow spiritually.

Includes application helps and as many family devotion notes as most families will use.

Personally I have not used this, but I love that it is New King James, which is the only translation my daughters will use, and it's encouraging families. Let me know if you try it.

Spiritual Gifts Definitions

2006-12-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

Written by one of our pastors, for use with the High School Awana club, these are the best Spiritual Gifts definitions I've seen.

Evangelism: sharing the message of the "good news" of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Pastoring: shepherding a local church by leading, feeding, and guiding believers in God's Word.
Teaching: instructing the truth of the Word of God so that it can be understood.
Helps: providing practical ministry assistance to those in need; used of deacons.
Wisdom: the ability to apply the truths of God's Word to everyday situations.
Knowledge: the ability to learn, understand and memorize the Word of God.
Faith: trusting God and His Word, even in the face of obstacles and uncertainty.
Exhortation: the ability to encourage other believers with God's Word as a motivation for right living.
Giving: sharing of one's wealth and possessions to bless and benefit another.
Leading: spiritual oversight/ruling over a local church body; often applies to elders or bishops.
Mercy: having and/or showing compassion (God's love) for those who are hurting or suffering.
Administration: Applying spiritual decisions to practical matters within the body; used of deacons.
Ministry: Serving others in practical ways which help them to grow spiritually; used of deacons.

From this list, based on the original Greek, are you able to identify the Spirit at work through you? How about your kids?

Scripture Memory

2006-12-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

Charity Grace, one of my favorite blogs -- don't ask me why, I just feel comfortable there --, has a recent post on helping young children with scripture memory.

In the attending comments, I said:

AWANA has been a tool the Lord has used in an awesome way to quickly mature a family who already was in the midst of parenting before even being saved.

I'm not sure that everyone realizes that AWANA goes all the way through High School, and the High School material is a wonderful discipleship program. Every week there is a Bible study covering serious topics, and during the four years the students read the entire Bible.

My daughters have learned, and I think this is the heart of what CG is saying, that practice needs to occur on a DAILY basis, especially to lock it into long-term memory. What could be more important?

TV or Not TV?

2006-11-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

This one comes from the November archives of my fashion blog, The Space Between My Peers:

TV or Not TV?

We have two children still at home, both in their teens, who have lived without a TV in the home for over 8 years. While neither of them is perfect, they both defy today's stereotypes about teens. They are not rebellious, rarely unpleasant, and for the most part, they agree with their parents about the important issues of life.

So, we wonder, heads spinning, how did we manage that? At first glance, it may seem that homeschooling is what makes our family different from others. Could be. But recently, as I was thinking about the electronic influences on today's children, I began to wonder whether being without a TV was just as beneficial. So I asked. "Why do you think you are so pleasant and easy to be parent of?" Obviously this is not a question we can know the answer to in full, and there is clearly a spiritual component, but today our best thoughts are: 40% homeschooling, 60% TV (that is not TV). My best advice? Many hours of conversation.

One year later I would only add that AWANA is a wonderful discipleship tool. Like icing on the cake.

Mary's Favorite Homeschool Websites

2006-11-21T19:49:00.000-08:00

Find a list of Mary's favorite homeschool websites in her post Homeschooling and The Internet at MInTheGap.

And allow me to add one: Home-Made Living, aka Jody's site.

Train Your Child to Be a Fighter Pilot

2006-11-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

From an email:

The object of the game is to move the red block around without getting hit by the blue blocks or touching the black walls. If you can go longer than 18 seconds you are phenomenal. It's been said that the USAir Force uses this for fighter pilots. They are expected to go for at least 2 minutes.

Give it a try but be careful..it is addictive!!

Hand - Eye Coordination Game

Concerning Delegating Responsibilities

2006-11-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

The delightful Mrs Meg Logan has left the following comment responding to my Riveting Question: Can Responsibilities Be Delegated? It's a must-read:

Seems to me that responsibility before God cannot be passed on to another. If you delegate something to someone, it is still your responsibility to see that action fulfilled properly.
For example, I may delegate my parenting duties temporarily to a sitter, that sitter may do something wrong that causes my children harm, (physical or otherwise). The person who perpetrated the sin upon my children is guilty of that sin, while I am guilty of not protecting my children. I still carry some responsibility for their well being. I should have chosen a sitter more wisely, or perhaps forgone a sitter completely!
(I have personal experience in this area, so I am well aware of the pain of my responsibility.)

Another thing, since it is my husband's responisibility before God to raise up his family in the admonition of the Lord, if he delegates that to me, and I do not follow through, I am guilty of disobedience, but he is guilty of not raising up his family in the admonition of the Lord.

If you're interested in my response, it's at the original post.

Live My Priorities or Blog Them?

2006-11-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

Just a quick word of explanation about why it's been two weeks since I posted here.

As many of you know, I have two teen daughters at home and two older sons (a step and a natural) who do not live here. Recently, though, that has changed slightly. While our girls are still here and neither of the young men actually reside in our home, my dearly loved step-son has decided to relocate his family to our area. We are thrilled!

So instead of blogging quite as much, although I have kept a decent publishing schedule at my fashion blog, I have been living my own advice: Many hours of conversation.

I Flunked the Third Grade

2006-10-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Not really, but I didn't do too well my first try on this Geography Game, link courtesy of Mary.

I'm off to try again!

Youniquely Woman at Precept Ministries in Chattanooga TN

2006-10-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Kris for taking the time to recommend "Youniquely Woman", featuring Kay Arthur, Emilie Barnes and Donna Otto of Homemakers by Choice.

Oct 17 - 21 ................ Youniquely Woman Finishing School

For women ages 20-45. For more information about how you can receive an invitation for yourself or others or to register,
please call 888.678.5660 Ext 8635.

Does anyone have the details on ordering the CDs? I was unable to find those.

And this looks intriguing as well. It seems everyone is jumping on the youth ministries bandwagon these days.

Small confession here: having never been involved in anything Precept, I feel a little bit like an outsider looking in. Somehow I've been having that feeling alot lately. Perhaps it's an autumn thing; whether autumn of the year or autumn of my life, I'm not certain.

Anyway, thanks again, Kris, for stopping by with a friendly and helpful comment!

Parenting Tip: Positive Conclusion

2006-10-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today in our MOPS group, it fell to me to present the "Mentor Moment", a parenting tip from the National Center for Biblical Parenting.

What mom hasn't had the experience of disciplining the same kid for the same offense over and over again? (Okay, I know there are some. Actually, if that's you, leave a comment. If you have a blog, I'd love to visit.)

The technique: Each time the negative behavior takes place, have the child take a short break and then come back to you for a debriefing. During that conversation, one of the questions should be, "What are you going to do differently next time?"

When you ask this question your child has to state the right response back to you.

As the child hears himself verbalize the right response, he learns to catch himself earlier.

If you, the parent, are so accustomed to telling your child what not to do that you aren't sure what the right response would be, use the opportunity to brainstorm and problem-solve with your child.

Every opportunity for correction can have a positive conclusion.

A Titus 2 Committee

2006-10-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Something, from Shannon at IDYLWILD, that's been knocking around in my head trying to get out:

But how do we go from knowing so little about running a home to doing it with grace and style and love? I really liked what she said about having a committee. I think we often feel like we need A Titus 2 woman to show us how to do everything, but that doesn't work. We aren't supposed to be carbon copies of one another. And no single older woman is going to know everything we need to know. We have to be *picky* - picking a little from this woman about scheduling, a little from this woman about cleaning, a little from this woman about cooking and a little from this woman about doing it all with joy:)

Who's on your committee?

I told a lady this last weekend that she was on mine. It was quite rewarding! She just smiled, said she liked me, and gave me a hug.

The only thing better than that is knowing that she feels that way about my daughters too.

Bible Reading Plan

2006-10-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

This, I think, is the best through-the-Bible-in-a-year reading plan I've ever seen. Thank you to my daughter's former Awana leader for sharing it.

What makes it great?

Variety without being choppy.
Weekly format can be easily adapted from 7 days to fewer, depending on your needs.
Covers the entire Word of God without long stretches in the difficult parts (for me that's PSALMS).

Let me know what you think.

Jeep Drives Across Water

2006-10-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

Here's something for you moms of BOYS (yes, it's educational):
jeep and snowmobile race across a pond in iceland

Hey guys, don't try this at home!

Here's What Else

2006-10-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

These suggestions from Jennifer, concerning what non-readers can do to keep fresh in their relationship with the Lord, are ideas I would have jumped on when my kids were little; so of course, I wanted to share them:

We have an Audio dramatized Bible from Zondervan... straight text, with calm music in the background, different voices for characters in the narrative parts, some very light sound effects. NIV translation. We use it a lot. The kids fall asleep to it. I've played Proverbs on the computer while we eat, so I can eat too (instead of reading aloud myself).

On another note: my workshop is over, and it didn't go so especially well (more on that later). At the encouragement of a couple of friends, however, I will probably keep this blog going. But only if He gives me something to say.

What Else?

2006-10-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

Recently a very dear friend of mine was in a serious car accident, the result being that she can no longer hold her Bible or tip her head down to read it for any length of time. Others have dyslexia or, well I don't know everything, whatever reasons. What else can be done?

listen to radio sermons -- all day
pray while nursing
listen to music which makes you feel worshipful
pray while doing the dishes
keep a verse you are working on a 3x5 card in your back pocket
or tape it up somewhere you will have opportunity to see it alot
listen to Adventures in Odyssey with your kids
how about iron sharpening iron?

A very incomplete list. What would you add?

Making Application

2006-10-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

And then there is the AHA! moment, when the Holy Spirit highlights a verse on the page and you KNOW it's for you. Write it down!

Previously I mentioned a Navigator's discipleship I was in as a new Christian. We were challenged to apply the Word to life and we were accountable to a discipler, to whom we turned in our Bible reading record weekly. Finding the "so what?" in a passage, what a thrill!

Other thoughts:

Sometimes your Bible reading will necessarily be colored by the circumstances around you. For example, recently I have been troubled by some events around me. Yesterday, Romans 8:5&6 seemed to speak right to this situation (but then about every other day something has):

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

And it made a difference to me in how I choose to think in areas that I recognize my own weakness.
Sometimes you will run across a verse that just is interesting, or maybe you don't really get it. Pick that verse to carry around with you and let it be your meditation. See what God shows you.

We really are rich. Let's live in the riches of His word.

How Much?

2006-10-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

How much of the Bible do you think you should read each day? People have proposed lots of different ideas; the Holy Spirit will have to be your ultimate authority.

But just in case He wants to use me to give you an idea, I will mention a few:

A specified length of time. Anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour.
An amount of time as compared to that which you spend on some other activity. Like primping, reading the newspaper, or surfing the internet.
A single chapter. Or several. One retired man I know challenges himself to read 10 chapters a day!
One New Testament, one Old Testament, one Psalms, and one Proverbs each day.
A formal reading plan. Like reading the Bible in 90 days or a year.
An informal reading plan. Using a Bible reading log, just read what you want.

Right now, I am doing kind of a hybrid thing: I have a bookmark in the Old Testament and one in the New. I read 2 to 4 chapters per day; from one portion, the other, or a combination.

What I would never recommend is to allow a packaged devotional, no matter how good, or even a Bible study, to substitute for reading the Word for yourself. That would be kind of like consuming Slim Fast instead of steak for dinner.

Which Translation?

2006-10-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

I am not an expert on this.

When I trusted Christ as Savior, I was reading a Good News Bible. I would not recommend that version, but certainly the power of the gospel was present.

Even the cult bibles have enough of God's word left in them that if they read them, rather than all their add-ons, they could get it.

So, I read the Good News Bible. Then, the church we were in used the NIV, so I read that. Now I use the NASB.

A couple of good options, if you don't have a favorite already:

The New Living Translation, which is also a good option to give away. Our church offers a New Testament in this translation for evangelism.
The New King James. It's the only one my daughters will use, because it's the same as their Awana verses.

Don't allow yourself to be de-railed by any subtle fears that you will choose the wrong one.

How to Make Friends (A Frugal Priority)

2006-10-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

In light of having depression and loneliness on my mind, I would like to propose godly friends as a frugal alternative to many things: therapy, herbal supplements, vacations, and divorce, to name a few.

Over the past few years, though, I have been pondering how we make friends. We are often told, "if you want to have friends, you have to be one", and certainly that is true, but I have also made the following observations:

As you spend time with a person, you become more comfortable with them. Especially powerful is the potential of frequent, regular communication.

During three separate summers when my kids were little, I baby-sat (no charge) for friends who were single mothers. Every morning they would drop off, every afternoon they would pick up. Sometimes they'd stay and visit, other times it was very brief. Effortlessly, our relationship grew.

Sometimes God will move you to make a commitment to a certain person, a commitment to be their friend.

Some of my favorite friends are this kind. They do take time and effort, and sometimes the relationship seems to grow slowly.

Last, not least, are the instant friends. Those people you just connect with.

In His word, Jesus calls His disciples friends. We can grow that relationship by spending regular time together and by being committed to Him, after being instantly connected.

More Frugal Friday tips at Biblical Womanhood.

Hey Frugal People, and other readers, would you please leave a comment if you think I should continue this blog? You see, my workshop that I have been preparing will be over tomorrow. But I think I still have more words.

The Myth of More Time

2006-10-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

Somehow we always think, "when the kids are older and more independent, I'll have more time". Time to spend with the Lord and time to serve Him.

Sorry to burst your bubble. When the kids are older and more independent, they also have more words to share. You'll only have more time if you choose not to listen to them. (Ask any sleep-deprived mother of college aged kids. They come home late, you want to be there, and then they want to talk.)

Other common myths:

Work should be done by those whose kids are all grown up.
If that's the case, how are we to understand the qualifications for elder, as stated in 1 Timothy 3:4?
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
Totally alone is the only way to have a satisfying time alone with the Lord. See what some other young moms had to say.

Don't put off your relationship with the Lord until some pie-in-the-sky future time. You don't know what's going to happen. Do it now.

Consider what Kili @ Live Each Moment, another young mom, is doing:

I'm doing the Bible in 90 days plan. I am on Day 40 and have been reading for 60 days. yes I am 20 days behind but it's awesome. I started July 7 with Genesis and I am now in Psalms.....

You COULD Read the Entire New Testament Yet This Year

2006-10-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

As I was considering this workshop, someone made the comment to me that I couldn't just hand someone a Bible and tell them to read it. She was right.

I'd just hand them a New Testament. *snicker*

Realistically, though, while it is true that it is absolutely possible to read through the New Testament yet this year, I didn't share that story to make anyone feel they HAD to. When I did it, it was about beginning a personal relationship with Jesus. This CAN-DO message is to encourage those who already have that relationship.

Hey, I really don't want to be mean, but there are so many voices out there telling you it can't be done, or that it isn't important. pssst ... they're lying.

Just start. Somewhere. Because wherever you are, there you are. (That's what my daughter says anyway.:)

Why I Read the Whole Bible in a Little Over a Year

2006-10-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

Leave it to your kids to keep you honest. When my son (from my brief first marriage) and step-son (from his brief first marriage) were in early elementary school, and our daughters were babies, those little guys were very interested in going to church (little people usually are). So, of course, as good parents, we needed to look into that. Around this time of year, I set myself a goal to settle into a church before Christmas.

But that was going to be harder than it sounds. My husband and I came from different religious traditions, and it appeared irreconcilable. Until I found our Bibles. Having both been brought up in traditions that teach the Bible, we agreed that we would look for a church that taught it as authority. The Bible was to be our standard. But neither of us had actually READ it. It appeared that the only way we would know if a church was "worthy" would be to read the Bible. Coincidentally, about that time I unpacked the box which contained Bibles we both were given as a kid.

Now, I had tried previously to read the Bible, but always gave up before the end of Exodus. This time, however, one of the Bibles I found was a New Testament only. (This is my best tip if you've never read the Bible: start with the New Testament!) I began sometime in October; by November, I was a new creation. By the end of the following year, I had read the entire Bible. (Did I mention that I was also working full-time?)

Here's what I found:

John 14:6~ Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Frankly, that was a relief to me. I had never quite been successful at getting my brain around how all sorts of various things could be true at the same time.

Romans 10:9~ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

And, you know, I had always believed that Jesus had died for my sins, been buried, and resurrected from the dead; what I never understood until that moment was that it was ALL of my sins. Not just those that I confessed. (How could I ever remember them all?)

Well, folks, it's not up to me. All my sins were in the future when Jesus died on the cross, and He, being God, knew about them all.

And He did it anyway.

For more stories about how people were born again, see this post at Created For His Glory.

God Knows We're Dust

2006-09-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

The Myth: God knows that mothers of little ones don't have time to be alone with Him.

The Truth: God knows that we're dust. He knows we need Him more than we know. He knows we fail, and He knows when we don't spend time with Him just because we're not that interested.

He loves us anyway, but that doesn't mean it's His best for us.

Early in my Christian walk, I participated in a Navigator's discipleship program. Setting a standard of Bible reading four days out of seven acknowledged our humanity (weakness, imperfection), while encouraging intentional habit-building.

Over at my Riveting Questions blog, I posed the question "when do spend time with the Lord"? Several answered, often that they did it in the morning (more on that later), but the consensus is that it's essential.

We don't stop feeding ourselves physically, do we?

The Least You Can Do

2006-09-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Years ago on the radio, I heard the story of a young lady, committed to Christ, who was some sort of a servant with only a few brief moments to herself each morning. In that time, she would memorize a verse and that would be her meditation for the day, as she went about her duties.

Somehow that's always encouraged me. If she, with so little freedom, could do that much, I should be able to manage SOMETHING. If it's important.

A Simple Devotional Program

2006-09-23T23:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, how much frustration do we moms go through trying to find just the right devotional or teaching program, something that will work for the whole family? (Another source of "extra time"?)

Well, here's a fresh thought on that front:

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Luke 6:45

Fill your heart with the Word and that is just what will naturally come out ... when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

An Incomplete List of Things You Do Not Have To Do

2006-09-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, besides bake cupbakes for Johnny's pre-school, what else could you choose not to do in order to have time to read your Bible?

Watch TV?
Read the newspaper?
Read the latest novel, Christian or non-Christian.
Read the latest Christian self-help book, or PARENTING book.
Could you relax your standards a little regarding housecleaning or cooking from scratch?
What about hobbies? Why not make Bible study your hobby?

Or how about this non-traditional answer? Quit going to ladies Bible study, especially one with homework.

The possibilities are endless. What would you add?

6 Things Parents Can Do to Build Their Spiritual Authority With Their Kids (and None of Them Are Homeschooling)

2006-09-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

When I referenced Dr McGee , and because I myself homeschool, maybe you got the idea that I, or Dr McGee, think that homeschooling is the only alternative for producing godly Christian young people. Not so!

Parenthetically, nothing like homeschooling should ever cause division in the body, but it does sometimes, doesn't it? We feel awkward if we are the only one in the group who has made a different choice, whether public school, Christian school, or homeschool. But consider what Jesus said in John 17 would be the outcome of our unity:

that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me

Just to show you that I have given respectful consideration to the possibility that a public school family CAN be a Deuteronomy 6 family, here's a list of things I've thought of that parents can do to build their spiritual authority with their kids:

Build a personal relationship with each one, noticing and valuing his or her uniqueness.
Let them see you read your Bible.
Discuss your decisions with them, including actually reading to them the verse(s) you are basing your decision on. As they get older, and especially by the end of elementary school when they know EVERYTHING about the Bible, ask their input.
Be a leader in spiritual things. Teach Sunday School or serve in Awana.
Arrange your life to include non-believers.
Spend time together EVERY DAY.

In short, live your priorities. If you don't have time to read your Bible, do you have time to bake cupcakes for their pre-school?

What's a Parent to Do?

2006-09-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

So what's a conscientious parent, who wants to raise godly children, supposed to do?

Pray:
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Do. That is, do what you know to do:
Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. Matthew 7:26

And how are you going to know what His words are in order to act on them?

I rest my case.

A Deuteronomy 6 Family

2006-09-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

Most parents are very familiar with this passage, the Shema, the central statement of the Jewish faith:

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is
one!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

NASB, via Bible Gateway

(Immediately followed by my favorite Thanksgiving verses:

Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. )

But sometimes I fear we gloss over the reasoning behind it. Back up two verses.

Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

(Remind you of anything? Yep, the fifth commandment, to honor your father and mother, the first one with a promise: "that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you", which Moses had just repeated in Deuteronomy 5.)

God commanded Moses to teach the Israelites His words so that they would be passed on in such a way that future generations would understand the need to obey them. Because He wanted to bless them.

Back to Deuteronomy 6. What's the reason God wants us to teach our children about Him? The answer is in verse 24:

for our good always and for our survival, as it is today

No Child Left Behind

2006-09-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

In these days of reaction to the idea that Christian kids aren't growing up Christian, thoughtful parents of very young children are in a strategic position to change that for the next generation. The most influential thing you can do? Raise your own children to have a Biblical worldview.

Consider the words of Dr. J. Vernon McGee on this subject, probably spoken a generation ago:

"What do you expect, my friends, when you send your children to these worldly institutions and they come home thoroughly brain-washed? Why do you say, "My, how could he do that when he was brought up in a Christian home?" The problem is that he was not actually raised in a Christian home. The parents of many young people may be lovely Christian people but they did not really train their children in Christian precepts and values. They were so anxious and ambitious for them to get on in the world that they lost them."

And, yes:

Wanting the "best" of the world for their children is the most subtle temptation that can come to Christian parents.

Have any of you read pollster George Barna's Raising Spiritual Champions ?

Not Getting Any Younger

2006-09-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

Today I received confirmation that I will soon be giving a workshop for young moms; young moms who want to spend a daily time with the Lord Jesus Christ. How can they fit THAT into their schedules?

Since I'm already accustomed to composing in Blogger, having been blogging The Space Between My Peers for 281 posts now, this blog is just going to be my conference notes.

I'm not getting any younger, you know.