We, the people, part 2

So, in light of all the evil in the world and in our childrens' faces and lives at all times, what can we, as mamas, do about the dire situations we find ourselves in?

1.  Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the TRUTH!!

John 17:17 - Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is Truth.

Buy the truth and sell it not. Proverbs 23:23

We must constantly be in the Word ourselves, as well as teaching it to our children!!  We should use every possible moment to instill in our children both a knowledge of the Word AND a love for the Word.  (If you haven't read Psalm 119 recently, do it!  Our need to love and cherish God's word is so evident in this chapter!)  You can use every day moments, actions, and objects to teach about God, His love, and His power.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12   and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2.  Do not fear or worry! 

This is so much easier said than done, but admonitions in Scripture to this end are abundant!

Proverbs 24:19-20 Do not fret because of evildoers,

Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Matthew 6:25-34

3.  Pray without ceasing!

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray FOR your children, WITH your children, in SPITE of your children (ha!).

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

4.  Teach Design, Creation, and God's plan!

Evolutionary theories help to break down views of the sanctity of human life.   When our children are faced with evolution and the idea that Creation is false, it lowers the value of human life to that of an animal, a parasite, or even worse.  It makes the lines of right and wrong in regards to human life blurred.   We must instill in our children the knowledge of God's Creation and His incredible design.  

5.  Be different

We cannot allow ourselves to blend in with the world.  WE MUST be the "peculiar people" that God calls us to be.  Only when our lights shine brightly for God can the world see the hope and salvation that is found only in Christ.  We must not be afraid to stand for His truth, despite the public opinions.  We must be the Daniels, Josephs, Shadrachs, Meshachs, Abednegos, Esthers, and Marys of our time.  Those who believe their God can deliver them, and if not, we still will not bow to what the world puts before us as "gods."   OUR GOD is the only One who saves, and OUR GOD is still in charge, no matter who is elected into office in November.   Take a deep breath, Mamas.  We can do this!  :)

We, the people...part 1

We, the godly mamas of the next generation, in order to help lead our children to heaven, MUST spring to action.   We must take seriously the verse found in Matthew 5:16 that says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

I am not a news reader or watcher.  We don't have cable, I homeschool my two and am a full-time nanny to two others, and, quite frankly, I don't have "free" time to read the news online.  Also, it depresses me and I know my limits for triggering anxiety.  However, these past few weeks it has been virtually impossible to avoid the onslaught of media coverage of the election!  A big problem is that the media is so visual...and tangible...and in our faces!!  We must, as Christians, make sure that GOD'S word is equally tangible to our children!  It should ever be "in our faces" (and in our hearts, and in our minds... Deuteronomy 6).  This morning it hit me that parenting in today's social climate is (and will continue to be) a job of epic proportions!   For instance...

1.  How do I teach my child that lying is wrong when both of the front-running presidential hopefuls are well-documented and celebrated for blatant lying, deceit, or "forgetting?"

First of all, a better question is how can I NOT teach this to my child!!!

Scripture tells us that, from the beginning, Satan has been using lies to sway God's children.   (Gen. 3:4 "Thou shalt not die.")   He is the father of ALL lies.  John 8:44   There are countless admonitions to God's people to be truthful, honest, and not deceptive, yet daily we see celebrations of false witnesses, liars, deceivers.   They are called "crafty," "clever," or "sly," and almost lauded for their "talents" at speaking untruths and covering it up.  God, however, speaks harshly against such people and reminds us that all will have their place in the lake of fire (Rev 21:7).  We must be careful to protect our little ones' hearts (and our own!) from the poisonous lying going on around us!

To combat lying, you could share the following stories!!
     Creation and Eve's deception/sin
     Ananais and Sapphira
     My 8 year old said Daniel - the other nobles "deceived" King Darius
     Abraham and Sarah
    Joseph (his brothers; Potiphar's wife)
    The young prophet and the old prophet


2.  How do I teach my child God's ideal plan for marriage when society claims it can be anyone who "loves" each other?  Or teaches that marriage is "optional" for moms, dads, etc.?

God is so so SO clear about His plan for marriage!  From the beginning, He lays out His plan for families, the hierarchy of authority, etc.   Over and Over God teaches us that ONLY if we follow the "one man, one woman, for life" plan are we blessed by Him in our families.  We owe it to ourselves and to our children to speak up for this plan for the family and to strive to teach others about it as well (in love).  

To combat the false teachings about family in society, the Bible is full of information!!    Share these stories with your kiddos (age appropriately, obviously!)
      Sodom and Gomorrah
      David & Bathsheba (*extramarital fornication)
      David's family reaps the consequences of fornication multiple times...
      Noah and his daughters
      Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar (while I KNOW that the focus of this story isn't on there being multiple wives, it can teach us some about that as well!  So can Rachel & Leah).
     
To show God's pattern for marriage...
      Adam and Eve
      Ephesians 5
      Matthew 19

and the list goes on and on.  If your children are old enough, you could tackle the AP book about God loving Michael's two daddies.   There are so many Scriptures to teach this.   Don't just accept that it is the time we live in to accept these things!!   I always have told my kiddos they want to grow up to marry a Christian...it is so sad that I have to specify to my son that it must be a Christian WOMAN and to my daughter that it is a Christian MAN.  That should just be understood without saying.  But it's not.  So say it!!

3.  How do I tell my children to respect authority and government when that very government is so corrupt, dishonest, and, to be honest, in many ways, DANGEROUS?

Remember the governments available throughout the Bible.  Yet, God still commanded His people to respect the government and to honor God in doing so.  God will take care of His people when they are obedient.

Stories:   Noah,  Joseph,  apostles and other NT Christians, Jesus

4.  How do I tell my children to treat others as you want to be treated when the main characters in our news and society treat each other like garbage?  

Remember that we are to be different, called out, peculiar!!  If being nice to others doesn't make us "peculiar," I am not sure what does!! :)   Teach it!  Show it!!  DO it!!!

Stories:   Good Samaritan, Ruth, Dorcas, JESUS


5.  How do I teach my children to value life - theirs and others'- when those in public view have full disdain for the sanctity of life??

Remind them that God doesn't make "junk."

Point out all the verses that show that life begins in the womb (You knit me inside my mother's womb, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Elizabeth's baby leapt in her womb, Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb, etc."    

Tell stories of Hannah, Rachel, and others who longed for babies and rejoiced when their wombs were opened.  Show them the joy of human life!   Tell them about when THEY were in the womb and things you felt or learned or thought or prayed or hoped for them!!

While there are so many other lessons we could discuss in the tempestuous climate, these hit me hard this morning as I sat watching my sick child rest on the couch.   Take heart, Mamas!  Timothy most certainly lived in a difficult political climate, but his mother and grandmother were able to instill God's word in him in such a way as to make it "stick" and to combat the social influences of the time.  We CAN do this.  We MUST do this.  Eternity depends on it!!   May God bless you as you train these sweet blessings and aim your arrows towards heaven.

How we Homeschool: Book recommendations!!

I wanted to post about a few series of books we use in our homeschool that have been helpful to us as we study!!

Math - 

My husband is a high school advanced math teacher, so we are super picky about quality math books!  These all have his "stamp of approval" as being good for developing good thinking and problem solving skills, and they are also "kid-approved."

Life of Fred     I can't say enough good things about this math program!!!  It is fabulous.  It approaches math from a lighthearted "story book" approach, yet it incorporates so many advanced topics and problem solving skills.  Kids are introduced to hard topics very early in a completely non-threatening way.  That way, as they get older and deal with harder topics, they are already familiar with the basics and are not intimidated.  While you do need some "extra practice" for basic skills, Life of Fred is a thorough, well-written series.   We love Love LOVE it!!!

Sir Cumference   This link is to the whole set, although we ordered ours separately from Amazon. These stories are set in the time of knights and dragons and provide clever stories associated with math topics that make them easy to remember.   One of our favorites is the "Dragon of Pi" book.   The end of the books sometimes have activities or suggestions for more reading to further your study of the topics in the book, which is great for any non-math parents. ;)

Math Start Series, by Stuart Murphy  This series has books on nearly every elementary math topic, in levels of progressing difficulty.  The stories are "real-life" applications of math, but are kid-friendly and engaging.  Each book also has discussion questions, activities, etc. for parents and children.  our library has these, and we often have checked out books on specific topics just to add some emphasis to a given topic.  

History/Geography

The Carole Marsh Mysteries series called "Around the World in 80 stories" is fantastic.   The kids are based on a real life family, and they find mysteries all over the world. I guess I'd call them historical/geographical fiction, yet thee author sneaks in all kinds of REAL facts about the countries, their food, their customs, etc. while weaving an engaging mystery for kids.   We use them in conjunction with countries we are studying, and my kids (and I!) love them.  She has several other series about places in America, some scary mysteries, etc., but right now this series is our favorite!!

Sing Hallelujah to the LORD

Lately, I have been heartbroken over some attitudes and comments I have witnessed regarding singing to and about God, whether in worship, at home, or at church-sponsored events.  I have prayerfully considered this post and have struggled over exactly what to write, but I don’t feel like I can continue to ignore the problems going on among many singing sessions and worship services.  My purpose in writing this is not to call anyone out or to offend anyone, and many of the points discussed below are ones I need to apply to my own thinking as well.  I must guard my own heart and mind from things that can creep in unaware. 

Singing is one of the many blessings God has given us within His church and His system of worship.  Singing can be an expression of praise, fear, thanksgiving, comforting, and longing.  Unless there is a physical or mental hindrance, every person can sing in some way.  It is a universal ability, and one that is calming and refreshing to many people.  It requires no special equipment or training.   More importantly, however, it is a way that we can show our obedience to God and also, in a small way, begin to fulfill the Great Commission (by teaching others!).  Singing is a way in which we can teach and admonish one another (Col 3:16 – teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs), as well as a way in which we can worship the Lord (Eph 5:19 – singing with grace in your hearts to God). 

It is important for us to remember at all times that our purpose in singing is twofold:  1.  To please and obey God, and 2. To teach and admonish one another.  The purpose for singing is NOT to entertain ourselves or to make it sound pleasant to our human ears.  Often this is a “side benefit,” but it is not our goal or intention. 

Scripture tells us that we should sing with the spirit and sing with the understanding (1 Cor 14:15).  One thing we should keep in mind is how the Spirit operates.   The Spirit is always orderly and intentional about the way it works.  There is nothing chaotic or haphazard about works of the Spirit, and nothing that is done without purpose.  It should be no different for us.  When we are told to “let all things be done decently and in order,” that is not simply a suggestion or “good idea.”  It is how we are expected to behave.   The same applies to our worship (and, therefore, our singing).   If we are to sing with the Spirit, we need to make sure that we are keeping things orderly and purposeful.   This means that we should be focused and intentional not only about the words we sing, but also the manner in which we sing.  While singing is a personal expression to the Lord, there is no place for silliness or disrespect ANY time we are singing to or about God.  We need to be careful to keep ourselves in a reverent state of mind that honors God, no matter the situation or timing for singing to Him.  There may be times when we are teaching or singing with younger children that we sing songs that have simpler messages or rhyming, repetition, etc., but we need to still remember our purpose in this form of worship.  Our purpose is not to entertain, perform, or sound “beautiful” to one another.   God is the one to Whom we are singing, and He furnished us with the hearts in which we are to make melody.  He is pleased when our singing comes from a pure and sincere heart.  Our purpose is also to be intentional and orderly.  Therefore, songs with complicated hand motions/movements, conflicting melodies that are difficult to separate from one another, or rhythms that consistently increase in speed, volume, or goofiness should not be part of our worship.  Even when children are younger, we need to be teaching them a proper respect for God and worship.  What we teach them now is what they will do and think and believe later.  If we teach them it is okay to be irreverent and disrespectful at a young age, they will have difficulty changing that mindset when they become Christians.  There is certainly no problem with singing songs about God that are more kid-friendly and teach simple stories and concepts, but we should never allow singing to God to become disorganized or rambunctious and “silly.”

That being said, we can learn a lot from how children sing!  My two sing loudly.  And with gusto.  And sometimes off-key.  And loudly.  And with their whole hearts.  And loudly.  And cheerfully.  And loudly.  They are totally unconcerned with how “good” they sing or what others think.  While they can sometimes get TOO loud and we have to remind them of the purpose of singing (not to “perform) and to tone it down some so that others can hear the songleader, I am encouraged by their desire to sing praises to God.  Countless members of our congregation have come to us to thank us for teaching our children songs and allowing them to “bless” the congregation with their singing.  Sometimes I have to be careful that I do not shrink from their “joyful noise” or scold them for singing out so much, and sometimes I have to remind myself that I should have that same passion for singing praise to God.  I should worry less about how I sound to others and more about how I sound to God, who hears my heart more than my voice. 

Another thing to consider is the part of the verse that relates to singing with the “understanding.”   In order to understand something, we must be able to decipher the words involved as well as their meanings.  To do this, we must be able to HEAR what is being sung and to separate one word from another in order to comprehend the overall message.  Therefore, we need to make sure that the songs we are singing are:  1) in line with scriptural teachings and doctrine, and 2) able to be understood “in spite of” the music/melody attached to the words.  In terms of the first part, we should think about the words we are singing, as each word we sing has the potential to admonish/teach any other person in the assembly (or wherever we are singing to and about God).   Also, if we are singing directly TO God, we want to make sure we are not lying to Him.  If we sing words to Him, we need to make sure that they come from our heart and are truthful.   Just “going through the motions” of singing is not being in full accordance with His will and expectations.   Secondly, we need to make sure that the melody/rhythm/etc. is not distracting us or others from understanding the words and meaning behind the verses.  If we have 3 or 4 completely different parts being sung at once (with different words), we could easily be confusing someone or not effectively teaching them about God.  We need to be careful!

Finally, we need to be aware of God’s desire for ALL to sing from the heart.  His concern is not with tempo, rhythm, perfect pitch, etc.   Too often we are so concerned about how the song sounds to US that we are distracted from singing with our hearts wholly to God.  If I am focused completely on the tempo or notes, I cannot be fully focused on what the words mean or how they apply to my life.  Likewise, if I am concentrating on how others sound, I am not able to teach them as effectively through my own singing or to be taught by theirs!  The same is true with a particular song.  Often, we all get caught up in how a song sounds more so than what it means.  We may choose a song “because it sounds pretty,” but it may not even have much teaching or admonishing (or even praise!).  All too often I hear teenagers (and many adults!) talk about how beautiful a song’s melody is or how they want to sing it “fast” or “in perfect pitch,” but not even mention the words involved in the song. Remember that the melodies, words, and rhythm are “manmade,” unlike the commandments inspired of God.   While it is wonderful to hear songs that sound beautiful to US, it should not be a primary consideration in what we choose to sing to and about God.  Also, we want to make sure that the songs we sing are, indeed, scriptural and beneficial for the teaching and admonition of others.  A song that teaches nothing about God or expresses no praise, admiration of, or pleading to God likely has no business being sung in our collective assembly.  Even if it is a “traditional” hymn, if it does not meet the qualifications set forth in God’s word for worship, we must be careful about including it.  In being intentional with singing, we need to select the songs we sing with care and attention.  When we take the focus off of God and put it on ourselves and how we sound, we are no longer worshiping in accordance with His will.  We are no longer humbling ourselves before Him, but we are now allowing pride to interfere with our purity of worship. 

In conclusion, we need to make sure that we keep “self” out of our worship as much as possible.  Instead, we need to focus on our Creator and Savior and the blessings He bestows on us each and every day.  Psalm 68:19 - Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits!!!    When we come before Him in song, we are humbling ourselves before Him, in awe and wonder at all He does.  Let us not diminish from our efforts to praise Him by focusing on such insignificant things.  

An Open Letter to the size 2s in the dressing room beside me

Dear teenage girls in the dressing room beside me,

A few days ago, I had the rare opportunity to spend 30 minutes shopping for clothes BY MYSELF.  :)  As I looked through the racks of dresses for spring, I noticed the two of you pulling off clothes to take to the fitting room.  You seemed very stressed, which surprised me, given how many cute clothes were available on your rack.  [MY rack, however, was definitely NOT a size 2, and the cute clothes were in much shorter supply. ]  I got distracted by my own shopping and forgot about you for a few minutes.

However, a few minutes later as I was trying on clothes, I could hear the two of you talking in the dressing room beside me.  As I struggled to find something that would fit AT ALL, much less be modest, I could hear the two of you moaning and complaining about how "fat" you looked in the outfits you had chosen.  Amidst complaints of "this fat roll" showing or "my bottom looks huge," you both questioned whether or not "he" (whoever HE is) would like what you chose.   You tried valiantly to encourage each other as you tried on clothes, but it seemed to me that you couldn't see past the image in the mirror to who you really are.   At first I was slightly envious that you could fit in such a small size, while I struggled to find something in a size bigger than what I normally wear.  Then, I must confess that I was a little angry that you "dared" to complain when you obviously did not have "fat" issues like so many of us.  Just as quickly as those emotions came in to play, however, I was just sad.  Sad, and sorrowful for you.  

I debated about waiting for you when you came out and letting you know how beautiful you both are, but I decided that would seem totally creepy.  Especially in a discount clothing store.   I don't mean beautiful in how you look.  As a matter of fact, I don't even remember what color hair either of you has, how tall you are, or anything else about your physical appearance.   What I DO know, though, is that you were created in the image of God.  He loves you enough that He created you special and unique in His sight.   While He does want us to be humble, I believe He also wants us to see us as He does...a soul with great value to Him.  Your souls are so valuable to Him that His son DIED FOR YOU.  Too often we get way too caught up in what we look like (I'm talking to me here, too!!) on the outside and forget what REALLY matters!   I became aware that day that we all have "body" issues or "self-image" issues, despite our size, and I realized how effective this area is for the devil to reach us. As you complained about your non-existent fat rolls, I cringed. I, too, had been grumbling about the dresses I was trying on that day.   It made me angry that Satan has such a strong grip on women, especially young ones, in making them feel worthless, ugly, or "not good enough."  The truth is that, without God, we can never be "good enough."  However, with God, we are made perfect!  Complete!
As the two of you wondered what "he" would think about your outfits, I wondered what HE (God) thinks about my choice of clothing.  Not so much my "fashion sense" (or lack thereof), but what I choose to clothe myself in every day.   Am I making sure to clothe myself in righteousness?  Have I been washed clean and fully covered by the blood of Christ?   Do I strive to "fit" into worldly things, or do I look for a way to be a good fit in Christ's body?  How often do we care more about what people think than what God thinks?  Girls, let me tell you from experience, if "he" only likes you because of what you are wearing, he DOESN'T LIKE YOU.   He likes what he SEES of you, but not what is hidden in your heart and mind.  You don't need to impress someone who only notices the clothing (or lack of it!) on your body.  You don't need to impress someone who is counting your fat rolls or blemishes or whatever other things you see in the glass mirror of the dressing room.  We need most to "impress" the one who sees our hearts.    

I have prayed for you several times since that day in the dressing room.  I feel like I missed an opportunity to help and encourage someone, and I am hopeful that someone will remind you of your value to the One who created you.   I also have prayed that I will keep my "self-worth" and "self-image" in perspective and not get caught up in what size dress fits or the number on the scale or even how many gray hairs I have (by the way, it increases daily!).

Sincerely,

The not-size-2 in the room beside you  :)

How we Homeschool: Dinosaurs

In January we studied Dinosaurs.  Specifically, we talked about when they were created (day 6), how they lived at the same time as man, and some specifics about various types.   At the culmination of our unit, we visited a local dinosaur "park..." straight out of Jurassic Park!  We were the only ones there and never once saw an employee, but the bathroom even looked like the one in the movie, so I stayed far away from it!  Ha.

Our resources mostly came from Apologetics Press, and the kids loved reading Dinosaurs Unleashed and various Discovery Magazines dealing with the topics.  

We made salt dough fossils with some cheap plastic dinosaurs, as well as "wanted posters" for dinosaurs of their choosing.

Wall-building with Nehemiah

Our ladies just finished up the February study for Digging Deep, so here are the Nehemiah notes!  I didn't expect to learn as much as I did this month!!  I have a new level of respect for Nehemiah's tenacity in the face of persecution.

Digging Deep Feb. 2016- Nehemiah: Persecution of a Wall-builder

N-  Never compromised

E- Exhorted/Encouraged

H- Heartbroken over sin

E- Enemies mocked

M- Mind to work

I- Interceded with God

A- Artaxerxes’ cupbearer

H- Helped rebuild the wall

What should be our general responses to our enemies and persecution?

·         1 Pet 3:15 – always be ready to give a defense

·         Php 1:27-29 – let your conduct be worthy of gospel; stand fast

·         2 Cor 6:3 – give no offense that ministry not blamed

·         Gal 6:9 – let us not grow weary while doing good

·         Col 3:5-17,23 – whatever you do, do all in name of Jesus

·         1 Thess 4:11-12 – lead quiet life; walk properly;

·         1 Thess 5:15-22 – do not render evil for evil; rejoice always; pray w/o ceasing; abstain from evil; test all things; hold fast what is good

·         2 Tim 2:15 – study to show self approved

·         1 Cor 15:58 – be steadfast, immovable

·         2 Thess 3:13 – do not grow weary in doing good

·         Titus 2:1-15 – speak sound doctrine; be pattern of good works; “one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you”

·         2 Pet 2:9 – Lord knows how to deliver godly out of temptation

·         2 Tim 4:2 – be ready in season and out

·         1 Pet 5:8-9 – be sober, vigilant; resist; be steadfast; know others share sufferings

·         1 John 4:7 – love one another, for love is of God

Category of persecution	Nehemiah’s response	Our response
Reproach because the Lord’s kingdom looked bad	1:3 – great distress & reproach – Neh. Wept, prayed, mourned, and fasted 2:17 – saw city broken down & burned – “Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem 5:9- outcry from people – Neh confronted and chastised their sin; encouraged them to not be a reproach in the view of others	1 Cor 5:5 – deliver such a one to Satan 1 Cor 5:7 – purge out old leaven Eph 5:1-5 – let not be named among you
Mocking by enemies	2:19 – Sanballat “laughed at us and despised us” – Nehemiah answered “God will prosper us.” 4:1 – mocked – Nehemiah responds in 4:6 “So we built the wall.”	Matt 5:44 love enemies Luke 6:27-31 – love enemies Matt 7:12 golden rule 2 Tim 1:7-8,12 not ashamed Rom 1:16 not ashamed 1 Pet 2:21 Christ = example,     not revile or threaten Heb 10:32-36 –  cast not away confidence; know that you have a better reward 2Tim2:25 – in humility correct those in opposition
Category of persecution	Nehemiah’s response	Our response
Anger and Threats	4:1 – responded with prayer and hard work 4:7-9 – conspiracy; made our prayer and set a watch 4:16 – ½ worked and ½ stood guard; builders held hammer and sword – not intimidated 6:7 – when told matters would be reported to the king, Nehemiah responded with “you are making these up” and asked God for strength	Matt 5:38-42 – turn cheek, go 2nd mile, give cloak Matt 5:10 – Blessed are persecuted; kingdom of heaven 1 Cor 4:12 – being reviled, bless; being persecuted, endure Col 3:22-23 – do all as to Lord
Financial distress	2:17 – I told them of the hand of my God 5:1-13 – Nehemiah reproached the people	Matt 6 – do not worry Php 4:4-7 – be anxious for nothing James 4:13-17
Deceit	6:2 – sent messengers to them and told them	2 Jn 7, 8 – many deceivers; look to yourselves 2Cor 11:3,13- fear minds corrupted from simplicity; false apostles transform Gal 1:6-8 – do not turn to another gospel; let him be accursed Titus 1:10-16 rebuke, deny 2 Cor 13:5- examine, test selves Heb 13:9 – do not be carried about Eph 5:6 – let no one deceive you 1 Thess 5:21 – test all things Matthew 7:15 – 20 sheep’s clothing
Category of persecution	Nehemiah’s response	Our response
False accusation	6:5-9 – Nehemiah told them it was not true and asked God to strengthen them	Matthew 5:11- blessed when reviled; great is reward in heaven Luke 6:22-23 – blessed; reward in heaven
Treason	6:10-14 – Nehemiah realized trying to cause evil report and refused to flee 13:4 13:23-29 – Neh had the children of Israel end their mixed marriages and he prayed for them; cleansed them of everything pagan	1 Cor 6:7 – accept the wrong Eph 5:11 – no fellowship with darknewss 2 Tim 4:10, 14 – Demas; beware
Forsaking true doctrine from within	1:7- Neh admitted the people had acted corruptly and had not kept commandments; prayed for them 13:4-Tobiah allied with Eliashib – Neh threw out all that belonged to Tobiah; Neh cleansed rooms and made offerings 13:10-Levites not given their share; Neh contended with rulers and had them bring what they should 13:23- - had married foreign women 13:15 – selling on Sabbath – Neh warned them and confronted them (v 17) – Neh shut the gates	Matt 7:15-20- beware 1 Thess 5:21 – test all things 2Thess 3:6, 14, 15 – withdraw from disorderly 2Tim 2:15-18 – study so you know! 2Tim 3:1-14 – continue in what have learned Heb 3:12-13 – exhort & beware! Titus 3:10 – reject divisive
Category of persecution	Nehemiah’s response	Our response
Outsiders bringing temptation very close to God’s people	13:21 – sellers brought things in to sell on Sabbath; even when kicked out, slept around the walls; Neh sent them away and cleansed priests and sanctified Sabbath day	1 Cor 10:12-13 – remember way of escape; God will not tempt beyond what can bear 2 Cor 6:14 – not unequally yoked 1 Thess 5:22 – flee all appearance of evil 1 Tim 6:11 – “flee these things” James 1:12-16 – endure temptation, receive crown of life; not tempted by God James 4:7-10 – submit to God, resist devil, humble selves 2 Pet 2:9 – Lord knows how to deliver godly out of temptation

How we Homeschool: Dr. Seuss Day

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America Day, yesterday's school was centered around his books and characters.  Even though my kids are a little older than when schools would typically have a Dr. Seuss day, we had a blast making it a little "older."   It was a nice change to our routine, and yet we accomplished all of our basic subjects and still had some time at the end of the day for some free play with the "oobleck."  :)

We started the day with just some time for me to read aloud to them.  Even though they are getting older, they still LOVE to be read to, so I try to take advantage of that any time I can!  We are currently in the middle of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.   Edmund just wandered off to meet the White Witch!!

Next came an episode of "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That" on Netflix during breakfast.  It's a little young for them, but it reviewed some subjects we have learned this year and entertained the 21-month-old we were babysitting.

While the baby napped, we read several of Dr. Seuss' "lost" stories and compared them to the originals we had read before.  We also read Bartholomew and the Oobleck, which they had never seen.  After lunch, we made our OWN oobleck, and they were quite fascinated as they tried to decide whether it was a solid or liquid!  We made lists of why seemed more like a solid and why it seemed more like a liquid, and then read some explanations of it being a non-Newtonian fluid.  They played with it for over an hour and begged to continue when we finally had to stop!

I put together a packet of some Dr. Seuss word problems for math, and they giggled as they solved how many stars the Sneetches received, how much money it cost, and how many daisies Daisy Head Maisy would pick from her garden.

For spelling, we found a Dr. Seuss font/alphabet and printed several copies of it in color.  Then we cut out the letters and the kids would have to rearrange the letters to spell a word I called out.  We used their current spelling list, and they begged to keep going when we quit.

We didn't fit geography into Dr. Seuss, but tonight was our "Peru" meal, so we decided that was okay. :)

All in all, we had a great day, and the kids are hopefully refreshed and ready to get back to "normal" this morning!

Ebates, Rebates

I have recently jumped in to online rebates, shopping apps, etc. to earn some extra "free" money for my family...  So far I have earned over $100 just doing my normal shopping, so I wanted to share! The links below are my referral links to these sites or apps, so if you choose to click on them, I DO get a little bonus for referring you.   I am trying several others sites as well, but I don't want to recommend them until I have used them a little more to make sure they are worth the time and effort (and are legitimate!!).

Side note:  My husband and I have decided to use this as our "fun money."  We are on a VERY tight budget, so date night funds are rare.  These apps have allowed us to earn a little "free" money we can use for dates.  As a matter of fact, when I cash out what I have saved up right now, it will pay for a weekend trip we are taking on FRIDAY.

EBATES

The first program I started using is Ebates.   The premise is simple.   You shop online, and you get rewarded with cash back for your purchases!  The easiest way is to either shop through the app or to install the Ebates button on your toolbar so that it always alerts you to cash back!   Once a quarter you get a "big fat check" from Ebates with the money you earned in the previous 3 months. Most major online retailers participate, and they periodically run "double cash back" promotions, or "app-only" promotions, etc.   You can even get cash back on pictures ordered from Walgreens!!  To date, I have earned over $75 from this site alone, just by doing shopping online that I would have done anyway!!

Try it out for yourself!  Just click on my link first. :)  Ebates referral link

IBOTTA

This app is free and SO EASY to use.   You simply click on rebates available at the store where you shop, scan your receipt, and voila! You have instant rebates!  It only takes a few seconds.  A few stores (Food City is one) actually let you link your card to the app so that you don't even have to scan receipts.  One of my favorite things about it is that you can also get rebates on generic things like produce.  Several of their rebates are also "any brand" rebates, meaning that you can redeem them no matter which brand you prefer.  This is great for those of us whose budgets necessitate store brand purchases.   Most major retailers are on there.  You can also link up with your friends to create a "team" and work together to earn extra bonuses.   This app takes a little while for the savings to add up, but every little bit helps.  They have a decent referral program as well. If you use someone's link, you both get bonus $.  There is a minimum amount before you can "cash out" (I want to say $20 or $25?)

Try it out for yourself!  My referral code is : xikbwdy

WALMART SAVINGS CATCHER

If you shop at Walmart, this one is a no-brainer.   You simply download the app (or you can go online and enter your information), scan your receipt within 7 days, and Walmart price-matches anything you have purchased with other retailers around you.   It's like their price matching at the register, but you don't have to hunt for deals!  It is super easy, and I rarely submit a receipt that I don't get a few cents.  

CHECKOUT 51

Either I haven't used this app enough, or my grocery habits aren't quite what it is designed for, but it does seem easy to use!  They offer rebates on just a few items at a time, but they often have produce on there!  

I am trying a few other apps to see how they are any good.  If they are, I will post soon!

How we Homeschool: Japan

I am way behind on posts about homeschool...haven't quite figured out how to fit it into our schedule to write about all we are learning!  Rather than start where I left off, I'll start where we ARE and fill in the gaps as I can.  :/

We just finished studying Japan, and the kids enjoyed it more than I expected.  We read a book by Carole Marsh about Japan, called The Mystery at M. Fuji.  She has books about places all over the world, and they are good, clean, wholesome mysteries about two kids who travel with their grandparents all over the world and encounter mysteries everywhere they go.  There is a surprising amount of history and factual information included in these books!  We learned about sushi, sumo, Mt. Fuji, samurai, origami, etc., all in one book!

In addition to learning basic facts about modern and feudal Japan, we did the following projects:

Origami - I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff!  It is so cute, but I am not very good at it.  :)  We made several fun paper foldings.

Cherry blossom art - the kids painted several pictures of the famous flowers.

"Fans" of Japan - The kids decorated fans with what they had learned about the country.

Japanese dinner

Japanese cheesecake
Fake sushi (cooked rice, meat, and veggies) wrapped in seaweed....YUCK.  My daughter LOVED it, but not so much for the rest of us!!
Chopsticks, of course!
Stir fry veggies
Teriyaki chicken and pan-grilled fish
Lots and lots of white rice!

Bible ABC book!

I am SOOO excited about this Bible ABC book!! I made it for the sweet boy I babysit for regularly, and it actually turned out mostly the way it was in my head!!  Enjoy! :)