Psalm 9

David, our Psalmist, begins 9 with Thanksgiving and Praise, Lamenting international wickedness, strife and oppression. Yet he writes in verses 7-8:

“But the Lord sits enthroned forever; He has established his throne for justice, And he judges the world with righteousness; He judges the people with uprightness.”

We, too, may have concern for our nation, our world, but we have an eternal God with an eternal plan. Our hope is eternal. In the midst of our disappointments, failures, losses, fears and discouragements we must, with David, continue to:

Thank. Praise. Plead. And look forward in Hope.

Get to the ROOT

Picture a root canal. Then think, “But the tooth is saved.” Picture a diseased tree root deep in the earth. But know that if treated a tree may be saved.

With much more at stake, child training is like that. Consider this: You are visiting friends and your child misbehaves – really! You correct the behavior and the child responds to the correction. Everyone feels good now about the situation.

BUT! The behavior is not the ROOT. Behavior comes from a heart that:


  - may not understand.

-  may reject inwardly but outwardly comply.

-  may redefine to constantly justify and be either right or a victim.

So, while you may need to immediately address behavior, you want to be alert to helping your child know and love God, our righteous God with holy compassion.

 

Journals

I don’t journal, so I shouldn’t need one, right? I’ll let you answer that but before you do please read ahead.

Here is one way that I, a non-journalist, journal: I have bought the blank page book. I’ve placed it conveniently in a room that I frequent, close to a pen that works. (You might choose instead your iPad and keep a spot for entries.) Some months I write nothing at all. On no given day am I guilty if I don’t write. However, if some distant memory floods through me, I try to open my journal, date the page, place an easy to spot title and write my memory.

I’ve also chosen topics that are VERY important to me (like family unity) and I’ve written things that come to mind on that topic. Also, I try to record any heritage thoughts that may come to me. I may list hymns or Scriptures with a note of why I enclosed that particular one.

I really believe that if you write things that really matter to you, (things you wish you could tell your great, great grandson) you will enjoy your journaling.

Let me know!

 

Reading VERY Hard Books

Way back in 1645 Jeremiah Burroughs wrote The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. Early in my homeschool work an Annapolis homeschool mom gave me this book. You already know of my learning order disability so you would expect me to struggle with a very old book.

 At different intervals for 3 years, I tried to understand the thesis of this book. Then one late night I remembered words from my ever- wise mother: “You can finish any book if you choose to read 1-3 pages at a sitting.” I jumped out of bed, retrieved the book, and began again. Several spiritual struggles were settled for me through Burroughs’ explanation.

So, if you have books that you hear others talk about but you think they are over your head, please consider reading 1-3 pages at a time. And I might add re-read where needed. To get started understanding Rare Jewel I read page 1 three times before I could move on.

And parents, encourage your students in this method!

 

Pictures

Here is a suggestion for sentence, paragraph or story writing practice. Choose one or a series of pictures. With those pictures, tell a story – real or fiction. Perhaps start with either an outline or a series of questions to be answered. And yes, spelling and punctuation will count. And yes, help is available!

Remember a good paragraph has:


-      introduction

-      body

-       conclusion or link to the next
paragraph

Enjoy sharing your pictures with your writing.

Keep Aware

I’ve been thinking about a warning regarding our homeschool’s chief goal: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. …You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39)

We’ve looked at many ways for help in teaching with this goal in mind. Such as:

-  Examine your personal Bible
reading.

-  Select great books and read aloud.

-  Have an accountability/prayer
partner.

-  Be loyal to your local church, etc.

 

These are needful but I want to give one warning that may strengthen your day to day living out of this goal to love God and others.

*Intentionality*

By this I mean having your goal ever in your thought. See that goal affecting daily your choices, schedule, habits, recreation, curriculum, free time, worship, service and all phases of family living. So, whether you’re discipling, teaching, playing, reading aloud, cooking, cleaning, folding laundry or singing you will have your aim as showing love for God and others.

Grace

One of the great evidences of God’s grace is the opportunity He gives us to notice grace.

For today, let’s consider together: Is it grace?

-    When we overlook wicked or
selfish behavior?

-     When we continuously give in to
full, full schedules?

-     When we say, “I know you didn’t
mean that?”

-      When we yield to pressure for
more of something or the
indulging something?

The answer is yes, this may be the time and opportunity to show grace. But before you make quick decisions remember that showing grace should not lead to destruction, poor habits or continuing self-righteousness.

Above all remember and teach that the best-of-all-time picture of grace is Christ’s sacrifice for us. Help your children see how and why they can be grateful for that grace.

Love, Becky