I’m All In (CD Give-A-Way)

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 Those of you who have followed my writings know how I feel about music.  God designed it to stir your soul.  Music will either stir your soul toward God or away from Him.  This week as my family and I have listened to Robert Pierre’s newest album, I’m All In, our hearts have been stirred toward God!

 Robert is a very talented young man. In addition to writing, recording, and playing on a summer tour, he also leads regular Sunday morning worship at his church.  And he’s done it all as a high school senior.  I’m All In is his third studio album and is set to release tomorrow (July 26th).

 I’m All In is a collection of enthusiastic songs filled with the deep truths of God.  For example, my favorite on the album is Who R U.  There is a theological term found in the Scriptures known as antithetical parallelism.  God’s Word is full of antithesis.  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life” Romans 6:23.  “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins” Proverbs 10:12.  “Depart from evil, and do good” Psalm 37:27.  All through Scripture opposites are clearly revealed:  life and death, love and hate, good and evil, saved and unsaved, narrow way and broad way, blessed and cursed, wise and foolish, fruitful and withered, etc.  Robert expounds of this concept throughout his song.  He sings,

 You’re either hot or your cold – either yes or your no – will you stay or will you run – who will you become – you’re either in or you’re out – either soft or your loud – when He calls for His own – I want to be known                                                                                               

My husband says this is great “driving music”.  His favorite song is “Stranger In This Land.”

This world will try to shut me down – Push and shove me to the ground – but I’ve been covered by the blood of Christ – I am His and He is mine – I may be hated but this ain’t my town – persecuted constantly beat down – but there’s a joy in the suffering – cause He is my identity – I’m not of this world – I’m a stranger in this land

 I am giving away a copy of Robert Pierre’s I’m All In to one of my readers.  Just leave a comment and one week from the release date (Tuesday, August 2nd) I will draw a winner and have a copy sent to you.  Tell your friends and increase your chance to win.  Leave separate comments for each posting on social media (face book, twitter, blogs, etc) for additional entries.

 Disclaimer:   I received “I’m All In” to review in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Book Reviews

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I recently finished my third book, From the Mouth of Babes. The review are trickling in and it has been a humbling experience.   I wanted to share a few of them with my faithful readers.

Full Circle Homeschooling

The Bishop’s Wife 

The McClanahan 7

We Love to Homeschool 

Through the Calm and Through the Storm

Over the past year I have had many opportunities to review various books, curriculum, music, and such. It is an honor when a person asks you to take a peek into their work and offer your honest opinion. But like anything else, until you have walked on the other side, you cannot comprehend all it holds. Unless you have done it, it is hard to understand what it is like to pour yourself into a work and have others critique it.  I greatly appreciate the time and engery from these reviewers.

The First Week

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It has been 10 days since our move and I can say that this is the first time that I have had a few minutes to sit down.  It has been a relaxing morning and I thank the Lord for it.

Our move went extremely well.  We had so much help from friends and family.  It took us around 13 hours with the U-Haul truck to make the trip.  Here is a picture of my children at Lake Village Arkansas.  Aaron’s friend, Levi, went with us from Arkansas back to Mississippi to help us pack and move.  He’s in the green shirt. 

We took our time and made it to my parent’s house around 9 p.m.  We parked the truck and spent the night there.  The next morning feeling refreshed and ready to start unloading we drove to Bentonville (30 minutes north).  It is a lot easier unloading than it is loading.    In fact, when we first loaded we couldn’t fit everything on the truck.  Thankfully, we had some dear friends offer to bring their trailer and drive it to Arkansas for us on Saturday.  We were able to put our couch, washer, dryer, and our outside stuff on it.  What a blessing!  Thank you Bill and Karen!

The 3rd was our first Sunday at Cornerstone.  Although tired, we had a very good day.

As you can tell, there is a lot of road construction going on.  The front road of the church will be a 5 lane highway and the side road will be a four lane highway when they are finished.

We spent the 4th cooking out at my parent’s home.  It’s so nice being close to my family again.  We truly thank the Lord for bringing us back up this way. 

Wednesday through Friday I had a good friend drive up from central Arkansas.  She came to help me unpack all those boxes and decorate my home.  We worked hard!  Jayna has a very creative eye and she helped me turn this house into a beautiful home. 

This is the front of our home.  We have decided that Abigail will be in charge of all the plants.  After all, we want them to live. 

This is the foyer area from our front door.  When you walk in the door on the right is my office. 

I LOVE my office!  Since this home is smaller than our last one we had to bring one of my kitchen tables in here.  It turned out that I loved the way it looked.  There is a beautiful, large window where the table sits.  It’s a great place to visit with a friend over a cup of coffee! 

Isn’t the fireplace lovely!  My children have already mentioned how they can’t wait to get our first big snow this winter. 

We felt very blessed to find our$80 craigslist fridge! 

The kitchen is open which will encourage me to keep it clean! 

The house has a split-floor-plan with the master bed and bath off the kitchen.   This is one view of my bedroom.  I won’t show you all the boxes pilled up on the back wall! 

One of my favorite parts about the house is the master bath.   

 

 

Abigail’s room still needs a little work but it will be beautiful when we are finished! 

My friend also went through my wardrobe with me and talked me into getting rid of half my clothes.  Thanks Jayna!  I needed that!  We enjoyed ourselves last week but were exhausted by Friday. 

After Jayna and her children left Friday afternoon I took a much needed three hour nap!

Saturday we spent the morning looking for bedroom furniture for the boys.  We hit a few yard sales and some furniture stores.  We ended up getting a bed from craigslist that afternoon.   I picked up this really cool desk for Andrew at a yard sale for $8.00. 

 That evening one of the couples from the church invited us out for dinner.  It was a good time of fellowship.

Yesterday’s services went very well.  We had several visitors.  Dana gave an introduction to the book of Ephesians.  He will be expository preaching through it on Sunday mornings.  We had a pleasant surprise in that our former pastor, the man Dana surrendered to preach under, showed up for the services with his wife and son.  I insisted they come to the house for lunch.  I had a pork loin, mashed potatoes, green beans, and homemade rolls ready.  It was so nice visiting with them.

We’re trying hard to get to know everyone at Cornerstone.  It will take some time.  Next week we are taking a group (I believe 14) to church camp at Grand Lake, OK.  My children are very excited about that.  When we get back we have VBS.

I have my first homeschool meeting tomorrow night.  With over 4,000 homeschoolers in this area it won’t take long to get plugged in.  We have friends here from the past and are already meeting new ones. 

It’s been an exciting 10 days!  I’m looking forward to watching the Lord work in our family and in the ministry here!  Keep us in your prayers!

Packing Tape, U Hauls, and Friends

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Moving is bitter/sweet.  Something about packing up, saying good-bye, and building a new life is always difficult. Hence, the bitter part. However, we have complete peace (that passes all understanding) about this transition in our lives.  It is exciting to know that you are in the will of God, that He has great things in store, and that the future is secure.  That is the sweet part!

I must say that God is good…all the time!  He has provided for us above and beyond all our needs and even our wants.  He has upheld his servants and protected our family.  He has answered specific prayers precisely.  He has brought into our lives the most precious friends who are there for us exactly when we need them the most.  Many of these friends will be here this week with us.  We will be working hard, packing, telling stories, laughing, and crying.  We might even find the time to take a break over a cup of coffee or two.  And at the end of the week, we will say good-bye.

I know in my heart that it is very likely that some of our friends we will not see again this side of heaven.  But we will see them again.  I’m reminded of the 4th verse in the song Blest Be the Tie.  It goes like this: “When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.”

Pray for our family this week.  I believe in the power of prayer!  And to all my family and friends reading this, here is my prayer for you…

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”  (Eph 3:14-21)

Lessons from Jesus

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 “Jesus, didn’t you know your words would offend them?”  Obviously, the disciples reasoned, if the Lord knew that the truth he spoke would offend then he would not have spoken it, right?  No, our meek and lowly Jesus still spoke the truth even when he knew it would offend the hearers.

 The story I am referring to is one that was covered Sunday in our women’s class taken from Matthew 15.  The scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus accusing the disciples of breaking the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating.  Jesus answered the accusation by asking the religious why they would break the commands of God by their traditions.  There are many lessons in this text.

The first lesson is that we better be careful when we accuse other Christians.  Simply put, Revelations 12:10 tell us that Satan is “the accuser of the brethren”.  Unless we want to line ourselves up with him we should consider every accusation carefully.

 Another lesson learned is this.  The truth will offend those who oppose it.  Those that are blind and walk in darkness hate the light.  Those that love wickedness and evil hate all that is good and wholesome.  Those that love lies hate the truth.  And those with sinful, hypocritical hearts hate it when their hypocrisy is revealed.  But, the Bible in Psalms 119:165 says that, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” If you love the Words of God you will not be offended when truth is spoken.  I think that is the reasons so many are offended today, even professing Christians.  They simply do not love the Words of God.  Oh, they will say they believe the Bible and that they love God’s Words but when it comes down to it their actions declare loudly that they do not.  Great peace waits for those who love God’s law.  There sure are a lot of Christians walking around today without God’s perfect peace that passes all understanding.

 There are many other lessons from this story.  And if you haven’t read it lately why don’t you make a point to read Matthew 15 today.  But the final lesson I want to share is found in verse 12-14.

 “Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

 Jesus declares what will happen to those who refuse to hear His Words. They will be rooted up…  “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 7:19-21)

 He also said to “let them alone…”  There is a principle of not casting pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) and shaking the dust off your feet (Luke 9:5).  Sometimes people will just not hear.  Their ears are stopped.  Jesus had a perfect ministry.  He was the perfect preacher.  Every word he spoke was perfect and many still did not hear Him.  Many refused to listen.  Why do we think that as (imperfect) Christians that everyone will listen to us?  Why do we think that just because we have the truth that people will understand?  Only those with open eyes and ears to hear will listen to the truth.  Only those who love the law of God will not be offended by His Word.  Proverbs 23:9 says, “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.”

 He explained that they are blind leading the blind…  “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Co 4:3-4)

 If the stories we read from Scripture do not have practical application to our lives today, they are just stories.  But God’s Word is much more than just stories.  It is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).  And it is given by inspiration of God for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

 Those that love the law and have ears to hear, let the precious Word of God mold and shape you and give you perfect peace.  And may the lessons from our Lord encourage us to keep standing on His truth.

Field of Vision

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Sometimes doing the right thing cost you something. I have seen this in my own life many times. And sometimes doing what is right involves standing alone. However, we should always stand on principle, though we may stand alone, we can cherish the sweet reflection that our voice will not be lost.

For some time families have been voicing a need for someone to rise up to produce some family friendly movies. Families are tired of the (at best) questionable material that flows into American homes and (at worse) the outright filth produced. We want to be able to gather our children around a clean movie that gives more than mere entertainment but teaches solid morals.

I must say that once again Wal-Mart and P&G have done it. They have brought to the airwaves another family friendly movie. I reviewed Field of Vision this week and for the most part I was impressed. The movie portrays the family structure as being strong, loving, and supportive. It sheds light on the problem of bullying in our modern school system and teaches that no matter the cost we need to stand up for what is right. There are some great lessons taught. One is that truth should always be upheld. Another is the power of our words, written and spoken. And an influential cord woven throughout the entire movie is friendship.

My only complaint was that I did not care for the magical aspect of the mysterious video camera.  It seemed out of place in the movie.  However, the attention given to it was in small detail which left the viewers drawing their own conclusions.

Field of Vision airs tomorrow (Saturday, June 11, 2011) 8/7 Central on NBC.  Pop some popcorn and gather up your family.  It’s a great opportunity to discuss some important issues in life while enjoying each other. Click here to view the trailer.

Movie Synopsis:

 Through mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School’s star quarterback, Tyler McFarland, learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker, a troubled new transfer student. Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what’s more important: winning or doing what’s right. As these events unfold, the camera also reveals more surprising footage to Tyler’s kid sister Lucy. She learns that Cory has a secret past, unknown even to him. Now Lucy must convince her mom (Faith Ford, Murphy Brown) and family that the camera’s revealing insight is not a product of her imagination as she enlists their help to find the answers Cory so desperately needs. It’s a compelling and intriguing story that shows both the challenges and rewards of doing the right thing even when it’s tough to do.

 

Disclaimer: I received Field of Vision to review in exchange for an honest product review. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Women of Worth

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It’s Monday but not your typical one.  It is the Monday after spending four days on the beach in Gulf Shores with a group of amazing women I just met.  I had a great time at our Women of Worth Retreat! 

Physically, my sunburn has now turned into a nice golden tan.  But my body is tired.  Surprisingly, sitting at the pool and on the beach is draining.  I didn’t realize that resting could be so pleasantly exhausting.  Of course my fatigue might be due to the eight hours I spoke this weekend.  But I really had a lot of time for relaxing.  In fact, in between our sessions I was able to start and finish a book I had brought to read.  That is my idea of a peaceful weekend.  

Emotionally, I am glad to be home.  I missed my family.  Four days without my husband and children was a first for me.  And four days without me was a first for them.  We all made it and although I have always felt like my husband and children appreciate me, I really feel appreciated now!  Last night when my husband picked me up the children were helping out at a local VBS so Dana took me to Hattiesburg for a nice quiet dinner.  When we picked the children up they about knocked me over. 

Spiritually, my spirit is soaring. We had a very uplifting time in the Word of God.  As we studied several examples of Women of Worth we all grew closer to the Lord.  I spoke on women who seek wisdom, women who diligently work, women who are not weary in well-doing, women who faithfully witness, and women who reverently worship.  It was a time of honesty and an opportunity to be real without judgment.  It was a time of prayer and worship.  It was a time of exhortation and encouragement.  

I thank my dear friend, Angela and her church for the invitation.  I thank my family for parting with me.  And I thank the Lord for the opportunity to be used and for His divine guidance and protection these last few days.  And I am thankful that in Christ I can be a Women of Worth! 

Thursday night after the second group of ladies arrived at the condo some of them were anxious to check out the water. 

One night (way into the night) our room played a game of Phase Ten.  The following night we played a dice game called Farkle until 1 a.m.  (Sorry, there will be no pictures of that game!)

A few women hanging out before one of our sessions… 

Heading to dinner one night.  I had some great seafood on this trip.

9 of the 16…..dinner and shopping.   

Some pictures need no explanation. 

Here are the ladies that were in my condo. 

“The Best Gift” skit and our last session…

Packing up… 

One last picture of Kim, Kim, Kim, and Kim. 

Hitchhikers

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I have never picked one up.  It’s not that I do not want to offer a ride to someone who needs one.  I just know better.  But I always wonder about a person on the side of the road who is hitchhiking.  Where are they going? Where have they been? How did they end up on the street? What would it feel like to be completely dependent upon others to get you from one place to the next?  Would it be hard to trust people?

I’ve been encountering a lot of hitchhikers lately.  These hitchhikers are of a different sort.  They are hitchhiking Christians.  These are the people who depend upon others for their spiritual growth.  They want a free ride.  They will cling to their family’s Christian heritage and not build one for themselves.  When it comes to learning the Scriptures, they will ride along on the spiritual knowledge of someone else.  They do not read the Bible for themselves.  They do not pray as they should.   They do not study to show themselves approved.  Instead they ride from Sunday to Sunday on the preachers words.  They ask others to pray and never spend time on their knees.  They take what others have studied for themselves, never checking to see if it is true.

When you faithfully attend church and hear weekly sermons it is very easy to hitchhike your way through life.  Yes, it is easy but very dangerous!  One reason it is dangerous is because when it comes to eternity we will not be able to hitchhike our way into heaven.  Each man and woman must stand in judgment before God alone.  Your church membership will not be able to stand with you.  Grandma’s sweet prayers will not be there either.  A Christian heritage will not make a difference.  Our only hope is the One who traveled the road before us and paved the way – Jesus Christ the Righteous.  It is in Him alone that we have access to the Father.

When it comes to spiritual growth, a hitchhiking Christian doesn’t get very far down the road either.  I know because I’ve been one.  My husband came into the faith at 19 years old.  He knew nothing about Scripture.  Early in our marriage he would ask questions like, “Why do you believe this…?”  My answer was simply because that was what I was taught.  In other words, my beliefs were not really mine.  I just took what someone else believed and rode alone with them.  Many of the things I believed were truth.  But it was not until my husband challenged me to know what I believe and why I believe it that the truth became mine.   Then there were those things that I thought I believed and when I began to search out the Scriptures I discovered that I really didn’t believe it.  When I finally began to search out the Scriptures for myself the Word of God became a powerful force in my life.  It became alive.  And I started growing in my faith.

Do you remember the story of the Berean church?  The Apostle Paul, with Silas, came to Berea to preach the gospel in Acts 17.  Paul was God’s man.  God had anointed him in a powerful way.  He wrought miracles everywhere he went.  He preached with authority.  And God would use him to write more books of the Bible than any other.  However, when he came to Berea the believers there “searched the scriptures daily” to see if the things he taught them were true.  They did not hitchhike along on Paul’s knowledge.  They studied for themselves.  And God called them “more noble” because they received the word with all readiness of mind.

We must be ever diligent in the Scriptures.  We must be careful to not rely upon others for our spiritual growth.  We need to put our thumbs down and quit hitchhiking.  Instead, we need to lace up our shoes and “walk worthy of the Lord… increasing in the knowledge of God,” (Colossians 1:10).

Read for the Heart

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Do you have children that love to read?  We do.  We are a family of readers. When my children were younger I was very specific about what they read.  In fact, unless their father or I had read the book ourselves we did not let them read it.  The reason is simple.  For a Christian, the battle field is often fought in the mind.  Therefore, what we put into our mind has a tremendous influence on our lives and effects our spiritual growth.  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

However, we ran into a challenge when our children started out reading us.  Aaron would pick up a book at the library and ask if he could read it.  I would tell him to get the book and his father or I would read it first.  But we got to the point where we couldn’t keep up with him.  So, what is a parent to do? 

We solved the problem for a little while by finding authors we trusted.  We would then let them read anything they had written.  Again, we ran into problems there.  For example, my children love C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series but there we just some of his books we did not wanting the children to read until they were older.

If a parent wants to guard their children’s hearts they must sort through thousands of books to find those that are worthwhile.   There is, however, another option.  You can find a trusted source that has already done the work for you.

Apologia offers the solution.  Read for the Heart by Sarah Clarkson is a trusted guide in children’s literature.  In her book she recommends over 1,000 stories for young people from the classics to modern favorites, picture books to adventure novels, and read aloud favorites.  She shares her heart on reading and informs us of the literacy crisis here in America.

Read for the Heart is a wealth of knowledge.  If you would like more information about the book, visit Apologia to read a sample chapter.  The book cost $17.00.

To see what others are saying about this book, click here.

Disclaimer:  As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received Read for the Heart in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Considering God’s Creation

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When was the last time you looked at creation and reflected upon it?  When was the last time you gazed into the sky and considered its vastness?  When was the last time you looked at a tiny flower growing in the field and saw the hand of God?   “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

 When we consider such things we are drawn to God.  Isn’t it amazing that true science always points us to the Creator?  Yet, the enemy has used the fallacy in modern science to not only draw people away from God but to completely destroy people’s faith.  Evolution is a false religion.  It is based upon humanistic faith and masquerading as science.  It saddens me to realize just how many children are daily indoctrinated in it.

 But what an absolute blessing to be able to teach my children the truths about the world God made!  We have been going through a creative natural science curriculum from Eagles Wings Education Materials called Considering God’s Creation.  This study is written entirely from a biblical perspective.  It begins with creation, continues with the solar system, a study of the earth, first of non-living things, including rocks and weather. It then goes on with the Plant Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom, animal anatomy & physiology, and finally human anatomy and physiology.

 I really like Considering God’s Creation. There are 36 lessons that can be used alone or as a supplement for children through 7th grade.  In addition to the 272 page book you receive a teacher’s manual and an audio CD.  As a bonus, Considering God’s Creation is very reasonable priced at just $29.95.

To find out more information visit their site.  Or to see what others are saying click here.

Disclaimer:  As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received Considering God’s Creation in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.