Wayne called from India today asking me to help him find this song for Joshva. Joshva really enjoyed this song by Aaron Jeoffrey and Selah's "You Raise Me Up," when he visited with us 3 years ago.
I haven't listen to either of them in a long while, but love each as much today as when I first heard them!
My favorite way to learn the books of the Bible in order and what they say:
This next video has beautiful nature scenes and thought-provoking commentary:
My troubles are so small in comparison. Forgive me, Father for my selfishness. You have richly blessed!
THIS is just a little place for me to think out loud about THAT which is on my mind. It will be random.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Parents & Children, Chapter 6
This meaty chapter was delicious!
It reminds parents that their highest function is to reveal God to their children then, ponders ways we plant primal ideas about Him do that successfully or unsuccessfully.
Relying on Reason by reading the Scriptures and appealing to the mind is a mistake. Bible stories convey many incidents of people who, relying on their own logic and reason, are ultimatly led astray. Reason is faulty. The Jews reasoned that the Jesus must die because in their mind, he was a law-breaker. This logic was derived from a lifetime of wrong thinking. They believed by simply adhereing to a list of rules (mostly man-made) they were counted as righteous. They were unwilling to change their minds; change their primal ideas about God and their Messiah.
Planting the proper primal idea of God is so important; it determines the habit of thought for a lifetime about Him.
Parents' first duty and highest privilege is to introduce such primal ideas of God as to impel the soul to Him. If unbelief sets in, are the parents without blame?
Parents are obligated to teach by example. Teach your children to pray by praying with and for them aloud. Teach them to pray with their hearts. Teach them to commune with God by allowing them to see and hear you in order that they may grow up in the sense of God's constant Presence. Teach them to pray in everyday words, not strange speech that may put up a barrier between them and their "Almighty Love'" using outdated words that may have no place in their day to day lives.
One of my many favorite CM quotes is found in this chapter: "Let the child grow up aware of the constant; immediate; joy-giving, joy-taking Presence in the midst of them..." (p. 57 P&C).
We must live a life of worhsip before our children. It must be more than once a week occurence and even more than a once a day occurence. it must be our lifestyle to worship and praise our Creator, to meditate on His Word daily, to speak to Him as our loving Father. All this so our own children may also "speak out their joys and fears, thanks and wishes." (p. 56)
"It's very Hard to do God's work," remarked a boy of five. Children know there is an ongoing fight between good and evil. They understand they are a part of this battle between light and truth and darkness and sin. Parents would do a disservice to their children to think otherwise. We may smile at their little "crimes" once in a while, but not too much. But lest our children become overly depressed with their sinfulness, we must take care to teach them "to live in the instant healing in the dear name of the Saviour of the world." (p. 59)
Lord, help me to do my duty well.
Reminds me of this passage from
Deuteronomy 6, verses 1-9
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
“These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
It reminds parents that their highest function is to reveal God to their children then, ponders ways we plant primal ideas about Him do that successfully or unsuccessfully.
Relying on Reason by reading the Scriptures and appealing to the mind is a mistake. Bible stories convey many incidents of people who, relying on their own logic and reason, are ultimatly led astray. Reason is faulty. The Jews reasoned that the Jesus must die because in their mind, he was a law-breaker. This logic was derived from a lifetime of wrong thinking. They believed by simply adhereing to a list of rules (mostly man-made) they were counted as righteous. They were unwilling to change their minds; change their primal ideas about God and their Messiah.
Planting the proper primal idea of God is so important; it determines the habit of thought for a lifetime about Him.
Parents' first duty and highest privilege is to introduce such primal ideas of God as to impel the soul to Him. If unbelief sets in, are the parents without blame?
Parents are obligated to teach by example. Teach your children to pray by praying with and for them aloud. Teach them to pray with their hearts. Teach them to commune with God by allowing them to see and hear you in order that they may grow up in the sense of God's constant Presence. Teach them to pray in everyday words, not strange speech that may put up a barrier between them and their "Almighty Love'" using outdated words that may have no place in their day to day lives.
One of my many favorite CM quotes is found in this chapter: "Let the child grow up aware of the constant; immediate; joy-giving, joy-taking Presence in the midst of them..." (p. 57 P&C).
We must live a life of worhsip before our children. It must be more than once a week occurence and even more than a once a day occurence. it must be our lifestyle to worship and praise our Creator, to meditate on His Word daily, to speak to Him as our loving Father. All this so our own children may also "speak out their joys and fears, thanks and wishes." (p. 56)
"It's very Hard to do God's work," remarked a boy of five. Children know there is an ongoing fight between good and evil. They understand they are a part of this battle between light and truth and darkness and sin. Parents would do a disservice to their children to think otherwise. We may smile at their little "crimes" once in a while, but not too much. But lest our children become overly depressed with their sinfulness, we must take care to teach them "to live in the instant healing in the dear name of the Saviour of the world." (p. 59)
Lord, help me to do my duty well.
Reminds me of this passage from
Deuteronomy 6, verses 1-9
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
“These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
My Daily Bread
[a]A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
8 The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
10 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
11 For the honor of your name, O Lord,
forgive my many, many sins.
12 Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
16 Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
17 My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
21 May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
22 O God, ransom Israel
from all its troubles.
Footnotes:
a.Psalm 25:1 This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
This Psalm is my prayer and my thanksgiving not just for me but for my children as well this day.
I usually read a Psalm on Wednesdays, but (I realized just this morning) I mixed up my days and read a Proverb instead. The Divine Planner was not mixed up as the Proverb yesterday spoke volumes to my heart and renewed my spirit. Same thing for today's Psalm reading.
Thank you Father, for your Divine Guidance. Thank you for your patience with me learning to surrender my worries and concerns to you. Help me trust You more each day. I know You can move the mountains, You are mighty to save; You rose and conquered the grave.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Yesssss!
The Mind of the Child is 'Good Ground.'––Their keen sensitiveness to spiritual influences is not due to ignorance on the part of the children. It is we, not they, who are in error. The whole tendency of modern biological thought is to confirm the teaching of the Bible: the ideas which quicken come from above; the mind of the little child is an open field, surely 'good ground,' where, morning by morning, the sower goes forth to sow, and the seed is the Word. All our teaching of children should be given reverently, with the humble sense that we are invited in this matter to co-operate with the Holy Spirit; but it should be given dutifully and diligently, with the awful sense that our co-operation would appear to be made a condition of the Divine action; that the Saviour of the world pleads with us to 'suffer the little children to come unto Me,' as if we had the power to hinder, as we know that we have.
Exerpt from Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason. p. 48
Exerpt from Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason. p. 48
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Government's Goal of Education
I think it all boils down to your philosophy of what education truly is. That's why over the last several days, I hear Charlotte Mason's words ringing so clearly. She strived her entire career to define that question. What is Education? The fruit of her quest is what CMers continue to study and apply: "Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life." Her grounding belief that all children are born persons and are deserving of a rich education rings so true today. Just read her Educational Manifesto.
The government and public educators will tell you that happiness comes from getting a good education so you can get a good job and really "go somewhere" in your life. Most parents buy into to these goals of education. One of the true goals of American public education has always been to produce human resources for our workforce so America can compete in a global economy. It's all about money. Get a good education, so you can earn lots of money and pay your taxes. They preach that only money will make you rich and happy. But this is a false doctrine, a false gospel. I thought love of money is the root of all evil.
What about joy? What about contentment? What about being satisfied with doing a job well done? What about not joining the rat race, clawing your way to the top? Wouldn't you be lonely up there all by yourself? What good is it to own the world but be lonely and miserable because you spent all your time working rather than living? What about stopping to smell the roses?
How about investing your time in building relationships? We were created in the image of a triune God. We were created to have fellowship with Him. We were created to have a relationship with Him. Our cheif aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. As long as we are pursuing living an holy life before the face of God, do we really have to struggle to the top of man's ladder?
Sorry to be so long winded, I could go on and on but I know you have children to tend to, husbands to take care of, gardens to weed, music to listen to, life to enjoy. I am so glad I found Charlotte Mason's teachings. As I say over and over again, she was right !
The government and public educators will tell you that happiness comes from getting a good education so you can get a good job and really "go somewhere" in your life. Most parents buy into to these goals of education. One of the true goals of American public education has always been to produce human resources for our workforce so America can compete in a global economy. It's all about money. Get a good education, so you can earn lots of money and pay your taxes. They preach that only money will make you rich and happy. But this is a false doctrine, a false gospel. I thought love of money is the root of all evil.
What about joy? What about contentment? What about being satisfied with doing a job well done? What about not joining the rat race, clawing your way to the top? Wouldn't you be lonely up there all by yourself? What good is it to own the world but be lonely and miserable because you spent all your time working rather than living? What about stopping to smell the roses?
How about investing your time in building relationships? We were created in the image of a triune God. We were created to have fellowship with Him. We were created to have a relationship with Him. Our cheif aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. As long as we are pursuing living an holy life before the face of God, do we really have to struggle to the top of man's ladder?
Sorry to be so long winded, I could go on and on but I know you have children to tend to, husbands to take care of, gardens to weed, music to listen to, life to enjoy. I am so glad I found Charlotte Mason's teachings. As I say over and over again, she was right !
"Our aim in Education is to give a Full Life."
~Charlotte Mason ( Volume 3, page 170)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Well Put, Spunky!
I think the outrage over the President speaking to the nation's children is very puzzling. Why, all of a sudden are parents getting so upset that they are willing to excersice parental authority and keep their children home the day of the speech? Why is having the President address our children so unacceptable? What is the difference between a guest speaker coming to address students in an assembly and the President of the United States addressing them via a televised speech?
Isn't it an honor to have the POTUS encourage our children to excel in their studies?? And why, if the public option of healthcare is so unacceptable, is the public option of government schools okay?
Just seems incongruent on so many levels. I personally don't mind if the President addresses my child. He is the President and bibically we are called to honor him. If we disagree, that could lead to a great discussion comparing and contrasting what he says with our own beliefs. One problem is that this is being done during school hours not during familytime. Therefore the replacement parents(teachers) will be the ones steering the discussion and perhaps echoeing ideas contray to our own.
I'm more worried about what is being taught in the 55-60 hours a week our children spend in a government school (plus the 55 hours they spend watching TV). If parents are afraid the POTUS is going to give our children wrong ideas about Socialism and Democracy, they should ask themselves some tough questions about why they allow their children to be in that socialist breeding environment in the first place. Is it because they do not believe they can teach their own children, gifted to them by God? Is it so they can pursue their own goals, dreams, desires, achievements outside of the family. Is it so they can live at a certain level of attainment, keeping up with the Joneses mentality? Why do we abdicate our parental authority to the schools and later scratch our heads when our children don't share our family values?
I think it all boils down to your philosophy of what education truly is. That's why over the last several days, I hear Charlotte Mason's words ringing so clearly. She strived her entire career to define that question. What is Education? The fruit of her quest is what CMers continue to study and apply: "Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life." Her grounding belief that all children are born persons and are deserving of a rich education rings so true today. Just read the Educational Manifesto.
The government and public educators will tell you that happiness comes from getting a good education so you can get a good job and really "go somewhere" in your life. Most parents buy into to these goals of education. One of the true, main goals of American public education has always been to produce human resources for our workforce so America can compete in a global economy. It's all about money. Get a good education, so you can earn lots of money and pay your taxes. They preach that only money will make you rich and happy. But this is a false doctrine, a false gospel. Love of money is the root of all evil.
What about joy? What about contentment? What about being satisfied with doing a job well done? What about not joining the rat race, clawing your way to the top? Wouldn't you be lonely up there all by yourself? What good is it to own the world but be lonely and miserable because you spent all your time working rather than living? What about stopping to smell the roses?
How about investing your time in building relationships? We were created in the image of a triune God. We were created to have fellowship with Him. We were created to have a relationship with Him. As long as we are pursuing living an holy life before the face of God, do we really have to struggle to the top of man's ladder?
Sorry to be so long winded, I could go on and on but I know you have children to tend to, husbands to take care of, gardens to weed, music to listen to, life to enjoy.
I am so glad I found Charlotte Mason's teachings. She was right over a hundred years ago.
I like Spunky's perspective:
Isn't it an honor to have the POTUS encourage our children to excel in their studies?? And why, if the public option of healthcare is so unacceptable, is the public option of government schools okay?
Just seems incongruent on so many levels. I personally don't mind if the President addresses my child. He is the President and bibically we are called to honor him. If we disagree, that could lead to a great discussion comparing and contrasting what he says with our own beliefs. One problem is that this is being done during school hours not during familytime. Therefore the replacement parents(teachers) will be the ones steering the discussion and perhaps echoeing ideas contray to our own.
I'm more worried about what is being taught in the 55-60 hours a week our children spend in a government school (plus the 55 hours they spend watching TV). If parents are afraid the POTUS is going to give our children wrong ideas about Socialism and Democracy, they should ask themselves some tough questions about why they allow their children to be in that socialist breeding environment in the first place. Is it because they do not believe they can teach their own children, gifted to them by God? Is it so they can pursue their own goals, dreams, desires, achievements outside of the family. Is it so they can live at a certain level of attainment, keeping up with the Joneses mentality? Why do we abdicate our parental authority to the schools and later scratch our heads when our children don't share our family values?
I think it all boils down to your philosophy of what education truly is. That's why over the last several days, I hear Charlotte Mason's words ringing so clearly. She strived her entire career to define that question. What is Education? The fruit of her quest is what CMers continue to study and apply: "Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life." Her grounding belief that all children are born persons and are deserving of a rich education rings so true today. Just read the Educational Manifesto.
The government and public educators will tell you that happiness comes from getting a good education so you can get a good job and really "go somewhere" in your life. Most parents buy into to these goals of education. One of the true, main goals of American public education has always been to produce human resources for our workforce so America can compete in a global economy. It's all about money. Get a good education, so you can earn lots of money and pay your taxes. They preach that only money will make you rich and happy. But this is a false doctrine, a false gospel. Love of money is the root of all evil.
What about joy? What about contentment? What about being satisfied with doing a job well done? What about not joining the rat race, clawing your way to the top? Wouldn't you be lonely up there all by yourself? What good is it to own the world but be lonely and miserable because you spent all your time working rather than living? What about stopping to smell the roses?
How about investing your time in building relationships? We were created in the image of a triune God. We were created to have fellowship with Him. We were created to have a relationship with Him. As long as we are pursuing living an holy life before the face of God, do we really have to struggle to the top of man's ladder?
Sorry to be so long winded, I could go on and on but I know you have children to tend to, husbands to take care of, gardens to weed, music to listen to, life to enjoy.
I am so glad I found Charlotte Mason's teachings. She was right over a hundred years ago.
"Our aim in Education is to give a Full Life."~CM
I like Spunky's perspective:
SpunkyHomeSchool:
What if?: "Friday, September 04, 2009
Conservatives rightly decry the 'public option' in Obamacare but annually choose the 'public option' when it comes to their child's education. But what if....all the children of smart parents were “yanked off the premises” not just next Tuesday, but permanently. If this is the event that finally reveals to smart parents the truth of what this system is really all about, what if Sept. 8, 2009, marked the
first day of home-schooling for millions of American children? (Via Hot Air)
Obama's address to the nation's school children next Tuesday is
finally" .... Here's the rest of the story
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Jesus Storybook Bible Review & Giveaway
I found a great giveaway over at Energizer Bunny's Mommy Report today.
The Greatest Book ever written is, without a doubt, the Bible. Over the years, we've seen, read and studied several versions in different languages but the beauty of God's Written Word is this....it never fails to lift a weary spirit, encourage an unhappy countenance, bring hope to the hopeless and joy to the seeking. The Word enriches both young and old." More.....
Find out how to enter here:
Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports: The Jesus Storybook Bible Review & Giveaway
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