My favorite summer

This has to be the best summer on record for me. Even when I was a child, I never enjoyed the season more.

First of all, I have a wonderful God who has set me free from so many things, taken me from so many dark places into the light—the light of freedom to obedience, to be able to listen to the “still, small voice”, and to walk by the Spirit of God! The evil reports, the evil prophecies over our lives never came true—Jesus is Victor!

I have a wonderful man to “help”—and I love taking care of him everyday as he takes such good care of us all! No matter where he is, his heart is here. He wants to spend every waking minute he can as a daddy—even cuddling little children at night and losing precious sleep so they will feel comforted.

Next, we have been able to spend so much time outside—nature hikes, etc. It’s been great to go on so many adventures, find so many creatures, identify so many interesting things and answer so many questions. Today we tried a new nature trail and I ended up sinking in ankle-deep mud—it reminded me of those silly sitcoms in the jungle with quicksand (it was a minor rescue operation to get all of the little girls out of that situation without being covered with mud from head to toe—we even lost a flip-flop in the mire and had to recover it before we could go into the library!).

I am feeling so great about our curriculum choices—the McGuffey readers, the Ray’s mathematics, Harvey’s Grammar, etc. Do you know that I have never, in my 21 years of homeschooling, come across a math curriculum that actually aided a student in arranging their own thinking like Ray’s does. The pages are not pretty—no cutesy art or anything—but my kids love, love it and say it’s like doing fun math puzzles everyday—where had he been all my life? In only 15-20 minutes a day, even the one child that just could never conceptualize math is having lights go on—praise God!

And I am finally (thanks to a dear sister here online who sent me her books—you are such a blessing!) able to be blessed by the ideals as set forth by Marilyn Howshall. I was free in a lot of ways from reading the ideas of  J.T. Gatto, Charlotte Mason, Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Ruth Beechick, and the likes (even a little bit of Michael Pearl), but Howshall brings it down to heart and home—walking by the Spirit in homeschooling, trusting in God for His provision and timetables. It is her books in the “Focus Resource Series” that helped me to put her ideas in concrete.

I had had a mild understanding of notebooking, but not with the balance she expresses. The amazing thing is that my children are eating all of these things up like candy. Our trip to the library today was like taking a bunch of hungry people to a feast (we are always careful of what we check out there—one must be very selective these days!)—one son loves studying wars, one butterflies and bugs of all sorts, one daughter knitting, one sketching the human figure, perspective and watercolor techniques. They are all learning from real books—not being spoon-fed (either by me or others) things they “should” know. And they all share what they are learning with each other—great way to have a taste of a lot of ideas.

Actually, it was at the library I discovered the book “Sacred Geometry”—if you ever wanted to get excited about math, this book could do it! It is sort of like “Mathematics, is God Silent?” (an amazing, amazing book), but a little more readable, and it also does not exactly reference God as a person, just references all the ways the universe is so ordered and purposed so that we could discover this order in everything, from music to the arrangement of twigs on a branch. I’m afraid the math you and I learned about in school was a cold, hard thing, with all the life taken out. Math should be learned with heart, with wonder, with amazement! It is one of the most exciting subjects anyone should consider! I was able to enjoy a number of chapters with the children before we had to turn it in…

...and there are further changes in the wind, but God will lead--we are safe in His "bubble", here under the shelter of the Most High, the shadow of the Almighty. 

Limping along

I’m sorry my blogging has been limping along—we started out busy, then found we are to be without internet for a while.

I wasn’t really sad about missing the internet. It seems as though I’ve been needing to spend more time on the things of life anyways—things like answering the 100 questions of a six-year-old, or smiling and laughing a lot with my three-year-old, or catching glimpses out of the corner of my eye when my baby walks without thinking about it (when we discover her, it is like the enchantment ends and she sits down).

The baby is of the age when we pretty much chase her most of the day—she can climb the stairs, but can’t come down safely by herself, and everything goes into her mouth. So we are all taking turns all day. We don’t mind, of course, and we often fight for who gets the privilege of watching her, but it still takes time and attention.

It is also nice knowing that anyone can get on the computer at any time without worry—no bad stuff to “accidentally” come up on the screen.

We plan on working things out by utilizing the free wi-fi at the grocery store about once a week—I send the girls in to get bread and milk, sit in the car and post, or save sites I want to read. Dad moderates for me while he’s away, but he always did that, anyway.

This may mean that the email responses won’t be as timely—please forgive us. God’s timing is always perfect, and I receive this as a blessing from His hand.

Always in His service to serve you,

Sherry

The silent influencers...

I did not grow up in a Christian home. Sure, my relatives believed in God, even feared Him in many ways, but they were so confused by the sin in their lives that living for Jesus seemed impossible to them.

But there were silent influencers in my life, those who exhibited the love and wisdom of God, who affected me very profoundly.

When I was 17 years old, a few families moved into our area who practiced their Christianity right in front of everyone. The joy, the love and the life of God they shared were like a magnet to my thirsty soul. I took every opportunity to observe how they lived, how they acted towards each other, and I listened carefully whenever they answered the questions from others as to the how’s and why’s of their life of commitment.

It was one thing to read and hear about walking out the salvation of God, but to witness folks who were more than a few religious expressions deep made the whole Word of God come to life in a way that I had never experienced before, even though I was saved at the age of 12. By watching people like these I soon discovered that God's Word could be lived out through an intimate relationship with His son, Jesus!

And when I entered the U.S. Army, God did a wonderful thing for me. It was during my technical training that I came into close contact with the young Christian parents of a toddler. They had met and fallen in love while attending Bible college, and the wife had a degree in “Home Economics”—something that is unheard of today. She taught me, mostly by the way she lived, that it was important to love and cherish one’s husband, and that it was also important to love and cherish children (especially the rewards given to us by God).

When my husband and I were expecting our first baby, it was to her that I ran whenever I had a question or concern. She spent hours on the phone encouraging and counseling me. Then later, when she was expecting her second baby, she introduced me to the idea of homeschooling—this was in 1983—and I was aghast with incredulity! I have to admit that I argued with her, bringing the same old tired objections I hear all the time now (it gives me reason for extra patience for those who don’t understand the virtue and riches of godly homeschooling). Wouldn’t she be blessed to see me now, 15 children later (and more than 27 years), homeschooling each and every one of them!

While in the hospital after giving birth to my first daughter, I was so scared! I had never been around babies, and even when I held one, it cried and I had no way of knowing how to console it. Even the men around me could handle babies better—I was in real trouble!

So when I was in the recovery room waiting for them to bring my newborn baby to me to nurse for the very first time, I called on the only Name that is truly there—I called on Jesus to help me.

I roomed in the hospital (the stay was four days back then—yes, I have been having children for that long!) with a young mother who relished in her baby, and she was so enamored with him that she had to share it with everyone, she was a Christian, and by watching her I learned more than could have been told me in a multitude of sermons. I never knew motherhood could be so wonderful; I was the “accident” that ruined my parents’ marriage, and both my sister and myself were pains and bothers. But this lady didn’t act cold towards her child; she held him and caressed him and kissed him all over!

It was through watching her that I came out of a very dark place; one in which not even compassion for a tiny babe was allowed. I was given permission to fully vent all of the affection and adoration I had for that tiny little one I held in my arms. My love and attention for her never ruined her, and to this day (she is now 27) I consider her to be one of my dearest friends on earth, and vice-versa. Jesus has answered my prayers!

Marx had a theory. If we, foolish Christians, would all just give up that misplaced faith in a God we can not see, society could finally learn to have all things in common; life, after all, would then be heaven on earth! But his theory didn't work then, and it doesn’t work now. Russia’s experiment failed with the blood of millions, China has all but abandoned it, and only a few tiny, socialistic adherents remain to cling to such ridiculous collectivist ideals. Anyone can build lofty cloud castles in the air—“pie in the sky” they call it.

But God’s ideas are not just theoretical, they are concrete, and they will work anywhere, at any time. They will work in a death camp in Nazi Germany. They will work in the prison tuberculosis ward in Communist Romania, they will work in the refugee camps in the Sudan. They will even work in a suburban home in America today!

When I was a little girl, I wanted above all things for my daddy and mommy to love one another, and I wanted to walk between them holding their hands for the rest of my life. But alas, selfishness broke in, and divorce, vice and pain severed the bonds that held us all together. I gave up hope of ever living with that sort of love and security for the rest of my life, my heart hardened, and I ceased to be as sensitive and open to others in the deepest recesses of my soul.

But God “puts the lonely in families”—and in my case He put me in my own loving home. Everyday we are becoming that “miracle”, the testimony of His faithfulness, of the truth of His Word and His eternal promises! The Lord has made all things new!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

"It doesn't matter what you have or where you go--all that matters is who you have beside you--JESUS!"

Safe from the "snare of the fowler"

Truth divorced from life is not truth in its Biblical sense, but something else and something less.

A.W. Tozer

Yesterday was the first day in months I heard the diesel engine of school buses in our area. Two groups of 15-20 children in our neighborhood catch the bus directly in front of our house each day.

When the youngsters headed towards school, I found myself clapping and laughing with joy, you see, I don’t have to miss my children all day—I get to be with them, and enjoy them, and teach them!

My dear husband likens what we do here everyday as life in an eagle’s nest—high and far away in “the cleft of the rock”, safe from the “snare of the fowler” and the “noisome pestilence”.

Here, we cover our children with our feathers, we keep them safe under our “wings”, and we give them truth as their shield and buckler. (Psalm 91).

Well-meaning folks often misunderstand us—they misunderstood Jesus, too! But God has given Him the “name above all names”!

It takes guts to live for God in an age where even the church is abandoning the perfectness of the Word of God for the world’s vain philosophies. It takes a leaning on the Holy Spirit to know the way to go when all roads lead back to the City of Destruction (Pilgrim’s Progress). It is so easy to give in to compromise when one of the modern tenants of false religion is that everyone should just “get along”.

But Jesus didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword! Righteous living appeals to those who thirst after it, but it offends those who are running away from it. When we live for God, and when we are following Christ, we can’t help but be offensive to those in the world, even if they claim the name of Christian but do not obey nor walk according to the Spirit of Christ found in His word. (Gal. 5:16-18)

Our homeschooling everyday is more than just a “choice”, it is a miracle. We are a miracle, that God should keep our marriage strong, and give us the health and finances to continue—bless His name!

So yesterday we celebrated our freedom. We sang hymns as we drove to a nearby forested canyon with a stream running through it so we could play all morning. Then we went home, gave oral presentations, had a spelling bee, did some sketching and we all had fun making sopapillas for lunch, glopping lots of honey along the way!

Here are some of our celebration scriptures:

(Proverbs 15:15)

 

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

(Psalm 124:7)

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

(Psalm 62:5-12)

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

(Isaiah 55: 8-9)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 43:18-19)

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland.

(Romans 8:14)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

(Galatians 5:1)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

(John 16:13)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Children, our most precious gift

The following is an article that I wrote a few years ago for another publication. It gives our philosophy of parenting in a nutshell. I hope this blesses you all very much.

During this 21st century of post-modern America, we have a monumental task. We have an obligation to raise our children to discern between the good and evil that surrounds them. To expect our little ones to be able to transverse the quagmire of our culture is to ensure failure. They need us to put aside our own needs and agendas and give ourselves to the work of equipping them with tools that will be practical for the rest of their lives.

This will obviously take time and energy, even more so than in past generations, when there remained elements of the knowledge and fear of God still residing within our culture. Every waking moment we need to do our very best to invest ourselves into them. (Deut. 6:7) This can be illustrated by the acronym “INTO”. We can prepare them for a life-time of relationship with the Lord Jesus by:

Inclusion and personal interest—Parents bestow value into their children’s lives when they include them in the adult matters that must be attended to, such as errands, family planning, special events, etc. In the same way, a parent can build bridges that will bear fruit to open up the hearts of their children by spending time playing with them as they grow—displaying an interest in them on their level.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)

Nurturing—There is no better way to positively impact the hearts of our children than to exhibit great delight in them. Through our smiles and applause, we illustrate our deep enjoyment and acceptance. Nurturing takes place both in our hearts and homes. Comfort is another element of this, not only for the younger ones, but also for our youth and adults too.

 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Training—Parents must be so passionate about their children that they will be willing to set boundaries and give godly correction. When we withhold necessary correction, we are thinking only of our selfish desire for acceptance. Kids of all ages crave this from their parents.

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law. (Psalm 94:12)

Openness—Parents become the door that their children pass through on their way to eternity. We must be open to their uniqueness, not putting them into niches of our own creation, but rather, allowing God to complete His creative work in them, and thus release them into that work.

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

It used to be generally accepted that children were a precious gift to society at large. Christian parents today ought to revive this belief in order to redeem our children’s generation. Someone or something will have influence over them. Many forces are contending for their allegiance, whether for good or evil. As parents who bear the name of Christ, we must look to the present with our own progeny and realize that we have a divine opportunity to inspire godly training into their lives. However, there is the potential of allowing the very fertile ground of their tender hearts to become hard due to indifference or disdain. Let’s not disregard the impact our lack of interest and protection can have on an entirely new generation. The decision is irrevocably ours. †