You Might be a Preacher's Kid if....

....all of your major bodily injuries occur at church!! (Last time it was stitches!)

My oldest son was playing a fun game of football between the Wednesday night meal and youth group.  It looks as though he may have torn his ACL.  We are fervently praying this is not the case.  We will know more in 2 weeks after rehab.  PLEASE keep BTP in your prayers.  For those of you that know my son, crutches and a brace are just not his speed.  He is keeping a good attitude about it all.  His youth pastor started a series recently about the Fruit of the Spirit.  BTP shared with me yesterday that he learned Wednesday night during the study that you should have JOY even when things are not going well.  We are all going to try and keep that spirit of JOY! 

One of my favorites from college:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when ever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."   James 1:2-4

A New Blog Discovery!

I came across the blog, "Heavenly Homemakers" by way of the November 2010 ParentLife magazine as well as seeing a link to her blog on a family member's blog this morning.  I checked it out, and really like it!  We have a lot in common: cooking from scratch and eating "whole foods" as much as possible, homeschooling and soccer-playing boys!  I see lots of things I'd like to try on her blog.  I'll post later when I get a chance to try them out. 

heavenlyhomemakers.com

When you.... Sit, Walk, Lie, Get up

     I have never officially claimed a "life verse", but Deuteronomy 6:5-7 would definitely be in the running.  (Not sure if it would count since it is three verses!) This scripture is so important to me, and held such a conviction that I wanted the words in my home where I could read them daily.  It is my reminder and encouragement of why we homeschool and seek to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  (I especially need that on some days!)  I am not saying, by the way, that this verse means for everyone to homeschool.  It is for me (and my husband) a personal conviction.  I feel strongly that I can be more obedient to this scripture if I am with my children all day throughout their day.  (I am hoping that "walking the aisles at Publix" also counts for "walking along the road".)

     I thought some of my (crafty or not-so-crafty) readers would  like to see the canvases I painted.  It was really simple!  I just painted a canvas with three coats of acrylic paint.  The circles were made by dipping a plastic cup in white paint and then randomly placing them on the canvas.  I penciled in the verse, then painted over it with an paint pen.  I think the entire project might have been $10 or less.  Now this hangs in my laundry room (where I spend a lot of my time and I needed to cover up a painting blunder!)  

     What is your "life verse(s)"?  I'd love to hear what scripture God has used to comfort, guide, instruct or encourage you!  

What is more dangerous than falsehood?

     This is a book by Ravi Zacharias (a preeminent Christian apologist) that I have been reading over the last week or so.  The book contains an imaginary conversation between Buddah and Jesus.  It is stretching me a bit.    My pastor husband is the one who always is reading the theology books.  This is a small book, so I thought I could digest it better.  Come to find out, it may be small---but there is quite a bit to take in.  I am halfway through this 94 page book.  I decided to read this book after really enjoying a short video by Ravi Zacharias on my husband's blog--plus the fact that we are studying Buddism and other world religions in our homeschool studies this year.  I admit that I am not very well versed in their beliefs, so I wanted to become more learned in this area if my sons had questions.  

     As my  boys and I have been studying these world religions (mostly through literature), what is most shocking is how so much of what they say sounds familiar to our Christian beliefs.  We have been discussing this and how this can be so dangerous.  Satan doesn't just tell a lie; he takes a little truth and then wraps a great big lie around it.  My most favorite quote from the Lotus and the Cross so far is:  "When you mix falsehood with truth, you create a more destructive lie." 

Wrong Worship

This made me and my family laugh, but I think we'll take a "heart check" before we worship in singing tomorrow morning! 


"Right Worship" that honors God:

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."  Psalm 63:3-5