Pray For Your Enemies

When is the last time you wept for your country? When is the last time you prayed for its leaders? And I don't just mean...
"Lord, have mercy on us!"
Or
"Lord, would you please take out Barack Obama!" (Don't give me that holy-look! You know you have at least thought it.)
These are NOT the type of prayers I'm talking about.

I'm talking about truly lamenting the blindness, deafness, and deadness of MOST of this nation's leaders. I'm talking about weeping over the condition of the church in this nation... Weeping for the many generations that are ignorant of the truth's in God's Word. Weeping for the church's failure to "tell the coming generations the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done...lest they forget the works of God and become like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation..." Ps.78

Really, when is the last time you recounted all the unmerited gifts, blessings, and sacrifices the Lord has bestowed upon you and this nation for the last 250 years...AND THEN repented of not giving Him the glory due His name for them. Or repented for not defending your God-given faith, family, church, or freedoms.

We should repent now, that we have sinned so much and wept so little, that God's bag has been so full and His bottle so empty (Job 14:17). We should repent now that we repented no sooner. We should repent now that we have loved Christ no more, that we have fetched no more virtue from Him and brought no more glory to Him. ~ Thomas Watson

It is my earnest prayer today that God will find each of our families in repentance and prayer.

REPENTANCE:
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 3:2

"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 3:19

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." Rev. 2:5

PRAYER:
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matt. 5:44

"Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matt. 9:38

"Pray without ceasing" 1Th. 5:17

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high posistions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1Tim. 2:1-2

Resolved - Jonathan Edwards

Have you ever read The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723) ?

Lane and I recently read through these again and were stabbed with a renewed longing for the passion Edwards had towards glorifying God with holy conduct and godliness (2Peter 3:11). Here are just a few of the Resolutions...

5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, To examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it.

28. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

44. Resolved, That no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it.

45. Resolved, Never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion.


52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.

The Yellow Prison Bus & Healthcare

Have you read Voddie's latest blog?

Here is an excerpt:

THE YELLOW PRISON BUS & THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN HEALTHCARE

Conservatives are up-in-arms over the Democratic healthcare scheme. From town hall meetings, to talk radio, to the internet, the voice of the people is being heard. However, I am not at all convinced that the voice of the people will ultimately make a difference in the long run. My pessimism has less to do with the sinister motives of those seeking to take over the healthcare system. On the contrary, my pessimism stems from the hypocrisy of those shouting down their representatives and claiming to be “fed up”.

While I’m sure these folks mean well, I wonder about the sincerity of their opposition in light of the fact that the overwhelming majority of them (between eighty and eighty-five percent) have already accepted everything they claim to abhor about the healthcare plan. Some have already exposed this irony as it relates to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security (full disclosure: I’ve opted out of Social Security and am proud to say that I am not anticipating one thin dime from the American government in my old age). However, I’m not talking about these long existing socialist programs, I’m talking about the #1 socialist welfare program in America, the public school system!

There are striking similarities between government-run education and the government-run healthcare bill currently under consideration in Congress. And it is precisely these similarities that will eventually cause the American people to lay down and take whatever the government gives them, and eventually be willing to fight and die for them. Remember, there was public outrage over government education (and Social Security) as well when it was first proposed (see the quotes here). However, nearly one hundred and fifty years later the overwhelming majority of Americans gladly put their children on the yellow prison bus every day (yes, they are the same type of busses used to transport prisoners).

JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

One of the mantras we hear repeatedly these days is, “we don’t want socialism.” While that sounds good (and conservative, and constitutional, and patriotic, etc.), it rings hollow when you consider the overwhelming majority of the people leading the charge have their children in what amounts to socialized education. What’s the difference? If you’re really against government-run, socialized programs, yank your kid off the yellow prison bus and just say no.

To read more click here.

Your Right, Your Duty!

An excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Several things I would like to point out...
#1 We the People, are still in control! It may not seem like it and it may not feel like it, but we are! Government only retains its power by OUR CONSENT. Therefore, if we want to change the direction of this country, we can no longer give our consent to the tyrannical pushes towards absolute Despotism. We must speak out against all abuses and usurpations and do all that we can to abolish these evils, including if need be, once all other avenues have been exhausted, throw off this government!!!

#2 I do not make the first statement lightly. It is a scary thing to consider and ponder throwing off our government. And I certainly agree that it should NOT be done for light and transient causes. It grieves my spirit to no end that these are even thoughts that I have to ponder and I pray, I pray, I pray that it will not come to this! However, I musn't let my fear of man nor shall I let what "experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed"
keep me from my duty. Why? Because the Glory of God is at stake here! We must stand up for what is Just and True and Right.
In a different context, but with the same principle being applicable, God said, "I'd rather you be hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of My mouth!" PERHAPS, this is exactly why we find ourselves where we do in this country! We've been lukewarm (if not cold!) for too long!!! God have mercy on us!

#3 Please take 10 minutes out of your day and reread the whole Declaration of Independence! Read the list of grievances and ponder the idea of Petitioning for Redress. Think about our current form of government and how many of the King's abuses line up with our Leader. Yes, the King has done things that our government has not (yet!) but a thorough examination of the King's ideology (which is a lot of the same ideology behind our Leader) will certainly lead to these things. Be vigilant and pray for our nation and our leaders.

God only knows the outcome of this chapter in our history. Our duty is simply to trust His Providential Care and Superintendence. The good news is, we can rest in knowing that the final chapter (victory) is already decided. Of which, I hope to blog about soon for those who have not studied it much.

However, in the mean-time, like the Reformers, who never could've imagined the impact of their labor against tyranny; we too must do all that we can, by God's strength, to fight the forces of evil and uphold the Truths from His Word.

Nevertheless...

Not my will, but Thine be done, Oh Lord my God;

My Rock and my Deliverer.

"The One"

I read this letter in an email today. It is written in biblical prose as a commentary of current events. It's author is unknown. The substance of the prose refers to Barack Obama as "The One", not to insinuate that he is the Antichrist or anything, but rather that it is the nickname given to him by the media. Unfortunately, this prose is accurate in it's depiction of our current situation and should be a reminder to all of us that we as Christians need to DO SOMETHING!


And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of
the land called America, having lost their morals, their initiative,
and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme
Leader that person known as "The One".

He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but
He hypnotized the people telling them, "I am sent to save you.
My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego,
and my association with evil doers are of no consequence. For I
shall save you with Hope and Change..
Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who
preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he
has built must be destroyed." And the people rejoiced, for even
though they knew not what "The One" would do, he had promised
that it was good; and they believed.

And "The One" said "We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah! Change is good!"

Then He said, "We are going to tax the rich fat-cats." And the
people said "Sock it to them!"

"And redistribute their wealth."

And the people said, "Show us the money!"
And then He said, "Redistribution of wealth is good for
everybody"
And Joe the plumber asked, "Are you kidding me? You're going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??" And "The One" ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe's personal records were hacked and publicized.
One lone reporter asked, "Isn't that Marxist policy?"
And she was banished from the kingdom!

Then a citizen asked, "With no foreign relations experience and
having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with
radical terrorists?"
And "The One" said, "Simple. I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!"

Then "The One" said, "I shall give 95% of you lower taxes."
And one, lone voice said, "But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes."
So "The One" said, "Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah!! Show us the money!"

Then "The One" said, "I shall tax your Capital Gains when you
sell your homes!"
And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.
And He said, "I shall mandate employer- funded health care for
EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every
person unlimited health care and medicine and transportation to the
clinics."
And the people said, "Give me some of that!"

Then he said, "I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas."
And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?"

Then "The One" said, "I shall bankrupt the coal industry and
electricity rates will skyrocket!"
And the people said, "Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates."
So "The One" said, "Not to worry. If your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!"

Then He said, "Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted.
Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free
lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed
housing..."
And the people said, "Hallelujah!!" And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs
and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers.
Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank
like unto a rock dropped from a cliff. The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then "The One" said, "I am the "The One" - The Messiah - and I'm
here to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will
have enough!"
But our foreign trading partners said unto Him, "Wait a minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more..."
And the people said, "Wait a minute. That is unfair!!"
And the world said, "Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!"

And the people cried out, "Alas, alas!! What have we done?"
But yea verily, it was too late. The people set upon "The One" and spat
upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without
sustenance or shelter or hope.. And the Change "The One" had given them was as like unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.
And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, "Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!" But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.

You may think this is a fairy tale, but it's not.
It's happening RIGHT NOW !!!

The Lesson of the Valkyries

One ministry that is a great blessing to me and I highly recommend is American Vision. If you don't get their emails, you can sign up at: http://www.americanvision.org/


This is one email that I felt compelled to pass along since it is so relevant to our nation's current situation and is a cry for Christians to DO SOMETHING about it!

Article by Eric Rauch

War is the great inevitability in this world, populated as it is with sinful men. Jesus said that we are either for Him or against Him; there is no middle ground. Although many will desperately try to avoid taking sides in the wars that rage all around us, eventually a decision must be made. Neutrality is not an option.

This principle is exemplified well in Valkyrie, Bryan Singer’s recent film about the detailed and nearly successful plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. The story revolves around Claus von Stauffenberg, a colonel in the German army who puts allegiance to Germany before allegiance to the Fuhrer. Singer seems to hint that Stauffenberg is a Christian by having him wear a cross around his neck and flashing religious iconography on the screen when he ultimately makes up his mind to participate in the coup. By doing this, Singer shows that he understands that it is a conflict between the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God. Stauffenberg (convincingly played by Tom Cruise) agrees to take part in the plot when he realizes that Hitler not only posed a threat to Germany itself, but also to the rest of the world. His willingness to deliver a bomb to the Wolf’s Lair, where Hitler and his staff were discussing war strategy, was only part of the intricate plan, yet he did it knowing full well that he and his family would be executed if his treason was discovered. Stauffenberg counted the cost and decided it was worth the risk.

What makes Valkryie such an important movie is that it shows how much planning and coordination was necessary to pull off this act of subversion. The movie takes its name from the long-standing operation of the German war effort that would institute a contingency plan if Hitler was ever killed. The German army, and the SS in particular, were well aware that anarchy was a very real possibility if word got out that Hitler was dead; Operation Valkyrie was designed to prevent this from happening. The assassination plot — which was only one of fifteen directed against Hitler during his reign as Fuhrer — involved individuals at the highest levels of the military and the political realm of Germany. It was not simply an individual effort by one disgruntled colonel.

Organized civil disobedience is not only an option; it is a command for the Christian who finds himself torn between serving God and serving man. The Old and New Testaments are quite clear on this in the examples of the Hebrew midwives, Rahab, Daniel, Peter and John, and many others. “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:27-29). This is not to say that the Christian has a right to disobey any time he doesn’t like or agree with what men tell him he must do, but it does illustrate that the Christian has a higher authority. When Pilate told Jesus about his authority to have Him killed, Jesus replied: “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). The higher authority always has the last word.

The lesson of Valkryie is a valuable one because it effectively teaches what modern Christians are so loathe to learn: organization and calculation. As Gary North aptly puts it, “you can’t fight something with nothing.” And, I would be quick to add, “you can’t fight effectively without a plan of attack.” Christians have been watching their influence and authority drain out of modern society at a dizzying rate without so much as a peep of concern. Individual Christians are certainly doing their part and raising a fuss, but without an organized front, their abilities and success will be limited and isolated. Individuals are like shooting stars, they burn out quickly, but if a group gets together and coordinates its efforts — distributing its collective powers where they can most effective and strategic — individual effort becomes exponentially stronger.

Stauffenberg would have certainly failed were it not for the team of which he was an important and necessary component. He failed anyway, even with their support. Despite all of their planning and thoughtful execution, their goal was ultimately thwarted by a table leg. Had Stauffenberg been willing to sacrifice his own life to ensure that the plan was completed, rather than making a swift getaway, the result may have been a different one. How many of us, like Stauffenberg, will say we are willing to go to death for the cause of Christ, yet look for an escape when the time comes? As Christians, we are quick to complain and gripe about the world we see falling to pieces around us, but how many of us are actually willing to lay our lives down to see the plan through? Ironically, this is exactly what is required of us: “We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

Balancing Vanity & Wisdom

The summary of Ecclesiastes chapter 1...
For in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Whether we are talking about "worldly wisdom" or "Godly wisdom", both can bring sorrow.
* Worldly wisdom is vanity, accomplishes little, and has no eternal benefit, which produces sorrow.
* Godly wisdom however, can accomplish great things and is the only thing that produces an eternal effect but can still produce sorrow. Why?

Have you ever learned a new truth from scripture, just to realize that your life does not line up with the word of God? This produces sorrow in the heart of the true believer. Sorrow for marring the picture of Christ to the world and not giving God the glory due His name. It can even produce sorrow in your heart when the sin belongs to someone else, especially a loved one. Your heart breaks. It is gut-wrenching pain. And your bed is filled with tears...

Psalm 119:136 "Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law".

So, do we throw wisdom out the window because it may be painful? Absolutely not. God's Word is full of admonitions to seek Godly wisdom. But there are two things I believe we need to keep in mind when it comes to searching for wisdom.
#1 We must be careful to not let wisdom (of either sort) become an idol.
#2 We must learn how to rest in Christ when Godly wisdom is given to us.

The latter of the two is the most difficult paradox. Resting in (having contentment in) Christ sovereign and providential work and standards, yet continuing to strive towards Godliness (especially when in affliction).

Take for example, a saved wife and an unbelieving husband. Her desire to be in the Word could easily be stifled by the fact that she will learn more and more of what a Godly husband should look like and how far removed her husband may be from that picture, thus causing much sorrow.
Should she cease to read God's Word because of that? Absolutely not. What she must learn to do is balance these two truths:
** God's Sovereignty & Man's Responsibility **
(Finding contentment in God's providential hand, yet striving to glorify God in this midst of her affliction)

This is no easy task! And I don't know if it's one we will ever fully comprehend this side of glory. However, God's Word does have many helpful things to say about it. Here are just a few...

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Ecc.7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

2Cor.4:17 For our light momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. (Do not skip those 3 little words 'if need be' and balance that by remembering that God's sovereignty is rooted in His goodness.)

There are more scriptures than I could possibly list but I would encourage you to dig deeper into God's Word for more edification. Also, the best book I've ever read on this subject is: When I Don't Desire God, How to Fight for Joy written by John Piper.
You can read it online at: http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/books_bwdd/bwdd_all.pdf

Top 30 Reasons to Homeschool

Two things happened this week. One, I had a conversation with a family that I love dearly, whose children are in public school and two, we started back home"schooling" yesterday. By God's wonderful providence He allowed the former to remind me of why I do the latter.
In the conversation, there was what seemed for moment - a life of ease and comfort. Both parents work and make very good money. They took several vacations this summer, bought a boat, and did several activities with their church. Sadly, we talked about the oldest daughter going to college in 3 years and how well she is doing with her schooling. Both children are heavily involved in sports and may perhaps get a scholarship from it. Life was great.
As I drove home I began to ponder "the ease" of only having to "parent" for an hour each morning (long enough to get them fed and out the door) and the "ease" of coming home to "parent" but only having to do it a little because we're off to sports practice. Then the "ease" of returning home to feed them and put them to bed. And that's not to mention the "ease" of two incomes or a church that supplies all their spiritual needs. For a brief mili-second, the thought of only having 2 children, plenty of money, and a parental life of ease sounded good. BUT THEN...
By the gracious and merciful hand of God I was thankful to have spent the last 10 years studying, pondering, and researching in His Word for "why" I should be home schooling. And for those of you that know me, you know I use the word homeschooling loosely...I prefer homemaking, simply because it encompases the whole role given to us, which I believe does include their academics.
My desire is not to speak ill of this sweet family. I love them dearly and pray for them often that God would open their eyes before it's too late. I only speak of it because it is the American norm today and because if you are not grounded in "why you believe what you believe" about homeschooling(making), then you will be easily swayed to stray from God's Word.
I pray these 30 reminders will be of great encouragement to you as you begin this 2009-2010 "school year" or "homemaking adventure".

Top 5 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “God’s First Institution” and the “Dominion Mandate”:

1) In Genesis 1:27-28 God implements His first institution…Marriage and Family. “So God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created them. Male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…” Therefore, we can see God’s wisdom early on for two of the most powerful means of proclaiming the gospel with our lives. Marriage and Family! And I believe home schooling gives us a tremendous amount of time and opportunities to proclaim this gospel with our lives.

2) Psalm 127: 3-5 reiterates this wisdom and opportunity…”Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”

3) Our children have more opportunities to see first hand how mommy’s and daddy’s portray Christ and the Church and how the family is a microcosm of the Body of Christ.

4) Our children have more time to minister in the community, thus showing forth a living picture of the gospel.

5) We are able to teach as well as model for our children how: moms should be helpmeets and homemakers and how dads should be spiritual leaders and loving husbands.

Top 5 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Teaching” and having a “Multigenerational View of Faithfulness”:

6) Deuteronomy 32:46 “…you shall command your children to be careful to observe all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life…” In other words, this is what you were created to do with your children!

7) Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord”. If they are not with us the majority of their day, how much “bringing up” can we really do?

8) Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and again Deut. 11:19 you find God saying “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. YOU shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” This is clearly an all day every day command!

9) Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and grandchildren…” This is a multigenerational view of faithfulness. It’s not enough to just teach our children. We’ve got to teach our children to teach their children and so on.

10) Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples…” True discipleship is rooted in deep personal involvement.

Top 10 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Protection”:

11) Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of this world, and not according to Christ”. In bringing our children home, we have worked to secure an environment that is according to Christ and not according to the traditions of men or the principles of this world, therefore protecting them from many unbiblical philosophies.

12) This concept of protecting our children from vain philosophies extends into their curriculum since most of the modern textbooks have revision upon revision, to the point where the truths of God’s history and providence have been pushed completely out! Not to mention the secular humanists views that has replaced them. Therefore, we have the opportunity to give them a more complete picture of God and use textbooks with a truer accuracy. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

13) Our job as parents is to help “conform our children into the image of Christ” through their academics not in spite of them and home schooling is definitely more conducive to providing this due to the difference in methods, philosophies, time and opportunities.

14) Not only have we protected against the empty deceit of men, we are also able to protect from certain socialization experiences that would tend to hinder their walk with the Lord. Proverbs 4:14 “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil”.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”

15) There is protection in the companions they are able to keep.
Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed”.

16) The bible is very clear that we are to withdraw from certain influences and having our children at home will certainly help protect them from these influences at least until they are prepared to deal with them. 2Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

17) The more our children are exposed to the more they become desensitized to. We have got to protect their consciences. Romans 13:14 “Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”.
1Timothy 4:1-2 “…some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…”

18) We want to show our children God’s concept of holiness instead of society’s concept of the ideal man. Ro.12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

19) Our children need truth in every area, every day, all day and so do we! Where else can we provide a constant atmosphere of reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness other than in the home with the two teachers God has provided (teachers that will love and discipline their children in a way no one else would or could)…2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

20) Home schooling frees us from humanistic teachings like the “Multicultural Act” of 1979 requiring teachers to teach “different lifestyles” and “different value systems” as legitimate in order to help students develop pride in their own cultural legacy and to cause “appreciation” for others. This is also known as the “melting pot” theory. “We’re all going in the same direction…We are simply taking a variety of paths to get there”. This clearly goes against the scriptural principle of moral absolutes! There is a right way and a wrong way!

Top 10 reasons to homeschool as it relates to “Various Freedoms” and “Blessings”:

21) The blessing that comes from the academic superiority of a one-on-one teaching situation.

22) The blessing of having more flexibility in our schedule.

23) The blessing of having the time needed to cultivate deep meaningful relationships with our children and for them to cultivate deep meaningful relationships with their siblings.

24) Our older children our blessed to have opportunities to teach the younger children, which not only helps them better retain what they have learned but also prepares them for parenthood.

25) Our children our blessed to be surrounded with a variety of ages throughout the day, young and old alike, which prepares them for a well-rounded multitude of life circumstances.

26) We have the freedom to tailor the course of study to the individual… not forcing our children through a set of “one size fits all” standards but trying to fulfill the biblical principle of individuality.

27) They are free from the artificial standards of popularity, athletic ability, and physical attractiveness.

28) Not only can we teach them verbally from God’s word all day but we can also model for them holy living which allows us to focus on character building and enables us to discipline our children as soon as a problem arises. Proverbs 13:24 “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”

29) They are gaining their sense of worth through the parents’ teachings not the peer’s opinion of him.

30) We have the ability to better prioritize our time, stop the busyness, and focus on what will have eternal benefits.

Happy Homemaking!!!

A Spur to Repentance

It is better to go with difficulty to heaven, than with ease to hell. We should repent now, that we have sinned so much and wept so little, that God's bag has been so full and His bottle so empty (Job 14:17). We should repent now that we repented no sooner. We should repent now that we have loved Christ no more, that we have fetched no more virtue from him and brought no more glory to him. It should be our grief on our death-bed that our lives have had so many blanks and blots in them, that our duties have been so fly-blown with sin, that our obedience has been so imperfect, and we have gone so lame in the ways of God.

Many are now in hell that purposed to repent. Satan does what he can to keep men from repentance. When he sees that they begin to take up serious thoughts of reformation, he bids them wait a little longer...
It is dangerous to procrastinate repentance because the longer any go on in sin the harder they will find the work of repentance. Delay strengthens sin and hardens the heart and gives the devil fuller possession...
Certain people conceive it an easy thing to repent, but a belief in the easiness of repentance is a great hindrance to it. This opinion makes a person bold in sin. When a man thinks he can lash out in sin as far as he wishes and then with ease pull himself back to repentance when he pleases, this emboldens him to more wickedness...
Delighting in sin hardens the heart. In true repentance there must be a grieving for sin, but how can one grieve for that which he loves? He who delights in sin can hardly pray against it. His heart is so inveigled with sin that he is afraid of leaving it too soon. Indeed, if prayer does not make a man leave sin, will make him leave prayer...
O dreadful day, when Jesus Christ, clothed in his judge's robe, shall say to the sinner, 'Stand forth; answer to the indictment brought against you. What can you say for all your oaths, adulteries, and your desperate wickedness?'
O how amazed and stricken that sinner will be! And after his conviction he must hear the sad sentence, 'Depart from me you workers of lawlessness, I never knew you!'
What a spur to repentance this should be! ~Thomas Watson

A Horse Wedding

Today was a sweet blessing from the Lord...

The house was clean...

The children were freshly bathed...

There was a yummy smell of homemade bread baking...

and laughter was coming from the kitchen table...

I snapped this photo to capture the moment...

and to tell you the story of "The Horse Wedding"

My sweet Leah began the conversation between horses by saying, "let's have a horse wedding".

Lacy: OK

Leah: You have to put all the boys with a girl

Lacy: But I want these two together

Leah: But that is two girls! A girl cannot marry a girl!

Lacy: Momma! Can a girl marry a girl?

Momma: No Lacy, God intended for girls to marry boys.

Lacy: OK momma

Leah: Lacy, you walk them down the aisle and I will say all the "stuff"

Lacy: OK (walking horses across the table)

Leah: Sir, do you take the lady to be your wife?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Do you love her?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you build her a house?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you take care of her when she gets a boo boo?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Good then. (turning to the girl...)

Leah: Lady, do you take this man to be your husband?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Do you love him?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you sew his clothes when he needs it?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Will you love him when he gets a boo boo?

Lacy: Yes!

Leah: Good then. You can kiss.

GIGO

GIGO—garbage in, garbage out; godliness in, godliness out. The cognitive is basic to the behavioral—you become what you choose to feed your mind on. ~Randy Alcorn

"The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love." ~Henry Scougal

"You don't judge the glory of a soul by what it wills to do with lukewarm interest, or with mere teeth-gritting determination. To know a soul's proportions you need to know its passions. The true dimensions of a soul are seen in its delights. Not what we dutifully will but what we passionately want reveals our excellence or evil." ~John Piper

"A good man out the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth evil things." ~Jesus

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." ~Jesus

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness." ~Jesus

"Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." ~Jesus

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." ~Jesus

How to Survive the Currently Unfolding Depression

Excerpt taken from SurvivalBlog:

•Work cheerfully and diligently. It is slackers that find themselves unemployed first.
•Get debt free and stay debt free. Take on no new indebtedness, and pay down the debts you already have.
•Learn to distinguish essentials from non-essentials.
•Write a budget, and stick to it. Whittle it, as necessary, to avoid debt.
•Sell off your useless Beanie babies and assorted knickknacks.
•Increase your savings
•Build up your food storage
•Diversify your investments. Don't put all your money in one bank.
•Check your bank or S&L's safety rating at TheStreet.com. Check your stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and insurers, while you are at it.)
•Hedge your investments with some tangibles
•Sell off any vacation or rental properties that don't have retreat potential
•If you move, then it should be to a place near a secure job, and preferably to a piece of farm or ranch land that provides some self-sufficiency.
•Develop a second stream of income.
•Release yourself from your addictions. Pray fervently, and if need be, seek help.
•Plant a garden.
•Stay in shape.
•Be willing to accept work that is lower paying or less appealing
•Be charitable.
•Most importantly: Get right with God. (Believe, repent of your sin, confess Jesus as your savior, and be baptized.)

Important Lessons Drawn from the Decrees of God

By Thomas Boston
(this is a small excerpt)

See here the evil of murmuring and complaining at our lot in the world. How apt are you to quarrel with God, as if he were in the wrong to you, when his dealings with you are not according to your own desires and wishes? You demand a reason, and call God to an account, Why did this happen to me? Why am I so much afflicted and distressed? Why am I so long afflicted? And why such an affliction rather than another? Why am I so poor and another so rich? Thus your hearts rise up against God. But you should remember, that this is to defame the counsels of infinite wisdom, as if God had not ordered your affairs wisely enough in his eternal counsel. We find the Lord reproving Job for this, chap. 40:2 "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?" When you murmur and brood under cross and afflictive dispensations, this is a presuming to instruct God how to deal with you, and to reprove him as if he were in the wrong. Indeed, there is a kind of implicit blasphemy in it, as if you had more wisdom and justice to arrange your circumstances, and to carve out your own portion in the world. This is what you really mean when you say, "If I been on God's counsel, I would have ordered this matter better; things would not be with me as they are now." Oh presume not to correct the infinite wisdom of God, seeing he has decreed all things most wisely and judiciously.

For all the lessons click here:
http://www.puritansermons.com/boston/bost8.htm

A Challenge to Women

By John Piper January 1, 1995

1. That all of your life—in whatever calling—be devoted to the glory of God.

2. That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing.

3. That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.

4. That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching. That meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith. And that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others.

5. That you be women of prayer, so that the Word of God would open to you; and the power of faith and holiness would descend upon you; and your spiritual influence would increase at home and at church and in the world.

6. That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God undergirding all these spiritual processes, that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers and believers of these things.

7. That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific role, that you not fritter your time away on soaps or ladies magazines or aimless hobbies, any more than men should fritter theirs away on excessive sports or aimless diddling in the garage. That you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom.

8. That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to Christ and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married.

9. That, if you are married, you creatively and intelligently and sincerely support the leadership of your husband as deeply as obedience to Christ will allow; that you encourage him in his God-appointed role as head; that you influence him spiritually primarily through your fearless tranquility and holiness and prayer.

10. That, if you have children, you accept responsibility with your husband (or alone if necessary) to raise up children who hope in the triumph of God, sharing with him the teaching and discipline of the children, and giving to the children that special nurturing touch and care that you are uniquely fitted to give.

11. That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world. That you not only pose the question: Career vs. full time mom? But that you ask as seriously: Full time career vs. freedom for ministry? That you ask: Which would be greater for the Kingdom— to be in the employ of someone telling you what to do to make his business prosper, or to be God's free agent dreaming your own dream about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God's business prosper? And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or yuppie lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the family and advance the cause of Christ.

12. That you step back and (with your husband, if you are married) plan the various forms of your life's ministry in chapters. Chapters are divided by various things—age, strength, singleness, marriage, employment choices, children at home, children in college, grandchildren, retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding God's will, and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a success, not whether it reads like somebody else's chapter or whether it has in it what chapter five will have.

13. That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might, and maximizing your joy in ministry to people's needs.