Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

Are you a year round homeschooler? Do you take the entire summer off? Well, no matter what your homeschooling year looks like, you never really stop educating your children. Even those whose children are not homeschooled teach their children in some way.

Your children watch what you do and at a young age begin to emulate you. Have you seen your children playing house with a mom, dad, kids. Watch what they do! In many instances the dad goes off to work while the child playing mom stays at home cooking, cleaning, ironing (does ANYONE do that anymore?!), etc. 

Our children learn language from us. For some of us, that might be a bit scary! (When my older teen daughter spouts a sarcastic comment, I chuckle and cringe. I taught her that, I know.) There is a viral video of a little boy telling his mom, "Linda, Linda, you're not listening. Listen to me, Linda!" He more than likely heard that from his dad or some other adult in his life. Our kids use our language!

Our children learn character traits from us. Yes! This is meant to encourage you. Children learn compassion, kindness, gentleness, honesty, trust and many, many more things from us. You can see it in the way they treat a brother or sister, care for mommy when you aren't feeling well, or hanging out with dad because that's what the big guys do.

And our children learn about Jesus from us. They watch us pray over our meals, pray for friends at church, and learn why we need a Savior from us. It is reinforced in Sunday School, perhaps. But that understanding and the answers to their questions about God and Jesus are usually addressed in the home.

Today, remember that learning never stops, not even for summer break. What are you teaching your children?

Lyn~

The Lord Our Redeemer

Have you ever made a decision and then later, felt restless or even anxious about the choice you've made? Maybe you can't sleep that night or your heart aches afterward. Just me? That's what I'm feeling as I write this post this morning. You see, I made a decision based on emotion to make a particular purchase. I could have waited and used the money in other areas, but I didn't. I had the support of my husband when I made the decision, too. But that does not ease my anxiousness right now.

But the Word of God says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" (Philippians 4:6, NKJV). We can come to Him and He will give us peace and calm that restlessness and anxiety within us. It also says, "He works all things together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). 

We reap what we sow in our lives. But even when we make a bad decision, God is always there to see us through to the other side. Joel 2:12 says, “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” His grace and mercy cover us. We are not condemned by our poor choices either. That condemnation, feelings of guilt, that comes from Satan! In the Word we see that,Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), (Galatians 3:!3, NKJV). 

If you have made a poor decision recently or even a while ago and it is still troubling you, apply the verses above to your life. Speak them over yourself and cry out to Jesus. Don't be fearful of the consequences, for God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), "...And be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up...

Today's Friday 'Fess Up is that I'm late AND I can't do it all all of the time, much to the dismay of my wonderful Civil Air Patrol Commander and my clients and even my family. I try so very hard to keep from disappointing people or having to say, "no, I can't help," but sometimes that is just unavoidable. I thrive on doing and succeeding and making things come together in a grand way. When people criticize that attempt, I feel as though I've let them down.
But that's not how God sees my efforts. It says in Colossians:

When deciding those things we can take on in life, whether putting together an event, working in a ministry area or doing something for a friend, take the time to consider if you will truly be able to do it. And don't be afraid to admit when you can't.

Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

Today, let's look at ways our children can instruct us! Ask your child to play teacher today. Have your child choose something he wants to show you how to do, a story he wants to share or something he wants his younger siblings to learn.
Giving or children opportunities to model things they have learned from you will increase their own thirst for knowledge while showing you that they are in fact listening and learning from you throughout all your days when you just don't think homeschooling is working.
Trust your child to give you a grand demonstration of what he's learned from you and allow him to step into a new and exciting role as teacher for a day!

Lyn~

Book Review: "Cottonmouth and the End" by C.S. Fritz

WOW! That is how I sum up this book. I began with just the last book of the series, but in the same style as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, it was easy to pick up the story even without the other two books.
C.S. Frtiz uses pictures to transport the reader from one scene to the next, the illustrations are enticing and attractive and the story is pulled together by the infusion of darker pages with white print and white page with black print.
One of my favorite parts of this story is when Frederick finally gets out of the dark because King Tug shone his light in it. It was reminiscent of the prodigal son coming home to his father and yet reflective of the change God makes in our lives when we realize He is Lord.
This book is written for the early chapter book reading student as well as engaging and entertaining for the more mature reader.The message within it is timely, subtle and powerful. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to share the message of Jesus with their children or grandchildren.

To order your copy of Cottonmouth and the End or any of the other books in the series, visit:

Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Christian Book Distributors





















Lyn~

When The Lord Begins to Change You

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to hear from a wonderful man of God. During the service, he prayed over several of us. That moment for me was something I will not forget quickly! The power of God came over me and I felt a peace like I've never felt before. It was powerful, moving, and comforting to me. As the service ended, we were told to use that impartation, as commanded by God in Mark 16:17-18, "...they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover."

The next week I didn't take the opportunity to pray with someone for healing. I didn't think about it when I was talking to a friend who wasn't feeling well, and I didn't look for the opening like I should have. Satan then tried to tell me lies. Things like I didn't really have anything imparted to me, I have too little faith to believe for a person's healing, and that I lost my opportunity to lay hands on someone and see them healed. (Can anyone relate?!)

Well, I didn't buy into his lies. I asked God the next week to give me a specific opportunity to pray with someone for their healing and He did! I prayed for a dear friend's hands. She makes tortillas at a local fast food restaurant, and her hands had been hurting all day. She called me later that evening to let me know her hands had stopped hurting and haven't been painful as they had been earlier in the day.

It was a wonderful thing to be used by God, and it was exactly what He said would happen in His Word!

This week, if you know the Lord is working on you, you're changing, the Holy Spirit is doing something in you and through you, don't listen to the lies of Satan! He wants to distract you and pull you from the Father. But those who believe in Him shall be saved! No weapon formed against you shall prosper!

Lyn~

"Cottonmouth and the End" WINNER Announced!!

Last week, we held a giveaway for the last book of this series! Thank you to all who entered and participated!

Our winner is: PATTI G.!!!

Congratulations, Patti! You're book will be on its way to you soon!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

Have you ever noticed that it's easier to praise God in the good times than when you're going through the trials of life? For me, I WANT it to be just as normal an action that I praise Him during the rough spots, those times that only He can get me out of a situation and the times there is nothing I can do in my power to solve the problem as I do when I'm feeling really good about what He's done in my life. But I have to confess, that's a struggle for me.

I have to consciously remind myself to praise Him when I'm trudging through the mucky areas of life. I have found that when I struggle with wanting to speak things about my situation like, "I'll never get through this," or "this will never end," I need to shut my mouth...literally! And if I can't keep my confession aligned with the Word of God, it's best not to say anything but to just cry out to Jesus.

I also comfort my spirit with the knowledge that if I'm going through a trial from Satan that feels like it's pushing me almost to my breaking point, I must be heading for a breakthrough and I must be doing something that is making Satan take notice of me! Praise the Lord! 

In 2 Samuel 5:17 we read that David had similar experiences. Even Paul in the New Testament tells us we'll all have trials in life. Check out these verses:

• Romans 5:3
• 1 Peter 1:6
• James 1:2
• 1 Peter 4:12
• Revelation 3:10

It's a battle we are in when trials come. Satan wants to try to shake us away from the comfort, peace and love of the Father. But it's up to us to decide to hold tight to Him and listen to only what HE says about us and our situations!

Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

When I was a little girl growing up in South Florida, one thing I always looked forward to during our summer break was my mom creating and teaching summer Bible camps. They were just a few hours long and involved teaching the neighborhood kids who came about Jesus. We also made crafts that they could take home to share with their parents.

What does your summer of homeschooling look like in your mind? Have you ever considered hosting a summer Bible camp for kids in your neighborhood? What about hosting one for your own children or nieces and nephews?

You can find some quick easy ideas on Pinterest, too! What a fun way to teach your kids about the Lord while being a willing vessel used by God. What would your Bible camp look like? Feel free to share in the comments!

Lyn~

P.S: Don't forget about the book giveaway going on right now!!

Sold Out for Jesus?

I am going to be a little transparent with you all here for a moment. I am a goal-oriented, awards-motivated person. If there is something to accomplish with a shining prize at the end, I.WANT.IT! But this week I began thinking about what God wants from me. Does He want me to go and go and go and go towards all these different goals? Do any of them point back to my calling? Why AM I striving for these particular goals besides the prize at the end?! Striving for a goal can be prideful! YIKES! 
It's true. Sometimes when we go after so many things, pride is often involved. I'm not saying that is the case every time. But I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider WHY you are going after some of the goals in your own life.

• Do the goals move you closer to your calling?
• Do they align with the goals of your family?
• Do they align with what the Bible says?
• Are you doing this thing just so you can say you did it?
• Will this goal move you or through you move others closer and further in to the Kingdom and the work you're called to do?

I know it's tough to evaluate yourself and the things you're doing and why you're doing them. Believe me, I know it's incredibly difficult to see the real reasons. But once you come to terms with the "whys," you'll be able to prioritize what things you choose to pursue in life.
This week, write down the things you're pursuing and ask yourself the questions above. I can definitely tell you, once you are wholeheartedly and passionately sold out to serving the Father and giving Him ALL areas of your life, the priorities will become clear.

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you."

Lyn~

Book Giveaway starts TODAY!!

The book giveaway is underway! You can enter to win a copy of the final book and a special SURPRISE gift, too!

Enter the drawing here: a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Feel free to share this drawing with friends, too! 

 Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

This week was another one of those weeks where I was running my kids all over the Denver metro area for school concerts and actual school. I say it every year that maybe next year we won't do this supplemental school. Maybe it's just become too much of a drive, too inconvenient to spend a day in another town with my mom and daughter, too much of a hassle to get the kids up at 6:15 a.m.

But then, the end of the school year comes. And my kids are so proud of their academic and artistic accomplishments. And I really do like all of their teachers and have built a special bond and friendship with them over the past seven years. And I know my kids are benefitting from these experiences with their like-minded peers. And I know I'm benefitting from having the ability to spend a whole day with my mom and daughter.

It's not about how inconvenienced I feel. My kids and husband and I chose this school. It's not about driving 25 miles to the school. I enjoy the venues I can explore in the area. And it's not about waking my kids up earlier on school days. They want to go! It's about finding something that works for our family and points us to the same end goal we've had for years in our homeschooling journey: to support our kids in the path they choose and engage their thirst for learning.

Can you relate to my situation? What choices have you made that you sometimes think about stopping but never do?

Lyn~

Book Giveaway! "Cottonmouth and the End" by C.S. Fritz

It's been quite a while since I've done a book giveaway, but this one is going to be awesome! I'm reviewing the whole series and will post that review soon. In the meantime, get ready for a giveaway of  the final book in the Cottonmouth series by C.S. Fritz, "Cottonmouth and the End"!!

Starting next Monday, May 11th, you can enter the drawing!

This is going to be a book you will want to read to your kids and that they will want to read as they learn to read! It's a fun series and promises to be a favorite of readers of early chapter books.

Stay tuned for all the details on Monday!

Lyn~