I have been reading (again) "The Journals of Jim Elliot" as part of a daily devotional time. Elisabeth Elliot edited almost in their entirety her husband's journals over the years starting with his junior year (I think) at Wheaton College. This guy was amazing. His story (their story) as you know is unbelievable. But this journal of his combines his confessions with prayers and often excellent explication and analysis of the scriptures. I recommend this book highly. He is the one who is credited with saying something to the effect of, "Blessed is he who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose." Again, our treasures are in heaven not on earth. He gave his life in order to help others find eternal life.
Until next time, Lisa
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Isaiah 55:2 true nourishment
Good morning, all. Isaiah 55:2 (NASB) says "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance."
This verse hits me hard today. I don't think it is just talking about overspending our available money. I think it does refer to that, but also to how we spend our time - free time, etc. I think I have been robbing God. I need to spend more time reading His Word, praying, seeking his Will for my life and the lives of my husband and children, and investing in a future in Heaven. The treasures which I have been given -- Tom, Josh, Debbie, and Jenna - as well as my dear entire family - are worth far more than any earthly toy or book or extravagance.
For instance, some days I do not appreciate little Jenna enough. She is sometimes a little pistol and I just know that she is going to wake up any moment now because she went to bed at 5:30 pm last night - there goes my early morning "free" time. But that little girl is a treasure!
At the end of VBS (vacation bible school) this summer, one mom said that the best thing about VBS was ----- Jenna Vogt! She got to spend time w/her in the nursery and said it was a joyful time for her. Wow! My daughter blesses others! and she is only two years old!
Jesus, please forgive me for not appreciating her gifts. She is precious and ministers to others in a way that I cannot.
The other day I was talking to her and said, Jenna, "What does it say in the Bible: Though our sins be as scarlet, they will be made as white as....." and I tried to let her finish the sentence to see if she knew the answer, as she really does listen when Josh and Debbie are working on verse memorization. She looked at me and raised her arms triumphantly and answered, "GLUE!" (she had the right color - white!) I could not believe it.
Wednesday after school Logan was visiting and was having a snack with Jenna. Just for conversation, I said, Logan, how's it going? "Good." I said, How's your mom doing? "Good." I said, How's your mom's back? (Deb's back is giving her problems again). "Good." There was a short lull in this stimulating conversation and then Jenna looked at Logan and said, "How's your mom's FRONT?" ! the day before we had read "Paddington's Opposites" and I guess she learned front is the opposite of back!
Dear Lord, thank you for this precious jewel named Jenna. Thank you for all the precious jewels in this house. Help me to spend my time and money and availability and heart and emotions and spirit on them and on You instead of cheaper pursuits. For in them, I see Your face. Amen.
Until next time, Lisa
This verse hits me hard today. I don't think it is just talking about overspending our available money. I think it does refer to that, but also to how we spend our time - free time, etc. I think I have been robbing God. I need to spend more time reading His Word, praying, seeking his Will for my life and the lives of my husband and children, and investing in a future in Heaven. The treasures which I have been given -- Tom, Josh, Debbie, and Jenna - as well as my dear entire family - are worth far more than any earthly toy or book or extravagance.
For instance, some days I do not appreciate little Jenna enough. She is sometimes a little pistol and I just know that she is going to wake up any moment now because she went to bed at 5:30 pm last night - there goes my early morning "free" time. But that little girl is a treasure!
At the end of VBS (vacation bible school) this summer, one mom said that the best thing about VBS was ----- Jenna Vogt! She got to spend time w/her in the nursery and said it was a joyful time for her. Wow! My daughter blesses others! and she is only two years old!
Jesus, please forgive me for not appreciating her gifts. She is precious and ministers to others in a way that I cannot.
The other day I was talking to her and said, Jenna, "What does it say in the Bible: Though our sins be as scarlet, they will be made as white as....." and I tried to let her finish the sentence to see if she knew the answer, as she really does listen when Josh and Debbie are working on verse memorization. She looked at me and raised her arms triumphantly and answered, "GLUE!" (she had the right color - white!) I could not believe it.
Wednesday after school Logan was visiting and was having a snack with Jenna. Just for conversation, I said, Logan, how's it going? "Good." I said, How's your mom doing? "Good." I said, How's your mom's back? (Deb's back is giving her problems again). "Good." There was a short lull in this stimulating conversation and then Jenna looked at Logan and said, "How's your mom's FRONT?" ! the day before we had read "Paddington's Opposites" and I guess she learned front is the opposite of back!
Dear Lord, thank you for this precious jewel named Jenna. Thank you for all the precious jewels in this house. Help me to spend my time and money and availability and heart and emotions and spirit on them and on You instead of cheaper pursuits. For in them, I see Your face. Amen.
Until next time, Lisa
Friday, September 28, 2007
Greetings, all, and here is my first posting. I started this blog as a (hopefully better) way to communicate with friends and family members. We get really busy at times and I wanted a place to "post" thoughts and feelings and ramblings, as well as send encouragements to anyone who reads this.
We are so busy! It is so hard to homeschool when the house needs tended to, meals need to be made, laundry done, dogs barking, etc. Tom is almost done coaching cross country (middle school). He says he will retire from that position when he retires from teaching in June.
Anyway, Josh is reading some, and Debbie is working on her letters and small words, and Jenna is interested in drawing shapes and learning colors and object names.
For anyone interested in what curriculum we use, we pretty much grab ahold of whatever we can that is cheap. You'd be amazed what you can find at a yard sale or a church rummage sale. For instance I got ahold of a whole year of Saxon Math (grade 2 math) at Deb's school yard sale and that is about a hundred dollar value. I was thrilled.
Anyway, so we are settling into using Saxon Math, and "Mrs Phipps" for phonics; this is a DVD phonics program that Sue Payne gave us. It is a daily 15 minute lesson. We do one or two per day. Then we have handwriting where the kids write a Bible verse or other sentences or words; reading (try to read up to an hour a day), art class, Bible devotion time and verse memorization. The junior church leader at our church, Miss Erica, wrote a devotional book and we try to do that daily. We also have a time for science exploration - all kinds of topics - and the kids have music class on Wednesday nights (they sing in the kids choir) and Awanas. Gym time is easy as the kids jump on the trampoline and run across the yard. Josh has developed friendships with the neighbor boys (several) and they sometimes play somewhat organized games.
More later..... love, Lisa
We are so busy! It is so hard to homeschool when the house needs tended to, meals need to be made, laundry done, dogs barking, etc. Tom is almost done coaching cross country (middle school). He says he will retire from that position when he retires from teaching in June.
Anyway, Josh is reading some, and Debbie is working on her letters and small words, and Jenna is interested in drawing shapes and learning colors and object names.
For anyone interested in what curriculum we use, we pretty much grab ahold of whatever we can that is cheap. You'd be amazed what you can find at a yard sale or a church rummage sale. For instance I got ahold of a whole year of Saxon Math (grade 2 math) at Deb's school yard sale and that is about a hundred dollar value. I was thrilled.
Anyway, so we are settling into using Saxon Math, and "Mrs Phipps" for phonics; this is a DVD phonics program that Sue Payne gave us. It is a daily 15 minute lesson. We do one or two per day. Then we have handwriting where the kids write a Bible verse or other sentences or words; reading (try to read up to an hour a day), art class, Bible devotion time and verse memorization. The junior church leader at our church, Miss Erica, wrote a devotional book and we try to do that daily. We also have a time for science exploration - all kinds of topics - and the kids have music class on Wednesday nights (they sing in the kids choir) and Awanas. Gym time is easy as the kids jump on the trampoline and run across the yard. Josh has developed friendships with the neighbor boys (several) and they sometimes play somewhat organized games.
More later..... love, Lisa
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