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| Testimonials |
Hello. I felt as though you were
writing to me! I homeschool all three of our girls, ages
3, 7, and 12. I am overwhelmed!!! I am sure that God
will sustain me and see me through, and even as I write
to you today, I feel as
though the weight is somewhat lessened. Your words were
very comforting and reassuring to me. It is so amazing
that I came in this morning and sat at my computer
with dread and you have lifted my spirits with your
words! Thank you so much for being an
inspiration!!!
Kindest
Regards,
Donna
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From the Editor ~ Servant or
Slave?
I sometimes feel like
a slave, don't you? Taking care of the physical demands
of housework and homework really can make you feel like
there is no time left to breathe or think. I have slaved
away all day on many different things and ended up
further behind by the time nightfall arrived, only to
wake up in the morning, not
feeling refreshed, rather feeling like another day has
arrived to slave again. I sometimes feel like a slave
rather than the servant I am supposed to be. However,
Jesus
doesn't want slaves, He wants
servants. So just what does that
mean?
Jesus had a lot to say about servants.
Here is only a sampling:
- A servant is to be
humble.
The disciple is not above
his master, nor the servant above his lord. Matthew
10:24
Rather than having proud and haughty
attitudes of just how much we do for everyone, we need
humility, knowing the awesome opportunity we have to
serve the living God by serving others in His
Name.
- Jesus
pleased His Father by being a
servant.
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my
beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. Matthew
12:18
If we need an example of servanthood, we
look to Jesus. Even His own Father said to look at the
One He is pleased with. If you want to please the
Father, then look at His Son and His servanthood to see
just how to do that.
- Servanthood is
leadership.
And whosoever will be chief among you, let
him be your servant. Matthew
20:27
But he that is greatest among you shall be
your servant. Matthew
23:11
We live in a culture that screams, "Let
others serve you - don't be used by them!" Jesus
counters that cry and counts servanthood as the greatest
and highest goal to strive for. People who are servants
are highly esteemed in the eyes of God.
- A servant who is faithful will one day
enter into the joy of the
Lord.
His lord said
unto him, Well
done, thou good and
faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew
25:21
We may never see our reward on earth, but
there awaits a reward so inexplicable that will be more
than worth the wait. And, while we are waiting, we can
find joy in knowing that God is well pleased with our
servant hearts.
So, if you're feeling
like a slave to the kids, the schedule, your spouse,
your church, etc., then stop and re-evaluate. If you're
just working because it has to get done, you're a slave.
If you have a relationship with the One you love, and
want to please Him, you are a servant of His and for
Him. Let's stop being slaves in our minds and determine
in our hearts to be good and faithful servants of the
Lord.
Serving the Lord with
you!
And, as always, let us know how we
can serve you,
Deborah Wuehler
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From Our Readers ~ The
Nature of a Servant
by Lisa Tower,
Mesa, AZ
Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou
good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord."
While reading my Bible recently, I
came across the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25.
I've read it before and I've heard the sermons on how
this is about Spiritual Gifts, not just money God gives
you, but that's not what struck me. What really seemed
to speak to me was the word "servant."
Jesus
didn't say, "well done good and faithful worker, church-goer,
parent, spouse, leader, friend," or even "follower." Jesus
chose the word servant on
purpose. He showed us how to serve others when He washed
the feet of His disciples. This made me dig a little
deeper into what else Jesus said regarding being a
servant.
What God kept bringing to my
attention was the nature of the
servant. This doesn't mean the way he or she acts during
church, or when others are watching, or when there's
something to gain. Someone's nature is who they are when
no one is watching. It's a part of who they are,
internally, that governs their actions. The good news is
that taking on the nature of a servant is like playing a
musical instrument - it can be learned. It's not
something you must be born with or else you'll never
have it. So let's figure out what traits to develop on
this journey of following Christ and becoming a
servant.
A servant:
- humbles himself - willing to fill the
needs of others, regardless of credit, praise, or
status.
- submits - willing to
give up control to God and those in authority over him
or her
- is obedient - does
what is asked of him because it is the right thing to
do according to
God.
- helps -
finds needs of others and fills them joyfully, doesn't
complain about own needs that aren't being met by
other people. Instead he expects God to meet his own
needs.
- has joy from within - not resentful of
the duties being performed, enjoys the gift of
helping.
- respectful -
refuses to quarrel with those around him. Instead,
seeks solutions to problems rather than assigning
blame, complaining or gossiping.
- loves God - by serving Jesus'
flock, a servant feels God's presence and
love.
So how
can we as His followers decide to be better servants?
Sometimes the best way is to just jump in with faith and
trust and fill the needs God presents to you. Pray about
it. Ask the Lord for guidance (through His Word and the
Holy Spirit) which areas He desires to see you serve in.
God doesn't ask for a few to try to please the crowds
with false humility or with busyness. He only asks that
as Christ's body, we should serve one another.
The best example is the first
church, mentioned in the book of Acts. It says in Acts 4
that all the believers were one in heart and mind. No
one claimed material possessions as his own. Instead,
they shared all they had. There were no needy among
them. Imagine if we all took on that servant nature!
What kind of church would we have? What kind of small
group could we become? How would that impact those
outside looking in? Let's all pray and ask how we can
serve each other during this season of our lives. Let's
take the focus off what we wish someone would do.
Instead, let's focus on what God-given abilities and
gifts we've been blessed with and how we can bless our
fellow men and women with them.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you so much for sending us such a perfect example
of servanthood in your Son, Jesus. We want to become
better servants ourselves, but taking the first step is
sometimes the hardest of all. We ask that you'd speak to
our hearts and minds. Show us the needs around us and
inspire us to trust you to teach us how to fill them,
and how to be a good servant, for Your glory, and to
further Your kingdom here on earth. May we one day hear
those wonderful words spoken to us from your lips: "Well
done, good and faithful servant."
Want to see your devotion
highlighted here? Send devotions for
consideration to senioreditor@thehomeschoolmagazine.com |
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Unit Studies Using Lapbooking
by Cyndi Kinney
If
you are like me, then starting a new school year is
exciting... but also a little scary. I find myself
looking around, remembering that last year I said I was
going to make "next year" more fun. So where's the
"fun"? Maybe next year?
Well, it doesn't have to be that way! You can add
"fun" while introducing a new way of learning: lapbooks.
Your child will be able to use his hands to create a
wonderful display of his studies. (Shhh... don't tell
him that he is still learning something... he'll never
know!)
Lapbooks remind me of the old-fashioned "pop-up"
books from my childhood. They are merely file folders
and paper booklets that are folded in all types of
unique ways. They may be used for any subject and any
age.
When relatives or friends come to visit, your
child will love pulling out these prized possessions and
showing them off. But the best thing is, your child will
truly remember what he studied. It's been proven that
the more senses a child uses when studying a topic, the
more he will retain. By creating this treasure himself,
your child will experience this increase in information
retention, and his excitement about education will be
renewed.
I'll be writing more in the future, telling you
about specific lapbooking techniques, where to find
booklet templates (a lot of them are free!), graphics,
and more to help you get started on your lapbooking
journey. Be prepared - it is addictive for you and your
kids!
Until next time, happy lapbooking!
Cyndi Kinney, R.N.
Cyndi is the owner of Knowledge Box
Central, www.knowledgeboxcentral.com.
The company specializes in Lapbooks,
CopyWork, Notebooking, & more. Just released:
"Stages of the Ages ™ Timeline Notebook" and "The Images
Bearer ™ Charlotte Mason Planner. You may email Cyndi
@ Cyndi@knowledgeboxcentral.com
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Revival of the Joy of
Homeschooling
Now that summer is half over, I
still yet need to finish purchasing my entire curriculum
for this upcoming school year. The thought of doing this
all over again just drains my brains as well as my soul!
Hey, I am being bluntly truthful here. I have been
homeschooling now for over 12 years, and I am just not
all that excited about teaching. I know also that I am
not alone; I have dear friends with whom I have chatted
who concur with this sentiment. Yet our true desire is
to be joyous about teaching our babies once again by
giving them the Word of God, using the three Rs and the
extra curriculum.
When a dear friend and I talked the
other day, she shared her heart on this matter and I
felt her burden! I felt her burden because I identify.
Burden defined is "a load being carried; a difficult or
worrying responsibility or duty." We as homeschool moms
feel that weight of responsibility, especially when our
children become older.
So, where do I go? Where do we all
go when we get to this place of being overwhelmed and
losing our joy to school our children? Jesus said, "Come
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Beyond a doubt I
believe that Jesus does care about this heavy laden
burden of schooling and He wants to provide us His Rest!
Rest here in the Greek means to take ease and be
refreshed! This is why the title of this article is
"Revival of the Joy of Homeschooling." One of the
definitions of revival is to be refreshed. Ahhhh - just
the word itself is exhilarating!
When we all first began
homeschooling, we started off with this as a
calling. As the years have passed, the
zeal of the call waned away and homeschooling has become
more controlled and led by me rather than God-controlled
and led. Thus, it has become more and more a drudgery,
to the point that it is also confusing trying to decide
on the entire curriculum the children need.
Perhaps it is good to get into the
closet of prayer and surrender our call of being a
homeschool teacher back to the One who willed this in
the first place. In so doing, with that Joy and the
Presence of God in complete control, I am confident He
will guide us to the subjects, books, and so much more
He desires our children to learn from. Isn't the Lord
just wonderful in how He reveals just what we need at
the hour of distress?
I was reading The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine's The Homeschool Minute about lesson
planners, and Deborah Wuehler wrote this: "God can use
all these methods as they are yielded to His input
first. Seek Him FIRST, and God will give you wisdom for
each child." See, from a wise homeschool mom herself -
SEEK HIM FIRST!
Maybe it's time to shut the
curriculum magazines and shut the doors to our bedrooms,
climb on our beds, open up the Word of God and the door
to our hearts and truly seek God's heart for the right
schooling for our children! Amen? "A man's heart
deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps"
(Proverbs 16:9).
Nonetheless, we all need joy and
long for it in us, to pour out into the hearts of our
children, lasting for eternity. Real Joy - our only
source of Joy - is JESUS! When we try to go about life's
daily duties without seeking Him first we just don't
seem to get much done that really
matters.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and
renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from
thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation." Psalm
51:10-12
Daneille Snowden is wife to Rev. Brad
Snowden and a homeschool mom of three children; Nathan
(15), Felecia (8), and Tabitha (4). Daneille has a
degree in missions. Most importantly she is a
daughter to her Lord Jesus
Christ. |
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This Month's Contests
Mavis
Beacon Teaches Typing: This has been our
family's favorite typing software. We have had great
success with it. It runs on Windows 98, 2000
Professional or XP as well as Macintosh. I have one to
give away!
Hudson
Taylor:
Trailblazer Books offers this Curriculum Guide for
Hudson
Taylor: Shanghaied to China. (Does NOT include
the Shanghaied to China book by Dave &
Neta Jackson.) This would be good for someone who
already has the book. I have one Curriculum Guide to
give away!
The
Original Backyard Scientist by
Jane Hoffman, filled with experiments that kids can
perform using things found around the house. One copy to
give away!
TO
ENTER: Email
senioreditor@thehomeschoolmagazine.com with
yourname and
mailing
address for a chance to win one of these gifts.
Note: We never use your personal information for
anything other than sending out prizes to the
winners.
Disclaimer
and Legal Notice:
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine,
LLC ("Company") is sponsoring the September 2007
Schoolhouse Support
Newsletter Mavis Beacon Contest and
the September 2007 Schoolhouse
Support Newsletter Hudson
Taylor Curriculum Guide Contest, Schoolhouse
Support Newsletter Backyard Scientist Contest each
running from September 1,
2007, to September 31, 2007. You must be 18 years of age or
older and follow all rules to participate. Entering the
contest constitutes full and complete acceptance of, and
a warranty that the entrant has read, understands and
agrees to, all contest terms and conditions, including
without limitation all of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine,
LLC Contest Rules ("Official Rules") at
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Resources/Contests.php
and The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine Writer Guidelines and Terms and Conditions for
Submitting Queries (as published on the Internet at
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/
writersguidlines.php). All
Official Rules apply. Entry also constitutes full
consent and unlimited permission for Company to print,
publish, broadcast and use all intellectual property and
personal information submitted as part of the Contest
entry on the Internet and in any and all Company
publications in accordance with the Rules. Entries
become the sole property of Company and will not be
returned. Employees and
independent contractors of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine,
LLC, Contest sponsors, individuals or entities
furnishing Contest prizes and their family members may
not participate in this contest. Company reserves
the sole, discretionary right to determine contest
winners and to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the
contest or the Rules at any time with or without notice
or cause, subject to applicable law. See Official Rules
for details.
No
purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
For a full copy of the
Official Rules, please send a self-addressed, stamped
envelope to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine: Official Rules
Request, PO Box 8426,
Gray, TN 37615. |
|
We Need Your Help! Click Here
to see a reader's question about
homeschooling and give your
input. |
|
Blog of the Month
Michelle and her husband have been homeschooling
for 9 years. They are the owners of Treasure Box
Press. Michelle is the author of numerous Sam's
Science Adventures, including "RIC: Robots in the
Classroom", all available through
www.TreasureBoxPress.com. She spent 15 years in the
biotechnology industry before turning her heart toward
home.
The
Experimental Zone ~ Solar Panels
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Haptoon
Just Wingin' It Through Life - Our Lord is
calling each of us to Himself. He is saying to you
and
me, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest"
(Mt. 11:28).
I don't know about you, but I need some rest from
all the stuff I been dealing with lately.
Our
Lord also said, "... how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, and ye would not!" (Mt
23:37).
And do you notice that under His
protective wings there is more than one chick? When
Jesus calls us to Himself, He calls us to become part of
the church body. There is no such thing as
Lone Rangers in the Kingdom of God, only living
stones that come together to be built up together into a
spiritual house for the Lord (1 Peter 2:4, Eph
2:19-22).
Lord, forgive this wayward chick. I'm
coming back under your protective wings.
"Keep me as the
apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy
wings." Psalm 17:8
I pray that each
of us together will just keep on "Wingin' it Through
Life."
-Hap
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Schoolhouse Store Spotlight
~ Time Travelers
 "The American
Revolution," contains 25 lessons that
can spread across 5-10 weeks, covering the politics and
conflicts that launched a new nation, such as: Colonial
beginnings, the French & Indian War, problems
leading up to the revolution, Continental Congress,
General Washington, women of the war, several specific
battles, many important figures who stood for the cause
of liberty, and much more!
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