Finding the FUN in Annual Testing!

Being a 2nd generation homeschooler, I have come to realize that parents know, for the most part, where their kids are educationally. Annual testing, if required by your state, is mostly just a hoop we’re to jump through in accordance with our state’s requirements for homeschooling. In our homeschool, I seek to make testing fun and easy….or at least as fun and as easy as possible. Read the rest of my post on At The Well HERE...

Free - Prepare your HEART and HOME for Christmas!

Want more meaning in your Christmas this year, celebrating the real reason for the season?

Read our first issue of Kaleo about preparing your home and heart for Christmas! This is a great FREE online magazine from At The Well, where I write monthly devotionals and homeschool help articles. In this issue, my "article" is featured on the cover - the Advent/Activity Calendar. Enjoy! It's FREE! Click "FULL SCREEN" to see it.


Merry CHRISTmas!

Change The Mood In Your Home!

Repost from 2007

Written by Nancy Campbell

Do you use a timer when cooking and baking? Are you like me? If I don’t use my timer, I end up with burnt offerings. I am usually doing so many things at once, that I’m prone to forget that I have put something in the oven. Often I’ll put the bread in the oven to bake and then come downstairs to my office to answer Above Rubies letters. If I don’t bring the timer with me, I’ll forget all about it – then guess what kind of bread we have to eat?

Recently, I found another use for my timer. It all happened as I was reading the Word one morning. I was challenged by Colossians 2:7, NAS where it says we are to be "overflowing with gratitude" or as the King James Version says, "abounding with thanksgiving." Not only are we to have a daily "attitude of gratitude" but to be overflowing and abounding with gratitude. What does this word ‘abounding’ really mean? The Greek word is ‘perisseuo’ and it means ‘to super-abound, to exceed, to excel, to be in excess – enough and to spare, over and above; it goes beyond that which is necessary.’ Wow! I was challenged! As I continued thinking, I was reminded of how God’s Word encourages us to praise the Lord all day long! Not only are we to be overflowing with gratitude and thanksgiving, but we are to be continually thanking and praising the Lord.

‘How can I continually praise the Lord?’ I thought. ‘How can I constantly have an overflowing spirit of thankfulness?’ I find that I get taken up with what I am doing and the hours go by without thinking about praising the Lord. As I prayed and walked up and down our long driveway (this is where I take my morning prayer walk) God put in my mind the idea of my kitchen timer. Yes, that’s it. What a great idea! Thank you, Lord.

I decided to put the timer beside me as I work on the computer, or when I am busy in the kitchen preparing meals, or cleaning. I set it for half an hour. As soon as it rings, I stop for a minute or two and thank and praise the Lord. I then set it again for another half an hour. Now I am getting into a habit of continually thanking the Lord all through the day. It changes my whole day.

I’m sure you’ll find this a great idea too. You can set the timer each day as you work in your home with your little ones around you, or as you teach your children. When the timer rings, stop for a moment and thank the Lord together. Encourage your children to thank the Lord too. What a wonderful way to teach them to live a life of constant thankfulness and gratitude. Establish this habit pattern in the lives of your children.

By the way, this idea is not just for the days when everything is going great. It’s for the trying and difficult days too. This is when you need the timer the most! Maybe the timer will ring just as the children are fighting and squabbling. This is the very time to stop, hold hands, pray, and thank the Lord together. Maybe the timer will ring just as you are ‘blowing your stack’ and the house is in turmoil. Oh what a blessing to have the timer! You are reminded to stop, repent of your attitude, and praise the Lord instead.

Maybe you are not very happy with your husband about something. The timer rings! Stop and think of five good things about your husband and thank the Lord for him. Or perhaps there is an urgent matter for prayer in your family or for people you know. What a great idea to have the timer ring every half-hour to remind you to pray.

Maybe the timer will ring when you are in a slough of self-pity. This is just the time to praise the Lord. Of course, you may not feel like doing it. Don’t worry. Feelings come and feelings go! Don’t let your life be governed by your feelings. Thank the Lord anyway. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 tells us that God’s perfect will for our lives is to thank Him in every circumstance and at all times.

I’ll never forget the first time God used this scripture to speak to me. It was about 35 years ago when we were first married. I was four months pregnant with Wesley, our first baby. My husband, Colin, left me in New Zealand to serve the Lord on a mission in the Philippines with Tell the Nations Crusade. The horrific part was that I didn’t know when he was coming back. They didn’t know whether the mission would take them three months or three years. In my emotional pregnant state I imagined that I would never see him again. I wondered whether this baby would ever see his father. I was heartbroken.

I went home from airport devastated. I cried inconsolably. Then the Lord spoke to my heart; "Do you want to do my will?" "Yes, Lord," I sobbed. "Then thank me, for this is my will concerning you," I heard God whisper to my heart. Because I wanted to be in His will, I began to thank the Lord for taking Colin to serve the Lord. I didn’t feel like it. I felt the opposite. I thanked Him in cold-blooded faith. I continued until I really felt thankfulness entering my heart. I won the victory. From that time, I lived in the joy of the Lord. God was good and Colin safely returned shortly after Wesley was born.

Dear wives and mothers, I trust that you will find the timer a wonderful idea in your home. You might even need to purchase a couple of extra timers, and keep them in different rooms. Set it every half-hour. Make it a habit of your daily life. Let love, joy, peace, praise, worship, thankfulness, gratitude, forbearance, forgiveness and longsuffering super-abound in your home. Remember, the word means ‘to overflow with more than is necessary – above and beyond.’

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE ALL DAY LONG

"I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

"My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long." Psalm 35:28

"In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever." Psalm 44:8

"My praise shall be continually of Thee…I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more." Palm 71:6,14,15,24

"Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all the day." Psalm 71:8

"Give thanks always for all things." Ephesians 5:18-20

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7 NAS

"Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 8

So you want to be a Supermom?

Over the last few years I've heard many moms vent their woes as to why they feel like they are terrible wives and mothers. They usually digress that they are unable to juggle all that life requires of them on top of the fact that they haven't completed projects X, Y and Z before week's end.

The vast majority of these moms have been reading other moms blogs, comparing their own actions and inactions in light of this wonderful supermom who is portrayed on the screen in front of them as having it all together.

Is reading inspiring blogs wrong? No. So, what's the real issue here?

There are a few reasons that these moms usually feel overwhelmed at their imperfections.

1. They feel convicted because of a lack of motivation or lazy attitude


2. They are setting their expectations too high


3. They are over-committed to outside interests and activities


4. They are letting opportunities take over while their so-called priorities are put on the back burner


5. They are comparing their lives to another mom's life, instead of letting the blog properly motivate or encourage them in their calling


6. They are spending too much time on these blogs, instead of digging into God's Word for instructions on how to become a better wife and mom

Because of the many homeschooling blogs out there these days, many people, I'm sure, assume most large family, homeschooling moms must be supermoms. While I believe that raising a large family does indeed take dedication and organization, it does not mean that all dedicated and organized women are born superheroes! While each of those women might have natural abilities and giftings, each are probably working hard to tweak areas of shortcomings in their lives. As women we must remember that each woman who appears successful on her blog struggles herself with her own set of inadequacies. We ALL face the fact on a daily (if not hourly) basis that we are imperfect creatures!

Homeschooling

We ALL need to stop comparing ourselves to another family or friend. It is tempting...especially in homeschooling circles. However, the BEAUTY of homeschooling is that everyone is supposed to be different from the next. If we're all using the same cookie cutter approach, we'd all turn out the same type of child. Pretty boring!
We do need to make sure, as homeschooling mamas, that we stick to our set priorities when making a schedule for our homeschool year or our summers! If we commit to all these wonderful activities just to find that we've abandoned what is truly important to God and our family, then we have failed. Prioritize and stick to the plan!

Housekeeping

As far as keeping one's house up to par. Well...see some of us (ahem, ME!) are borderline OCD with the house. We [I] can let it take over with how we want it. While you might look at my house on a visit and comment on how orderly and perfectly kept it is, I know that my weakness in this area is to let the perfection of my house take over my priority list. That's about when my flesh starts to envy you for being more relaxed.

If you are struggling with laziness, take heed that ALL humans are lazy at times. Commit to God to work harder and earn your keep, so to speak, as wife, mother and homeschool teacher! Don't let the ways of a sluggard sneak up on you. Instead, surround yourself in God's Word and memorize Scriptures that will rid you of a lazy attitude and lifestyle.

Join the Club!

I know that sometimes people have commented on how our family has it all together. Bwahaha! Nope. I don't think so! Nobody has it all together...we are ALL only human! No matter what you might see, hear or read about such "together" families, I can guarantee you that if you look a little deeper or ask what struggles they face as a family, we would get an earfull as to what brings them down a notch or two!

When we get down to it, we're really all a mess in some way, shape or form! We're ALL imperfect! It's LIFE!

So, join the club...we're all imperfect moms and most of us are just trying to do our best! Don't be fooled...we're all human; none of us are true supermoms! We all just rely on the fact that we can "do all things through CHRIST who strengthens" us to be all to all that He gave us to manage and care for!

Homeschool Failure - Expect Opposition to the Vision

“He [Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44b

Many homeschool mothers make the detrimental mistake when they believe that planning their course of action is sufficient preparation for success. They set a lofty expectation, thinking that because they have a recorded vision in their hands it makes them exempt from attack and discouragement. In reality, a vision is just one of the many tools used to combat the “father of lies”.

When you engage in the valiant fight against the prince of darkness, you must come to the understanding that you will unquestionably engage in spiritual warfare and experience assaults from Satan. Satan will undoubtedly detect your desire to succeed at something which he hates – parental involvement and godly instruction in the life of your children. He hates to see God’s Word honored and children growing up to genuinely love the Lord. Be assured, he will fight against your efforts every chance he can get.

The enemy’s game plan will take on many forms such as doubt and discouragement possibly stemming from the disheartening words from family and friends. Do not let these thoughts take root in your life by entertaining the lies he whispers in your ear. Remember that he is the “father of lies” and deception is his native tongue. Instead, build a hedge of protection, knowing why you have established these goals for your family by basing your decisions on Scripture. This might not be an easy task, but when you set up this barricade against the arrows of the enemy you will have a secure place in which to rest in your choice to educate your children at home.

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - A United Vision

After you have chosen how to record your homeschool’s mission and vision statement, choose a quiet place and time to develop a united vision with your husband or support person. List the ideas that sparked your interest in homeschooling and led you to believe that this was a positive choice for your family. List the academic benefits that homeschooling offers, as well as what skills and character traits you desire to see your children attain by the time they graduate. And, most importantly, secure that firm foundation by listing your Biblical reasons which support your decision to homeschool your children.

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - Recording Your Vision

If you were to embark on a long-term home improvement project, you would certainly have a finished result envisioned before you even thought to pick up the phone to call a general contractor. If this project was to build a house, you would need blueprints that depicted the inside and outside of the structure. It would be essential that you had an end to which the team you hired would be working toward.

Neither you nor the professionals you hired would just pick up some lumber and start hammering away. Where would you be without a plan; without blueprints; without goals? If that was to happen, no one on the team would have a unified vision of what was to be built and complete chaos would ensue. Soon enough you would become disheartened and discouraged at the lack of progress that had been made. The homey cottage you envisioned would look more like a dog house for good ol’ Rover. Sure, you might be able to pick up the pieces and make something of your effort. But how much pain could you have saved yourself if there had been a vision, a plan, and goals in mind? Vision is needed, and a vision needs goals.

Just as you would require having a hard copy of a plan when building a house, it is just as essential that you have a recorded vision for which to aim, in order to be successful in your undertaking of homeschooling. Whether you are a brand new homeschooler, just starting out, or a veteran with many years served, each and every homeschooling family should record the reasons why they have chosen to educate their children at home. These reasons should be kept in a place where you can reference them without delay. Being able to see these goals regularly will prove to be an encouragement to you, urging you to press on toward the goal when the inevitable days of discouragement stare you in the face.

The first thing to consider is whether you would prefer to record your thoughts and reasons in a one or two-page vision summary or, if you are a little more creative, a vision notebook.

A vision summary can be saved to your computer’s hard drive, edited periodically and printed off as needed. This short synopsis can be hung on the refrigerator or placed in a devotional or Bible as a visual reminder. A vision notebook could contain headings with a bullet point list of goals that fall under that heading. You could also record successes made under such headings as Biblical knowledge, academics, chore training or character development, so that you can easily view the progress that has been made in each area. Other things to consider adding to your notebook are encouraging quotes related to homeschooling or homemaking, encouraging Bible verses or a list of blessings you receive by being a homeschool and stay at home mother.

Consider, also, keeping a running list for each child that includes issues that call for improvement and objectives to achieve. These areas could be related to academics, spirituality, chore training and character traits. You might even list each child’s strengths to encourage and weaknesses on which to improve, as well. As with the summary, this notebook should be kept within reach and should also be easily accessed when the days of feeling like a failure come.

It does not matter which tool you decide to use to record your vision as long as you refer to it often, reminding yourself of why you are doing what you are doing. This will prove to serve as an encouragement and a motivator when you encounter a difficult day or time period in homeschooling.

Homeschool Failure - The Business Model and a Philosophy of Education

When a company embarks in its business venture, the board of directors develops a business plan, which includes a vision statement and a mission statement. The vision statement is a detailed description of what the company desires to accomplish within a set number of years, which serves as a guide for directing the company toward completing the long-term goals listed. A mission statement describes why the company exists, as well as the company’s current capabilities and focus. Essentially a mission statement is where the company is presently, and the vision statement is where the company plans to be in the future. Both of these serve as an important tool in the development of a strong and successful business. Neither of these can be eliminated if the company wants to be successful in their business venture.

Some might think it a bit excessive to develop both a mission and vision statement for your homeschool, but it is not. A business can be defined as serious work or an endeavor that requires an investment with the expectation of making a profit. Could a homeschool be described in that manner? Home education is certainly a serious work that requires an investment of time, money and sweat equity, in which you hope to produce a young adult who is adept in various life skills. The outcome your child experiences is your profit, or positive gain. So, why not plan your homeschool as you would a business? Plan for success and stick to the plan!

Homeschool parents should be in agreement of their homeschool’s objectives and motivations, in order to provide a measure of accountability and to be like-minded in this endeavor. If you are married, your husband, as the head of your home, should either help plan or approve the mission and vision statements of your family’s homeschool. If you are a single parent, you are in charge of your homeschool and might consider seeking outside counsel to assist with accountability and the focus in your mission.

When Mark and I began our own journey of homeschooling we decided to join a local support group, so that we could experience the support and friendships of those who were climbing the same mountain that we were beginning to ascend. This particular support group was somewhat of a pioneer homeschool support group, of which my parents were members when I was homeschooled. These seasoned support group leaders prudently recognized the need for vision and consequently required that each prospective member develop a “Philosophy of Education”. This proved to be an excellent requirement that charged each member of the group to determine and to put in writing their chief objectives behind their decision to homeschool.

Our family’s philosophy of education included similar concepts that one might find in a business’ mission and vision statements. In establishing our own educational ideology we were recording the reasoning behind our choice to home educate. Through this simple, yet inspiring, one-page summary of our thoughts and goals, we preserved our purpose for our family’s home education course. Through the years we have modified our philosophy of education to better fit our family’s revised vision, while continually implementing the principles in our summary. This has proved to be a driving force, compelling us closer to the established goals for our children.

Take a look at our family's Philosophy of Education for some idea starters and tune in next time for more on how to develop your plan and set your goals! Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - A Heavenly Vision

"I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision."
Acts 26:19

Many eager new homeschool mothers, like the one described below, excitedly anticipate and plan for the start of their child’s first year of homeschool. This particular mother, to which many of us can so easily relate, spent month after month researching the many homeschooling methods, attending book fairs, as well as deciding which homeschool support group to join, what extracurricular activities to engage in and which curricula to order. In August, she made her first school supply trip to Wally’s World, rounding one corner to face a spectacular aisle full of lined paper, bright crayons, and themed notebooks for every subject. After she filled her cart and making these purchases, she ran home to find a beautiful big brown box sitting on her porch. While attempting to rip open the box, wrapped securely in many layers of packing tape, she scampered off hurriedly to find the scissors. After finally opening the box she reached in and pulled out various crisp new textbooks wrapped tightly in cellophane. She tore open the wrappers and flipped through each book, envisioning the excited look of her child as he completes each day of assignments with joy and excitement.

After surveying her treasures, she sat down one evening after another mapping out the lessons plans that would strategically guide her every move. She thoroughly studied the teacher’s guides and made countless notes as to how to teach each and every lesson. Upon the completion of her first few months of lesson plans, she felt satisfied. She was confident in the important decisions she had made and in her preparedness for the year ahead.

On the first day of school, this new homeschool mother carefully prepared a nutritious meal fit for her little scholar. After breakfast and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, she carefully placed her pristine and meticulously prepared lessons plans on her desk and arranged the school workbooks and tools on the desk of her child.

A few months later, as the schedule set in and the feeling of drudgery loomed overhead, she surveyed the damage. Before her stood a laundry pile that was close to the size of Mount Everest. She could not remember the last time her family ate a meal that was not brought in from outside world. The rooms in the house needed to be vacuumed and dusted, the dishes needed to be washed, the bathrooms needed to be cleaned. Frankly, the house work was overwhelming and out of control.

On the academic side of things, she had discovered that her child was slow in learning to read. He often seemed distracted and did not want to remain still for very long. Academically, he seemed much better off when he had been enrolled in the local school, and the house was certainly more intact and clean when she did not face the distraction of homeschooling. Maybe she should just throw in the towel, admitting her failure, and send him back to a school where teachers were more qualified to teach and instruct him, and which allowed her to accomplish simple daily tasks without constant distractions and interruptions.

Oswald Chambers once said, “At the beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed into the practical work and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it.” Did this mother formulate good plans? In some ways, yes, she did. She planned the academic work and extracurricular activities with a vision in mind, but she failed to prepare a detailed vision of the end result of years of homeschooling. She focused on the struggle of the here and now, attentive to the bullet points on her list of practicalities, rather than pushing forward while relying on a documented long-range vision of success.

She really was making progress, but she failed to see the progress she was making, because she was rushing around, worrying that she was not able to check off what she viewed as being most important to a well-rounded education. She failed to keep her eyes fixated on the finish line, for which she should have been aiming all along.

Successful execution of a mission, such as home educating your children, demands a resolute and unwavering vision driven by goals. When the goals are established and a method for accomplishing them is developed, the goals create a vision which motivates and sets a finish line for which to aim.

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Homeschool Failure - A Plan of Action

Over the last few years, I have received numerous visits to my blog after women searched the World Wide Web for articles or websites related to the term, “homeschool failure”. One of the articles on this blog, which mentioned the phrase “homeschool failure”, prompted the search engines to list my blog as the top search result. The many hits I received prompted me to ask myself who was searching repeatedly for articles pertaining to failure in home education. The answer was one of two possibilities. These cyber investigators either consisted of those looking to scathe the respected reputation of homeschoolers; searching the web for a list of people that have given up in their endeavor to educate their children at home, or they were homeschool mothers reaching out to desperately seek encouragement, after feeling trampled in the undertaking of homeschooling their children. My guess is that it was the latter, more often than it was the former.

After seeing these website visits appear again and again, year after year, I began to search on my own for resources that addressed the feelings of these homeschool mothers that felt as though they have failed or are in the process of failing at home educating their children. Much to my surprise, I found that there was little more than a short encouraging word or a to-do list that addressed this issue that faces every homeschool mother at one time or another. While the attempt of the author’s article to solve the problems of these mothers is worthwhile, they were not specifically addressing these concerns with Scripture and realistic solutions that one could apply to many different areas of concern within this broad definition of failure in homeschooling. One of the handfuls of articles contained a concise to-do list, but it still lacked the all-important spiritual foundation on which to firmly plant one’s feet. A Biblical base is something so essential to the survival of a family’s home education journey that I have a tough time understanding just how this watered down information could offer a woman a permanent and long-lasting solution. There was so much more that could have been said about this subject that I felt the leading of God to write a series on the subject of "Homeschool Failure".

Whether or not you realize it, all mothers deal with issues of inadequacy and inferiority on a regular basis. We all feel as though we are failures at one time or another. You are not alone. When beginning to conduct research for this topic, I heard from many mothers who felt as if their shortcomings were destroying all that their children “could be”. They felt their fear of failure encouraging them to pull out of their homeschooling endeavor. These precious moms desperately needed to know that they are not and never will be failures in God's eyes. God has given each of us every tool and resource we need to complete the task placed before us. Each and every homeschool mom – myself included - needs to come face to face with the limited capabilities of our humanness. We must become skilled at continually abiding in God’s infinite power to sustain us in our calling, remembering that there is no such thing as a homeschool failure when the proper foundation has been laid down. You can do this with a focused direction, a graspable vision, a clear plan of action and God’s help!

"I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:17

Keep watching for more posts that encourages those who feel like "Homeschool Failures". Sign up to receive e-mails or follow this blog on the left hand sidebar! Check out other posts under the category: Homeschool Failure!

Wouldn't Trade This Life for Anything....

How quickly tiny bundles of joy grow! How fleeting are the lives we live! How ungrateful we are in times of stress for the blessings of little ones!

As a mother, many of us tire of the thankless hours and sheer amount of work that comes with motherhood. I, however, treasure all my sleepless nights, my cleaning of vomit and my endless loads of laundry all for....the smiles and memories that I make with my precious children!

I can't help but think what fools are they who intentionally refuse these sweet and precious blessings called children! There is no trial, hardship or everyday drugery that I would trade for an empty (or less empty) house and deafening quiet!

How do you do it with "all those kids"?

"People ask me all the time how I do it with all "those"
kids. I do it by the grace of God. My mind isn't focused on this earth, it's focused in Heaven. That's where my "me" time is, that's where my peace is! That's where my vacations, riches and treasures lie. So when I get frustrated, I remember that my goals are Heavenly. This world is dying but I will live forever
doing God's will." - Anna Cross

Sometimes life as a wife, mother, homemaker and homeschooling mother can get overwhelming. When you add in a newborn, 8 sick children, 3 solid weeks of illness and then the hospitalization of your 2 week old for RSV and viral pneumonia, which then adds up to close to 4 weeks with 2 hours of sleep per night....you could really pull your hair out and want to throw in the proverbial towel. However, the focus must remain on the prize!

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

Keep on going, mamas! Your job is IMPORTANT and your focus should be HEAVENLY!

Make Midwifery LEGAL in North Carolina! Sign the Petition!

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The Homekeeper's Woes - If Only I Could Keep This House Clean for 20 Minutes!

Do you ever wish that you could keep something in your house clean for more than 2 minutes?

Do you ever wonder why the kids can't keep their sticky hands off of the walls or their muddy shoes off of your newly mopped floor?

Are you ever incredulous as to why your husband has to rifle through the neatly organized sock drawer looking for a pair of socks that were on top to begin with?

I know that we have all thought these thoughts, as homekeepers, at least twice every day! I've been there myself many times. However, how can we think like that if we realize what we have and what rewards we are reaping in the process of this entire homekeeping experience? Think of Proverbs 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox."

Labor has its rough, unpleasant side, yet it ends in profit. So also, the life of contemplation may seem purer, "cleaner "than that of action. The outer business of the world brings its cares and disturbances, but also "much increase." There will be a sure reward of that activity in good works for him who goes, as with "the strength of the ox," to the task to which God calls him. (from Barnes' Notes)

What if we had no "oxen"? Yes, our homes would be neat and clean. We'd be able to sit down with our cups of coffee or tea and read a good book for hours each day. The floor would only need to be mopped once a month. And, come to think of it, sock drawers would never again have to be organized because we would always keep them the way we had so meticulously arranged!

What if the Lord had not given us a husband or children? What would our lives be like anyway? They would certainly be much different. Would you really trade all that for a clean floor, clean walls and a bit of simple organization? I wouldn't dream of it!

I know that someday I will wake up to find that God has closed my womb. My children will have grown up and gone to raise their own families. Yes, my house will be clean and tidy. Yes, I can take a coffee break any time I choose. Maybe I'll still be taking care of my husband and meeting his needs in the area of keeping our home, but maybe he will have gone to Glory ahead of me.

We never know what the future holds. We need to appreciate the tasks set before us NOW by God! We need to take pride in our God-given roles of wife and mother! When we get discouraged, we really need to focus on what life would be like without our precious children and husband. I doubt that any of us would truly be willing to sacrifice all that we have for a little relaxation and ease. Think of our reward when we have raised Godly children for Jesus and helped our husband, as God had called us to do! How great is our reward!

Remember...."Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox." Proverbs 14:4

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Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

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What could the average family do with an extra $3,000 a year? “America’s Cheapest Family” shows you how to use strategies, tips, tools, and tricks in Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half so that you, too, can achieve huge savings year after year. It’s a fact, the Economides say: saving money on groceries is one of the quickest ways to start making a positive difference in your family’s financial future.

And these tips and strategies can work whether you’re shopping for seven or for one!

Spend less time shopping and cooking
Get more bang for your organic buck
Discover kitchen tools that simplify and streamline meal preparations
Learn many ways to eat out or eat in and save big
Turn your freezer into a money-making machine

By Steve & Annette Economides. Paperback. 272 pages.

America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money

As you read America’s Cheapest Family, you’ll feel like you’re getting your own private coaching session from two frugal experts who preach what they practice. Steve and Annette Economides, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo, include lots of stories — their own, and the stories of others they've helped. You'll be taken through every area of a household budget, from clothes to cars and lots more in between, as you discover how to trim debt and develop the right budget for your home.

Learn to save money and time on feeding your family, plan fun and inexpensive recreation, and even take great vacations — all without debt. It's not about formulas and calculations, it’s more about figuring out what’s really important to your family, and then making it happen.

Get a first-hand “behind the scenes” look at how this frugal family has lived, raised five happy kids, paid off their first house in nine years, never had a car payment, and had lots of family fun along the way.

By Steve & Annette Economides. Paperback. 288 pages.

Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family

Moms have many tasks to tackle and obstacles to overcome: the laundry monster, household clutter and cleaning needs, caring for babies and little ones, menu planning and mealtime routines, town outings, homeschooling, bill paying—and even more!

Like many wives and mothers, author Kim Brenneman didn’t start out with all of the answers. She struggled to figure out: What do I do next? What’s the best way to actually do the many things that need to be done? And how do I get everything accomplished in a 24-hour day and keep my sanity?

In Large Family Logistics, Kim outlines practical solutions she has learned to effectively manage a busy household. This how-to manual is filled with step-by-step procedures, easy-to- understand organizational advice, and a myriad of tips and hints for managing a bustling home with greater efficiency in a way that honors God and builds up family relationships.

Sensible and straightforward, Kim tackles the nitty- gritty, day-to-day challenges moms face and also offers sound counsel on how to plan and accomplish long-term domestic goals. An invaluable home management resource that will equip busy moms to get beyond survival mode and thrive!

Large Family Logistics has lots of helpful ideas to encourage moms to prioritize their lives and get their surroundings organized using creative methods. These tips will free up time and allow moms to stay focused on their children's hearts. —Michelle Duggar of '19 Kids and Counting' How I would have loved to have had a manual like this when I first started having children! Kim's eminently practical book offers real solutions to a multitude of the logistical issues of running a household, and these solutions apply whether you have a household of two or twenty! —Beall Phillips, mother of 8 and author of Verses of Virtue

Problem Solving How-Tos Include:

Fit it All in a Day
Take Control of Clutter
Conquer the Laundry Monster
Homeschool a Large Family
Manage Your Family's Expenses
Train Older Children to Help Younger Children
Achieve Good Physical Health
And Much More!

By Kim Brenneman. Hardback. 312 pages.

Fix, Freeze, Feast 125 Recipes

Learn how to buy groceries in bulk, prepare family-friendly meals, freeze appropriate portions in labeled bags, and defrost and serve whenever a quick, homemade meal is needed. Fix, Freeze, Feast presents a complete system for getting organized and putting healthy, satisfying meals on the dinner table. Most recipes begin with a warehouse club tray pack of chicken, beef, or pork, and include instructions for dividing, preparing, and storing the raw ingredients. A second set of simple directions describes how to thaw and cook the food. With Fix, Freeze, Feast, dinner is always in the freezer!

By Kati Neville & Lindsay Tkacsik. Hardback. 250 pages.

Just In Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens

Disaster can strike at any time. Be one of the prepared few by following Kathy Harrison's practical plan for emergency self-sufficiency. Learn how to evaluate, organize, and rotate your food supply; pack an evacuation kit; protect important documents from fire; develop a communications system; make nutritious soup with canned and dried pantry items; and entertain the kids in difficult circumstances. Everything you need to know to survive when public services fail is covered in this essential guide to family preparedness.

"An ideal preparedness guide for families." - James Wesley Rawles, editor of SurvivalBlog.com

"This book has information that will save lives." - Russel L Honore

By Kathy Harrison. Paperback. 240 pages.

Nagging Your Children About Chores?

Solution: "Inspect what you expect"! - Large Family Logistics

After your children know what's expected and can properly accomplish their chores, INSPECT WHAT YOU EXPECT....and do so DAILY! Wow, what a novel idea!

Love that book! Click on the image below to order your copy....great instructional book for moms of large [or small] families!

Ear Trainers - Part 2

Part 1 HERE

"Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
(Galatians 3:2,5)

Have you ever thought of the words, "the hearing of faith?" Before we
have faith, we must hear first. Faith is not an airy fairy thing that is
based on nothing! It is only true faith if it is based on the Word of God.
Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God."

This is why it is so important for mothers to be ear trainers. We must
train our children to hear and obey us so they can hear and obey the
Word of God. We must train our children not just to hear words, but to
get into the habit of listening with their heart and inner ears.

Not only do we train them to have obedient and prompt ears, but we
train them how to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks
through the hearing of the Word of God. Timothy came to faith by
listening to the Scriptures as a child. 2 Timothy 3:15 says, "From a
child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee
wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." We don't
wait until our children are older to read them the Word of God. We
start from when they are babies. The little babe nursing at the breast
can hear the God's words at Family Devotions every evening and
morning. The little toddler rocking on his mother's or father's knee at
Family Devotions is being prepared for salvation as he listens to
living words of God.

In his book, How to Have a Family Altar by Norman V. Williams
states, "Babies have ears to hear with! They have hearts to believe with!
The Holy Spirit who holds the reins of that child's mind and heart is
mightily present to bless when you give the Word of God! ...It is your
duty to exhort your child daily with the blessed Word of God. If you
do that, you will be amazed to see what the Holy Spirit will do in that
little heart! ... This is the family altar-bringing our children to Christ in
His Word that He might touch them!"

Paul also speaks to Timothy about being "nourished up in the words of
faith" (2 Timothy 4:6). We will nourish our children in the words of
faith as we teach them how to listen. The more they hear (listening
beyond words to the voice of the Holy Spirit illuminating the Word),
the more they will walk in faith. We don't want our children to know
"the letter of the law" but the anointing of the Spirit of God upon the
Word, because "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life"
(2 Corinthians 3:6).*

Jesus reprimanded the people for having "dull ears"
(Matthew 13:15-16). The writer of Hebrews could not reveal the
"strong meat" to his readers because they were "dull of hearing."
(Hebrews 5:11-14) May God save us from having dull ears. May
He save us from raising children who have dull ears.

"The hearing of faith" also shows us how important it is to encourage
one another with the words of God. This is why we should not forsake
"the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day
approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).When we confess the truths of the
Word of God to one another's ears we build one another up. That'sThe more
we come together and affirm the truth to one another, the more we
increase each other's faith. why we need one another.

Hebrews 12:25 says, "See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For
if they did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, much
more shall we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from
heaven."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, please help me to nourish my children up in the Word
of God by reading it to them daily. Help me to teach them how to
listen to me so they will know how to hear words from heaven. In
Jesus' name, Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am teaching my children how to hear the One who speaks from
heaven!

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and
keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them
out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the
week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller,
highlight and change to a smaller font.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you
are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe
by sending a blank email to wlmailhtml:%7B552712D4-9F57-4472-926F-30CA275CA659%7Dmid://00001001/!x-usc:mailto:subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

Overcoming Sinful Pulls of the Flesh

"Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Galatians 5:24

As we can see from the above verse, we most certainly have the power to rid our lives of those nagging fleshly desires. Maybe your fleshly desires include procrastination, being easily angered by your husband or children, or not being consistant in disciplining and training your children. Whatever your downfall remember that since we have been crucified with Jesus, by way of our salvation, and that salvation is what enables us to conquer our flesh. However, to succeed in doing this, we must be purposeful in defeating what our natural man is calling us to do. Take every thought captive and make it obedient unto Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). When every thought is taken captive and called to obedience, then your actions will follow. You can defeat your natural man's sinful desires! Be purposeful and surrender your own selfish rights and desires, in order to bring Glory to God and acheive His purpose for you in life!

Ear Trainers - Part 1

"The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise. He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding." Proverbs 15:31-32

What is the first thing we should teach our children? When
I ask women this question at seminars they give me lots of
very good answers, but usually not the one I am looking for.
What is my answer? I believe that the first thing we teach
our children is how to listen.

If children do not learn how to hear, they will not learn to
obey. If they do not learn to listen, they will not learn to
hear the voice of God speaking to them. If they do not learn
the art of listening, they will not learn to acquire knowledge.
If they do not learn how to hear, they will not come to faith,
because "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word
of God" (Romans 10:17). How you train your children to
hear will determine their relationship with God!

It is possible to hear but not really hear. That's why Jesus
constantly said, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." We
have to learn to listen with our ears but this takes training.

All parents are ear trainers. By the way we parent; we train
our children to have obedient ears-or, disobedient ears, lazy
ears, dull ears, defiant ears, resistant ears, gullible ears or
even forgetful ears. What kind of ears are you training your
children to have? When you ask them to do something but
they take no notice of you, you are training them to have
defiant ears. When you ask them to do something but they
delay doing it, they have dull ears. When you ask them to
do something, but they don't bother doing it until you have
asked for the sixth time and by now you are shouting, you
are telling them that they do not have to obey until the sixth
time! You are producing lazy ears. What will God have to
do to get their attention?

What kind of ears does God want our children to have?

SHAMA EARS
When God told Solomon that he could ask God for anything
he liked, Solomon responded by asking for "an
understanding heart" (1 Kings 3: 9). The margin in my
Bible gives "hearing" for "understanding." The Hebrew
word is shama and means, "to hear with attention and
obedience, to give undivided listening attention." This is
what Solomon wanted more than anything else, more than
riches and fame-a hearing heart. May God give us wisdom
to teach our children how to have hearing hearts.

The word shama is synonymous with obedience. Proverbs
25:12 says, "As an ear ring of gold and an ornament of fine
gold is a wise reprover to an obedient (shama) ear."

Proverbs 1:5 says, "A wise man will hear, and will increase
learning." There is no way we can teach our children to be
wise without teaching them to hear with undivided attention.

QASHAV EARS
When King Saul disobeyed the word of the Lord, the prophet
Samuel came to him and said, "Hath the Lord as great delight
in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of
the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
hearken (qashav) than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as
the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

The word qashav describes acute hearing. It means "to prick
up the ears, sharpening them like an alert animal." Children
with qashav ears will be ready for God to use as soldiers in
His army.

TACHUS EARS
James 1:19 says, "Let every man be swift (tachus) to hear."
This Greek word means, "prompt or ready." Most Bibles
translate it as "quick to hear." It describes instant
obedience. True hearing results in immediate action. I
used to say to my children, "Delayed obedience is
disobedience."

How do we teach our children this kind of hearing? As soon
as they can understand a command, we teach them to obey
that command. But before they can obey, we must make
sure that they have heard us. Sometimes, you may have to
get your little child to repeat your command to make sure
they have heard you. Don't yell commands from another
room. Always give commands eye to eye and face to face
so that you know your children have heard what you ask
them to do. When you know that they have heard, teach
them how to obey straight away. Don't accept anything less.
This takes time and effort, but remember, mother, you are
an ear trainer! This is one of your most important tasks as a
parent!

May God help us to be parents who train prompt and
obedient hearers.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:
"Oh God, please forgive me for not diligently training the
ears of my children. Please help me to train children who
have obedient ears. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:
I am a diligent ear trainer!

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them
out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again.
Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a
magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this
devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change
to a smaller font.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions,
you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can
subscribe by sending a blank email to
subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

The Obedience of Scripture vs. The Obedience of Selfish Desires

The obedience of Scripture should be the first and foremost of our goals as single women, wives, mothers, and homemakers. Whatever we do in life without the confines, direction, and obedience of Scripture makes our roles ineffective and unproductive. Ultimately, it destroys the Lord’s plan for our roles and fails to bring Him the Glory. If we set out to make up our own rules and goals for our lives – ignoring Scripture – because in our weak flesh we cannot or will not hold to that biblical standard, we will destroy all that God has intended for us to do. We will miss out on all that He planned because we steered our own course and maintained our own selfish desires. Read the rest of my post here on At The Well...