Joyful Heart

We now have three young readers in our house! 
Scenes, like the one below, are becoming more common. 

So, how did we get here?

Lots of listening to stories being read – by mom, dad, grandmas, and especially older siblings…

Playing ABC games, doing letter sorts, and making letter art for upper and lowercase letter recognition and matching…

Playing sound games for matching letters to sounds, finding the same sounds, etc.

Enjoying rhyming/word family mini books and games and practice at building words…
    

Reading sight words in the context of predictable readers…

Practicing and reading sight words out of context in a fun way…

Beginning workbooks for letters, sounds, rhyming, word reading, and writing out of context…

Lots of easy reading practice…with leveled phonics readers…
   

Now, our son is excitedly reading anything he can- from leveled readers at the library, more challenging books from our bookshelves, or even reading aloud a few verses from Scripture with the family!

 

He has a sense of pride and success!

Our three readers have all made this progression, just at their own pace.  I love the excitement as the world of books and the joy of reading are opened up for each child!

On Sunday mornings, we have been doing a verse by verse study through the book of Matthew.  We recently came to a section (chapters 24-25) in which our pastor has titled ‘The End is Near’.  This was the topic at our small group one evening as well.  One question that I am still pondering from that evening is, ‘What would you do differently if you truly believed that the end was near?’

My first response was ‘Nothing.’  I am already home with our children, keeping them close, and training them.  I am already working with the children to hide God’s Word in their hearts.  I’m not trying to say that I have it all together and am doing things perfectly – I know that I am not!  However, I would need to continue to prepare food, wash dishes, and tend to the daily physical needs of our family.    I couldn’t stop being a mom and being faithful in the role and tasks He has given me to do.   What more could I do?

Then, another mom mentioned that she wouldn’t teach American history because it wouldn’t matter.  Now, that may sound strange, but that one small statement is something that struck me.   Right then and there, it hit me – the tension, the burden, the feeling of being bound each day to the academics…

If Christ were to return in a month (which, yes, I know the Bible specifically states no one will know the day or time of His return) or the doctors were to tell me that I had only one month to live (which, no, I am feeling quite well  and this is not the case mom), the academics would, without guilt, quickly and easily be set aside. Oh, the freedom!  There would be no more concern over how fluently my children read, whether they had all of their math facts solidly memorized, whether they could spell words correctly, nor any concern regarding whether they could form a well thought out and grammatically correct paragraph.

So, where would my focus lie?  I would like to think my focus would turn more toward worshipping Christ as a family through praise, thanksgiving, and song.  I would hope that we would be delving deep into His Word, fervently praying together, encouraging each other to stand strong in the Truth of His Word, and seeking ways to actively serve others.  I think we would gain a renewed sense of urgency to share the Gospel –our hope in Christ with others.  Even with a baby, toddler, and preschooler in tow, I think we would make a much more concerted effort to step out in faith.

(As a side note, if the situation was knowing that just I would die soon, I would seek out more one on one time with each of my children, play more games, sing and laugh more, and take time to write letters to them in order to encourage them to continue their walk of faith and to trust fully in our sovereign God.)

Although we accomplish a very small fraction of this while currently homeschooling, it is not at the forefront.  Sadly, the academics take precedence.  For example, if we are running behind or pressed for time, what is the first part of our day to be squeezed out?  Answer: our Bible reading and memorization time.  Another example is when our small group has a service project.  I often think what a great opportunity it would be to serve as a family.  Shortly after though, almost within the next breath, I experience difficulty figuring out the logistics and get frustrated.  I think ‘How do we make this work with a baby and his needs?’ (instead of just strapping him to my back and saying ‘Let’s go!’.)

How, as a homeschooling mom of young children, can I strike a balance between instilling a spiritual watchfulness and a life of faith in action with meeting the expectations for raising children who are more than competent to be an integral part of society, to work, and to lead the next generation?   There is a responsibility to educate our children to the standards and expectations of the society that we live in – to be in the world.  However, there is also a need to train them in our Lord’s ways – to not be of the world and focused solely on things in this present age.  There is a definite tension.  I have felt it for quite some time, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was until now.

I don’t have any answers….still praying and pondering…

So, what would you do differently in the day to day if you truly believed Christ’s return was eminent?   How does this affect what you do now, specifically in regards to your family and homeschooling?

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.  (1 Peter 4:7-11)

I’ve recently posted about our family memorizing Luke 2 and the birth of Christ which are great ways to look past the shopping, the gifts, and the food to prepare, in order to just slow down and focus our hearts and mind on the true meaning of Christmas.  However, it seems as though the older I get, the more I see Christmas not so much as the miraculous birth of Christ (which it definitely is), but more of the unfolding of God’s great plan and His deep love for us.

At this time of year, the question begs to be asked, ‘Why did God send His Son into the world?’  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  (1 John 4:9-10)

Yes, Jesus had a miraculous coming into this world, but He was born to die…for us.  Christmas is so much more than the birth of the baby.  It is about the cross that Christ grew up to carry.  His obedience to the Father.  His deep love for us, even while we were still sinners.  Jesus willingly left His heavenly throne to redeem His people.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…  (Luke 1:68-69)

When we celebrate Christmas — the birth of Christ and God’s great love for us, I can’t help but also reflect upon Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  At Christmas, we are truly rejoicing in the birth of our Savior – the One who has come to save us from our sins,  the Almighty, All powerful, King of  Kings, eternal God.  To Him belongs all glory, honor, and praise.

Wonderful Cross
Lyrics and song by Michael W. Smith

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My Richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
and the beauty and the shame
in the glory of His name

I saw this video shared on Facebook the other day and hesitantly clicked on the link.  I was skeptical at first, but as I watched I began to get goose bumps.  It is based off of the accounts in Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2 from the Bible.  It was very creatively done, taking the account of the birth of Christ and all the related events -bringing them to life with the likely real emotions  that accompanied each.  The joy at the end with the typing of  “It’s a Boy!” and “His name shall be Jesus.” are overpowering. 

Rejoice!  For our Savior has come!

 

This is just one of several Christmas videos that Igniter Media has created.  The ‘Paradox of Christmas’ and ‘Retooning the Nativity’ are two others that I thought were well done also.

This just in…

It may just be me, but doesn’t she sound like a little news reporter?

Our family has been trying to memorize Luke 2:1-20 this Christmas season.  It was intended to be just for my husband and I with the oldest three kids.  However, our 2 1/2 year old has often been present while we are reciting it and has quickly caught on to the words.  (Well, most of them.)  I am pleasantly surprised each day at how much the littlest lives in our home are able to learn and process in their hearts and minds.

Our little one only attempted the first 11 verses and wasn’t able to say all of the words, so here is Luke 2:1-20 (NIV, 1984 version) in its entirety…
(Free printables to use with the verses can be found here.)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were
just as they had been told.

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  The Savior has come!