Category: Encouragement

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66 Love Letters by Larry Crabb

I am reading Larry Crabb’s magnum opus,  66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God That Invites You into His Story. So far I really like it. Crabb  that takes you through each book of the Bible giving his opinion as to what message he believes God is trying to get across in each book.   It is written as a [...]

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Rethinking How & Why You Read the Bible

I encourage homeschoolers to have a daily Bible time and to try to read the Bible through in a year or two.  But this is not the goal. The Pharisees read the Bible daily and  memorized large portions it, but when the Lamb of God stood right in front of them they didn’t recognize Him. [...]

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Free Printable Bible Worksheets

Charlotte Mason said, “Now our objective in this most important part of education is to give the children the knowledge of God.” Kill two proverbial birds with one stone by having your children practice handwriting with these FREE printable Bible verses in manuscript, cursive, or D’Nealian. Below are links to the printable the pages I [...]

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I Desire to Do Good, But…

I make hundreds of little decisions a day, and many times I get them wrong. These are the things I don’t want exposed – things I prefer never to admit. But I must be open about how I have failed, because only then can God forgive me, cleanse me and use me. The words in [...]

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Living Loved and Dancing with the Trinity

I spent years steeped in shame, seeking acceptance in religion. See My Story Masked to Truefaced. The audio teachings below opened my eyes, freed me from shame, and allowed me to accept merciful God’s grace and love. Theologian Baxter Kruger has been teaching on the “Dancing Trinity” (Perichoresis) topic for years. A friend sent him [...]

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Two Different Views of God’s Wrath

The world has two enormously different views of God’s wrath and sin. The main view taught today is from Greek philosophy where God is detached and unapproachable and Jesus needed to suffer and die to appease God’s wrath intended for us. The Biblical view is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit  greatly loved us before [...]

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Spiritual Fruit Begins with Spiritual Rest

Jesus said He would give rest to those who were weary and heavy laden. Spiritual rest is not lying down to take a nap. God didn’t rest on the seventh day because He was tired. His rest was a cessation of labor. Rest is the opposite of work or striving; it is found in relationship [...]

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Trials are Lessons / Art Journaling

I went through a very painful, gut-wrenching trial. I was broken.

I was weak and close to developing serious bitterness so I asked several friends to pray.

Within the next 24 hours, I felt the answered prayers. I felt peace of God and gained the ability to pray lovingly for those that hurt me. I knew it was God, I was much too weak to come up with any love or forgiveness on my own.

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Free Handwriting Bible Verses

Charlotte Mason said, “Now our objective in this most important part of education is to give the children the knowledge of God.” Kill two proverbial birds with one stone by having your children practice handwriting with these FREE printable Bible verses in manuscript, cursive, or D’Nealian. Below are links to the printable the pages I [...]

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Heart of Wisdom Back to School Newsletter

Did you receive the Heart of Wisdom Back to School Newsletter? If you did not get this newsletter in your email you need to join the mailing list Click here to read the Heart of Wisdom Back to School Newsletter

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Tuesdays with Cancer Patients

There is no way anyone can spend a morning sitting between two cancer patients and not be changed. This week I sat between Linda and Stella talking about peaches.

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Do You Need a Church Building to Fellowship?

Define Church When you mention church most people think if the institutional church (IC) organization or a building. A place you have to go to fellowship if you are a Christian. But Bible defines the Church is Christ’s body; a living organism, it cannot be defined as a building or an organization because it is [...]

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Free Christian & Classical Ebooks for Homeschoolers

Free Ebooks and Apps to Read on Kindle, Computer, or Cell Phone Free books most homeschools would enjoy: Classics, Christian, clean fiction, health, children’s books and home organization. If you know of a free ebook you can add it to this list.  The books were free when listed but may not be later. These can [...]

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Ten Ways to Love

Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs 18)
Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)
Give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26)

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Jesus: The Center of All Things

The doctrine of the Trinity lies at the heart of really understanding who we are in Christ, but it’s a doctrine that just kind of sits on the shelf – it’s not really put forward, we don’t take it seriously…

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Oprah Got it Part Right

Oprah Winfrey’s final show received her highest TV ratings in 17 years according to Nielsen. I don’t watch Oprah a lot but she certainly hit the nail squarely on the head when describing the common thread that runs through all people. Here are some excerpts from Oprah’s Farewell Speech: [...]

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Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

Knowing who we are are in Christ (forgiven, righteous) gives us the mindset we need to walk with Him. A man held up a $100 bill to an audience. He asks “Who would like to have this?” Almost all hands raised. He crumpled the bill and asked again, “Who would like to have this crumpled?” [...]

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Bible Lessons & Lapbooks Index

We interrupt this blog to remind you we offer free Bible lessons and lapbooks. Click on the link to go to free lessons with handwriting printables, maps, lapbook booklets, external links, outlines, Bible study tools and more.

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Submission or Doormat Legalism?

There is dangerous trend in several homeschool movements that focus on obedience to man-made rules instead of God’s rules. Legalism is essentially opposed to grace. Biblical submission teachings are distorted to the point family life centers around the father of the home, rather than Jesus Christ. This legalism begins with a false teaching about woman’s [...]

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Make Friends with The Problems In Your Life

I have had a rough few days, hospitalized, poked, prodded and frustrated dealing with the medical system. I am home now after a blood transfusion and my blood counts are lower now than I went in. Translation- all that for nothing. I was throwing a little pity party this morning my sweet friend Dolores read [...]

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Spiritual Mountain Climbing

I’m doing the Transformation Challenge from the book Transformation by Bill Philips. Bill likens this 18 week journey from base to summit to mountain climbing. So I pulled up this post from the archive about spiritual mountain climbing. This Transformation process  includes physical (taking care of Gods temple), emotional, mental and spiritual. As Bill addresses the [...]

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Build a Tabernacle Model

When we began homeschooling (over 20 years ago), we built a model Tabernacle with Popsicle sticks, glue, paint and bits of fabric. It was one of the things that sparked my interest in our the Old Testament portraits of Christ. There are several kit models you can get to make your own Tabernacle.

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Faith is the First Step: But Whose Step?

Free Martin Luter King Lapbook!

Martin Luther King, Jr. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”I’ve often thought “Its a good thing God only gives the Light for a few steps at a time because if I saw any further down the road I’m not sure I would take the next step.”

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Three Little Words

“Christ in you” – three of the most powerful and earth-shattering little words ever conceived and transacted in all the created universe. Three little words that most churches and supposed teachers negate by their practice, if not their teaching. Three little words that mark that immeasurable and eternal chasm between heaven and hell, truth and the lie, Christ and anti-christ, holy and reprobate, heresy and light, doing and being, religion and the hope of glory.

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The Story: Read the Bible as One Seamless Story

The Story is a powerful, and rewarding way to read though the Bible to get the Big Picture. Condensed into 31 easy accessible chapters, The Story sweeps congregants into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events arranged chronologically.

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Are You Trying Too Hard?

Many Christians measure  their spiritual walk (and others)  based on a checklist of all that they have done for God. This easily leads to legalism and bondage. Jesus doesn’t want us to “do” because He has already “DONE” the work when He died on a cross for our sins. Our goal should not be  trying [...]

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The Importance of Studying Paul's Letters Chronologically

Paul’s 14 epistles found in our present Bible  is not chronological,  but sorted by length, in descending order form the longest (Romans) to the shortest (Philemon). When you understand this critical point you can study the epistles in chronological order and see the types of problems the Church encountered as the years passed and circumstances changed. [...]

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The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Teach Your Child

We all have one main purpose—to have a relationship with God, to bring glory to Him by the way we live our lives, by how we relate to Him and others (Matt. 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31).

When we are walking in that purpose we are where we are meant to be, we are swimming in the river of living water. Doing what we are created to do.Walking in the love, joy and peace of the Trinity–allowing that love to flow through us into others.

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Study the Highest Form of Worship

When Christians think of worship, images of the Sunday morning worship service come to view, with singing, praying, giving, preaching, and sharing the sacrament. Study is perhaps something that is done in preparation for worship, but could …

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An Easy Way to Make Homeschool Decisions

Every year I receive many, many emails from nervous, anxious, frustrated mothers trying to make decisions about the year’s new homeschool plans. Some are deciding to homeschool, some are deciding on teaching approaches, some are deciding on curriculum. The common thread is fear of making the wrong decision. Putting Things In Perspective Dear Ones, I [...]