That's Using Your Noodle
OK, this girl is ready to craft! Lookee at the extremely inexpensive, really great, easy to create, and yes, even versatile wreath I found a how-to for at The Art of Doing Stuff blog. Seriously, check it out. Wait! Maybe you shouldn't, I might want to make you one for Christmas. *giggle, giggle* No, really, if your home's decor needs an inspiring intervention, a visit to The Art of Doing Stuff is in order.
On a more serious note, the president has declared today, May 5,A National Day of Prayer. Promiseland Home School felt honored to spend a portion of their morning joining others throughout our nation in lifting our nation and it's leaders up in prayer.
After having spent time in prayer for our nation this morning, our afternoon reading from The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel, seemed to have been selected specifically for today. I have no doubt that in fact it was. (Ephesians 1:11b) As the authors shared of the decline of focus on Christ and His way among the second and third generations of Puritans, our hearts were struck with the reality of similar sins in our own lives. The realization that these sins which our forefathers lived out and walked in still continue on in us today revealed a deep-seated need for us to spend time repenting for the sins of not only our nation but those we had unknowingly practiced personally.
Here is a portion of what was read :
"...just one generation after the arrival of the first comers. For faith was not something that could be passed on from generation to generation, or imparted by baptism or the partaking of Holy Communion. In order for faith to come to flower, it must be planted in the soil of gratitude.
But being born into town situations instead of having to carve them out of the wilderness, the succeeding generations would not know desperate need. They would grow up never knowing what it meant to be persecuted for one's faith; to be mocked and scorned or even imprisoned merely because they loved God enough to attempt to put Him and His will before all else. The sons of the fathers would never know what it was like to have no land no work and no say in how they were governed. They would have no indelible memories etched into their minds of ten, twelve, sixten weeks of wet misery on the open seas--of living in tents or holes in the ground, while cold and sickness took one in two--of starving times which saw them on their hands and knees looking for ground nuts or grubbing for mussels to stay alive--and all for the sake of their combined faith in the vision of a Promised Land.
Therefore they would not be inclined to put all their trust in God. It was by His grace that they and their parents were being blessed, and while they might give lip service to His grace, the truth was that since they had never known anything else, they could hardly share the gratefulness of their parents....
...When a man can look at his own two hands and know what they are able to do... when a man knows these things, he may well think that he does not need God as much. And then it will follow that he does not need other men, either."
The statement about faith not being something that can be passed from generation to generation, imparted by baptism, or received by taking Holy Communion it must be planted in the soil of gratitude caught and held my attention. Immediately the book by Ann Voskamp 1,000 gifts, came to mind. There it was again, the all-knowing, perfectly ordered, divinely placed work of God. Not for a second did I doubt that God has divinely planned for me to read a book about the life-changing power of thankfulness a.k.a. gratitude prior to reading the above words about faith. He is SO good to His children!
Did I say God is good? Oh yes, He is---all the time. Every time I spy the baby pepper, tomato, squash, and flower plants growing in the dining room windows, I remember it more and more. Just a few short weeks ago, these plants were tiny seeds nestled down in the the moist earth. Now they are small plants reaching their tiny arms up to the sun, longing for it's warming touch to help them grow. I pray that I'm like those plants, holding up these human arms of mine to the Son, longing for His touch to cause me to grow. I'm like those tomatoes you know. It's only when the the rain of the Holy Spirit and the warmth of the Son fall on me that I can grow and produce fruit that can be used to nurture and feed those around me. Oh God, hear I am, help me grow strong and sure in You. I want my life to produce fruit that will comfort, cheer, heal, and nurture others. How I pray that they will know it is You nourishing and healing them through me. God glorified, now and forever, in Jesus' name, Amen.
On a more serious note, the president has declared today, May 5,A National Day of Prayer. Promiseland Home School felt honored to spend a portion of their morning joining others throughout our nation in lifting our nation and it's leaders up in prayer.
After having spent time in prayer for our nation this morning, our afternoon reading from The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel, seemed to have been selected specifically for today. I have no doubt that in fact it was. (Ephesians 1:11b) As the authors shared of the decline of focus on Christ and His way among the second and third generations of Puritans, our hearts were struck with the reality of similar sins in our own lives. The realization that these sins which our forefathers lived out and walked in still continue on in us today revealed a deep-seated need for us to spend time repenting for the sins of not only our nation but those we had unknowingly practiced personally.
Here is a portion of what was read :
"...just one generation after the arrival of the first comers. For faith was not something that could be passed on from generation to generation, or imparted by baptism or the partaking of Holy Communion. In order for faith to come to flower, it must be planted in the soil of gratitude.
But being born into town situations instead of having to carve them out of the wilderness, the succeeding generations would not know desperate need. They would grow up never knowing what it meant to be persecuted for one's faith; to be mocked and scorned or even imprisoned merely because they loved God enough to attempt to put Him and His will before all else. The sons of the fathers would never know what it was like to have no land no work and no say in how they were governed. They would have no indelible memories etched into their minds of ten, twelve, sixten weeks of wet misery on the open seas--of living in tents or holes in the ground, while cold and sickness took one in two--of starving times which saw them on their hands and knees looking for ground nuts or grubbing for mussels to stay alive--and all for the sake of their combined faith in the vision of a Promised Land.
Therefore they would not be inclined to put all their trust in God. It was by His grace that they and their parents were being blessed, and while they might give lip service to His grace, the truth was that since they had never known anything else, they could hardly share the gratefulness of their parents....
...When a man can look at his own two hands and know what they are able to do... when a man knows these things, he may well think that he does not need God as much. And then it will follow that he does not need other men, either."
The statement about faith not being something that can be passed from generation to generation, imparted by baptism, or received by taking Holy Communion it must be planted in the soil of gratitude caught and held my attention. Immediately the book by Ann Voskamp 1,000 gifts, came to mind. There it was again, the all-knowing, perfectly ordered, divinely placed work of God. Not for a second did I doubt that God has divinely planned for me to read a book about the life-changing power of thankfulness a.k.a. gratitude prior to reading the above words about faith. He is SO good to His children!
Did I say God is good? Oh yes, He is---all the time. Every time I spy the baby pepper, tomato, squash, and flower plants growing in the dining room windows, I remember it more and more. Just a few short weeks ago, these plants were tiny seeds nestled down in the the moist earth. Now they are small plants reaching their tiny arms up to the sun, longing for it's warming touch to help them grow. I pray that I'm like those plants, holding up these human arms of mine to the Son, longing for His touch to cause me to grow. I'm like those tomatoes you know. It's only when the the rain of the Holy Spirit and the warmth of the Son fall on me that I can grow and produce fruit that can be used to nurture and feed those around me. Oh God, hear I am, help me grow strong and sure in You. I want my life to produce fruit that will comfort, cheer, heal, and nurture others. How I pray that they will know it is You nourishing and healing them through me. God glorified, now and forever, in Jesus' name, Amen.
 |
| Reaching for the Sun |