Fruitbearers

                              (releases today, March 13th, rated PG) Christian Cinema:   http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4094 About the Movie:   Matthew Stevenson is a troubled kid from a broken home. When he vandalizes the local church to get back at his parents, Matthew has to repair the damage to the church to avoid criminal charges. While working at the church, he meets Ernest ( John Ratzenberger ), an accomplished wood carver who created the intricate woodwork decoration that Matthew destroyed. Ernest has become something of a hermit, but reluctantly comes out of reclusion to help repair the church. Now Ernest and Matthew must work together to preserve the church's beautiful antiquity, and along the way, they also manage to restore their faith in God and in life. My Thoughts and R...

" What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? " (Matthew 16:26) Our sons' salvation should be our most important concern and most urgent prayer need. If they succeed in everything, receive praise and approval from all men, gain the riches of the world, yet they are not saved... that would be the greatest tragedy I could ever think of. My husband and I prayed for our children's salvation before they were born...even before they were conceived. In fact, I believe I prayed that God would not allow us to have a child if that child will not be saved by Him/will not choose Christ; I just could not (still cannot) bear knowing that any of my children's souls will end up in hell for eternity. Study Questions 1. Can you recall a time when you sensed your son's heart was soft to the message of the Gospel? Describe what happened here. They realized they needed a Savior. They repented and desired to obey God's Word. 2. Do yo...

This is my catch-up post :). I have been praying but have not had time to blog about it until now. We're in the middle of praying the Scriptures for our sons through the fruit of the Spirit: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL. As you can tell from my blog's title, we're raising our children to be fruitbearers :). Study Questions 1. There comes a time in every child's life, when the sin-nature starts to show its ugly head. For Brooke and her husband, this came accompanied by a difficult, life-altering challenge that made it difficult for them to train their son. Can you relate? Yes. One of our sons has special needs and special challenges. 2. When things don't go as you planned, and life seems to throw you a curve-ball, what is your heart's response? Do you get angry with God? Stop talking to Him? My heart's response was sorrow, grief, and disappointment. I don't get angry with God. I talk to Hi...

Today, I read about Daniel, a man of faith and integrity, on pp. 20-21. I prayed the Scriptures about avoiding foolishness for my sons. Study Questions 1. Take a moment and think about your dreams for your sons. Be honest. Do you dream of having sons who are “without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace?” Of course :)! Seriously, I dream of having sons who love and trust God completely and live purposefully for Him. " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ." (Proverbs 1:7a) " For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding ." (Proverbs 2:6) 2. While attending a homeschool conference, Brooke heard Ken Ham, of Answers in Genesis, say “I would rather my children be ditch diggers and love Jesus, than PhDs and go to hell.” What is your response to this quote? I agree. " What good will it be for a man if ...

Today, I read pp. 17-18. I prayed the Scriptures on integrity for my sons. " Integrity can be defined as firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values or the quality or state of being complete or undivided. Someone who stands up for what is right no matter who is around. " (from the Warrior Prayers Leader Guide) I would like to add that integrity also includes standing up to defend what is right and fight what is wrong...come what may. " A person with inte grit y has 'grit'....Never mistake respectability for integrity. Respectability can come because of fear, power, position, or wealth. Integrity requires none of these. It stands on its own character. " (~Brent D. Earles) I made up an acronym for I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y. I mitating Christ N o compromise T ruthful E arnest G rounded in God's principles R eliable I mmovable in righteousness T rustworthy Y ielding to Christ Study Questions 1. At the beginning of this chapte...

I'm participating in the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons based on the ebook, Warrior Prayers : Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most  by  Brooke McGlothlin . This prayer challenge officially starts today. We are assigned to read pp.13-14 in the ebook. The topic for today is The Importance of Obedience. I prayed the Scriptures on obedience and submission to authority on pp.15-16 for my sons. Study Questions 1. Describe the first time your son(s) deliberately disobeyed you. Did you recognize it immediately? How did it make you feel? I honestly don't remember the first time my sons deliberately disobeyed me. I'm sure I recognized it immediately :). I probably felt sad and upset. I've heard before that even if your children did what you told them to do but chose to do it later (not when you indicated) or do it a different way than you told them to (thinking they knew better = pride) or do it grudgingly (wrong attitude), then they still have not ob...

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner, Sarah! I used random.org to select the winner. About  The Crossmaker DVD  (Ages: Story 3+ Art Lesson 6+) THE EASTER STORY: Dominic, the son of a carpenter, finds himself drawn into the unforgettable trial of the man called Jesus. Share in this amazing adventure that takes Dominic from Christ's crucifixion to a place of redemption, and a face-to-face meeting with the risen Christ. See The Light chalk artist Gloria Kohlmann draws her stunning interpretation of the Easter story. This DVD includes three art lessons: 1. GLORY! See The Light artist Heidi Shorts teaches on the art of Creative Lettering 2. HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN! See The Light Art Club Master Teacher Pat Knepley leads budding young artists in a step-by-step drawing lessons using chalk pastels. Plus, create your own black light reveal! 3. THREE CROSSES ON A HILL. See The Light's Jim Pence gives a tutorial in water colors as young artists ...

Welcome, everybody, to our family's blog.  You can read about us on the left sidebar.  Our homeschool's name is "Children of Light Christian Academy".  " For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord ."  (Ephesians 5:8-10)  Our homeschool's motto is "Let's shine brightly for Jesus!" We homeschool our three precious blessings: 17 year old daughter , 12 year old son , and 9 year old son.  We have been homeschooling since 1999.  We mix and match our resources to meet our kids’ individual learning styles and interests .  Grade level is not emphasized.  Their skills and abilities are taken into consideration more than their ages.  We have flexible structure/routine.  We take time to dig deeper when there’s an interest.  We read (a lot), research, create...

This past week (Monday to Friday) my kids participated in a Vacation Bible School (VBS) at a local church where one of our friends attend.  My daughter was one of the helpers.  This is her second year of helping VBS at that church.  She decorated the church, set up the props, prepared snacks, counted the offering, etc.  My boys (natural athletes) enjoyed all the sports and games while learning about living and winning God’s way.    The VBS’s theme is God’s All-Star Champions (wearing God’s gear, "the full armor of God.")  My 7 yo son was one of the 3 kids who succeeded at memorizing Ephesians 6:11, 13-18 (putting on the full armor of God).  My daughter already had that memorized so she was able to help her brother memorize the verses.  My 4 yo son managed to memorize other shorter verses.  At home we always encourage one another on Bible memorization.  We try to keep it fun and interesting while reminding our kids ...