Sacrificial Love

Last week, my challenge was to unplug. While it was impossible to unplug completely, because my curriculum is stored in my computer since it’s digital, I did remain unplugged during our lesson time and let me tell you – it made such a difference. So much so that from now on that’s how I’m going to do it everyday. I am going to keep away from any personal computer time while we still have lessons to complete; even for short breaks.

It helps me focus on first things first. Woot!

This week, I am going to work on walking in sacrificial love for my family. There is always areas of improvement for this and that’s what I want to focus on this week.

Jesus said,

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

I want to run to the Father in recognition that it is not me who is able, but Him alone.

Would you like to join us this week? You can find the instructions here.

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Do You Home School? I Need Your Help

Or even if you don’t…I just wanted to point you in the direction of my up-til-now-stagnant-home-school-blog.

For a year I have focused heavily on Journey to a Gracious Woman – and I gotta be honest–I am fresh out of ideas at the moment. True, I am still learning things. But, I’ve come to a point in my life where homeschooling is beginning to take precedence over everything else. My daughter is in “second grade” yet is working far above this level. In addition, I have added a preschooler to the mix this year. Life is BUSY!

I need to shift my focus a bit – OK a lot!

No, I’m not leaving Journey to a Gracious Woman in the dust. It is still going to be housing my experiences, testimonies, challenges and encouragement. Just not everyday. Probably closer to a few times a week.

I kept going back and forth with the idea of turning my blog into a business…but seriously…God keeps telling me NO. Loud and clear. This is just not the season for it.

Anyways, please come by Journey of Discovery and say hello.

And, if you are a homeschooler, DEFINITELY come by so I can link up with you and we can bounce ideas and encouragement off each other! We need all the support we can get, right?

Well, if you check out my blog, you’ll see, since it’s still so new, NOBODY knows it’s there and I’m feeling quite lonely! I can’t spread the word on my own and need other homeschoolers to connect with…so if you could help me “get the word out”, I’d so appreciate it!

I am in no way promoting this blog for business or any other type promotion. I am simply looking for a support system.

I have listed my blog on Networked Blogs, and also set up a BlogFrog Community.

I can’t keep up with much more than that and I know everyone connects in different ways.

Anyways, if you have any suggestions on how to connect with people without looking like you’re “self-promoting”, please let me know!

And pretty please connect with me at my home school blog – Journey of Discovery. It would mean the so much to me.

 

Titus 2 Mentors – Rubies

Kimberly of Raising Olives raised some questions this week for Titus 2 [older] women mentoring the younger women. She kind of challenged them (in a good way) to rise to the occasion and need of helping young wives and mothers.

Gathering from the many comments she received, many, many young women are without such a gem – a mentor.

It is a difficult road to travel without such help and encouragement. I have found myself keeping company in the circles of older women in my church. True, I do fellowship well with women my age as well. But I make it appoint to get into the company of such Titus 2 women.

Often, these beautifully seasoned wives and mothers do not realize what an impact they have on ladies like us. In fact, many would not see themselves fit to fill such shoes, even though we think the best of them! Humility is a trait that only adds to their beauty, don’t you think?

I developed a new page this week. It’s simply called “Rubies“, and it is comprised of women I have come across through blogging who, in my opinion, fulfill [even if imperfectly] the Titus 2 role of such a gem…far above rubies. Women who have mentored me, knowingly or unknowingly. Whether it be from reading their blogs alone, or conversing with them privately, in more depth. They have given me guidance, resources, encouragement, prayer, and patience.

Please, feel free to visit them and glean from them.

Do you have such a gem in your life? Is there someone whose blog you have read that has helped you from afar?

 

Homeschool Toolbar – Giveaway!

When I come across wonderful things like this I simply MUST share them with my readers!

The Home School Toolbar is doing a neat giveaway for their Blog Launch.

They are giving away…get this…Planet Earth. If you have never seen this, let me tell you, it is amazing. Amazing.

My kids LOVED it and were more than willing to sit through it. The pictures are captivating and BEAUTIFUL.

I loved it!

So click that little button up there and go enter!

 

 

The Closer I Get to Jesus

The closer I get to Jesus…the more I realize how much I need Him. It is difficult to pinpoint one spiritual discipline that has drawn me closest to Him. It seems they each play an important role, a different role, in building relationship, drawing me in, learning more about who God is…

But…since I should have to choose — I’ll talk about what has drawn me in these most recent months.

Journaling. I’ve journaled since I was a child–a tween–but not the way I have in recent months. The words I’ve recorded as of late are not just mine, but also God’s, speaking to me – simply because I’ve taken the time to listen.

I have equipped certain people for specific tasks. Will you please just cling to me and trust me?

My ponderings are mostly in the form of prayers, but I’ve learned I don’t need to use so many words. Just a few important words will do.

Father, renew my mind and help me keep a sound mind. Help me keep my mind on the eternal things.

I also make note of random thoughts or questions.

How can I leave yesterday in yesterday? How can I live today without fear that I won’t make the same mistakes I did yesterday?

Quotes:

Distractions is, always has been, and probably always will be, inherent in a woman’s life. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh – Gift From the Sea

Wherever you are, be all there. Attend to the beauty and bounty of each, singular moment. ~Ann Voskamp

Scriptures

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. -Proverbs 16:24

In addition to the words of my thoughts, I choose particular pictures or other sayings from old magazines that illustrate my heart.

Not surprising, I learned much of this from Ann @ Holy Experience – during her Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline series.

Have you a spiritual discipline that has drawn you closer with the Father? Please share with the community and read what others are sharing.

 

Does Reading the Bible to Preschoolers Really Matter?

YES!

When my 4-year old walks around quoting scriptures in context, it matters.

When he starts talking about what Jesus likes and doesn’t like, it matters.

When he says how much Jesus loves him, it matters.

Don’t underestimate what the Holy Spirit does in your children when you read them the written Word – even the adult Bible (which is what I use most of the time).

After all, it is not our job to change hearts…only to plant the seed. The Holy Spirit does the rest.

Are you planting seeds of truth in your child’s heart today? Be encouraged…the Holy Spirit will work…just persevere.

 

Memoirs of Diligence ~ Unplugged

My time of resting in Jesus went well. Didn’t rest in Him as much as I should have, but more than I normally do.

This week I am unplugged. Yep, I am taking some time away from the magnetic draw of the computer and going to focus on nothing but home. In retrospect, I want to train my heart to focus on home regularly…not just once in a while. So I’m unplugging for the week to start that process.

I’m hoping to unplug more and more in the future…whether one or 5 days a week or more. When you’ve built a habit of being on the computer as I have, it’s hard to break! So, yea, I am going to focus in on my home rather than everyone else’s.

Don’t forget to link up if you want to participate. You can find out how it works here.

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Blog Tour, part 2

Yesterday I took you through the tour of my sidebar and the purpose of everything on it.

Today I am going to take you through my pages which are located at the top of my blog, just over my banner.

The first page is labeled “Home” which is where you are at now. It takes you to the main part of my blog.

The next page is the “About” page and it gives you a little more detail about me and the purpose of this blog.

Next in line is the “Blog Roll” page. This carries buttons to blogs I read pretty regularly. Want to exchange buttons? Let me know!

Following that is the “Book Reviews” page. Now, this page lists all the book reviews I’ve done to date. They are categorized by adult, teen, and children’s. Also included in that page is my disclosure policy.

Second to last is my “Home School” page. I’ll be the first to admit, this page is far from complete. I can’t seem to decide what to include and how to include it. I’m hoping that as I spend more time filling up my home school blog with great content, I’ll be able to revise this page and make it great! Any suggestions? When you click on that page, what do you expect (or hope) to see?

Finally, my “Reflections” page. This is probably my favorite page. This page carries articles that I’ve written and articles from other writers that reflect my heart in so many ways. I use this page to store them and keep them separated as my favorite articles. I encourage you to check them out. There may be something there you can be encouraged by as well.

Thank you for taking this blog tour with me and I hope this gives you some better insights as to what this blog entails and all the little things that go with it!

 

Blog Tour, Part 1

Ok, so I thought it might be a good idea to kind of give you a tour of my blog, since things have changed around here a bit over the last couple of months.

Along the Sidebar

To the right you will find my only sidebar. I like it’s simple, clean cut look. It is equipped with:

• a search box so you can search my blog for specific topics
• a short bio and head shot of me w/ a button that describes me well, too
• a button where you can contact me by email (I once put my email just written out there and all the spammers found it. So having it embedded was a much wiser idea)
• Reader’s Favorite Posts–these are articles on this blog that have gotten the most traffic from you. I have them available on my sidebar for new readers who may want to see what all the fuss is about (trust me, I’m still trying to figure it out!)
• A Woman’s Heart – this graphic was posted on an msn group several years ago and I snagged it as fast as I read it. It carried no copyrights and is really all over the net. The saying is anonymous, but it is so my heart and nothing could explain it better. Feel free to snag it, too, if you like
• Join Me Weekly – this is the button for the new meme I started a couple weeks ago. Clicking on it will take you to the page that tells you all about it and has the button code.
• Subscribe Here – you’ll find the reader’s stats here and if you click on it, it will take you to a page to subscribe to this blog
• Grab my Button – if you click on this button it will take you to a page with it’s code so you can add it to your own sidebar if you wish.
• My Home School Blog – this button will take you to my home school blog. I have decided, against all the best advice, to keep my home school blog separate.
• Currently Reading – I put this little section in just to let others know what books I’m reading. I always love seeing what everyone else is reading, so I decided to share as well! I do keep it updated.
• Edifying Pieces – this section is linked from del.icio.us with articles I’ve read that are excellent reads. There will be days I just can’t get to posting because life happens, so you can go here and read one of these awesome articles. And they really are awesome.
• Paths I’m Strolling – this section has been added to quite a bit. These are buttons showing what I’m doing around the web, which include3: contributing at Heart of the Matter, & contributing at Blissfully Domestic, (which are awesome sites, btw!); the 5:16 button which will take you to an awesome community of women with the desire to rise early to meet with Jesus; Faithful Bloggers is a fairly new place for bloggers who want to use their blogs to glorify the Lord. A definite must see, so please check it out; Fall Into Reading is a challenge put out by Callapidder Days to set a goal for reading what you can this fall. I’ve joined it and am still working through my list! It’s not too late to join in! There are some fantastic prizes to be had, too; finally, the book review buttons: Tyndale House Publishers and Thomas Nelson Publishers have a blog reviewer program which allows bloggers to review their products right on their blog. I enjoy getting the free books, sure. But I never request a book that I think I won’t like. In addition, my goal is not merely free books, but to point you, my readers, into the direction of great resources. Tomorrow, I will show you where you can find all the book reviews I’ve completed: sponsored and not.
• Topics-this is where the posts are filed. Click on a specific topic to take you to all the posts filed under it
• A Closer Look – this is all the tags I’ve used to further specify how an article is filed. So if you’re looking for something more specific then “Blogging”, you can look here and see that “Word Filled Wednesday” is a large part of my “Blogging” articles. (I just love that weekly meme!)
• My Favorite Sites – finally, this is a list of all my favorite links, complete with their classification. Please, check them out. They are the best places I have found on the web. Have one you’d like to share? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Visit me tomorrow to take the tour along my pages that are located at the top of the blog. Each are important to me and I want to share them with you. They are not only for my benefit, but for the benefit of my readers as well.

Consider journeying regularly? Subscribe here.

 

Jesus in my Everyday

I can’t rightly point at when I began communing with God throughout my days. I do remember a time when I would forget about even talking to Him for days on end – usually until I got to church. But somewhere along the road, I began talking with Him throughout my days and I can tell you this: I can’t go a day, even an hour, without conversing with Him in some way. He is so ingrained and woven into my being, He just can’t be separated from me (or I can’t be separated from Him).

That’s not to say that every part of Him is totally understood by me – obviously we know that’s impossible to begin with. But I sure do cry out to Him a lot! And He speaks back [when I remember to listen, ahem]. Yea sometimes it’s hard to listen. But His words are always wise. Always nourishing. Always true. They are refreshing and give me direction. Sometimes chastisement. Sometimes encouragement. And yet, sometimes when I am listening, He chooses not to speak – and that’s OK, too. There are times I need to meditate longer on what He spoke to me before.

His voice can be heard in different ways; through His living Word, through my own children, through the conscience called the Holy Spirit in my innermost being, through the writing of  others, through music. Those are the most frequented ways, but He has also spoken to me through others.

I can’t explain how I remain connected to Him – it’s just so natural now, it’s automatic. I don’t really have to think about it. The times I do need to plan for are those quiet, alone prayer times and more set apart Bible reading times. Often, though, I read the Bible to my children and eat from that. After all, it says the same thing to them as it would to me.

I do want to commune with Him in more constructive ways other than only crying out for help. I’d like to thank Him more. I’d like to praise Him more – especially through the rough spots. I’d like to give something back, rather than always be on the receiving end.

How do you stay connected to Jesus throughout your everydays? Won’t you join us at the Walk With Him community? Meet us over at Ann’s @ Holy Experience.