Remember the Cross...

when you take sin lightly. This was something that Mitch preached about this Sunday, and as time has gone on I have realized that my thought process have not been tolerant to mine and others' sins. As a Christian body of Christ we have to look at sin as what took our Savior to the cross. As the world continues to take that for grated, we however cannot and should not. Why have we become immune to sin? Are we not reading the Gospel, and God inspired word?
One place that this has hit hard has been with entertainment. I come from parents that used to owe a video store, and I have seen almost any type of movie/show there is. Over time, I have eliminated horror flicks from my imagination (as I feel that if a movie can give me nightmares, then it no longer needs to be seen by me), lately I have noticed that many comedies are beginning to trouble me. One movie in particular "Knocked Up." I never in my wildest thought that the F-bomb could be used in all forms of grammar. However, it seems that I have steered clear from more shows than anything. "Family Guy" is a big one that Reson I watched every week, and later we eliminated all Seth McFarlene shows. The episode that got us turned off was when Bryan the dog convinced Meg to turn away from her new life as a Christian. There was some major insults flung, and Reson and I just couldn't do it. We had let this show make fun Jesus as a sinful man lusting over women, and we took it lightly. We kept watching after that, and it makes me sick to my stomach thinking back on that. However, by the grace of God, through His teachings from His word, we see things very differently. I am grateful for seeing things differently.
Now, comes the point when not only do my sins bother me, but those that I surround myself with that can effect my life. We must not take sin lightly, our Heavenly Father abhors it, and so must we. Remember the Cross! Remember that Christ shed his blood for the sins of the world, and we must not look upon things around us with tolerance. If we continue to live in sin there will come a point when He turns away. When you know the Gospel and hear it, and you still choose to live in sin with no repentance, Christ has no tolerance. Remember that the next time you take sin lightly. We have to use the armor of God to fight these battles. We cannot lean on our sinful earthly mind to handle the sin of world. We can only rely on the armor of God in the Word.

The Whole Armor of God

 ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we^[c] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^{[d] 16} In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^{[e] 17} Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.^[f]
 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.^{[g] 20} I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

"Unplugging the Thumb"

Well... I have to stop Luk from doing the one thing that really keeps him from being a BIG boy. Luk is a thumb sucker, but I have to say that he is not like an obsessive thumb sucker. He usually only does it at nap time or bed time. He doesn't usually do it just to do it. If you ask him why he is sucking his thumb he will say that he is tired. It is even something that I don't have many pictures of, it isn't stopping him from being a socialite, and it isn't something that is causing him to have a speech delay. I actually found two pictures of him sucking his thumb, both were WAY past his bed time because we were out or because we had family visiting.

 
It is not even something that he needs to help him stay asleep...

So... after doing some research, I have pick my method of dealing with this last little babyish thing that Luk does. It almost breaks my heart to do because I think he looks adorable doing it, however I have to put myself in the position that I love my son, and I want what's best for him. He is at a healthy age to stop it, he mature enough to handle it, and I know that it is something that he and I can work through together. I don't want it to get to the point to have to use guards or liquid solutions.
Today, I looked at Luk, and I told him that if he wants to be a big boy he needed to stop sucking his thumb, and that he could do it. He said, "Okay, I can do it." He has already caught himself going to do it and didn't. I was proud. He said, "Oh, I can't do that. I was going to suck my thumb, but I'm a big boy," and off he went. =)
If I need to I plan on using "Unplugging the Thumb", the method is based on your child making the decision to stop, and you helping them do it with you support. Luk is already doing really well with it as of today. Check back in a couple of days for an update on the progress...

Clarity on the last post

I wanted to clarify some thoughts from the last post. It can be hard to read the last BIG reason to homeschool, and I want to make it known to those that do not homeschool, it is still VERY much a personal choice and conviction. You either have a calling or you don't. I was not homeschooled, however my parent's were involved in my life. There can be a balance with students in public school, but the challenge is very difficult when you have everyone else working against what you are doing at home.

One thing my mom told me everyday was that she started (still does) praying for mine and my brothers' spiritual lives. My mom for a short time was a single parent, and she knew this was her needing to pray that we would remember what she was teaching at home and when we were at church. So, I implore you to pray for your children beyond their health. Pray that they may fight the pressure of ungodly environment that they face everyday for 12+ hours. Pray that they may conquer temptation, and pray that they choose friends that will help them with their walk with Christ.

You may not want to believe it, but school is worse than when you were there. Kindergartners are hearing about sexual activity, sexual orientation from peers that are hearing about life through their ungodly parents. Be wise while our child attends, Be attentive to what they ask and need from you as far as knowledge goes.

Just some extra thoughts from my end that I didn't get to last night.

Public School, the biggest stumbling block of all!

A friend of mine has given me the pleasure to read one of her old issues of "The Old Schoolhouse" The Magazine for Homeschool Families, and I must say I am in love with this magazine. I love how everything is Christian based. In the Winter 2008-09 issue, David d'Escoto wrote an article called "10 BIG Reasons Not to Send Christian Kids to Public Schools," and I was highly impressed. There was obvious reasons: 1)Public schools do not seek to teach according to your child's individual gifts and callings; 2)more tax money for academics, yet lower tests scores that are causing lower high scores to make the students look advanced; 3)your authority as parent shifts to the teacher, coach, principal, you have no control over sex-ed; 4)family first in Christian life becomes family last in the school system structure; 5)child seeks peer acceptance becomes do whatever you need to necessary against parents to find peer love "The Bible has already forewarned us about what happens to 'a companion of fools'"(Prov.13:20b); 6)the norm for students being grouped in 25-30 kids in a class for 12+ hours a day leads to poor attitudes and low self-esteem; 7)SEX, SEX, SEX, who will teach you child the Biblical way to learn about sex; 8)the Bible is being ripped from the hands of students in schools; 9)the falling away of the Bible, Christian homes are losing their children to Satan at college age and then there is number TEN!

I want to quote this because honestly, I have thought this, but never knew how to word it. I agree 100%.
"Scripturally Unsound" My final point may be the most controversial, but the fact is that public education is causing millions of children to stumble in their walk with out Lord. Can we not logically conclude that it is unbiblical for us to send our children there? Bold words, some may say-I would say they're rather Biblical. Please open your Bible and read Matthew 18:1-6, 1 Corinthians 8 (focusing on verses 11-13), and finally Romans 14:13-23 (focusing on verses 13 and 21). Do you see it? the Bible is making the following facts clear to us: 1)Believers are no longer under law. 2)Believers do have freedom in Christ. 3)A believer's freedom (liberty) in Christ must never ever be used as a license to sin and/or cause another weaker believer to stumble/sin."

Now, I know that many of Christian friends that take their children to public school, and this is not to disrespect their choice, but seriously do we want to force stumbling blocks on our children? Reson has always mentioned that I am not a person that will stay around people that are stumbling blocks to me; so, why would I do that to my boys? When David put the tenth reason into those words above, it just clicked for what my thought processes are for schooling Luk and Logan (and if I am blessed with more, God willing).

The calling to homeschool your child is scary, but in the end it can be the most rewarding thing you could for your family and the highest glory you can give to the Lord. Man, if that doesn't pump you up, I don't know what would... =)

Happy Anniversary! Seven years and counting...

Seven years ago, I married my best friend. We have been together for 10 years, and the Lord has blessed us with such a wonderful life that really we couldn't have even imagined. I laugh at what we thought we were going to do in life, and then I see all the curve balls the Lord has thrown at us to makes us go where He wants us to go. So, in remembering the past seven years, here are pictures that have captured those moments...

So, there was this boy in my ASL class...

I married him.

We moved to Kentucky, to work, work, work, and oh yea, go to college. We did go on vacation in NYC an weddings.

Three years later we had Luk Aeron Holt in May 7, 2006.

We grew together as a family of three. We loved the idea of just having one baby. We traveled everywhere with the little guy. Pumpkin Patches, Weddings, Richmond, VA. If we went, he went.

But we still did many things alone!

Then our family grew to four, our second baby boy, Logan Nathanael Holt in October 17, 2009.

We still do things alone...

We love the seven years the Lord has blessed us, we went from two to four and have gained so much more!

Reson, thank you for your continuous love and support. Without you, I would be missing so many of the teachings that God has wanted to instill in me. I love you.

Thought Process

I have been thinking about what it means to have joy in your heart. When you read the book of Psalm, there are many references to joy. Now, I would like to think that I am a joyous person, however how do have joy and contentment. When you feel that God is calling you to do something more, but it can't happen at the moment, how do you seek the contentment? I say this with the thoughts of missions. I know that at this moment my prayers are being answered with "wait." As Luk would say, "Yellow means wait, Red means NO, and Green means YES, Mommy!" Thanks for the reminder, and that's a four year old telling me this. Yep, I got it, Luka, Thanks bunches! =D
Now, I can find that I am content with the way God has placed things in my path, and so I move forward with that joy of contentment there. Waiting with an impatient content heart (is this an oxymoron?).

Moving on to some more joyous thoughts. Luk was sitting on the couch with my mom. They were watching "Night at the Museum 2" or whatever it's called, and it was coming to the scene where the Pharaoh is calling his "servants." Luk asked if he was a bad guy. Mom reading at the moment said, "Well, not really. He doesn't hurt anyone." I replied, "Well, he is trying to be godlike and take over the world. He wants everyone to serve him." Mom answered, "that's right, Luk. I didn't remember what was happening." Luk joins in on the conversation, "Well, then he is bad because you don't put anything above God. You don't make yourself idol, that's the second one." My mom and I looked at each other with astonished faces. It was not shock that he knew the commandment (we knew that), but that he used it so clearly in an application. I praised him for his accuracy because I even had to open up the brain Bible folder to remember it being commandment two.

God is doing some great things in that boy's heart. As I see him grow to love God, my heart grows fonder of what God's will is for his life. Luk is always asking if a character in a movie has Jesus in his or her heart. My response is, "only they know if they have Jesus in their hearts." His response, "Well, I know I have Jesus in my heart." Hmmm... this kid, I tell you what I couldn't ask for a greater big brother for Logan! Just to tell you another story of how much this boy shines, Luk's friend went with his mom to buy Luk a birthday present. The mom (a friend of mine) asked her son, "what is something that reminds you of Luk that we can get him?" The response, "Well, I know that Luk loves Jesus!" sigh... Proud and humbled that God entrusted this beautiful mind to Reson and me.
It is at this point that the first paragraph of this blog should just ignored!

Here's my Mr. Smarty and Logan...

Waiting... waiting... waiting... FINALLY

I had been waiting for it. I was waiting for the moment that God would give me something to say. As we have been doing the discipleship program, it was asked that we write in our journals daily. However, this week, it was not happening. I have been reading "Vintage Jesus" (great so far), but I had nothing to say. I like some key points that were made, however my mind was not able to put into words my thoughts. The thoughts in my mind have been scattered and on many topics.
Then it happened, today, it was filled with meeting with some great friends discussing Co-op scheduling, and just a nice time of talking. I put the boys to bed, and then Satan decided to use someone against me. I should have known something was coming because like we have told the youth in the program numerous times, your friends are going to be stumbling blocks to what you are trying to pursue here. Satan will use whomever (or whatever) he can to bring you down as far as he can.
I'm grateful that I just stayed silent. I'm sure to the person who was outspoken about their problem felt that it was a cop-out or being a wuss, but it isn't. It is hard to turn away from defending yourself from an attacker. We are so selfish in the world that if someone hurts us in anyway, we automatically assume they are vindictive. We assume that they want to hurt us, and then at any chance we jump at them to defend the all mighty powerful ME!
No, no, God said clearly through David in Psalm 2:4-5, "Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer proper sacrifices, and trust in the Lord." Hmmm... Yes! Now, that is what I needed. In my silence Lord, you help me gain control, and it is through this sacrifice of selfishness that I trust in YOU!

John Sherill has a song called "Obey."

I will trust, I will obey,
   
I will follow where You lead, come what may.
     
I will die to myself, and Your cross I will take,
        
I will trust You Lord, I will trust You,
                  
(I will trust and obey).

      
     You alone are worthy of my offering,
      
     You alone are worthy of my praise.
      
     You alone are Holy, You are all I need,
         
     So find in me a faithful heart I pray.

It is that reminder that we are to be faithful to Him, and to be faithful of things that He 

commands. Remain silent, and allow the Lord to work in your heart so that you 

may have obedience and faith in Him.