Monday, October 29, 2018

Parenting with Purpose



There is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of being a parent. Using biblical principles, we will see that we are on an assignment from God to be parenting with purpose.

#1 Purpose to Teach God’s Word
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 reads “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17 reads “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

1 Peter 3:15 reads “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

When I discovered that I was on an assignment from God to teach my daughters God’s Word, I made the decision to be prepared to teach my daughters about God through the course of our everyday life. No matter the age of your children, it’s never too late to start – and something is better than nothing. Read the Bible together and memorize Scripture.

Psalm 119:11 reads “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Colossians 3:16 reads “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

The life of Corrie Ten Boom provides an example of a parent who taught God’s Word. Early in life, Corrie’s father instilled in his family the importance of memorizing scripture, and he saw that they learned Bible passages after their mother died. This memorization served his children well as they suffered and, with the exception of Corrie, eventually died for their faith. God’s Word indeed armed Corrie Ten Boom and helped her endure the pain and torment of the concentration camp. God also used His Word, hidden in her heart, as a mighty instrument of evangelism right there in the camp as Corrie offered hope and comfort to other suffering prisoners. As important as memorizing Scripture is, we cannot over look the value of daily Bible reading. In addition to assisting his children in memorizing God’s Word, Corrie’s father read one chapter of the Old Testament to his family every morning after breakfast and one chapter of the New testament every evening after dinner.

We must purpose to teach God’s Word.

#2 Purpose to Teach Godly Character
Psalm 15 describes godliness in terms of character - “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall not be moved.”

2 Peter 1:5-7 reads “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

Titus 2:1-5 reads “But speak thou things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

When I discovered that I was on an assignment from God to teach my daughters godly character, I made the decision to model godly character. We must realize that godly character is taught in two ways. The first is what we teach by our words. But we also teach by our walk – the way we live our life. It has been said that when it comes to children, much more is caught than taught. We cannot expect our children to rise above our example.

We must purpose to teach godly character.

#3 Purpose to Teach Bible-Based Academics
Proverbs 22:6 admonishes us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” The Scriptures do not leave us in doubt as to what “way” is meant. Christian parents are directly responsible to God for raising up children who know Him, love Him, and follow Him in every area of life. We cannot separate education and discipleship.

Remember Deuteronomy 6:5-9 - “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

Proverbs 4:1-13 shows what instruction Solomon had of parents – “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give thine hand an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her, for she is thy life.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 reads “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

When I discovered that I was on an assignment from God to teach my daughters Bible-based academics, I made the decision to purchase Christian curriculum. We need to remember, math is a thought, science is a thought, grammar is a thought, every subject we teach should be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

We must purpose to teach Bible-based academics.

Truly, there is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of being a parent; and we are on an assignment from God to be parenting with purpose.

#1 Purpose to Teach God’s Word
#2 Purpose to Teach Godly Character
#3 Purpose to Teach Bible-Based Academics

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Texas HOME Educators - November Newsletter



Calendar of Events
November 02 Co-op Classes & Graduation Meeting & Bowling League
November 06 Deadline to Register for The Nutcracker School Performance
November 09 Ballet Classes & Bowling League
November 16 Pottery Class & Bowling League
November 30 Ballet Classes & Pottery Class
 
Co-op Classes
09:00 Musical Theater
11:00 Service Scouts
 
Service Scouts will collect coats/sweaters for the women/children shelter in Beaumont. Members will discuss and plan in detail float decorations for the Lighted Christmas Parade on December 1, 2018.
 
Graduation Meeting
Our next planning meeting is scheduled for November 2 at 12:30 p.m. in the Food Court at Parkdale Mall in Beaumont, Texas.
 

Bowling League
The bowling league is a seven-week season held at Crossroads Bowling Center in Beaumont, Texas. Please arrive by 1:45 p.m. to be ready to bowl when the lanes come on at 2:00 p.m. Bumper Buddies pay $5 to bowl 2 games. League Members pay $8 to bowl 3 games. Please bring cash weekly because all money is collected through team envelopes.
 
Ballet Classes
09:00 Ballet I (ages 3-6)
10:00 Ballet II (ages 7-10)
11:00 Ballet III (ages 11+)
12:00 Beginner Pointe (ages 11+)
 
Classes are held at Studio D in Lumberton, Texas. Girls attire is black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and hair in bun. Please do not wear ballet shoes outdoors. Ballet tuition is $25 per month. Pointe tuition is $25 per month. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Reed at 409-504-8135.
 

The Nutcracker School Performance
Register by November 6 to attend the Beaumont Civic Ballet Nutcracker School Performance on December 7, 2018 at Julie Rogers Theater in Beaumont, Texas. The ballet last approximately 1 hour. The performance begins with Prologue, the Christmas party scene, the battle scene, and the program ends with the Snow Flakes; due to the length of The Nutcracker, Act II will not be performed at the school performances. The full-length ballet will be performed at the public performances on December 8 & 9.
 
Pottery Class
Register by November 9 for the pottery class at the SETX Art Museum in Beaumont, Texas. Students will mold clay on November 16 at 10:00 a.m. and then return to glaze clay on November 30 at 2:00 p.m. There is no cost for this pottery class; but we are limited to 20 students. Please text Susan Reed at 409-504-8135 to reserve your student a spot in this class.

Monday, October 22, 2018

National Museum of Funeral History



Experience a unique museum unlike any other, featuring America’s largest collection of authentic, historical funeral service items. It’s the place to visit when you are dying to do something different!

 

Presidential Funerals – Take in the extensive display of actual items from the state funerals and burials of America’s great presidents. This section of the museum was an educational and historical experience; like the tribute to Abraham Lincoln’s passing. “The Lincoln Train is Coming!” That was the phrase repeated in 1865 all along a 1,666 mile long journey from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois – one of the epic railroad journeys in history.

 

Historical Hearses – Dozens of dazzling hearses trace the history of funerary customs, from the elegant horse-drawn funeral carriages of the 19th century to the actual hearses used for two U.S. Presidents.

 

Coffins and Caskets – Discover the difference between a coffin and a casket, learn about early 1900s craftsmanship, and see unusual examples from the past.

 

History of Embalming – From the Ancient Egyptians to modern techniques, learn about the origins and methods of embalming, as well as its utter necessity during Civil War.

 

Thanks for the Memories – See artifacts, authentic printed memorial folders and memorabilia from recent celebrity funerals and those from decades past.

 

Pause to remember American heroes at special displays honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and 9/11.

The National Museum of Funeral History is located at 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, TX 77090. Visit www.nmfh.org for more information.


Monday, October 8, 2018

CashCrunch Careers - Crew Review



CashCrunch Games offers a career survey known as CashCrunch Careers to identify best fit careers based on the student’s personality traits.  The career survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. For each of the seventy-five word-pairs, students choose the word that best describes how they really are, not how they want to be, or how others think they are. And when the student does not understand a word, they can hold the mouse over that word for its definition. As I observed my daughter taking the career survey, I noted the following. In some word-pairs, both answers applied but she could only select one answer, for instance, flexible or polite, as well as, goal oriented or thorough. Then some word-pairs were total opposites, like, cheerful or tolerant. And the comical word-pair, agreeable or organized, my daughter replied “Oh, I am NOT organized!” When she finished working through the seventy-five word-pairs, she received a CashCrunch Career Report, and immediate personalized printout of suitable careers.

The CashCrunch Career Report noted career work styles, motivators, de-motivators, career attributes, and matching jobs. My daughter’s responses indicate that she works well with others and enjoys participating in team efforts. She’s pleasant, cooperative, friendly, and helpful. She is easy to get along with and non-confrontational. She is very sensitive to the needs of others, and also to their feelings.  And her top attributes – persistence, initiative, innovation, concern for others, and independence – are considered to be her strengths in the workplace. True, this all reflects my daughter’s personality; but the jobs listed were of no interest to my daughter.  I do not feel you can match career possibilities based only of personality traits, you have to look deeper. For instance,  questions about the student’s interest with cognitive skills necessary for specific jobs and careers; questions about the student’s interest in music, art, and math that can lead to self-employment options; questions about the student’s motivation, participation, and performance in being able to acquire work or to maintain a job or career; or questions about the student’s response in settings to learn and work. My daughter has taken a couple career surveys, and I would not recommend CashCrunch Careers.

Choosing a career path can be frustrating and time-consuming for most teens; but career surveys help students consider potential careers, leading to better informed decisions, of both college and career readiness. The results do not always reflect what the student originally thought of pursuing for a career. They are merely suggestions to provide guidance in choosing a career that they will find rewarding. These career surveys have helped my daughter explore many career options; and I truly believe God has a plan for my daughter, and I am so glad she is not rushing in to any career; but allowing the Lord to lead and guide her.

I would also like to add that CashCrunch Games offers two educational games. CashCrunch Junior is a physical board game for elementary and middle school students. The game focuses on the value of money and money habits. CashCrunch 101 is an online game for high school and college students. The game focuses on money management skills. A fun way to learn about money!

Visit the Crew Blog to read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about CashCrunch Careers.


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Stand Strong



The choice between doing good and doing evil may seem like a no brainer; but I was recently reminded how quickly the old man wants to retaliate when we are wronged by another person, even more so when the individually does not even know you personally. Throughout that difficult day, God allowed me to remain silent; and the following day, He encouraged me through His Word.

Matthew 5:44-48 reads “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

No, it is not easy to remain silent; but James 1:12 tells us “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” God gives us the strength to endure temptations. People are watching our attitudes and actions, and we must remember that God lives in us and through us; and our testimony may bring a lost soul to Christ.

Matthew 5:16 reads “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Today I want to encourage you with these lyrics – Stand strong, hold on, even when it’s tough, gotta lean on God and He will hold you up! Stand strong, hold on, even when it’s hard, gotta lean on Him and remember who you are! Stand Strong!
 

Monday, October 1, 2018

Texas HOME Educators - October Newsletter


 
Calendar of Events
October 05 Co-op Classes
October 12 Ballet Classes & Bowling League
October 19 Field Trip & Bowling League
October 26 Ballet Classes & Bowling League
 
Co-op Classes
09:00 Musical Theater - please print your script and bring it with you to class.
11:00 Service Scouts - please bring 12 craft items to make craft kits for children. Moms, please post of our FB group page what you are bringing so we do not duplicate an item. After members assemble the craft kits, we will take them to St. Elizabeth Hospital, so be sure to wear your vest to the Service Scouts meeting.
 
Ballet Classes
09:00 Ballet I (ages 3-6)
10:00 Ballet II (ages 7-10)
11:00 Ballet III (ages 11+)
12:00 Pointe (ages 11+)
 
Classes will be held at Studio D in Lumberton, Texas. Girls attire is black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and hair in a bun. Please do not wear the ballet shoes outdoors. Ballet tuition is $25 per month. Pointe tuition is $25 per month. If you have any questions or need help with directions, please contact Susan Reed at 409-504-8135.
 
Bowling League
October 05 at 2:00 p.m.
October 12 at 2:00 p.m.
October 19 at 2:00 p.m.
October 26 at 2:00 p.m.
 
Texas HOME Educators Bowling League is a seven-week season held at Crossroads Bowling Center in Beaumont, Texas. Please arrive by 1:45 p.m. to be ready to bowl when the lanes come on at 2:00 p.m. League members pay $8 weekly to bowl 3 games; plus a one-time $4 fee for the United States Bowling Congress. Bumper Buddies pay $5 weekly to bowl 2 games. Please bring cash weekly because all money is collected through team envelopes.
 
Family Field Trip
Register by October 14 for our family field trip on October 19 to see the National Museum of Funeral History. Our self-guided tour begins at 10:00 a.m. at the National Museum of Funeral History, 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, TX 77090. Cost is $8 per student and $9 per adult. Register through the link below to join us at the National Museum of Funeral History!
 
 
Happy Homeschooling!