Showing posts with label Bookshelf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookshelf. Show all posts

Homeschool | My Top 5 Reads for Mom

Almost always, I am at a loss of words when asked:  What do you recommend?  Those four little words coming from a Mom thinking about diving into homeschooling.  I'm embarking on our sixth year of homeschooling.  It took me some time to figure it all out. And I had and still have amazing mentors.  
First there is SO much to say that it is impossible to say it all.
Secondly there is NO way a new homeschool Mom would understand the ins and outs of homeschooling until they have actually experienced it.
Thirdly it's like riding a bike.  Noone can teach you or do it for you.  You are shown the basics and it's up to you to "Ride".

I will admit (it took me till the middle of my first year to figure this out).... the very very FIRST place a future homeschool Mom needs to start with is:  With You.  As the Mom.

Here are five books that I started with:
note: started with is in bold print.  there are many more.  trust me, your library of mom empowering books will grow like wild fire as your homeschool journey continues.



Sharing my Top 5 Favs of all time for Homeschool Moms.

1. A Mom After God's Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children (George, Elizabeth (Insp)) This book changed my thoughts about being a Mom.  If there was one book I could honestly say influenced my decision to homeschool,  it would be this one.  Hands Down!
Catch God's Heart for your children.  You want to raise children who are happy and successful, and who follow after God.  But how do you do that in this day of hectic schedules packed with friends, schoolwork, sports, video games, cell phones, and the Internet?  The first thing is to begin right now.  Today.  Share your love, your faith, and your values with your children.  With biblical wisdom and plenty of encouragement, Elizabeth George offers time-proven ideas and valuable suggestions to help you nurture children of all ages in the Lord.  You'll discover...
Easy to implement principles that make parenting enjoyable and effective.
Specific ways you can teach your children that God loves and cares for them.
Heart Response sections that help you apply the principles to your life
Little Choices you can put into practice immediately to make a big impact
Special parenting insights and strategies from a Christian Dad.
"God has put you in a unique situation where you have tremendous influence in the lives of others.  Be a mom after God's own heart! Help your children- no matter what their ages- experience God's love, God's blessings, and God's provisions.  -Elizabeth George
Wanna dig deeper, try the companion for a more indepth study. 
A Mom After God's Own Heart: Growth and Study Guide (Growth and Study Guides)

2.When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling  
This book is wrote with the bluntness of RC Sproul Jr.  He shoots his words straight.  In this book straight to a parents heart.  If your a Mom striving to raise your children with the grace that comes from Jesus.  This is a must read.
Who should teach our children?
What should they be taught?
What is the goal of Education?
RC Sproul Jr. provides this unique approach to homeschooling, answering these and other questions.  He maintains that education is discipleship, the goal is seeing your children bear fruit, grow in grace, and become more and more like Christ.

A 90-day guide to living the Proverbs 31 life.  A must read.  Homeschool Mom,  Mom or Woman this is a 90 day journey to take.  I got my hands on this book a little over four years ago.  She makes you ponder things you have never pondered before.  I loved this journey and stuck with the steps she guides you through to this day.  
Wanna know the secret on how to be a modern Proverbs 31 woman?  Donna gives you inspiration and practical direction to move you toward that goal with purpose and passion.  During this 90-day journey, you will walk the path toward better living in specific areas of life, including faith, spirituality, family relationships, health, business, home management, ministry and more.  The practical action steps will help you grow in character today- even as you set attainable goals for the future.  You can become the woman God wants you to be.  Let this powerful guide renew your energy and determination.

Empower your teens to be successful on their own.  Parents, start as early as possible.
In this fast-paced world, time with your kids at home is limited and , before you know it, the day will arrive for your kids to move out of the house.  Will they be ready for what faces them?  Quality time loving and getting to know your kids is paramount, but it is also extremely important to prepare them for living life on their own.  
No matter what your educational background or experience, you can apply these either simple, but profound principles to prepare your kids to be responsible an positive leaders in their communities.  Don't let your kids leave home without them.

A Devotional for Homeshoolers by Homeschoolers
Homeschool parents be inspired and start your morning right with short, uplifting devotionals that will warm your heart.  Originally created as a daily email for homeschoolers just like you,  these captivation stories have now been compiled into a must have, devotional book.  Discover new hope and encouragement for each day as you read real life homeschooling experiences that relate to God's word.  You'll laugh, cry, but mostly you'll be empowered to grow in your walk with the Lord as you enjoy the wonderful blessings of homeschooling.

I hope you are inspired by these choices and may you.....
Keep on, Keeping on!!!
~Melanie

Affiliate links are included. Opinions my own.

A Womans Walk with God | Self-Control


Winning the Battle of Self-Control
1. One is the control of the self- self-restraint, self-government, and self-command.Galatians 5:17
2. Object of control- our passions, appetites, pleasures, desires and impulses.Ephesians 6:10-13
3. To live in a self-controlled body is to be disciplined by the soul to glorify God in all its actions.1 Corinthians 6:19

Self-Control DOES...
-controls and checks the self.
-restrains the self.
-disciplines and masters the self.
-holds in and commands the self.
-says, "No!" to self.

Self-Control DOES NOT...
-yeild to temptation.
-give in to desires.
-participate in sin.
-indulge itself.
-satisfy itself.

Struggling for Self-Control
Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:15

Nurturing Self-Control
-Begin with Christ
-Monitor your input. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes." Psalm 101:3 KJV
-Stay busy. Refuse to eat the bread of 'idleness' Proverbs 31:27
-Saying No is the key to self-control, the word that the Lord blesses.. "Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit." Proverbs 25:28
-Pray, Pray about every aspect of your life!

We can claim His power, walk by His Spirit, excercise self-control and win the battle over temptations. then we will display the beauty of Christ as we walk with Him through our everyday lives!

What awesome truth girls! Till Tomorrow,~Melanie


Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE

View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Gentleness


Growing Strong Through Gentleness

1.Gentleness Means Trusting the Lord.
Jesus says BLESSED are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

Faith believes that everything that happens in our life is allowed by God and that He is able to help us handle our situation.
Our faith in the God behind this truth keeps us from struggling and fightling because faith believes that God with fight for us! Psalm 60:12.

2. Gentleness means submitting to the Lord.
Believing him.
One whose will has been broken. 
BECOMES.
One who is no longer broken displays complete dependence on the Lord, yields all self will to the Lord.

So breathe a huge sigh of release and hand over to God every aspect of your life.
Asking him to fill you will complete joy!

3. Gentleness means follow Christs example.
Jesus said: 
Take my yoke upon you, learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. Matthew 11:29.

4. Gentleness means bowing the Soul.
Walking with gentleness does not carry arrogance and pride.

5. Putting on a Gentle Spirit
What's the behavior of gentleness? 
Peter says it is God-fearing and blameless conduct.
The Lord controls each and every situation in our life.
Peter also says you are to be concerned with the internal condition of your heart.

"Hidden person of the Heart"
Such a heart should reflect a gentle and quiet spirit.
Faith is the only way to walk in this way, a trust that looks to God in hope, and is directed towards Him and rests in Him.

As women of God, we are to put on all these elements of gentleness

(submission, behavior, heart, trust and faith)..
just as we adorn our body with clothing everyday. We must visit God in the prayer closet and put on the garment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is rare and precious, truly beyond price.

6. To walk with Gentleness means to withstand (As the book says 'take it')

A woman who is practicing gentleness bears with tranquility the disturbances others create, endures ill treatment, withstands misunderstandings, carries the word of God in her heart and displays the evidence of God at work in her life. Wow, that was some hard truth right there girls! 

Ask God for wisdom to become a woman as this...James 1:5.

Rely on the Lord for His wisdom and mercy and protection, we will indeed grow strong through gentleness.

How do we walk in gentleness?

1. Accept
2. Pray
3. Refuse to complain or grumble
4. Refuse to manipulate....

"Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries." Psalm 60:12

Proverbs 3:5...one of my favorite scripture card references....

This chapter was truly eye-widening!
I'll leave you with that thought.
Blessings, ~Melanie

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Faithfulness


Following Through in..Faithfulness
Insights...It is vitally important that God's faithfulness be a part of our character.

Faithfulness marks God's presence in our life.

1. God is faithful...The Rock!..a God of faithfulness! -Deuteronomy 32:4
God is a Rock..and there should be something of the rock in us!
During trials count on God's faithfulness -Lamentations 3:22-23.
Jesus is Faithful and True -Revelation 19:11

2. Our faithfulness to God and His word, does not exclude-but includes others.
Be faithful in all things. 1 Timothy 3:11

3. Marks faithfulness
-follow thru on whatever you do
-show up early so others don't worry
-keep your word
-keep commitments and appointments
-happy to help and serve others
-be devoted to your duties

I know this is quite the requirement! 
Remember all we have to do is ASK....
ask for His strength to go to work cultivation His faithfulness in ours lives.

4. Opposite of faithfulness
To be unreliable means you can't be trusted, depended upon, doesn't come through, and won't handle responsibility.

5. Essence of faithfulness
Just do it! James 4:15

Serving God calls for faithfulness- to Him and to his call to use His gifts and serve His people.

To note:
Colossians 3:2
Matthew 25:40 
Joshua 1:9 
Ecclesiastes 9:10 
1 Timothy 3:11
Psalm 139:23-24
1 Samuel 30:6
Psalm 27:1 
Luke 16:10
Phillipians 4:13
Proverbs 31:27
Psalm 138:3

This book is so so so good! 
Get those scripture cards out and study them, carry them around the house, throw them in your purse, put them in your bible, stick them on your mirror, put them on your visor, and on the fridge!
Blessings ~Melanie

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Jesus Actions


Jesus Actions 
The response of Patience...
Jesus demonstrated perfect patience! 

The response of Kindness...
Jesus displayed divine kindness! 

The response of Goodness... 
Goodness is active kindness and flows out of a heart that stands ready to do good! 

In time of need... 
He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:16 The Message Bible

It is in prayer... 
That we thank Him for the people in our lives, who cause us to need His grace.
We acknowledge that His patience, kindness and goodness enable us to truly care and act out His love toward others. In our pain.. tears.. brokenness we look to Him.  
May we grow in these graces. 
In Jesus' name. 
AMEN

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Goodness


Giving in Goodness: 
The fruit of the Spirit is... Goodness 

Getting a handle on Goodness: 
1. True goodness is spiritual in its origin. Psalm 33:5 Nehemiah 9:25,35 
2. Goodness is active. 
3. Goodness is a readiness to do good. 
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can. by: John Wesley 

Walking in Goodness:
Romans 6:4 says to walk in goodness... 
Ephesians 4:1 ....walk in a manner worthy of the calling which you have been called... 
Ephesians 5:2 ....walk in love... 
Ephesian 5:8.... walk as children of light ... 
Colossians 2:6.... walk in Him ... 
1 Thess 2:12 ...walk in a manner worthy of the god who calls you ... 
1 John 2:6 ....walk in the same manner as Jesus walked ... 
Galatians 5:16....walk by the Spirit.. 

Overcome evil with good! 
Goodness references Women in the Bible... 
Dorcas...Acts 9:36 
The Shunammite woman....2 Kings 4:8-10 
Rebekah...Gen 24:15-20 
Lydia...Acts 16:15 
Martha...Luke 10:38-42 and Galatians 5:16 

Bottom line girls:
Kindness is a sincere desire for the happiness of others; goodness is the activity calculated to advance their happiness.

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Kindness



Planning for Kindness

The fruit of the Spirit is ... kindness!
2 Timothy 2:24 Be kind to all! 
Things which must be banished from our lives... 
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, negative speaking, gossip.

Help list to being kind. 
Love others more than ourselves. 
Care for the comfort and welfare of others more than our own. 
Consider others more important than ourselves. Phil 2:3 

Cultivating Kindness 
1. Caring Luke 6:28 
2. Thinking 2 Sam 9:1 
3. 1 Peter 3:12 
4. Touching Luke 7:12-13 Kindness is the ability to love people more than they deserve! 

SO let's ... 
Pray. 
Spend time with God. 
Ask for help. 
Study the Word. 
Live the Word. 
Pray for guidance as you walk each day and every step along with way!

Let's do this girls! ~Melanie


Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Patience



Patience

The fruit of the Spirit is...patience! 
Remember every single day... the very moment your feet hit the ground running. God is the reason. 

Be thankful for another day here... on this planet.
Put on a heart of patience...Colossians 3:12 
Walk with patience...Eph 4:1-2 
What does it mean to put on a heart and walk with patience? 
Endurance.
No anger or vengeance!
God is Patience! 1 Peter 3:20 2 Timothy 2:24 James 5:7-9

Walking in Patience... 
Know Boundaries. 
Looking to Jesus as the ultimate example.
Always Pray, Pray, and Pray some more.

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Jesus Attributes


Jesus' Attributes 
Without Him we can do nothing! 
The Process toward the Ultimate Sacrifice. 
Joy offers the sacrifice of praise. 
In joy, Jesus lifted praise to God. Hebrews 12:2 
Peace comes with the sacrifice of trust. 
For peace, Jesus left His problems with God. Matthew 26:46
Ultimately this chapter is summed up extremely fitting to John 15:5.

Without Him, we can do nothing!!!

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Peace



Experiencing God's Peace!

The fruit of the Spirit is...PEACE.

TRUTHS ABOUT PEACE 
1. Peace has nothing to do with our circumstances, and everything to do with knowing we have a right relationship with God. 
2. Peace has nothing to do with challenges or crises, and everything to do with knowing that our times are in God's hands.
3. Peace has nothing to do with the conditions of our life, and everything to do with knowing that God is all-sufficient
4. Peace is an inward repose and serenity of soul that indicates a heart at rest..regardless of circumstances..we place complete confidence in God minute by minute.

TRUE SPIRITUAL PEACE
Comes with knowing that our heavenly Father is continually with us!! 
Psalm 139:7-12 
2 Cor 12:9 
Phil 4:19 2 
Cor 9:8

TRUSTING GOD 
We make the sacrifice of trust and experience God's peace.
When we choose not to panic, but to rest in God's presence. 
When we release our fear and trust in God's wisdom and ways.
When we reject our nervousness and remember that God is in control. 
When we ignore our dread and instead accept God's dealings. 
Isaiah 9:6.....Prince of Peace!!! 
Isaiah 26:3....Perfect Peace!!! 
Psalm 119:165...Nothing causes us to stumble. 
John 14:26....Helper, Teacher and Comforter. 
Walking on the Path of Peace Pray! Pause! Pursue!

Let's right these verses down, carry them with us, memorize them and never forget that He is always with us!

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Joy


Offering the Sacrifice of Joy

The fruit of the spirit is ... JOY! 

1. Our joy is a permanent gift from God. 
John 16:22 says no one takes your joy away from you. 
Galatians 5:16 says failure to walk by the spirit can rob us of our joy. 

2. Our joy is always available
Philippians 4:4 Whatever the circumstances of our life, we have ready access to the Source of true joy anytime we turn to him. 

3. Our joy is inexpressible. 
1 Peter 1:8 Joy beyond Speech. God's joy is a gift of grace to us as we encounter the hardship and supernatural joy, given through God's spirit, transcends all conditions of life. 

Sources of Joy 
God HIMSELF is a primary source of Joy.
Psalm 43:4 my exceeding joy...to the God of the joy of my rejoicing. 
Comforts 2 Cor 1:3-4. 
God is in control and has a unique purpose for me 2 Tim 1:9, Eph 1:11. 
He helps us be more Christlike..for my good and His glory, Romans 8:28. 
Joy in heaven to the angels...Luke 15:10 bringing great joy...Acts 15:3 Everlasting life with God in Heaven! That's a reason to be joyful! Psalm 16:11 
Experience deep joy despite earthly suffering. 

Final Thought to Ponder
Things you can do NOW to walk win JOY Continually.
Offer praise to God for everything. Hebrews 13:15 
Peace/Joy/Hope Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God..His love poured into our hearts by the Spirit. Romans 5

Further study.
Hebrews 13:15 
James 1:2 
1Thess 5:18 
Psalm 34:1 
Hebrews 13:15 
Psalm 121: 1-2 
Thess 5:16 

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Love


Looking to God for Love 

God calls us as women who love God to:
walk in love (Ephesians 5:2) 
love one another (John 15:12) 
love our husbands and our children (Titus 2:4) 
love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39) 
love our enemies (Luke 6:27) 

Principles 
1. Love is an act of the will. 
His love in us is what enables us to five that love when we want to withhold; to reach out to others when we are tired and want to rest; to serve when we want to be served; and to help others when we ourselves are hurting. 
John 3:16 
Matthew 20:28
Luke 9:51 
It is God who gives us the will to love. He calls us to love. 

2. Love is action..not just words. 
1 John 3:18 God is at work in us, and will cause the glorious fruit of love to blossom in our lives as we walk with Him and do His work of love. 

3. Love reaches out to the unlovely. 
Matthew 5:43-45 and 6:32-33 
God's love is never deserved. 
Luke 6:35 Through the spirit God enables us to love, just as He loves us, everyone..all the time.. and without conditions. 

4. We need God to help us love. 
Our life then bears the mark of God because only He can enable us to serve the very person we would rather not. 
Romans 5:5 5. Love expects nothing in return. Luke 6:35 We need God's spirit to be at work in us if we are to truly love as Christ would have us love. 
Romans 5:8,10 
John 13:34 
Eph 5:22 

Aspects of love....
1 Cor 13:4-8 
Protect.
Trust.
Hope.
1 John 4:7-8 says that God is the SOURCE of love. 
The main point of this entire chapter is that God has poured out his love into us, at least we could do is repay him by pouring our love into others. Romans 5:5 

Now go on with your day girls and show some love!
Blessings till tomorrow! ~Melanie

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Greater Growth


Welcome to day one of .. A Womans Walk with God.

Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit.

Preparing for Greater Growth!
O this is so good, so good!
On pg. 11 the last paragraph..
"But we must never forget that all nine fruit stand together:
love, joy, peace, patiencekindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
make up our walk with God! 
They are like a string of Christmas lights--there is one string with many lights that, when plugged into the electrical socket, all light up at once. 
However, if one bulb goes out, the entire string goes out. 
That's how God's fruit is borne in our lives. 
No one of them can be missing, and all must be evident to be God's fruit."

David. 
A man after God's own heart:
Psalm 139: 23-24 KJV
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me." 
This is how you and I can become women after God's own heart too.
Pray this scripture over yourself then confess anything God reveals to you and submit to the transforming power of the Spirit. 
This is what walking in the Fruits of the Spirit is all about.

Key Notes:
Abiding in Christ
Spending time in the Word
Spending time in Prayer
Obeying God's commands
Renewing our commitments to Christ

Verses to Ponder:
Galatians 5:16-17, 19-21, 22-25. 6:14
John 15:1-8
Till next time, ~Melanie

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God 
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George

A Womans Walk with God | Elizabeth George


I'm so looking forward to spending time in the word with you!

Here's the book....
There is a treasure of goodies in this book. 
Elizabeth George has done an amazing job covering each fruit of the Spirit in great detail. 
I will be reviewing a chapter a day.

Please feel free to post comments.

I hope you'll join me on this journey.
~Melanie

Bookmark all of my posts to this book study: HERE
View all of my posts featuring Elizabeth George: HERE
Find the book here: A Womans Walk with God
Learn more about the author here:  Elizabeth George