Eucharisteo-Joy

"This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

 

God makes each day distinct from the others.  
He has His own secret recipe for each one. He allows things to happen that he intends to use as a away to draw us closer to Himself.

Our job is to rejoice, to be full of joy that God is in each day, walking beside us. Sometimes God allows something into our lives that we don’t understand or is an action we have to take that hurts us or someone close to us.

I find myself repeating the focus verse every morning as I try to get up for the day. Right now fibro and seesawing temperatures seem to play havoc with my muscles and joints. But once I get my mind set on what the day can be, I am ready to rise and face that day.

When I typed my first draft for this entry, I reflected on a phone call I received. I have friends who are going through a life-changing event. After 30 years, a family-owned small business has to close its doors.  I have known these people for 28 of those years. When the wife called me and told me, she could barely keep from crying. I was able to talk to her about what happened and why our depressed economy is still with us.

This business is located about two blocks from our home. We pass by or near it almost every time we leave our house. I always say a sentence prayer as I pass it. Two men work there—the owner and their son-in-law, both Christian men.  I will continue to pray for them during this time of transition and afterward.

Dear Father God: Thank you for giving me the verse to start my days. Help those who have weighty issues they are working through. Continue to be there for them. I rejoice in the fact that You love us and give us so many gifts to guide us through each day.

Eucharisteo-God’s Protection

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

 when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

 When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

 the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Isaiah 43:2

God protects those He calls His own. Throughout the Old Testament, we have stories of God protected when He Daniel (Daniel 6). We know God protected Shadrack and his two friends (Daniel 3).

God protects his people even today. We ask God to take care of a condition in our lives and He works things out according to His will, not ours. I have friends going through this phase of kind of God’s protection.

Sometimes, God puts us to the test to teach us that we can trust Him. He allows hard experiences into our lives to show us what we need to do about certain circumstances in our lives. We don’t always like the way events unfold for us but God has to get our attention in ways we never thought possible. At the same time He protects us.

When Job went through his terrible experience, God told the enemy he could not touch Job. It took God Himself to explain to Job how things were. God is sovereign. He chooses what He chooses to happen. He doesn’t need us to advise Him what to do about circumstances in our lives. But, in the past, I have tried to be an advisor to God. The young girl was healed of her internal injury but I don’t believe God’s plan for her came to completion. Had I not stepped in and told Him what to do, I believe the outcome would have brought Him more glory.

When God allows something to happen to a person, we have to rely on Him to protect that person from further harm. Our prayers should not necessarily be for that person to have that circumstance be removed from their life because God might want to use that condition to further His kingdom. We can pray God’s protection over him or her as God leads the way through the trial.

Graphic: howard-carter.blogspot.com

Eucharisteo: God’s Leading

     

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3a

As we, God’s children, venture through life, we have to rely on God to help us navigate the path we travel. We have times when it seems easy to follow what God wants for us. Other times we have to obey Him, even when that obedience runs counter to what those around us would have us do.

When we choose to live for God, we live in relationship with Him- in the center of His will. We even deal with daily issues by asking for His guidance.

God leads us through difficult times, teaching us as we progress from one step to another.   A friend of mine says she and her husband ‘are on a journey’ as they go through life. Right now, she is dealing with a complication from a surgical procedure from this past July. The newest turn for them may bring her home for a while-until she is ready for more surgery and possibly more rehab, again, away from home.  But she knows God is leading them.

Father God:

Thank you for your leading us through our lives. Thank you for guiding each of us through the tough times. You do this with such grace that we learn to love you more. We thank you for all you do for us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN 

Eucharisteo-Heartfelt Joy

”The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him,

 and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices;

 and with my song will I praise him”

 Psalm 28:7 (KJV)

“The Lord is my strength. . .”  God allows difficult circumstances to enter our lives in order 1.) to cause us to look to Him, 2.) to reveal something to us about ourselves, 3.) to help us realize how great his love for us is, and 4.) to make us stronger.

“. . . and my shield.” God protects His children from harm. He is Jehovah Jirah, the Lord who provides. He builds a hedge around those who call out to Him and protects them from danger. When we realize we have been protected by God, we can’t thank Him enough.

“. . . my heart trusted in him. . .” We learn to rely on God by looking to him when times are good as well as when times are not so good. When times are good, we should thank Him for them. When times are not so good, we should thank Him for being with us while we go through them.

When winter comes, I have to bundle up in preparation of going outside. In my last job, I always grabbed my coat and scarf and gloves before I went to perform one of my outdoor tasks. The others tried to poke fun at me but I responded with, “I’m taking care of myself.” Or, “I am trying to stay healthy.” In our living room have an afghan and a blanket on our couch to wrap up in. I also praise the Lord for central heat and a strong roof over our heads. 

“. . . and I am helped. . .” Our plight is seen by God and he guides us through the difficulties, no matter what the cause. Sometimes all we can do is send up an “SOS” to heaven and wait for the Father to act on our behalf.

“.  .  . therefore my heart greatly rejoices. . .” God receives our praises and lightens our hearts. When I hear wonderful news, My heart fills with joy to the point that all I can do is praise Him.

“. . . with my song will I praise him.” After God parted the Red Sea, Miriam led the Israelite women in singing and giving praise to God.

“Sing to the Lord

                 For he is highly exalted,

                 The horse and its rider

                 He has hurled into the sea.”

               (Ex15:21)               

                                                                                                                                                                                     graphic: anextraordinaryday.net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Homeschool Co-ops 101 Book Review

Essential co-op tools, tips, and options for today’s homeschool families.

My blogging friend, Karen Lange has written a book—presently in e-book format, soon to be in print book form. In it she covers the issues that arise when parents consider the option of home schooling their children.

She discusses the reasons parents have for considering taking this option for their family. Karen specifically points out that the size of the co-op depends on how a group and each family fit together. She mentions the need for a statement of purpose for the co-op. She cautions about having a code of conduct to clarify expectations of those involved.

Karen relies on her experience as a homeschool mother to approach the different concerns a family might be faced with as they begin homeschooling. 

One point Karen brings out that I found interesting was a homeschool cooperative can be set up to encompass a few grades—elementary or early grades, or the full spectrum of pre-k -12.The smaller co-ops are usually less formal in structure.

Karen has included a section on games and activities that might accompany a lesson on what the students are studying: grammar, poetry, games to make the children think, a recipe scavenger hunt, and a few activities that enhance the children’s writing abilities. She has included several Unit Study Guides for the parents to consider as they search for ways to solidify the concepts the children need to master.

Homeschool Co-ops 101 is available at:

~~~Amazon~~~

~~~Barnes and Noble~~~

~~~Kobo~~~

About the Author Karen Lange has gathered insight from years of co-oping and now shares her own and others’ experiences in this valuable and encouraging handbook.

Interview with Karen Lange

Karen Lange Author

Today I am interviewing a blogging friend, Karen Lange. We are excited that her e-book, Homeschooling Co-ops 101, has been published.

QS: Hello Karen, I’m almost as excited as you about your e-book being available to the public.

KL: Thank you for inviting me to stop by! I am looking forward to visiting with your followers!

QS: Tell us about yourself.

KL: I am a follower of Christ, wife, mom, and grandma. My husband and I have two sons, a daughter, and a daughter in law, and a very smart and handsome 5-year-old grandson. (I could be a little biased about my grandson.) :) My writing work includes blogging, freelance work, and teaching online writing classes for adults and homeschooled teens.

QS: How long have you been writing?

KL: I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember, but never thought about writing as a career until I took some writing classes after I was married. So as far as writing for publication, I’d say it’s been about 20 years or so.

QS: In what genre do you write?

KL: Most of my writing is nonfiction – blog posts, freelance writing for magazines and clients, and my book. I also am co-writing an historical fiction novel with a friend.

QS:  Do you have a ‘day job?’

KL: Yes, my “day jobs” include bookkeeping; my husband and son are partners in a carpentry business.  I also teach online writing classes; the ones for homeschooled teens run from September through May.  The classes at the Coffeehouse for Writers run year round.

QS:  What have you written before this?

KL: I’ve been writing for print and online publications such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Homeschool Magazine, Funds for Writers and E-Junkie, and have written ad content and other business material.  I also offer copy editing services.

QS: Do you write a blog?

KL: I do, and have met many wonderful friends like you! My blog address is: http://karenelange.blogspot.com/ Blogging has been a great experience. It has taught me a lot about writing and has been a great way to connect with other writers.

QS: Tell us about your family.

KL: My husband Jeff and I have been married for 32 years. Jeff's been very supportive of my writing over the years. Our oldest son works with my husband and is married; he and his wife have a son (that handsome grandson I mentioned above!). This son helped me format the original, shorter version of my book that I’d originally self-published. Our next son is a graphic designer; he designed the cover for my book. Our daughter, the youngest, was my chief proofreader before I submitted the book.  So they’ve all helped the book come to publication.

QS: What is your e-book about?

KL: Homeschool Co-ops 101 is for families who are thinking about joining or starting a homeschool co-op. It weighs the pros, cons, and creative options available, and contains essential co-op tools, tips, and options for today’s homeschool families. I recently found out that it will be coming out in print about a month after its e-book release. I was very excited to hear that bit of news!

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Cecelia! I appreciate your support.  It’s always a pleasure to stop by your blog!

QS: Thank you for stopping in, Karen. Tomorrow we will take a look at your e-book, Homeschool Co-op 101.

Eucharisteo- God’s Comfort

    

              

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Father of mercy and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)

 We all endure pain and heartache as we go through life. It’s inevitable. We have times of sadness and grief because we are human. God allows us to have these intense times of emotion in direct correlation to how much we love.

I recently witnessed a family in the grief process attend church the day after they had lost their 

husband-father-grandfather-great-grandfather. Yes, they were hurting but they chose to be in God’s house to worship God. Another woman had lost her father about a week earlier. Inside a congregation of 300+  I was aware of two families who were in the beginning of the grief process.

I know being in the Lord’s house brought comfort to both families. I saw the same example set year and a half ago. This family was in Sunday worship the next day after they buried their only son-brother; they had been through the process of grief several years earlier when they lost a daughter-sister.

In both instances, I believe the families knew where they could go to receive comfort. They came to God’s house and to His people.      

I remember when I was in the place of grief when I lost my dad, and earlier, my stepmother. In both instances, I could feel the prayers of God’s people as I walked through the days between the loss and the committal service and afterward. I was more open about my grief at the loss of my stepmother. But, the kindnesses shown to me on both occasions were very special.

I saw Jesus on that recent Sunday as I watched different people speaking to and comforting the lady who had lost her husband and her daughter and the others who lost a grandfather.

Dear Father God:

    Please wrap your arms of love around those families who mourn the loss of a loved one. Draw them close to you. Whisper words of comfort into their ears. Allow them to rest in your arms as they go through the coming days as they learn to walk through their lives without that person who meant so much to them. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN                                                                                                            

         Graphic: dwellingintheword.wordpress.com