Quoteworthy #1

"Mama, see those rays of sunlight poking through the clouds?
That's what we're supposed to be in this world!" --Megan Carpenter

With No Apologies

(Shared with the IAHE)

Warning:  Exclusive claims ahead.  

I am about to make an exclusive claim about a foundation. Actually, I’m not personally making the claim.  Someone else did; I’m just committed to publicizing it.  

Allow me to digress for a moment.  I find the word “panoply” fascinating.  According to my Apple dictionary, panoply means a “complete or impressive collection of things; a splendid display”--especially, historically, in the context of a “complete set of arms or suit of armor,” and originally referring to “complete protection for spiritual warfare.”  

But what’s a panoply got to do with a foundation and exclusive claims?  Well, everything actually.  Many leaders, even some among those who claim to be part of Christendom, would have us believe that all the varied ideas and diverse religious philosophies promoted around the world today represent a panoply from which it is perfectly right and proper to choose our spiritual tools and practices.  People speak of drawing from the wells of various “wisdom traditions” (i.e. other religions) in order to enhance their relationship with God. (An example of one prominent practice drawn from non-Christian wells, yet white-washed and paraded through Christendom in an intricate deception, is what's commonly called "contemplative prayer.")  

And here I show my hand, with no apologies.  This highly touted, supposed panoply, brought to you courtesy of the world's religions, is an absolute fraud, an elaborate deception--highly billed, yes, but a hoax all the same.

All ideas, all philosophies, and all religions are not equally valid.  There, I said it. But the idea is not originally mine.

It was Jesus of Nazareth who made exclusive claims to truth. Listen to this from Luke 6:46-49.

“And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them,  I will show you whom he is like:

he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  (italics mine)

Do you see?  Jesus didn’t say that the ones who don’t listen and act on His words didn’t build a house.   No, they built a house all right.  They invested the effort, the time, and the money to build.  But they did all that “without any foundation.” Interestingly, until the storm came, the house with no foundation may have looked to the casual observer to be just as solid as the house built on rock.  But, in fact, what they built on was loose and shifty.  Let’s face it; even wind can push sand around.

Further, He doesn’t even say they built on a wrong foundation. He says they built “without any foundation” at all.  And He says the only way to have a foundation that withstands the deluge is to listen to His words and act accordingly.  Nothing else but His teaching will do as a foundation.  Nothing else even is a foundation.

This is an exclusive claim.  It’s His way or nothing.  There aren’t any alternate foundations.  The options are 1) a solid foundation of obedience to Jesus’ words or 2) no foundation at all.

Jesus most certainly made exclusive claims.  He said if you’re not acting according to His teaching, you have no foundation.  No foundation.  That’s not just what I like to think.  It’s what He said, and a person who is true to the real Jesus will uphold those claims.  

Contrary to today’s popular thought, Jesus most certainly did not proclaim either the equality of all religions, or their neutrality.  In the Old Testament, God said, “I am the Lord, and there is no other.  Besides Me there is no God.”  (Isaiah 45:5)  In the New Testament, Jesus said (John 14:6), “No one comes to the Father, but through Me.” And, yes, in Luke 6, if you’re not putting "My" words into practice, you have "no foundation," and you are doomed to go down with a big crash one day.  A person who is true to the real Jesus will not contradict His exclusive claims by embracing the idea of “truth” in all religions.  In fact, Jesus said good fruit isn’t produced on a bad tree.  (See Luke 6:43)  It would be foolish to go looking for true spiritual fruit on a tree of false religion whose roots grow straight out of hell.

Consistent with this, in Acts 17, God’s messenger Paul didn’t tell the Athenians they were just fine for adding one more statue (“to an unknown god”) to their line-up of idols.  Rather, in verse 16, “...his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols.”  He boldly told the Athenians where they were theologically wrong, and that though the Creator had overlooked their prior ignorance, God was “now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man who He has appointed [Jesus], having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (verse 30, italics mine)

What has this got to do with education and parenting?  Just why should we care? Here’s why: our children’s spiritual destiny hangs in the balance.

If we believe our children’s spiritual life is the most important aspect of their lives, then intentionally teaching them the truth should be highest priority.  Warning them of false teachers and false teachings, as the New Testament writers did, should be highest priority.

I would grant that traditional subjects, like Math and English, are important, even necessary, but in the final analysis, they have no strong and direct link to our children’s spiritual destiny. While we make time for the necessary traditional subjects, and for sundry extra-curriculars, have we neglected to also devote sufficient time to giving them the only real foundation to build the rest of their education and lives upon?     

Right now, we still have an opportunity to teach our children the truth.  We can anchor them in God’s Word.  We still have the freedom to expose the lies and arguments of the “no absolute truth” and “truth in all religions” crowd.  But even as we do, the heralds of “no absolute truth” and “truth in all religions” are mobilized, strategizing, and boldly advancing. It could be that your family has already crossed paths with some of the most famous proponents of these ideas, though you may not have recognized them at the time.  They are even showing up in homeschool catalogs.

We still have freedom, and there is still time, but realistically, it may not last. Sometimes, carefully thinking through and spelling out the things we are going to regret not doing can help to clarify which things we are doing that aren’t really worthy of as much of our time.

The context of the original word “panoply” was spiritual warfare.  Interestingly, if all religions and all ideas are equally valid and good, then what is the point of spiritual warfare anyway?  Why would there be a war of ideas if all ideas are all equally good?

The fact is that there is a war of ideas over Jesus' exclusive claim that there is only one foundation.  The only real panoply--the complete set of armor for protection in spiritual warfare-- is found in Jesus and His Word.  The only foundation for building a life on is Jesus and His Word.

If we don’t want our children stepping out in fake armor, cherry-picked from the false religions of the world, building lives “without any foundation” that are destined for great ruin, then we must make a serious priority of making sure they understand and can choose to apply and defend the exclusive truth of God’s Word and the exclusive claims of His Son.  And that means we have got to be willing to dig in and do the hard work to understand, apply, and defend the truth ourselves, if we’ve any hope of properly arming them.  We dare not leave it to the church or to anyone else.  Though the choice to obey is ultimately theirs, the responsibility is squarely in our own laps to make them well-aquainted with the truth.

There is only one foundation. It's time to build on the Rock--while there's still time. The coming storm will reveal whose house stands and whose house falls.

May yours be one that stands.

In Step With The Spirit

Only three verses in all of Scripture about her, but I’m convinced I would have loved her.  Anna was one amazing old lady in love with an amazing God.

Someone in her circumstances might have become overwhelmed, bitter, and lonely, being married only seven years before becoming a widow, but not Anna.  She spent her time attached to the Lord’s interests—and He communicated with her (she was a prophetess, says Luke 2:36).  Now as an 84 year old, “she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.”  (Luke 2:37)  I wonder just how long she had been doing this.

Nowadays, people twenty years younger than Anna was are retired, but not Anna.  She obviously wasn’t sitting around at home doing nothing or feeling sorry for herself.  No, she was in step with the Spirit.  “At that very moment . . .” as Simeon was prophesying about little eight-day-old Jesus as he held Him in his arms, she came up and starting giving thanks to God.  Oh, to be so close to Him, so in step with the Spirit, that when the Lord is doing something significant in my vicinity I, too, would be in the center of it, and not missing it.

Most of the people on the planet, whether young or old, let their own selfish purposes dictate their lives, but not Anna.  Anna let God’s purposes direct her time and energy.  She “continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”  (Luke 2:38)  Interestingly, it was those who were looking to see what God would do who got in on the news of what God was up to.  I wonder if the ones who weren’t looking for the redemption of Jerusalem ever found out what God was doing?

And that’s it.  Just three verses, yet her life has inspired and challenged mine.

Where is my focus?  On my situation or on the Lord’s interests?

Am I in step with His Spirit, or I am I too focused on me to see what He’s doing?

What directs my time and my energy?  Am I ready at any moment to step up and begin giving Him thanks?

O Lord, in all my days, I don’t want to miss even one moment of what You are doing or one opportunity to give You thanks!

Moment by moment, may I, too, be a praying woman who hears from You, keeps on speaking of You, and gives You thanks that others can hear.  Shape me in such a way that the simple snippets from my life would point others to bless Your name.

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

My Night Job

This post (also shared with the IAHE) is dedicated to everyone

who has ever lain awake worrying over something,

or might ever be tempted to. . .

At 5:12 last Wednesday morning the lights came on.

No, not the electric lights.  Something dawned on my heart--and I realized something.

I awoke to use the bathroom, and as I got out of bed, I began to marvel.  The things I have historically worried about in the night are never the really "big" things.  The things I know I have absolutely no control over--and that are entirely in God's hands--are not the things that keep me awake.

No, what keeps me awake are those smaller things that I think I have some control over.  The things I think are up to me, that I somehow control the outcome of.  I lie awake concerned about how I am going to get them done.

And then it hit me.  This line I've drawn between what's in my control and what's in God's control is an illusion--it's a non-existent line!  There's really no difference at all.  He is sovereign over the big things, and He's no less sovereign over the small ones.  What ever was I thinking?!  He reminded me that apart from Him I can do nothing (John 15).  My life is fruitful only as I depend on Him.  And His power to mastermind and accomplish the big things is more than sufficient for the smaller things of my life.

So I resolved to retire from my night job as worrier.  I've known all along it wasn't right, but somehow, I kept getting pulled into it.  Without actually consciously acknowledging it, I sort of imagined that I ultimately had control over the things I stayed awake over.

I'm learning to trust Him more.

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God,

for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;

And His song will be with me in the night*,

A prayer to the God of my life.

Hope in God,

for I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance, and my God."

Psalm 42:5, 8, 11b

P.S. * So I've taken a new a new night job (when I'm not asleep, that is).  I'm singing His song.

He Took Hold of Me

I said something two days ago that I now regret.  And it's been haunting me.  Ever had that happen?

I thought so.  So you can relate.

Well, I told some friends that my life was a logistical nightmare.  I was feeling just a bit overwhelmed--okay a lot overwhelmed.  So what's to regret about saying that?  Well, they certainly weren't the words of a faithful witness to God's capableness, and it just wasn't true.  First of all nightmares aren't real life, and secondly, it wasn't an accurate statement.  On top of that, I certainly didn't want my children to feel like I was insinuating that they were part of the problem; they're not.

My life may feel like a logistical challenge to me at moments, but it's not all up to me.  What was I thinking?!

Logistical challenges are nothing to my God.  

The real problem was that I took my eyes off my Redeemer and looked at the wind around me.  (Thinking just now I have a lot in common with the Peter of Matthew 14:22-34.)  "But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!"

Jesus didn't let the doubter sink; He didn't just let him go down.

"Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand

and took hold of him . . ."

And He didn't just let me go down either.

My God stretched out His hand and reminded me (Numbers 1-10) that He organized millions of His people in the desert after they left Egypt, told them who was to camp where--significantly, all centered around His presence, assigned their duties, set up the signals they would use to communicate, and directed when to set out and when and where to camp.  And, with my God's perspective, my life is beginning to look rather uncomplicated now. . .

My God--the One who holds me safely (John 10:27-29), whose everlasting arms are under me (Deuteronomy 33:27), and whose wings cover me (Psalm 91)--wants me to understand that nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:27).

There are days when I, like David did, just need Him to tell me again.

"O Lord . . .  say to my soul,

'I am your salvation.'"

Psalm 35:3b

"There is none like the God of Israel

 who rides the heavens to your help,

and through the skies in His majesty.

The eternal God is a dwelling place, 

and underneath are the everlasting arms . . ."

Deuteronomy 33:26-27

 "'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'

And when they got in the boat the wind stopped."

Matthew 14:31b-32

Life can be hard.  Sometimes it even gets darker before the light comes, but whatever it is, however big it is, however impossible it looks to you, He can handle it.  And He'll take hold of you, too.

It's Enough

In the darkest and stormiest of nights and the hardest of days,

the promises of God

give sure light, a steady anchor, and unwearying wings.

Well, the season is past, but I’m still pondering.  Incidentally, I seriously doubt that Mary was ever finished pondering as long as she lived (see Luke 2:19).

Can you get your mind around this?  It finally happened!  The most anticipated event in the entire history of the world finally happened!  The long-promised Messiah arrived in the flesh.

Just knowing He’d come was enough for Simeon (See Luke 2:212-35).  Seeing the Messiah was what He was living for, waiting for.  You see, the Holy Spirit had actually revealed to him that he wouldn’t die ‘til he’d seen the Lord’s Messiah.

I’ve often wondered what it must have been like when Simeon saw Joseph and Mary walk into the temple with Jesus.  Did the Holy Spirit whisper, “See that baby being carried in just now?  He’s the One you’ve been waiting for—there’s your Messiah, Simeon!”

However He did it, the Holy Spirit made it obvious to Simeon who Jesus was, and Jesus’ parents were absolutely amazed at what Simeon said as he held Jesus in his arms and blessed God.  

For Simeon, this was enough; there was nothing greater to live for.  He’d seen the Messiah, and even if he didn’t live to see how his Messiah would accomplish everything, he trusted what God had told him.  Everything would work out the way it should.  Everything was going to be okay.

Now I’m asking myself, “Do I have that kind of faith?”  I want to have that kind of faith.  I want to be like those spoken of in Hebrews 11 who—even though they didn’t see all the final fulfillment of God’s promises in their lifetimes—died in faith, seeing and welcoming His promises from a distance.

All His precious and magnificent promises (see II Peter 1:1-4) are true.  He is faithful.  Not one of His promises has failed.  All came to pass. (I’m thinking just now of Joshua 21:45 and 23:14.)

We can’t rest in those promises, though,

if we don’t know what they are.

It’s long past time for all who claim to be God’s to know what His Word says, to really know it— not just as second-hand knowledge, but because we’ve seen it with our own eyes, and we can’t get it out of our heads.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

It’s enough for me to have met the Messiah.  (Have you?)

And I believe He will do what He has promised.  (Do you?)

~~~~~~~

(If you've never heard the song Captain's Anthem,
now might be a good time to pause to listen.)

Can Good Be Bad?

“My kingdom is not of this world.”

 ~Jesus Christ, the Master and great Shepherd of the sheep

As recorded in John 19:36

If we have chosen to follow Christ, we have committed to a life that is clearly outside the world’s cultural norms and is governed by heavenly priorities instead.  The lives of those who have chosen to homeschool fall even farther outside cultural norms.  But even in the homeschool world, we are not immune to distraction from what is of central importance to our Lord.  In fact, especially in the homeschool world, we may be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to our priorities.  It is often said that the good can be the enemy of the best.  It is of prime importance that we regularly take stock of our lives to make sure that we have not received His grace in vain.

Might it be possible that we have become yoked to things that are really not of Him?   (See II Corinthians 6.)   Are we honestly and truly not of this world?   Or could it be, that in spite of a valiant attempt to keep from being conformed to and entangled in “the world” and its pagan, cultural wrappings and trappings, we are sometimes unwittingly lured into what is simply an alternate “world” to keep us occupied?

 “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life,

is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And the world is passing away, and also its lusts;

but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”

I John 2:15-17

Could it be that an obsession with a morally clean cultural world might serve Satan’s purposes just as well—to sufficiently distract us from God’s real priorities?

The world has dark and dirty hobbies to keep its lives too busy for God.  Those who claim to follow Christ may have refreshingly clean hobbies, which ironically, however, often accomplish the same end.  Neither group has much time for God’s priorities.  My fear is that we are far too often energetic—exceptionally so—for things that are empty, feverish in our activity for that which is fading.

The world’s teenagers follow the latest fashion trends—daringly envelope-pushing, immodest ones.  Meanwhile, Christian young people can be equally enthralled with fashion, except, of course, that theirs would tend toward modesty.

The men of the world love sports and beer.  Multitudes of Christian men, too, can talk of nothing but sports.  They just generally prefer a less addictive drink to go with it.

While the world may be addicted to the dark side of technology, the Church may be equally addicted to its cleaner forms.

The world takes it view of Christianity from everything but the Bible.  And tragedy of tragedies, so does most of the “Church”, as is evidenced by way it whole-heartedly embraces the core beliefs of the rest of the world’s religions, while having not a clue where the ideas have come from.

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so walk in Him. . . .

 See to it that no one takes you captive

through philosophy and empty deception,

according to the tradition of men,

according to the elementary principles of the world,

rather than according to Christ.”

Colossians 2:6, 8

Honestly, is what we let ourselves be consumed with actually prescribed in the Bible, or has some smooth talker just convinced us that it is?  Do we latch onto things, thinking they are worth our time, when in reality they, too, are passing away?  Are our priorities really the same as His?  

It is imperative that we ask ourselves these questions.  These are the kind of questions we need to be asking.  I have to ask myself these kinds of questions on a regular basis, and especially at holiday times when our schedules get even tighter than usual.  If we don’t ask ourselves these questions, and honestly stare the answers in the face, we may find that our dear Master is grieved with our hardness of heart and with our willingness to be distracted from what matters most to Him.

Lately, I’ve been reading the last letters of Peter and Paul (II Peter and II Timothy).  They’ve really gotten to me.  I have felt their emotion, as they knew their time on this earth was coming quickly to an end.  Those dear men, under the Spirit’s influence, were intensely passionate—and increasingly so, it seems, as they aged—that we should faithfully carry on what Jesus passed on to them, without getting sidetracked, deceived, or lead astray from their—and our—beloved Master.

I was going to share some verses from II Peter and II Timothy but couldn’t narrow them down; they were all too relevant.  So instead, I urge you to go pull out the actual letters and soak them up as you would precious pen and paper letters that just arrived today in your mailbox.  You certainly won’t regret it; in fact, it may save you from regret.

“And now, little children, abide in Him,

so that when He appears, we may have confidence

and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”

~From yet another intensely devoted follower of Jesus Christ

As recorded in I John 2:26-28

Thanksgiving--The Season That Never Ends

When we first returned from Ukraine with our newly adopted thirteen-year-old daughter, my dad went around the house with her, labeling things with sticky-notes.  Her repertoire of English vocabulary was very small, so he was helping to add to it.  I still smile when I remember his labeling of legs—"table leg," "chair leg," and "people leg."

Recently, I heard about another use for sticky-note labels that I've not been able to get out of my head.  Someone suggested that each of us ought to get two stacks of sticky-notes. On the notes in one stack, write the label "temporary" and attach those notes to everything that is just that—temporary.  Cars, computers, toys, furniture . . . even money.  You get the idea.  All the stuff that, in the end, will burn.  On the notes in the second stack, write "eternal" and stick those on people, because their souls are, in fact, eternal.

Even though I didn't actually make the labels, I now can't picture my stuff without seeing those labels attached in my mind.  And I find myself asking myself why I'm spending time on certain things that won't last or that won't impact the eternal in any way.

Surrounded by invisible labels, I've been thinking of their implication on my thanksgiving, too.  The temporary can certainly be cause for thanksgiving.  The glory and magnificence of the created world—all that we can see, taste, smell, hear, or touch—can point us to the wisdom and goodness of our Creator.  Majestic mountains, the cheerful sound of children's laughter, or the savory smell of pumpkin pie can inspire praise to our Father.  He is the one who gave us ears to hear.  He gave us eyes capable of seeing color and detecting depth.  He is the one who created flavor and gave us the ability to enjoy it.  As wonderful as the created world is though, it still gets a "temporary" label.  And that's really got me thinking.

I’ve tried to imagine being in what we'd be likely to call less-than-ideal circumstances.  What if I lost my sight?  What if I could no longer hear the laughter of children?  What if I were truly hungry or out in the cold?  What if my life were the one the Voice of the Martyrs magazine asked you to pray for?  What then?  In that light, a focus on the temporary seems terribly shallow.  What would I be thankful for then?  It would be the things that transcend and that can’t be stolen by circumstances good or bad.  Think of it!  If our joy is attached to the things that can’t be stolen, then our joy can’t be stolen either.  But if our joy is attached to temporary things . . .

God knows our hearts need a greater focus on the intangible blessings that are enduring, a focus that goes beyond thanksgiving for the albeit lovely, but nevertheless temporary.  It’s those eternal blessings that will remain and bring joy even when our lives are stripped of all those temporary things.

That's what the Apostle Peter was getting at in chapter one of his first letter:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away...”  

I find it interesting that Scripture focuses very little on the temporary, and even the examples of gratitude for temporary things point to God's character as Provider.  Not that I don't enjoy the temporary or won't be grateful for the blessings that I know will fade, but the temporary is definitely second tier, and the real issue is one of priorities.  Recognition of the enduring importance of the eternal is the cure for a hollow life.  Seeing with God's eternal perspective keeps us from being shallow.

So while I will still be thankful for temporary blessings, I'm all the more determined to cultivate an ardent attitude of gratitude for "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," as Paul says in Ephesians 1.  Though I can’t attach sticky-notes to them, they are no less real.  I want my joy to be anchored to the eternal, not to the temporary.  If I’m anchored to the eternal, I can't be shaken.  I’m convinced that’s what Peter was talking about as his first letter continues:

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials … and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory … [Therefore] fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Yes, 'tis the season for being thankful.

If you know Jesus, the season never ends! 

By the way, parents, if we model a life of heavenly aligned priorities, we equip our children well to live a truly rich life.

"Godliness actually is a means of great gain,

when accompanied by contentment.

... Instruct those who are rich in this present world

not to be conceited

or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches,

but on God,

who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy."

I Timothy 6:6,17

Transcript Season

(Shared with the IAHE blog, too)

It's transcript season at our house, and I've been reminiscing.  One of my dear girls has started her last year of high school.  We have been through so much and learned so much together.  And most of it could never be reflected on a transcript.

Oh, yes, she has learned to balance chemical equations, to make bread and berry pie, to use imaginary numbers and subordinating conjunctions.  She can play the piano and tell you who Thaddeus Kosciuszko was.  But a transcript could never reflect who she has become.

In the progress of gathering up samples of her work for a portfolio, I came across a notebook wherein lay perhaps some of her most significant work.  It was work that went far deeper than history facts or geometry proofs.  It penetrated her heart and ignited something inside her.  This work hadn't been assigned for an official class.  It was what she had done during the time she devoted to God's Word at the beginning of the day during one of her school years.  The notebook contains the notes she made as she read through the Old Testament books of Joshua and Judges.

As I read through tears of joy, I saw that she had carefully catalogued, verse by verse, what was taking place, grouped the verses into logical divisions, and summarized the content.  She made observations on the overarching themes, and then applied them to her own life and the life of our nation with incredible insight.  God challenged her to align herself with His priorities, and she said, "Yes!"  He spoke, He revealed His faithfulness, and her faith grew.  And mine grew, too, as I read what the Lord had taught her.

Contrary to popular opinions of some, studying God's Word is no dry, meaningless, intellectual exercise; it has been a living and powerful shaping force in her life.  As I observe her attitudes today and hear her speak with passion, I know that the living God who revealed Himself in those passages has molded her faith with His own hand.

As we spend each passing day with our children, let's not forget that the most relevant things they will ever learn are the spiritual truths from God's Word that will anchor them long after they've left home and long after we have moved on to heaven ahead of them.

And more rewarding than anything that could be recorded on a transcript is knowing that our children's names are recorded in the Book Of Life.

". . . You know in all your hearts and in all your souls

that not one word of all the good words

which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed;

all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed."

Joshua 23:14b

LIfe LIte!

This post is by a special guest blogger, our daughter Megan . . .

Ever feel like your life is just too full?  Like you've got too much on your plate and just need some relief?  Well, you’re not alone; millions share your plight!

But get this!  The good news is you can join legions of other people just like you who have found the solution.  That’s right!  We’re here to offer you a steaming cup of Life Lite – half the fat, half the calories, half the salt – and you’ll never notice they’re missing (unless you try Full Life… but don’t do that!)!

For half the price of Full Life you get:

-half the danger and half the exhilaration

-half the risk and half the gain

-half the sacrifice and half the value

-half the pain and half the joy

-half the battles and half the victories

-half the ugliness and half the beauty

-half the investments and half the dividends

-half the thuds and half the flying hopes

-half the failures and half the successes

-half the challenges and half the satisfaction

-half the life and all the physical death (We just can’t seem to find a way around full death yet… but trust us – we’re working on it!)

-half the good works and all the testing fire (We haven’t figured out how to cut that in half either… sorry!)

You get all this and less for just half the price of Full Life!

It’s a great deal!  

Stop in today to get your cup of Life Lite.

Or call 1-666-NOT-LIFE right now and we’ll half your order!

But hurry!  Offer ends soon!

[Disclaimer:  Full Life is not affiliated with Life Lite and does not endorse this product.  Limited warranty cannot guarantee full satisfaction.  Life Lite is not responsible for consumers’ full experience of regret, death, and trial by fire of half-hearted life work.  Life Lite does not guarantee that the level of benefits will reach expected one half levels or that danger, risk, sacrifice, etc., will not exceed half levels.]

--------------------

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 

--Jesus

Matthew 10:39

“He who has found his life will lose it,

and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

--Jesus

--------------------

If you would like to read more from Megan, you can find her blog at www.mthegreatadventure.blogspot.com.