“Becoming a Christian means being sick of your sin, longing for forgiveness and rescue from present evil and future hell, and affirming your commitment to the lordship of Christ to the point where you are willing to forsake everything.”
—John MacArthur
Because I can’t travel like I used to because of my illness, it’s hard to describe the depth of this week’s blessing. My family had our most successful camping trip ever. Five days at the Grand Canyon. How marvelous are His works!! 😭🙌🏼 God has been so gracious to me.
🏡 My 19+ Reasons We Homeschool 👏🏻
Years ago, I wrote out this list for myself to be able to articulate (and better defend) our decision. Thought it might help you, too, as many are making the switch. 💕
Long for a Twitter thread, but hope it helps. Here goes...
Happy is that man who possesses a Bible!
Happier still is he who reads it!
Happiest of all is he who not only reads it, but obeys it, and makes it the rule of his faith and practice!
—J.C. Ryle
The other day I listened to my husband share the gospel with someone in such an articulate, humble and beautiful way. It made me realize (again) how thankful I am to be married to a believer. 🥹
Many of you know I deal with an illness that keeps me mostly at home. Well, today the Lord gave me an incredible gift. 😭 I was able to go with my family to church! We stayed outside and enjoyed fellowship with many. A local church is an amazing blessing! 🙌🏼
We lost my dear grandmother early this morning. She is no longer in pain and has met her loved Savior Jesus today, but it’s a sad day for those of us who miss her. Please pray for my extended family today.
Pain levels have spiked today to where I can hardly see this screen now, but instead of wondering why God hasn’t healed me physically, I’m going to concentrate on my gratitude that He has healed me spiritually. I trust Him and His higher ways. But also, please pray, friends. ty💕
We have a dear elderly friend who was hit by a car while walking last night. As far as we can tell, she’s been in surgery for already around 9 hours for multiple broken bones, including both arms and legs. Please pray for her whole family! 😭💔🙏🏻
My son’s musical ear is 😳😱. He just sat down at the piano and perfectly played “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.” He is 8 and does not have music for this. 😲
Please pray for 2 of my siblings. One is transgender and the other living in awful other sins. 💔 We mailed them each a new Bible this week with a heartfelt plea to repent and turn to Christ, sharing the full gospel truth in a letter.
2. It's completely flexible, speed-wise.
We can go at the child's own pace. No waiting for others to catch up, no falling behind and no comparing to others' speeds.
I'm currently banished to my bedroom while loads of giggles, balloon squeaks, and crepe paper sounds come down the hall.
Daddy’s helping them decorate for my birthday tomorrow, and their joy is the very best gift. 🥺😭🥰🙌🏻
+Bonus Reasons:
Any day can be pajama day!
Birthdays can be holidays!
Field trips are more frequent and awesome!
No fundraisers!
More time to work on hobbies!
And on and on....
10. It exemplifies a more realistic multi-generational environment.
In building-schools, children are with others their own age. In homeschool, the young learn by watching the older. All ages learn how to treat and be with others, preparing them better for real world living.
7. It promotes better social skills.
I've heard building-school be called "social suicide" as kids are just herded to their next classrooms and then told, "you're not here to socialize."
Martyn Lloyd-Jones talking about the importance of learning from history and he says this:
“I know that it is very difficult for many modern people to realize this, but we are not the first people to have lived in this world.”
😬😆
9. It inspires and encourages learning.
Kids should love learning. So much of building-school is checking off boxes, doing mediocre jobs at homework just to complete, etc.
14. It encourages a significantly healthier lifestyle.
We can more control/guide what they eat & drink, which is vital for their development and ultimate health. Also, their bodies can move so much more as opposed to sitting in desks all day.
4. It cultivates confidence and creativity.
There is time and space for imaginations to soar, questions to be asked (and answered), and they can better learn to think for themselves.
8. It allows for a quicker discipline time.
Any behavioral issues can be addressed more immediately and consistently, providing the child a solid foundation.
13. It allows for more medical freedom.
No abiding by a building-school's vaccination rules. Additionally, we do not have to be discriminated for our decisions.
12. It provides a better protection during the early years.
Children can be sheltered a bit longer before they personally encounter real-world issues (sex, drugs, etc.). Parents have more time to discuss these items and prepare them as they grow old enough to truly resist them.
Please pray if you see this. My typical 24/7 pain from my illness has really spiked this morning. It’s been enough years, I know it means a day or two in bed, but not always. All glory to God for the path He has laid before me. May I walk it well.
I feel like my small circle of believers got smaller today with all the Rubin congratulations. Wish I could hug the few of you left…and then sit down to read the Bible together. And sing hymns. And pray. And repeat!
18. It grants the parent much more time to be the main influencer.
Though there are fabulous and loving teachers out there, nobody loves and fights for kids more than parents.
Good morning! ☀️
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth.
Isaiah 25:7b-8
11. It can better strengthen the child's faith.
Statistics show kids who go to building-school walking away from God more than homeschooled kids. At home, we can study many aspects of theology and give them a superior foundation.
19. It provides more opportunity for sibling bonding.
There is more time in each day to practice kindness and getting along with each other, which ultimately helps the health of the family as a whole.
Please pray for my friend "C." She's deep into the Furtick/Copeland world. In a good, gentle, & kind conversation, I recommended
@costiwhinn
's book. The mere title "infuriated" her (her word). She believes prosperity IS the gospel and I can feel her emotions from across the USA..
Find yourself a pastor like this:
“They can heap all the personal abuse they like on me, it will make no difference, but I will not tolerate any misrepresentation of the truth…”
—Martyn Lloyd-Jones
After my husband had read quite a bit of Bible for our fam devo tonight, 6-year-old had a question she’d obviously been bothered by. She couldn’t figure out how someone could be the son of none. Doesn’t everyone have parents?
Poor Joshua, son of nobody. 😆🥰
Praying for the kids of Pastor Tim and
@RaquelAStephens
this morning, as they’re separated from their daddy. May God draw their little hearts close to Him today and may He be glorified in every possible way!
Double tweet, because I’m too excited to squeeze into one. 😄👇🏻
IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN.
Many of you know the wild pain and physical issues I deal with on a daily basis. Well, by the grace of God, I have completed my memorization of 1 Peter today. 😭🙌🏻
1/2
He who loves God cannot love God and hate his brother. We manifest our love for God by a fervent love for each other. There is a big difference between tolerance and zealous love.
—R.C. Sproul
One of the neat things about raising children to know Christ is how much more the parent comes to know Christ through the teaching. We must know it to share it. 🙌🏻
Yesterday began very early with a terrible turn of events. By the afternoon, we were having to tell our kids their dearly loved grandpa had died. My husband and I mourn more deeply, because he had always resisted the gospel…
Good morning! ☀️ I pray that you may have strength to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love which surpasses all knowledge. 💛
Have a lovely Saturday!
“You say, ‘God isn’t fair!’ My dear friend, put your hand with Job upon your mouth and realize what you are saying and of whom you’re speaking.”
—Martyn Lloyd-Jones
(preaching on the mystery of God’s will, Eph 1)
I’ve missed a ton of messages today. Bear with me. Pain skyrocketed this morning, and dealing with respiratory issues as well. Appreciate prayer. Thanks, fam. 💕
Good morning, Twitter family! ☀️
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:6
…no part of my life must be outside of God’s lordship. His holy character has something to say about economics, politics, athletics, romance—everything with which we are involved.
—RC Sproul
True story. I’ve been reading older lit lately (Frankenstein, Tale of Two Cities) and the language was apparently contagious. When I texted my dad to check on his injuries, this is what came out first:
How go the ailments which have so rudely taken over your frame as of late?
God’s Word cultivates the godly attitudes, thoughts, and actions that will keep trials and temptations from overwhelming us.
—John MacArthur
#stayintheword
Pray for me, that I may be made holier and wiser—less like myself, and more like my Heavenly Master; that I may not regard my life, if so be I may finish my course with joy.
—Robert Murray M’Cheyne
Really struggling to get my pain level under control this morning (all night). Please pray, if you have a minute. Meanwhile, my soul clings to the Lord, who is my portion! His promises give me life. 💕
While being burned at the stake, martyr Hugh Latimer said to Nicholas Ridley, also burning:
“Be of good cheer, Master Ridley. We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
If I had done one verse a day, it would have taken a mere 105 days. But it took me 13 months. Many steps backwards!
I say that because, seriously. If I can (again, only by His grace) accomplish this, anyone can. YOU can.
What are you memorizing today??
Update! Not only did she make it out of surgery, but went much better than anticipated for her age and number of serious injuries. 🙌🏻 She has a lot of healing to do and some days in the ICU, but the Lord has sustained her mightily. To Him be the glory. Thanks for praying, saints.
Got word my sweet doggie passed away today. We gave her to friends when we moved overseas several years ago, so I’m surprised how sad it made me! But both our families loved her and she had a good life. 💛
I’ve been in extreme pain for a couple days. It’s nothing new, but when I come out of each spike, God becomes that much more glorious to me. He strips me of my distractions and keeps refining my priorities. I can’t wait to be without pain one day, but I have gratitude for it now.
Good morning, Twitter family. ☀️ I actually crashed yesterday morning and am still in too much pain to really be on here, so can I please ask for your prayers?
I do hope your new week brings a new awareness of how great our God is. No purpose of His can be thwarted!
Thomas Watson’s 6 ingredients for repentance:
1. Sight of sin
2. Sorrow for sin
3. Confession of sin
4. Shame for sin
5. Hatred for sin
6. Turning from sin
“If any one is left out it loses its virtue.”
The sad reality is that our culture currently worships at the altar of emotion, and as a result, feelings reign supreme. This is why we must reform our minds by Scripture so that we’re not beholden to the emotion of our day.
—
@D_B_Harrison
/
@VirgilWalkerOMA