DISCIPLINE IS LOVE = Part 1

Showing a pattern of
God's Love

Discipline for a child [and for us] is a necessity according to scriptures:

Proverbs 10:17
He who heeds discipline shows the way of life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Disciplining a child
is an act of Godly love.
~~~~~~~~~~
It must be done …
· in love
· with great patience
· under control
· with an intention to produce good fruit as a result.

Won't you join me today, at Titus 2 In Action, hosted by Sonya Thompson, for a closer look?

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

Click on the Link Below and then on Mighty Warriors

A Daughter's Heart for God

My daughter, Rebekah, posted something on her blogsite this morning that I'd like to share. Many of you know that she and her husband, Rob and their three children, went to Haiti in April as full-time missionaries. This was planned by God from way before the earthquake. Today, Becky writes about the joys and difficulties she faces each day in a culture not her own. Her heart is spilled out ~ as her new life is poured out upon those in her community. Please take a moment to read what she wrote from her heart.

After all, like me, my daugther is the princess of The King! As for me.....There is no safer place for my daughter to be ~ than in the center of God's will!

Click on the link below:

http://robandbecky.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-am-i-here.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thesliver+%28thesliver%29

Choosing Joy,
Stephanie

The TRUTH of the Matter...

Cadillac Mountain = Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor, Maine

TRUTHSHARER © 2010

“If the Arabs put down their weapons today,

there would be no more violence.
If the Jews put down their weapons today,

there would be no more Israel.”
~ Benjamin Netanyahu

~~~~~~~

40 Days of Prayer for Israel and America begins on

September 20th through October 30th.

Will you join in prayer for God's Holy Nation -

and the nation we live in here ~

as God's Plan is fulfilled according to His Holy Word?

We have nothing to lose

if we pray ~

and everything to lose if we don't.

Scripture Tag courtesy: Edie from Rich Gifts

http://richgift.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~

Praying Daniel 9:4-19

over both nations.

~~~~~~~

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

Sowing and Reaping

Elizabeth George, who wrote A Woman After God's Own Heart, has long been one of my favorite authors concerning marriage, motherhood, and [for me] grandmotherhood. Her studies take us to a place which almost seems back in time, you know ~ the June Cleaver era...

Won't you join me today at Titus 2 In Action, sponsored by Sonya Thompson, for a closer look at Sowing and Reaping?

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

Direct Link:
http://titus2inaction.blogspot.com/2010/09/sowing-and-reaping.html

or...Click on the button link ~then go to Mighty Warriors.

UNDERWATER TREASURES

Colossians 2:2-3

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart

and united in love,

so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,

in order that they may know

the mystery of God,

namely, Christ,

in Whom are hidden

all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

PHOTO: Bar Island ~ Bar Harbor, Maine

TRUTHSHARER © July 2010

EVERY STEP I TAKE!

Galatians 5 [NKJV] various passages

_________

___________

Christian Liberty

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

_________

Walking in the Spirit

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under [crushed by the penalty of] the law.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

[last verse in the NIV]

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [all Scripture emphasis added]

I wrote a note to a dear friend recently, who like me, suffers from leg and foot pain as well as knee pain. I was sharing with her some of my pain and discomfort and my new inability to walk correctly now.

She replied with a sweet e-mail back - with words of encouragement for trusting God with Healing as we both do - but she made this statement in her letter about her own life:

"I have been living with my knee pain for so long

I have probably forgotten what it is to walk without

being conscious of every step."
_______________________

Hmmmm "...forgotten what it is ...to walk ...without being conscious... of every step."

Hosea 14

9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

In the flesh we ...

• take the lead often crushing others beneath us


• take steps without thinking


• stumble into the snare of the enemy


• walk where we please, when we please


• run ahead of others and ahead of God


• step out into unsafe territory without looking both ways


• stand up to be counted yet, stand for nothing


• seek to run people down so we get to the top first


• run ourselves in circles going nowhere

Deuteronomy 5:33

Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Psalm 119

32 I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

In the SPIRIT we ...

• are conscious of every step we take


• take steps directed by God through His Spirit


• are surefooted on the path


• have trodden on solid rock


• run in the paths of His commands


• walk slowly in discernment and wisdom


• walk safely within His ancient boundaries


• walk behind our Shepherd who leads us, not in front taking back the reigns


• walk beside those on the path


• share each step in stride


• run this race for His glory at His pace

Where have your feet been? Where have they come from? What steps have you taken recently? Are they steps along God's pathway?

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

'Footnote' [ha that's funny!] = Photo in today's post taken of my feet in the water at Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine July 27, 2010

Spiritually Homeschooling Our Children

2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. [emphasis added]

What does the statement:
"Home school your children, spiritually." ... say to you?

__________________

Beth Moore is the author of that statement from her Believing God Bible Study video session. I remember hearing her talk about it the first time I did Believing God. Now, after 4 years of teaching that Bible study over and over again - this statement never gets old. She reminds us that we have to be very careful not to allow others to raise our children for us. While it is good to take our children to church, SS or send them to Christian Schools [as I did mine] whether lower level or even Christian colleges, homeschooling them spiritually is a parent's job [and often a grandparent's as well]. Beth makes a statement in that series that I believe is worth repeating here:

Please join me over at Titus 2 In Action hosted by Sonya Thompson, then click on the link for Mighty Warriors to see the rest of the story........

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

Do You Wonder?

...If Our Heavenly Father said to His Son, "You don't have to do this." We already know that Jesus answered," Yes I do."
"Then we will do this together," said the Father who was always
By His Side.

Watch in Remembrance!

Get your tissues ready!


___________________________

Choosing JOY in the Race,
Stephanie

THE PRAYER BASKET - Guest Post

Please welcome Camille. We met, as most do in Blogland, when we had gone back and forth a few times encouraging each other in the ways of the Lord. I love Camille's music on her blogsite and I often tell her that I leave it on all day. She in turn, found out that I was in need of prayer for a health issue of my back and feet and offered one day to add me to the Prayer "Basket" in her home so her children and family could pray for me. I was so overwhelmed, I asked her more about what the "Prayer Basket" was all about. She graciously agreed to do a guest post about it, but first take a moment to meet Camille and hear what the Lord has done in her life.

My name is Camille. I have been married to my Sweetheart ~ Howie, for 19 years. We were both fortunate to have been raised in Christian homes and attended church from birth. BUT ~ Christianity does not transfer to the child from the parent. We also must be saved. The LORD graciously drew me to Himself and saved me when I was still a child. I came under conviction of sin and realised the need for the Saviour. He it is that saved me and since has continued to work in my heart to sanctify me. I do not depend on ANY of my goodness, for the Bible says ~ “...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...”( Isaiah 64:6a), it is ALL of Jesus Christ and HIS completed work on my behalf. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) Since becoming a wife and a mother I am more and more aware of my NEED for the LORD in the everyday workings of life! What a blessing that HE promises NEVER to leave us nor forsake us!

We have been blessed with four children. Our oldest is 15 and our youngest is 8. We began our journey of home education only four years ago. Prior to that time, the first three attended a local Christian school. I am a full-time stay at home Mum and am so thankful that the LORD has given me the opportunity to do this for “work”. In another life (it seems), I was a Certified Dental Assistant. I forfeited my license when I began my career as Mum. We live in BC, Canada ~ In fact, both my husband and I were born here. Most of our extended family is also nearby ~ we are very thankful for these great blessings!

~ Here is the Post I wanted Camille to share with you ~

How often do we forget to pray for those things or people we’ve promised to?
To my shame, although I had good intentions, there have been those that I said I would pray for that I forgot about!
I came across this wonderful idea nearly a year ago and it was a great blessing to my heart. We had always prayed with our children, but this gave a tangible and do-able system by which we could go about implementing it with the joyful knowledge that we would not inadvertently miss someone! I trust it will be a blessing to your family as it has been to us.
We have what we call a “Prayer Basket” in our kitchen. In it go the names of loved ones and friends who have specific needs and requests. I write out the request with the person’s name on a little piece of paper and fold it up and drop it into the “Basket”. A request may be ~ “Aunt Minnie has to go for surgery on August 16th”, or “John needs a new job”.

Each time I tell someone that we will be praying for them, I write out the request and add it in.
We have family devotions with our children each day. Our four children range in age from 15 down to 8. They have enjoyed this system of praying for others and it is very beneficial to remember those specific things we desire to pray for. It is very easy to get into the habit of praying that the LORD would generally bless “all our friends and family” because of the sheer magnitude of praying for them ALL specifically EACH time we sit down with our children to pray! This eliminates the erroneous thinking that this is the only way all will be “covered” in prayer. How precious it is to teach our children to take the burdens of others to the Throne of Grace in a specific and purposeful way.

How do we do this? Generally, we each draw a slip of paper out at the evening devotional time and each of us takes a turn praying for the request that we have drawn. We instruct the children on the order of who will pray first, second, etc...prior to beginning, so that the prayer time flows smoothly without interruption. If your children are unable to read, or are very little, drawing a picture to help demonstrate the request would be helpful, as would guiding them in a “pray after me” approach. Thank you Stephanie for this wonderful idea!

We pray aloud. We pray purposefully. We pray specifically.

Once the slips of paper have been “prayed for” they go into a “holding bin” until such a time as the basket is empty. It may take a few weeks to get through the basket or only a few days, depending on the number of times in a day you draw a slip of paper out and the number of people doing the praying. This “system” could be implemented at mealtimes or bedtime ~ anytime is fine! We don’t necessarily pull from the “basket” every day, but it is always there and available for use. It is a very flexible system.

Eventually the basket will be empty. At that time, the papers are all placed back into the “Basket” and the requests go through another cycle. If a prayer request is no longer applicable ~ it was answered definitively, then praise and thanksgiving should be offered, and that slip of paper would be discarded and replaced by another (or two or three). Add more at any time! We have thoroughly enjoyed this system of teaching our young ones to be in the habit of intercessory prayer.

Prayer, of course, is a large subject. And it encompasses many things. We are to take to heart the pattern of prayer laid out for us by the LORD Jesus Christ. He taught His disciples to pray using what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” It can be found in Matthew 6:9-13. The LORD was not saying we should necessarily pray this prayer word for word ~ notice He says, “After this manner, therefore pray ye...” Matthew 6:9a. The implication here is that it is a pattern of prayer. He first worships the Father in Heaven and asks for HIS will to be done. He then requests that the basic needs of life be met, and asks for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others. The LORD ends with praise once again.

We ought to be teaching our children to pray, just as the LORD taught his disciples to pray. We are the ones that are called to teach and train our children. We are not to leave this responsibility to the Sunday school teacher or the pastor. All those who are involved in the Spiritual lives of our children are a blessing, for sure, but they are not the ones called to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
As Christians, we are called to “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ” ~ Galatians 6:2, and “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” ~ I Peter 5:7
Let’s teach our children to pray by leading them to do it! How precious they are, and how precious are these fleeting days we have been given in which to nurture and train them. Let us be faithful to lead them in HIS paths!

In Him,
Camille

You can join Camille on her own blog website at:
flowersinhisgarden.blogspot.com

Please thank Camille for her inspiring and practical methods of teaching prayer to our children and grandchildren.

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

SIDE-BY-SIDE COOPERATION

Visiting Bar Harbor, Maine this past week gave food for thought in the way of instructions and working side-by-side within a group, especially within a family. Just across from Bar Island these one-time-Kayakers were given instruction by a young woman [Instructor] . She reminded me of Moses, instructing the Israelites, or a Mom instructing her kids about something important. I have never Kayaked myself, but as I eavesdropped on this conversation between the instructor and her 'students', I was amazed at the things she told them....

Please join me today at Titus 2 in Action
for the rest of the story........

click on Mighty Warriors:


Choosing JOY, Stephanie