Posts tagged ‘faith’

Five thanks

By Monica Brand, 25 November, 2008, 2 Comments

A reflection of thankfulness…

1. Faith

$child\'s craft, handmade cross - a mommy\'s treasure$

Forever will I be thankful for the gift of forgiveness and for faith to believe.

2. Family

Four healthy children, full of life. A godly husband. My parents. Doc’s parents. Extended family near and far, all dear ones and loved. Church family, also dear. Along with my church family, I include my online friends. Faith brings us together, technology lets us connect and find each other. I’m thankful for you, readers.

3. Freedom

From sin through the power of Jesus Christ. Freedom to gather in community with other believers every Sunday, to openly proclaim Jesus is Lord. Freedom to educate my children, my way, without interference from government involvement.

4. Food

Because not everyone will sit down to turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and pumpkin pie. God forgive us if we forget our brothers and sisters that are hungry today, here in the United States, or overseas.

5. Finances

My family has enough. We aren’t rich, we aren’t poor. I’m thankful for the abundance in my heart, that which money can’t buy.

From Psalm 136:

Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

Now it’s your turn: Why are you thankful? Can you add to my List of Five?

You can read more thankful-blog posts here.

On my nightstand: October 2008

By Monica Brand, 1 November, 2008, 1 Comment

I’m behind in my reading and late on linking this at 5 Minutes for Books. Below is what I’m working through right now:

Community is a hot buzz word in the church.

My first Driscoll book.

Love that title, and really LOVE the subtext.

That’s it for me for October. Be looking for my next On My Nightstand list at the end of this month.

What I choose to remember

By Monica Brand, 11 September, 2008, 10 Comments

Love

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Psalm 10:12

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Matthew 5:41

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Peace

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7

Hope

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11

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This post is in memory of Zandra Cooper Ploger. Seven years ago today, Zandra perished aboard American Airlines Flight 77. I pray the Lord brings love, peace and hope to her family today.

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If you have a post today remembering the victims of 9/11, let me know in the comments or DM me on Twitter, and I’ll add it here.

1. Lit and Laundry: I remember

2. Apron Strings and Angst: September 11, 2001 – A Remembrance

3. The Horrible Homeschooler: Remembering 9/11 Differently

4. Mommy Pie: THAT Morning

5. Twinfatuation: Two Babies. Six Days. Two Towers

6. Wrekehavoc.com : safe and sound

7. Homeschoolingcoach.com : Pray and Remember Today

8. Three Channels: A 9/11 Moment on Bedrest

9. A Girl in the Middle: Out of the Ashes

10. Put it on the List: Why I Remember 9/11 on 9/12

Today is September 1

By Monica Brand, 1 September, 2008, 9 Comments

Today is September 1. If you teach your children at home, many of you are back to the books, and if not yet, you’re getting ready to start again after the summer break. The school room (if you have one – I don’t) is clean and organized, book shelves (we’ve lots of them) are tidy, pens and pencils new and sharp, notebooks fresh (yup, lots of paper and scribbling tools too).

It’s the start of the new year. And you are energized to get started.

Today I want to encourage you, home schooling mom.

The day will come when all is not shiny and new. That school room neat today will be a wreck. Those pens and pencils and crisp paper? Lost in sofa cushions or broken or squirreled away by the toddler when you weren’t looking. (Sigh. I definitely have one of those).

Not only that – your house will be a wreck, dinner forgotten, still frozen in the freezer and the kids are driving you to lock yourself in the bathroom – the only place in the house sometimes where we can find privacy (me again).

I’ve been at this home schooling for awhile, and if you have too, you know it’s true.

This is hard work.

This post is for you, teacher mama. I want you to bookmark it; print it out if you must.

When you are wondering why you do this, when it would be so much easier not to home school.

Take heart, home schooling mom. You can do this. You’re their mommy. Maybe you don’t want to admit it publicly at times (ahem). But trust me on this, friends.

You can do it. I know as I get back to teaching my children – this will be my cry:

I can do all things…

Come on, finish it with me.

… through Christ who strengthens me.

A verse for every Christ-following home educator.

Now go stare at that beautiful organization, because it won’t last long.

Cravings

By Monica Brand, 16 April, 2008, 1 Comment

ice cream
quiet
radical faith in Christ
a better world
love
to memorize scripture
date night with my husband
chocolate
time uninterrupted
penne pasta with a creamy sauce

Silly or serious, what do you crave?