Memorizing Scripture

One of the main things we have concentrated on this year in homeschooling is memorizing scripture--not so that they can impress others with how much they know but so that God's Word will penetrate their hearts. God's Word tells us that it will never return void and there are many references in Psalms regarding meditating on His Word day and night. My prayer is that: 1) by memorizing scripture they will meditate upon it unceasingly and that it will cause them to have a hunger and love for the Lord and His statutes 2) that they will have not only head knowledge of what God's Word says, but that they will more importantly have heart knowledge. I also believe that their generation more than any other is going to have to be grounded in scripture through and through. Who knows if Bibles will even be tolerated twenty years from now? Who knows if we will be allowed to be a professed Jesus follower? Maybe this is far fetched, maybe not. But one thing I do know--I want scripture to be so ingrained in their minds and hearts that they can recall it if they are sitting in a prison cell with no access to God's Word...or if they are meeting secretly with other believers and Bibles are unattainable. Hopefully, things won't be that grim but either/or, our children need to know God's Word and be lovers of God's Word so that they can share His truth with others!

Memorizing hasn't always been the easiest thing for my oldest son, Joshua (I think he gets this from me!), while my daughter and second son have a natural knack for memorizing. However, for what he lacks in skill, he makes up with his tenacity. It has been so rewarding to watch him work so hard at this this year. If I was giving Homeschool Awards, he would get one for 'Hardest Work Ethic'. And what I love most about his memorization effort is that he has found a way to memorize that works for him. He makes up 'raps' about the scripture that we are memorizing. It reminds me of Potsie on Happy Days when he learned the names of the bones of the body by making up a song about it (remember that?)!

This year--for the most part--we have been memorizing passages of scripture rather than single verses. The scripture we have been learning recently is 1 Cor. 13 -- the love chapter. So, here you go--here is the 'Love Rap'. It took about six trys videoing this because I kept busting out laughing in the middle of it! I just couldn't help it! It's just so funny :) . Joshua may not have a future in hip hop but rapping these bible verses has even stuck in my brain-dead head! I can say it from memory now, thanks to this rap! (by the way, make sure you hit the pause button on my playlist at the bottom of the screen before watching this video)

Playing Baseball VIDEO #2--WATCH THIS SECOND

This is the second half of our baseball play!

Playing baseball VIDEO #1

Here is Owen playing baseball yesterday

Wes the Punk

Here is Wes one year ago not cooperating with my questions; listen closely and you can hear the irritation in my voice--I was not enjoying his 'punkiness' at all. However, now a year later, it makes me laugh

Looking like Ray from Jerry McGuire!

Remember the little boy named Ray on Jerry McGuire? Don't you think 'O' would look like him if he had some big round glasses?

What's up with the O factor these days? Well, he has been stealing everyone's toothbrushes and we don't know where he is putting them! Everyone's, that is except his own and Jeremiah's. Where in the world is he putting them all ???? It's a mystery. Don't worry. I've got my super sleuth Sophie on the case.

Happy Easter!

Murray's new haircut

The Stage is Being Set...Where are you going to Fall?

When Eric is out of town I usually fall asleep with Fox News on. I think the sound keeps me company. Well, I woke up at 1:30ish, hearing this. I was immediately jolted awake with a sick feeling in my stomach--the feeling I've gotten in the past when God is trying to get my attention. Currently, the bible study I am in is studying 2 Thessalonians. The central theme of this book is regarding the Second Coming of Christ. The verses we are studying currently is about the Antichrist who will set himself up as the ruler of our world. The Antichrist must come and set up rule before Jesus can come back:

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the lord has already come. Don't let anyone decieve you in any way, for that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing . They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this very reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." 2 Thess. 2: 1-12

Many people will be deceived, believing that the Antichrist is divine in nature and will worship him as such. Before this can happen, though, things have to be in place such as a one world government. Pretty chilling, isn't it, that that is exactly what was discussed at the G-20 Summit? A one world government could not have seemed possible a few years ago...yet now it is being discussed and put in place. Also, this G-20 Summit just happened to take place in Europe which just happens to be the continent (specifically, the city of Rome in Italy) that many Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be from.

All of this shouldn't come as a surprise, as it is prophesied in the Bible--and the Bible has yet to be wrong in what it prophecies. 75% of what the Bible says will occur, has happened. There are 25% of Bible prophecies that have not yet occurred...yet it seems we might see them fulfilled in our lifetime! All of this is exciting! To think that the coming of Christ could happen in our lifetime! However, it should also give us a sense of urgency in spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The stage is being set...God's plan is falling in place...Whose side are you going to fall on? The side of Truth or the side of deceit?