Biblical Child Training

Do You Delight In Mercy?

2014-02-05T13:45:00.003-08:00

This evening, I decided to begin combing through the subject of the 'Sanctuary'. Little did I expect a lesson on parenting to be found as I started with the first piece of furniture of the Sanctuary: the Ark.

It is interesting to see that the seat which God sits upon, is called the Mercy Seat. Under that seat, within the Ark, is the broken Law of God.

There are many beautiful truths that jump out at you regarding who God really is, when studying the Ark and the Mercy Seat alone. The Lord called to my heart on one area pertaining to how we parent our children,; and it is this what I am about to share with you briefly today:

God's seat, is also called His 'Throne' (see Hebrews 4:16). The term 'Throne', implies that the person sitting upon it is a King, and therefore has a kingdom which he rules. The Mercy Seat is the Throne that our Father sits upon, and He, the King of Kings rules His kingdom (our lives and hearts) with mercy and His Law.

It is so comforting to know that when we come to God, the Mercy Seat is on top of the broken Law, meaning that if we have sinned, regardless of how big that sin was, the very first response we can be sure to get from our heavenly Father is mercy. God delights in Mercy (see Micah 7:18), no matter what we have done!

What is God trying to say to me and you as parents?

Just like God, mothers we have a specific royal position:

The mother is the queen of the home, and the children are her subjects. She is to rule her household wisely, in the dignity of her motherhood. Her influence in the home is to be paramount; her word, law.

{The Adventist Home, 232.1}

As a queen of my kingdom (the hearts and lives of my children), I am to govern them with set laws of conduct for what God expects of them. However, not only am I to rule my home with these laws, but also with mercy, for the hundreds of times that they will just not seem to "get it".

It's so easy to say "Amen" now, but are we so ready and delightful to extend mercy as our first response to our children when they disobey us? How about when we have given them clear instruction on how to attend to a partcular chore in the home, but it appears that they have not been carefully listening to you, and they have to go back and do it again.....Is mercy what you are so longing to give them in that moment?

No doubt there is a time for consequences to be issued for inappropriate behaviour, but can our children feel confident that even in the midst of our disciplining they will receive mercy from our hearts?

Let it be our prayer, mothers, for God to give us the patience and mercy from the heart that will automatically spring up when the law of the home has been broken.

How Prayer and Fasting Can Change your Home

2013-07-09T03:57:00.001-07:00

Did mothers but realize the importance of their mission, they would be much in secret prayer, presenting their children to Jesus, imploring His blessing upon them, and pleading for wisdom to discharge aright their sacred duties. Let the mother improve every opportunity to mold and fashion the disposition and habits of her children. Let her watch carefully the development of character, repressing traits that are too prominent, encouraging those that are deficient. Let her make her own life a pure and noble example to her precious charge. {The Adventist Home, 265.4}

Recently, the Lord laid upon my heart to select one day a week to pray and fast specifically for my children. If the veil could be withdrawn that separates the seen from the unseen, we would be horrified to see the unceasing and earnest efforts of the evil host in:

-tempting our children
-designing snares for their feet
-planting the seed of rebellion
-imbuing them with his spirit
-leading them to discouragement
-bringing to them sights and sounds to attract their minds and hearts to him, and the list goes on.

Yes parents, this is really what is going on in the hearts of our children moment by moment daily. So what better way to counteract the darts of the devil, than by the power of prayer and fasting?

We say that we want our young people to receive the crown of life, but are our actions, example, and parenting demonstrating that desire? Do we actually understand just what it takes to get them there?

I entreat you to start the path of, 'Intensive Care Parenting', if you haven't already. In ICU the patient is closely observed and checked in on at regular times. The physicians and nurses know that the life of the patient is in a very critical condition, and they are not to once slack on their post. Friends, this is what it means to do Intensive Care Parenting. Are not our children's souls in peril continually? Yes, just as much as ours are. Do they need regular observation, where we watch to see their steady development of character, and making sure that those weeds of the devil don't get planted there and take root? Sure they do! Remember, it was while men slept that the enemy, in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, sowed the bad crop.

Now, don't misunderstand me, watching our children does not mean to constantly stand over them and letting them see you keeping a suspective eye over them. Our children need to know that we trust them. What I am talking about is checking in on them throughout the day in their play, at meal time, and for those of us who home school, in their lessons. When I say checking in, I mean showing an interest in what they are doing; encouraging efforts made, and suppressing evil inclinations. Watching our children, also means to be watching in prayer. I mean, being open to the Holy Spirit's voice regarding how to communicate with them in a way that will reach their hearts. It involves asking God for discernment to see what's really going on in beneath the surface. What better way to be in such in tune connection with God, than to select a day that you will use each week praying and fasting specifically for your children. There are several benefits of this:

1. Because your body won't be busy working to digest food, which draws energy from the brain, your mind will be clearer and more sensitive to the voice of God speaking to you about your children.

2. Fasting and prayer is an effectual 100% GUARANTEED weapon to discomfit and put to nought the efforts of the devil against our children

3. Letting your young people know that you are taking a specific day a week on their behalf, will forever engrave in their mind respect and love for your authority, for they will see that you are for them, and are working with them to overcome. It will also impress deeply upon their hearts the seriousness of their own soul, and the importance for them to keep it in Jesus, because if Mommy is weekly missing meals just for my soul, then that must be important, right?

4. It will be easier for you to exercise self control towards them because you have restrained your appetite, and if anybody denies the connection between appetite and temperament, well they need to try this, and see just how much calmer they become with their young people.

5.You are better equipped to administer the correct instruction and discipline to your child, and the chances of banging your head against the wall, using the same methods not getting any positive results will rapidly diminish.

Our Physiology Lesson Reading for Today

2013-07-03T04:11:00.001-07:00

In preparing my daughter for the work of a Medical Missionary, today we read the following in the first portion of her Physiology lesson:

'Only one lease of life is granted us; and the inquiry with every one should be, “How can I invest my powers so that they may yield the greatest profit? How can I do most for the glory of God and the benefit of my fellow men?” For life is valuable only as it is used for the attainment of these ends.'

It is important that our young people understand that being healthy like Daniel isn't just so that you can be free from disease; there is an extra motivation that we are to have when following the principles of health reform, and that is so that we can glorify God. The glory of God is His character, and whatever we do to our bodies affects the mind: either our habits weakens and beclouds it, or they strengthen and make it clear to hear and obey the Lord's voice. In turn, when we make healthy choices, which give us health and empower us to be like Jesus, we become a blessing to our fellow man. Wouldn't it be a blessing to have a friend who was always revealing the character of Jesus in how they deal with you? Well, we want our children to be that friend, that student and that work colleague to others. This is what makes life valuable; this brings true happiness!

'Our first duty toward God and our fellow beings is that of self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable. Hence that time is spent to good account which is used in the establishment and preservation of physical and mental health. We cannot afford to dwarf or cripple any function of body or mind. As surely as we do this, we must suffer the consequences.'

Teach your children that their mental, physical, and spiritual faculties are to be improved on daily. Discourage them from mediocrity, and just being good. Today I told my daughter that good is the enemy of great, for when you settle for good, it will hinder you from being great in Christ Jesus. We were created to 'perfect holiness in the fear of God' (see 2 Corinthians 7:1), and holiness hinges upon the physical and mental powers too. For example, if I am eating food which will harm my body, it will affect my ability to choose holiness in the midst of temptation. If I am leaving my mental powers dormant, and not shun deep and complex matters of thought, then my mind will not be sharpened enough to choose the right when severely tested. So perfecting holiness, and perfecting all my faculties, are one and the same thing.

'Every man has the opportunity, to a great extent, of making himself whatever he chooses to be. The blessings of this life, and also of the immortal state, are within his reach. He may build up a character of solid worth, gaining new strength at every step. He may advance daily in knowledge and wisdom, conscious of new delights as he progresses, adding virtue to virtue, grace to grace. His faculties will improve by use; the more wisdom he gains, the greater will be his capacity for acquiring. His intelligence, knowledge, and virtue will thus develop into greater strength and more perfect symmetry.' {Counsels on Diet and Foods, 15}

It is a law of the mind that what at first seems hard to grasp, will, by habitual effort, become easy, even second nature. For example, because my daughter started memorizing Scripture from infancy, now it is easy for her to cement a verse in her mind within a couple of minutes. Also her capacity to acquire larger amounts in a short time has increased, so where before she would memorize one verse a day, now she can take half a chapter a day.

Summary of today's reading:

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

A Christian Mother's 'Intuition' is The Holy Spirit

2012-09-18T02:17:00.003-07:00

I would like to encourage us mothers to be intentional on a daily basis on pressing into the Savior's presence, in making it a top priority to ask God to remind us to pray for our children throughout the course of the day.

Last week, I asked my Father to do that for me, for I read how busy the devil is in continually laying snares for my children's feet.....but....I also read of the awesome power of God that is released through prayer, in particular, a mother's prayer.

It was time for my daughter to attend to her chores, while I was busy attending to mine. While I was vacuuming the carpet, I sensed a moving to pray for her while she was in the kitchen, that even though the devil is present in there with her to tempt her to possibly foolishness, negligence, allowing the mind to wander, or whatever tests come to a little girl while doing house chores, that she would hear Jesus' voice and choose Him. I also prayed that she would enjoy doing her work as unto the Lord.

Well, later on that day, I believe it was Family Worship Time, and Rachel wanted to share with me a testimony (and she is okay with me sharing this with you). She told me how when she was in the kitchen washing the dinner table, that a temptation came to her to not clean in between the flap which folds down for space, as I have instructed her in times past. In her mind, she said, Mummy wouldn't know if I cleaned it or not, for it looked clean anyway, but she felt a prompting that that wouldn't please Jesus, so she obeyed, praise God. Right then and there it came to me that THAT WAS THE SAME TIME I WAS PRAYING FOR HER. What if I had ignored that call to my heart, and cast it aside as an unnecessary thought, and something I would attend to later? The Lord saw the danger she was exposed to, and moved me to pray for her.

Parents, the future will reveal to us the countless times our prayers have turned back the tide of evil that was about to overflow our young people.

'Great responsibilities rest upon you, mothers. Although you may not stand in national councils, ... you may do a great work for God and your country. You may educate your children. You may aid them to develop characters that will not be swayed or influenced to do evil, but will sway and influence others to do right. By your fervent prayers of faith you can MOVE THE ARM THAT MOVES THE WORLD.' {The Adventist Home, 264.}

It is impossible to estimate the power of a praying mother’s influence. {Pr 196.4}

Bible Memorization and Application Series

2012-09-05T03:50:00.002-07:00

Psalm 139 (Book & CD)

The Bible Memorization and Application Series, will aid you in teaching your child to love God and build strong faith in His promises and protection, by taking the Scriptures off the pages and applying them to their daily childish experiences. Scripture songs are sung by children, and each section can be colored in.

Price: $25.40 EACH (plus shipping and handling)
If you buy the COMPLETE SET: $199.00 at a DISCOUNTED PRICE, for it would cost $229.00 all together if you were to buy them individually.

In addition to the discounted price, you will also get FREE copy of my PDF book: Homeschool Help Starter Info E-book.

To order yours, simply email me your request, and full address, at: evergreenchilded@yahoo.co.uk.

Psalm 91 (Book & CD)

The Lords Prayer (Book & CD)

The Ten Commandments (Book & CD)

The Creation (Book and CD)

Psalms 23 (Book and CD)


Isaiah 53 (Book & CD)

The Beatitudes (Book & CD)

Biblical Science Educational Videos

2012-09-04T07:57:00.004-07:00

This video series takes you and your family on a breath-taking tour of the wonders of God's creation that we fail to see with the naked eye alone. This is a powerful way to get your kids passionate about Science, and the God of Science.

There are eighteen educational chapters, which include titles such as: Thunderstorms, DNA, Seeds, Snow Crystals, and much more; pointing your child's mind to the amazing love of God, and His beautiful character traits as revealed in His handiwork.

Comes with a Teacher's Guide that you can access here.

To access the website, just click here.

Homeschool Resource: Martin Luther

2012-09-03T02:20:00.004-07:00

In teaching my daughter about the 1,260 time prophecy, I have found this video useful on one of the reformers.

This DVD is a historical epic film on a grand scale. It captures the life and times of the greatest figure of the Protestant Reformation with depth and clarity, while giving glimpses of the private man at the eye of the storm.

Amazing Discoveries

Why 'Harper Bell' as the Name of Our School?

2011-11-17T01:07:00.000-08:00

“The first appeal for Seventh-day Adventist schools of which there is record is found in a Review editorial, written by James White: ‘What can be done for our children? There is no use in concealing the fact that but a small portion of the children of Sabbathkeepers are forming characters for eternal life in the kingdom of God.’ ”—Lessons in Denominational History, p. 176; quoting Review, August 20, 1857.

Let me take you back to the 1800s, when a young man, by the name of Goodloe Harper Bell, was was chopping logs outside the Review and Herald building, in order to regain his health. Edson White, a late teenager at that time, decided to approach him and ask if he could educate both Edson and a few other youths. In a room of a rickety old building, Harper Bell’s ‘classes’ grew, and after Mrs. Ellen G. White urged the conference for the need of a denominational school, they adopted his school; and there lay the beginnings of our educational system.

A few years later, the school moved into a building in Battle Creek, notwithstanding the request by Mrs. White that the school be located on a forty acre property in the country. She wept when she heard that they chose the Battle Creek property, which had only twelve acres. In order to pay for the school, they had to sell a few of their acres, reducing it to only seven.

Eventually, the conference decided to employ Mr. Brownsburger to be the President of Battle Creek, for he had a degree. Harper Bell didn’t have a degree, and that was an issue for the church, for it just wouldn’t look good.

Despite the prejudices of the conference against this advocate of true education, he was an excellent teacher, whom the students loved, and his method of education was in direct line with Ellen White’s blueprint of education.

Ellen White worked with him in making sure that this blueprint would be the SDA’s educational system, and when it was followed, students excelled greatly, and many were converted among them. Unfortunately as time went on, our schools did not stick to the revealed will of God for the education of our young people, and we have suffered loss as a result.

Ellen White urged for blueprint schools which looked like this:

*Some scholastic studies

The education of the day was classical, the main emphasis being placed on a knowledge of the classics, mathematics, ancient languages, philosophy, and certain sciences. Her message called for an education that would include practical training and character training. Just how to accomplish this baffled many of the early educators of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”—Lessons in Denominational History, p. 181.

It is not well to crowd the mind with studies that require intense application, but that are not brought into use in practical life. Such education will be a loss to the student, for these studies lessen his desire and inclination for the studies that would fit him for usefulness and enable him to fulfill his responsibilities. A practical training is worth far more than any amount of mere theorizing. It is not enough even to have knowledge; we must have ability to use the knowledge aright. {CT 387.4}

“The popular method of filling the student’s mind with that which is not practical and hurrying him through a certain course, in order that he may obtain a diploma, is not true education. True education begins on the inside, at the core, with that which is practical. It builds up and strengthens a symmetry of character that by and by, in this life, will show itself in some grand, good, and noble work for the world. The school at South Lancaster seeks to attain to this ideal.”—G.H. Bell, Review December 26, 1882.

*Manual labour in the place of competitive sports

It is not well to crowd the mind with studies that require intense application, but that are not brought into use in practical life. Such education will be a loss to the student, for these studies lessen his desire and inclination for the studies that would fit him for usefulness and enable him to fulfill his responsibilities. A practical training is worth far more than any amount of mere theorizing. It is not enough even to have knowledge; we must have ability to use the knowledge aright. {CT 387.4}

Vigorous exercise the pupils must have. Few evils are more to be dreaded than indolence and aimlessness. Yet the tendency of most athletic sports is a subject of anxious thought to those who have at heart the well-being of the youth. Teachers are troubled as they consider the influence of these sports both on the student’s progress in school and on his success in afterlife. The games that occupy so much of his time are diverting the mind from study. They are not helping to prepare the youth for practical, earnest work in life. Their influence does not tend toward refinement, generosity, or real manliness. {AH 500.2}

Gymnasium exercises may in some instances be an advantage. They were brought in to supply the want of useful physical training, and have become popular with educational institutions; but they are not without drawbacks. Unless carefully regulated, they are productive of more harm than good. Some have suffered life-long physical injury through these gymnasium sports. The manual training connected with our schools, if rightly conducted, will largely take the place of the gymnasium. {CE 211.2}

Teachers should give far more attention to the physical, mental, and moral influences in our schools. Although the study of the sciences may carry the students to high literary attainments, it does not give a full, perfect education. When special attention is given to the thorough development of every physical and moral power which God has given, then students will not leave our colleges, calling themselves educated while they are ignorant of that knowledge which they must have for practical life, and for the fullest development of character.... {CE 212.1}

“The influence of manual labor upon the students’ department has been very wholesome and in no way has it impeded mental progress, but rather accelerated it.”—Brownsburger, Signs, May 17, 1883.

*Bible History

“The Course of Study will embrace English Language; Mathematics; Geography; Human Physiology and Hygiene; and Bible History; together with practical instruction in Tract and Missionary Work, and in the most useful of the Agricultural, Domestic and Mechanic Arts . . But of all studies, the Bible ranks highest . . A practical knowledge of the laws of health is all-important . . Pupils will be expected to take but few studies at a time, thereby mastering them the more rapidly.”—Review, March 7, 1882.

*Trade training

‘Goodloe Bell was solid for Spirit of Prophecy principles and a strong advocate of vocational training, which he also highly recommended. Not once did he ever deviate from them. Not only were the students to learn book knowledge, but also how to work at various skills and trades.’ {The Broken Blueprint}

*Situated in a country setting

Again and again I have described such places, but it seems that there has been no ear to hear. Recently, in a most clear and convincing manner, the advantage of establishing our institutions, especially our sanitariums and schools, outside the cities, was presented to me. {7t 81.2}

*Situated on land to cultivate

It would be a great aid in educational work could every school be so situated as to afford the pupils land for cultivation and access to the fields and woods. {CH 190.4}

When Mr.Mclairn became the president in place of Brownsburger, he didn’t embrace the blueprint and that caused a split in the school. Uriah Smith, who was then the Bible teacher, took sides with Mclearn, while the rest stood on the side of Harper Bell. The following words were directed to Uriah Smith, by Mrs. White:

“I am pained to find you, my much-esteemed brother, involved in this matter, on the wrong side, with those whom I know God is not leading.”—EGW to Uriah Smith, March 28, 1882; 5 Testimonies, p. 45.

“If our people had wholeheartedly set themselves at the time to carry out God’s simple plan of education, we might now be in a very different position than we are today. But our leaders, to a very great extent, urged the selling of land attached to the schools and doing away with a large amount of our physical work. This has been true at Walla Walla, Union College, and Washington Missionary College at Takoma Park. It has also been true in other places in a smaller degree. You have felt pained and saddened at all of this, and my personal belief is that you have honestly done your best to stem the tide. But as I see it, you have not been able to put your ideas across with our educators generally anymore than E.A. Sutherland and I in earlier days.”—Percy T. Magan, letter to Warren Howell, January 13, 1926.

At Harper Bell Educational Books/Harper Bell Academy, we seek to imitate the application of the blueprint that we see demonstrated in the work of Goodloe Harper Bell.

For a detailed description and history of the blueprint of Christian education, go to this link: http://www.helpinghandsministry.info/pdf/Broken_Blueprint.pdf

Parents: Win the Heart and You'll Win Obedience

2011-11-17T01:02:00.000-08:00

Smile, parents; smile, teachers. If your heart is sad, let not your face reveal the fact. Let the sunshine from a loving, grateful heart light up the countenance. Unbend from your iron dignity, adapt yourselves to the children’s needs, and make them love you. You must win their affection, if you would impress religious truth upon their heart. {Fundamentals of Christian Education 68.3}

There is danger that both parents and teachers will COMMAND AND DICTATE TOO MUCH, while they FAIL to come sufficiently into SOCIAL RELATION with their children or scholars. They often hold themselves too much reserved, and exercise their authority in a cold, unsympathizing manner, which cannot win the hearts of their children and pupils. If they would GATHER THE CHILDREN CLOSE TO THEM and SHOW THAT THEY LOVE THEM, and would manifest an INTEREST IN ALL THEIR EFFORTS and EVEN IN THEIR SPORTS, sometimes even BEING A CHILD AMONG THEM, they would make the children very happy and would gain their love and win their confidence. And the children would more quickly LEARN TO RESPECT and LOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR PARENTS and teachers. {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students 76.3}

Books By Infidel Authors

2011-11-17T00:59:00.000-08:00

[In the photo: 'Macbeth', which is one of the books that was in the curriculum for English Literature when I was at school. Also a book that a Principal from one of OUR SCHOOLS that I used to teach in, told me that they would use in the school.]

The light shining upon those who have eyes to see, cannot be mingled with the darkness of heresy and error found in many of the textbooks recommended to the students in our colleges. Both teachers and pupils have thought that in order to obtain an education, it was necessary to study the productions of writers who teach infidelity, because their works contain some bright gems of thought...Can an impure fountain send forth sweet waters? Why should we wade through the mass of error contained in the works of pagans and infidels, for the sake of obtaining the benefit of a few intellectual truths, when all truth is at our command?...

Shall those who have known the oracles of God recommend our students to study the books that express pagan or infidel sentiments, that they may become intelligent? Satan has his agents, educated after his methods, inspired by his spirit, and adapted to his works; but shall we co-operate with them? Shall we as Christians, recommend the works of his agents as valuable, even essential to the attainment of an education?

{Fundamentals of Christian Education 167}

Let believers in the truth for this time, turn away from authors that teach infidelity. Let not the works of skeptics appear on your library shelves, where your children can have access to them. Let those who have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, no longer deem it an essential feature of a good education to have a knowledge of the writings of those who deny the existence of God, and pour contempt upon His holy word. Give no place to the agents of Satan, since there is nothing by which to vindicate their doings; a clean thing cannot come out of an unclean.

{The Review and Herald, November 10, 1891.}

Jesus Understands Single Parenting

2011-11-17T00:55:00.000-08:00

In these first disciples was presented a marked diversity. They were to be the world’s teachers, and they represented widely varied types of character. There were

*Levi Matthew the publican, called from a life of business activity, and subservience to Rome;

*the zealot Simon, the uncompromising foe of the imperial authority;

*the impulsive, self-sufficient, warmhearted Peter, with Andrew his brother;

*Judas the Judean, polished, capable, and mean-spirited;

*Philip and Thomas, faithful and earnest, yet slow of heart to believe;

*James the less and Jude, of less prominence among the brethren, but men of force, positive both in their faults and in their virtues;

* Nathanael, a child in sincerity and trust; and the ambitious, loving-hearted sons of Zebedee. {Ed 85.3}

.....And Jesus, was able through total dependance upon His Father to lead these 'children' to God, and be His witnesses....even more.... these were the men who TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN!

Feeding Our Children with ADHD

2011-11-17T00:51:00.000-08:00

'As scientific reports go, it seems nothing but a statement of the obvious. A study from Southampton University has found that food additives can have " deleterious effects" on children.

Just look at the food dyes tested. "Allura Red", "Sunset Yellow" and "Carmoisine" and the like are all derivatives from coal tar, all banned in sensible countries like Norway and Sweden, all completely unnecessary. They just should not be in food at all, ever.

It's not only that they appear to be toxic, triggering HYPERACTIVITY in children. They are used to dress up foods - sweets, soft drinks, sauces, "dessert toppings" - that it would be better for nobody ever to eat anyway. Any food that has to be dyed to make it seem appealing is likely to be rubbish in any case.

As for the preservative sodium benzoate, the mere fact that it can extend the shelf-life of soft drinks to two years without refrigeration might suggest that it's not a good thing for children to swallow in large quantities.

The damage dyes and preservatives can cause has been known about for years. Yet the Food Standards Agency has again decided there's no need for a ban, while the manufacturers' organisation, the Food and Drink Federation, smoothly says there is no safety issue and it is already reducing additives.

It's not as though we urgently need to trick our children into eating more sweets or swigging more soft drinks. They may be illnourished but they are not underfed. Childhood obesity in the UK is growing worse every year, as children eat ever more convenience food.

Our children consume 30 times as many fizzy drinks as a child would have done in the Fifties and eat 25 times as much confectionary. Many just scoff garbage all day. In the years to come, the health consequences are going to kill, and effectively maim, a significant proportion of our population.

There are many reasons why our children take in so much trash, from the predominance of branding and TV advertising of food products; to the way that children are increasingly allowed to determine their own diets; to the dismal belief of many parents that real cooking is too difficult and time-consuming.

Children are treated now as though they need their own special foods, heavily processed, bedecked with cartoon characters, stuffed with fats, sugars and salt, brightly coloured with dyes and full of preservatives, too. It's absolutely crazy.

It's actually easy and cheap to prepare wholesome fresh food. But it's no use pretending that it's easy to insist your children eat it and, if they protest, get nothing else. There's such huge peer pressure to withstand.

The very least the Government can do to help is ban these dyes and preservatives outright. What's the contrary argument? What good do they do? None whatsoever, save for the profits of the companies helping to ruin our children.'
{London Evening Standard-7th September, 2007}

Dan 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
Dan 1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that
they should drink; and gave them PULSE.
Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them KNOWLEDGE and SKILL in ALL LEARNING AND WISDOM: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

What was the 'PULSE' that Daniel and his friends ate?
'The Hebrew word, zeroin, here translated as "pulse", is built on the same root as the word "seed" in the record of creation, where it mentions "every herb seeding seed,"...In other words, the menu for which Daniel asked and which he received was made up of CEREALS, LEGUMES, FRUITS, NUTS, AND VEGETABLES....with the universal drink for man and beast, clear water.' {Daniel and the Revelation, p.24, 25}

The Powerful Influence of Reading

2011-11-17T00:38:00.000-08:00

What shall our children read? This is a serious question and one that demands a serious answer. It troubles me to see in Sabbathkeeping families periodicals and newspapers containing continued stories which leave no impressions for good on the minds of children and youth. I have watched those whose taste for fiction was thus cultivated. They have had the privilege of listening to the truth, of becoming acquainted with the reasons of our faith; but they have grown to maturer years destitute of true piety and practical godliness. {AH 412.1}

The readers of fiction are indulging an evil that destroys spirituality, eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page. {AH 412.2}

The world is deluged with books that might better be consumed than circulated. Books on sensational topics, published and circulated as a money-making scheme, might better never be read by the youth. There is a satanic fascination in such books.... {AH 412.3}

The practice of story reading is one of the means employed by Satan to destroy souls. It produces a false, unhealthy excitement, fevers the imagination, unfits the mind for usefulness, and disqualifies it for any spiritual exercise. It weans the soul from prayer and from the love of spiritual things. {AH 412.4}

Works of romance, frivolous, exciting tales, are, in hardly less degree, a curse to the reader. The author may profess to teach a moral lesson; throughout his work he may interweave religious sentiments, but often these serve only to veil the folly and worthlessness beneath. {AH 413.1}

Infidel Authors—Another source of danger against which we should be constantly on guard is the reading of infidel authors. Such works are inspired by the enemy of truth, and no one can read them without imperiling the soul. It is true that some who are affected by them may finally recover; but all who tamper with their evil influence place themselves on Satan’s ground, and he makes the most of his advantage. As they invite his temptations, they have not wisdom to discern or strength to resist them. With a fascinating, bewitching power unbelief and infidelity fasten themselves upon the mind. {AH 413.2}

Myths and Fairy Tales—In the education of children and youth fairy tales, myths, and fictitious stories are now given a large place. Books of this character are used in schools, and they are to be found in many homes. How can Christian parents permit their children to use books so filled with falsehood? When the children ask the meaning of stories so contrary to the teaching of their parents, the answer is that the stories are not true; but this does not do away with the evil results of their use. The ideas presented in these books mislead the children. They impart false views of life and beget and foster a desire for the unreal.... {AH 413.3}

Never should books containing a perversion of truth be placed in the hands of children or youth. Let not our children, in the very process of obtaining an education, receive ideas that will prove to be seeds of sin. {AH 413.4}...

Exciting Reading Makes Restless, Dreamy Child—Readers of frivolous, exciting tales become unfitted for the duties of practical life. They live in an unreal world. I have watched children who have been allowed to make a practice of reading such stories. Whether at home or abroad, they were restless, dreamy, unable to converse except upon the most commonplace subjects. Religious thought and conversation was entirely foreign to their minds. With the cultivation of an appetite for sensational stories the mental taste is perverted, and the mind is not satisfied unless fed upon this unwholesome food. I can think of no more fitting name for those who indulge in such reading than mental inebriates. Intemperate habits of reading have an effect upon the brain similar to that which intemperate habits of eating and drinking have upon the body. {AH 414.3}

Losing it with Our Children (Conclusion)

2011-11-17T00:30:00.000-08:00

THE SOLUTION:
If your children are disobedient, they should be corrected.... Before correcting them, go by yourself, and ask the Lord to soften and subdue the hearts of your children and to give you wisdom in dealing with them. Never in a single instance have I known this method to fail. You cannot make a child understand spiritual things when the heart is stirred with passion. {CG 244.2}

Instruct them patiently. Sometimes they will have to be punished, but never do it in such a way that they will feel that they have been punished in anger. By such a course you only work a greater evil. Many unhappy differences in the family circle might be avoided if parents would obey the counsel of the Lord in the training of their children. {CG 244}

Mothers, however provoking your children may be in their ignorance, do not give way to impatience. Teach them patiently and lovingly. Be firm with them. Do not let Satan control them. Discipline them only when you are under the discipline of God. Christ will be victor in the lives of your children if you will learn of Him who is meek and lowly, pure and undefiled. {CG 245}

You should correct your children in love. Do not let them have their own way until you get angry, and then punish them. Such correction only helps on the evil, instead of remedying it. {CG 245}

To manifest passion toward an erring child is to increase the evil. It arouses the worst passions of the child and leads him to feel that you do not care for him. He reasons with himself that you could not treat him so if you cared. {CG 245}

And think you that God takes no cognizance of the way in which these children are corrected? He knows, and He knows also what might be the blessed results if the work of correction were done in a way to win rather than to repel.... {CG 245}

Do not, I beg of you, correct your children in anger. That is the time of all times when you should act with humility and patience and prayer. Then is the time to kneel down with the children and ask the Lord for pardon. Seek to win them to Christ by the manifestation of kindness and love, and you will see that a higher power than that of earth is co-operating with your efforts. {CG 245}

When you are obliged to correct a child, do not raise the voice to a high key.... Do not lose your self-control. The parent who, when correcting a child, gives way to anger is more at fault than the child. {CG 246}

Those who desire to control others must first control themselves.... When a parent or teacher becomes impatient and is in danger of speaking unwisely, let him remain silent. There is wonderful power in silence. {CG 247}

Never raise your hand to give them a blow unless you can with a clear conscience bow before God and ask His blessing upon the correction you are about to give. {CG 252}

Losing it with Our Children (Part 1)

2011-11-17T00:27:00.000-08:00

THE PROBLEM:
When we give way to impatience, we drive the Spirit of God out of the heart, and give place to the attributes of Satan. {2SM 236}

Think of it this way. If I get angry with my child, where are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? They are not there. You cannot serve two masters, when you test yourself by the fruit of the Spirit. You could do much work and think you are really a good Christian, but if in your home you are irritated and unkind to your family, something is wrong. You may not know how to submit the heart to be controlled by God, or you may not want to. ~Margaret Davis.

We cannot be fretful and impatient, and still be Christians, for a fretful, impatient spirit is not the Spirit of Christ. {RH 8-14-1888}

Impatience brings the enemy of God and man into your family and drives out the angels of God. If you are abiding in Christ, and Christ in you, you cannot speak angry words. {HP 99}

You cannot indulge your own temper, and have your own way, and still remain the children of God. We shall have to struggle with our hereditary tendencies, that we may not yield to temptation, and become angry under provocation. {RH 10-11-1892}

The man who yields to impatience is serving Satan. 'To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.' {4T 607}

Parents, can you not see that harsh words provoke resistance? What would you do if treated as inconsiderately as you treat your little ones? It is your duty to study from cause to effect. When you scolded your children, when with angry blows you struck those who were too small to defend themselves, did you ask yourself what effect such treatment would have upon you? Have you thought how sensitive you are in regard to words of censure or blame? how quickly you feel hurt if you think that someone fails to recognize your capabilities? You are but grown-up children. Then think how your children must feel when you speak harsh, cutting words to them, severely punishing them for faults that are not half so grievous in the sight of God as is your treatment of them. {CG 280.2}

Many parents professing to be Christians are not converted. Christ does not abide in their hearts by faith! Their harshness, their imprudence, their unsubdued tempers, disgust their children and make them averse to all their religious instruction. {CG 280.3}

THE SOLUTION: See Part 2.........

A Child's Excitement with The Bible

2011-11-16T02:11:00.000-08:00

Hey Parents!
Yes, I know, it's been a minute since I last posted up here. Life changes have taken me many places, and now preparing for a new life as a married woman, a pastor's wife, and locating to the USA, has really swallowed up any time I have for this ministry.

Today in this short nugget, I just wanted to share with you the blessing God poured out upon my daughter and I while we were going through her Bible History class. I post this because I want to encourage us to put our children on a Bible reading plan that they will go through daily in their own personal time with Jesus, for the fruits of such devotional time will surely pay off in the after years.

Our Bible History lesson is just that: Biblical history. In other words, we study the history of different countries, but from a biblical standpoint. On Wednesdays we study the book of Daniel, and today, in chapter eleven, we made use of the teaching tool: 'The Time of the End' booklet. As I read to her regarding the tribes of Edom, Moab and Ammon, we came across this verse which she told me she had read before on this page, but didn't see the connection:

Luke17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

We re-read it and the only connection that I saw with the three-fold symbolic tribes in Daniel eleven escaping the hand of the papacy (the three-fold division of modern Babylon in Revelation), and Lot escaping out of Sodom, was just that: an esacpe taking place prior to God's judgments. As I was saying this to Rachel, all of a sudden her eyes lit up in what I call 'light bulb moment mode'. Her wheels started turning as she explained how Lot's daughters had sons who were called Moab and Ammon, but these sons came as a result of the daughters committing fornication. She jumped up in her seat in excitement as she realised that the word 'fornication' is also used in Revelation regarding the sins of Babylon.

Oh and it didn't stop there, for she rushed to her Bible and eagerly tried to find in Jeremiah where she had read something in her Bible reading time that she has every evening. God had brought what she had read at that time to her remembrance when she needed it! She excitedly stood up in the middle of the room, as a child in a candy shop! Then she read the following verses how they link with the word 'fornication', in connection with Moab and Ammon, and Revelation 17:

Jer 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
Jer 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
Jer 51:9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.

The expression of excitement and joy on a child's face when the Lord touches their hearts and minds through the Word....you can't put a price on it!

Indeed it pays to form early habits of Bible reading, for none of what they learn during those times are wasted. God will use His Word to mould and polish their characters, and furnish them with solid morals, as well as help them connect the dots in the prophetic Word, so that they will see the time they are in.

Sow the seed, and watch the Husbandman bring it to harvest!

Happy Homeschooling!

Teaching Phonics

2011-04-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

The method you will use to teach phonics is quite similar to the way you would with Mathematics, for the learning is step by step. Just imagine teaching your child to add before they could even count! Or teaching subtraction before addition! The concepts of counting needs to be established first, correct? It just doesn't make any sense to learn the four arithmetic processes without laying the foundation. Children need to learn in small, gradual steps and it is the same when we are teaching them how to read.

There is order in teaching phonics just as there is order in how to teach math. However, there will be times that you do need to be flexible and be willing to flip back or forward a couple of steps, if this will help your child to understand. There'll be those rewarding 'lightbulb moments'when everything has somehow aligned up in your child's mind, and days or even weeks later, you see that expression on her face which says, "Ohhh...that's the reason why....I get it now!" That, fellow parent, is an excellent opportunity to praise the student's understanding, and that may mean, investing in some reward time for her, so that next time you re-visit that phonics rule, she will be more likely to remember it. It wouldn't be wise to pass by that, and just press on with the schedule as normal.

Here is a list of some phonics basics that you can google, which will help you see the big picture. Alternatively, you can find these basics spoken about in detail in the 'Teacher's Helps' section that I am about to add in our 'Homeschool Help!' Starter Info' Pack. This can be emailed to you for just $25USD. To order this pack, email us at:evergreenchilded@yahoo.co.uk.

Foundations of Phonics:

*Awareness

*Alphabet sounds

*Short Vowels

*Long Vowels

*Consonants

*Blends

In taking these rules on board, be sure to review the lessons frequently, and do not run ahead of your child's pace of learning. Also remember to look out for those 'lightbulb moments'. Above all, make it fun and not a chore!

Even the Humblest Tasks

2011-04-05T02:15:00.000-07:00

'But all the work we do that is necessary to be done, be it washing dishes, setting tables, waiting upon the sick, cooking, or washing, is of moral importance... The humble tasks before us are to be taken by someone; and those who do them should feel that they are doing the work of God just as surely as was Gabriel when sent to the prophets.' {3T 79-80}

I read this in my morning time with Jesus, and it made such a deep impression upon my heart that after sharing it with my daughter, I just had to share this with you.

You know, it's so easy as mothers to get caught up in what Mrs.White calls, a 'mere household drudge'. Often there is just so much to do, and especially if you are a single parent, the joy of service in home responsibilities can be sapped out. This is one reason why I just love reading the book, 'The Adventist Home' (where this is also taken from), for I am daily inspired with courage when I feel that at times life is just weighing me down.

We also live in a society which places a low estimate upon the elevated calling of house work. So it shouldn't surprise us if we have struggle getting our children to do service in the home with a spring in their step, and with a right attitude.

It all starts with us parents gaining a right perspective on these things, and in turn it will have a ripple effect upon our young people.

I want to encourage you today that when we take up the dish washing, the ironing, the cooking, and all the things in the home that needs to be done, we are actually doing service for the King, just as Gabriel was when he ministered to the prophets of old. Please note that God didn't compare our work to the work of any angel in Heaven; but Gabriel. Do you know who this angel is? He is the one who is the highest angel in Heaven, besides Michael, which is Jesus. I mean when you see what errands he was sent on, you will see that he didn't just fulfil the general missions that are entrusted to the celestal beings. Gabriel was the one who visited Zechariah and announced the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. He visited Mary and told her that she was about to be he mother of the Messiah. When Jesus was about to be resurrected, Gabriel called Him, and said, "Behold Thy Father calls Thee." He was the angel who came down to help Daniel understand the twenty-three hundred day prophecy, which pointed to the Investigative Judgment, where our High Priest, Jesus would begin the work of atonement. So we see that Gabriel's missions were always on a grand scale, and in the examples given, pointing to Christ, our Saviour.

Bearing all that in mind, when we read now that attending to the humble tasks of the home is as surely doing the work of God as Gabriel did, it should cause us to see these things in a grand new light.

I shared this with my daughter, and as I was talking with her the thought came to my mind that before one is about to do any service for God, they pray, right? They ask God to use them to do this sacred work in a way that will glorify Him. They are completely dependent upon their Lord to empower them, so that no self is seen but Jesus' righteousness alone. Therefore, being as chores are much more than just house work, but God's work, shouldn't we seek God in prayer before we attend to them? It is so easy to get caught up in just getting things done, that self is doing it and we lose the joy of what really should be service for the Master. Atleast I know I do. However, I believe that if we pray before doing the housework, and be honest with God that we don't really feel to wash the dishes right now; we don't like ironing; or I am feeling a tad lazy, and then ask Him to change our attitudes so that we will do them with a merry heart, as unto the Lord, what a change of atmosphere would be wroght in the home!

Now, it begins with us. Our children need to see us parents calling upon God for strength and selflessness before and throughout our time doing the chores. We also need to teach them not just by example, but by sharing this wonderful truth with them too. Teach them to call on Jesus to make the work that they are about to do, enjoyable. If they are struggling to do their best, to be thorough, to complete their work on time, then teach them to bring these things before their Everlasting Helper, Jesus Christ. You will have to pray with them often in this line, so that it eventually becomes second nature.

Try it, if you haven't already, and we at Harper Bell Acaemy will love to hear your testimonies on the miracle of a changed heart and attitude that God is doing in your home! Please do share in the blog comment area below, or on our Facebook page: 'Harper Bell Academy'.

Happy Homescooling!

Philosophy and its Damage

2010-12-08T01:56:00.000-08:00

Hi Parents,

Today in my blog, I have been impressed to share with you just a brief message that the Lord gave to me this morning while in family worship. The Lord loves our children even more than we do, so we can rest assured that all of His instructions on their education is for their present and eternal good. What I am about to share is expounded upon in more detail in our HOMESCHOOL HELP! Starter Info' Pack, but due to the urgency of the times we are in, I am making this appeal in this blog.

In our morning family worship during the week days, we use the Family Bible Lesson, from the SonLight Education Ministry. For a while we have been studying the story of Noah, and the flood. A very well known children's story, however, with great implications to our future standing with God. As I was reading about the power of God being shown when the animals were going into the ark in an orderly fashion, one sentence in particular resignated deeply within my heart, and it was this:

'Philosophers were called upon to account for the singular occurrence, but in vain. It was a mystery which they could not fathom. But men had become so hardened by their persistent rejection of light that even this scene produced but a momentary impression.'{PP 97.3}

Did you catch that? Philosophers were the ones who saw the power and open demonstartion of God's Spirit working, and they couldn't make sense of it. In other words, they could not understand the things of God. We are told that it was the Philosophers who tried to make sense of Noah's message by using human reasoning. That, my friend, is the essence of Philosophy. Let me share with you what the Wikipedia has to say about the study of Philosophy:

'Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument. The word "philosophy" comes from the Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom", and was originally a word referring to the special way of life of early Greek philosophers.'

In a nutshell, Philosophy is about coming to an understanding of the things of life, including our values, through the process of rational argument: If it doesn't make sense to the human mind, it is to be discarded. That's what it teaches. So it is of no surprise that the great antedeluvian Philosophers, due to their rational arguments of the coming flood, rejected it, and so their hearts were hardened, that God's manifestation of His power, which was a sign that their probation was about to close, made little impression on them. The message of Noah took faith to accept, for to the human mind, it did not seem logical. I mean, they had never seen rain before; the earth was watered by the dew from heaven. Nature was bound by laws, and should Noah's message be true, that would mean that the earth would turn out of it's course. So surely, it can't be true, so they reasoned.

Note one more thing about the definition of the word Philosophy. It's rood word is Greek, meaning the 'Love of wisdom'. It is historically and Biblically proven that the Greeks are well known for their 'wisdom', namely the Grecian Education System. Let's see what God's Word has to say about this Grecian Education System, namely, Philosophy:

'For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom..' {1 Corinthians 1:22}

'For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.' {1 Corinthians 3:19}

God says that the 'wisdom of this world', 'Philosophy', is 'foolishness' to Him. What is a fool?

'...The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God.' {Pslam 53:1}

A fool is simply an unbeliever, but not so much an outward one. Note, he says in his heart, that there is no God. In other words, he may be an outward believer, but in his heart, there is unrest and doubt regarding spiritual things. That's exactly what Philosophy produces in the heart, yes, even a professed Christian. He doubts the things of God. He is what we would call today, an atheist.

Putting all this together, our loving Heavenly Father has given us a warning in strong tones of love, that Philosophy, which so happens to be the system of education taught in the schools, teaches our children to make sense of the things around us, and even our values, by using rational arguments. This type of reasoning will do one thing and one thing only, and that is create within our children the spirit of unbelief, to the point where spiritual things will not be accepted unless it can make sense to the human mind. Parents, God's ways do not make sense to the human mind, for God's ways are much higher than ours! Therefore, the Word of God will not be held as true in our children's hearts, and the signs that are thickening around us on every hand that point to probation closing, will make no impression on their hearts.

Parents, I appeal to you today, to take your children out of the schools as fast as you can before the vain philosophy corrupts their little minds and hearts, for the Bible says:

'Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.' {Colossians 2:8}

Finally, to my fellow homeschoolers, too often it is the case that parents choose to home educate, but follow the same curriculum, the same Philosophical system that are found in both state schools and many church schools. This is not true homeschooling. True home education is that which will fit our children to be useful and self supportive while on this earth; fortified and prepared for the soon coming crisis; and finally moulded and polished for the heavenly kingdom.

In the HOMESCHOOL HELP! Starter Info' Pack, I speak about this and many other topics at length. It will definitely inspire nd equip you to give your children the education that God originally designed for them, and is still possible and practical today. I can email it to you for the price of only $30.

God Bless, and Happy Homeschool!

(Principal of Harper Bell Academy)

Bible History in the Homeschool

2010-12-06T13:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Homeschooler,

In this blog post, I would like to give you a sneak preview into the world of our school at Harper Bell Academy, by sharing with you a piece of work that was produced by a nearly eleven year old student. If you noticed the title, you will see that our History lesson is a Bible History lesson. This simply means that we study the great empires of the world in times past, and see what the Bible has to say on these things. We at HBA, believe that when students study historical events, and see that they were predicted, prophesied in God's Word hundreds of years before, the Bible becomes alive to them as their faith is built upon the reliability of every Word that proceeds out of God's mouth. This is one of the reasons why God gave to us prophesy, for He said that He has told us these things before, so that when they happen, we might believe.

Not only is Bible History a great faith builder in the promises of God's Word, but the student gets a revelation of what is to shortly take place in the future, for God tells us that the thing that has been shall be. The child already has witnessed how God's Word was fulfilled in the past, and so when they are taught that those events will happen again, as found in such and such verse, they will believe it, and seek a readiness of heart and mind for such a time.

The portion of work that I have posted here, is from our class today, where Rachel did her written review on the Battle of Actium, which begun the reign of Pagan Rome. For this subject, I used the book, Daniel and the Revelation, by Uriah Smith. I made sure I studied and understood it first. Then I re-packaged it for the understanding of my fourth grader. It was fun in class, because it was like reading an adventure story.

Here is the written review from Rachel A. Wells (Without my editing the needed corrections):

'In the past, nations would conquer areas by war and conquest. But Rome was to do what the nations before him didn't do- to conquer nations by letting them surrender their land to him. He would conquer the "fattest place of the province", or the areas that were rich in resources. And all that Rome conquered, the spoil, the prey, and riches were given to them. They were treated kindly.

Three men, Mark Antony, Augustus Caesar, and Lepidus swore to avenge the death of Julius Caesar. Mark Antony was sent on government business to Egypt. (Antony was Augustus' brother-in-law by marrying his sister Octavia.) While there, he fell in love with Cleopatra, Egypt's queen. He divorced Octavia, celebrated triumphs at Alexandria instead of Rome, and gave provinces to Cleopatra. (By this time, Lepidus was out of the triumvirate.) Augustus had no difficulty in getting the people to be on his side. At last, Augustus decided to war against 'Egypt', but it was directed at Antony. Antony's fleet had five hundred ships, bearing men who had no experience in war. Cleopatra's ship was like a palace of gold with purple sails, with Antony still following behind.

Augustus had a trained army, although less in number, and not so beautiful. Antony assembled his fleet at Samos. Next spring, he and Augustus met on the Sea at Actium, Egypt. Antony's counsellors told him not to war at sea, but send Cleopatra to Egypt, and trust the issue to his land forces. Antony didn't take this advise. The contest was decided when Cleopatra ran off, carrying her fleet with her, Antony still following her. At last, the land forces deserted him, going to Augustus for surrender, who received them. Antony, seeing that the battle was lost, killed himself. Octavia married Antony so that he and Augustus could be reunited. But neither were content with half of the kingdom.'

For more information on how to make the Bible the foundation of your school lessons, and more, I would suggest you get your hands on our Homeschool Help! Starter Pack, for just $25, emailed to your account. Contact me at:evergreenchilded@yahoo.co.uk

Children and Bible Memorising

2010-09-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Parents!

Every evening, in Family Worship time, in our home, I have scheduled for my daughter, Rachel, to recite a Bible verse(s) that she has memorised quite a while back. This way, it keeps the Scripture fresh in her mind, and as we discuss it's meaning, it becomes more real and relevant to her.

Memorising the Bible can be fun for our young people in various ways. However, one method that I have found to work wonders with Rachel, is giving her incentives, rewards for being able to recite the passages fluently each evening. As I began brainstorming aloud on what to do with her, Rachel added to my idea. We decided for this week, that if Rachel got the Scriptures right, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in worship, then for each day she will earn ten minutes extra to add onto Family Time on Thursday. I know that Family Time, is Rachel's favourite part of the day, so if she could get an extra forty minutes with mother, just playing around, or whatever she wants to do with me, then she would anticipate it. I then added that if she could correctly recite the verses also on Thursday, Friday and Sabbath night, then on Monday, next week, we can knock out all the schoolwork in the morning, and have the afternoon to ourselves to do something special!

This way, Rachel will make sure that the Scripture she picks for worship, she will go through it in the course of the day. Thus Rachel's mind will become disciplined through habit to think on God's Word often throughout the day, because she has that extra incentive that she is going to earn minutes with mother if she gets it right in worship. Not only that, but it builds up good memories in the child's mind, in regards to the Word of God; that it is a good thing, and you will be happy when God's Word is hidden in your heart, and you meditate on it day and night.

We want our children's hearts, don't we? Well, let's begin by taking the time to create ways to cultivating the garden of their hearts.

God Bless you, and I hope this has given you something to work with.

The Ten 'Do's and Don'ts' of Homeschool

2010-09-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Mid-week Homeschoolers!

In the past ten plus years of home schooling my daughter, I have had many parents approach me with various questions of how to start and maintain a successful home schooling program. The idea of educating our young people in the home environment, so as to build Godly intellect and character, is very appealing, but the planning of such a work, can be quite overwhelming and daunting, I am sure. So in this blog, I have decided to make your lives a little easier by summarising the counsel I have been sharing over the years, in just ten points, to give you a jump start. I have called it, The Ten Do's and Donts of Homeschool.

1. Do not think that home education is about using the same curriculum that are being used in the schools out there. Remember, 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'. That is to be the foundation of any curriculum that we decide to use.

2. Do not think that in order to have a successful home school setting, that your room needs to be jam packed with all the school books, atlases, models, educational toys that you can get your hands on. Your room does not have to look like a regular classroom in order for your child to learn well. In fact, the more simpler the school environment, the less stimulated your child will be, thus the easier it will be for them to be attentive in class. By all means make use of what is out there that will aid you in your child's education, and if you have the finance to make a collection, then go ahead, but don't feel bogged down and pressured if all you can afford are the basic necessities for home school.

3. Do not compare another parent's teaching method with your own. It is good to examine prayerfully the advice and examples set by other homeschoolers, but remember, each child is unique as their personalities, so what will work for the Jones' family, may not necessarily work for the Johnson's children. At the end of the day, let God have the final word as to how we go about educating out young people.

4. Do not feel that because you are not a professional teacher, then that disqualifies you from being a teacher of your child. Every mother, by virtue of design, is qualified to educate their children. Now, circumstances may demand a plan b, but qualification for this work comes by Divine calling and not degree assigning.

5. Do not deprive your children of social interaction, when guarding their associations. Giving of yourselves in play and just quality family time, will give them a sense of assurance and contentment that they do not need the unhealthful companions to satisfy their need for fun and interaction.

6. Do submit your desire for homeschooling, to God. Seek His answers for what curriculum to use; what associations to expose your child to; what spiritual teaching He would have you to bring out of the lessons; how to support yourselves financially from home....

7. Do make it a rule to daily read one of the Spirit of Prophecy books on education. I began with Child Guidance and Adventist Home. These have become my daily manual (even though I haven't read it for some time now, but I am returning. I just can't do without it!).

8. Do provide opportunities for you and your child to do regular witnessing of some sort. Show them that education is not education if it is not imparted to the benefit of others.

9. Do pray with them often, especially when they are struggling in a class, and they are getting frustrated. Let them see that you will never leave them or forsake them, but will sit with them and pray them through, until they have solved the problem.

10. Do write out a priority list of all the needs of the home, then set them into a schedule. Without a schedule, the home school will be an absolute shambles.(If you would like more information on how to set up a schedule, then leave a comment below and I will get back to you)

Happy Homeschool, as we co-work with our Heavenly Father, to give our children characters that are Evergreen!