Thursday, August 31, 2006

Catching Up

It has been a busy week around here. We begin our first week of homeschooling next week. I have worked on a “schedule” but it is a rather ‘loose’ one. I have found that life with 2 preschoolers and 1 toddler doesn’t always allow for a strict schedule – basically we’re more of a ‘routine’ family. That way I don’t feel as guilty when the schedule doesn’t work. I have our curriculum ready, our routine sketched out and we are looking forward to this adventure.

Also, check out this post by Leslie. I too want to be saturated with God’s Word. I want my children to see that love for the Scriptures and desire that for their own lives. I had been working on memorizing Romans 8 (mainly because I am competing with my husband – hey, God can use anything right?) but I had fallen behind on it. I am encouraged to continue it now, and for the right reasons.

In my continuing study of Romans, I read Mark Dever’s chapter on Romans in his book The Message of the New Testament. I was reminded this morning that having a justified faith results in a life that is changed! “It yields a life that hates sin and fights against it.” After a saving encounter with the Holy God, we should be different – different than the world. So many ‘Christian’s’ today are not different than the world – begging the question ‘is the converse of this statement also true?’ If there is no change, if there is no fruit, has one been truly justified?

I find that it is easy to hate sin – well, it’s easier to hate the sin of others while trying to excuse my own. Many times I try to justify my own sin. Well, I said that because you … Well, I’m sorry if you misunderstood me … But there is no excuse for my sin and I am thankful that my sin is covered by the blood of Christ. Living a life of justified faith means that I am to be different – that I am to reflect Christ and not the world. I am thankful that salvation is through faith alone by Christ alone, therefore it is all for His glory. But I pray that my spirit will detest the sin my own life and that I will be quick to fight against it!

8 comments:

Becky said...

Good luck with your homeschool adventures! it will deffinatly give you something to blog about! LOL!!! will you do just half days with the preschool kiddos? good that you are able to be flexible with all the little ones and your routine.

Jenn said...

Becky - we're just planning on half days right now. We'll see how that goes.

Christina said...

“It yields a life that hates sin and fights against it.”

The fight against my sin is where I am today! Thanks for the encouraging post.

God bless you with your homeschooling next week, and have fun! I always learn so much too, about what we're studying as well as my own character developement!
I can't wait to hear how it all goes.

Christina

Christina said...

“It yields a life that hates sin and fights against it.”

The fight against my sin is where I am today! Thanks for the encouraging post.

God bless you with your homeschooling next week, and have fun! I always learn so much too, about what we're studying as well as my own character developement!
I can't wait to hear how it all goes.

Christina

Anonymous said...

Jenn--I think you'll be surprised at how little time it will take for the preschool stuff. My Noah (4) takes about 30-45 minutes tops. I hope you have a great start! I look forward to the blogs that will flow from your experience.

Thanks for mentioning my post about memorizing scripture. Husband and wife competition isn't so bad is it;)

I think judging someone by their fruits can be a real sticky issue. Anytime I find myself doing that too much, which I tend towards, I have to examine "my own" fruit. I think, and I'm no expert, that Paul and John both put a lot of emphasis on love. Jesus said that the world will know we are Christians by our love for one another. I can produce some pretty good looking fruit, albeit plastic, all by myself. It is the genuine fruit of love, that comes from the Spirit, for my brothers and sisters that I can't fake. I often fall short of Jesus' example of love, and it causes me to seriously examine myself...and then plead for mercy and forgiveness and grace.

Amy said...

Great post Jenn!

I have a basic school schedule sketched out but it is flexible depending on what's happening with the kids. It does give me some idea of what needs to be accomplished each week though.

Jenn said...

Leslie - that can be a sticky issue! Thanks for that reminder.

Kelly said...

You are my hero! I know you will do an awesome job teaching your little ones.
Blessings!