Hearing the Voice of God!

In the below article, John Piper explains how he heard the voice of God one morning in 2007. He talks about how he knew what he heard was clearly the words of God and how he will never forget those words and the details about which they came to him.

Can you imagine?! Hearing words directly out of the mouth of God, the creater of all of the world?! The One in charge of EVERYTHING who holds your entire life and all of the rest of the universe in the palm of his almighty hand?! Speaking to you?!

You can!! Pray. Open your bible. Read. His words are throughout all of the pages! :)

The Morning I Heard the Voice of God by John Piper

Our Aim

"You who see my soul within,
You who know my unknown sin,
Through your holy eyes let me
Learn what sin is unto Thee.

Make me, Pure One, as you art,
Pure in mind and soul and heart;
Never satisfied with less
Than your perfect holiness."

The Joys (and Not-So-Joys) of The Beginning Stages of Homeschooling

I've been mulling over many thoughts and ideas about exactly which approach I want to take with Ava (not that I'm planning to pick one set approach and cling to that alone and nothing more or less). I have planned to and continue to plan to educate her clasically, but even with that there are still so many options and ideas. From curriculum choices (Do I choose just one? Do I take some of this and some of that? Do I even bother with one?) to how to know when she is ready for which level, subject, etc., to which books to choose to how often we do everything... It might be an understatement to say that I am quite overwhelmed.

My natural inclination is to want to sort everything out and have it all organized and planned out so I know exactly what I am doing before I do it; however, I have come to a couple realizations regaring this: 1. It might take me a lifetime to gain all of the knowledge I would want myself to have before beginning (sometimes I set unrealistic goals for myself) and 2. I cannot let her sit idly while I try to figure all of this out. 3. REST in the Lord, Courtney! God is the pilot of our ships and he will not lead me astray. Give it to HIM! *Sigh of relief*

As a result of these realizations, over the past few days we have been inching our way into a (very casual) routine of daily exercises for Ava. Today we did shape tracing and I was so surprised at how well she did!

The first three shapes of each row (excluding the heart) were traced jointly with me guiding her hand (you can see at the bottom of the triangle how she got excited and was ready to start on her own, thus the slippage of the line :) ). The rest she did by herself after she said, "Watch me, Mom!" She then wanted to draw a heart for her Mamae so I made that possible for her.

I am loving this!!! Teaching and watching my daughter learn brings so much joy to me!! I wonder how much more joy does it bring to our Heavenly Father when he watches us act out His plans four our lives and obey and find comfort and rest and peace and joy in Him!?

P.S. Don't judge my title. James 1:2

Obedience

"So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran." Genesis 12:4

Throughout Abraham's life we saw many examples of what obedience should look like. Abram's obedience was driven by faith. He did not know where he was going. He didn't ask any questions. He didn't have to know all of the details - exactly how it would turn out, what (if anything) he might lose on the way. He didn't wrestle with God before moving. He cut his ties, and moved.

So often I hear God telling me to do something and I hesitate. I want to make sure the waters are going to part before I step foot in.

Oh, Lord! Please give us all the faith of our forefather. Please help us to trust you with every step you guide us to take, without question and without trying to step in as though our hand is somehow bigger than yours. Thank you that we can rest in your sovereign will to guide us to where you know is best.

The Throne of Grace

The throne of grace is for the needy!

Whatever your burden is, give it to God. From a mild affliction to a heavy burden - there is no better remedy than to cast it at the feet of our mighty God! Sometimes we want to dwell on it, or face it on our own, to prove to ourselves our own might or to "strengthen" ourselves against whatever it is that we are weighed down by. But that does us no good but instead usually ends up causing further destruction. Instead...

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

When we give our burdens to God and submit our wills to Him, it is the very essence of sanctification. Each time we face trials and temptations, we must look at it as a blessing for if it turns us to Him in prayer we are filled with the grace and mercy our soul needs. Our needs are thus met with blessings.

The throne of grace is for the needy!