Rosetta Stone Latin Program Giveaway!
Rosetta Stone is the fastest way to learn a language and has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while — and you can WIN the *all new* version 3 Rosetta Stone Homeschool LATIN program… FOR FREE! This is the first year you can get Latin in the brand new Version III update.
This is a $259 program (and believe me it’s worth every penny!)
This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever! Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress- I love that!), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.
To win this most excellent Latin program copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR link to the contest from your facebook page and/OR email the information to your homeschool support group – Then go to the original page http://Jeneralities.com and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post. And good luck!
Honor your husband, bring glory to God
When will I ‘get it’ that my life reflects the truth of the gospel in my heart? I am so selfish and so self-centered! The snippy attitude, the resentful heart, the moody manipulation, all bring dishonor to God and the gospel. Our faith and faithfulness to the marriage relationship that God has sovereignly placed us in adorns the doctrine of God. Wow. What a thought.
‘…but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:10)
‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16)
“Is my goal in my marriage to please God or to please myself?”
Isn’t that the foundational question? Or one of them? I know that ironically the happiness and joy I experience in my marriage depends on whether the goal and focus of it is to please the Lord or to please little ole me.
Who alone is worthy to “receive glory and honor and power”? When I yearn for approval, acknowledgement, praise and adoration, whose glory am I claiming? Fundamentally, we have this need for approval, but Christ promises satisfaction in Him to those who live unto Him.
It seems impossible to not be pre-occupied with my needs and wants. I appreciate this verse:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Phil 2:13
It is God who gives me the desire and the will. Not only that, it is God who gives me the strength and ability to fulfill His will. I really have to think and pray about this.
…they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them… 2 Cor 5:14-15
This is enough for me to chew on today. Any thoughts, Jen? You can feel free to comment under any heading!
Miserable Failure? Merciful God!
Post copied from In Light of Eternity
My thoughts were jarred this morning when I read “A Marriage Prayer” in my study this morning “As Unto the Lord: A Tool for Wives Who Want to Glorify God” by Doorposts.
Teach them that marriage is not living for each other… May they not expect that perfection of each other that belongs alone to Thee. May they minimize each others’ weaknesses… Give them a little something to forgive each day, that they may grow in the grace of longsuffering and of love. Now make such assignments to them on the scroll of Thy will as will bless them and develop their characters as they walk together.
Praying that God would give us “a little something to forgive each day”??? Think about it!!! Meditate upon it and perhaps you will be surprised, then ashamed, then repentant, then thankful for the manifold opportunities to “develop our character”. What is the Lord teaching me lately as I run across those (like those in today’s readings: Pam Forster, John Piper, Thomas Watson, and Marsha) who consider failures as God’s mercy, trials as God’s grace, suffering as God’s love. Let me explain.
Instead of viewing my weakness with despair, can I give thanks to God for the opportunity to depend wholly upon Him for strength?
Instead of seeing my shortcomings with frustration, can I embrace my All in all as the Author and Perfecter of my faith?
Instead of considering my failures with self-condemnation, can I kneel before my Savior with a repentant, contrite heart?
Instead of being seized with fears without and within, can I cling tightly to my Lord and cry out ‘Abba Father’?
Can I allow my tears to keep me ‘tenderhearted’ towards my God and others? (thought from the prayer) Can my hurts keep me sympathetic and merciful?
Can I view life’s interruptions as divinely-ordained practice to perfect patience?
Can my children’s exasperating behavior strengthen the resolve of my peace?
Can the trials that storm me undergird my submission to Sovereignty?
Can others’ mistakes and wrongdoings create exercises of forgiveness?
Can I view all these things without self-centered eyes – sharply aware of my own need for His grace, quietly acknowledging His merciful plan for my sanctification?
And it IS merciful. Our flesh thrives in lukewarm, untroubled water. He is merciful for not letting me continue on my laodicean way. His rod of discipline administers loving and purifying blows. His staff leads me in paths of righteousness but often I first must pass through the valley of the shadow of death. The more I read about George Muller, the more I’m stunned by the grace of God marking His life. When his only child was struck with a deadly illness, he recalls this:
While I was in this affliction, this great affliction, besides being at peace…I also felt perfectly at peace with regard to the cause of the affliction. Once on a former occasion, the hand of the Lord was heavily laid on me…it was the Father’s rod, applied in infinite wisdom and love, for the restoration of my soul from a state of lukewarmness… At this time, however, I had no such feeling. I was assured that this affliction was not upon me in the way of the fatherly rod, but for the trial of my faith… by God’s abundant mercy, I own it to His praise, I was enabled to delight myself in the will of God; for I felt perfectly sure, that, if the Lord took this beloved daughter, it would be best for her parents, best for herself, and more for the glory of God than if she lived: this better part I was satisfied with; and thus my heart had peace, perfect peace, and I had not a moment’s anxiety.
By God’s grace, she was spared but his wife died several years later and this is what he said: Psalm 119:68 “You are good, and do good.”
1. The Lord was good, and did good, in giving her to me.
2. The Lord was good, and did good, in so long leaving her to me.
3. The Lord was good and did good, in taking her from me.
Everyday I see more and more how great is her loss to the orphans. Yet, without an effort, my inmost soul habitually joys in the joy of that loved departed one. Her happiness gives joy to me…. God Himself has done it; we are satisfied with Him.
From The Pleasures of God by John Piper, p. 182-184
So, my blemishes, my flaws, my sufferings, my trials, the irritations, the frustrations, the inconveniences, the unfulfillment… all are visible displays of His mercy. For He exchanges His strength for my weakness. And that is merciful indeed.
As Unto the Lord: A Tool for Wives Who Want to Glorify God
Once again, a wonderful book by Pam Forster of Doorposts that uses Scripture to bring out the principles that please God in our living. This study starts with Questions 123-128 in the Westminster Larger Catechism. The preliminary checklist serves as a daily gauge to weigh my heart’s submission to God and His Word. Reading the points in the list provokes cringes and pangs of guilt – but it also reminds us that it is “God which worketh in you both to will AND to do of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13)
The purpose of this book is:
…for wives who long to paint, for God’s glory, a beautiful picture of quiet trust in and submission to the Bridegroom… Like life-threatening cancers that begin as tiny tumors, big, seemingly insurmountable problems in marriage start out as “small” sins. Selfishness, harsh words, self-pity, ungratefulness–each carry the “cells” that can later spring up as bitterness and rebellion. The unchecked growth of bitterness and rebellion will choke out the godly love that must be at the heart of a marriage.
This book addresses the Fearful Wife, the Discontented Wife, the Discouraged Wife and the Average Wife. I love the simple question and answer format of Mrs. Forster’s material – most of the answers are direct Biblical quotes. Let’s get started.
The Hidden Art of Homemaking
By Edith Schaeffer
I’ve started reading this and was pleasantly surprised by all the illustrations! I wish adult books had more drawings. Who said that we stop wanting illustrations when we get older! 
Any thoughts on how quickly to read this book? I was thinking of going at your own pace but at least reading 2-3 chapters a week? It’s a very readable book. It’s almost like having your mentor sitting at your kitchen table, giving you advice on being a better homemaker. I like it!
Equipped to Love by Norm Wakefield
I listened to the CD with the same name that the book is based on and I am telling you, this might just shake me out of my selfishness! wouldn’t that be a miracle??? If the book is even half as paradigm-shifting and core-shaking, I think we are in for a ride.
Jules
Holiness of God
At first I wasn’t sure if I liked this book – seeing I had such high hopes for it and it wasn’t what I thought it would be. Initially I felt that Sproul mixed too much humor and tongue in cheek juxtaposed with the holiness of God. Just didn’t seem to match. I was expecting to go away with reverential awe and fear every time I put the book down for a break. But, after a while, the book did get much better – and there were some profound thoughts expressed through the second half of the book. I will try and get some thoughts down on it. Although I understand what I’m reading I feel that I have major problems expressing my thoughts and opinions these days! Brain drain!
Jules
The Discipline of Grace
Same thing as the other study:
1. Something God revealed to me (what I learned that was new)…
2. Something I need to mull over a bit (and pray through)…
3. Something I was strongly convicted about…
4. Something I can AMEN (or agree with)…
5. Other comments
The Pursuit of Holiness
Let’s use the questions that Wendy suggested as starter points for discussion:
1. Something God revealed to me (what I learned that was new)…
2. Something I need to mull over a bit (and pray through)…
3. Something I was strongly convicted about…
4. Something I can AMEN (or agree with)…
5. Other comments
