tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89627390869380034432024-03-13T02:30:05.564+00:00The Joyful Keeperedifying ~ encouraging ~ embracing God's design as "keepers at home", with joyCaroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.comBlogger469125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-59507164308928394662017-09-05T20:45:00.000+01:002017-09-05T20:45:11.354+01:00First day back to school {happy, happy days!}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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HOORAH!!!<br />
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Today was the first day back to school!!!<br />
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I love my breaks, but I hugely love the rhythm of life when we are in "school" mode.<br />
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In some ways, I don't like to call it "school" or "not school" time. Really, what I mean is that we are returning to structured, more formal education. They are, after all, learning ALL the time! In reality, our "structured, more formal" is "less structured and less formal" than it used to be. I try to be more fluid in how we learn, and yet we DO have structure.<br />
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I thought I would share with you some of the new things we started doing today. I've learned a lot over the summer about philosophies of education and educational styles, which has shaped how I want to do things.<br />
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As I shared a while ago, we had started doing what I called "Morning Time". My desire had been that, no matter what else crowded into our day or interrupted what we were doing, we had certain elements I felt we MUST do.<br />
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Bible.<br />
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Prayer.<br />
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Operation World.<br />
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Reading Aloud.<br />
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Maths.<br />
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English/Grammar.<br />
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The first four parts we would do in "Morning Time", the latter afterwards (done independently).<br />
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That was going well and was well loved by us all. However, I was introduced to the ideas of doing several other things - all suggested and supported by many highly respected proponents in the field of home education.<br />
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Nature Study.<br />
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Memory Work. (scripture and poetry)<br />
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Hymn Singing/Memorisation.<br />
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Art appreciation.<br />
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Music Appreciation.<br />
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In true "first day back" style, I didn't manage to do EVERYTHING new I had planned. Oops. Never mind. There's always tom... Erm... Thursday (tomorrow is a birthday - so, one day back, and immediately another day "off"!!! HA!)<br />
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I intend our routine to look something like this.<br />
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<u>Prayer</u> I feel it is always good to start your morning with prayer - acknowledging the One to whom we desire to honour and bless in all that we do. Thanking Him for His goodness and grace. Asking Him to help us in our day, for wisdom as we learn and to give us strength for all we need to do.<br />
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<u>Bible Reading</u> We are still working our way through the <a href="http://amzn.to/2wCt2NR">Gospel Story Bible</a>. I wanted to finish that first and then begin Catherine Vos' Children's Story Bible.<br />
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<u>Scripture Memorisation</u> As much as we have always learnt Bible verses together, I wanted to particularly learn whole passages together, verse by verse. I also wanted to incorporate copywork - something we had never done before, but felt it was good to begin. The first passage we are learning is the passage from Ephesians 6 about the Christian Armour, as we are learning about WWI for <a href="http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/index.php">Tapestry of Grace</a> in Unit 1 of Year 4. I will write it on our chalkboard each week. We simply went over it, taking just a few minutes, by me reciting portions and them copying. By frequent repetition, it should be committed to memory.<br />
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<u>Hymn Singing/Memorisation </u> We are in a Church where we <i>do</i> sing traditional hymns. I grew up on the same, and learnt many hymns by heart, simply by singing them repeatedly. I wanted to be more intentional about it, though, and also include it in copywork, to reinforce what we are learning. I chose "May the mind of Christ my Saviour" - it's one I have always loved. (If you are on FB or IG you will have seen and heard me play the tune, but it's tricky to put videos on here.) It has 6 verses, and they are in quite a short metre, so simple to learn the tune and memorise the words. I thought at least my older children would know it, but it seems it's one they haven't sung much, so I am gad I chose it.<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2eCW7yW">Operation World</a>. For us, this is a focus on another country, in order to understand how we should pray for them. BUT, it is also an excellent way to learn geography, weather, climate, trade, language, demographics, politics, and general cultural studies. We often end up deviating as we find some terminology we don't understand, or some interesting piece of information we can't leave without learning more! We've learnt everything from what coral islands look like, to how to produce heroin!!! (It came up when we learned about the Opium trade!!! No plans to start production ourselves!) If we only did this ONE thing for school we could absolutely use it as a backbone for most key subjects and still gain an in-depth, all-round education. It's a book that is truly worth the investment. Maybe I should do a blog post just on an example of what we learn from one country in this handbook. I also got a lovely big Readers Digest atlas in a charity shop for only £2, which we used to find the country we were looking at. (Morocco today!) That led me to teach them about topographical maps, thus allowing them to work out the level of the land in Morocco. (Mostly higher elevation, interestingly!)<br />
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<u>Prayer Board</u>. We started a prayer board just before the summer, with specific people and causes we wanted to pray for, as a family. They range from missionaries, to people in need, to new people coming to the Church, and our coffee morning we have just begun at the Church. Today we added Texas and Oregon, which also gave me the opportunity to teach the children about hurricanes, flood damage, forest fire causes and results (not always bad, as my daughter remembered from a homeschool co-pop lesson!), and what items we would choose to take with us if we had to evacuate! Today I also did something new. I asked my oldest child, who knows and loves the Lord as his Saviour, to lead us in prayer. That was such a wonderful thing to hear him speak - so grown up now - and to bring these things before our Heavenly Father.<br />
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We finished our time with reading aloud. I read from a book we are reading "for pleasure" as well as a read aloud fro Tapestry of Grace. For pleasure (although all reading aloud is pleasure!), we have been reading through this particular series for a while, and are nearly finished book 2, <a href="http://amzn.to/2eCpv8g">Race for Freedom</a>. The series is called "Freedom Seekers", by Lois Walfred Johnson and is a captivating story of a young girl who lives on a steamboat with her father and how they help with the Underground Railroad. It's brilliant historical fiction and the stories are gripping for both adult and child alike! (The children find my attempt at the accent of the slaves quite amusing... I AM improving!!) If you don't know anything about the Underground Railroad, it will whet your appettite to find out more about the brave people who helped slaves escape to freedom, in 19th century USA. We have two chapters left, after which I need to make the decision as to whether we should read the next book or switch to something else. Such hard decisions... Our current Tapestry of Grace read aloud is Pollyanna. I have never read it, but when I told the children what we were reading they initially groaned. I was puzzled, until they explained we have it on our Audible selection. "We've listened to it LOADS". I was insistent, as *I* wanted to read it. My persistence paid off. They actually ENJOYED it, and claimed I was more captivating a reader than whoever narrates the version we have (his voice is "boring" I was told... oops) I'm hoping it will be an enjoyable read for us, and this way I can also raise topics that are good to discuss or terminology they don't understand. That is just one reason why reading aloud is such a good idea. <br />
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I will do a blog post next week about our nature study (which we began today) and our other new additions which I am yet to add - music and art appreciation - and explain what we are using and why we are doing it.<br />
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Getting back to blogging was on *MY* schedule for our "back to normal routine" life, so I can tick that off my to-do list for today! WHOOT WHOOT!<br />
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I hope this post is useful and maybe even inspires others to look into trying something new with their family - whether you home educate or not, many of these things can be woven into your family life VERY easily, but maybe not in one block like we do it. <br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-69859936551791603372017-08-07T20:14:00.001+01:002017-08-07T20:14:58.078+01:00Ohhhhhhhh dear {It's been TOO long!}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I knew it was bad, but I didn't realise it was THIS bad.<br />
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It's been a LONG time since I wrote a blog post. I've wanted to. I've intended to. I just haven't DONE it.<br />
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In those months of silence, as the keyboard has remained silent, life has been progressing. Change has happened. Growth has taken place. I am now in a better position to take up the gauntlet, returning once again to the blogosphere!<br />
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My heart has been filled with things to share as I have taken on new challenges, read new books, found new podcasts, and learnt more lessons in life.<br />
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Above all else, the Lord speaks into my heart and teaches me - drawing me closer to Himself by showing me more of Himself. That, above all else, has been the best part of the days of "silence".<br />
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It's only when we really walk in step with the Saviour that we can get everything else in our lives to line up as well.<br />
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So, what have I got coming up?<br />
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Books. Oh, the books I want to share about. Some new. Some old. Some not yet even published, but soon to be launched.<br />
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Art. How much fun have *I* been having, honing and developing my love for watercolour and lettering? All culminating in the opening of an Etsy shop, after Bethany, my oldest daughter, persuaded me that people would want to buy my paintings! (Which still amazes and humbles me!!)<br />
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Learning. I've been honing and changing how I look at education. Adapting things to suit the needs of our family, whilst fulfilling a personal philosophy that we have narrowed down. All influenced by authors and helpful podcasts, that I will share with you and which I am sure you will also find a blessing.<br />
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Gardening. Ohhhh yes. My garden is back this summer, with new plants, new challenges, and, of course, new lessons learnt from it all. To top it all off, I discovered a new book that ties in with my love of gardening, but aimed at the heart and spiritual walk. Perfect!<br />
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I am aiming at blogging at least once a week, possibly twice. But, I am not going to overwhelm myself by putting too much pressure on my own mind to do "too much". I have a desire to share, but I also have a desire not to commit to so much in life that I can't do it well as I want to.<br />
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So, I'm back. And, it's good to be back!<br /><br />
It's Holiday Bible Club, here in our Church, this week. It's a crazy busy week, but I had it in my heart and head to start back blogging today, so I shall! "Short, but sweet", and not letting the devil stand in the way of my plans and desire to encourage others. I hope to return later in the week, to start sharing some of the many things I've been storing up. See you soon!<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-86278561570205477752017-01-24T20:51:00.002+00:002017-01-24T20:51:58.632+00:00Age of Opportunity {#vtreadingchallenge}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This post contains affiliate links)</span></div>
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I wanted to share with you about one of the books I am reading, even though I have nowhere NEAR finished it yet!<br /><br />
I can't even remember where I saw this book recommended. It may have been a blog or a podcast, or it may have come up in a related Amazon search. What I DO know, is that when I saw it I knew I needed to read it.<br />
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Parenting is not an easy job. In fact, I would go as far as to say it's a hard job. It's a perfect example of how hard things are not always bad things. I LOVE being a parent, but there are challenges around every corner.<br />
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Challenges are not always a negative, or they certainly don't have to be negative, but I have been navigating a season of life that was seeming to throw up challenges on a regular basis.<br />
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The teen years.<br />
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I won't say it's been awful, because it hasn't. Challenges, however, are the reality. Issues come up that you simply don't face with a young child. I have said to others that there is a wilfulness about the things you handle with an older child. There's also a temptation to feel like you, as the parent, have somehow gone wrong for that child to make the choices they do.<br />
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I don't want these years to be constant battles and conflict - I want them to be years that both us as parents, and our children, look back on with happiness.<br />
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The blurb on this book was what won me over.<br />
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"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The argument over the last donut. The cry of nothing to wear a half hour before school. The “I’m the only one whose parents make them . . .”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Teenage hassles that disrupt parents’ lives? Or prime opportunities to connect with, listen to, and nurture our kids?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues affecting parents and their teenagers during the often chaotic adolescent years. With wit, wisdom, humility, and compassion, he shows parents how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication, learn, and grow with their teenagers."</span><div>
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It is not a long description, but that word "opportunity" struck a chord in my heart. </div>
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I want to have the right perspective in my parenting and this word "opportunity" really flipped my perspective on this season of life. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"These are not years to be merely survived! They are to be approached with a sense of hope and a sense of mission. Almost every day brings a new opportunity to enter the life of your teen with help, hope, and truth. We should not resign ourselves to an increasingly distant relationship. This is the time to connect with our children as never before. These are years of great opportunity."</span></i></div>
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I have only finished the first chapter, but the simple concept in that quote transformed my thinking. The premise that instead of seeing conflicts and the errant moments as something to survive, we take the opportunity to turn it on its head and teach and train them in how to respond. </div>
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Maybe your teen makes a poor choice. Instead of simply instilling some kind of punishment and lecturing them on the error of their ways, take the opportunity to gently teach them and guide them in how to make a better choice next time. Draw from scripture and explain how their choices should be shaped by God's perspective. Show them how the poor choice has impacted their life. Teach them that one poor choice can lead to further problems. Furthermore, take that opportunity to express your love for them and a desire to see them prosper and not fail. </div>
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I can only assume that their is a wealth of teaching and guidance still to come, because I have only finished one chapter!!! </div>
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I have already been able to put this principle into practice many times - not just with the teens, I hasten to add! Turning events on their head and grasping with both hands the opportunity to come alongside my growing-up-into-adulthood children, and pointing them towards making better choices.</div>
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I love all my children SO much. If I can do ANYTHING to help them navigate these years, when they are faced with many changes and choices, and make them more of a joy, I will do it. I don't want to be a parent who neglects them just when they need me most. </div>
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I will come back and share more with you when I have finished the book, or perhaps share some quotes with you on the way through.</div>
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So far, for certain, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to parents of preteens or teens. Having the right approach before you even hit the struggles would be better than me - picking it up part way through!</div>
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Find it on Amazon, through this <a href="http://amzn.to/2koadcr">link</a>. </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-16662746063371631102017-01-20T22:30:00.004+00:002017-01-20T22:30:54.324+00:00Perspective {finding contentment}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, this week I finally got back on here and told you that it was a time of new things for me. This week, one of those "new things" was a thing of pure joy, along with some lessons learned on the way.<br />
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Last week I decided that I needed to exercise more. I used to do a Davina DVD, but our DVD player isn't working in the lounge. I KNOW I will feel the benefit if I do it, but thought of lugging another TV downstairs, then finding somewhere to plug it, before even STARTING to exercise, has admittedly, put me off somewhat.<br />
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I know.<br />
<br />
I am lazy. I should put in some more effort and just DO it.<br />
<br />
Whatever.<br />
<br />
I decided, instead, to take a more leisurely adjustment back into bodily exercise (which, as we know, only profits a little.... *aherm*)<br />
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Walking at a fast pace is supposed to be a good workout, and far better for your knees than running. But, have you ever tried walking with a gaggle of small people. Half the time you spend walking at snail's pace. Another fraction is spent RUNNING after a child who is speeding away, hat on and hood up, oblivilous to your calls of impending danger. Then there are the multiple moments where you stop and observe things. Don't get me wrong - stopping and learning is BRILLIANT. I encourage 100%. I just don't reccomend it as a pace of walking to induce weight loss or a cardiovascular workout of any consequence.<br />
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For years, this kind of walking has been my only way to walk.<br />
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Enter "the mid-teen-age" child, who is now responsible enough to be able to keep and eye on siblings.<br />
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You may hear my sigh of utter delight from across an ocean.<br />
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Dear mother-of-only-small-people. your day will come. Enjoy the days of only having little ones. At least endure it. Because, it doesn't last for ever, and one day you will realise that you and your husband can go out ALONE and leave the children behind for short times. BLISS, I say. PURE bliss.<br />
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The solution then hit me. I could go out for a walk every morning, at MY pace, with two children capable of keeping up with me. It would give them exercise, and me exercise. On the times we go out together, the others get their little bursts of exercise in sporadic moments of running, in between the snail pace of walking. Add to that the fact that they seem to literally bounce off the walls, run up and down the stairs, and generally burn off way more energy than me, even indoors on a winter's day.<br />
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Now, I live in a small village. I know, from experience, that the one pavemented route around the village is about a mile, maybe a little more. the village is only one circle-sort-of-shape, though. You can either go around it clockwise, or anti-clockwise. Not very inspiring for a would be regular walker.<br />
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I thought outside the box a little. I could walk OUT of the village in a few directions, then simply turn and walk back home. It would allow for some variation and take us in a new direction. It was also easier without small children or a pram, as one of those routes would require road walking, on a very quiet road. One day last week we took that route, and it was interesting to realise that road went up more of a hill than you notice when driving. It also gave us a lovely view of the village, and we spotted things we don't normally see.<br />
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The next walk took us to the furthest bounds of pavement out of the village in the opposite direction. It's the route we go usually once a year, to go blackberry picking. Again, a nice walk, but a "there and back again" scenario (suddenly feeling all Hobbit-ish.....) Whilst we were right at the end of the walk, by the village Church, one of the children noticed a public footpath sign, leading down through a field.<br />
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"What's down there, Mum?"<br />
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"Ummmmm, I don't know!"<br />
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Again, because it involved stiles, and gates, and fields, it wasn't somewhere I'd ever been with small children, prams etc. I kind of thought where it MIGHT lead, looking over into the other side of the village, but I wasn't completely sure. Public footpaths are fickle things.<br />
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I concluded that rather than trying it out that particular day, I would thrust my enquiry about good old Google, and see if I could find an OS map showing us the public footpaths near the village.<br />
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This I did.<br />
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And this is when an exciting revelation took place.<br />
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There were a number of public footpaths and bridleways around the village that I didn't know about!!! All of a sudden, potential walking routes were opened up to our horizon! One in particular captured my interest, and I determined that would be the next walk on our list.<br />
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The next day dawned, and once we had finished "morning time", it was break. We rushed to don hats, gloves, scarves, and the welly boots we figured would be a necessary item of footwear. Off we went, with just a "photographic memory" concept of where I needed to go.<br />
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It was a crisp, cold morning, with icy puddles all over the place. The first part of the walk was familiar to us, but then we crossed the road and headed up a lane that I had seen thousands of times, but never actually walked up. Shameful, given how close it is to my home!! We enjoyed observing all sorts of nature on our route, and easily followed the signs for the public footpath (given that road signs in the UK can be reliably unreliable, and tend to disappear just when you need them most, I was pleasantly surprised). At a couple of points, we could look back towards our village. But it was odd. It took us a few seconds to work out exactly where we looking at! It looked like a completely different village, observing it from a completely new angle! We found some landmarks and eventually worked out what we were looking at. When we eventually turned the corner to head back towards the village again, we saw things in the distance that we don't normally see, once again because we were simply looking at it from a new perspective.<br />
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That whole walk made me feel excited and refreshed about where we live. Now we could go for an interesting nature walk, seeing the seasons come and go and the different wildlife of our vicinity, just a dander from our home.<br />
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When we got back home, the neighbour was at the front of his house, and I chatted to him about my "discovery".<br /><br />
"Yes, that's where I walk my dog every day!"<br />
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Yikes! I felt like a bit of an idiot, as THAT is where all the dog walkers seem to go (I did often wonder, when I saw them walking up the road from the village, WHERE were they GOING?!) Not that we have seen a dog walker there the two days we have been so far. To add to my enthusiasm, he then told me that there are a couple of other ways to vary the walk, and places to explore up there, including some woods.<br />
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Maybe this is not something that floats your boat, but it made me think of something that we ALL need in life.<br />
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It got me thinking about how perspective is SO important in all that we do. It's especially easy for mums to become bogged down by the mundane. Doing the same old same old, as a matter of routine. It's not that we don't have joy in doing it, but it's just "the same" all the time. But when we take the time to step back from all that we do, and look at it through fresh eyes, and from a different angle, we find new joy and enthusiasm for what we are doing. A new perspective leads to CONTENTMENT.<br />
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Maybe you need to stop and look at your life from a third world perspective? Our "needs and wants" - those things we feel are lacking in our life by way of "stuff", suddenly seems less important if we consider how truly wealthy we are. We have so much in life that we often try and find ways to simplify and declutter, when those in other lands live a life of joy with SO much less. Contentment with what we already have.<br />
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Maybe we need to look at our life from the perspective of someone with ill health. Someone who struggles to do the things with their children or family that we can do without a second thought? Someone who has to say "no" repeatedly to their children, when they want to do something that is just beyond the bounds of their physical capabilities? Suddenly, the small inconveniences of activities that wear us out, or we're fed up being asked to do, we are thankful that we can even accomplish at all? Contentment that we can do what we do.<br />
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Maybe you need to look at your home school life from the perspective of someone who doesn't even have the liberty TO home school, or even get to school at all. There are still countries in the world where it is illegal to home educate, or else there are very strict rules about the "dos and don'ts". (Brits, be thankful you don't even live in some US states, where it's for more regulated than here!) Don't lose the joy you should have in keeping your children with you at home. Change things about a little, or add something new into your daily routine. Think back to your reasons for choosing to home school, and get a fresh joy for the opportunity you have. Contentment with the opportunities that we have.<br />
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Maybe you need to look at your Church life from a persecuted Church perspective? The <a href="http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/country_profiles.php">World Watch List</a> from Open Doors, tells of the countries where there is most persecution for being a Christian - 11 are severe, another 21 very high, and another 10 are high. Believers in some of these lands can't even tell their CHILDREN of their new found faith in Christ, because the risk of them being taken away, or killed, if they told someone else, is simply too high. THEIR OWN CHILDREN. Can you imagine that? Maybe you can be doing more to teach your own family about the Lord. Maybe you can get more involved in your own Church, and find a way to reach out to those in your own community. Contentment with the freedoms we have.<br />
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Maybe you're looking back over on your life, after things going a route you didn't expect? Sometimes it can be hard to see things exactly the way they really are. Perhaps you need to just step back and see God's hand, and that He is always there. Nothing has changed. Perhaps you need to dig into God's Word and find precious truths that remind you about who God is - see how you are to live and why. Then you are just seeing it all from the perspective of God and His perfect Word. Contentment with our circumstances.<br />
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You see, changing your perspective will lead to contentment. A fresh look at your life will allow you to see that God is good, you are blessed, and you have SO much to be thankful for!<br />
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Whatever it is in your life that you feel is mundane or tedious, try just stepping back and finding a fresh way to look at it. You may be pleasantly surprised to find the renewed joy that you will have by gaining a fresh perspective, and the contentment that comes hand in hand with that joy!<br /><br />
I am certainly looking forward to stepping out and exploring more of the local countryside, all the while being thankful for so much in my life that enables me to do that at all.<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-22085956216352111662017-01-16T17:43:00.000+00:002017-01-16T17:43:56.171+00:00New Year - New Challenges - New Plans (I'm back!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This post contains affiliate links - see the affiliate tab for more info)</span></div>
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October.<br />
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I haven't written a post since OCTOBER.<br />
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I've thought about it so many times, but life has just happened.<br />
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However, when thinking about WHY I haven't written much, I realised I was putting too much pressure on myself. I was of the mindset that if I couldn't keep up with blogging at the rate I formerly posted, then I couldn't do it at all. If I couldn't carry on in the same style and substance, I shouldn't carry on.<br />
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NON-SENSE.<br />
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That's the conclusion I have come to.<br />
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WHO SAYS I have to do things how I always did?<br />
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Not a single person. And if they do, it matters not. My blog. My writing. My choice.<br />
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So, I choose to start blogging again at the rate I can cope with, and not beat myself up over lack of posting, too much posting, or any other such silliness.<br />
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I would like to try and post once a week, but we will see how it goes.<br />
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I am going to start off by sharing about one of my plans for the new year.<br />
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Once upon a time, in a life time far, far away, I used to read voraciously.<br />
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Now I am a mother of nine, and reading for pleasure seems to have fallen away. Other things have come in - some profitable, others less so - and reading has dropped WAY down in volume. I read aloud to the children a LOT, but I rarely read by choice for my own pleasure.<br />
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I read aloud to the children pretty much every day. I hugely enjoy that, especially as I learn alongside them with history based reading, and beautiful literature choices. I regularly read a book for our Mum Heart group, too, as well as a few others here and there. My reading, however, hasn't been INTENTIONAL. I haven't pushed myself to read new things and learn more by reading for the joy of reading.<br />
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So, when I saw the 2017 <a href="http://www.challies.com/resources/the-2017-christian-reading-challenge">reading challenge</a> from Tim Challies I decided it was a great idea!<br />
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Last year, my friend's eldest daughter (she's really my friend, too.... Mwuah), had done the 2016 version. I remember looking at her list as she crossed them off and added titles, thinking it was a good idea. Life needs to be more than SEEING a good idea. I reckon I need to actually DO it.<br />
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So when I saw someone share about it at the end of 2016 I decided to join in. I quickly joined an accountability/encouragement/sharing group, and started to choose my books.<br />
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CHOOSE<br />
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BOOKS<br />
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Can you see my first problem??? Soooooo hard!!!<br />
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Some I knew right away. Others required some idea hunting, and getting suggestions from my online friends.<br />
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I got there in the end, and I now have a list!!!<br />
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My plan is to share my list with you and then share what I am learning from the books as I go along, and do a book review on each as I complete them.<br />
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I will link through to where you can find these books (mostly on Amazon), so you can have a closer look yourself, before I fill you in with more information.<br />
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1. <a href="http://amzn.to/2iyXUVd">God's Smuggler</a><br />
2. <a href="http://amzn.to/2jXexyP">Pollyanna</a><br />
3. <a href="https://www.icmbooksdirect.co.uk/product/4886/stories-of-the-covenanters-for-young-people">Stories of the Covenanters in Scotland</a><br />
4. <a href="http://amzn.to/2jCeHZg">Mom Enough</a> (this book is also available for FREE from <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/books/mom-enough">Desiring God</a>, as a download)<br />
5. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Attributes-God-Arthur-W-Pink/dp/0801067723/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1484586756&sr=8-3&keywords=the+attributes+of+God">The Attributes of God</a><br />
6. <a href="http://amzn.to/2jXlOPp">Wild Swans</a><br />
7. <a href="https://www.tentmaker.org.uk/product/biographies/amazing-conversions-john-ashworth-and-his-strange-tales/">Amazing Conversions</a><br />
8. <a href="http://amzn.to/2iz3RRK">Keep it Shut</a><br />
9. <a href="http://amzn.to/2jXuWTX">Stepping Heavenward </a><br />
10. Heidi St John's New book (not yet published)<br />
11. <a href="http://amzn.to/2iEa8Pq">The Desperate Journey</a><br />
12. <a href="http://amzn.to/2iEgFtu">Age of Opportunity</a><br />
13. <a href="http://amzn.to/2iuqCvg">The Challenge of Islam to the Church and its Mission</a><br />
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I am thoroughly enjoying getting dug into several of these. Yes, several. I just couldn't start one, finish, and then move onto the next! They are all on vastly different topics and genres and I read them all for different purposes. So, yes, I am reading a few. I've started with Mom Enough, Wild Swans (one of my ones on Kindle, so easy to read whenever I have my phone to hand), Stepping Heavenward (it's split into journal entries, so easy to pick up and put down), Amazing Conversions and Age of Opportunity. I'm just finding them all to be super reads and have no regrets at all with my choices. I can't wait to come back and share with you some details about them all!!! Every single one has been challenging on some level, but more importantly, on a spiritual level. Only Wild Swans isn't a "Christian" book, but challenges me AS a Christian!<br />
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Are you doing the reading challenge? Please share which books you have chosen in the comments, or link to a blog post if you have written one.<br />
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If you haven't seen this yet, it's not too late to start.<br />
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This isn't some kind of guilt trip - or a rigid list that someone is going to be testing you on or monitoring you as you read. Its simply to help you be more intentional about reading and making good choices in WHAT you read.<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-61813619886697407092016-10-11T20:45:00.002+01:002016-10-11T20:45:10.665+01:00Praising my Saviour {all the day long}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know that after a weekend, the devil will often try and get in and discourage us. Your days may be a challenge. Life may seem mundane. Trials and temptations to doubt God's never-failing goodness may come in like a flood.<br />
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Notoriously, Mondays are just not seen as a great day. (I even started this on Monday and am only finishing it today!)<br />
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But, as I opened God's word, to the Psalm that I was to read, before I had even hit the new working week, I was given a reminder to boost me on my way. The challenge to cultivate gratitude has been a wonderful way to keep my eyes lifted to praise, and this Psalm reinforced that.<br />
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My eye particularly caught a phrase that was repeated several times. I read it, and my heart filled with song!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">all the day<i>"</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">all the day<i>"</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. </i></div>
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<i>My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness</i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">a</span><span style="font-size: large;">ll the day long</span><i style="font-size: x-large;">: "</i></div>
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What a challenge to read that the Psalmist spoke and praised aloud what great things God was and had done, ALL THE DAY LONG.<br />
<br />
He didn't say,<br />
<br />
<i>"I'm not much of a morning person, so don't expect me to be filled with much praise first thing in the day"</i><br />
<br />
Nor did he say,<br />
<br />
<i>"I can only praise God and acknowledge his goodness when things are going well"</i> (In fact, the Psalm refers to things not going particularly well AT ALL!)<br />
<br />
He didn't even say,<br />
<br />
<i>"Well, I'm feeling a bit down, so I will praise Him when I feel better".</i><br />
<br />
He didn't utter the words,<br />
<br />
<i>"I'm just plain tired by the evening, so you won't find me in the mood to give thanks and praise in the evenings. Life is hard."</i><br /><br />
ALL. THE. DAY.<br />
<br />
Conviction.<br />
<br />
It's not an option. We need to take matters that arise into our own hands, and conscientiously praise.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes we need to flip our thoughts around. Sometimes we fail.<br />
<br />
But, praise, we must!<br />
<br />
With so much to thank God for - with our salvation - Jesus is MINE - with blessing upon blessing - with so much that God preserves us from BECAUSE we seem to have hard times - praise, all the day.<br />
<br />
The hymn that sprang into my head, of course, was "Blessed Assurance".<br />
<br />
IN the last verse are these words<br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>"Perfect submission, all is at rest</i></div>
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<i>I in my Savour am happy and blest;"</i></div>
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<br /></div>
Isn't this what it all hinges upon. We are in our Saviour - one with the Lord, through Jesus Christ, and so we are happy and blessed abundantly. THIS is our son of praise. THIS is why we sing "all the day long".<br />
<br />
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<i>"This is my story, this is my song,</i></div>
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<i>Praising my Saviour all the day long"</i></div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-79814588128069886862016-10-05T22:35:00.002+01:002016-10-05T22:35:28.825+01:00SATs {spiritual assessment test}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was chatting with a friend last week about how we home educate our children. We were bemoaning the numerous tests that seem to be required in mainstream education. It seems that from a younger and younger age there is immense pressure to meet certain standards to be classified as "the norm", get onto the next level of learning, get into the "best" school, or certainly to be "not a failure". I've know of mums to have children come home from school in tears because they haven't done as well as they perceive they need to.<br />
<br />
I'm not for having tests at every turn. It can put far to much pressure on a child, needlessly. However, tests can be a useful tool for a parent/teacher, just to identify areas that need more work, in order to HELP a child. If you don't know where they are struggling - if THEY don't know where they need to improve - then they won't make such effective progress,<br />
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Our conversation turned towards ourselves as parents. We were bemoaning our weaknesses - realising that many of our struggles in raising our children stem from the fact that we, ourselves, are far from perfect. I know, for example, that I have a tendency to be irritable when I am tired. I snap at the children. I don't use gentle words. I answer them too hastily, before thinking about a reply. I overuse sarcasm. I sigh and shout too much. Tiredness is, for sure, one of my worst enemies.<br />
<br />
An interesting observation was then made by my friend and I.<br />
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Schools have SATs - we also have SATs.<br />
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Spiritually, <i>WE</i> are tested! We have "spiritual assessment tests". It should come as no surprise, because we are told to EXPECT times of testing and trial.<br />
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<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:"</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I Peter 4:12</span></i></div>
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God looks on us and says "You need to get the opportunity to put into practice what you KNOW you need to work on".<br />
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You too?<br />
<br />
If you are a Christian, seeking to walk the Christian pathway, you WILL be tested.<br />
<br />
I'm going through that kind of time right now.<br />
<br />
I am EXHAUSTED. I have a baby cutting 5 teeth at once, who wakens every two hours through the night. Paired with the fact that he is also pretty high maintenance in the daytime, I am beat.<br />
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THAT is giving me plenty of opportunity to have my patience put to the test.<br />
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When those impatient words come bubbling up, I need to choose to breathe before I speak.<br />
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When I am tempted to be irritable instead of gentle, I need to pause and give a kind answer.<br />
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"Testing" is pretty much like "trials". We refer to going through "trials", but what does that MEAN?<br />
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I was pondering what we mean by trials in a non-spiritual realm.<br />
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Maybe someone gets a new job and they will be taken on "on a trial basis". That means that the employer will get to see them at work and then decide if they will keep them on in the job. They are being tested to see if they are "up to the job".<br />
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Then there is someone being "put on trial" in a court of law. That refers to evidence being brought to decide on someone's guilt or innocence. Is there adequate proof that they are guilty or innocent?<br />
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I often think more of trials being "hard" times, but, really, spiritually they can be just like those other two examples.<br />
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The Lord allows us to go through certain circumstances to see if we are living up to the standards He expects of us. Are we "doing the job" of living the Christian life how He desires us to? According to His standards, laid out in His Word?<br />
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In another sense, we are "on trial". If others around us look on at our life, weighing up our actions to what they expect of a Christian - do we prove ourselves to be what we claim to be, or are we guilty of walking in ways that are not pleasing to God. Others are ALWAYS watching...<br />
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THESE are the kind of trials we often walk through. Proving ourselves to be who we ought to be, whilst facing challenges that test us.<br />
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We all have different areas that need to be tested - each trial individual to each person. What is a trial to me, may not be a trial to you. God tests us all according to the life He has given us.<br />
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But, do you know the most blessed part of it all?<br />
<br />
I frequently have a maths-hating daughter bemoaning why she has to do certain areas of working WITHOUT a calculator. (I totally get her questioning, but that's irrelevant...) She has the trial of doing maths, and doesn't even have anything to make it easier.<br />
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When we go through trials and testing, we have the LORD with us. He is there like a mentor, or a defence lawyer - walking beside us each step of the way; defending us and upholding us through the trial.<br />
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We have the support of His Word, the guidance of His truth, the presence of His spirit. He loves us, cherishes us, shows us mercy and grace, and abundant kindness. There is simply no better helper that we could wish for.<br />
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Every promise of God's Word is ours to claim as we go through these times of testing.<br />
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Better still, we can fall down on our knees, like Job, and WORSHIP Him in the trial. Put the crown firmly on the head of the King who is wise and knows best, and praise Him in the storm. Thank Him, and find joy in the hard, because we CAN give thanks in all circumstances - even the trying ones.<br />
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So, as I continue to walk through my month of gratitude, I thank God for my trials. Even though I am physically exhausted, I am spiritually rejoicing. I have this wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to my children that I can be joyful and full or praise, even when I am tired and the baby is grumpy. I'm not entirely sure that I am anywhere near being an A star student, but I am getting through, learning and leaning - all with the assurance that I will "some forth as gold". One day, I will be a "gold star" student, when I am made perfect in my Saviour and am fully glorified in heaven. What a day THAT will be, when my "school days" are over, and my labours and trials are over. Haste the day!<br />
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<br />
THE WINNERS!....<br />
<br />
The winner of the journal was entry "53" - Jodie Wilt!<br />
The winner of the book was entry "56" - Lynn Pascoe!<br />
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Congratulations, ladies, and I will get those to you once I have your mailing addresses - look out for an email from me.<br />
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For the rest of you, I HIGHLY recommend the book, if you can buy yourself a copy. I am finding it to be challenging, as well as a great blessing. You can get it on <a href="http://amzn.to/2dsSqPa">Amazon</a>, in a variety of formats.<br />
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(this post contains affiliate links)</div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-9637732095581276012016-10-03T13:46:00.003+01:002016-10-03T13:49:34.073+01:00CULTIVATING gratitude {how do I grow a grateful heart?}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought it would be a good idea to share with you some of my journey to "Cultivate gratitude" as I go through this month - just to share what the Lord is showing ME.<br />
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I think it's a wonderful thing that although we can all read the same portion of scripture, the same book, or hear the same sermon,God applies it to each one of us as He sees we need it.<br />
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As a parent, I would guess, like me, you seek to nurture your children as individuals? You can see that they each have their own God-given personalities. Equally, they have their own traits and qualities that require training and discipline to help weed out. It's a joy to see the little people (or big ones!) that they are. It's a heartache, often, to have to deal with the not-so-pleasant aspects of disobedience, attitude or other aspects of their sinful nature.<br />
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It's no different for our Heavenly Father. Well, it is. He is infinitely more patient, kind, and good than I can ever be as a parent. Yet, His desire is still to treat us as individuals that He created us to be. Each having our own struggles that the Lord has to guide us through, and our own sinful desires that He has to point out to us.<br />
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When we spend time getting to know our Heavenly Father, by reading what He wants us to know, we will each see how we need to be moulded and shaped to be more like our Saviour.<br />
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One of the first lessons that the Lord has laid on my heart is in the title of the challenge.<br />
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CULTIVATING gratitude.<br />
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As you may know, if you have been reading my blog for a while, I love learning lessons from my garden. It struck me, today, that "cultivating" is something that I haven't been doing in my garden so much this year.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"<span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">to</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">promote</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">or</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">improve</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">growth</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">(a</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">plant,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">crop,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">etc.)</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">by</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">labour</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">and </span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">attention."</span></span></div>
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<span class="oneClick-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">(dictionary.com)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I simply haven't spent as much labour and attention on my garden this year and as a result there are parts that look neglected. It's evident, to even the untrained eye, that my garden could look better. There are weeds. There are pieces of edging that aren't where they should be. The mint has overrun a border. There are plants that need to be cut back and tidied up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Some signs of sporadic effort<i> are</i> evident. A few shrubs that have been cut back, on a whim, when I was fed up with lack of sunlight to a border one day. As a result, that border is doing much better. There are some pretty, newly-planted cyclamen, brightening a previously dull border and adding colour to the plants dying back in the chill of autumn. When work IS done it is equally evident.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It struck me that my life is the same. If I CULTIVATE gratitude - if I put in work and pay attention to living it out - then others will see it. We're not doing it to receive praise, or accolade - no, quite the contrary. We should desire to be grateful, first and foremost, to give glory to GOD! As was the consideration in yesterday's devotional from "Choosing Gratitude", our praise and worship - our THANKFULNESS - should ultimately be towards our God and Saviour. He has done SO much for us, that we cannot be anything BUT grateful. Every. Single. Day. But, as a RESULT of our praise and thanks to God, others should see our lives to be one that is filled with gratitude. One that is quick to see the ways in which we can choose joy over negativity. A heart filled with thanks, despite our trying circumstances. But ONLY if we cultivate it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">We need to pull up the weeds of discontent and plant the beautiful flowers of thankfulness. We need to cut back the deadness of grumbling and complaint so that the blooms of gratitude are seen instead. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Gratitude is not our default attitude. It's far easier to fall into negativity and complaint than it is to be grateful, if it's not something we are used to doing. It only becomes our "default" if we work at it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">My all-time favourite example of cultivating an attitude of gratitude, is from "The Hiding Place", by Corrie Ten Boom. I don't know if you are familiar with her life-story, but Corrie, and her sister Betsie, were imprisoned during WWII for helping the Jews. During their incarceration, they come to one barracks that is completely flea-ridden. As challenging as the whole experience had already been, this about sent Corrie to insanity. HOW could they get through such a trial??</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Betsie discovered what they needed.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"'"<em><b>Rejoice always, pray constantly, give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus." </b></em>That's it, Corrie! That's His answer. <em><b>"Give thanks in all
circumstances!"</b></em> That's what we can do. We can start
right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!'<br />
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"I stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room…"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They thought hard, then they came up with things for which they could be thankful. They were together. They had a Bible. They even managed to give thanks for the heaving crowds of
prisoners, because they could share the gospel with them. But then, Betsie
thanked God for the fleas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The
fleas! This was too much. 'Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful
for a flea.'<br />
<br />
"<em><b>'"Give thanks in
all circumstances,"'</b></em> she quoted. 'It doesn't
say, <em><b>"in pleasant
circumstances."</b></em> Fleas are part of this place where
God has put us.'<br />
<br />
"And so we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But
this time I was sure Betsie was wrong."</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<o:p>FLEAS, guys. They thanked God for FLEAS! </o:p></div>
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<o:p>But, do you know what? BECAUSE of the fleas, the guards NEVER came in those barracks! They had free reign to read their Bible and to share God's Word with their fellow prisoners! Those fleas gave them opportunity to extend God's love to those who were equally suffering around them.</o:p></div>
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<o:p>THAT, my friends, is the kind of hard, messy gratitude that I want to cultivate in my own heart and that can be seen in my life. I want others to be blessed by my ability to say "thank you, Lord", in ALL situations. No matter how easy it would be to say "WHY, Lord?"</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I have bulbs that I spotted on a good deal in Costco. The images on the packet were those of great beauty! I LOVE anemones, and I can't wait to see them next spring. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">At least, once I have actually PLANTED them, I hope to see them flowering. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Yup, they are SITTING IN MY SHED. Until I plant them in the prepared soil - until I put them in the ground, where they will draw up water and nutrients from the soil, and GROW - I won't see any beautiful flowers at all. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">That's us. We need to actually plant the seed of gratitude in our hearts. We need to put into action the way we need to live, in order to be the fruitful Christian that God desires of us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the letter to the Colossians, in chapter 3, Paul reminds the believers of a frtuiful life that God desires of them. He lists the attributes that we should "put on".</span></div>
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Mercy. Kindness. Humility. Meekness. Longsuffering. </div>
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Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. Love. Peace. </div>
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The list ends like this...</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"and be ye thankful."</span></i></div>
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To crown off all the other things we should be, we ought to be THANKFUL. </div>
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That's what God wants from us. Gratitude. Thankfulness for the life that HE has made new, and transformed to the image of His Son. </div>
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As we carry on through the month of October, let's CULTIVATE gratitude in our hearts and lives and live a life that wee seek to intentionally "be thankful".</div>
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*** Don't forget about the give-away, which ends at midnight GMT, TONIGHT! Head over to <a href="http://thejoyfulkeeper.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/choosing-gratitude-and-giveaway.html">this post</a> to enter! </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-69216895336922277082016-10-01T15:30:00.002+01:002016-10-01T16:04:08.554+01:00Choosing Gratitude {and a GIVEAWAY}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a busy day here, but I want to quickly share about something that you may wish to hop on board with.<br />
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I have been reading through the Psalms, along with the lovely Candace Crabtree, from <a href="http://mercyisnew.com/about-me/">His Mercy is New</a>. We read a Psalm a day and find ways we can pray those words for ourselves. It's a wonderful exercise in making God's Word our own, and making it applicable to the situation we are in right now. The relevancy of so many of the Psalms is staggering! It's been such a blessing to go through the Psalms in this way, and find the truths that are contained in them.<br />
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Well, Candace is starting a 30 days of Gratitude challenge. She will be posting videos on her FB page and sharing about it on her IG account <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/102574605190173652993" target="_blank">+Candace Crabtree</a> It's all about cultivating an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude - and which one of us doesn't need that in our lives? We don't just need it in an accidental sort of way, we need to be intentional about CHOOSING to be grateful, no matter our circumstances.<br />
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Candace will be using Nancy Leigh DeMoss's book, "Choosing Gratitude". It's not essential to have it, but I am sure it will be a book that you will be glad you purchased. It's available in <a href="http://amzn.to/2dCdouj">print</a> and on <a href="http://amzn.to/2ddLAK9">Kindle</a>, as well as an <a href="http://amzn.to/2dCd52r">Audiobook</a>! There are other books she will be referring to, but she shares about them on her videos. Hop over to her <a href="http://mercyisnew.com/2016/10/01/cultivating-gratitude/">post today</a> for more information.<br />
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I have some new journals all ready to start recording the things I am grateful for. I plan to also use Ann Voskamp's "Joy Dare" resources to journal my gratitude journey. She has OODLES of beautiful printables, which you can have free access to by subscribing. (Details on the post <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/joy-dares/">here</a>) I've always intended to take part in her "Joy Dare", so this seems like the perfect time to jump in. She gives three prompts for each day, to help you think of things to give thanks for. Some will come to mind quickly, others may require some thought, but all will result in gratitude.<br />
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We all have SO much to be thankful for. SO much. As we have been learning about so many countries around the world where they face persecution, poverty and illness on a regular basis, I have reminded the children JUST how blessed we are, and we take it for granted.<br />
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Also, I am going to be starting back with Heidi St John's scripture writing challenge. She shares a few verses every day for you to read, meditate upon, then write out. The act of writing something out will aid you in remembering it, and we can all benefit from having scripture engraved on our hearts in any way we can. You can find out more about that on Heidi's IG account, her FB page, or on her <a href="http://heidistjohn.com/site/">website</a>.<br />
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Whatever you do, make sure you try and get into God's Word when you can!<br />
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I can't wait to get started on my "Choosing Gratitude", and also hope to have my 13 year old daughter, Beth, joining me on this journey. I may get her to do a guest post on the way through, to share about what she is learning.<br />
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I will share what I have been journaling, as I go along - on IG, FB and on here. I can tell this is going to be just wonderful, and my heart if filled with joy just thinking about it.<br />
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We have our Harvest Supper at Church tonight, so I hope to spend some time this evening on these challenges. I can't wait!<br />
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BUUUUUUUUTTTT....<br />
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To kick start this season of gratitude, what better way than to give someone another reason to BE grateful?? I haven't had a give-away for ages, so I would love to share some joy with others!<br />
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I am going to give-away a couple of things! There are two items, and you can enter to win either of them.<br />
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Firstly, I have a large Moleskine Journal that I have hand lettered and painted. These journals are ruled, with 80 pages (16 detachable), so just a nice size for a month of journaling gratitude. I have hand lettered it with silver sharpie, and used shimmering paints for the flowers. It's really pretty, and it was going to be for myself, but I thought it would be much nicer to give it away (and fits right in with studying the trait of "generosity" with my children this week). I can always decorate another for myself, which would be such a chore... aherm.<br />
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I am also going to give away a copy of the book that we are using during the challenge - Choosing Gratitude, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. <br />
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You can enter to win either of these below. This is open to anyone, as I am happy to send the journal abroad. I'm all for sharing the love as far and wide as need be.<br />
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The give-away is only until Monday evening, so if this is a book you would like to have to join in with the challenge, you can get it as soon as possible! So, you have until midnight GMT on the third of October to enter (remember that is FIVE hours ahead of EST, and 8 ahead of Pacific). Share, share, share so people know, and maybe you will be the winner!<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-23974788883019524522016-09-28T21:21:00.000+01:002016-09-28T21:21:47.786+01:00Out with the old, in with the (sort of) new {making changes in school}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple of weeks ago I had a rough few days.<br />
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Not that having rough days is anything spectacularly strange. Regular, more like.<br />
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I had a virus going through the house, with children dropping like flies, succumbing to a cough and a raised temperature. Wouldn't you know, but it hit the first "proper" week back to school (because every home school has a kind of "breaking it in gently" week first, right?... ).<br />
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The devil always seems to want to get in and pull me down whenever we come back from a break. I was armed and ready. I was expecting it. But, alas, my sleep deprived self didn't handle the attack very well.<br />
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I was feeling downright discouraged, and I had a morning filled with child "Ping pong" where I was going between one child and the next, trying to resolve issues in various subjects.<br />
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I wasn't quite ready to throw in the towel, but I was thinking "I can NOT go on like this - it will run me ragged".<br />
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So, I did what every self respecting homeschooling Mum does - I turned to valued friends and asked for help! I think, if nothing else, home educating teaches the parents a healthy dose of humility. Quite frankly, there's nothing so good as demonstrating that you do NOT have it all together, than to try teaching your children at home. It's less the content, and more the logistics. ESPECIALLY when you are a mum of many. Trust me. It's a leveller. Other parents are always willing to lend an ear, and give encouragement where they can. It's part of the job description. "Help and support your fellow mothers in the trenches". (Check the small print, if you didn't already realise....it's there, honest)<br />
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One of the things I was struggling with was grammar. Maths, they need to work at their own level. You can't do it any other way. Well, I certainly can't seem to. But, grammar. Could I be doing something different?<br />
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I loved the content of what we were doing, but with one child a slow reader, and needing me to read it ALL to them, and others just feeling it was hard work, I wondered if we could change it up.<br />
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To my surprise, one VERY experienced home ed Mum, who also teaches writing as a subject, said "You know you don't NEED to do grammar with younger children, right?" (Or words to that effect...)<br />
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WHAT?<br />
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SERIOUSLY?<br />
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I thought she had maybe lost the plot, but I remembered "in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom". Wisdom. That's the application of knowledge. Her knowledge of the subject said, no, you don't need to. And, I thought it sounded wise. And I needed to apply her knowledge. Wise.<br />
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However, I wasn't quite ready to take a complete leap in that direction. *hides* I thought, rather, that we could go down the "one room schoolhouse route". Pitch lessons at a level they could all "get" and keep it simple.<br />
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I remembered that I had previously used a book called "<a href="http://iew.com/fix">Fix It! grammar</a>", written by the wonderful Andrew Pudewa, and produced by the Institute of Excellence in Writing. (Having just checked out the link, I have an older version of this, but the same principles apply). The principle is simple. It works through classic literature texts, taking sentences, throwing in errors, and getting you to fix them. It's designed to be used by individual children, with them correcting it themselves, and rewriting it with the errors fixed. You also identify certain grammatical points, such as the subject and the verb in each sentence.<br />
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I figured it was something I could do with the children TOGETHER. I could write it on the white board, and they could "fix it".<br />
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All well and good if you can FIND the Teacher's Manual you need.<br />
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Yup.<br />
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Searched high and low, I did.<br />
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Until I found it in a box, with all my other English materials, all just nicely collated together. Too organised for my own good, me.<br />
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*insert huge eye roll*<br />
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I also remembered a lovely book called "Daily Grams". This has a few short exercises for each day, again, perfect for the white board. It goes through all the grammar concepts, and gets the children to do simple exercises in identifying errors, or finding concepts in a sentence. It doesn't take long, but covers a great range of basic concepts.<br />
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Once I had it all found, I was ready to start.<br />
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And, wonder of WONDERS, the children are LOV-ING it!!!<br /><br />
They ask me EVERY DAY - "are we doing grammar yet?"<br />
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*jaw drop*<br />
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All three - 8, 9 and 11 - think it's SO MUCH FUN! Yes, you heard right - FUN!<br /><br />
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Do these children look miserable to you? No. They do not. No payment involved. No coercing. Just genuine straight up and down delight. </div>
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We even stepped it up a notch today, and I got adventurous.</div>
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I ADDED some extra things into the lesson! </div>
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WHAAAAAAAAATTTT?</div>
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I know. CRA-ZEEEE.</div>
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We fixed our sentence, and then we found ways we could have written the sentence with more detail.</div>
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We had been learning about "-ly" adverbs, so we threw in a couple of those. Then we conjured up some fun adjectives to boot. </div>
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Another thing we have been doing is listening out for grammar we have been learning about, whilst having our read aloud sessions. </div>
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And can I tell you, C S Lewis uses a LOT of -ly adverbs. </div>
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I regularly have children shouting them out, during my reading of "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", much to the annoyance of their eldest sibling. </div>
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"Enough with the adverbs, guys...."</div>
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I think they've "got" that part of speech....</div>
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This is a sample page of the "Daily Grams", As you can see, there is not a lot, but it covers quite a range of topics in one short lesson.</div>
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One of my favourite parts of it all?</div>
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No paper. Not exercise books. Nada. Just me an' my white board.</div>
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Sweet.</div>
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Another joy is that it requires no writing from the children. It is absolutely possible to learn a LOT without having to produce screeds of writing. I would rather get them to write when they REALLY have to, and produce something wonderful, than have them write in EVERY SINGLE SUBJECT until they are sick of school. ESPECIALLY boys, in my experience, limited as it may be. Being able to identify grammar concepts requires eyes and a mouth, but not necessarily a pen and paper. I lie not! Save your battles for the really big things. This isn't one of them, in my opinion. </div>
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(Just to add, lest you think me completely negligent, my friend said that when they hit High School, they will turn the grammar thing up a notch, and still grasp it wonderfully.)</div>
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All my changes were confirmed to me when I then read a SUPER article put together by Sarah McKenzie, from "The Read aloud Revival". She wrote it in 2009, and it is an overview of Ruth Beechick's teaching ideas. Ruth Beechick is a super experienced and respected veteran home educator. She has done extensive research and is someone I respect. I haven't read all her books, but what I have read I have loved. </div>
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If you don't read anything else for your homsechool year, read this. You can find it <a href="http://amongstlovelythings.com/ruth-beechick-101/">here</a>. It made my heart LEAP! It confirmed what my wonderful fellow home ed Mums had suggested to me. It was a real word in season, and confirmation that my changes I was making were not as "way out" as I may have first thought! </div>
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I will share more about Sarah's own book very soon. It's another "Must read".</div>
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How about you? Are you struggling through the mire of frustration because something you have always done isn't working any more? </div>
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BE BRAVE! "New" is sometimes EXACTLY what you need. Maybe not even new curriculum, but a new way of doing it. I am using things I already HAD, but weren't what "fit" our way of doing things more recently. Now, they are just perfect. Don't be afraid of change. It could be just what you need to reignite the fire of enthusiasm that you have lost in your homeschooling life. </div>
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The same could be said about ANY part of your life. Routines and schedules come and go, and we need to be willing to bend and change according to the season we are in. It's ok to say "let's switch things around, and change things up". REALLY fine. "Not working" doesn't mean failure. It just means that you need to look at things a bit differently and try again. </div>
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Change can be one of THE most freeing things you can do. Saying "no" to one way, and "hello" to another, can turn your frown upside down. </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-1933402951437440162016-09-26T19:22:00.002+01:002016-09-26T19:22:47.942+01:00When we only see our failings {He makes all things new}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I sit at my laptop, after a another ridiculously long break from blogging, the words of one of my favourite characters in literature come jumping into my head. Once again, as I try to shake off the guilt of not doing things as I would like to, these words leap out.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Anne of Green Gables</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">I think it's fair to say that every mother has come to the end of a day and had that thought. Our days don't always go swimmingly. Anyone who suggests that staying at home to raise her children is the "easy option" has never done it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Days are HARD. We faces so many challenges and struggles on our journey. We have abundant blessings, but with blessings come hard times, too. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">I often feel I have failed, or at the very least I've not done a great job. It's a fairly frequent feeling, to be completely honest. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">But, then. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Then, I am faced with a truth that my Dad reminded me of yesterday. The truth of the "new". </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">We read in the Book of the Revelation</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Behold, I make all things new"</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">As much as this verse may well be singularly talking of the "new" of heaven, undoubtedly our life here on earth - our spiritual life - is all about the "new", too.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Our old life - our old "man" - was that of sinfulness, mistakes and erring. Following after our own ways, and stumbling along in darkness. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">When we found life in Christ, it was a NEW life! Old things were passed away and all things were new. We had a joy, a delight, a pleasure in knowing that we had something new, and wonderful.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">It's so easy to lose sight of that, though, isn't it?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">We are still battling the old man - the flesh - and that's WHY our days often end with the "boy, I didn't do so well" mentality. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Christ, however, is the author of the "all things new". That same joy we had when "first I saw the Lord", can be ours EVERY DAY.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">How?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Well, because when we run to Christ, confessing our sins, failings and struggles, His mercies come to us NEW. We come to Him, asking for a clean heart, and a right spirit to be given new to us, for a new day. We come, waiting upon Him, to have our strength given to us, new for the challenges of another day. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Precious mother - don't look on those things you struggled with yesterday, or last week, or last month - or even just 5 minutes ago! Turn your eyes upwards, and look to the one who can give you that newness to face another day. He has promised us so many mercies to help us on our way - His love, His kindness, His strength, His peace, His faithfulness - so that this day can be conquered.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">And yes, even if we feel we've messed up again, another day brings new mercies again. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Our spirit must be that of humility, grace and determination, in order to fight on and win the victory against the things with which we struggle. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">We don't need to wait for heaven to have "all things new". It doesn't even need to be a new morning. We can breathe in that spiritual breath of life, and be renewed when we come to God in prayer, seeking His strength and mercy. "Forgetting those things that are behind", we can press on. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Will you join me in looking to a life of a renewed spirit, and remembering that God's mercies are new every morning? </span><br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-38099544976183700002016-08-09T12:15:00.002+01:002016-08-09T12:15:27.977+01:00Ascribe Greatness {Week 2 - lettering challenge}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Well, I have reached the second week. I have a little catching up to do, but as no-one has joined in with the challenge, I don't feel so bad! LOL</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I am certainly enjoying dwelling upon the words of the hymns as I do my own lettering. There is so much doctrine and blessing in the words.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">So, here are this week's prompts.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Day 8 - <u>Immortal honours</u></span><br />
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1. Immortal honours rest on Jesus’ head;<br />My God, my portion, and my living bread;<br />In Him I live, upon Him cast my care;<br />He saves from death, destruction, and despair.</div>
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2. He is my refuge in each deep distress;<br />The Lord my strength and glorious righteousness;<br />Through floods and flames He leads me safely on,<br />And daily makes His sovereign goodness known.</div>
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3. My every need He richly will supply;<br />Nor will His mercy ever let me die;<br />In Him there dwells a <span style="white-space: nowrap;">treasure</span> all divine,<br />And matchless grace has made that treasure mine.</div>
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4. O that my soul could love and praise Him more,<br />His beauties trace, His majesty adore;<br />Live near His heart, upon His bosom lean;<br />Obey His voice, and all His will esteem.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">William Gadsby 1773-1844</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Day 9 - <u>How Deep the Father's Love</u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This is a modern hymn, so you need to go directly to Stuart Townend's site to find them, here. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Day 10 - <u>Before the Throne of God Above</u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">1 Before the throne of God above<br />
I have a strong, a<span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">perfect</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>plea;<br />
a great High Priest, whose name is Love,<br />
who ever lives and pleads for me.</span></div>
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2 My name is graven on his hands,<br />
my name is written on his heart;<br />
I know that while in heaven he stands<br />
no tongue can bid me thence depart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">3 When Satan tempts me to despair<br />
and tells me of the guilt within,<br />
upward I look, and see him there<br />
who made an end of all my sin.</span></div>
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4 Because the sinless Savior died,<br />
my sinful soul is counted<span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">free</span></span>;<br />
for God the Just is satisfied<br />
to look on him and pardon me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">5 Behold him there!
the risen Lamb,<br />
my perfect, spotless righteousness;<br />
the great unchangeable "I AM,"<br />
the King of glory and of grace!</span></div>
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6 One with himself, I cannot die,<br />
my soul is purchased by his blood;<br />
my life is hid with Christ on high,<br />
with Christ my Savior and my God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Charitie Lees Bancroft</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Day 11 - I Will Stand on Every Promise of His Word</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Another modern one, by Stuart Townend. Find it <a href="http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/every-promise/">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Day 12 - <u>O Thou by Whom we Come to God</u></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;"> O Thou </span><span style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;">by whom we come to God,</span><br style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;" /><span style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;"> The life, the truth, the way,</span><br style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;" /><span style="text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;"> The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 2ex; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify; white-space: nowrap;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Lord, teach us how to pray.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,<br />Unuttered or expressed;<br />The motion of a hidden fire<br />That trembles in the breast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Prayer is the burden of a sigh,<br />The falling of a tear<br />The upward glancing of an eye,<br />When none but God is near.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Prayer is the simplest form of speech<br />That infant lips can try;<br />Prayer, the sublimest strains<br />That reach the Majesty on high.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,<br />The Christian’s native air,<br />His watchword at the gates of death;<br />He enters Heav’n with prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,<br />Returning from his ways,<br />While angels in their songs rejoice<br />And cry, <q>Behold, he prays!</q></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The saints in prayer appear as one<br />In word, in deed, and mind,<br />While with the Father and the Son<br />Sweet fellowship they find.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">No prayer is made by man alone<br />The Holy Spirit pleads,<br />And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,<br />For sinners intercedes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">James Montgomery 1771-1854</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Day 13 - <u>Take My Life and Let it Be</u></span></div>
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1 Take my life and let it be<br />consecrated, Lord, to thee.<br />Take my moments and my days;<br />let them flow in endless praise.</div>
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2 Take my hands and let them move<br />at the impulse of thy love.<br />Take my feet and let them be<br />swift and beautiful for thee.</div>
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3 Take my voice and let me sing<br />always, only, for my King.<br />Take my lips and let them be<br />filled with messages from thee.</div>
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4 Take my <nobr><a class="pxInta" href="http://www.hymnary.org/text/take_my_life_and_let_it_be#" id="PXLINK_5_0_4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">silver</a></nobr> and my <nobr><a class="pxInta" href="http://www.hymnary.org/text/take_my_life_and_let_it_be#" id="PXLINK_1_0_0" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">gold</a></nobr>;<br />not a mite would I withhold.<br />Take my intellect and use<br />every power as thou shalt choose.</div>
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5 Take my will and make it thine;<br />it shall be no longer mine.<br />Take my heart it is thine own;<br />it shall be thy royal throne.</div>
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6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour<br />at thy feet its treasure store.<br />Take myself, and I will be<br />ever, only, all for thee. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.4px;">Frances Ridley Havergal 1836-1879</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.4px;">Day 14 - <u>Blessed Assurance</u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Heir of salvation, purchase of God,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">This is my story, this is my song,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Praising my Savior all the day long.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This is my story, this is my song,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Praising my Savior all the day long.</span><div class="stanza-num" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; left: -2em; padding: 2px; text-align: center; width: 1.5em;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Angels descending, bring from above<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br />3 Perfect submission, all is at rest,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I in my Savior am happy and blest;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Watching and waiting, looking above,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Fanny Crosby 1820-1915</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.4px;">I'd really love it if others join in, sharing these words with others in this lettering challenge. </span></div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-26467057427433917252016-08-06T22:57:00.001+01:002016-08-06T23:02:40.017+01:00"Bible" isn't just a subject {how we start our school day}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been meaning to share with you, for a while, about our new morning routine, during school time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't remember exactly where I was challenged about our mornings. It may have been a podcast, or a book I was reading, or a Facebook post from someone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That part doesn't matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What I WAS convicted about was that our schooling was working around me desperately trying to get the children to complete X, Y and Z. It was always a rush to DO. Any Bible learning we did was just part of any Bible centred curriculum we are using (and I try to use plenty with a Bible-centred emphasis). I became convicted about my priorities. Instead of rushing to do "learning", I needed to start off the day with what was most important. God, His Word, His people. If we didn't do ANYTHING else then so long as we had spent time learning about God, His Word, and His ways, then we had learned something FAR more important than any intellectual gain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided we would jump back in with Sally and Clay Clarkson's "<a href="http://amzn.to/2baYdmY">Our 24 Family Ways</a>". It's a great book guide that uses 24 "ways", that the Clarksons used in their own family, as the backbone. They are all based on scriptural principles, and each day has scripture that ties in with the character trait being taught. We have used it before, but it had been a while. I saw some character traits in my children that needed some training, so it was perfect to go through again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also decided to use "<a href="http://amzn.to/2aqgdNf">The Gospel Story Bible</a>" every morning. This book takes all the major Biblical events and ties the gospel into each one, teaching children to see everything as working towards the Saviour coming, and the great plan of salvation. It's wonderful to see it all woven together and a simple read aloud for children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, I was talking to some homeschool friends about geography, and what curriculum they used. They told me about using "<a href="http://amzn.to/2baYQNn">Operation World</a>" prayer guide as a backbone to learn about countries and cultures around the world. I had NO idea what Operation World WAS! It turns out that it is a FANTASTIC resource. (As a side note, this is a "Must have" for any Church! It is packed full of helpful information that could be used in multiple settings as Church - prayer meetings, children's ministry, youth work, outreach - it's simply super!!!) It goes through all the countries in the world, outlining some basic general information, and then praise and prayer points for that country. Some countries have fairly extensive information, which we have picked through. It's a massive tome, but an incredible resource. We also got the book "<a href="http://amzn.to/2baZdaV">Windows on the World</a>" which goes through many people groups, specifically from a child's perspective, and again highlights areas for prayer. It isn't as extensive as the Prayer Handbook for OW, but it's more child directed and visual. Operation World also has a fantastic website, also including prayer videos for many of the countries in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What we will also be adding, in September, are the scripture memory verses from "Matters of the Heart". I think that Scripture Memorisation is something that I have not been intentional enough about with my children. They learn their memory verse for Friday Club, but I don't even put as much effort into THAT as I ought to. *blush* As I plan to learn these verses myself, it seems sensible to do it as a family. I have now printed out the printable verses, which we will then learn together daily, with a new verse each week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't forget that for this week only, all the Matters of the Heart product are on special offer, for the launch! (Click on the visual below to go to the online shop.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.learningtospeaklife.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=61551_3_1_8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="scripture memorization" src="http://www.learningtospeaklife.com/affiliates/media/banners/mattersoftheheartFB.png" height="470" style="border: 0px;" width="470" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And, I have also found out that if you order the book this week, you get ALL the products below for FREE! Yes, for FREE!!! There are some really helpful resources in there. </span><br />
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">31 Days to a Better Marriage eBook</span> by Carlie Kercheval of Fulfilling Your Vows</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">12 Printable Pocket Bible Verses for Women</span> from Today's Frugal Mom</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">More than Words for Moms Devotional</span> by Stephanie Eidson of Multi Taskin Mom</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Mini Prayer Book Printable</span> by Brittany Ann of Equipping Godly Women</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">DIY Personal Spiritual Retreat Kit</span> by Arabah Joy</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Without Regret (a Christian Fiction Novel)</span> by Elaine Mingus of Radcial Christian Woman</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Inspirational <span style="white-space: nowrap;">Quote</span> Pack (3 Printable 8 x 10’s)</span> from The Modest Mom Blog</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Family Favourites Meal Plan</span> from Sharla at Freezer Meals 101</span></div>
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<span class="font-scale-7" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">3 Printable Scripture Verses (8 x 10) </span>from Sunu at Faith Art Designs</span></div>
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That's a whole lotta love and kindness given to you for NOTHING, out of the generous spirit of those who have produced them - they want to bless YOU! These are other mums and women in the spiritual trenches, who desire to build up others in their faith, to the glory of God.</div>
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In addition, don't forget about the prayer and praise journal to go alongside the book, as well as the printable verses, all available at the special launch week prices, or as an extra special bundle price. </div>
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One of my favourite parts of our new morning routine, though, is that I am now regularly praying with, and for, my children. They have heard me pray for them before - but now, specifically, they hear me plead before the throne for their souls. There is nothing I desire more in life than that my children come to know the Lord as their Saviour. I can teach them character - that's great. I can teach them facts and figures - useful and profitable. But, the best thing I can do is point them towards the one who alone can be their life and all, and only if they place their faith in Him, and seek forgiveness for their sins. That is what they hear me seeking the Lord for EVERY DAY. I trust that the Lord would even use that to lead the to Himself.<br />
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I think it's so important to have God and His ways at the centre of all we desire to teach our children. When we raise our children, God's Word shouldn't be incidental - it should be intentional. How can we ever expect our children to follow God's ways if we don't TEACH them to our children?<br />
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I'd love to hear what other people do to teach their children about the Lord and His Word. Do you have a daily Bible time? How does it work for your family? What do you love about it?</div>
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I trust you have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow, and don't forget to make use of the Matters of the Heart book deal. Don't miss out - it ends in around 48 hours! </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-31846247168619571132016-08-01T05:00:00.000+01:002016-08-01T05:00:27.008+01:00Matters of the Heart {a 52 week scripture plan for memorising scripture}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.learningtospeaklife.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=61551_3_1_11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="scripture memory" src="http://www.learningtospeaklife.com/affiliates/media/banners/mattersoftheheart485x60.png" height="70" style="border: 0px;" width="650" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This post contains affiliate links)</span></div>
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I am SO excited to be part of launching an UH-MAZ-ING book this week!!<br />
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How often do verses come to your mind in a situation? Verses that suit the moment, and you are SO thankful you memorised them? Perhaps it's only the verses you memorised as a child, or verses that are so "well known" they are on the tip of your tongue? Perhaps they are verses you have only learnt because you have read them so many times?<br />
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Have you ever actually commited, as an adult, to memorise scripture, though? We are told to hide God's Word in our HEARTS, and that will only happen if we place it there. We need to commit it to memory, so it springs up when when we need it most.<br />
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Carlie has written a wonderful book that combines the memorisation of scripture with a devotional just for women. It deals with issues that we face on a daily basis, and has a verse to memorise each week for a year. ONE VERSE. It's something we can ALL do, if set our minds to do it. I'ts not a big ask, but I just know it will bless your souls! I can not WAIT to get started with it.<br />
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Each week's devotional comes with a challenge and ways to put the verse into action. It really gets you thinking "How is this relevant to ME?", and applying it to your heart and life. It's not long. It's not time consuming. But, it is perfect for getting you to work at getting closer to Jesus.<br />
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Also available are some fabulous printable resources - very pretty scripture memory cards and prayer and reflection journal. These will help you as you commit these scriptures to memory, and apply the truths contained in them to your heart and life.<br />
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There will be some special pricing ONLY for this coming week. They are fantastic value, especially for us in the UK (even if the exchange rate isn't as good as normal...!)<br />
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There are several great ways to buy things. The best deal is the bundle. This includes the digital book, the prayer & reflection journal, and the printable scripture memory cards, all for a fabulous price of $15! (After this launch week it will go up to $20)<br />
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If you only want to buy individual elements, you can just buy them alone.<br />
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If you buy the book on its own it is $8 (will go up to $10 after this week)</div>
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There is also a lovely Prayer and Reflection journal, <a href="http://www.learningtospeaklife.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=61551_3_1_25">here</a>, which will be $6 during launch week, but will go up to $8. </div>
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And then there are also the 52 printable scripture cards, which you will find <a href="http://www.learningtospeaklife.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=61551_3_1_23">here</a>. these will be $5 this week, but will go up to $7 after the launch.</div>
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I know that Carlie has put so much time, attention, and prayer into this project, She is SUCH an encourager, and just wants other Mums to be built up, too. </div>
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If you are wanting to start the new school year with a heaping dose of God's Word hidden in your heart, then this is for you.</div>
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If you want to journal your way through scripture, finding truth and applying it to your circumstances, this is for you.</div>
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If you are needing a new way to boost your understanding of scriptures, this is for you.</div>
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If you are busy and need something simple to draw you closer to the Lord, this is for you.</div>
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If you are a woman who needs to spend more time in God's Word, this is for you. Hang on, that means it's for ALL of you!!! </div>
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So, what are you waiting for?</div>
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Jump on in, and be encouraged as you seek to commit God's Word to your heart and mind. Don't miss out on the great prices for this week only!</div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-2749065316556317402016-07-29T19:51:00.000+01:002016-07-29T19:51:18.043+01:00Ascribe Greatness {WEEK 1 - lettering challenge}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This has been a crazy couple of weeks. Planning and tidying up school related things. Getting ready for Holiday Bible Club. A little boy having hernia repair surgery. And then, this week, the crazy, but rewarding, that is Holiday Bible Club. I. Am. Wrecked. It's 7.30pm, and if I didn't have a high maintenance 5 month old who doesn't go down for the night until silly o'clock, I would be in my BED!!!! (I think I am getting old....)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am SO excited to be starting off with my FIRST EVER lettering prompt series, starting on MONDAY!!!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As long as I can remember, I have LOVED singing. I sang in the school choir. I learned to sing alto when I was quite young, just by listening to the older ladies in the Church singing. I love to lift my voice in praise to God. In Church. In the car. In the home. I love to sing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The words matter to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If your singing of Christian praise is NOT about the words, but only the emotion or the music, then there is something wrong. You've missed the purpose of praise in song. I digress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was travelling with Robert to a wedding, recently, and we were, as we often are, listening to Christian praise - hymns and songs. I was thinking about some of the words that I hold very dear, and I thought "these would make great lettering prompts!" Sometimes it was only a word or two, sometimes a phrase or line. Some hymns have whole verses that are precious to me. The wonderful thing about hymns is that, for each of us, the Lord may use different words to speak life to us, whilst we worship HIM! It's a perfect combo for lettering, I reckon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I scoured through Instagram, but couldn't find any obvious challenges revolving around hymns and songs, so it was a perfect opportunity!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I made a list of some of my all time favourites. They are mostly traditional "older" hymns, but some are more modern. All of them have solid Christian doctrine and scriptural basis, and have an amazing depth. In some ways, they just don't write 'em like they used to! Maybe there are many you don't know at all, because you've only known more modern worship? Don't miss out on these superb words of praise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every week I will either share the words or a link to sites where you can find the words to these hymns, so that you can find them easily if they are unfamiliar to you, or if you don't have a hymn book that has them. (I don't think any one hymn book will have them all, anyway!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, from August the 1st, jump in and join us on Instagram and Facebook. You don't need to be able to write "fancy", but maybe this would make a great opportunity for you to jump in and join with learning lettering? A great way to be creative and relax over the summer, whilst dwelling on these great words of praise and worship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(This whole endeavour has sent me on an educational trip all around hymn copyright! It's involving maths, and working out dates and years!!!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <u>I lift my heart to thee</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I lift my heart to Thee, Saviour divine;<br />For Thou art all to me, and I am Thine;<br />Is there on earth a closer bond than this,<br />That my Belovèd’s mine, and I am His?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thine am I by all ties; but chiefly Thine,<br />That through Thy sacrifice Thou, Lord, art mine.<br />By thine own cords of love, so sweetly wound,<br />Around me, I to Thee am closely bound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To Thee, Thou bleeding Lamb, I all things owe—<br />All that I have, and am, and all I know.<br />All that I have is now no longer mine,<br />And I am not mine own; Lord, I am Thine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How can I, Lord, withhold life’s brightest hour<br />From Thee; or gathered gold, or any power?<br />Why should I keep one precious thing from Thee;<br />When Thou hast giv’n Thine own dear self for me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I pray Thee, Savior, keep me in Thy love,<br />Until death’s holy sleep shall me remove<br />To that fair realm where, sin and sorrow o’er,<br />Thou and Thine own are one forevermore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Charles E. Maudie (1872)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <u>When peace like a river</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,<br />When sorrows like sea billows roll;<br />Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,<br />It is well, it is well, with my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Refrain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is well, with my soul,<br />It is well, with my soul,<br />It is well, it is well, with my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,<br />Let this blest assurance control,<br />That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,<br />And hath shed His own blood for my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Refrain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—<br />My sin—not in part but the whole,<br />Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,<br />Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Refrain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:<br />If Jordan above me shall roll,<br />No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life<br />Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Refrain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,<br />The sky, not the grave, is our goal;<br />Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!<br />Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Refrain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,<br />The clouds be rolled ba<nobr>ck</nobr> as a scroll;<br />The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,<br /><q>Even so</q>—it is well with my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Horatio Spafford (1873) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <u>His robes for mine</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Find the lyrics <a href="http://churchworksmedia.com/his-robes-for-mine">here</a>. This a new hymn, but the words are incredible. I first heard it three years ago,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> when tragedy struck the heart of a Church where I had visited in Indianapolis. The youth pastor, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and his wife - Chuck and Courtney Phelps - their unborn baby, and a lady from their </span></span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">congregation</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tonya Weindorf, all tragically lost their lives in a coach accident, returning from camp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a hymn that was sung at their funeral, which I watched via livestream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The words really challenged me, especially the words at the end of the chorus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4px; text-align: left;">Bought by such love, my life is not my own.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone." Their lives were lived faithfully for the Saviour, and I want my life to be lived the same way. </span></span><div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This site has many newly written hymns. They marry up wonderful words and beautiful melodies. They make them free to use and print for worship, because they desire that God should be praised more than making money. You will be blessed by the hymns you will find there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <u>Great is thy faithfulness</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find the words <a href="http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/g/r/e/greatitf.htm">here</a>. This is one of my all time favourites, because my heart is so thankful for God's faithfulness to me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. <u>Come, thou fount of every blessing</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(I've added this one as it was written, although it's not in the format I am used to singing it - we have some parts skipped out, to make three verses.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Come, Thou fount of every blessing,<br />Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;<br />Streams of mercy, never ceasing,<br />Call for songs of loudest praise.<br />Teach me some melodious sonnet,<br />Sung by flaming tongues above.<br />Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,<br />Mount of Thy redeeming love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,<br />Till released from flesh and sin,<br />Yet from what I do inherit,<br />Here Thy praises I’ll begin;<br />Here I raise my Ebenezer;<br />Here by Thy great help I’ve come;<br />And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,<br />Safely to arrive at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus sought me when a stranger,<br />Wandering from the fold of God;<br />He, to rescue me from danger,<br />Interposed His precious blood;<br />How His kindness yet pursues me<br />Mortal tongue can never tell,<br />Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me<br />I cannot proclaim it well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">O to grace how great a debtor<br />Daily I’m constrained to be!<br />Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,<br />Bind my wandering heart to Thee.<br />Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,<br />Prone to leave the God I love;<br />Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,<br />Seal it for Thy courts above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">O that day when freed from sinning,<br />I shall see Thy lovely face;<br />Clothèd then in blood washed linen<br />How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;<br />Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,<br />Take my ransomed soul away;<br />Send Thine angels now to carry<br />Me to realms of endless day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. <u>When all thy mercies</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">(Another one that had many more verses than I am </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">accustomed</span><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> to, but I loved how it tells</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> a life story of God's mercy!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When all Thy mercies, O my God,<br />My rising soul surveys,<br />Transported with the view, I’m lost<br />In wonder, love and praise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">O, how shall words with equal warmth<br />The gratitude declare,<br />That glows within my ravished heart!<br />But Thou canst read it there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thy providence my life sustained,<br />And all my wants redressed,<br />While in the silent womb I lay,<br />And hung upon the breast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To all my weak complaints and cries<br />Thy mercy lent an ear,<br />Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learned<br />To form themselves in prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unnumbered comforts to my soul<br />Thy tender care bestowed,<br />Before my infant heart conceived<br />From whom those comforts flowed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When in the slippery paths of youth<br />With heedless steps I ran,<br />Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,<br />And led me up to man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through hidden dangers, toils, and death,<br />It gently cleared my way;<br />And through the pleasing snares of vice,<br />More to be feared than they.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou<br />With health renewed my face;<br />And when in sins and sorrows sunk,<br />Revived my soul with grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss<br />Hath made my cup run o’er;<br />And, in a kind and faithful friend,<br />Hath doubled all my store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ten thousand thousand precious gifts<br />My daily thanks employ;<br />Nor is the least a cheerful heart<br />That tastes those gifts with joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through every period of my life<br />Thy goodness I’ll pursue<br />And after death, in distant worlds,<br />The glorious theme renew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When nature fails, and day and night<br />Divide Thy works no more,<br />My ever grateful heart, O Lord,<br />Thy mercy shall adore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through all eternity to Thee<br />A joyful song I’ll raise;<br />For, oh, eternity’s too short<br />To utter all Thy praise!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph Addison (1712)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. <u>How sweet the name of Jesus sounds</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(We have just finished Holiday Bible Club. Our "Missionary story" was about John Newton! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What a life of testimony to God's redemption and grace! I live just a few miles from where he </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">ministered, in Olney)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How sweet the name of Jesus sounds<br />In a believer’s ear!<br />It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,<br />And drives away his fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It makes the wounded spirit whole,<br />And calms the troubled breast;<br />’Tis manna to the hungry soul,<br />And to the weary, rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear name, the rock on which I build,<br />My shield and hiding place,<br />My never failing treasury, filled<br />With boundless stores of grace!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,<br />Although with sin defiled;<br />Satan accuses me in vain,<br />And I am owned a child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus! my shepherd, husband, friend,<br />O prophet, priest and king,<br />My Lord, my life, my way, my end,<br />Accept the praise I bring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Weak is the effort of my heart,<br />And cold my warmest thought;<br />But when I see Thee as Thou art,<br />I’ll praise Thee as I ought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Till then I would Thy love proclaim<br />With every fleeting breath,<br />And may the music of Thy name<br />Refresh my soul in death!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">John Newton (1779)</span></div>
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There you have it. All the hymns for the first week of #ascribe_greatness, starting</div>
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AUGUST THE 1ST. </div>
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I hope you join with me, and that your heart is truly blessed by these great hymns. </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-57119678174215347202016-07-16T16:53:00.000+01:002016-07-16T16:53:29.471+01:00Lettering {which tools do I use?}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, a quick second post about lettering.<br />
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The last post I told you about where I get my inspiration, so I thought I could now share about the pens/brushes I use.<br />
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It's been a journey, really. As I started off with Bible Journaling, I started off with pens for that, and progressed from there. I have two photos for you, and I will talk you through them all, and tell you where you can buy them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LVttorYG-Lh3jpbCctRq1qXUcgxbK5rF_f5wOKyT-yWbOIfI3LVpJbJl5xKl2DdKOnTRnyVwAo6PkkYrEXb3b1N6l3gAFYoYqTf-gBDC9b45mKF3vbdxFAZa_cxuowEs7wi4855IpMUR/s1600/lettering_1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LVttorYG-Lh3jpbCctRq1qXUcgxbK5rF_f5wOKyT-yWbOIfI3LVpJbJl5xKl2DdKOnTRnyVwAo6PkkYrEXb3b1N6l3gAFYoYqTf-gBDC9b45mKF3vbdxFAZa_cxuowEs7wi4855IpMUR/s320/lettering_1_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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1. <u>Staedtler Triplus Fineliner</u></div>
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This is one of the first pens I started with. They come in a fantastic range of colours, but in order to do calligraphy type, you need to do "faux calligraphy". For this, you need to add a second line on the downstrokes of your letters. Then, fill it in. I have demonstrated this technique on the photo. It works well, but you can sometimes end up with very tiny lines where you don't "keep in the lines". It's probably imperceptible, but I see it! lol You can get these pens many places, including <a href="http://amzn.to/29E42Z5">Amazon</a> (UK) . </div>
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2-4. <u>Pigma Micron</u> </div>
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These come in a variety of thicknesses and colours. These pens, and the Staedtler Fineliners, are both pretty good for using in Bibles, as they don't bleed unless you do very thick and heavy lines. The very fine ones are great for print style lettering, or for very small lettering. All these first 4 pens don't work very well on watercolour paper, though, as they tend to gouge into the heavier weight, with their harder tips. </div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/29KUs7w">This</a> (UK) set has a good range of the nib sizes, all in black, including a brush pen (which I just don't like at all) and a thicker "graphic" tip, which is a nice thick tip for solid lines. You can also get them in sets with <a href="http://amzn.to/29LeFZA">colours</a>, but with that you have to decide on one nib size, as they are all the same in the multi-coloured pack. </div>
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5. & 9. ( 9 is in the image below) <u>Tombow Dual Brush Pens</u></div>
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These are a MASSIVE treat to myself. I got them for a knockdown price (with the pre-Brexit exchange rate!), and a friend who was returning to the UK kindly delivered them to me, so no postage costs!! I got the full set of 96, and have been LOVING them. I had already bought the primary set from <a href="http://amzn.to/2a16E4H">Amazon</a> to try them out, and had fallen in love with them. It's these pens that I have used for my entire series of pictures that went with the #animalpartychallenge on IG. Because they are water based, you can blend them on watercolour paper with a brush and water. You can also blend two colours together and create your own blends (simply just blending them on a piece of plastic)! The tips are self cleaning, so the new ink runs through and it goes back to the original colour. One end has the brush tip pen, and the other end is a finer nib. It takes a bit of practice to master using these (I initially didn't like them, because I didn't crack it as quickly as I wanted to!!! - patience.... ), but once you have, they write like silk. The textures and tones are beautiful, especially on very smooth paper. These are best for doing BIG lettering, although some people seem to be able to achieve much smaller text than I can! </div>
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If are wanting to get serious about your lettering, the <a href="http://amzn.to/2a17E8E">96 box set</a> is a very sound investment, as it's a lot cheaper per pen than buying the smaller packs. It's also massively reduced in price over this side of the Atlantic, compared to a matter of months ago when it was over £200 to buy it!!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxojYoOQNyd8TrYTIDHMBd4AvUqZTSRmmnrkPXf4wVRZtrikkT4QyU_4oXFa23Ts9LtaDcvGZqCvJW-8WOQu4TXVxjtc_IRVPTrlaqpeU7G25M6T7KiZvvLByJWmB36JEZmBx6j1eSXbMR/s1600/lettering_2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxojYoOQNyd8TrYTIDHMBd4AvUqZTSRmmnrkPXf4wVRZtrikkT4QyU_4oXFa23Ts9LtaDcvGZqCvJW-8WOQu4TXVxjtc_IRVPTrlaqpeU7G25M6T7KiZvvLByJWmB36JEZmBx6j1eSXbMR/s320/lettering_2_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. <u>Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen</u></div>
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These pens are the ones that are able to give a lovely look to a more "normal" sized lettering. As with all the brush tips, you need to master the basic technique of modern calligraphy to be able to use them best. The ladies in my last post have videos that demonstrate the technique - think upstroke, thick down stroke. You can get practice drill sheets for this on many sites - free and "pay for" ones. </div>
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These pens are a bit trickier to track down in the UK. The cheapest way I have found to purchase them is from an <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/232700247/pentel-fude-touch-sign-pens-12-colors">Etsy</a> store. They come in a range of colours, and you can get the full set of 12 for £17 including shipping from Japan. You have to be patient, as it takes time to get here! If you can't wait, you can also get them <a href="http://www.tigerpens.co.uk/pentel-touch-sign-pen-assorted-set-of-12-colours/p1876">here</a> for a little more money.<br />
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I really love the gold and silver in the multi-pack, and the black is a pretty fundamental piece of kit, in my opinion.<br />
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7 & 8. <u>Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen - soft tip and hard tip</u><br />
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These, like the black sign pen above, as what I would consider "essential" if you are serious about lettering. They give slightly different effects. The soft one gives a thicker line, and the hard one gives a very fine line on your upstroke. These are available on Amazon, and are best value in a 5 pack - <a href="http://amzn.to/29Ldrxt">soft</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/29Ld4D8">hard</a> are both available in these 5 packs.<br />
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10. Pentel Aquash Water Brush<br />
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I love, love, LOVE this tool!!!! This is a watercolour brush, in essence, but has a water barrel attached. You can either fill the barrel with liquid watercolour inks, or keep dipping it into liquid or solid watercolours. I just love the variation in tone that you get with each stroke. It's simply beautiful. There are three sizes available - think medium and thick brushes. Obviously you can achieve a different look with each. They aren't overly expensive, and are available as a three pack on <a href="http://amzn.to/2a6cc0H">Amazon</a>. These absolutely work best on watercolour paper, as it's far more absorbent than other papers.<br />
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11. Paintbrush (I used a Taklon Size 3)<br />
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A good old fashioned paintbrush is also a tool you can use. This is one of the ones I found hardest to crack, and I still don't feel I have mastered it completely, but it gives a lovely effect. Again, like the Aquash brush, you have to use watercolours with it. But, you have to keep dipping it into either water then paint, or a liquid watercolour. I found I had to get my grip right with a paintbrush, moreso than other pens, and also the quality of paintbrush MASSIVELY matters. A round brush is best, and don't just use a child's cheap one. You just won't get the brush to move smoothly enough, in my experience.<br />
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So, there we have it.<br />
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Those are the pens and brushes that I use, and my limited experience with them so far! You don't need expensive pens to get lettering. You can even use <a href="http://amzn.to/2a6dg4A">Sharpies</a> (which I have never tried!) or <a href="http://amzn.to/29E84kd">Crayola supertips</a>!<br />
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Just grab a pen and start trying, and then take it from there!<br />
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I think I also need to do posts demonstrating each of these pens, just to give a better idea about how they write and look. No promises as to a time scale for doing that, but I will get started ASAP. Any questions, just ask away in the comments below, or find me on IG @thejoyfulkeeper and ask there. I will also start trying to record which pens I have used on my IG pictures.<br />
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I am SO far from being a pro at this, so I hope this has been useful!?<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-8792610304312951452016-07-13T20:20:00.001+01:002016-07-13T20:20:53.975+01:00When the Master calls {how we respond in trials} <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am confident that I am not alone in my observation that there is a distinct difference in nature and personalities between my children. The more I have, the more i see the difference. Even though I have 9 children, I can safely say that no two of them are very alike in personality, nor really in looks. They are all individuals, with a God-given personality that makes them "themselves".<br />
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I was reading the passage about the death of Lazarus, the other day. I was struck, again, like I have previously been when reading the "cumbered about" account, that Mary and Martha, although sisters, had quite distinct personalities.<br />
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Mary is the quiet, more withdrawn one. I can imagine her, quietly sitting beside Jesus, listening to Him teaching. Martha. She's the one I relate to more. The one who is more bustly, busy, and quick to speak, instead of listening. And yet, passionate in her devotion.<br />
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These differences are seen once again in this narrative. IF you remember, the news that Lazarus was sick came to Jesus. He seemed His usual, calm self, and told the messengers it was fine. Don't worry. He's not sick to die. He, in fact, said it was going to be to God's glory.<br />
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Let's pause. What a great reminder. Trials come into our lives, and we should realise, right at the onset, that all these things happen for God's glory. It's not so much the incident that glorifies God - rather how we respond to it, and how we deal with it. We don't all get the outcome that Lazarus did, but we still have the God-given opportunity to give praise and glory to the one who "hath done all things well".<br />
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Jesus, the one who they KNEW was a miracle worker, announces he is going to just sit where he is for a couple of days. THEN, he decides to go to Bethany, whilst announcing to His disciples that Lazarus is, in fact, already dead. But not dead. Just sleeping. His disciples were understandably confused, but just accepted, and travelled with Him. The purpose for the delay was explained by Jesus, again.<br />
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"And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe"<br />
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This was all an exercise in faith and trust. It was to point people to His saving power. So that they would know He was GOD.<br />
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Pausing again. THAT is why we are allowed to go through struggles and trials. So that others may see GOD in it all. His power. His glory. His perfect will.<br />
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He carries on along the road.<br />
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Martha hears He is nearby and comes rushing to Him.<br />
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Mary sits in the house.<br />
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There we have it, again. Two different personalities. Two different natures. Two different ways of approaching the Saviour.<br />
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Martha rushes to Him, with a slight accusation, and yet GREAT faith and trust in who Jesus is.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."</span></i></div>
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Oh, I LOVE that "but I KNOW".<br />
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She knew that Jesus could have prevented his death. But, OH, she knew he could also bring him back to life!!! Such enormous trust and faith.<br />
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I SO need more of that faith. TO be in the middle of sad and serious circumstances but to KNOW that Jesus can work it all out, because He is God, and He just can. My faith is so weak.<br />
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Jesus then ascertains her understanding of who He is, and what he is capable of. Upon her acknowledgement, she rushes back to Mary, telling her<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The Master is come, and calleth for thee"</i></span></div>
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I LOVE Mary's response. Yes, she had stayed where she was, when Martha had run to meet Jesus. But,<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him."</span></i></div>
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The Master called, and she jumped to do His bidding.<br />
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This made me think of times of trial and difficulty. On difficult days, do we jump to do what Jesus requires of us, or do we sit wallowing in our trials until we feel like being obedient and submissive to the situation we are in? The Word of God is to be obeyed no matter how down or sad we are feeling. Our feelings don't hold a candle to the importance of being followers of Jesus who come when we are called.<br />
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The Lord calls us to be so many things. And those things don't change just because life is hard, or we are facing a bad day. No. We are still to seek Him and follow Him. Not everyone responds the same way to trials and struggles. We may be the kind of people who need to talk to others - we jump up and rush to Him like Martha did. Others may internalise their struggles, quietly - we may sit quietly alone, and then respond as soon as we hear His "Words" whispered to our heart, like Mary. But, obey we must. Seek Him, we must. Be in His presence, we must.<br />
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Mary and Martha were tested in a deep way. The whole situation was so emotive that Jesus, himself, wept. When He saw His dear friends in such agony of spirit, He, too, wept, even though He KNEW what He was about to do! He knew the end from the beginning, but was still touched by their sadness.<br />
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Jesus sees our sadness. He weeps with those who weep.<br />
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But, He still requires that we follow Him and obey His bidding.<br />
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Those sisters went through an agonising few days, but just look at the outcome! Their faith was rewarded, and God was glorified in an amazing way. That trial was used for good.<br />
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Many Jews saw that He was the Saviour and put their faith in Him.<br />
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It also set in motion the events that would lead to Jesus' death.<br />
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God's ways are perfect. Trials come, but we need to still be ready to jump up at His bidding, and obey Him in every part of our lives, no matter how we are feeling. WE may come weeping and sad, but come, we must. Come to the one who is control of the situation we find ourselves in, and place our trust entirely in Him, knowing that "all things work together for good".<br />
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No matter the situation you find yourself in, run to the Saviour, obey His bidding, and wait to see the great things He has in store to His glory.<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-16398988036318082362016-07-06T17:53:00.001+01:002016-07-06T18:16:37.700+01:00Lettering! {where do I get my inspiration?}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have been meaning to write this post for a looong time.<br />
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During my period of "blog silence" I took up creative lettering. It started off as an interest in being able to do nice lettering for my Bible Journalling, but it turned into a hobby along the way! I am now LOVING doing my lettering, and continually trying to improve on my new found love.<br />
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Some of my Bible Journalling</div>
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Journalling quotes from books I am reading.</div>
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What I have been meaning to share about is the resources I have used and the materials I use, as I have had so many people asking me on IG and Facebook!<br />
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I am no authority on these things. I share them with you on the basis that I am no expert and I can only tell you what I have learnt from others who are FAR more experienced and talented!<br />
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So, where to start?!?<br />
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I think I will do these as a series of posts, and begin with some of the inspiration for my lettering. First off, it is SUPER helpful to be on Instagram! That is THE visual place to watch and learn from others. It's where I found my first inspiration, and continue to be inspired on a daily basis.<br />
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My first ever "teacher" was a lady called Lisa, and you can find her at a few places.<br />
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IG: <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/115101757266843884172" target="_blank">+Lisa Walters</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CreativLEI/?fref=ts">creativLEI</a><br />
Pinterest: creativleimade<br />
Periscope: <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/115101757266843884172" target="_blank">+Lisa Walters</a><br />
Website: <a href="http://www.creativlei.com/">www.creativlei.com</a><br />
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She is an extremely gracious and gifted lady, who has a great love for all sorts of crafty and creative things. She is regularly on Periscope, gladly sharing her tips and techniques, and Periscope (which I only recently discovered!!) is a fabulous place to ask questions, which she always tries to answer.<br />
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Lisa also offers a brilliant FREE course, "<a href="http://creativlei.com/love-your-lettering/">31 days to love your lettering</a>", where you can watch videos and learn the various techniques involved in getting started with lettering.<br />
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She is really inspirational, and has helped me a whole lot! She has also recently <strike>dragged me kicking and screaming </strike> lured me into the world of chalk lettering!<br />
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More of that at another time! Beware - letterers will lead you down bunny trails of all sorts of creative yumminess....<br />
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Another favourite of mine is Liss. I came across her on IG, and am currently signed up for her lettering class (not free, but it was my summer treat to myself!!), and you get to be part of a private FB group where she gives loads of advice and support, and where you get a stack load of inspiration from others who are learning, too. Again, you can find her in several places.<br />
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IG: <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/114974454187828053221" target="_blank">+liss letters</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lissletters/?fref=ts">Liss Smith</a><br />
Website: <a href="https://liss.com.au/">www.liss.com.au/ </a><br />
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Another favourite of mine from IG, is @handletteredtruth. Debbie produces beautiful lettering, and inspires me on so many levels.<br />
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There are loads more, but I will share them as they tie in with the various topics I share about to do with types of lettering, or materials used.<br />
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Another great way to "meet" other letterers is to do a month of writing prompts. Folks give all sorts of different prompts, and it inspires various contributions. I have just finished one about collective nouns for animals, in which I also started doing paintings of the animals using brush pens, which I previously had no idea I could do until I tried! Then there are ladies who run ones that are Bible verses for each day. It's always good to get scripture into our heart and mind, and what a nicer way of doing it than creatively?<br />
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#30daysofbiblelettering</div>
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#animalpartychallenge</div>
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My current one that I am following is #letterHISname (they all have hashtags, so you can find other people doing the same thing, for those who don't know these things, like I didn't until recently...) and it is run by two fab letterers - @coldsnowinharvest and @brittanyluiz. It's been precious and interesting to look at the verses where these different names are mentioned, and choose one to base my lettering on.<br />
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There are LOADS more lettering prompts out there.<br />
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I have one, myself, in the pipeline! I have created the graphic, but want to write a weekly blog post to accompany it. to help people out, due to the topic. I don't want to say much else JUST yet, but I plan to do it in August, and plan it all in July. Watch this space!!<br />
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I try and practice my lettering when I can. You can do it as doodles, or do it as something more creative. I like to do things with scripture and just pop it on the fridge!<br />
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This lettering was scripture from #scripturewriting with <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/113333501284267345426" target="_blank">+Heidi St. John</a> </div>
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I am also trying to learn how to do watercolour painting - flowers, wreaths and writing. It's one of my favourite mediums, which I dabbled in as a teen.<br />
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I will tell you more about that in a post about materials and mediums.<br />
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So, there's a start for those of you interested in lettering. I will return with more helpful (hopefully!!!) info on the topic. Check out my Pinterest board for places to find lettering inspiration, too. (See the link in my side bar!)<br />
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So GO! Have fun lettering! Learn something new, and get creative.<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-63023563494723477762016-07-04T22:59:00.000+01:002018-09-22T16:40:51.626+01:00Character training from the weeds {pull them out while you can}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Finally. It happened.<br />
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I had a day with no rain, and a chance to go to the shops and buy some plants for the garden.<br />
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Yes. I was finally in my garden to sort it out properly, for the first time this year.<br />
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It was a mess. Weeds. Plants that hadn't been cut back. Dead plants that needed to be lifted, and which I hadn't even noticed were rotting away at all.<br />
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Usually I am well sorted by July, with plants growing nicely, and flowers in abundance. However, a combination of a small person who is quite high maintenance, and nasty damp weather, had held me back from getting to the garden to sort it out.<br />
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I forgot how much I missed it. The feel of the earth on my hands. The satisfaction of getting rid of weeds and creating cleared space. The joy of purchasing and planting beautiful things, resulting in a much brighter garden.<br />
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There is still much to do, including more pruning and weeding, and a painting job I want to do.<br />
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But, the best part? How the Lord whispers lessons into my heart and soul, whilst working with the wonders of His wonderful creation. Nearly EVERY single time, I seem to see something valuable to learn.<br />
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Today was no exception.<br />
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Four lessons, no less.<br />
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But, I will only cover one per post!<br />
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The one I want to share first is one that is so important as a parent.<br />
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Weeds. Weeds. Weeds.<br />
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The bane of gardening life. One of my biggest jobs that I still need to work on is to get rid of weeds. Not only do they spoil the look of the garden, but ultimately they stop the plant from growing as it should, and can sometimes kill the plant entirely.<br />
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The lesson I considered today was one of nipping things in the bud early. Pardon the pun. As a result of not dealing with the weeds when they were tiny, and only beginning to grow, I now have some hum-dingers growing around my dahlias in the front garden. It looks 50/50 weeds plants. That is never good.<br />
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I have nettles (don't talk to me about nettles - my hand hurts as I type!) - I have thistles - I have kinda' pretty looking pink ones that will go to seed and multiply if I don't sort them out. In fact, most weeds will eventually do that - think dandelion, for a start. (oooooh... something else has just sprung to mind!!!) All mixed liberally in with what SHOULD be there. My soon-to-be-beautiful dahlias.<br />
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It got me thinking about my children. Do you ever feel, particularly with children aged between about 2 and 4, that you are scolding them and telling them "no" a LOT? It you don't feel like that, you maybe should!! It's that formative age where they try and push boundaries, trying to get away with wrong behaviour every opportunity they get. It's part of human nature. Some of it is simple childishness, but much of it is sin. If you don't sort it out - by training and by discipline/consequences - whilst they are little, these sinful traits will just grow until they are choking out the good in a child, or at least spoiling the "beauty" in their character. I've seen it before. And, I can also see in my own children where I could have done with "weeding" more diligently when they were younger, because there are traits that are spoiling things now.<br />
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There is no such thing as perfect children. Likewise, there is no such thing as a perfect parent.<br />
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BUT, we CAN work at doing all we can to faithfully train our children, to the glory of God, whilst they are young. We can't save them, but we can guide them into ways that are God-honouring. We can teach them faithfully of what God expects of us morally, and spiritually. We can train them to behave in a way that shuns the behaviour that is wrong, and embraces that which is right. It's not our role as parents to save our children - we cannot - but it's our job to honour the Lord in how we raise them. We don't want an ugly mess when they are growing up, all because we don't tend their hearts and lives when they are young.<br />
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It's hard work. We need to keep at it and be consistent. Like a garden, weeds will keep cropping up. But, trust me, sorting it out when they are small plants is FAR easier to do than when the plants grow up. Now that my plants are bigger it's MUCH harder to get to the weeds. Firstly, because the roots of the weeds have got deeper and thicker. Then also because it can cause hurt to the plant to try and get rid of the weeds.<br />
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What a powerful reminder to me of the crucial work of tending to the behaviour of my children! If I neglect it whilst they are young it is SO much harder to deal with when they are teens. That time when the plant should be growing strong and blooming beautifully is NOT when I should then be starting to think "hang on, how did I not notice these "weeds" of ugly behaviour until NOW?" <br />
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We, as the parents, are the "gardeners" responsible for pulling out the weeds of deceit, lying, stroppiness, laziness, argumentativeness, rebellion and disrespect whilst our children are young. It's definitely easier to teach them when they are little, than when they are more strong willed and older. Not easy, but easier.<br />
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And, like the weeds, if we wait until the weeds have taken root, and starting to seed, then these sinful and ugly behaviours will just spread and take hold further, the later we leave it.<br />
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We need to recognise those things which God does not want in our children - spot the "weeds" - and pull them out when they are just beginning to rear their ugly heads. If we know ourselves what is right and wrong, according to the gardener's manual - God's Word - then we will know how to sort it out. We need to be fully aware of what those traits are, in order to weed them out.<br />
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Keep at it "gardener" of little souls. By God's grace and help, you can train your children to be those who honour God.<br />
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Keep at it "gardener" of those who are getting bigger. Pull out those weeds whilst you can still grab them and get all the root out.<br />
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Keep at it "gardener" of those who you look at, like my ugly garden, and think "help!!! - what have I done??". God is able to redeem those years. Don't look at what you haven't done, but look at what you can STILL do!<br />
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Above all else, remember that the Holy Spirit is able to do that work of saving grace in their hearts and lives. Cry out to Him daily to help you as a parent, and to save their souls and do a personal work of grace in their lives. He is able and willing to save.<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-1643351961615136962016-06-10T19:23:00.000+01:002016-06-10T19:23:49.985+01:00Perspective {from frustration to fulfilment}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I log into Blogger to write this post, my eye is scanning down the list of most recently published posts, and I inwardly groan.<br />
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ONE post in May?<br />
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REALLY?<br />
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I thought that once I was feeling better, after having had Ezekiel, I'd be back to my normal blogging schedule, and sharing with the world again. But no. I have failed dismally.<br />
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Or have I?<br />
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Well, if I want to look at it from the point of view of blogging to reach out to others, yes, I may have "failed".<br />
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Perspective.<br />
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THAT is the key word for me.<br />
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We had a visiting preacher at our Annual Service of Thanksgiving, last weekend. His sermon on the Saturday was all about perspective. He was particularly emphasising that THANKFULNESS is all about perspective. If we look at our circumstances from the wrong perspective, we will not be a thankful people. Change your perspective, and you will find something to be thankful for.<br />
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I think one of the keys to having a correct perspective is all about change. We need to move to the right position in order to gain the right perspective. We need to be willing to move from wherever we are, in our thoughts an attitudes, and get to the right "place".<br />
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It's a bit like when I am walking along, all adult size, and I see something and yell to the children "did you see THAT?"<br />
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There ensues a cacophony of<br />
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"I can't SEE it"<br />
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"Where, WHERE?"<br />
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"MUUUUUUUM, I can't SEEEEEEEE it"<br />
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Then, I help them to adjust their stance, in order to see what I can see. Maybe I lift them onto my shoulders, or gently re-position them a couple of inches one way or another, to get a better perspective on what I am viewing.<br />
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THEN, we get a different response.<br />
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"Oh YES Mum - I see it now!"<br />
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"Wow, yes"<br />
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From frustration to fulfilment.<br />
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That's where perspective brings us. Perspective brings us from a place where can easily become frustrated and disheartened, to a place where we are fulfilled by God's goodness and mercy, because we are seeing things how GOD wants us to see them. The Lord lifts us up on his shoulders, like the good shepherd lifted that wandering lamb, and brings us to a place where we can see His goodness.<br />
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It's like that old adage "the grass is always greener on the other side". Someone seems to have life better than you do. If you change your perspective, you may see your grass longer, or that you have more grass, or that you have someone to help you look after your grass, and they don't, or that your grass is getting greener, but it's just slow. Perspective.<br />
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There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. There is ALWAYS a better way to view our circumstances. There is ALWAYS a reason to rejoice.<br />
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But, we must be willing to move away from the position we are in, and see things from a different perspective.<br />
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Effort.<br />
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A teachable spirit.<br />
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Joy and contentment.<br />
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It's all needed to gain perspective.<br />
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Have I been quiet on here? Yes.<br />
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Am I failing to keep up with writing blog posts, or, if I gently nudge my perspective, am I busy looking after a precious, but slightly high maintenance baby, who will grow up soooooo fast, that I shouldn't feel bad for spending time caring for him?<br />
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Perspective shifted.<br />
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Frustration gone.<br />
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Fulfilment found.<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-44247627201884245012016-05-06T15:07:00.000+01:002016-05-06T15:19:14.257+01:00You CAN fly {lessons from a bumble bee}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This post contains affiliate links)</span></div>
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Yesterday I went for a walk. It was supposed to be a power walk to try and get a bit fitter. A pleasant walk in the sun, whilst also exercising. Plus, I had Ezekiel attached. He has another cold, and I thought that a walk, with him in the sling, would settle him.<br />
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Best laid plans, and all that...<br />
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He cried. He cried for most of the 1.3 miles round our village. I'm sure that people were peeping out their windows, wondering who was torturing the small person. It was certainly a motivation to power walk as fast as I could, to get home and feed him! (It was that, or plonk myself down in the middle of the pavement and feed him instantly - on second thoughts, I decided I already adequately fulfilled the criteria of "local crazy woman", with my band of 9 offspring, who are home educated, without adding any further to my qualification...)<br />
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But, in true home educating mother style, I saw something on the ground and picked it up to bring home.<br />
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Ezekiel wasn't very impressed with me bending over at such a strange angle, but I was determined to bring it home, and do some impromptu, Charlotte-Mason-esque learning with them. All in the name of education, my son.<br />
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What do I speak of?<br />
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This little guy was just lying there, sadly dead, its work on earth complete. I felt it should continue to be of benefit, beyond its days of pollination. So, home it came.</div>
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(I say "it". It's probably female, from our further studies...)</div>
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We studied it carefully. I used <a href="http://amzn.to/1QSNxoA">"Are you a bee?"</a> to learn more about bees. The book is about honey bees, and Daniel then managed to find a dead honey bee in our garden! It's a book perfect for younger readers. (I used it with mine, up to age 9) We did a compare and contrast venn diagram to look at differences between bumble and honey bees. Then, the children drew pictures and wrote down some of the facts we learned. It was fun, and I recommend learning about bees! </div>
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To top off our learning experience, I remembered that my sweet friend, Jan, away over in the US of A, keeps bees! She had previously shared a video fo how they caught a swarm, so she sent me the links for us to watch.</div>
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This is them installing bees on a rooftop.</div>
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And this is the one of them catching a swarm.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/42060407" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/42060407">capturing bees</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/goldurndude">Tessa Danielle Anderson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Thanks, Jan, for educating us!</div>
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But then, I had one of these moments where *I* did some learning.</div>
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Not in an "educating the mind" sense, but a whopping "spiritual lesson" moment.</div>
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I remembered we had a book called "<a href="http://amzn.to/1QSNWqT">Bombus the Bumblebee</a>". I decided it would be a good book to read together, as I knew it was a book written by Christians. I, however, had never read it. The children have, but I haven't. Bad Mummy. </div>
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So, I curled up and started to read. </div>
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It is all about a bumblebee who doubts his purpose, because he's not quite like the other bees - the honeybees.</div>
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They tell him he cannot fly because he is big and heavy. He's not built like them, so he couldn't possibly fly like they do. </div>
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The ultimate lesson of the story culminates with God giving Bombus this message...</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"I told you to fly. No matter what your shape or weight, you can fly because I gave you flight. Now, lift up your wings.... and FLY...... and away he flew - not like a honeybee or a dragonfly or beetle - but like a bumblebee"</span></i></div>
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The book went on to explain how God has created to the bumblebee to defy the odds, and fly - despite their body "not shaped for flight", and their wings being so short. God gave them the power to fly. </div>
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What a message to MY heart!</div>
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How easy it is to look and listen to those around us and begin to doubt our ability to live fully for our God and Saviour. If we constantly fall prey to the comparison disease, then we will just sink into depression and misery, and never attempt to live out abundantly for Christ. I may have already told you, I can't remember, but my word for this year - the one I am keeping in my heart and mind to encourage me - is ABUNDANT. Christ came not only to give us life, but so that we could live abundantly! Fully living out our life for Christ. We can only do that if we "fly". We need to accept who we are - even if we aren't quite like the next person, whether it be in our skill set, circumstances, or our looks - and rise high on the wings of faith and live out our life as God intended us to.</div>
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Don't look around at everyone else. Just obediently and contentedly be satisfied with your circumstances. Don't crawl along, dragging yourself around in misery, because your situation looks different from someone else's. </div>
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Rise.</div>
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Rise high and soar. </div>
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Soar above disappointment, trials, negativity and comparison. </div>
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Rise up to the heights of communion with the Lord, and acceptance of the circumstances HE has placed you in. He has given us all we need to be able to do what we are to do, in service for Him. We aren't called to do what someone else is doing, but simply what we are to do. </div>
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Our situation may not even look like we should be able to "fly". Others may look on and think that our trials are too great, or the circumstances are overwhelming. But, if God has given us a job to do, He also gives us the ability to do it. We rise "on eagles wings" because we trust in the Lord, and receive strength from Him. We only rise because God gives us the power to do so. </div>
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I wonder if you are feeling like Bombus today? Are others looking at your, in your circumstances, and expecting you not to be able to "fly"? </div>
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You CAN soar, because God created you to fly. </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-27533044177941708432016-04-07T23:28:00.003+01:002016-04-07T23:42:56.292+01:00Blokus {game review}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(this post contains affiliate links)</span></div>
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I have been intending, for a looooong time, to share with you about some of our favourite games around here.<br />
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We are a family who LOVES games, and I am sure there are other families out there like us - always looking out for new games to enjoy!<br />
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I am going to start with our most recent addition - one that we got for Susie for her birthday. Susie is one of our children who especially loves games - particularly ones involving logic and strategy. She's very much like me, in that sense.<br />
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She's very much like me in many ways, but that is another story.<br />
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Susie was 9 this week. NINE. (We differ in age - definitely - add another nearly THIRTY years to mine... yikes) Last year of single digits. And yet, she seems so much older than that in many ways.<br />
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Again, another story.<br />
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Back to games.<br />
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I asked her what she would like for her birthday, and she thought she'd love a new game. I researched a few options, and she liked the look of this one.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FBWBM3G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00FBWBM3G&linkCode=as2&tag=thejoykee-21" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00FBWBM3G&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thejoykee-21" /></a></div>
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Good choice, Susie. Good choice!<br />
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It wasn't one I was at all familiar with, but the rating on Amazon was fab, and it looked like our kind of "thing".<br />
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So, what is it?<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thejoykee-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00FBWBM3G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1ULJlyx">Blokus</a></span></div>
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I'm guessing the pronunciation is block-us - as in trying to block?<br />
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The game consists of:<br />
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- a special playing board - a grid with ridges you can place tiles in. (You couldn't play it without the board.)<br />
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- 4 sets of coloured, clear tiles, of various shapes, made up of squares.<br />
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- an instruction booklet<br />
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It's a simple game with one simple "move" - place your tile on the board touching ONLY at a corner with another of your tiles. It sounds simple, but the further into the game you go, the harder it gets! You can have your tile touch the edge of a different coloured tile, but not of the same colour.<br />
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That's it.<br />
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Simple!<br />
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You can play with 2 to 4 players. Rule play is slightly different with 2, 3 or 4 players. If there are only two of you, you have two sets of coloured tiles each, with a set order of play, rotating through the colours. If there are three of you, you split the third colour (red), but we played it without doing that, and it still worked.<br />
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Best, and most challenging play, is with 4 players.<br />
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For all the games I review, I am going to give you a list of Pros and Cons. I will also tell you why we loved it, or not!<br />
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So, why we love it! It's different every time you play. There is a compelling desire to get your pieces down and fit them in SOMEWHERE. You end up sitting and saying "I must be able to get this down?" As you play it more you realise certain pieces are harder to place further through the game, but because it varies each time you play, sometimes you end up placing tricky pieces further through the game, even when you couldn't another time. I guess you could say we love it because of the endless possibilities? We also love it because any child who understands the basic rule could play it. We haven't tried yet (because every time we've played the older children have all been wanting to play!), but I even think my nearly 6 year old could play, although the box says 8+.<br />
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PROS - bright; fun; engaging; challenging<br />
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CONS - lots of pieces that could potentially go "Missing", and the game wouldn't be so good without them all there; no bag to keep the game pieces in once you take it out the box<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d3W8XxIEPKjdZ51YGlOM3mjl0VLmcTZHt6ikPa6iNSpuBZ82ni9V_Sgq3fZSKmT3fzT5AmrsUDR9sgAJT3FQf5UOs3p5m7X058gV7k99SuYxjpsqaYk3d8Dvg-CG2XBVstE7MAdLqBqO/s1600/blokus_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d3W8XxIEPKjdZ51YGlOM3mjl0VLmcTZHt6ikPa6iNSpuBZ82ni9V_Sgq3fZSKmT3fzT5AmrsUDR9sgAJT3FQf5UOs3p5m7X058gV7k99SuYxjpsqaYk3d8Dvg-CG2XBVstE7MAdLqBqO/s320/blokus_1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is us playing with three. As you can see, the pieces only touch at the corners of the same colour.</div>
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This is the birthday girl playing. Smiling Susie.</div>
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This is us playing again in the evening, with 4 players. You can see here that pieces are now touching along the edge of OTHER colours, but not of the same colour. </div>
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I find the game rather therapeutic and pretty. Lots of coloured pieces, fitting together neatly. This, from the lady who loves sorting newly sharpened pencils, by colour. </div>
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Another couple of great points. It's not overly expensive. I wouldn't say it's a cheap option, but it's certainly not extortionate. It's currently just under £18 with <a href="http://amzn.to/1ULJlyx">Amazon Prime</a>.</div>
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Another plus is, that, although it is only 4 player, you could easily turn it into a "tournament" type game play, with knock out rounds leading to a grand final. That way, everyone gets to play, but the best players get to have an equally challenging opponent for the final. Win-win! (because we all know that it can be a little frustrating playing with a younger child who hasn't got quite the same strategy and logic skills!...)</div>
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So, there we have it! <a href="http://amzn.to/1ULJlyx">Blokus</a> - a fab game for all the family, that's easy to learn and simple to play. What's not to like?</div>
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(I'm thinking I may come back and do a star rating for various aspects of each game I review, but that's too much for my sleep deprived, Mummy brain right now.)</div>
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If you have played this before, please share what YOU think, in the comments! </div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-45532787303809181672016-04-04T16:08:00.001+01:002016-04-04T16:08:33.705+01:00Digging for gold {how to make the most of Church, when you don't always get to listen}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It was happening again.<br />
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I was at a Church meeting, and my baby needed my attention. Not just my baby, but my toddler. And then the next child up.<br />
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If you are also a mother with small children, I can guarantee one thing - when you go to Church, you don't always get to hear all of the sermon. In fact, sometimes you may do well to hear anything at all!<br />
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The thoughts of "Why do I even try?" can so easily try and push into your mind.<br />
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It would be very easy to become disheartened, and discouraged, but we mustn't allow that to happen. We need to to look at the situation with the right perspective, and yesterday I was reminded of WHY I have the perspective I have.<br />
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What is it?<br />
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Well, for a start, we don't just go to Church to benefit ourselves. We should be there, first and foremost, to worship God. It's about giving, not receiving. We also should be there to receive teaching. But, when we have children, we are also there to TRAIN them to sit. That, invariably means that we don't get to concentrate, in order to try and teach the CHILDREN to concentrate!<br />
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What I try and consider is that if I just take ONE thing away with me, that I can remember and put into practice in my life, or encourage someone else with, then it's been worth being there. In the moments between telling a child to sit quietly, and sit still, we hopefully get to hear SOMETHING of the sermon! I pray that the Lord will give me a "golden nugget". Just a little precious truth to take away with me. That's my "golden nugget" perspective!<br />
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Well, I was at a special Easter convention yesterday, where there were three sermons. One in the afternoon, and two in the evening. Needless to say, by the time we got to the third one, I heard little. I had just the baby through the first sermon, and that was my "golden nugget" moment. I actually was able to take away several things from THAT sermon. The next one I heard even less, with my toddler there too (the first sermon my hubby had looked after the children, the second sermon was HIM preaching, so that didn't happen!), and by the third sermon my three year old had also come out the back! Quietness just wasn't happening, as they were tired and it was into the evening. I was so glad to have taken something away from the earlier sermon!<br />
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But, the moment that gave me joy was when I was able to so very quickly apply what I HAD heard. Speaking to various friends who I met at that Church, I was able to refer back to the sermon we had just heard, when trying to encourage them in their lives. THAT is what God wants. He wants us to hear and to put His Word into action - to be able to apply it to our lives, and to encourage each other with it. God's Word is LIVING! It's powerful. It's able to teach and guide us. It's certainly not something that should go in one ear and out the other, never to be thought of again.<br />
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Better still, the verse then came up in my everyday life in the days that followed. More opportunity came to apply those words to my heart and life, and the Lord engrained it further into my mind. He is faithful and good, and His word does not return void.<br />
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Take heart, fellow mother of small children. Try and listen out for that "golden nugget" when you are in a Church service. Amidst the training of small children, which is very time consuming and can be distracting, we CAN take away precious truths and apply them to our heart and lives!<br />
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(I know this isn't a long post, but I am desperately trying to get back into blogging, even if my posts are short. Life isn't quite returning to the way I had hoped, as fast as I would like - a whole lesson on its own....bear with me, please? I trust that my words, though few, will still bless someone's heart, as much as the Lord blesses them to mine)<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-27288538694704360802016-03-22T20:32:00.001+00:002016-03-22T20:32:33.043+00:00Never underestimate {the power of a good example}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As a mother, I love the precious little moments where you simply have to stop and smile.<br />
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They happen pretty regularly. They are truly one of the highlights of being a mother.<br />
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Moments when my heart is so full it could burst, filled with the joy of parenthood. If you are a parent, you'll understand.<br />
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I had one of those moments the other day.<br />
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Susie had been helping me in the kitchen (she's only 8, nearly 9, but one of the BEST helpers in the universe, I reckon. Yes, I am biased, but even still....), but she got called away to another job. So, I was left washing up with no-one to help me dry up.<br />
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Or, so I thought.<br />
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Until my little 2 year old, Tabitha, came up to where I was, grabbed a tea towel, and enthusiastically began to dry up!<br />
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I didn't ask her.<br />
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I didn't even show her how to do it.<br />
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She just did it, all of her own volition.<br />
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But, DID someone show her how to do it?<br />
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Well, yes, they DID! I showed her siblings how to help, and she watched ME drying up, and her SIBLINGS drying up, and she just copied them. She learnt by EXAMPLE.<br />
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I know it can work they other way, and I often tell my children to be careful what they do, because little eyes are watching. However, this was one of those heart-throb moments when you remember that they DO see the good, and they DO copy it, too!<br />
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Our role as a mother isn't just to correct and train, but it's also to be a good example. Not just in how to keep a house, but in our other behaviour, too.<br />
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If we are loving, affectionate, caring, tender, compassionate, helpful, and the many other things we SHOULD be, then there is a high chance of that good rubbing right off on our children. Only the Lord can do a true transforming work in their hearts, but He can use our good example as a means of drawing their hearts to Him. We are called to be Christlike, and little eyes are watching to see us put that into action.<br />
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So, whatever we do, day by day - whether it be something ordinary and mundane, or something more important - we must never underestimate the power of a good example.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Galatians 6:9</i></span></span></div>
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962739086938003443.post-36867615463187158162016-03-15T17:00:00.004+00:002016-03-15T17:02:39.013+00:00Be still.... {a message made for mothers}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was browsing through Instagram last week, as I do. It's such an inspiring place with all the visual impact that comes from the pictures shared.<br />
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I saw a picture shared by Rebecca from <a href="http://graceandsaltink.co.uk/">Grace and Salt ink</a>. It was very nicely showing off her lovely inkDori's (one of which I have), and the words on the journal said simply "Be still and know that I am God". (Psalm 46:10)<br />
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As you may know, I have a gorgeous little boy who is now 4 weeks old. Having a baby, and more particularly if you feed them yourself, you are forced to sit down on a regular basis, and sit still.<br />
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It's not a natural thing for a busy mother to do. We always have something we can be doing - especially if you have little ones, or if you homeschool like I do. Even if you don't, there are school runs and after school clubs. Mums, by their very definition, are active and "on the go". It's just who we are.<br />
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But, this verse reminded me of both a spiritual and a temporal truth.<br />
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It's GOOD to be still!<br />
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Physically, sitting still to feed a baby gives me the chance to rest. It makes me stop from everything else around me, and JUST SIT. It's bliss. There's no denying it. I love those moments where I get to bond with my baby, and put my feet up. Yes, I am often doing other things (like supervising school work, directing the children in their chores, or talking on the phone), but sometimes I just take the time to read, rest, and pray. Especially in the night, many people are prayed for in those still moments.<br />
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Everything else simply HAS to stop, because feeding my baby, which is something only I can do, MUST be done. It's an imposed stillness. If I didn't take that time to be still, my baby wouldn't thrive. He'd quickly let me know he wasn't happy, and he'd end up suffering from my neglect.<br />
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Our spiritual life is no different.<br />
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We NEED to make the time to "be still".<br />
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Why?<br />
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It's in those times, when we make everything else stop, and still our hearts before God, that we KNOW He is God. We are aware of His incredible attributes, and His wonderful nature. We truly KNOW He is God when we tune out the clamour of our everyday lives, of the world that surrounds us, and when we focus on HIM. <br />
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Mothers can be so busy listening to our husband, children, friends and other "voices" that we can neglect the time to just listen for what GOD wants to say to us. Stilling our minds and hearts, and finding God's voice in our lives.<br />
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It may be time spent in prayer. Something I MUST do more of.<br />
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It may be time reading His Word.<br />
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It may be listening to a sermon, or simply resting and meditating on how much we have to be thankful for.<br />
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But, whatever it is, we should take heed to these words if we want to know God better.<br />
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Be still.<br />
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(pen: Staedtler Noris Club double ended fibre tip</div>
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white writing: masking fluid with a paintbrush</div>
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background: watercolour wash)</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FKWGSzxtcZA" width="560"></iframe>
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(I listened to these albums during labour again, and this remains a favourite of mine.)<br />
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Caroline Cordlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17238153508197295121noreply@blogger.com1