Monthly Archives: September 2025

Notice Any Similarities?

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God was so merciful in documenting Israel’s spiritual journey for us to learn from. They had such spiritual highs and devastating lows. He was their God, and they were His people. We can learn from the times Israel chose not to follow their God, yielding horrible results. 

“But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons” (Psalms 106:34b-37).

Oh my brothers, may we learn from Israel’s past as we raise our families. May each not assume all is well, but ask the Lord to reveal areas of compromise. We have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb to be a peculiar, set apart people for Him.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14).

Fake or Firm?

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Homeschoolers come in lots of different sizes, shapes and colors. They begin homeschooling for many different reasons. I was shocked when Teri said she wanted to begin homeschooling. It made no sense for a woman struggling with depression and three children. 

Looking back 40 years and seeing the good fruit that resulted, I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord Jesus Christ was leading all the way. One such example has been our growth in the Lord Jesus. Yes, I know one benefit expected is spiritual growth for the children, but my greatest praise is of our growing in Christ. 

Dads, I plead with you. This isn’t about being “religious.” It is about relationship with Jesus. I have talked to men who say they love Jesus and pray all the time. However, on questioning, I’m confident it isn’t the Jesus of the Bible they love. Often men think God is just like themselves—that He thinks like they do. “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes” (Psalms 50:21). To know the God of the Bible, you must read the Bible with the desire to know Him. 

Scripture should be correctly interpreted. The way to do that is in a literal, grammatical, and historical context. A good book to help learn this is: “How to Study the Bible for the Greatest Profit” by R.A. Torrey and Edward D. Andrews. There is an audio version on Audible.com.

God is not the “man upstairs” but a righteous, holy God Who we can know on His terms. It is not our works that save us. It is the blood of Jesus, and once purchased, we are His. Then, daily read His Bible to learn, grow and know how to live for Him. 

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). 

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Where Would We Be?

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All of you are familiar with this account no doubt. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”  (Matthew 16:21-23).

Peter loved Jesus and the path they were on. Jesus was the Messiah, and they expected Him to head up the kingdom. They would be His key men. Now they are beginning to learn that it was not going to go well for Jesus in Jerusalem. He would be mistreated and killed. What horribly bad news for Peter and the others. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). 

We haven’t been saved to have a lot of fun, but to be about His business. Whose business are we about?

Tough Question

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Moms, would you think for a moment about your most valuable asset? You might have to consider first what that would be. I would suggest that the most valuable thing you personally have is your time. It is a non-renewable resource and you have one day less of your life than you had yesterday. When it is gone, it is gone forever. 

That means then that what you do with your time is vitally important. You moms, who are homeschooling your children, have chosen to invest your time in your children’s lives and future rather than into a career outside your home. Many would say you are foolish to do that when you could send your children off to school each day for their education while earning a good wage in the workforce. There may even be days of frustration in your homeschooling where you think the same thing. But rest assured that is not true. You are putting your time in something with greater value than money you might earn.

As a homeschooling mom, you are pouring your most valuable asset into the lives of those you love the most in a way no one but their mother ever could. You are able to do what Deuteronomy says is a parent’s top priority, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). You are not just to teach this to your children, but to do it diligently all day long. You can do that because you are a homeschooling mom.

I wouldn’t be surprised if in the hum drum of daily life with children who aren’t always excited or even cooperative with homeschooling, who sometimes don’t do their chores or their schoolwork well, and who bicker with each other regularly, you might not wonder why you are doing what you are doing. May I remind you again that you are doing it for the Lord Jesus, for your children, and for their futures. I can assure you my life would have been easier, and we would have more wealth if I had chosen to invest in a career over homeschooling my eight children for thirty years. But as we look back, we have no regrets about our investment decision involving my time to homeschool. I did what our Lord called me to do with all that I had, including not only my strengths and but my weaknesses because God walked it all with us. His grace was sufficient “. . . My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9b). He also provided financially every step of the way and provides today in our retirement years, even though I don’t have a retirement income. 

These verses are treasures to homeschooling moms, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). May I encourage you, homeschool mom, in the daily struggles you face, to remember the value of your time and the investment you are making with it in eternity with the hearts and lives of your children. It is worth it all. 

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Posted in: Mom's Corner

Biggest Hindrance 

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When engaging people about their souls if they profess to be heaven bound, I ask why they are confident of that. Next, I ask where they worship each week. I have found that answer a good indicator of if they are truly seeking to follow the Lord and Scripture (Heb. 10:25) and if they name a church, possibly an idea of their beliefs. Sometimes their “faith” sounds like a mere belief in the fact that Jesus existed. The devils strongly believe in Jesus too. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble”(James 2:19).Often they share something like, “I don’t go to church because I can’t stand all the hypocrites there.” They are, of course, referring to all the people who say they believe in Jesus but don’t seem to follow Him. 

Hypocrisy is a real issue. It was the first sin exposed in the church when Ananias and Sapphira pretended to donate all the price of the land they sold, when in fact, they only gave a portion. It continues to be a problem. 

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:5).

Spurgeon strongly tied hypocrisy to Christians who don’t share Christ. He wrote, “Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor.” (Charles Spurgeon, A Sermon and a Reminiscence, printed in The Sword and the Trowel, March 1863.)

May we not be hypocrites but follow hard after our Lord Jesus. His mission: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).