Once Upon a Holy Night

I was looking over my much-neglected blog recently and realized I've made a shift. Originally, I started blogging as an outlet for my creative writing. I love to write, but hardly make time for it anymore.

Over time, it's turned more into a mish-mash of my favorite things, opinions, songs, and links. Which is fine, but I really would like to start writing creatively again.

Something I wrote recently was the narration for our Christmas musical. Granted, most of it came straight from the Bible, but I'll post it anyway... to get me back into the creative writing mode... (It wasn't read straight through, but was surrounded by music, dance, and acting.)

Enjoy! And Merry Christmas!

Narrator: Once Upon a time… or as the sacred scriptures say… In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. God looked at everything He made and declared it to be very good. Everything was as it should be – perfect. No sickness. No sadness. No death. God and man lived perfectly together. Tragically, in an act of rebellion, mankind chose to follow their own desires and disobey their Creator. Their punishment for this was death – eternal separation from God and all things good. However, their loving God did not treat them as their sins deserved. He took the initiative to design a plan to bring mankind back to Himself. The whole world rejoiced, looking forward to the arrival of the Savior – The One who was promised to come and restore the once perfect relationship between the Creator and His Creation..

To accomplish His plan, the Creator God chose the nation of Israel to be His people, and He would be their God. Time and again, God proved Himself faithful, and time and again, His people proved themselves to be faithless.

In the heat of Israel’s sin, a man named Isaiah heard the call of God on His life and responded with, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” While serving as an advisor to the kings, Isaiah became the spokesperson for Almighty God, declaring a message of hope, restoration, and forgiveness… telling mankind the way back. Back to that once perfect relationship with God.

Isaiah boldly proclaimed the word of God, speaking of this future savior, messiah who was to come out of the people of Israel and restore the relationship between God and men.

Isaiah: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Narrator: Israel waited hundreds of years for God to fulfill his promise of a Messiah, and once again, He was faithful. An angel appeared to a young Jewish girl named Mary. The angel said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled, but the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Mary asked the Angel how this could be possible, since she was a virgin. The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." Mary went and stayed with her cousin throughout her pregnancy, and praised God with her saying,

Mary: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.

Narrator: During the time of the Roman emperor, Augustus, a decree went out for a census to be taken of the Roman Empire. That meant everyone returned to the towns of their ancestors to register for this census. Because Mary was engaged to Joseph, a descendant of Israel’s King David, they had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. They traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. Mary gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them to stay in the inn. The Promised One – The Messiah – had been born, not in the way you might imagine heaven’s king to be born – but that didn’t keep all of Heaven’s hosts from exploding in celebration, rejoicing at His arrival!

Before they had left for Bethlehem, when Joseph found out that Mary was expecting a baby, he had actually planned to divorce her quietly. He was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace as an unwed pregnant girl. However, God had other plans for this special family.

Joseph: It seems so long ago, now that our baby is here. As I was considering what to do about Mary’s pregnancy, an angel of the Lord appeared to me in a dream and said that I shouldn’t be afraid to take Mary home as my wife, because the baby conceived was from the Holy Spirit. He said she would give birth to a son, and we should name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. The angel explained that all this had to happen to fulfill what the prophet had said. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, God with us. So when I woke up, I obeyed the angel, and the Lord has brought us here, to this humble manger. It wasn’t how I would have planned it, but as I held Jesus in my arms, and contemplated He would become, all of my questions and fears faded away.

Narrator: The night of Jesus’ birth, there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks of sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Shepherd 1: The night had been so quiet, and then suddenly, out of no where…
Shepherd 2: The noise, the light, the brilliance! Something from another world. It was so Heavenly.
Shepherd 1: But the angel said not to be afraid because they had good news for us.
Shepherd 2: Not just for us, but everyone!
Shepherd 1: Yes, he said to go to the town of David…
Shepherd 2: …Bethlehem…
Shepherd 1: And we’d find there a baby all wrapped up in cloths and sleeping in a manger.
Shepherd 2: And then more of them came! They filled the sky! And they praised God and sang the most beautiful songs of praise…
Shepherd 1: So of course when they had left, we stood there in the dark, not knowing what to do.
Shepherd 2: That’s when I said, “Let’s go!”
Shepherd 1: And we went, and it was just as they said…there he was, in a manger.
Shepherd 2: Which I didn’t understand, because I’d never seen a baby in a barn before…
Shepherd 1: But regardless of his humble position, we bowed, knowing we were in the presence of the King of Kings.
Shepherd 2: Looking into his little face, there was a peace, a stillness… I couldn’t say a word. (a moment of silence.)
Shepherd 1: Well, since we met him, none of us have ever been the same.

Narrator: This child born to Mary - Jesus, the Son of God - lived a perfect life, committing no sin as the rest of God’s creation had done. He taught the crowds about His Father’s story and showed them how to live in His perfect Kingdom. God planned that His Son would die to take the punishment that mankind deserved. After his death on the cursed cross, Jesus didn’t remain buried in the tomb – three days later he fulfilled prophecy by coming back to life, defeating death!

But the story doesn’t end there. Still today, God’s story continues, moving through each of our lives as God works in and through us to reconcile mankind back to Himself. Even now, He is offering this gift of His son to us. We are all broken people apart from God and experience pain in broken relationships with others, our own broken bodies, broken hopes, and brokenness for the wrong things we have done. We cannot measure up to God’s standard or earn His favor. But we can have new life and forgiveness by believing in the one He sent on that blessed Christmas Night - Jesus. That is why we celebrate! Because though we were far away from God, now, through His son, we can know Him again.

Christmas Read Alouds

Hi! I'm currently reading, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to my kids. In talking about it to friends, we're all reading that this year! What other read aloud chapter books are out there for Christmas time? I know of good, shorter picture books, but not longer novels.

I'd welcome any ideas! TIA!

Thankfulness Election of 2008

As a Conservative Christian, it comes as no surprise that the candidate I voted for yesterday did not win. And how are we to respond?Well, I’m responding with thankfulness. Not thankfulness for a loss… that is out of the question. But thankfulness for the freedoms I have been blessed to enjoy in this country.

I’m thankful for my right to vote! That at the end of the day, we get to choose. I was teaching my children about Germany this week, and Hitler came up. Though I oppose Obama in so many ways, he isn’t Hitler.

I’m thankful for peaceful voting. There will be no battle or war fought over who is the next leader of our country. The winner will rise to the top, and the one who lost will step back and let him lead. Wow, peaceful. And rare in the world’s history.

I’m thankful for the right to worship my God as I please, where I please, how I please.

I’m thankful for the right to teach my children at home with the values and educational standards I see fit.

I’m thankful for my right to pray! I remember Daniel – even that simple right – of silently praying to our God – his government tried to strip from him.

I’m thankful for my right to have freedom of speech. I can talk to others about my faith in Christ without fear of governmental persecution. I can blog about it. I could write a book about it. I could start a TV or Radio show about it. That is a freedom most people in our world do not have.

I’m thankful that I can have my own business in whatever I set my mind to do, and I don’t have to ask permission.

I’m also thankful that I can take measures to help the poor, give to widows, aid the sick, stop abortion, and overall do many good things without the government’s permission.

In the end, I have so much to be thankful for. Mostly, I’m thankful for something no governmental authority or ruler on earth can give – my Eternal Home, that God is preparing for me. I’m glad to be a part of His eternal kingdom.

I pray that regardless of what the government does to my money, our taxes, the environment, the economy, our freedoms, or my personal situation, I will remember that I am free in Christ, and I pray I will live a life personally worthy of the calling I have received from our great and mighty God, and serve Him faithfully until the end.

Philipians 1:27, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

In The Waiting

Last year, I blogged a lot about waiting. I think I mentioned the song Everlasting God by Chris Tomlin. Well, I just heard another great song about waiting while watching Fireproof, a movie I HIGHLY recommend!!! (For so many more reasons beyond the fact that my childhood crush is in the move :)

John Waller, "Serve You While I'm Waiting"



I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

In the Waiting, FFH

I’ve seen the red sea part, I’ve seen the mountains move
But now it seems so dark, I can’t even feel You
If You chose to be silent I’ll be silent too
I will worship in the waiting, quiet before You

Until Your voice like manna from the sky falls
I will worship in the waiting
I will walk with this sand beneath my feet
Though the winter wind is blowing

The ground is not frozen underneath
I will worship and not grow bitter
'Cause I know You see the end of it all
And with the spring will come the rain
And I'll see what was gained

In the waiting
I’ve seen the blooms of spring, new life in everything
But now it seems so grey, bright colors fade away
This winter seems much longer and colder than before
But I will worship in the waiting, expecting something more
Until the sun shines warm upon my face again

He Leadeth me, He leadeth me
By His own hand, He leadeth me
His faithful follower I would be
For by His hand, He leadeth me

©
NEW SPRING PUBLISHING© SCHNICKELFRITZ MUSIC PUBLISHING

Be Still My Soul

A Hymn that grew to one of my favorites recently:

Be Still My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow for forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last. 

Homeschooling Curriculums

A friend from high school recently asked for my thoughts & some information about homeschooling. I am by no means an expert, having just 7, 5, & 3 Year Olds, but I'll be happy to share what I've gathered so far! Keep in mind that Indiana has different laws than other states, and it's important to find out what your state requires.

First, I talk about basic information, and then I'll share how I've applied it and what I've done and plan to do.

The biggest, #1 piece of advice I’ve heard over and over and over from seasoned home schoolers is this: Don’t burn out too fast. Until your child is seven, teach them to read and count to 100. Focus on character in the younger years. Everything else is extra.

The biggest #1 thing that took me way too long to figure out: For the most part, there are 3 categories to subjects for homeschooling: Reading, Math, and Everything Else. People generally have a Math Program, A Reading Program, and then fill in with either a curriculum that covers the rest or whatever suits them.

“Math”

There are 4 main styles of Math, that I’ve found.

1. Work-book style.
2. Hands-On Approach.
3. Some combination of workbook/hands on.
4. Practical Life only, with no actual lessons until they’re 10.

“Reading/Language”

I haven’t figured this all out yet! So far, what I’ve done works, but I haven’t explored all the options. You need to teach them the fundamentals of how to read, then build with a phonics program, and eventually work on spelling, advancing to writing and grammar and always including copywork.

“Everything Else:” They all seem to teach the same things, with a different focus.

- You can choose to learn through history, and then get your science from that time period and literature from that time period and language from that time period, geography from that time period…

- You can choose to learn through literature. And from that good literature, you’ll draw out biographies, history, science, geography, etc.

- You can choose to learn through Bible Passages, and from that, pull out science, historical context, biographies that relate, geography of the area.

- You can choose to learn through geography, and from that location, learn about biographies in the area, literature of the area, missionaries in the area, animals (science) in the area, the history of the area…

- Or you can break it all up. For example, learn American History. Do a few unrelated sciences books. Read literature from a good book list…

Then there are 2 main choices within these, that I think you should choose based on your teaching style:

1 Daily Lesson Plans. These break down each day what you are to do. “Monday: Read pages 3-7 in Book A. Read pages 15-24 in book B. Do workbook pages 8-10.” Sometimes these are restricted to a certain age of child and are not able to be taught at multiple levels. (It depends on the curriculum)

2 Unit Studies. These are more free flowing. They usually list a whole slew of ideas and you pick and choose when and what you do. These can usually be taught with children of many ages.

My Personal Experience:

I agree w/ much of what Charlotte Mason taught, that young children need to be allowed to play outside for many hours a day and have good literature read to them. There is a summary of her writings here: http://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/Summaries.html

I am a Unit Study Girl. I prefer to make up my own thing, but I appreciate having a guide from people who’ve already been through it.

I am also a relaxed home schooler, though not to the point of unschooling. As you’ll see below, I haven’t tried to teach every subject from the beginning, but have prayerfully had a very narrow focus that is slowly expanding as they get older.

ABBY

Preschool: My focus was the Bible and Fun. Abby loved to do “school” so from birth we’ve done school type things. My first reference book was “Slow and Steady Get Me Ready.” When she was a bit older, I used www.letteroftheweek.com for preschool activities and games. We went through the letter of the week program twice. It took around 30 minutes/day, 2-3 days/week. We also read many Bible Story Books and focused on character and training.

PreK/Kindergarten: My focus was the Bible and Reading. When she was 4, we started “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.” It took us two years to finish, simply because I didn’t want to push her. She’d get to a point where she would be antsy, and we would take a break. We’d also memorize a passage together as a family and break it out verse by verse. Each day she’d have a copywork passage and a page to color, and usually a craft, simply because she loved doing them. We’ve done all sorts of things, like animal themes, creation themes, Easter Themes, Christmas Themes, Medieval Themes, Obedience Themes, Psalm 23, Psalm 1, etc… In the summers, we do “Handwriting Without Tears (HWOT).” Then during the year, we reinforce it with copy work.

1^st Grade: My Focus was the Bible, Reading, and Math. To our Bible lessons explained above I added Shiller Math, a Montessori-based hands-on approach, and finished book 1. We also did Explode the Code books 1 & 2, HWOT, and some Phonics Pathways for drill. We also started “First Language Lessons” which is a gentle introduction to Grammar.

2^nd Grade: My Focus is the Bible, Reading, Math, and Geography. We’re continuing with HWOT, Shiller Book 2, Explode the Code books 3-6 (using the teacher guide lesson plans), and 1^st Language Lessons . We’re also using “Galloping the Globe” Unit Study. We’re going around the world, studying 3-6 countries per continent. In each continent, we are reading literature from the area, doing a science lesson (like an animal from the area or volcanoes), reading a Biography, learning about a Missionary, memorizing a Bible Verse that applies, doing an art activity from the area, and cooking a meal from the area. We’ll also continue to learn larger Bible Passages together. Our first one will be Colossians 3:1-11. (We learned 12-17 last year). I also purchased a typing program for her to use.

And if I had to choose today, this would be my future plan:

3^rd Grade: My focus will be the Bible, Phonics/Spelling/Grammar, Math, and American History.

4^th Grade: My focus will be the Bible, Spelling/Grammar, Math, and starting the 4-Year History Cycle (starting with Ancients)

KATIE:

She’s following pretty much the same routine, however she didn’t do the preschool activities. She did whatever I did with Abby. Here path has looked like this:

Preschool/PreK: HWOT, Explode the Code books A, B, & C, and whatever Bible Lessons/Themes I was teaching Abby. We also made it through lesson 60 in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and will finish later.

Kindergarten: My focus is the Bible & Reading, but she’ll also do Geography with Abby and a little math. We’ll do Explode the Code books 1 & 2, we’re reading through Sonlight’s “I Can Read It” Program, and we’ll do Shiller Math book 1, as long as her interest is there.

1^st Grade: I plan on focusing on the Bible, Reading, Math, & US History (because Abby’s already there.)

Ok, that’s probably more information than you cared to know, but feel free to ask questions!

Who is Jesus?

This is a new video from our pastor:


Who is Jesus? from College Park Church on Vimeo.