Changed By Love

Changed By Love

Following the Lamb wherever he goes… Revelation 14:4

The Civil War, an Allegory about God’s Plan of Salvation, Constantine and Creation Science

Those are a few of the topics we have been reading about during the last several weeks.

We are planning a trip to Gettysburg since it’s only about a half hour away from here, and we now have a van to get there.

So I got a bunch of books from the library about Gettysburg, Lincoln and the Civil War.

I chose a couple of them to read aloud to the older kids.

I even had the twins (7 years old) listen to a biography of Abraham Lincoln. It was the Childhood of Famous Americans’ biography of Abraham Lincoln.

Then I read a book by Jim Murphy called The Long Road to Gettysburg. It told the story before and after the battle of Gettysburg, using journal entries from a Union soldier and from a Confederate soldier. It was interesting. I enjoy the way he simplifies army movements and puts a personal touch on historical stories.

There are a few more Civil War books I would like to read to the kids before we go.

A wonderful follow-up to that, besides our trip to Gettysburg, will be our trip to South Carolina to see Gary and Patrick. While we are there close to Charleston, we are planning to go see Fort Sumter. So we’re getting to take some neat field trips.

We are still reading The Wormling Series. We’re on the fifth book, the last one of the series, called The Author’s Blood. We are still enthralled with the story. Morgan, especially, can predict what is going to happen next. He is very engaged with this story. We are now at the End Times in the allegory, and many parts of the mystery have now been revealed, such as the mystery in Ephesians 1:10 of “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him.” We’ve also gotten a better understanding of the mystery in Colossians 1:27 “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

Speaking of mysteries, I’m reading The Mystery of History, vol. 2 and we are now at the part about Constantine. I’m reading it as a continuous story, not really stopping to go in-depth. I think I will order Diana Waring’s History Revealed for the same time period, Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries and go back over it in more detail.

I read a book about Eleanor of Aquitaine last week. The kids were not crazy about her personally, but the book gave us a taste of the time of Henry the Second and the relationship between England and France during the 12th century. I thought she would be the perfect person to study to get an overview of this period and these countries since she was queen over France and then queen over England, married to two different kings! Her story is very interesting. The book is a very entertaining book called “A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver” by E. L. Konigsberg. A good follow-up for this is the Disney movie, Robin Hood, since it covers the same time period and mentions King Richard and Prince John, both of whom were Eleanor’s sons.

Another book I’ve been reading aloud to the kids is a book by my friend Felice Gerwitz. I know her through Cindy Rushton. Yes, she is an online friend, but I have listened to her a lot, and I feel like I know her. I was attending a Mommy Jammy night online and won Felice’s mystery series that she wrote with her daughter, Christina. I started reading the first book and enjoyed it so much that I read it all to myself. I couldn’t put it down. Then last week, I read the second book to myself. I finally decided to share these good stories with my kids, so I’ve started reading the first book to them. It is called “The Missing Link: FOUND”. Felice has sprinkled lots of Creation Science facts throughout this exciting mystery. I plan to write a review of this series on my blog, so be watching for it.

So, as you can see, Safe Haven Academy is still going strong. Yes, we continue school through the summer because if we didn’t we wouldn’t be living. Homeschooling is our life and our lifestyle. But school is so interesting and fun that I don’t feel like a slave driver or abuser of my children. Family time is education time. Shouldn’t it be?

The Father’s Kiss

David Wilkerson Today
June 21, 2011

A great blessing becomes ours when we’re made to sit in heavenly places. What is this blessing? It’s the privilege of acceptance: “He hath made us accepted in the beloved [Christ]” (Ephesians 1:6). The Greek word for “accepted” means highly favored. That’s different from the English usage, which can be interpreted to mean “received as adequate.” This signifies something that can be endured, suggesting an attitude of, “I can live with it.” That’s not the case with Paul’s use of the word. His use of “accepted” translates as, “God has highly favored us. We are very special to him because we are in our place in Christ.”

Because God accepted Christ’s sacrifice, he now sees only one corporate man: Christ, and those who are bound to him by faith. Our flesh has died in God’s eyes. How? Jesus did away with our old nature at the Cross. So now, when God looks at us, he sees only Christ. In turn, we need to learn to see ourselves as God does. That means not focusing solely on our sins and weaknesses, but on the victory that Christ won for us at the Cross.

The parable of the Prodigal Son provides a powerful illustration of the acceptance that comes when we’re given a heavenly position in Christ. You know the story: A young man took his inheritance from his father and squandered it on a sinful life. Then, once the son became completely bankrupt—morally, emotionally and physically—he thought of his father. He was convinced he’d lost all favor with him. And he feared that his father was full of wrath and hatred toward him.

The Scripture tells us that this broken young man was full of grief over his sin and cried out, “I’m unworthy. I’ve sinned against heaven.” This represents those who come to repentance through godly sorrow.

The Prodigal told himself, “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18). He was exercising his blessing of access. Are you getting the picture? The Prodigal had turned from his sin, he’d left the world behind, and he’d accessed the open door his father had promised him. He was walking in repentance and appropriating access.

So, what happened to the Prodigal Son? “When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). What a beautiful scene. The sinful son was forgiven, embraced and loved by his father, with no wrath or condemnation whatsoever. When he received his father’s kiss, he knew he was accepted.

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/13741

David’s ministry team and I are on the same theme this week! The same Holy Spirit is directing us. This article expands on who we are in Him and how He feels about us, the two-step in my last article about Five Steps to a Supernatural Life. Read about all five steps by going to Five Steps to a Supernatural Life in the categories in the right side bar.

Currclick Back to Beach Sale and Scavenger Hunt!

Here are some freebies that you get to have some fun finding on Currclick’s site. Look for 8 hidden beach creatures, each containing a freebie. HINT: Like Currclick on Facebook and get hints for finding the freebies. They’re hard to find!

I have used so many resources from Currclick and a majority of them have been freebies. I have so many unit studies in my account there that I could do almost all of my homeschooling for the rest of my homeschooling years just by using the resources that I have stored there. And, like I said, most of them have been free.

What a great resource for homeschoolers Currclick is! Please check out this sale and support them, as well as stocking up on some more freebies. I’ll see you there!

We Are Family

I had missed this when it came in my email. I just now read it, but I think it makes a good follow-up to yesterday’s post about the fifth step in the Five Steps to a Supernatural Life. It really describes the first half-step, knowing who we are in Him. Read this to help establish your understanding of your right to expect answers to your prayers. As surely as God answered Jesus’ prayers, He will answer yours.

David Wilkerson Today
June 17, 2011

Claiming the power that is in Christ’s name is not some complicated, hidden theological truth. In my library are books written solely on the subject of Jesus’ name. The authors wrote them to help believers understand the deep implications hidden in Christ’s name. Yet, most of these books are so “deep,” they go right over readers’ heads.

I believe the truth we’re meant to know about Jesus’ name is so simple, a child could understand it. It’s simply this: When we make our requests in Jesus’ name, we’re to be fully persuaded that it’s the same as if Jesus himself were asking the Father. You ask, How could this be true? Let me explain.

We know that God loved his Son. He spoke with Jesus and taught him during his time on earth. And God not only heard but answered every request his Son made. Jesus testified to this, saying, “He heareth me always.” In short, the Father never denied his Son any request.

Today, all who believe in Jesus are clothed in his Sonship. And the heavenly Father receives us as intimately as he receives his own Son. Why? It’s because of our spiritual union with Christ. Through his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus has made us one with the Father. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us…I in them, and thou in me” (John 17:21–23).

Simply put, we are now family—one with the Father, and one with the Son. We’ve been adopted, with the full rights of inheritance possessed by any child. This means all the power and resources of heaven are made available to us, through Christ.

Praying “in the name of Jesus” is not a formula. It is not the phrase that has power in simply speaking it. The power is in believing that Jesus takes up our cause and brings it to the Father on his own merits. He is the Advocate—he is doing the asking for us. The power is in fully trusting that God never denies his own Son and we are the beneficiary of the Father’s utter faithfulness to his Son.

Five Steps to a Supernatural Life: Find Out Your Purpose

Step 5: Ask God to show you what your purpose is, and find out who you are in Him.

I just added another part to this step, so I guess this is a two-step now!  This series is now Five-and-A-Half Steps to a Supernatural Life. 🙂

It’s important that we know who we are in Christ. There are many scriptures that contain the phrase “In Him”, and we need to study those and make them a part of our being. They clarify who we are in Him.

There’s a little mini-book by Kenneth Hagin called “In Him” that contains many, many scriptures that tell us who we are in Him.

I used to own it, but I don’t have it now. I just found it at Nest Entertainment and ordered it for $1.20. (While I was there I ordered the New Testament DVD’s for my kids. I can afford them now, PTL!)

But I will start a little list here with the help of the Online Bible.

Acts 17:28* For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

2Co 5:21* For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2Co 13:4* For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Php 3:9* And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Col 2:6* As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Col 2:10* And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

2Th 1:12* That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Jo 2:6* He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1Jo 2:8* Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

1Jo 2:27* And the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and as He taught you, abide in Him.

1Jo 2:28* And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1Jo 3:24* And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1Jo 4:13* Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1Jo 5:14* And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1Jo 5:20* And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Here are a couple of “with Him” verses:

Ro 8:17* And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

2Ti 2:12* If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

And here are a few verses that use the words “In Christ”.

Ro 8:1* There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2Co 2:14* Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

2Co 5:17* Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eph 1:3* Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Eph 2:6* And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:13* But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

And here are a few more verses about who we are in Him and what He has given us.

1Co 2:16* For who has knowledge of the mind of the Lord, so as to be his teacher? But we have the mind of Christ.

1Jo 4:16* And we have seen and had faith in the love which God has for us. God is love, and everyone who has love is in God, and God is in him.

1Jo 4:17* In this way love is made complete in us, so that we may be without fear on the day of judging, because as he is, so are we in this world.

Ro 8:37* Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Take a little time and meditate on a few of these verses and let God speak to you about who you are in Him.

Then get more specific, and ask the Lord to show you what your purpose is in life. Take all the time you need to hear from Him. It may take days or weeks for Him to reveal to you what He is calling you to do in this season of your life. Just keep asking and listening. Ask Him to direct your thoughts so that you can see clearly what you have been doing that is from your own reasoning or desires and is not producing good fruit or bringing fulfillment to your life. You may have to prune some things from your life. Ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him to reveal to you talents that you didn’t even know you had.

I know my calling now, but it took several years for me to find out. When I was a young mother, I kept trying to find fulfillment in things outside of my home. I did lots of things in church. I tutored and homeschooled other children. I did homeschool assessments. I sang in a quartet. I found my identity in many of those activities. The Lord slowly whittled everything away until I was left with only my husband and my children. Slowly the light dawned that my ministry in this season is to my own family. When I did all of those other things I was always neglecting my ministry at home.

Now I have accepted my calling for this season. I am much more content and confident in my calling. I feel fulfilled in my role as a wife and mother. And I know that God is pleased with my work.

I am raising my children to live a supernatural life. We are believing as a family for miracles, signs and wonders so that God’s name will be glorified and the works of the evil one will be destroyed. It may not look like much now, but our ministry will be powerful to set the captives free and heal the brokenhearted.

So what about you?

Do you know what God has called you to do as an individual? As a family?

All you need to know is His will for you for this season. He will most likely tell you the next thing when the time comes for a change.

Seek Him and find out. He wants to tell you. But He wants you to come to Him and ask.

Get lined up with His will, and He will do supernatural things in and through your life.