Kerry Beck's Blog

I was intrigued when I found this common quote, set in the middle of a chapter judging Ephraim & Jerusalem.

Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.
Isaiah 28:9-10

Ephraim & Jerusalem were not following God. They were not obeying His commands.  They were living life the way they wanted to.

But God reprimands them and points them toward His Word.  Isn’t that the picture of what we should be doing.  Regardless of whose life it is that isn’t following God, we should point them to His Word – line upon line!

Maybe you are the one struggling to follow & obey God.  Are you living life the way you want to or the way God wants you to live?

Are you respecting your husband?  (Ephesians 5:33)

Are you following His lead, allowing your husband to make the final decision on matters?  (Ephesians 5:23)

Are you a gossip or a busybody?  (I Thessalonians 4:11)

These are just a few areas wives struggle and God’s Word has something to say about these everyday matters.  Are you obeying God’s Word, precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, there a little?

Maybe you have a child who is not following & obeying God.  Are you pointing them to God’s Word to help them change their behavior?  While my kids were still at home, we used a book called, For Instructions in Righteousness.  I bought it the first year we homeschooled and used it ever since.  When my children were too young to read, I would choose passages for the sin they were committing.  We would read them together, discuss the appropriate action and pray for God to change them.

When my kids were older and committing a sin, I told them to look up 3-5 verses about that sin and write down what they discover.  Then, we would discuss their actions, in light of Scripture.  We would then pray and ask the Holy Spirit to change their behavior.  Now, that I have grown kids who no longer live in our home, I still want to direct them to Scripture.  But, they must take hold of those verses and allow the Holy Spirit to change their action.

God’s Word is living & powerful…a discerner of the thoughts & intents of the heart.  (Hebrews 4:12) His Word changes lives, line upon line; precept upon precept; here a little, there a little.

I would love to hear feedback, comments, thoughts, ideas about this.

Here are a few tips to managing the morning madness and get your kids out of bed without a battle

Ease Your Kids Out of Bed: Wake them up 5 minutes early and give them a glass of juice or something to munch on. Not only, will you get a little one-on-one time, you’ll also get them to sit up – which is 90% of the battle.

Timed for Morning Success: Set a goal at the beginning of each week (ie: You are dressed and ready at the breakfast table by the time the timer goes off.) For each kid that is they receive XXXX. You can either do it per day or they have to make so many per week. It could be a “prize” or free time or extra time with you, whatever motivates your children.

Check the Fine Print: Create a checklist for each child. After a job is done, they get to mark it off. Use either white boards and erasers or a chart with stickers. You get the idea…

Brush First, Play Later: One mom was having trouble getting her daughter to brush her teeth in the morning. So she told her that if she would brush her teeth without complaining, she would get a few minutes of computer time before school. Now, you may not like the computer but find something that your kid can do that’s fun and he/she enjoys! Motivate them!

We all have clutter in our lives. It’s time to take action and cut the clutter from our homes. Here’s your 5-step plan:

1. Commit to clearing out the junk: Make a commitment to yourself to clean it all out. Write it down and keep somewhere you look, so that you can remind yourself of your commitment. Everyday clutter can rule your life, if you let it.

2. Set up a system: Figure out what you want from your space and create a plan of attack. Use the FAST system: Fix a time to work on the project; Anything you haven’t used in a year goes; Somebody else’s stuff should be returned; Trash anything that is unusable.

3. Start with mindless clutter: It’s easiest to throw that pile of junk mail away. Start there then move to the harder stuff. If you can just get started, you will begin to get motivated.

4. Get Motivated: Can’t bear to part with that “antique” ring? Seeing how much you could get for it at an auction site such as eBay might change your mind.

5. Keep it up: Spend 5-10 minutes daily to maintain your decluttered space.

Wives have a huge impact on their husbands.

We see this vividly in 2 Chronicles 21.  The past few chapters have told stories of Jehoshaphat and Asa, kings of Israel.  Both of these kings followed God and so did the nation of Judah at that time.  When Jehoshaphat dies, his son, Jehoram, takes the throne and kills all of his brothers.  What happened?  Jehoram was raised by a man of God, one who led Judah in the ways of the Lord.

As I read further, I discover that Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter.

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife.  2 Chronicles 21:6

Ahab walked according to the kings of Israel…not following God but living for himself.  Ahab’s daughter influenced Jehoram to turn from his upbringing and live to please himself.

As I read this short story, I see 2 ways it impacts my life (& hopefully yours)

1.  First, as we look to ourselves as wives.

What type of impact do you have on your husband?

Positive or Negative.
Godly or Ungodly.
Patient or Impatient.

The list can go on & on.  You have an impact on your husband, just like I do.  I want to strive to encourage him as he endeavors to follow the Lord, lead our family and impact the world for Jesus Christ.  For me, this means keeping our home in some sort of order so he can enjoy our time together as a family.  I don’t need to put pressure on him to do “my job” as a homeschool mom & housewife when he gets finished with work.

I also need to wholeheartedly support his decisions about our family & ministry, even if I don’t agree.  We usually talk about the direction we are going, but he is ultimately responsible to God.  To be honest, we don’t have many differing opinions about this, but when we do I respectfully submit to his decision.

2.  Next we look to our children as they choose their spouse.

As my children choose spouses, we need to encourage them to go beyond simply being a believer and choose wisely in all areas of life.  We’ve discussed with our older girls the importance of looking at their overall values.  Do they value family and work ethic? What type of character do they have?  How will they raise their children?

You may not agree on every issue of life with your future in-law children.   We don’t.  But, we do see a loving spouse, whose life perspective is similar to ours and wants to follow the Lord as he grows in his marriage.

In conclusion, we learn that God curses Jehoram and his household.  Jehoram’s intestines will coume out by reason of his sickness.  God doesn’t put up with those who “play the harlot”.

And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers. . . to no one’s sorrow departed.  However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.  2 Chronicles 21:20

Jehoram acted cruelly and was greatly influenced by his wife.  Jehoram receives what he deserves – no pity from his people and no glory from God.

As a wife & mother, I desire to support and encourage my husband in godly endeavors, both within my family and outside my family.  I also desire my children to marry godly spouses so they may encourage each other as they follow God’s leading.

As a continuation to the story above, I’d like to make a few notes about the next king, Ahaziah.  Ahaziah was Jehoram’s youngest son.  He became king because his older brothers had been killed.  At the beginning of his story, we read:

He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly.  2 Chronicles 22:3

Once again we see the influence of women upon men.  This time, it is a mother’s influence on her son.  And it is NOT good.  Ahab only reigns 1 year and is killed after an ambush that the Lord sets up.

Although this story shows the negative impact of moms on their sons, you can have a positive impact on your son.  Guide him to be a strong man of God.  How do you do this?

The first thing that comes to mind is do not baby him.  Actually that’s a joke around our house.  “Hunter gets anything he wants from mom.”  I’ve had to take a step back and see how much truth is in that statement.  I have to admit that I probably give in to my son on occasion.  But through his teenage years, I’ve tried to demand more of him.  I’ve also seen the importance of a young man being under the direction of godly men.  The past 2 years, three of Hunter’s teachers were men who loved the Lord.  Men who desired to teach from a Biblical perspective, but also shape their students into godly men.  He also plays sports and learns to be tough despite difficult circumstances.

What I’m trying to say is there is a time & place that our sons need to fly from mom’s nest and grow up.  Are you allowing your son to become strong, courageous young men who can eventually protect and provide for their family?  Or, are you “babying” them so they never grow up?

Unfortunately in the homeschool arena, there are too many young men who are not growing up.  It may sound rough, but they are wimps.  What kind of young man is your son growing into?

I read this a few weeks ago and planned to put it on my blog before Father’s Day, but I forgot.  We’re in Turkey and I got my Sundays mixed up.  So, better late than never.

I hope it encourages you in your parenting this week.

Father Forgets:

Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.

There are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.

At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, ‘Goodbye, Daddy!’ and I frowned, and said in reply, ‘Hold your shoulders back!’

Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before your boyfriends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Stockings were expensive – and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a father!

Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. ‘What is it you want?’ I snapped.You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.

Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding – this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.

And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt there, ashamed!

It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: ‘He is nothing but a boy – a little boy!’

I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby. Yesterday you were in your mother’s arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.

- W. Livingston Larned

Reprinting a post from several years ago…Enjoy!

“I’m bored, there’s nothing to do!” I’m sure you’ve never heard that in your home!

Have you ever read the book by Peter Spier, Bored, Nothing To Do? It’s about two brothers who are bored so their mom sends them outside to do “something”. Out in the garage, they build an airplane and fly it…If you haven’t read the book, go to your library and grab a copy. Whether you’re 6, 16 or 36, you’ll enjoy it. I think I’ll go read it again!

The airplane “project” results from boredom. There are two solutions to your kids’ boredom I want to share with you. I think both have positive outcomes for your children this summer and hope you will share these with your friends & family.

Last fall I read an article by our local librarian. She made the point that boredom in children produces creativity. Think about it. When your children are bored, they often find something to do on their own. It takes creativity to imagine and invent your own “project”. Remember the 2 brothers in Spier’s book. They were bored and definitely used their creativity to build & fly an airplane.

With this in mind, you need to provide stimulating resources for your children. Resources can be as simple as the sticks in the backyard or more involved like craft baskets or lego boxes. When they are bored, they can use those resources as they spark their own imagination to overcome boredom. Usually, kids will find something to do because they don’t want to be bored.

Allowing your children to overcome boredom with their own creative projects allows you to see your children’s real passions and interests.

Another solution to boredom is pointing out places your children could go to cure their boredom. If your son simply sits on the couch staring at the ceiling, remind him of the boxes of legos in his closet or the race track pieces under his bed. When your daughter lies on her bed with nothing to do, mention the basket of art supplies in the family room. You get the idea.

I realize busy moms don’t always have time to remember suggestions for your kids to encourage creativity. Here’s a list I share every summer with my subscribers. Not only do I share it with my subscribers, I read it myself and choose a few I’d like to do with my own children.

You can print the list, cut them out and put each one in a jar. Let your kids choose one when they are “bored”. By the way, this list was sent to me years ago and I don’t know its origin.

You can print the list, cut them out and put each one in a jar. Let your kids choose one when they are “bored”. By the way, this list was sent to me years ago and I don’t know its origin.In no particular order,
1. ride bikes
2. roller blade
3. basketball
4. play board games
5. make a tent out of blankets
6. squirt with hoses
7. run through the sprinkler
8. jump rope
9. read books
10. blow bubbles
11. make homemade play dough
12. play with play dough
13. press flowers
14. do crafts with pressed flowers
15. write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
16. clean bedroom
17. vacuum livingroom
18. clean bathroom
19. make a craft
20. draw
21. color
22. paint
23. pull weeds
24. watch a movie
25. write stories
26. use binoculars
27. use magnifying glass
28. use microscope
29. bird watching
30. write a play
31. act out a play
32. invent circus acts
33. perform a circus
34. play card games
35. make art on the front walkway with sidewalk chalk
36. play catch
37. play baseball
38. collect rocks
39. collect leaves
40. collect feathers
41. play Frisbee
42. make Frisbee’s out of old plastic lids, decorate with markers
43. dust the house
44. brush the pet
45. write letters
46. read a magazine
47. play dress-up
48. play Cowboys
49. pick vegetables
50. play outside with the pet
51. build a fort in your rooms
52. build a fort in the backyard
53. do a jigsaw puzzle
54. play on the Geosafari
55. play on the computer
56. listen to a story or book on tape
57. do extra schoolwork to get ahead
58. do brain teasers (ie:crosswords,word searches,etc.)
59. cook
60. prepare lunch
61. surprise a neighbor with a good deed
62. play store
63. prepare a “restaurant” lunch with menus
64. hold a tea party
65. have a Teddy bear picnic
66. play with toy cars
67. play dolls
68. play house
69. chase butterflies
70. collect caterpillars and bugs
71. plant a garden or a pot
72. collect seeds
73. hunt for four-leaf clovers
74. learn magic tricks
75. put on a magic show
76. plant a container garden
77. sprout seeds or beans
78. make sock puppets
79. put on a puppet show
80. make Christmas presents
81. make homemade wrapping paper
82. make homemade gift cards
83. make picture frames from twigs glued onto sturdy cardboard
84. crochet or knit
85. make doll clothes
86. sew buttons in designs on old shirts
87. run relay races
88. make bookmarks
89. take a quiet rest time
90. take a shower or bath
91. bathe a pet
92. feed the birds or squirrels
93. watch the clouds
94. organize a dresser drawer
95. clean under the bed
96. empty dishwasher
97. vacuum under the couch cushions and keep any change found
98. write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two to do
99. whittle
100. whittle bars of soap
101. practice musical instruments
102. perform a family concert
103. teach yourself to play musical instrument (recorder, harmonica, guitar)
104. fold laundry
105. sweep kitchen or bathroom floors
106. sweep front walkway
107. sweep or spray back patio
108. sweep or spray driveway
109. wash car
110. vacuum car
111. vacuum or dust window blinds
112. clean bathroom mirrors
113. clean sliding glass doors
114. clean inside of car windows
115. wash bicycles
116. clean garage
117. play in the sandbox
118. build a sandcastle
119. work with clay
120. copy your favorite book illustration
121. design your own game
122. build with blocks or Legos
123. create a design box (copper wire, string, odds-and- ends of things destined for the garbage, pom-poms, thread, yarn,etc.)
124. plan a neighborhood or family Olympics
125. have a marble tournament
126. paint a picture with lemon juice on white paper and hang it in a sunny window and see what happens in a few days
127. finger paint with pudding
128. make dessert
129. make dinner
130. give your pet a party
131. paint the sidewalk with water
132. start a journal of summer fun
133. start a nature diary
134. have a read-a-thon with a friend or sibling
135. have a neighborhood bike wash
136. play flashlight tag
137. play Kick the Can
138. check out a science book and try some experiments
139. make up a story
140. arrange photo albums
141. find bugs and start a collection
142. do some stargazing
143. decorate bikes or wagons and have a neighborhood parade
144. catch butterflies and then let them go
145. play hide-and-seek
146. create a symphony with bottles and pans and rubber bands
147. listen to the birds sing
148. try to imitate bird calls
149. read a story to a younger child
150. find shapes in the clouds
151. string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace
152. glue noodles into a design on paper
153. play hopscotch
154. play jacks
155. make up a song
156. make a teepee out of blankets
157. write in your journal
158. find an ant colony and spill some food and watch what happens
159. play charades
160. make up a story by drawing pictures
161. draw a cartoon strip
162. make a map of your bedroom, house or neighborhood
163. call a friend
164. cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
165. make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines
166. do a secret service for a neighbor
167. plan a treasure hunt
168. make a treasure map
169. make up a “Bored List” of things to do
170. plan a special activity for your family
171. search your house for items made in other countries and then
learn about those countries from the encyclopedia or online
172. plan an imaginary trip to the moon
173. plan an imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go
174. write a science-fiction story
175. find a new pen pal
176. make up a play using old clothes as costumes
177. make up a game for practicing math facts
178. have a Spelling Bee
179. make up a game for practicing spelling
180. surprise an elderly neighbor or relative by weeding his/her garden
181. fingerpaint with shaving cream
182. collect sticks and mud and build a bird’s nest
183. write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
184. put together a family newsletter
185. write reviews of movies or plays or tv shows or concerts you
see during the summer
186. bake a cake
187. bake a batch of cookies
188. decorate a shoe box to hold your summer treasures
189. make a hideout or clubhouse
190. make paper airplanes
191. have paper airplane races
192. learn origami
193. make an obstacle course in your backyard
194. make friendship bracelets for your friends
195. make a wind chime out of things headed for the garbage
196. paint your face
197. braid hair
198. play tag
199. make a sundial
200. make food sculptures (from pretzels, gumdrops, string licorice, raisins, cream cheese, peanuts, peanut butter, etc.) and then eat it
201. make a terrarium
202. start a club
203. take a nap outside on your lawn
204. produce a talent show
205. memorize a poem
206. recite a memorized poem for your familyHave a wonderful summer!Please share this list as part of the entire article with the bio below. It would mean a great deal to me for others to have it.———————–

To get ready for the next school year, pick up Kerry Beck’s free audio workshop at Home School Material. This summer she also gives you a free report, “How to Get It All Done” at Homeschool Curriculum.
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I just found a really cool blog written by my dear friend, Renee Meyer.  I knew Renee back when she was a college student at Texas A&M and after college as she ministered to college girls.  Our family joined Renee and other college students on a mission trip to Mexico several years ago.

Renee has a blog called Beautiful.  It is written for college & young adult women, but I think it is appropriate for moms & teenage daughters to read together.  Renee covers many topics that young women encounter, such as growing in Christ, dating/courting, relationships, beauty and other topics.  Take a look:

http://enthralltheking.wordpress.com/

Leave a comment and let Renee know how she has encouraged you.

Advent is a series of days that lead up to the Christmas holiday. The advent calendar consists of the 24 days prior to Christmas. The term advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming.”  This holiday period signifies the coming of Christ.

One way that advent is prepared for is by use of a device known as an advent calendar. A simple device, in many cases actually created by children, this device allows the celebrants to track how far they are along in the advent holiday period.

An advent calendar usually includes advent candles to track the days of the holiday period. Since there are 24 days that come before Christmas, each day is assigned a candle in the calendar. When a day arrives, the family celebrating the holiday denotes that day by lighting a candle on its behalf.

There are a wide variety of designs that make up an advent calendar. Calendars are most commonly used by children to track the days of the period. One example of an advent calendar design is a Christmas tree that has 24 candles on different branches of the tree.

Another common advent calendar design is in the form of pockets of candy holders. Each pocket is labeled with a specific number to signify the number of days in advent. When one of the days arrives, the celebrants remove candy that has been stuffed in the candy holder and eats the candy in celebration.

An advent wreath is another device that is used to prepare for and track the advent holiday season. An advent wreath has 4 candles, unlike the calendar, which uses 24 candles. This is because the advent wreath tracks and celebrates the weeks of advent as opposed to the days.

In preparing and celebrating the advent holiday days and weeks, celebrants engage in a wide variety of activities. From a religious standpoint, this is a time period where there is much prayer and even fasting in some cases. Priests and pastors tailor their teachings and sermons to focus on the coming of Christ and what the Christmas holiday is all about. Some worshipers may even decide to sacrifice certain activities such as watching television, listening to certain types of music, etc.

At home, there are a number of advent activities that can be conducted together as a family. For example, some families have their kids gather together and actually create their own advent calendar or wreath to celebrate the holiday season. Other families have their kids color in special advent- themed coloring books that commemorate the holiday season.

The advent holiday season is a time of reflection, celebration, and rededication for the millions of individuals that celebrate it worldwide. As you can see there are a number of different ways that you can choose to celebrate the holiday. You can use the suggestions and examples that we give in this article or you can use them as a starting point to come up with your own ideas. The choice is completely up to you.

_______________________

Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009

You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.

Kerry Beck gives free advent calendars with daily Christmas activities to prepare your family for Christmas. Your family will discover lots about the origins of Christmas with some of the daily activities.

Here are some stretches to do before you leave your bed and won’t take much time. Besides you’ll now start your day warm and loose!

- Stretch out. Extend your arms over head, straighten your legs, and point your toes. Stretch your whole body — imagine that you’re making yourself an inch taller. Hold for a moment, relax, and repeat.

- Sign your name with your foot. Raise one foot in the air and with fluid, florid “strokes,” slowly write your name. You can do this while seated on the edge of your bed, or for a harder workout, lie on your back or stomach. Work one foot and then the other. For a change of pace, occasionally do both feet at once. The stretch loosens and warms up your ankles.

- Scrunch up the covers. Use your hands to gather up the blanket, top sheet, or comforter on your bed with grabbing, scrunching motion. Stop every so often to vary the exercise by twisting the blanket as if you were wringing it out. This one warms up the wrists and forearms.

- Build an arch. Lie on your back with your arms by your sides. Bend both knees, placing your feet flat on the bed. Raise your buttocks off the bed and hold for about 10 seconds. This works your thighs, buttocks, and back.

- Make like a cat. Roll over and get on your hands and knees. Start with a flat back (don’t let it sag) and look down at the bed (to avoid straining your neck). Arch your back up like a cat that has just awakened from a nap. Hold the position for a moment and then return to the flat-back position. Repeat a couple of times to warm up and stretch your upper and lower back.

Do these tips every day and you will start your day feeling good and loose.

“5 Exercises to Do before the Day Begins” is taken from “Shameless Shortcuts” published by Yankee Magazine.