Kerry Beck's Blog

How much of your prep time is spent following the Lord?

As I read this morning, I am struck by the idea of “preparation”.  Here are 3 examples of preparation in the Bible.

Jotham prepares his way before the Lord.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.  2 Chronicles 27:6

Uzziah (Jotham’s dad) seeks God through the prophet Zechariah.
He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. 2 Chronicles 26:5

John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord.
Behold I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.  The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His path straight.  Mark 1:2-3

Each of these men are making preparations for the future.  John the Baptist is preparing for the Lord to arrive here on earth.  He is preparing Jesus’ way before He arrives.  What a awesome responsibility.

Jotham & Uzziah are preparing for their daily life.  They are seeking God by preparing their ways before the Lord.  Preparation is key to being successful.

As a new school year begins, are you prepared in the Lord?
Have you spent time praying about your homeschool, what & how you will teach?
Are you preparing each day by spending time with the Lord?

Each day I spend time with the Lord, reading His Word & praying for His guidance.  This is a simple way to prepare myself for whatever God has in store.  Although it sounds simple, I know it may not be that simple to do.  When my kids were babies, the earlier I got up to spend time with God, the earlier they arose in their beds.  I tried so hard to be quiet, but they still knew I was up so they started crying in their cribs.  Ever had that problem?

Even when life throws you curve balls, I encourage you to keep at it.  Keep spending a little time with God, preparing for your day.  Two years ago a good friend of mine, Carolyn Gentry, shared  a solution to this problem of kids disturbing your time with God.

Leave your Bible open on your kitchen counter.  As you walk by or work in the kitchen (which we all do), read the next verse and meditate on it.  Daily preparation doesn’t mean spending hours in your closet.  It means spending time with God, even if it’s snatches of time here & there.  Meditating on how God is leading you that day.  As your children get older, you can share with them what you are learning from God’s Word.

As I write this article, I am convicted myself.  I hope this encourages you to prepare yourself in the Lord.  Take time daily with the Lord.  If your daily time isn’t very quiet, then trade babysitting time with a friend each month.  This will allow you a prolonged quiet time to sit before the Lord and prepare your ways for Him.

Remember:
Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.

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 Back To School ideas for you!

- put a sweet little note in your child’s lunch box…you can even send a joke or drawing

- make a bracelet or necklace for your child to wear on their 1st day of school

- make your backpack look cool by decorating it with a beaded key chain, home-made pompoms, or a name tag

- make your child’s day by hiding a small treat, such as a sticker or small toy, in their pocket

- decorate your child’s lunch bag or box

- make a special breakfast, dinner, or after-school snack

- take a photo on their first day of school and have it printed or framed for when your child gets home

- take measurements of your child’s height and weight and record it in a special place, on the 1st day of school

- decorate your child’s bike or scooter (if they ride one to school) with flags or streamers

- donate an extra set of school supplies to a local agency that helps families in need

- ask your child what they want to be when they grow up and preserve their answer by recording it with a video camera or voice recorder

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.

Yesterday I heard a stirring message by Kevin Barra, one of our pastors.  I’d like to share some of the lessons I re-discovered.  The message was set during the time of Israel’s captivity by Ahasuerus.  As we look at the events of the first 4 chapters of Esther, we see several principles.

1.  God is aware of world events and they are well within His control

King Ahasuerus bans Queen Vashti from being queen any longer.  She embarrassed the king by not appearing before him & his buddies, so she gets the boot.  This affects women everywhere.  (Esther 1: 10-18)

What does this have to do with you?

We are going through one of the toughest economic times of our generation, yet we can be assured that God is still in control.  He is bigger than any economic crisis that may occur.  As always, our world has places that are not at peace, they are at war with each other.  These places are especially dangerous for Christians.

2.  God is aware of YOUR events, and they are well within His control.

The King decides to look for another queen.  Esther is urged by her guardian Mordecai to “try out” for queen.  Esther’s parents are dead and she is a young Jewish woman trying out for a pagan queen.  To me, that is a very scary situation to be in as  a young woman.  (Esther 2:7-11) Yet, God knows the circumstances of her life and begins to orchestrate His plan.

It is true in your life as well.  If you are having a difficult time paying your bills and making ends meet, God knows what is going on.  If you are in a difficult relationship, God knows.  If you are having a hard time with one of your children, God also knows this.

3.  God is ALWAYS on time and ALWAYS in control

Believe it or not, God is in control.  Ahasuerus chooses Esther as his queen.  Soon after that, Mordecai & Esther discover a plat to kill the Jews.  Mordecai responds to Esther…

Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.  For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you & your father’s house will perish.  Yet who knows whether you have come to this kingdom for such a  time as this?   Esther 4:13-14

Esther has 2 choices to make during this difficult time.  She can say nothing and endure the consequences.  Given this choice, God is still in control and can find deliverance for His people from someone else.  Or, Esther can take a stand, going before the King to save her people.  Esther chooses to go before the King even though she has not been summoned.  This might mean death, but she is willing to endure with the hope that she will save her people.

When you are in the depths of despair, trying to work out relationships, finances, and other trying circumstances, God is in control.  He will work things out for His glory and your best interest.  Too often we are so immersed in the hard times, that we don’t even see a solution.  At that time, we should fall on our knees and rely on God’s timing and sovereignty.  He is definitely in control and may be using the troublesome times to prepare you for something bigger.

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?

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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Hate to Shop? Always feeling like you need to dash off to the store? Take the advice of Roberta Mulliner, who has reduced her shopping trips to one morning or afternoon a week. Before Roberta grabs her keys, she maps out her route and writes down a list of must-get items. On a recent trip, Roberta needed to buy groceries, return library books, deposit a check at the bank, and mail packages. She plotted her route as a loop, ending with the grocery store so that the perishables would stay fresh. Spending a few minutes planning can save you hours shopping, says Roberta.

If all your errands take you to stores located along one busy street, take care of the errands on the right-hand side of the street first, then tackle the errands on the other side of the street on the way back.

Today’s Tuesday Tips comes from “Shameless Shortcuts.”

Your family’s natural tendency is to drop belongings willy-nilly on entering the house, meaning that no one can find anything the following morning. It’s probably futile to try to change their style, but don’t despair. You can go with the flow and still be organized. Just provide a drop box for each family member near the front door. Use inexpensive plastic tubs, fruit crates, or laundry baskets. Then decree that any items not in the baskets (or put in the wrong basket) may be thrown out or must be purchased back with a small fee.