Psalms!

Today at church we had Sons of Korah lead worship. Pretty amazing, haven't a clue how we managed to arrange that. The above video is just the most beautiful song. Sons of Korah sing a musical journey through the psalms in a variety of styles - which of course the Psalms are - they represent a variety of moods and situations. There's something there for whatever we are going through.

Psalm 91 (above live clip) is Little Miss August 2009's special scripture. All of it! It was so special to us in the months before she was born, very appropriate and encouraging. Well today it was that again. If we had a day when we needed Psalm 91 - today's been the nearest for a while. And I can't think of a more beautiful way to enjoy it.

In church this morning they began leading our worship- usual songs led a little differently (!) and then went into what I imagine is a much abridged version of their live concert. They finished with Psalm 91 but earlier in the service they sang this:



Like I said - a variety of styles! Undoubtedly talented and Spirit inspired. We kept the children in the service this morning instead of sending them to Sunday School, and I am glad we did. We thought we might have fun experimenting with putting some Psalms to music with them in the coming weeks. They love the Psalms, it is often their 'book of choice' for our Bible time in the week. We have bought a few CDs so we can use them for meditation / reading the Psalms in a different  way. All of their songs are lifted straight from the text - a challenge if you've ever done that like we have - and only the occasional change to help the words fit around the setting.

I came home so grateful we can bring the Psalms alive like this in church - having "grown up" with the Oxford Psalter and plainsong chant (good for memorising scripture but I am not sure at the time we were singing them it meant a great deal to anyone certainly the 'usefulness' is limited). I feel like now I have found something that expresses far more what the original intention of the Psalms was. Some are dances, praise, joyful - others laments or balads. All expressing the heart of the writer. Will take that idea with the boys and talk about it some more. I'll also have it in mind as I try to use the Psalms more myself - something I've done far more of in the past year - praying the Psalms is amazing.

A new habit begun this Lent...

I am using Lent in an unconventional way  I suppose, and I don't really want it compared to New Year Resolutions but in a way it's kind of that sort of idea. But the sacrifice of course is the difference - the focus of Lent being sacrifice and fasting, and I am doing both of those things in trying to be positive and fast negativity (almost got the better of me today but the sacrifice required from my bad day with sick children was overwhelming and the death of self was pretty much decided for me).

In addition, I've just been lost in a blog for ages trying to find a fantastic (I thought) post on this subject that I read last week, and have been inspired to "do different" ever since.

Have a look at this post: The one parenting habit that changes everything
It speaks for itself but I have several themes going on at once this Lent and one of them is reading more of the Bible, with the children, putting God right at the top of our list in a way we haven't done either before, or for a long time. So when I read this I was inspired to make a change, and do something after every meal that we have previously done only randomly, albeit quite often sometimes.

It comes on the back of the sermon series we've had at church recently, about God's word being our Spiritual food, and this post really takes that analogy again quite far.

One thing I also wanted to mention was that our pastor compared the price of a good Bible (life application or equivalent) with a new pan or piece of kitchen equipment. We'll spend on a new casserole dish or something similar, but we think a Bible, giving us Spiritual food is expensive... Just food for thought...

Anyway, last night I got a daily reading plan at a meeting I went to at church and the boys have been leading the way today reading and ticking off today's reading, and reminded me after dinner that we couldn't get down from the table till we'd read the Bible. Starting a reading plan in the middle of a month is a bit random but actually today's readings (a chapter from 1 Cor, and two from Deuteronomy) were brilliant and we all got something out of it.

I plan to equip the youngest 2 with pen and paper while the others of us share the reading, as I sometimes read to them in snack time in our school day. So tomorrow I will try that as well.

Amidst the baby with shingles, the broken things, the chaos of tripping over unpacked moving boxes, I feel we are finally getting a spiritual grip again. But wow it's hard work at the moment.

Blessings all mine and ten thousand besides!

I just have to share this, I am sure someone will find this as exciting as me.

Every new year, Matthew and I count our blessings of the year we are leaving / have left behind. This began one year when we felt so despondent about the year we had left behind - bad things had happened in that year. I had the God inspired (I believe) idea to count our blessings from that year, to overwrite the muscle memory of it having been a bad year.

That was a number of years ago now, and wasn't intended to be a tradition, but actually New Year is a time I can find myself lonely, a little lost, and sometimes discontent. But we enjoyed the list so much that year - and it definitely defied our muscle memory - it had actually been a very blessed year. :) We kept the list and have done it ever since.

I caught myself allowing discontent to move in today, actually. Just some stuff I saw on the internet, brought back memories of university, acquaitances gone by, and somehow a regret that my life had not been priviledged in the way others' lives were - those I was 'friends' with, studied with, knew vaguely... and looking in the mirror I just saw someone who had taken a completely different life course and had never had such a 'good' start. But this is where God put me... before I let the thoughts set in (and I'd like to say I had a spiritual moment and took those thoughts captive) I saw one or other (or maybe all) of the Little H's and realised that if I wasn't where I am, I wouldn't have them, and I am incredibly rich and blessed in far better ways than the superficial stuff that got my attention (and threatened my peace) temporarily. Maybe I did take the thoughts captive. But actually I just think the sight of real blessings was a stronger influence.

I had been surfing, anyway, for ideas for Lent. Want to make a Lenten lapbook of some sort, get some good H homeschooly activities underway to observe Lent and give us a kickstart back into how I like our homeschool to look. The Lent work isn't really fixed yet. I will have to do some more work tonight online for that. I have something at least I can do with them tomorrow.

For now, I have come across One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It is very much like the New Year idea. Except it has a nice cover and a lot of followers!!!! ;)

Here are 2 you tube links of an interview with Ann Voskamp that is really inspiring and encouraging. Time to begin counting our blessings and getting to a thousand. To begin with...

Anway, our plans for Lent won't be that ambitious. But this morning I was going to read the scripture for the day from our calendar, and it was from 2 Corinthians. Little H#1 saw I was going to read from Corinthians and asked for the passage about Love. So I thought it was very appropriate, and changed readings.

My biggest fast for Lent (and something I don't intend to welcome back at the end of the Lenten period) is fasting negativity. Negative thoughts, and words. So appropriate today for that to have come from Little H#1's chosen reading. I will not keep a record of wrongs. This will be a bigger contribution to our family life than many other things I can think of for Lent.

So I will keep a record of Blessings instead. I feel happier calling them blessings rather than Gifts, though maybe they amount to one and the same.

I will attempt to do one with the children too. Maybe they will have a joint list, so that they have a sense of achievement instead of daunting thoughts about a thousand being too many! I think LittleH#1 may well managed doing it by himself in his journal though so I will see how that goes.

Home(less) School

The irony of our education choice has been weighing on me this week. Well for a long time but the pressure is getting too much to bear. Christmas holidays have been and gone, I started school back a bit earlier than the official school year because we all missed it. But now we are quite definitely in domestic chaos as we have 2 weeks till the end of our lease and no new place to go to as yet.

A good friend sent me an email that does look interesting last night, but I said I'd put the home back in homeschool and then get back to her. :)

Currently we are doing basic minimum of maths and english. LittleH#2 has finished the first Spelling Rules! Book A, and LittleH#1 is still doing the last few units in his. They are both still chipping away at maths but we aren't doing anything exciting together in terms of project work. We are managing to read the Bible together in the mornings sometimes, in the way we do when school is in normal and full swing, so really the learning's ticking along fine, in light of the long holiday.

Other more unschooly subjects definitely involve maths (estimating what will fit in boxes, measuring gaps in potential houses for washing machines, measuring and estimating anything really), DIY (cleaning walls, taking things apart), and most definitely Legal Studies. Of course I excel in this area and haven't been purposely teaching it to them. But they are working out the obvious elements of landlord and tenant law (though I think I will eventually have to teach them about Justice - ha ha), and generally getting quite a good feel of that as much as they need and probably more than most children their age! Certainly they know more than I did probably even before I went to university!!!! In the UK of course they had experience of us selling our house - so this adds to that and starts to build a picture.

Hoping that the uncertainty will be over today when we hear about whether we  finally got a house. The thread through it all is our trust in God (I've struggled with that one this week, it looks so bleak!). So many scriptures and encouragements, kind offers from church pointing us in the direction of houses that turn out to be depressingly unsuitable just when we thought it was over. And a fantastic sermon about Abraham and Sarah last Sunday about periods of waiting in our lives. We are certainly in one of those and being taken closer to the edge than we've ever been before. And we thought our migration was bad. There's a Corrie Ten Boom story that's relevant and a myriad of others but time and fractious babies don't permit me to go into it now! The point is - we are waiting for Isaac and don't need to meddle and take a house that is the equivalent of Ishmael - doing things in our own strength because we can't wait on God's timing. It has been helpful to see some bad inspections that we have almost felt pressured to take and "settle" for in the light of that story.

Only later will tell if the agony is over. In the meantime we have no choice but to pack in faith because the current house is being shown off in all its glory with us still in it this weekend. Thanks a lot. I doubt they'll be pointing out the broken walls or hole in the roof. :) Someone else's turn to pay rent to a landlord who won't maintain the structure of a house, and time for us to shake the dust off our feet and take our blessing to a new house.

Lighten our darkness.

This is a theme for us at the moment - fire! We have been on retreat as a family, and (longer post to come) have spent a lot of time lighting fires, and praying about various things, including reading Pentecost and praying for the Holy Spirit to fill us anew and take us forward as a family.

Today I need to hang on to that, so I am lighting a fire here and now!

Magnificent Monday...!

I like the sound of that. It's not exactly a MEME I doubt I will be able to have a Magnificent Monday every week, although perhaps I should make it my goal to try.

I had an idea for some slightly different Bible studies this week - recently we have been reading the Bible every morning together once our school day starts, but not really "studying" together.

Today I decided we would study and learn the Apostles' Creed for a while. We began with a nice clean and tidy playroom thanks to last night's clean up before bed. So we sat on the carpet together and I first read them "You are Special" by Max Lucado, which I had thought about this weekend but wasn't sure which book case it was on... one of the boys found it and had it ready to read without me even mentioning it, so that saved a hunt around! Little Miss climbed around on me while I read it, the others listened (thought LittleH#3 was in a climbing mood so wasn't quite so easy a listener!). We discussed what it meant, and we had a few nice moments discussing that and remembering LittleH#3's special scripture "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Ps 139:14 I think, from memory.

We went from there to the Apostle's Creed, LittleH#2 read it out, then I read it line by line to LittleH#3 and he repeated each one after me (Godparents please note I am keeping my promise and teaching them this prayer!!!!), then LittleH#1 also read it and we said it all together.

Then, amazingly, the older 2 demonstrated just how much of the prayer they could remember. I'd say for LittleH#1 it is about 80% with prompts to get it all right. LittleH#2 isn't far off either.

We discussed the prayer and I told them a bit about it (hadn't got to Luther's small catechism but had got it out ready in case it was needed for us to sit and explain the different aspects of the prayer). LittleH#1 asked me whether it was a prayer to defend us against the enemy. I said that it is a prayer that describes our faith, what we believe. He said that was what he meant - he thought the prayer was like the shield of faith to defend us from fiery arrows (he held his arm as if holding a shield).

Well that amazed me actually. What a good way to look at a prayer that describes what we believe. The enemy does in fact tell us lies - about many things but does try to take away from what we believe. We can equip ourselves by learning prayers such as this - the basics of our faith on which the universal Christian church is agreed. I think teaching the children this summary of our faith now will be an invaluable tool, or weapon in their armoury, later.

As I washed up, I built on my original ideas and I think we can do something good with the Apostle's Creed, Armour of God, Fruit of the Spirit etc. A little H-production perhaps. Bit like the Sunday School one last week, except maybe a bit better organised and they won't be stuck at the back where no-one can see them!!!! ;)

So the copy work for today was writing out the Creed (LittleH#1), writing out the first 2 lines and doing a drawing (LittleH#2) and we are making the full written version of LittleH#1 into a shield display.

Other than that- we have done practical maths - baking - weighing and measuring (they are good, and surprised me with the sums I asked them to do while we did it), and money maths (counting and sorting the coins in the Peter Rabbit money box).

In between times, LittleH#2 has been devouring books today, I love that he can be a bookworm at 5. He's read predominantly Christian books today, actually, so it has been a good start to our week and perhaps a bit of a rededication to the Almighty God who has called us to this work.

Encouraging.

Just a little encouragement for me, today, when I need it.

Verse for the day on Bible Gateway just now as I have logged in is:

"I have chosen the way of truth. I have set my heart on your
laws."
Ps 119:30.

I suppose its my signature verse. Maybe a life verse. A personal one, rather than the ones we have for ourselves as a family.

Encouraging to see it today, on a day where I have really just felt like I need more from God, some sort of break through in my spiritual life; a kick start. Its a gentle encouragement and reminder to me. Maybe God is whispering to me. Not speaking loudly, or being 'obvious'. I need to sit still and hear the whisper. Good. I'll try that - less striving, more listening.

Standing Firm

We have been rudely awakened to the fact that there are certain things in our life at the moment that honour God but that put us in the enemy's firing line for attack. We are not as prepared as we should be. Sometimes I wonder whether we will ever learn to be ready and prepared for these moments, which quite definitely exist and are not the result of an overactive imagination.

I sent an SOS message to a forum friend I saw online when I was panicking because we were under direct spiritual attack (in the form of an extremely critical and attacking telephone call) and desperately needed someone else to pray. That one prayer from that one person... was extremely powerful and most definitely answered. That person was also God's provision for me - she perfectly understood the need and prayed exactly right without me having said a great deal. I couldn't have messaged just anyone with that need, so was blessed by the timing.

I don't know why sometimes our own prayers are 'not enough' but sometimes that is the case. (When I say 'our', or 'we' I am referring to the House of H, by the way, not generalising for everyone). Sometimes I want to ask for prayer on a subject not necessarily (ie most of the time not) a spiritual attack, but I am unable to get in touch with anyone or just do feel it is not something God wants me to ask others to pray about, because our own prayers will be 'enough' and He wants us to go straight to Him rather than asking for others' to help us pray about it. Some discernment needed in that area, but last night was a definite attack and we were not big enough by ourselves. It was a strong specific spirit that came against us through someone else. Not one we feel we need to 'cast out' or do anything like that, but it is one we recognise from the specific pattern, the people it uses, and just need help standing firm against.

That makes me sound like a total spiritual looney, but I am not, we don't rebuke spirits of this and that, and have read enough to believe that there is something in our discernment of this one that is right, and we will leave it well alone.

I do think that it is possible for us to recognise areas where we are usually attacked - the things that satan goes for. There are 2 or 3 that spring to mind for me for us, and it is not a coincidence when these things happen. We also notice that there are certain areas in which we have ministry (with a small 'm') and because they encroach on enemy ground in differing degrees - we can usually expect attack when we are ministering in those directions.

So last night did not come as a surprise, but I also think that we had not properly protected ourselves by 'standing firm' in the proper way. When we don't keep up our spiritual disciplines of praying, reading the Bible, worshipping God to the extent we should, or when we start getting back on track and doing those things we can find ourselves exposed.

This scripture comes to mind:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

It is Biblical to expect that satan will be prowling and looking for our weak points. When we work on those weak points I think he tests us and tempts us back to old habits. If we are trying to seek unity in an area, he will tempt us with conflict. It's not rocket science and sometimes it is so obvious and not clever. Sometimes he is cleverer. Maybe it depends how 'mature' we are in that particular area. I think we can have different levels of maturity within our own walk. New things God is showing us, refining, wanting us to work on. Other things we have worked on for longer, achieved some success - the attacks on these I find are more sophisticated, not easily detectable at first, more like the enemy sneaking in through the side door as opposed to us leaving the front door open for him to wander in and be easily spotted.

There are a few things recently that have been changing for us, particularly since Easter, that I have noticed satan tempting me to go back to old habits, tempting me to do exactly what I have resolved not to do. Other areas where I feel I can see we have made headway into a plan God has for us, and the aspect of that plan that I notice we have victory over the doubts and criticisms in our own mind and stemming from others, has morphed into an attack specifically on another aspect of it.

I am realising that because there are patterns and similarities for us, both in terms of the areas attacked, the effect the enemy is trying to achieve, and what our response to it must be (and also the ministry that has prompted the attack) that journalling is one way that we can keep track and possibly be cleverer both in our anticipation and response. I also realise that we need to protect ourself more by getting into new and better family Bible and prayer habits. Also personal ones.

I realise that as Christians we can use different terminology for what may be the same experiences. Perhaps it doesn't matter, its like different church families having different theology but the effect can sometimes be the same. Not in all circumstances, but some. However we can't escape the fact as Christians that satan hates unity, hates life, hates all things that lead to God. Our response must be to take that seriously. Not by rebuking everything in sight but by fellowshipping with other Christians, staying accountable, and serving God where he puts us. By seeking God in all things and praying for wisdom and discernment in times of trial.

Not all hardship is from satan. Sometimes it is. That can include physical illness as well as family conflicts etc. That is why we need to be discerning and wise. Where there are particular things that we do which provoke spiritual attack as we have found I think it is helpful to identify those areas and those times, and pray about how we can protect ourselves and prepare for it.

There is a difference between standing firm and fighting. We are called to stand firm in our spiritual armour, not go out looking for a battle.

Holiday Club Phonics: Taking the 'I' out of 'Me'

Ha ha. So, my new fitness / headspace / soon-to-fail morning routine now involves a 15 minute brisk walk by myself with LittleH#4 in the pushchair while Matthew makes the breakfast. I will keep it up as long as I can for the headspace (and have realised I don't need to feel guilty for a 15 minute escape from the house at the start of the day, because I don't get to escape for the rest of it, do I?!). Although I am sad to say that after a quick search on the net I discover in terms of fitness, 15 mins a day isn't going to get me anywhere fast.

The irony of the walk, today, is perfect. I like Joyce Meyer's phonics - she was talking to me as I walked about taking the 'I' out of 'Me'. I don't think LEM's 2 sounds for 'e' include that sound, but my 'Me' still does I am afraid! I have long realised God is teaching me about the death of self. A slow painful death, isn't it? Some days I do ok, but of course on the day I start with a brisk walk and teaching on the subject, I spend the rest of the day feeling inconvenienced, tired, stressy and not at all selfless!

The best part of today's lesson was realising I can link to Bible Gateway's verse of the day on the side bar of the blog. What's the verse for today? Galatians 2:20. "I have been crucified with Christ........" I can't read those words without singing the whole passage thanks to Colin Buchanan, so perhaps I will hum it as I walk tomorrow after I have listened to Part 2 of the Joyce Meyer phonics talk.