Families that Stick Together

European Home "Dutch Village",  Holland, Michigan

European families have always held high interest for me. Living in Germany for many years and traveling through Europe has given some interesting and unique influence in taste, decorating. One thing interesting is the history of European families.

In the 18th century, these families consisted of grandparents, their children and grandchildren living in one home. These families consisted of five or more children. These families consider their children 'assets' in their lives.

Father and Son at the "Dutch Village", Holland, Michigan

Rick Brainard states on his website, "The family was the social security then". As in history past, the poor usually missed education and were trained for work. Although according to Brainard times weren't so good for the children with the poor, the upper class families had tutors to teach them.

How amazing if families during those times would have understood the principle of 'home education'. Teaching their own children to read and write as well as the basic concepts of math. If in a family line just 'one' person learned the principles of education, how wonderful to have also passed this along to their children.

Windmill at "Dutch Village, Holland, Michigan

Just as many of these 18th century families could have learned from our 'home education' concepts in the 21st century, we can learn from their family concepts. The importance of families sticking together was obvious. They could actually live together throughout the years and enjoy each other. They could pass their trades along, and be friends for a lifetime.


The Lord refers to Himself as the God of "Abraham, Issac, and Jacob".  You can see in Genesis 12:2-3 the blessing He gave Abraham and His family. Not only did He bless this family, He stood behind them calling Himself the God of Abraham and His sons. The Lord shows us in His word that He takes families seriously.

To tie your family together with the word and the blessing is what the Lord would have us to do. He calls families and He designs them. Let's follow the design He has destined for our families. Embrace His ideals and the clear vision the Lord has for the families of the earth. To bless them and make them a blessing. Not only through out the earth, but within the home itself. 

 "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].    And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]." Genesis 12"2-3 AMP 

lovin' home abundance,
Pastor Kim


RESEARCH LOCATION:
by Rick Brainard
http://www.history1700s.com/articles/article1015.shtml
"Rick Brainard, is an independent scholar and a past member of the American Historical Association. His main historical area of interest is 18th century history with a special emphasis on Colonial America"

Sybil Ludington

Micah Morgan plays Sybil.

I love history and my kids love history! Researching about American history and sharing it with your kids can have great advantage and can be fun. We as a ministry produced a movie I wrote and directed about the 'female Paul Revere' Sybil Ludington. I loved doing this with  my kids and now, my kids are excited about history too.

Did you ever think about making your own documentary with your kids? Well, simply take out your home video and have your kids act it out :) Research some historical characters and learn about them with your kids. Write a story and put it to film. It'll make a great home school project! Have fun!!!


You can check out more about our family movie at our web site, www.sybilludingtonmovie.com. It's also being shown at the Kids First Film Festivals this summer, www.kidsfirst.org. Here's a link for a review on the movie. Click on it and scroll down until you find "Sybil Ludington", http://www.kidsfirst.org/ages/8-12.html

lovin' home abundance,
Pastor Kim

"May is Over and June is Coming"

'Yeah for May and Fun in June'. Many homeschool families are heading for summer fun. Why not incorporate it into learning? Now you can head for nature parks and bug studies, animal fun at the zoo, and even water studies with chlorine and salt water. Just because summer break may be here for many of you, just remember, your kids never stop learning. They are always soaking in what's around them. Take advantage of it, especially with God's word. Don't let any day or any moment be without your impartation. Your children are always looking to you and as you share the simple things in life, especially God's word and prayer, and what you believe about the Lord and His ways, filling everyday with information about the simple things around them and how they work, you are teaching your children in relational ways. That's the best part of learning and the best part of it all~

God bless you in all you do with your kids!


lovin' home abundance,
Pastor Kim

Home Schooling is Worth It!

If you haven't noticed, home schooling your children is worth it. Your children will find themselves advanced and informed and 'loving' to learn. There is a difference with learning and having an interest in learning. Have you ever watched a child before entering in school? Your pre-schoolers and toddlers are always gaining and processing information everyday of their lives. They watch, they listen, they process, and before you know it, they are talking, walking, and following your lead. As parents, if you can take that process and continue with it, realizing that children learn from all these various different areas of their environment, you can gain an revelation of education from the Lord's perspective. That's why the Lord tells us in the book of Deuteronomy 11:19 to teach His ways and His word to our children with specific instruction. He says,

"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

The Lord knows that your children are always gathering and gaining information at all times and in every part of their day. He wants us to realize that we are to teach them His ways and live them before them every moment of every day. You can see, children are obtaining information and processing it at all times. Take this opportunity to see them as sponges that retain, not only the water of His word but all the things you put before them, even in your home schooling curriculum.

To simplify it, what you put before them is what they will learn. Watch what you put before your children. That's why many parents have chosen home schooling. They want their children to have excellent things put before them that they may gain greatness and achieve their highest potential as individuals.

As you move forward with your home schooling plans, and as you fulfill the requirements to fill a certain amount of hours each day with teaching, remember, your children never stop learning. Learning doesn't turn off when school is over, so take advantage of every moment. Don't just teach your children at one scheduled time. Rather impart to them God's word and live a gracious example before them. Not just a Godly example, but also an example of a Godly and quality education.

lovin' home abundance,
Pastor Kim

Foggy?

Here's a great home-school idea for you. Do a study on fog. As you study fog you can count it as science. But, one part of your studies can be studying the fog of God. What is the 'fog' of God? One thing, the F.O.G.is, The Favor Of God! The scripture base for your fog studies?

"For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield." Psalm 5:12 (NKJ)

Let your kids learn about how fog is a fallen cloud and all the details. Then connect those details with the Creator of the Universe Himself! Talk to them that God has caused His favor to fall on us like a cloud!

First, through Jesus coming from Heaven to earth. He is the fog.

Secondly, then after He raised Him from the dead and into Heaven, Jesus has come by the power of His spirit to pour out on us, His fog again. To pour out His power and His healing in the F.O.G.

Thirdly, the blessing of the Lord, who has made us righteous, has poured out His favor on us and surrounded us. Surrounded us so much that His favor has become a shield. A shield of His good unmerited favor in our lives. His favor, meaning His love, joy, peace, and wonder-filled outpouring of Himself to us. His favor is for all us, is a cloud that touches life after life, after lives after lives! The favor of God!

“My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant."

Genesis 18:3 (NKJ)

God's favor is for your children! Teach them about it in your school! Use it with science studies and Bible. Use it for your literature too. The greatest lit piece ever written- The Bible! As your kids study the verses in the Bible, as they read it, teach them how God has poured out His promises to us like a fog and that we are free to be who we are in Him, through Him, and by His fog! Use it for spelling as you make a test of spelling words from your fun studies about fog Your children will grow in stature and in favor!

"And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men. " 1 Samuel 2:26 (NKJ)

God bless, and remember, "We've got the F.O.G."

lovin' home abundance,
Pastor Kim

Continuing my thougths on wisdom!

I talked sometime ago on the importance of wisdom. Again, simply put, wisdom is the ability to take the things you know and apply them. That is a great way to understand wisdom. We can teach our children so many things everyday of their lives but... if we do not teach them wisdom then we have taught them nothing that they can apply in their lives. If our children cannot take what they have learned and apply it, then we have done an injustice. You can teach your children about God's word, and if they never act on the wisdom of God to apply it to their lives and receive what the Lord has for them, then... we have not completed the training.

The Bible tells us that Jesus has been made unto us wisdom! He is the Wisdom of the ages, the spoken word of God that became flesh, and has become the absolute in our lives. When we realize and believe that it is He that brings to pass those absolutes then we release His wisdom working on our behalf in a very special and powerful way. First and foremost we must again remember that the Bible tells us that "the fear of the Lord, which means to HATE ALL EVIL, is the beginning of wisdom!" In that our children can learn to apply wisdom by simply walking away from evil! It's one thing to know that stealing is wrong But it is wisdom to know it is wrong and walk away from doing it!

I watched 2 movies this last evening in order to do reviews on them for families. These two were in the genre for young adults. "They were so awful!" Watching something that goes against God's word and His character goes against the grain of what I believe in and stand for and I very much dislike it! I actually HATE the evil that is set before me such as; murder, sex, swearing, bitterness, hate, debauchery, and the more! Right here is a great place to start teaching your children wisdom! Don't put evil before them letting it get in their eyes, their ears, their hearts! Then don't just tell them no you can't but, teach them "why" your are telling me this and why you want them to do what you are saying! Show them what's wrong, what is evil and tell them how one should not follow it! Keep these movies and TV stuff that supports things contrary to God's word and Jesus off! Keep them away from what is ungodly and goes against His word and ways in every area of their lives! Teach your children to hate evil and not allow it to grace their lives in anyway! Then wisdom will begin to work highly in their lives and "He" Jesus will do great things for them in honor of their faithfulness and obedience to His word!

Charles Spurgeon said,

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is wisdom."

lovin' home abundance,
Pastor Kim