August/Early September 2008

"Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore." Psalm 105:4

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Update: Link to a Great Deal/Website Update

I wanted to let you all know of a special Biblical Womanhood is running right now through HEAV, the homeschool association here in Virginia. I don’t normally include recommendations of other resources, but I really felt these materials might be a big blessing to many of you. Through next Tuesday (September 9), Biblical Womanhood/MoneySavingMom.com is offering a package of e-materials worth more than $100 for just $8.97.

Included in the package is a supermarket savings e-course, several cookbooks, a menu-planning e-book, a homemaking resource, and more. There are fifteen resources altogether. I have not looked at all of them, but the ones I have examined were all very nice. I love how Crystal mixes practical tips with spiritual encouragement. She’s a very real and personable writer. I especially appreciated her resources for young ladies--she has a very powerful message for teenage (or even pre-teen) daughters on up to those who have already graduated. Her MP3 “What to Do While Waiting for Prince Charming” is one of the best resources I’ve seen to encourage young ladies to live productive, godly lives after graduation, and the package also includes a home business e-course for young ladies who want to start their own business. If you’re interested, you can find out information on the Home Educators Association of Virginia’s website at www.heav.org/store/greatdeals.html.

I’m also happy to report that I recently finished redoing Christian Perspective’s website. While we’re still not quite finished implementing a new shopping cart we’ve been working on, the website itself has a new look. I hope you’ll find it easier to navigate the content now and will enjoy the new design.

For those of you who are starting back at school, may the Lord grant you an easy adjustment into this new season, and a blessed joy in learning all He has for you. May God’s peace and joy be with each and every one of you.

In His Hands,

Katherine

Thought: Remembering

As I prepared a surprise for my mom and dad's 25th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to look back at lots of old photos. Of course, those photos brought back memories. Some memories were pleasant; others were painful. There was the memory of God saving us and of times with His people, and the memories of times of struggle and of painful goodbyes.

As the memories wove themselves together into the big picture of our family’s life, they kept bringing me back to God’s faithfulness. There have been many times where things have been difficult and didn’t make sense--yet looking back, I can see God’s loving hand bringing just what we needed in each season of life. Remembering was a blessing for me--especially as I remembered the burdens I’d carried for years of trying to be the perfect little girl, and the incredible freedom and joy that came when I realized God’s love for me wasn’t based on me at all!

As we walk through this world, it’s all-to-easy to let life simply become an existence, to pick up burdens, to stress ourselves out about trying to get things “right,” or to simply feel discouraged and burnt out. Yet God Himself knows all about our circumstances and the evil in our heart--and He calls us His child and has promised to lead and guide us! Remembering His truth can restore joy and peace in our hearts, no matter what our circumstances.

This month, think back to when you first realized His love. Remember His truth. Remember that He chose you and formed you. Remember that He is God, and there is no other. Remember the emptiness and meaninglessness of life without Him. And ask Him to help you live each day remembering.

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen… Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God… Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed…Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. - Isaiah 44:1, 2, 6, 8,9, 21 (KJV)

Story: Remember the Truth

Note: You can read the first two stories about Alyssa in our September 2006 and October 2006 newsletters. The second part of this story was partially inspired by workshops by Jamie Lash on who we are in Christ.

Alyssa was having one of those terrible days--those kind of days where, no matter what she did, NOTHING seemed to go right. Everyone at the palace was cranky, the stapler wouldn’t work, and it seemed, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t finish anything on her “to do” list.

She finally stepped aside from her desk and pulled out her father’s letters and the journal in which she’d written special things she didn’t want to forget. She remembered back to several years previously, when she had been a poor beggar on the streets. Then her father, the King, had found her and made her his princess. “Don’t ever forget that I am in charge, Alyssa, and that I love you perfectly,” he had told her.

A smile crept across Alyssa’s face. If her father was in charge, she didn’t need to be upset or worried--even on days when everything seemed to go wrong.

One day a few weeks later, Alyssa decided to go for a walk through the streets of the city--the very streets that, years before, she had called her home.

She hadn’t gotten very far before she was startled by the approach of a few beggars. “We know you,” one of them hissed through a half-toothless mouth. “You’re Mara, the poor, good-for-nothing street beggar.”

Alyssa was startled by the sudden accusation. “It’s true, I used to be called Mara, and I used to be a beggar, but the King has made me His child and--”

“You’re Mara, and you’ll always be Mara. You know you’ve never fit in at the palace. You keep messing up all over the place. You’re a beggar, and you can’t change it.”

“I-uh…” Alyssa felt lost for words. Could it be that this man spoke the truth?

The man continued hurling accusations--twists on the truth that sounded so plausible to Alyssa at that moment. Before she knew it, she had begun to believe these dangerous lies. And, believing the lie, she began to live the lie. She began to act like a beggar instead of a princess.

Alyssa was simply miserable. How she longed for the joy and peace she’d experienced within the castle! Little did she realize that joy and peace could be hers if she’d only remember the truth.

Later that day, one of the palace servants was passing by and noticed Alyssa begging at the street corner. She stopped and addressed the poor princess. “Princess Alyssa, what are you doing living in this misery?”

“I can’t help it,” Alyssa mumbled. “I can’t seem to change.”

The servant gave her a perplexed look. “Alyssa, you don’t have to work to change--you just have to believe that what your father says is true. He has made you His child--remember that and live like it.”

Alyssa gasped as she realized the truth of the servant’s words. She didn’t need to live in this misery. She just needed to remember the truth.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 (KJV)

Homeschool Tip: Asking Why

- By Cris Loop

A few weeks ago, my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. As we leafed through photo albums and remembered God’s faithfulness over the years, I was reminded of the power and blessing that can come from asking “why.”

Why were we homeschooling? Why were we participating in this activity? Why were we studying this subject? Why were we so worried about this decision? Asking why often helps us hear the Lord’s voice. Sometimes it shows us an area where we have gotten off track…other times it gives us courage and confidence to continue in what the Lord has shown us. Either way, asking why can help us avoid “automatic pilot” and keep fresh and invigorated in our homeschool.

By “automatic pilot,” I mean doing things without really thinking them through--just doing them because they seem the default thing to do. It is SO easy to just begin doing things because they’re routine. Automatic pilot seems to make things easy, but it can get us sidetracked and relying on ourselves instead of the Lord. Not only that, but it can rob us of our vision and the joy of living in the remembrance that we are God’s beloved children and have the opportunity to know and see Him in all we do. If we’re just doing things to do them, than we’ve lost sight of why we’re here on this earth--to know and worship our Creator. It’s important to keep asking why--to remember our purpose here on earth and keep our ears open to hearing God’s voice.

This month, I want to encourage you to ask yourself why you’re doing the things your doing. Remember the goal, and renew your vision.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 KJV

Hymn/Poem: Lead Me to Cavalry

- By Jennie E. Hussey, 1921; first appeared in New Songs of Praise and Power. Found at www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/e/leadmetc.htm.

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

Unless otherwise indicated, articles are written by Katherine Loop, © 2008. Where marked Cris Loop, articles written by Christina Loop, © 2008. Feel free to pass these e-mails or articles by Katherine or Cris Loop within these e-mails along to others (please include a link to our web site when you do). If you do not regularly receive Christian Perspective's monthly e-mails and updates and would like to receive them, please send your e-mail address to info@christianperspective.net or sign up on our web site, www.christianperspective.net. If you would like to be removed from the e-mail list, simply let us know, and we will promptly remove you. We always enjoy hearing from you. Drop us a line sometime and share with us your thoughts and suggestions.