He Is Worthy

A Thought from Leviticus Please follow the lead of the Holy Spirit when drawing conclusions about Scripture. I am not an authority, but I want to share a point I have been pondering. In reading Leviticus 4 about instructions for a sin offering, I noticed anew how very abhorrent sin is to God. - When anyone sins unintentionally… - If the anointed priest sins… - If a leader sins unintentionally… - If the whole Israelite community sins…

Specific detail is given for the offering for that sin—even unintentional sin. And please note where and from whom these sinners received the instructions for sin offerings: 4:1 “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites…’” Are we wanting our homeschool students to learn that THEY must bring the perfect animal to the perfect spot at the perfect time to make restitution for their sin? NO, but we want them to see what CHRIST paid. How valuable His payment was. And we want them to see how God views sin, even a wrong that we did not mean to do. My opinion: I think we want to review how we as teachers view sin, how we react to intentional or unintentional sin. Review how we view our own sin, leading us to worship for our great gratitude for being rescued from that sin. Making sin little or insignificant makes what Christ did of little value. If you want help in reading Leviticus with your children remember that I’ve suggested:

Leviticus: A Commentary for Children by Nancy E. Ganz

An Advantage You have probably noticed many advantages to being a Christian. The list, in fact, would be endless. But I want to share one advantage that I’ve noticed several times in recent days. The Advantage is just this:

-Life is so much simpler and

-Decisions are so much clearer

…If I take every decision and run it through the lens of Biblical principles. Only the Christian has the privilege of seeing all decisions, all arguments, all misunderstandings, all responses, all hardships through that crystal clear lens of God’s principles for His own followers. For example: - In a dire situation we can see and know that God is working leading us to hope. - In a disappointment we can know God has a plan leading us beyond acceptance to absolute joy. - When we hear ourselves fretting we can pause and ask for clearer vision - and get it! So we smile again.

Let’s determine to check our lens and willingly keep it clear by enjoying fellowship, hearing and reading God’s word and talking to and listening to our Father in heaven.

Fun Discussions and Observations Decorating recently reminded me of this fun homeschool activity. You want to make a festive table centerpiece. You ask for volunteers or decide to do it as a family. When it is being made, do not condemn anyone’s final artwork. Talk about what you like and how members of the same family can have very different likes. In the end you may have someone saying, “I would prefer the blue ribbon, but I’ll enjoy knowing you like it just as it is, Sister.” What do you want to accomplish? God made us to have different tastes on purpose. There is not a right or wrong color preference but rather a noticing of God’s loving, individual choice for each of us. How do we enjoy a centerpiece that’s not that pretty to us? By recognizing God’s work in the one who sees it pretty. Well, I think I’ll practice this and go “enjoy” the tree in our den!!!

Read-Alouds Sometimes academic information, even text books are best used as Read-Alouds. Traditionally a read-aloud is the parent or elder sibling reading to all who are gathered. Light the fire, grab a basket of apples, and cozy up for a great science or history reading. Following the reading, you might want to take opportunity to allow anyone to speak. Simply reviewing or summarizing or asking a question may be a way for you, the teacher, to see misunderstandings and deal with them.

Read-aloud time might also be used to read books like: -Stories of the Hymns (Various authors) -50 People Every Christian Should Know by Warren Wiersbe

-Any of several History of Christianity books -Christian biographies: Corrie Ten Boom Elizabeth Elliot, and George Washington Carver are a few suggestions. Read-aloud! Choosing to give your family happy memories and educational training.

Worship Here are some questions to ask or thoughts to ponder as you prepare for your school day.

Whether our worship is at home, at church, walking, working, serving or playing, we want to see God as the only One worthy. Worthy of our worship, worthy of our listening and following, worthy of our enjoyment and celebration and worthy to receive our repentance—only He is worthy. Even if you take only a few minutes, I think it is wise to have worship throughout your day. Living with a focus on worship sets the stage for weekly worship in your congregation each Sunday. So, for whatever time of worship you may be preparing, consider:

-Who is God that we would bow to Him? -Why do we live with an attitude of worship? -How do we know what God wants from us? -How will I ever learn to connect worship with doing my math?

And consider: God made me to enjoy certain things, therefore I worship Him when I enjoy them and thank Him. As I talk to God in prayer, I worship! As I discover how to worship when I do work I dislike, I am growing in my knowledge of God. Together we worship. Alone we worship. At work or in quiet we worship. Worship fulfills a great need of every heart—but the object of our worship must be the true God, Creator of all. In Him alone we find our hope and our joy and our peace.

Love, Becky