December 11, 2024 – Preparing Heart, Home, and Homeschool for Christ

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Their Hearts, Christ’s Home

Hey, Mama,

This time of year can be a bit crazy. Isn’t it a good thing, though, that God is still on the throne—and nothing can change that? During this crazy Mama-life, there is joy, pain, fatigue, fear, long-suffering, stress, excitement, proud moments where your very heart swells, and so much more. Each day, each hour is a gift, even if, at times, you’d like to hand them back and say, “Stop the train. Let me off. Let me rest.”

In the middle of all those moments, you know which ones I love to embrace? The teachable ones—the ones where you’re giving your kids so much beyond an earthly education. You are educating for eternity; you’re reaching little hearts, preparing them for Christ to come in. This is what homeschooling truly is all about—preparing our children’s hearts (and ours too!) to meet with Christ all through the day.

Those moments are priceless. They are gifts from God. Here’s some encouragement from the pages of The Old Schoolhouse ® Magazine to help you see the value of what you are doing as a homeschool mama.

I Don’t Have Time

It’s NOT Just about Education; It’s about Discipleship

The Gift of Everday Moments

And remember, Mama . . .

All these moments mesh into a chaotic, messy life—but it’s a life going somewhere because you are following the One Who destined you all to be together, this family of yours. This beautiful, crazy, lovely family!

Remember that you are the Mama, Daughter of the Living King, and you wear that title well. Never forget: His hand is on your head today.

– gena

Putting Christ in the Homeschool Through Art

By Sharon Jeffus

Wherever we are in our homeschool journey, what we hear and see can have a profound impact in our life. What we allow in the educational environment at home can have a profound effect on our children’s minds and hearts. Because of the power of the digital world, our tools to teach need to be modernized as well. We need to train our young people to use digital media tools so they can reach their own generation for Christ.

Previously, students could be satisfied doing math problems for a whole hour using pencil and paper, etc. Now we have a media that entices young people visually with short, amazing videos leading to them to become addicted to watching the creations of others instead of bringing their own ideas to life.

There is a saying—“What you are doing is speaking so loudly I can’t hear what you are saying.” We should expose young people to a variety of visual messages chronologically through modern culture in the arts, and then, after discussing those messages, encourage our students to create a Gospel message (no matter how simple) to enhance their learning. Watching older movies such as Heidi, Sergeant York, or Quo Vadis can give them an idea of Christianity and its power throughout the ages in all kinds of media. Before the invention of the camera, artists recorded history in paintings, drawings, sculpture, needlework, etc. When the populace couldn’t read, the church created great Biblical images in such mediums as paint and stained glass that pictured salvation. Today, we have a populace that chooses not to read, depending instead on digital media that generally does not glorify God. 

Watching current Christian movies such as The Jesus Revolution or the Love Comes Softly series, or the Animated Bible Series, is good, but even better is to encourage children to communicate the Gospel using their own original ideas after watching. Tux Paint, SCRATCH, Inkscape, Gimp, and Blender are several of many free programs children can use to create a Biblical message. Using these tools is a way for children to visually share Christ, not only in their home, but, if their ideas are good, with others.

Sharon Jeffus has a degree in Art Education from John Brown University and then went on to further studies to complete her certification to teach English.  She also studied art at Metropolitan in Denver and sculpting at Southern Illinois University.  She developed the Visual Manna teaching method that uses art to reinforce core subjects such as her book Teaching Geography through Art. For information on her camps and intensives go to  www.visualmanna.wordpress.com  or email me at visualmanna@gmail.com.

David West

How are You Preparing?

Preppers stockpile food in their garages, their closets, and in safely secured containers for a time when it’s needed. Preppers are ready. They are ready for natural disasters and emergencies. They keep food, water, and other items tucked away, not being used, but ready for the day of disaster.

Readiness is admirable. Readiness is commanded. Jesus said in Luke 12:40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Christians should be ready, ready for the return of Christ. 

When it comes to preparing our heart, home, and homeschool for Christ, believers should have a different perspective from disaster preppers. God’s Word is not to be put on a shelf, sealed up and opened only in case of emergency. Rather, Scripture should be read, studied, discussed, and proclaimed. It should permeate our homes and infuse our conversations. We should talk about it when we lie down, when we rise up, and when we walk by the way.

The active, piercing Word of God prepares us to fight sin. We store it our hearts, not in the garage, so we might not sin against God. God’s Word is living and powerful, powerful enough to fortify us against the schemes of the devil. It sanctifies and purifies. It grows us and matures us. God’s Word prepares us for life on earth today, and for life with Christ in eternity.

Christians should let the Word of Christ richly dwell within. Take it off the shelf, then open and read. Trust that God, by His Spirit and through His Word, will do His work in your life. Trusting in the power of God’s Word to do God’s work is the first step when preparing heart, home, and homeschool for Christ.

About the author

David West is an ordinary father serving an extraordinary Savior. He is husband to Danette, father of six, deacon at The Cornerstone Bible Church, past chairman of the Sacramento Organization of Parent Educators (scopehome.org), sales manager by vocation, and a lover of books and writing.

Does your child have questions about dinosaurs, creation or the Flood? We can help! The K-8 Student Zone videos are now available both online and DVD! Please visit  www.genesisapologetics.com/k-8-student-zone to learn more.

Adam and Dianne Riveiro

Christ as Center

As believers, Christ should be at the center of all we do. While this may sound simplistic, it is not something that happens by chance. We must be very deliberate about making sure He has the preeminence (Colossians 1:8).

• Do you have daily, personal time with the Lord? This not only allows us to hear from Him through His Word but also allows us to worship Him and confess our sin. These are both important elements of making Christ preeminent in our lives.
• Does your home reflect the spirit of Christ? Of course, we can put Bible verses on the walls and have Christian music playing (all good things!), but if our homes are full of contention and strife, this is neither honoring to Christ nor inviting Him to feel welcome within our walls.
• Do you immerse your homeschool year in prayer? Ask God to direct the curriculum choices you make. Beg Him to show you the “non-academic” areas your children need guidance in. We are not just schooling little academics but little disciples. Making His Word a central part of our homeschool life is essential.

May we all take some time to reflect on whether we have truly prepared our lives to be a place where Christ is preeminent, and if we discover He isn’t, may we take the necessary steps to change it.

-Dianne

About the author

Pastor Adam and Dianne Riveiro live in Easton, Massachusetts, where Adam leads Liberty Baptist Church. They’re the authors of several books, including Hope from Our Heart to Yours: A 30-Day Devotional Journey for Special Needs Families, available from their family’s publishing label at www.readyscribepublications.com. They have four children: Bethany, Kaylee, AJ, and Peyton. They’re passionate about helping their fellow special needs families find joy and contentment in Christ.

Pillar of Knowledge

Roger Smith

What Has Made the Greatest Difference in Your Family?

Recently, I was asked this question. Here is one of the three I shared.

Family worship and devotions were not a part of our routine, although my wife and I were deeply committed to Christ, teaching and mentoring others in the faith.

A speaker at our annual homeschool convention challenged us to find a way for me, as the father, to have daily spiritual discussions and worship with our children at home. I had always intended to do it, but it was hard to get to it. Partly, because I had spiritual pride.

I wanted the discussions to be my “lesson plan” from my own Biblical knowledge. This kept me from doing anything with my children.

Eventually, I decided anything was far better than nothing. So, I found a Bible story book and got started with a 10-minute devotional each morning.

It made quite a change in the Smith household! 

No! Every day was not special and deeply insightful, but through it, we communicated values, learned songs, and memorized scripture.

Steve Demme, of MathUSee, has a great book on this topic, and it will not make you feel like a failure. Find it here: https://buildingfaithfamilies.org/books/family-worship/.

Just do it!

About the author

Dr. Roger Smith is a family doctor in rural Louisiana, where he and his wife, Jan, raised four adventurous children who are all grown, making their own mark in the world. He speaks and writes on parenting issues and produces brief videos that can be found on Facebook @ParentingMattersNow.

How is your worldview? Is it prepared for a culture where Christ, Scripture, and everything you believe will be ridiculed and challenged? Discover an intellectually defensible and God-honoring worldview for you and your children and develop a truly Unbreakable Faith. This SchoolhouseTeachers.com course will nurture and strengthen your faith, joy, and assurance in Christ, as well as turn arguments against faith in Christ into opportunities to share the futility of unbelief, the greatness of God, and the necessity of Jesus and the Gospel.