Jewish children (near exit of Western Wall area I think)

The words to this children’s song are simple and sound so good to sing or say with words.  And it is good.  In fact, I can fill my life with good works (which are in fact commanded by Jesus) which seemingly depict what He would do.   But it goes deeper than that.  My heart must be changed.  It must be washed with grace (the power and desire to do God’s will, or as Strong’s implies – the Divine influence upon the heart and it’s being reflected in the life).  If I am not truly changed inside – I could give all my goods to feed the poor (a good thing) and it profit me nothing.  And grace must be ministered to us continually – being multiplied for the many ways and times we need it – the inward desire to do what’s right and the power to carry it out.

What I am trying to say, is - how many times do I try to do the right things but fall short in my heart attitudes?  Am I allowing Jesus to in fact change me on the inside so that I WANT to do what’s right because of the Spirit working in me, and am not just trying to DO what’s right in my own strength.

Our tour group hiking near Tel Dan

It’s true that if we love Jesus, we will obey Him and keep His commandments.  But He also invites us to draw near to Him.

Am I truly coming to KNOW Him?

Seeking Him, finding Him, and knowing Him makes ALL the difference.  And it isn’t just head knowledge, it’s personal experience – it’s the knowing Him on the inside that brings peace and contentment and in fact victory – in Him.

Atop Mt. Carmel

I recently heard a two-part testimony given by Ravi Zacharias (here and here) that just moved me and inspired me to truly live out the life Christ called me to live.  How many times do I focus on the difficulties encountered in following Him, rather than on coming to know Who He is and embracing the life He has so freely given and the close relationship afforded?  Some good may come from those who choose to follow Him at a distance but I want to be up close – able to see His face which is all revealing of His purposes, compassion, delight, mercy, forgiveness, love, zeal, and yes even His anguish at my failures and anger at the wickedness prevalent in the world.

I am thinking now of the song,

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?  No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free.”

Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion— For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

And also, this one (a chorus we sing at church)…

“Close to Thee, close to Thee, let me live every day close to Thee.

With Thy Holy Spirit guide me, in Thy pavilion hide me,

Let me live every day close to Thee.”

My brother, Andrew, walking the street where Jesus walked (next to the Temple Mount).

Close enough that I can feel Him, hear him, and as my brother, Andrew, mentioned in church last night, be guided by His eye (Psalm 32:8).  And not only as a servant is guided by a master but as a friend who is able to be confided in by my Greater Friend, closer than even a brother (John 15:14-15, Proverbs 18:24).

I have been reading  Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza, a survivor of the Rwandan Holocaust and how she came to know God in a much deeper way through the incredible terror, suffering, and loss she experienced losing all her immediate family (with the exception of one brother out of the country) and hiding for 91 days in a small bathroom with several other women enduring frequent threats (often audible and just beyond a few inches of plastered wall) of being discovered by killers.  Hardly able to speak and tormented with mental anguish, she cried out to God and was given great comfort and strength during those dark days and a greater love relationship with Him she had never had before.  In a video clip of her sharing her testimony she said she felt like she was “falling in love with Him” during that time.  It was because she drew near to Him in her hour of need and He responded.

Yes, I want to know God as it says in in Philippians 3:10.  The first part of that verse conveys our desire to know Him in the “power of His resurrection” speaks of might and miracles, but the part about knowing Him in the “fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” requires us to know Him in ways that are often difficult.  However, the difference is we are sharing in them WITH Him and that makes all things possible and the result profitable – for us and others.

The Garden Tomb

What I want to convey through all I have said is this:

I want to be closer to Jesus and know Him more deeply.

Not just know more about Him, but know Him, the Man, Christ Jesus, in the relationship He has so graciously afforded me.

I don’t want to squander this opportunity.

May this be my heart’s cry and the cry of all who have heard of His fame.  Know Him.  Make Him yours.

I know we will never regret it.

]]> http://rachelhunt.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/that-i-may-know-him/feed/ 2 Rachel Jewish boy and girl Tel Dan hiking trail 2 Mt. Carmel Rachel Andrew on street where Jesus walked Galilee from hotel Garden Tomb 4 http://rachelhunt.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/welcome-2012/ http://rachelhunt.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/welcome-2012/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:02:56 +0000 Rachel http://rachelhunt.wordpress.com/?p=1726 Keep reading →]]> Through 2011…

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” (I Samuel 7:12)

So let us call out to each other through the darkness, till the gloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging the pilgrim host. Let the echoes gather till a very storm of Hallelujahs break in thundering waves around the sapphire throne, and then as the morning breaks we shall find ourselves at the margin of the sea of glass, crying, with the redeemed host, “Blessing and honor and glory be unto him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!” (Streams in the Desert excerpt)

Into 2012…

“The land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12) (Streams in the Desert excerpt)

May God grant us victory as we go forward to possess the land He has already given to be ours – the abundant life He has promised, the overcoming life and ultimate reward someday. The varied landscape replete with hills and valleys and comforting streams provides challenges, successes, lessons, discoveries, surprises, and consequently should produce growth. Growth that renews our minds with the mind of Christ, and spurs us on to higher ground.

(Photos from our fall vacation to the Smoky Mountains)

Eliminating it {pretty much except for the 7 – Layer Salad for special events} in our diet as a result of becoming aware of - shall we say “not so good” ingredients - has brought about challenges, especially for sandwiches and the so-delicious Chicken Salad.  Until…now!

Over the years, I tried several times to come up with a good alternative but just hadn’t been satisfied.  But this time I think we have a winner – at least for my palate – and I must say, my family and friends who have tried it have all given it a thumbs up.  I am…very thankful!

Above: Chicken Salad made with my homemade Miracle Whip salad dressing!

HOMEMADE MIRACLE WHIP

Put the following ingredients into a Vita-Mix or blender:

2 raw eggs (from grass-fed chickens preferably)

1 tsp. salt plus a pinch or so more (I use Celtic sea salt)

1 tsp. prepared mustard

3 TBS. organic sugar  – maybe a bit more   (honey might work well, too)

4 TBS. apple cider vinegar

pinch of garlic (maybe 1/8 tsp. – 1/4 tsp.)

(For more of a mayonnaise taste, as opposed to Miracle Whip, decrease the vinegar to about 2TBS. and the sugar to about 2 TBS. or so.)

Place lid on Vita-Mix or blender (needs to be a lid with opening or you could maybe crack the lid.  I use a Vita-Mix and cover with my hand, allowing room enough to do the following.)

Pour 1 cup of oil (I use grapeseed and have had pretty good success with flax oil / olive oil is a bit strong but I have used it) into a container with a pouring spout and one that is easy to hold.

With opening on lid covered by hand, turn machine on and begin very slowly pouring the oil in.  This is important to do slowly so the dressing can emulsify and thicken.  This step should take about 2 minutes or so (guesstimating).

Lick hand to taste.   (Then wash of course!) and pour dressing into container it’s size and keep refrigerated.

Enjoy!

Self-forgetful.  God-centered.  Other(‘s needs)-mindful.  The most blissful and wonderful of states in which to exist.

The pictures. Grey. Billowing smoke. Ashes that threaten to bury everything around it.

The people. Last moments of life filled with fear. The looking down. Not knowing which is worse. Fire behind or the decision to jump.

The families. The last phone calls. The prayers and the hopes.

The memories. The missed voices and smiles. The tears that commemorate.

My eyes welling up with wet as I see, as I listen this morning. My heart longing for the world to come where things of this nature never happen.

And then my eyes take this in…

“Fear not; I am the first and the last:”

Revelation 1:17

And I am reminded.

In all our remembering this weekend, remember this…HE is our ONLY HOPE. And that I am HIS CHILD?! No matter what happens here, HE holds ME in the palm of HIS HAND and only the best is yet to come.

In my opinion, these are some basic important things that should be the foundation for every home {school}…

1. Order – Children learn to honor, love, and obey (knowing their parents love them), have a routine (that is managed by parents to be a good servant but not their master), have chores/responsibilities and know they are a part of the family team that makes the home a happy “well-oiled machine”. 

2. Devotion to God – Children are daily read Bible stories along with passages straight out of the Bible by their father especially and/or mother, pray individually and as a family, learn that the reason their family does everything they do is because of God and the principles He has given, realizing His ways are best for them – to give them the greatest happiness in this life – and the one to come!

3. Togetherness – Work together, play together and enjoy doing it together!

4. Character Training – not a “subject” to be studied so much as example training.  Joyfulness, Thankfulness, Forgiveness, Repentance, Humility, Love, Meekness (controlled strength), Generosity, and so many more are “caught more than taught”.  A thankful happy heart makes everything seem possible!

5. Projects – small, simple but doable things that fathers can help sons do and mothers can help daughters do (or all together…some things don’t matter, some do….I just think it is MAJORLY important for Dad to be very involved as much as he can be – especially with a son!  And the projects are important (building something, painting something – whether it is just a “made-up” project for them or not) because they can experience success with completing a project and feeling that sense of accomplishment and learning a new skill.

6. Serving others – it is so good for children to be involved in doing something for somebody else – learning to serve others and think past themselves (as opposed to just focusing on meeting their own needs) – this might include visiting the sick at hospitals, home, or nursing home (singing, quoting scripture, making cookies, coloring pictures/cards for others), making dinner for family or friends, or even doing a chore for a sibling “just because”!

7. Outdoor Time – Free play outside, romping about and exploring God’s big outdoor playground – observing little creatures and then looking up info about them online or in a book from the library is real authentic learning!

8. Read aloud Time – Reading good quality books/stories (in addition to Bible stories) that encourage children to develop good character, manners, and correct mindsets for the way they should behave and treat parents and each other as well as stimulating their minds and forming new wrinkles in grey matter – makes for enjoyable bonding and learning time.

9. Academics – basic 3 Rs – Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic!  It is true that you can fit just about everything in one of those categories!  Science and History can be learned from reading interesting stories about famous people or animals and nature.  Utilize the library, but I would recommend using discretion (wrong character mindsets about how to treat parents, etc. and concepts such as evolution are embedded in way too many books)! 

10. Keep it simple and ENJOY your children!  Their little kid days are numbered!  

11. Patience and Understanding – DON’T EXPECT ALL CHILDREN TO LEARN THE SAME WAY OR AT THE SAME PACE!  Celebrate and delight in each child’s unique skills, abilities and learning styles.  Some may be able to sit still and be a bit more of a book learner (although none need sit still for too long a time).  Although all need to learn to focus and listen, shorter (gradually progressing to longer – depending on age and maturity) periods of “sit-still” time are a good way to start. 

I am not the most experienced person but I have been homeschooled [and have helped homeschool others], and do enjoy this subject of homeschooling – which is really all about discipling your children in the Lord (and academics are just part of that).

I really enjoyed this homeschooling blog post over at Leading Little Hearts Home.

“Now is the time for sowing seeds to continue harvesting into the fall. Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower plants need about 16 weeks to mature so plants should be in the ground no later than early August. Late sowings of crops like beans, carrots, salad greens, cucumbers, beets, and radish seeds ensure harvests through fall. Perennial flowers such as poppies, bachelor buttons or sweet William can now be sown to get an early start on flowering next spring. Sow pansies in flats now for fall transplant and early spring color.”

…so says Burpee.com.  Sounds good to me!

Click here to read more…

[Photo source: http://peasoupoftheday.blogspot.com/]

It’s Tuesday, morning stuff happening…awakening, a call to check on a friend who’s now appendix-less as of last night, breakfast with my sweet Alexis cousin, a call to check and see if we are going to pick the beans today and journey through the woods to learn to can them, Bible story / animal book time, apron on doing dishes with her, then at her request the “Red River and God’s People” story aka God turning the Nile River into blood, along with frogs, flies, etc., and then a quick (supposed to be…I’m still here…typing this now) check to confirm that my friend is right about freezing zucchini and squash without blanching (which I still have to find out) but I check out Ann’s blog and read about this daily principle which my carnal nature seeks to avoid…

Matthew 10:38

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me,

is not worthy of me.

I try to digest this. 

I must take [receive, accept, take, hold] my cross of self-denial, [exposure to death (of self)], or else I am not worthy [suitable, deserving, comparable] of HIM.

Who do I think I am, silently demanding my own way – thinking it will bring my happiness? 

Something in me MUST die…to self…and live…to Christ. 

I think about this verse, what I read in the blog about letting patience (which comes through tribulation) have her perfect work (complete with pressure cooker,  steam and all) that it will yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness (HIS nature) and I think…perhaps a green bean canning session is in order after all.