Motivation Monday

God's wisdom

“True education means much more than many suppose. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. By some, education is placed next to religion, but true education is religion. The Bible is to be made the child’s first textbook. From this book, parents are to give wise and godly instruction. The word of God is to be the rule of the life. The first lesson that children are to be taught is that God is their Father. This lesson should be given them in their earliest years. Parents are to realize that they are responsible before God for making their children acquainted with their Heavenly Father. From the very first it is their duty to teach their children the importance of obeying the law of God. That God is love, is to be taught by every lesson.”

Review and Herald- June 6, 1899

 

Continuing Education… for the Parents…

Many times we feel like we have no extra time as homeschooling parents to squeeze into our days, especially for reading books.  We hear others that have read books on different educational styles, learning styles, homemaking and more.  Sometimes that is discouraging and we feel like we’ll never get to that book pile that sits on our bedside table.

I will admit to being in that group that couldn’t figure out where to squeeze in time to go visit my book pile.  Before, I used to do school at the dining room table and we were always moving books on and off the table, so having books near me didn’t work very well.   I also took advantage of short breaks for me to step into the kitchen to get a meal started.  While that was nice at the time, I never felt like I got ahead on anything.  I also tried reading on my laptop, but found that I often got distracted from my book when I heard my email “ding”.

I did, however, come up with an idea that is solving that problem for me.  I know it will sound simplistic, but it is working for me.  We recently moved a table into an area just at the top of the stairs where we now do most of our sit down work.  I have a pile of books that sits next to me at the table, and I never have to clear this table.  I have several books that I am working on at the same time.  When my daughter has some work to do, instead of running off and getting distracted and her needing to pull me back to the table because she had finished, I now just choose a book that I can read for 5 or 10 minutes while I wait for her to finish.

book pile

I am finding this is helping me get through my book piles.  It is also keeping me from getting distracted and keeping my daughter from running off when she thinks I’m too busy to help her with something else. I also am not distracted by email when I stick to reading “books” rather than reading online in a kindle or nook app.  School is getting done in a timelier manner and I am accomplishing more.

Sometimes getting more done is a matter of organizing your space to make it work for you.  Please share in the comment section how you make time and space for your reading hobby and time for continuing education.  

Motivation Monday

friends“The only safe-guard for children and youth, is the love and fear of God. Let them choose for their companions those who give evidence that they will encourage good purposes, orderly habits, and uprightness of character. Let them choose for companions those who practice the Bible truth, and walk according to the light that shines upon their pathway.”

The Youth’s Instructor, January 8, 1894

Motivation Monday

Daniel and his friends

 

 

“The youth should stand in a position where their hearts may be wholly the Lord’s; where they are honoring God with their strength. God will then honor them by giving them knowledge and wisdom. Thus did Daniel in the courts of Babylon, standing true to principle amid the corruptions of the heathen. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.”

 

The Youth’s Instructor, October 25, 1894

Motivation Monday

Mother and children with Jesus

 

 

“It is the mother’s privilege to train her children for heaven. This is her high calling. But the work is a difficult one, requiring more than human strength and wisdom, and oftentimes the weary, over-burdened mother feels that the task is too much for her. But listen, tired mother, to the invitation of the Saviour, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” Go to Him, with your little ones in your arms. He who has said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not,” will not turn you away. He will welcome you, and will give you peace and joy. In His presence you will find strength that will give you courage and wisdom for the most trying hour.”

Signs of the Times- August 20, 1902

Motivation Monday

“Teach the children to see Christ in nature. Take them out into the open air, under the noble trees, into the garden; and in all the wonderful works of creation teach them to see an expression of His love.”

Child Guidance, pg 534

Quotes Just for Mothers

These are my favorite Spirit of Prophecy quotes for mothers. I hope that you find them as encouraging as I do.

“The king upon his throne has no higher work than has the mother. The mother is queen of her household. She has in her power the molding of her children’s characters, that they may be fitted for the higher, immortal life. An angel could not ask for a higher mission; for in doing this work she is doing service for God. Let her only realize the high character of her task, and it will inspire her with courage. Let her realize the worth of her work and put on the whole armor of God, that she may resist the temptation to conform to the world’s standard. Her work is for time and for eternity.” Adventist Home, p. 231
“Next to God, the mother’s power for good is the strongest known on earth.”  Adventist Home, p. 240

“How far-reaching in its results was the influence of that one Hebrew woman, and she an exile and a slave! The whole future life of Moses, the great mission which he fulfilled as the leader of Israel, testifies to the importance of the work of the Christian mother. There is no other work that can equal this. To a very great extent the mother holds in her own hands the destiny of her children. She is dealing with developing minds and characters, working not alone for time, but for eternity. She is sowing seed that will spring up and bear fruit, either for good or for evil. She has not to paint a form of beauty upon canvas or to chisel it from marble, but to impress upon a human soul the image of the divine.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 244

“Let every mother feel that her moments are priceless; her work will be tested in the solemn day of accounts. Then it will be found that many of the failures and crimes of men and women have resulted from the ignorance and neglect of those whose duty it was to guide their childish feet in the right way. Then it will be found that many who have blessed the world with the light of genius and truth and holiness, owe the principles that were the mainspring of their influence and success to a praying, Christian mother.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 244

“Let mothers come to Jesus with their perplexities. They will find grace sufficient to aid them in the management of their children. The gates are open for every mother who would lay her burdens at the Saviour’s feet. He who said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not,” still invites the mothers to lead up their little ones to be blessed by Him. Even the babe in its mother’s arms may dwell as under the shadow of the Almighty through the faith of the praying mother. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. If we will live in communion with God, we too may expect the divine Spirit to mold our little ones, even from their earliest moments.” Desire of Ages, 512