Wordless Wednesday: Family Dance!

This past weekend, our homeschool group offered a family "Gala", and we attended for the first time! 

It was lots of fun for all six of us to go, learn row dances like the "Virginia Reel" and many others. It was a formal affair, with many in tuxes, suits, fancy dresses, blouses, and shoes. There was a light dinner and drinks offered. There was a caller and a group of two other musicians who played the piano and violin. The older kids all jumped in and were involved in the dance. Bethany (age 4+) was the hardest to convince that she could do it. Once we got her in there, she had a grand time!

It was a wonderful evening, and we were so glad to attend and fellowship with other homeschoolers!

We're looking forward to attending another dance sometime!

A pair coming down the line...

Showing the amount of people in the ballroom...

Pretty Bethany posing in between dances...

Daddy teaching Mallory to waltz...

Bethany in the hat dance line...

 Hubby and I posing at the end of our dance... it was fun to dress up!

Getting our "walkin' man" on the way to the car... :-D Silly!

2 Samuel 6:14

And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Ecclesiastes 3:4

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Jeremiah 31:13

Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Sowing and reaping

Sowing and Reaping

A few weeks ago in our homeschool, we read one of my favorite children's books, Miss Rumphius. In this picture book, the main character Alice Rumphius sets out to do something to make the world more beautiful. She journeys around her town with lupine seeds (I always loved lupines best, she says) and dropping them along the paths. The next Spring there are lupines everywhere!

 Shortly after we read this book, I read a devotional from Matthew 13:37 discussing Jesus as the Sower. "He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man." The devotional book that I am reading this year is called "Every Day with Jesus" (also called Wonderful Names of Our Wonderful Lord by T.C. Horton and Charles Hurlburt).

This devotional was from May 16:

"The seed is the Word of God. God's Son sowed the good seed. He sows the Word of Truth in the hearts of men. When we sow the Gospel, we sow good seed. When we give out the Word of God we are sowing good seed. Nothing is comparable to the WORD itself. It has potential power. It is a living seed and never fails. We are to imitate our Lord, the Sower and see that the pure seed of the Word is scattered wherever we go. "Sow beside all waters."

Prayer: Lord, make me a seed-sower this day, and hear my prayer for all the sowers in all the world. Amen!"

Matthew 13:18-23

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.  But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:37-39

 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,  and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Isaiah 55:11

(God says)... so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Faith is what if...

Do you enjoy reading good writing which makes you think? This is from an email that I received several years ago that I have kept to read over again. I hope you will enjoy these questions and think about them.

image found here

FAITH IS WHAT IF...

  What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?

    What if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?

    What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?

    What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?

    What if, God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today?

    What if, God took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger? <==(think about this one...)

    What if, God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?

   What if, the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?

    What if, God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

    What if, God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him?

    What if, God answered our prayers  the way we answer His call to service?

    What if, God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

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Makes you think, doesn't it? Are you listening and following HIM today? Have you thanked HIM today?

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.