On which Chair do you sit? Does that Influence your Children? And a Hello Mornings Link-Up

In April 1999 Christo and I recommitted our lives to God after hearing a teaching about the Three Chairs.

Image source

The teaching was based on the scripture in Josua 24:14-15 

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In this passage and the passages that follow a picture is given of Josua who knew the Lord and the works he has done for Israel; the Elders after Josua who knew the Lord and knew about the works the Lord has done for Israel in the previous generation; and the Next Generation who knew not the Lord, nor His works. Judges 2:7-10

A comparison was made how each person sit on one of three chairs. 

The first chair will be a person who is sold out to God. A person who choose God as his personal Savior and made a personal commitment to God at some stage in his life. He is committed to God in every area of his life. This person has a personal relationship with God 

The second chair will be a person who is somewhat committed to God.  He most probably grew up in a home committed to God, accepted the Lord as his personal Savior at one stage, but never made a personal choice to be sold out to God and are just to busy in his life to do so. This person has at most, a responsibility towards God.

The third chair is a person in constant conflict about God and religion and have not yet chosen Jesus as his personal Savior. 

It is beautifully illustrated by the life of Abraham and his offspring:

Abraham (in the first chair) was in a God-first-me-second relationship with God. For Abraham God was personal and real.

Isaac (in the second chair) was in a Me-first-God-second relationship. He compromised in his relationship with God and his family.

The consequences of Isaac's compromising life, is Jacob (in the third chair), who started of a life of me, and me alone.  He took everything away from his brother, manipulated his father, wrestled with God, always trying to be number 1.

Another beautiful illustration is in the life of David and his offspring:

David (in the first chair), is whole hearted for God, he never wrestled with himself, because he was constantly dying to self. He focused on people and served God;

Solomon (in the second chair), started out whole hearted to God choosing wisdom above anything else, but as he grow older he became half hearted, compromising with many wives and their gods.  His life ends living for self, satisfying self and focusing on possessions. He build the Temple of God for 7 years, but spent 13 years on his own palace.

The result of Solomon’s life is Rehoboam (in the third chair), who has no heart for God. He cannot find himself, his life is purposeless and he seeked peace, which he found nowhere.

Interesting how Jesus is also illustrating these three chairs in Revelation:

People who are hot (first chair), people who are cold (third chair) and then people in the second chair who are lukewarm.  Every person in life needs a goal to live for, something they really get excited about, fulfill their life.

The reason why this teaching had Christo and myself recommit our lives to God, was because the chair I’m sitting on while raising my children will very strongly determine and influence their choice of which chair they will sit on when they grow up.

As in the illustration of Joshua, if we as parents are sold out to God; getting excited about God and our life with God; making decisions based on Scripture and our personal relationship with God; have works of miracles in our every day life, they will be attracted to a life with God.  It will be so much easier for such a child to at some stage in their life, make a choice for God.

But if parents are like the elders in Joshua’s illustration who only have works they remember from their parent’s lives, no works and miracles in their own life right now. Living a life of compromising, more sold out to themselves, their jobs and possessions. Modeling a lukewarm religion and no personal relationship, making decisions based on what the saints do, such a child will push away from God. It will not be very attractive, not real. How do you illustrate to a child a God capable of working miracles in their lives, if they themselves have no miracles to show? This child will observe his/her parents chasing a career and possessions which do not fulfill, leaving them with conflict and a purposeless life, not able to find themselves, making decisions based on what society dictates.  

Even Paul in 1 Cor 2:14 - 3:23 describes the different lives as spiritual, carnal (know God, but commit to self) and natural (don’t know God).  

Over the past year I again recommitted my life to God through the Hello Mornings Challenge.  I noticed the number one thing that influenced my children the most, and I didn’t even think it important, is for them to wake up in the morning and find me in God’s Word, studying God’s Word and His will for our life and on my knees earnestly praying for guidance in our lives. For the Lord’s hand of blessing, for difficult decisions in our lives and the calling on our/their lives.

The routine of waking up early every morning to spend time with God in His Word and prayer, also re-motivated my husband and older children to spend time with God, only because actions is more powerful than words.

For me to be able to wake up early, I’m forced to plan my whole day so I can go to bed earlier at night. The model to my children is that my whole life is now structured around my time with God, giving the Lord my best! They also experience how my days started with the Lord differ from days not rising early and spent in the presence of the Lord, which illustrate to them the beautiful fragrance of the Lord.

Without the Hello Mornings challenge and accountability of fellow Christian Women, the change in my life would not have happened.  Looking back at my life, I was giving God my left overs and it left me only partly satisfied, living a compromising, second chair life.  There is so much more in a whole hearted, sold out relationship with God.  The good news is that at any stage of your life, it is possible to move from the second to the first chair - again.  God is always the same and He is waiting.

The next Hello Morning Challenge starts on the 20th of August.  If you feel the Lord pushing on your heart to recommit your life, why not join the Fall (No Spring) Hello Morning Challenge? Thirty seven ladies of South Africa is registered already and over 2,500 ladies around the World! There is still space available in this group if you want to join me, alternatively plenty of Facebook and Twitter groups around the World to choose from.  

Register now!

In August 2011 I learned about the Hello Mornings Challenge through a link up party, so please forgive me but I'm linking this posting to as many Link-up Parties as possible, just maybe someone need the Hello Mornings Challenge as much as I did:

Maximize Your Mornings Link-Up.

The Better Mom Monday Link-Up

 






Raising Arrows Link up

Titus 2sdays

Hearts 4 Home Thursday

Teach Me Tuesdays

Encourage one Another Link-up

Living Well Wednesdays

Much love

Linnie

Seeking the Lord in the Morning - So Much More!

It is so important to have a longing for the knowledge of God as given to us in His Word, when trying to wake up early for Bible study.  

I believe there are many different motivations for sacrificing sleep and spend early mornings with the Lord. Longing for fellowship with the Spirit, the Lord’s comfort, encouragement, unconditional love and supplication of heartfelt prayer especially in a time of tribulation and hardship, the most general motivation. BUT, what about days when things are actually going smooth? No difficult decisions to make, no emergency situation that make me rush to the Lord.   On such mornings I will lay in bed, and all the different excuses for staying in bed will roll through my mind like the credits on a movie screen. 

I just experienced it over this weekend.  It was a relaxing weekend, no dead lines, nothing important on the to-do-list, no serious conflicting issues, that make me long for encouragement and guidance of the Spirit. Personally I was content and emotionally in the ‘better half of my monthly cycle.”  When the alarm went off, it was still pitch dark outside and I could hear the soothing sound of rain on the rooftop. My dear husband was peacefully asleep next to the tiny, warm body of our two year old son, who called sometime during the night, because he was cold and thirsty. I wasn’t keen to share his single bed for most of the night and carried him over to our bed, where he very eagerly moved close in behind his Daddy back. 

I had NO reason in the world to pull myself from my loved ones and get out of my comfortable, warm bed, to sit on a cold chair, at a cold desk on a freezing cold morning.

One after the other excuses and compromising thoughts filled my mind. After all it was weekend, I got up early every morning of the week for my family who need me to rise before them. There was no rush for this day. I didn’t need to wake them up and I liked the idea of spoiling them this one day to sleep in. If I got out of bed, there was the possibility I would disturb some of them and wake them up. Surely I will be able to find some time during the day to have Bible study and prayer, we’re not bound to a schedule today.  

But the next moment I identified something else in my spirit.  A longing to receive personal teaching/training from my Heavenly Father. What am I going to miss out on, when I stay in bed? I want to get to know His will more and more, His agenda for my life, understand God’s Manual for Man to live a holy life. This was a different longing than what I was used to.  In the past I mostly longed to share with the Lord my agenda, my hardships and try to find His will in that. 

Over the past 8 months, since I’m doing the Hello Mornings and Do Not Depart Bible Studies, I acquired so much wisdom and counsel from my Heavenly Father, through studying the Bible myself.  All the Do Not Depart Bible Studies are based on the Savoring Living Water Study Method, which teach you to observe any passage, chapter or book through initial reading and finding context; digging deeper in God’s Word through observing Truths, Promises, Commands; and Personal application of these three aspects in how we love and live.

From Savoring Living Water:

“Truths:

Lies fill our world and seep into our homes. If we don’t know His truths then lies will take us captive. If lies bind us, we doubt God’s love and question His faithfulness when difficulties arise.  If lies fill our minds, we define God’s character based upon our circumstance rather than based upon His revelation. Through the Savoring Living Water Study Method I’m able to maintain an arsenal of truths in my heart and soul in order to combat lies.

Promises:

At times He Speaks conditional promises, meaning they will only be experienced when a condition is met. Other times He gives unconditional promises, meaning that they will happen regardless.

Commands:

He’s our Father. He loves us. He designed us. He knows us perfectly. He gives us commands for our good and His glory. When we choose to obey, we choose His blessing.”

Structure and purpose was now typical of my Bible study. That didn’t characterize my studies in the past, and it was pulling me out of the warm comfortable bed, to a secret place filled with so much more warmth, comfort, peace and revelation, I couldn’t resist.

Through the Savoring Living Waters Study Guide I could design a place, time and plan to get to such a warm, comfortable, peaceful place. It is hard work to seek the Lord, even more to seek His will for my life, and then step out and do it. I remember the times when I just couldn’t figure out the meaning of passages in the Bible; seasons where I felt distanced from the Lord and couldn’t focus; moments when my heart was cluttered with sin and I was under so much personal condemnation, as well as condemnation from the enemy of my soul, that I was to ashamed to seek the Lord.  

Then there were the times I would only rush to the Lord like the seriously injured rush to Emergency Rescue.  My quiet times were determined by my state of well being. How seriously I needed the Lord for the day? And the sad part of that state of mind, is me only reading the ‘nice verses’ in the Bible.  The verses on grace, His love for me and redemption.  I would read the passages I knew would comfort me and assure me God loves me even though I’m a sinner. 

Nothing wrong with reading and clinging to these verses, but there are so much more to discover in God’s Love Letter to me. Chapters on repentance, instructions to turn from my wicked ways; passages on becoming holy because the Lord is holy. Sections in which the Lord asked changes in my life I wasn’t ready to commit myself to, I would just quickly page through. I would often get up from my Bible study time with a feeling, “there was nothing in it for me…” I was still thirsty.  This was all due to my lack of a plan and structure, practical tools to quench my thirst . What a breakthrough moment for me this morning to see through all these and long to be with the Lord, no matter what He sees fit for me for today!

Oh! I know I’m only scratching on the surface of what it is all about, but I’m in anticipation and know I’m entering a new season of seeking the Lord, like a man in the desert seeking water. 

Bible study isn’t about me anymore, it isn’t about how I will feel anymore. It is all about me seeking the will of God Almighty. It isn’t about my happiness anymore, it is all about becoming holy and pleasing to the Lord, breaking down the barriers between God and me, through the instructions in His Word.

With much love

Linnie

Hello Mornings Challenge open for Registration!

The Hello Mornings Summer (No Winter) Challenge is open for registration! For South African's and ladies in the Southern Hemisphere it will be Winter!

With the Spring (No Fall) Hello Mornings Challenge 40 ladies reacted on my challenge “No more sloppy mornings”.  We joined together in two closed facebook groups and true life changed took place. In one of the groups two ladies succeeded to wake up early for 13 weeks every morning, to spend time with the Lord, before their children woke up. Isn’t that wonderful to know it is possible! 

Just imagine the truth and grace which manifested in the homes, of all the Mothers who started their days at the feet of Jesus.  

But it isn’t easy to replace old habits with new ones.  It takes time, for sure not only 28 days, as many of you have noticed.  Many of the ladies realized that during this past challenge, being their first, their biggest challenge was to simply get up earlier. Many experienced extra trails and hardships, while doing the challenge and contrary to what was expected it got harder and not easier as the challenge proceeded. In many of the homes the children all of a sudden started to wake up earlier, while Mom was still trying to! May I share a secret with you: “That was exactly what I experienced with my first challenge in September 2011.”  The focus of the challenge for me was just to get in the habit of getting to bed earlier to be able to rise earlier in the morning, before my children for 3-4 of the 7 mornings. For some weeks I strived only to rise early every other morning, but as my hunger for the peaceful mornings with the Lord increased, I had motivation to rise early more faithfully.

So, if you are feeling discouraged with what you achieved with your first Hello Morning Challenge, please take courage - You are perfectly on track!  

So much so, that the Hello Mornings Team have decided to give you a choice on three different tracks with the Fall (No Spring) Challenge August 8 to November 16^th 2012. The first track will be to rise early and spend time with the Lord. Track two will be to rise early, spend time with the Lord and add planning. If you choose the third track it will be to add exercise to rising early and spending time with the Lord, all before the children wake up. But more on that later this year.

Let’s discuss the Challenge on hand. 

The Summer (No Winter) Challenge from May 14 till July 8^th. I believe most of you who did the first challenge, tasted the sweet fruit of spending time of the Lord first thing in the morning, so why not jump into the next challenge and let us help each other to fine tune this life giving habit?

I know many of you feel you tried so hard with little or no success, and I want to share with you a precious piece of wisdom shared by Kat Orr, Tuesday night during the live chat party. How often will you be able to pick up a heavy chair by merely trying to pick it up? If you are all by yourself you most probably will not be able to, if the chair is beyond hour ability.  But you need to move it, right? What will you do?  Will you just leave it, or will you try to get some help, even have a slight change in plan to make it possible to move it or work around the fact that you cannot move it. You will DO something about it!

Let’s view our challenge to TRY and wake up early FOR our children in the same light.  We seldom will achieve something by just trying. Failure is much more guaranteed, by mere trying, but if you make a decision to make it happen, no matter what, you can do it. 

There are at least three things you can DO to achieve that:

1. Call in help;
2. Get a new plan
3. Come up with a new goal/focus

So dear ladies, which of these above changes do you need to work on to accomplish your goal to fine tune your life giving habit of rising early and spending time with the Lord; even doing some planning and exercise, depending on your capacity and expectations, before your children rise/need you in the morning? We are here to help you!

There were also ladies who just didn’t see any way they could join our challenge in December last year. Maybe your circumstances have changed, maybe you are in desperate need of encouragement and wisdom from the Lord. You sense the gentle prompting of the Spirit to link up with us for this Summer (No Winter) Hello Mornings Challenge.

There is a slight difference in this challenge from the previous challenge.  

1. In the previous challenge you could either be added to a group by the Hello Mornings team, or choose a Pre-planned group and join a group of whom you already knew.  With this challenge there will be no grouping option. Your are welcome to stay in the group you are currently in, or form new groups. We would love for you to find friends in your area, and/or your stage of life to create a group.
2. There will still be the weekly challenge e-mails, so be sure to sign up!
3. We will be studying 1 Corinthians 13, Love Like Him, using the Focused15 study method, by Katie Orr. This Bible study will be available from tomorrow, Monday 7th of May. (You are welcome to join the challenge and study whatever you like. This is use for anyone looking for something to study!) I absolutely love Katie's Bible study method, maybe you would love it too!

For the South African ladies we already have two groups, an Afrikaans group and an English group. Why don’t you join us in one of these two groups?  To do so, you register at the Hello Mornings Registration Page and e-mail me.  Please don’t comment on this posting, e-mail me. That way I can have contact details to get in touch with you.

So come dear ladies let us double the previous group of ladies. I know there are some of you who probably need a group from South Africa, or know a friend who need this accountability and encouragement to make early rising in the Word of God happen.  Let us spread the word!

Registration close on the 14th of May, you have only one week left.  

With much love

Linnie

Hello Mornings Summer (No Winter) Challenge and a Live Chat Party!

In December 2011, I wrote how in September 2011 I embarked on a very challenging journey with thousands of women over the world with Maximize Your Mornings by Kat, from Inspired to Action.  As many of you have read, it changed my life!

In my No More Sloppy Mornings posting, I challenged women in South Africa to join me for the Hello Mornings Challenge which started in January 2012.  The reaction was overwhelming. Forty ladies contacted me and joined me on the Hello Mornings Challenge. Over the past few months I learned some more South African ladies joined other groups over the world too.

The Hello Mornings Challenge ended the 14th of April, BUT there are more challenges for this year.  The Summer (Winter for South Africa) Hello Mornings Challenge will start the 14th of May and run to the 8th of July.  Many ladies indicated that they will continue with this challenge and have friends who either already joined the current Hello Mornings Challenge Facebook groups or want to join the groups.  We have two groups, an Afrikaans group and an English group.

But this in only part of what I actually want to share with you!  On Wednesday morning (2nd of May), at 3am (Yes! I know it is the middle of the night, but how exciting is that!) there is a Hello Mornings SpreeCast Live Party! Now if you are like me, you always feel you are missing out on exciting talks and gatherings of great Women over the World, since we are at the total opposite side of the world than America, where all the exciting meetings takes place. This is your chance to connect with an amazing group of women right where you are, in your living room or study and you don't even need to dress up!  

What is the SpreeCast Live Chat all about? 

Will I be able to do it with limited technology?

I'm, so glad you ask!  

You need a computer with speakers and internet connection, and you need to register before hand. That's it!  I joined the first SpreeCast a few weeks ago. It was so much fun, I hardly slept that night, I was to afraid I would oversleep. I set my computer up, with earphones, the night before and more than double checked the time difference to make sure I joined in at the right time. At 2:30am I woke up and by 2:45 as was ready to join. I could clearly hear our four guest speakers through my earphones and could see them talking from their studies/living rooms. Interaction from guests is possible by typing questions and comments. So if any of you are reluctant to join this SpreeCast Live Chat Party, please relax and go register now!

During this SpreeCast Party there will be LOADS of prizes and just after the Party, registration for the Summer (NO Winter) Hello Mornings Challenge will open.

So why don't you join me for this Live Chat, in the early hours of Wednesday the 2nd of May?  I'm surely not going to miss out on this opportunity to meet the Hello Mornings Team. You will hear the exciting plans for the Summer (No Winter) and Fall (No Spring) challenges and go back to sleep one hour later encouraged and uplifted to be part of a huge group of women all over the world, who keeps one another accountable as we work to develop the life giving morning habit of waking up early, spending time with God and being intentional about planning our days and exercising regularly!

Come please join me!

Much Love

Linnie

Discipleland

I recently recommitted to using Discipleland with the children.  

We were first introduced to Discipleland by Walk Through the Bible, more than 10 years ago, when CJ was 7 years, Heidi-Mari 4 years and Josua a baby.  

I was so sold out on Discipleland, we became the distributors in the Western Cape and well known churches in the Cape used it as their Sunday school curriculum.  Over the past few years, like many other things, I only did Discipleland periodically between difficult pregnancies and new born babies. 

The past few months I recommitted myself to wake up early for my children and having regular, first-thing-in-the-morning quite time with the Lord through the Hello Morning Challenges. I also longed to do more in raising disciples in my home and I still think Discipleland is the best Bible curriculum to raise disciples.

What sets Discipleland apart from any other Bible teaching curriculum is the colourful worksheets, hands-on approach and how it perfectly fits in with a homeschooling environment. CJ and Heidi-Mari’s first encounter with Discipleland was with Level 1‘s God at work for ages 6-8 (CJ 6years). They studied 12 different types of work in Bible times (eg. a farmer, potter, weaver, fisherman, metal worker) which encouraged them to have the proper attitude towards work, because work is a part of God’s plan for their lives. 

The builder was a very significant lesson during which we studied Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We lived in a newly developed area and all around us homes were in the building process, which made the lesson very practical. 

In one of the activities CJ had to write down words to describe how God was building his character. He was very much convinced to speak the truth and being obedient. The extend learning activities was building a wall with biscuits, bread sticks or straight pretzels. I made them some chocolate icing and they had so much fun building their walls and then ate it.  

Christo and CJ also built a Bible time house out of matches.

During the Potter lesson, the Bible story was Jeremiah and the Potter (Jer. 18).  The extend learning activities suggested we visit a pottery class and made their own clay pot. I arranged a once off pottery class at an Art studio, during which the lady showed them how clay is worked and she helped the children mold clay on a spinning wheel - lots of fun! It was so practical to understand how we are clay in the Potter’s Hands and the importance of a soft heart. 

One of the activities was to draw a picture of yourself that shows your with a ‘soft heart’ toward God. This was in our first year of homeschooling and we did a lesson a week and didn’t need anything else. We discovered not only God’s work, but real life.  Though Discipleland is English and our mother tongue Afrikaans, CJ, who was the only who could write at that stage, wrote in Afrikaans in the spaces provided, as far as possible, and I told the stories all in Afrikaans and read out of the Afrikaans Bible. 

Since 10 years ago, the curriculum exploded and they now have an amazing range available.  It starts from as early as birth to 15/16 years old. For my little group of 2-8 years old, I’m currently using the Pre School Curriculum for ages 2-5. 

In this curriculum they don’t need to write anything. Each quarter’s workbook has interactive worksheets in 12 lessons and an additional 13 lesson for reviewing. 

Each of the 12 lessons includes four pages of colourful, age-appropriate activities, including fun with stickers. The Teacher Guide has a wealth of ideas of guiding you through prayer, lesson summaries, suggested beginning activities, even snack ideas to fit the theme of the lesson, suggestions on how to rehearse the lesson memory verse, 

a session on Act-it-out/dress up and multiple additional hands-on activities to choose from if you need some more ‘learn by doing’ activities.  

In the back there are even  colouring pages for each lesson.

In the Pre School Curriculum you can choose between the Old Testament and New Testament series. Each will take at least 2 years to work through. In the Old Testament series children will learn who God is, what He is like and what He can do, additionally they will acquire an overview of the Old Testament in more than 100 stories. In the New Testament series they will discover Jesus in His love, His powerful messages and amazing abilities. Through the more than 100 Bible stories they will gain a basic understanding of the New Testament. Something I only got to know in my adult years while doing the Walk Through the Old and New Testament seminars.

I didn’t start at the beginning of the Pre School curriculum, but with Quarter E about the last few days up to Jesus’ death on the cross, his resurrection, walk with His friends and sending Peter to teach other People.  

It is not necessary to do the quarters chronologically, as they all stand alone. Although that way it will have the most lasting and complete effect on their knowledge of the Bible. PreSchool, through 16 Quarters, as well as Core Bible, through 6 levels, covers the complete Bible which ensure a solid knowledge of the Bible, and a sure personal encounter with the Fullness of God and His plan for their life, by the time they are 15 years of age. 

The level 6 series (age 11-14) is all about Walking with God and developing essential disciplines to sustain spiritual growth.

We chose the quarter on Jesus Triumphs for Us, since it was now Easter. When this quarter is finished we’ll do God Leads Us, starting with Moses in the basket, through the plagues, the Passover, the miraculous opening of the Red Sea, the ten commandments, up to exploring Canaan. This way I can link the Passover with Easter and make them grab the significance of Jesus the True Lamb for our sins. 

This week we did the story about The Two Coins and Jesus watching people giving money in the Temple.

On the first day we did the ever popular dress-up, and had so much fun.  I told them the story and they then acted it out.

  

The next day I told the story again and we did the first activity in the worksheet, playing with stickers.

The third day we did a fun activity with coins.  We talked about different coins and they learned to distinguished between rand and cent coins.  They could recognized R1, R2 and R5, as well as 20c and 50c. Following that we did a crayon/coin rubbing.  

We also finished another fun activity on the worksheet of how their offerings can help God’s work.

The fourth day we did an additional activity of carrot stamping, while I make sure they:

Know - a poor widow gave small coins to God, all the money she had; 

Feel - eager to give money for God’s work;

Do - cheerfully bring an offering to help with God’s work

In every lesson you’ll find the Learner Target in Know, Feel and Do, which helps me identify the key Bible truths and response goals for my children.

Currently there are no distributors for Discipleland in South Africa and I had to order my Discipleland on line, but it arrived within 14 days, in excellent condition!  I would encourage you to visit their website and see for yourself what a great tool this is to raise disciples in your home!

With much love

Linnie

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, 

and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, 

when you walk by the way, 

when you lie down, 

and when you rise up."

Deut. 6:7