Christian Perspective

"Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore." Psalm 105:4

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Spring Greetings

Ready or not, it seems spring has arrived! For us, the spring season tends to be a very busy--but very blessed--time. We have several trips coming up this spring, including to the homeschool conventions listed below. If you're at any of these conventions, please stop by our booth and say hello!

Maryland homeschool convention (MACHE) (Frederick, MD)
27th Annual Virginia Homeschool Convention (HEAV) (Richmond, VA)

We hope each one of you had a very blessed Resurrection Day! I have been struck lately by how important it is to continually remember all Christ has done for us--it's the knowledge of His righteousness and life freely given us that gives us joy, peace, and strength for each day's tasks.

As always, please feel free to contact us if there's ever anything we can do for you--or just to say hello! We appreciate your feedback, thoughts, and prayers.

In Christ,

Katherine

Thought: Taking It for Granted

As I looked out the car window, my eyes soaked in the beauty of the first spring blossoms. How spectacular they looked after the winter's barrenness! And the warmer weather! I could hardly keep remarking on the lovely spring day.

Those first few days of spring after a cold winter are precious, aren't they? But after a time, it's easy to grow accustomed to the beauty and warmth around us. We begin to take it for granted that we won't need our winter coats and hats.

I wonder, do we take our salvation for granted too? Are we living in awe of what His death and life has brought us? Can we hardly contain our excitement at the reality of His finished work...or have we grown complacent in the sunshine?

Story: A Son or a Servant?

Benjamin carefully wrapped the porcelain glass. He did not want the glass to shatter least he displease his master. Benjamin lived in constant fear of making a mistake and losing his master's favor.

Fear--and pride--drove much of Benjamin's actions, although he would never admit it, even to himself. In his mind, he was striving to be the very best servant he could possibly be. He studied his master's rules, and strained every ounce of his energy to keep them. Why, he even helped teach other servants of his master's ways. He wanted so desperately to please his master!

One day, Jonathan made a startling discovery. He was in the middle of elaborating on his master's rules to another servant, David, when David stopped him abruptly.

"Benjamin," David stated, "I can't fault your actions, but I think you're forgetting the most important thing of all. Do you know you're really a son, not a slave?"

Benjamin started in surprise. What did David mean?

David clarified. "Our master didn't just buy us on probation--he out-and-out adopted us, making us his dearly beloved children--his heirs! You don't have to work to keep his love--you already have it. Nothing you do can change it. Look what He wrote on your deed of purchase."

Benjamin strained to see the words on the deed: It is finished. Three simple words, yet quite profound. Why had he never noticed them before? Benjamin read the rest of the deed more carefully--David was right! He'd been adopted as a son--a dearly beloved son. And, though he had not a penny to his own name, his master--his father--had made him an heir.

It took some time for this reality to really sink in to Benjamin's heart. But as it did, his whole life began to transform.

While many of his actions remained the same, his whole perspective on them changed. As he handled the porcelain glasses now, he carefully packaged them, not out of fear, but out of love and gratitude! He no longer merely taught his master's rules to others; he shared of his master's love. He now spoke with his master, not as a distant master to be feared, but as a loving father to whom he could confide his every thought and whose instruction he could trust absolutely. He obeyed his master out of love and trust rather than from fear.

Joy and peace gradually replaced the fear and pride that had ruled his heart for so long. What a difference it made to live as a son!

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:4-7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7

"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:34-36

Homeschool Tip: A Springtime Reflection - A New Creature

- Cris Loop

Spring is finally here! I don't know about you, but the first signs of spring always presented a challenge of one type or another to my homeschooling efforts. Either I was trying to rush my children to finish their academics for the school year, or I was overwhelmed by how far we were behind and wondering if I could really continue. Either way, the beautiful spring weather was beckoning me to take a break and "play outside" in my yard! On those spring days, I slightly resented schooling...and my attitude affected the whole atmosphere of our home. The only way I held it together during those spring months was knowing I had to make myself keep focused.

Much like the knowledge that I had to keep focused held us together during the spring and helped me deal with other attitudes, knowing our identity in Christ really makes a difference in how we live! This has hit me in a fresh way recently. One verse in particular has been bringing it home:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Just think--not only am I a new creature with Christ's righteousness, but the old is passed away! Rather than struggling and feeling hopelessly unable to fight against sin, I can praise God He has already won the battle in my life! As I've realized I'm a new creature, God's been able to conquer areas I have struggled with for years.

This month, I want you to look at how God has brought you out of slavery too--slavery to sin. I know this might not seem like it has to do with homeschooling, but it does! Understanding we're no longer slaves is key to living victoriously in Christ--and to training our children to live in His freedom. Remember, our attitudes trickle down.

Tidbits on Math from a Christian Perspective

Here are this month's posts from the Math from a Christian Perspective Blog. If you like, you can sign up to receive an e-mail of the posts as they come out http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=Christian-Perspective&loc=en_US">here >.

Thoughts on Shapes
Thoughts on Pi
Bridge-Building Resources (All Grades)
Algebra and Statistics Resources

Hymn/Poem: Behold What Wondrous Grace

- Rev. Isaac Watts, 1707. Found in The Hymnal (Philadelphia: The Trustees of The Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1902), 608.

Behold what wondrous grace
The Father has bestowed
On sinners of a mortal race,
To call them sons of God!

We would no longer lie
Like slaves beneath the throne;
My faith shall "Abba, Father," cry,
And Thou the kindred own.

Unless otherwise indicated, articles are written by Katherine Loop, © 2010. Where marked Cris Loop, articles written by Christina Loop, © 2010. Feel free to forward these e-mails in their entirety and to reprint/share articles by Katherine or Cris Loop within these e-mails (please include a link to our website when you do). Please contact us for information about reprinting articles written by people other than Katherine or Cris Loop so we can put you in contact with the appropriate person to ask for permission.

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Unless otherwise indicated and where marked KJV, scripture is taken from the King James Version.