“It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off.

If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation?

First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.”

Hebrews 2:1-4 (The Message, emphasis mine)

This passage was part of the focus during yesterday’s message, and I wanted to share it today with you. I was pierced by the words that I emphasized above.

This magnificent salvation–may I never neglect its message.

The post Monday Meditation appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

You’d think, with school over and not a lot of other responsibilities right now, that I would take all kinds of time to write. Wrong. I don’t know if it’s all the changes that have taken place in the past few months, or if it’s something else. I do know that I’m loving my editing “jobs” much more than I am enjoying writing my own stuff. Hmm…wonder what that says about me as a person?

Anyway…on to my thankful post! Today I am grateful for:

• the $40 I found tucked away in my planner–no idea when I put it there, or why, but there it was!
• the lovely drive my youngest and I took yesterday
• online banking
• knowing our home in Indiana is being enjoyed and taken care of
• no more moving boxes
• the chance to get to know another new-to-this-post family and sharing a meal with them in our home
• getting to meet someone in person with whom I had been communicating via email and phone calls–so fun!
• being able to bless other homeschool moms by giving them curriculum we’re not using any longer
• the relaxed days of our summer schedule

She just brightens my day

I hope you can find things, large and small, to be thankful for today. And if you’ve written a gratitude post, please feel free to link it up below. It’s encouraging to read what blessings are being celebrated by others!

The post Thankful Thursday–The “I’ve Lost It” Edition appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

Even though I did happen to get a tad sunburned today, the swimming pools that are available to us on post have been a huge blessing. We have the option to go whenever we want, it’s been a way to meet people (including other homeschool families!), and it’s a way to beat the heat and have fun at the same time.

(Unfortunately, I have yet to remember to bring my camera along for pictures.)

Because of the times at the pool, we have made some new friends, found out about homeschool co-ops and groups in the area, driven in and out of the military checkpoints enough that it’s not scary anymore, and gotten out of the house almost every day.

And a few other things I’m grateful for this week:

• an actual office space in this house–it’s wonderful
• new friends
• the active on-post youth ministry that we found out about and visited–pretty cool
• common ground–and interests
• laid-back mornings with summer break
• chances to read again
• new bookshelves

I hope you can find things, large and small, to be thankful for today. And if you’ve written a gratitude post, please feel free to link it up below. It’s fun and encouraging to hear what others are thankful for!

The post Thankful Thursday–The Swimming Pool Edition appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)

There is something about this verse that is quite compelling to me. I’m not exactly sure why. It might have something to do with the imagery of God eagerly wanting to help his people as he finds them desiring to serve only him.

Or maybe it’s the tug at my heart that so wants him to stop in his search, when he gets to me, because he finds me fully committed.

May he strengthen and bless you this week.

The post Monday Meditation appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

So when I found out that Compass Classroom, the company that produces Visual Latin, offers a variety of learning and study tools, I was pretty excited. And I was even more excited when they offered me an opportunity to use and review Modern Parables.

(The legal stuff:  I received a free downloadable copy of Hidden Treasure, one of the Modern Parables set, for the purposes of reviewing. No other compensation was given, and all opinions expressed in this review are my own. For my Full Disclosure Policy, please visit this page.)

Modern Parables is a new kind of Bible study. From one perspective, it’s a study that uses short films of the parables to teach the Bible. But from another perspective, it’s something unique. Modern Parables employs a new method of understanding the Bible through films that explain the biblical text. It uses modern stories that recreate in the viewer the same responses that the original audiences of Jesus’ parables might have experienced.

With each Modern Parable, you get the video story, a teaching outline, study materials, questions, discussion guides, and even suggestions for how to use it as a family study. Each parable is broken down into two lessons. The first includes the story video and a study that focuses on “Understanding the Parable.” The second lesson utilizes an application video and focuses on “Living the Parable.” Everything you need to study the parable for yourself and teach it to your kids is included in the materials.

Hidden Treasure is based on Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:44. The film that depicted this parable was very well done, and we all enjoyed watching it and talking about it. My oldest was impressed with the quality of the film, which is saying a lot!

I appreciated the study materials and the outline for discussion, even though I didn’t use all of it during our discussion time. Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of this study, and I can honestly say that I would buy more of them to use in our school and for our family.

You can get Modern Parables individually (as a download for $10 or a DVD for $15) or you can get them all together for family study or group study. There are 6 parables in the first volume.

The post The Saturday Morning Review–Modern Parables appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

I know–it’s been a really long time since I’ve had my act together enough to provide this link-up. I’m so sorry! We’ve had lots of changes to deal with, and as my youngest so eloquently put it, “I’m kinda tired of ‘new.’”

But, as with any circumstances in which we find ourselves, there are things to be thankful for. Here’s a few of mine:

• I’m truly enjoying the chance to shop on post and to experience some of the Army lifestyle and community
• Even though we weren’t able to get a house on post (none available for quite a while) we did find a nice place to rent

• Despite all the “new” around us, we’re still a family and we still have each other
• My husband has tried to be understanding and patient with the emotional females in his house, even though I know there are times he’s wanted to pull his hair out!
• While friends were here, we got a chance to tour the state capitol building in Austin AND visit San Antonio

• I still have bloggy friends, even after a long absence
• My HelloMornings group has been encouraging and moving right along with a leader who has been mostly absent
• I’m learning lessons about myself and the God who never lets go of me

I hope you can find things, large and small, to be thankful for today. And if you’ve written a gratitude post, please feel free to link it up below and take some time to visit others’ as well.

The post Thankful Thursday–The New State Edition appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

 ”Watch your step when you enter God’s house.

Enter to learn.

That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, doing more harm than good.

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.

Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.

God’s in charge, not you–the less you speak, the better.”

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 (The Message)

Simple, to the point, and timely reminders (for me anyway) that he is God and I am not. His plan is best, and mine is not. My words need to be authentic, well-placed, and thoughtful.

Lots to chew on this week.

The post Monday Meditation appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

Turns out, when there’s been lots happening and things are crazy–even though so much of it is blog worthy–I lose my desire to blog. Go figure.

Well, that and the fact that we’re living in a hotel where the internet connection is spotty at best. Here is our “home” for the time being:

Here’s one of the last pictures of our house in Indiana:

I will try my hardest to have a Thankful Thursday post and link-up ready this week!

The post So Here’s the Thing… appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

Please excuse the fact that I have no post of my own this week. We are in the midst of our PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move, and because I’m so bad about writing posts ahead of time, I have nothing. But, that doesn’t mean YOU can’t link up a thankful post, or share in the comments what you are grateful for today! (hint, hint)

Hopefully I’ll be back next Thursday with plenty on my thankful list!

The post Thankful Thursday–The “We’re Moving” Edition appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.

 ”In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns, I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless.”

Philippians 2:14-16 (NLT)

This has been one of my absolute favorite passages since it was our youth group’s theme verse when I was in high school. There’s something inspiring and challenging about being the different one–and being the difference.

May you shine like stars in the universe this week as you hold onto and live out the word of life.

The post Monday Meditation appeared first on The Army Chaps Wife.