Keep Yourselves from Idols

I've been reading through Deuteronomy again for the past couple days, and the passage on idolatry in chapter four stood out to me this time, and as most of us know, idolatry was an issue that the Israelites struggled with frequently. In fact, it makes up much of their history as they fell, time and time again, into worshipping other gods from other nations.

While I didn't do an extensive study of this passage, I read it in its context and mentally connected the passage to other places in Scriptural history. The reason God gave here for forbidding idolatry was interesting: You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol..." (Deut.4:15-16a, NIV). Since the Israelites had not been permitted to see a physical image of God, they were warned against creating an representative object of which to worship. Even Moses, the meekest man, had not been permitted to see God's face, and the Lord Himself had to protect Moses from seeing His glory. They did not know what the image of God looked like, save that they were created in His image, and therefore, they must not attempt to create a replica of something which they had never seen.

Not only were they not to create an idol, but they were not to make and image of any shape: not a man or woman, not an animal on earth or a bird, not like any creature that moves on the ground or a fish in the water, not a heavenly body or anything whatsoever.

The Fire that spoke from the burning bush had rescued His people from the furnace of Egypt. The One who had not revealed His face had placed His image on the faces and hearts of men. The One who commanded them to cross the Jordan would one day send His Son to "cross the Jordan" (figuratively) to redeem Israel. The Covenant-Maker commanded His covenant-breakers not to attach themselves with any other gods. The God who gathered Israel as a nation would scatter them for their rebellion. The gods who turned the peoples' hearts away would eventually be the motivator to turn their hearts back to Yahweh.

God was God then, and God is God now. The God who rescued, scattered, and redeemed His people also does the same with us today when we leave the worship of His throne and join with others to worship our own heart's desires. This passage was a reminder of that. We tend to idolize things such as people, money, or places...even things like self-pity, grief, or happiness can become places of idolatry because our hearts are bent on placing something or someone on the throne rather than Christ.

But the God who allowed circumstances to cause suffering for Israel, also waited for their repentance and never left them or forgot His covenant with them. And ultimately, He sent a Redeemer for their (and our) sake, to rescue them permanently and bring them into His eternal home. There we will see His glory face-to-face and there will be no struggle to allow Him to rule in our hearts.

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. 
(1 John 5:21, NIV)

Blogging Break

Due to illness and the busyness of life, there won't be a devotional today. I'll be back next week with the second part
of Ephesians 2:10, Lord willing! Stay strong in Him. :)

The Love of God

Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 

In my Father's house are many rooms...And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me.

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours....and I am glorified in them.

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one... so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The glory that you have given me I have given to them...so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

[verses from John 14-17, emphasis mine]

See what kind of love that Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

(1 John 3:1-2, 4:16)

I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
(Philippians 3:12)

A Day in the Life of Me

6:15 I hear Dad’s truck start and him opening and closing the gate as he leaves for work.

6:28am My alarm rings and I shut it off and “sleep” until 6:55. I get dressed and feed Kijah and Bella. I check the fridge and kitchen to see if anything good to eat has “appeared”. I get on my computer and check emails, read devotionals, get my Swagbuck for the day, and review my weekly assignments for college.

7:30 I go out to the barn and feed the puppies, trying to clean up the outside run before they hear me and start barking and scratching at the door. I let them out and they go ballistic outside: growling and eating, digging and chasing each other. I clean up inside the barn from last night, and let Kijah outside. Dad emails me from work and tells me about the sun being a weird color, so I go outside to try and get a picture, but it’s hidden behind too many trees.

8:30 Mom gives me a piece of toast for breakfast, and I run through my collection of harp music, making a list of songs that Hannah I will play for an event tomorrow…while fending off my toast from Kijah’s eager nose.

9:00 I send emails to puppy customers and text a friend. Sarah and I run outside quickly to take the puppies 9-week photos. They sure are getting wiggly now! It’s harder to take good pictures of puppies than you think. But finally we finish. Mom drives Hannah to babysitting, and Sarah goes next door to babysit. I trim all the puppies’ nails (128 of them!). I clean up last week’s Sunday school material, and mentally prepare for this next Sunday—could be a full church as we have Pastor Todd Sivinksty coming to preach for four evenings. 

10:00 I take a call from someone interested in a puppy and send puppy pictures to customers. I scroll through personal social networking reading posts and saving chats, and realize how tired I am again. :P I read blog posts and find the inspiration to write this one, so I turn on music and write for a while, pausing more than once to rescue Kijah’s toy from her vicious attempts to shred it.

11:15 Responsibilities remind me to prepare for Sunday School, but first I go to put laundry outside and tidy my bathroom and bedroom. I do my devotions, reading from Isaiah for my 90-day plan, and from Psalms by choice. I talk with a puppy customer. Sarah returns home, and then Hannah.

12:30 I go outside to feed the puppies and make sure they have water. I continue preparing my Sunday School lesson—finding a new memory verse, deciding how I will present the story, and printing review worksheets.

2:00 I realize I’m hungry, so I go make myself some lunch. I continue to search for a memory verse for my Sunday school class. I text another friend, read blog posts for “study breaks”, and research college details for another friend.

3:30 I go outside to bring in some apples that a friend dropped off, and then I go check on the puppies again. Then I return to my sporadic Sunday school planning. :P

5:30 Dad arrives home and we all eat dinner together. Then I return to studying listening to “Oh the Deep Deep Love of Jesus” interspersed with texting friends.

6:30 My concentration wanes as my mind chases a thousand and one ideas, and I switch playlists to help me focus better.

7:20 I phone a puppy customer to arrange visits for tomorrow. Then I clean the kitchen.

9:47 I finish my lesson plan for Sunday school, and mentally review my schedule for the next few days. Then I find or create the review worksheets for my Sunday school class.

10:12 I finish things up completely. Then I go out to the barn to put the puppies in for the night. Then I will shower, maybe read and/or write, and then go to bed sometime before midnight.

A typical day, yet not so typical. I have college assignments on school days, but I set aside one day of the week, usually Friday or Saturday, to prepare for Sunday school. It’s a break from school for me, and I do enjoy it. My routines vary daily, though the activities are fairly consistent. :) 

Thus ends the 22^nd of August. Another day where the Lord supplied for our needs. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. 

Be Ready Always

 
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day
nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” 
~Matthew 25:13

We hear a lot about the predictions made by man as to when Jesus is really coming back for His followers and the “signs” that point to our being in the end times. How should we respond to these predictions? Should we dress in white and stand on our roof tops waiting for Christ to swing down and pick us up? Should we believe that major, destructive storms mean that His return is nigh? Well, whether we believe in such predictions or not, we should not let these predictions or possible “signs” determine when we will be ready.

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.” ~Luke 12:35-37.

No matter when the end times start, no matter when Jesus will return, no matter what signs are predicted, and no matter how hard secularists bash us in our belief of His return, we need to be the sheep whom our Shepherd will “find watching”. We cannot honestly be leading Christian lives if we only get concerned about how we are living based on the predictions. Our lives should be lived in accordance with God’s Word at all times and in all seasons. Because it’s going to be one scary event to be left behind to face the Anti-christ and think about how we could have made a difference after Christ has already returned for that faithful.

“Then Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” ~Luke 12:41-43

One thing that I would like to add here, is that we should not be worried about the signs of the end times nor the predictions; rather, we should be concerned about how we are making a difference in the lives of those around us. How do they view us as different, in a positive way, from the world? Do even our “acquaintances” see Christ’s love shining through us? We need to understand how important our witness is, because eternity is forever: Heaven or hell. One will be a glorious eternity and the other will be a place of bitterness forever and ever with no end.   

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” ~John 3:17-18

In closing, I would like to share with you a testimony which Sarah Mally gave in her sister, Grace Mally’s book “Will Our Generation Speak”. This book was given to me last year by three of my friends and I have slowly been going through the book as I find the time.

“The Cost”

“I imagined myself as a spectator watching a scene unfold before my eyes. First, I saw a man who was helping others--yet not simply in the way that any man might help someone else. This was much different. It was as if tenderness and kindness were just flowing out of Him. I could tell He was a good man--GOOD in a way that I had never seen before. Every single thing He did was good. His face was so pure. I had never seen honesty like that, never seen love like that. It’s like I finally knew what love was--now that I saw Him. All I wanted to do was to keep watching Him because everything He did was so amazing. Even the simple normal acts of service that He was doing--I was astonished by them...by Him, I mean. The way He spoke...I could just tell He was right, that He spoke the truth, that everything He said was right by definition. And the way He looked at people. I wished He would look at me, but He never did. I was just a spectator. But I knew I would never forget this goodness that I had seen. It was almost as if I was in a daze, not quite able to comprehend it, stunned that this kind of righteousness could even exist. I wanted to just keep watching him. I felt that I would be content if I could simply watch Him for the rest of my life.

But then suddenly the scene changed before my eyes. I didn’t want to believe what I was seeing. People were looking at Him with angry stares. It was more than mere anger; it was rage; He was looking back at them with such..such..I don’t even know the word..it was as if He was on a totally different playing field. There was such tenderness in HIs eyes. A touch of sorrow, an ocean of love. Their rage turned into vehement shouting and accusations, and then I began to watch the most horrible scene of my life. The whips they were holding were cruel and scourging unbearable to watch. But how could this be? He was so good, so pure, so tender. He was the best person I had ever known. This must stop. I tried to yell out for someone to help, for someone to stop this. But I realized, again, I was only a spectator. Lash after lash. Blow after blow. I couldn’t look--especially because it was Him. It was the worst possible injustice I could imagine. This could not be happening. It had to stop.”

She went on to say…

“Stunned and traumatized, I stepped back. I forced myself to breathe. I tried not to comprehend what I had just seen: One so deserving of glory and praise, yet receiving such punishment. I’m not sure how long it was before I realized that I was holding something: I also had a whip in my hand. It was then I understood that my hand also was on the rod that fell on Him. Was I responsible? For this? I realized that I had not been merely a spectator.

At last it was over. It was finished. It--was--finished, for all eternity! It is done! God the Father has seen the anguish of His soul and has been satisfied. Never would I have dreamed that justice would have been this costly. How vast is the extent of my sin--that this was the price. And how immeasurable the extent of His love--that this much He would pay.”

~Sarah Mally (from “Will Our Generation Speak?” by Grace Mally, 2012)

In Christ,

Anna

Heartfelt Prayer

"Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
                                                        -Luke 11:1

This post was supposed to be primarily because one of our followers wanted to hear our thoughts on the topic of "prayer". But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I'm also writing this because it's something I need to think about more often. So writing this makes me think of not just how it might help you, the readers, but how I can better approach our Father in heaven in the most honoring way. Jumping right into this, the first question to prayer that I would like to ask you is "why"? Why do we bother to pray when God already knows what our dreams are, what our thoughts are about, what we desire to have, or even what our pains are before we even experience them? Why do we take some time to talk to Him about things He already is aware of? After searching for the answer, we'll cover the "how" and "when" aspects of praying.

Why do we bother to pray? 
Prayer is our way of communicating with God. Really, it's not any different than talking with each other, except that prayer is on a Spiritual level. When we come to our Father in heaven, we praise Him for Who He is. We offer up thanksgiving to Him and acknowledge that He is the Giver of all that we have. We pray because we are not only told to, but because it's beneficial to us in seeking Christ and having fellowship with Him. We also pray, because we are seeking His will in a certain area(s) of our life and we would like direction (Psalm 40:8). We tend to pray because we want to ask God for healing for a health issue, guidance in making decisions, happy marriages, healthy children, satisfying careers, etc. that we believe are important in our lives (Luke 11:9-13).

Personally on some days, I feel like I'm bothering God by continuously talking to Him throughout the day. From struggling with thoughts to praying for a safe drive home from town, I find myself continually "chatting" with Him every other five minutes...or so it seems. But I've come to realize that He wants me to talk to Him and have a growing relationship. Talking with Him, keeps us on the same page and makes our relationship with Him grow stronger every day.

By praying, we are keeping that line open between Him and ourselves. We might pray for rain to help the crops grow, we might pray dad will get that job to support the family, we might even pray that we'll have a safe trip to the market and back. That's great(!), because we are told to "pray without ceasing" (1Thess. 5:17). Praying for God's protection, guidance, and care are just a few of the general things we may pray for and God loves that communication. Anytime that we open up and share what's on our minds with Him, He is overjoyed to see the commitment His children have in wanting that fellowship.


How should we pray?

In Luke 11:2-4, Jesus tells us how we should pray. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

The first part speaks of how reverent His holy name is and then jumps to His will being accomplished here on earth. Asking God for daily substances to keep us alive, and asking Him to forgive and forget our sins as we [should] do with each other. Then it's a plea for God to keeping us from Satan and the temptations that are abundant in this world. We are to enter into prayer recognizing His holiness and remembering what awesome things that He has done in the past, is doing in the present, and believe that He will do more great things in the future. We are then to be thankful for the blessings that He bestows upon us and our families. In our prayers, we ask that He will extend His merciful hand upon us and forgive us. Also that we will forgive those who have wronged us. For if we cannot forgive our fellow brothers and sisters, how then can we expect a perfect God to forgive us when we fall (Matt. 6:15)? Jesus also tells us to pray for deliverance from the evil schemes of the devil. God will protect us from him; but in a world owned by Satan, we cannot expect to go far without seeing his handiwork.

To be honest, I've often wondered how to best pray. Do I need to talk to God as if He were my Master or Father? As both. Just like with our parents, we can usually speak to them respectfully, but also as good friends. I know that I can talk to God on a comfortable level. I don't have to get all stressed out, because I'm imperfect and may say things in a "clumsy" manner. God knows that I make mistakes and that's okay. He still listens. Just as He listens to you when you truly desire to have a "one-on-one" with Him.

It doesn't matter if we're excellent orators or if we stutter a lot. It doesn't matter if our prayers are five minutes or three hours long. The only thing we need to do is approach Him in a sincere and honoring way. He won't put cotton in His ears when we start to speak to Him from our hearts.

When can we pray to God?

We can pray at any time and in any place. God is omnipresent and can hear us whether we are on top of Mount Everest or in an underground cave.

Yeah, I've often wondered where I should pray and make that my "quiet place". Do I have to enter prayer on bended knee and folded hands or can I be doing dishes and talk with Him? I believe that in any situation, no matter where we are, no matter what day of the year, we can lift up our voices and He will hear us. The quote that says: "God can hear the smallest voice" may sound familiar to you. Whether you're talking out loud, whispering, or praying silently within, no word you say will be missed by Him. God hears each and every thought you think and knows exactly what you mean to say--even if it's hard to find the words.

But if you're like me, you find it hard to find a quiet time with jobs, school, social networking, and other activities being such demanding parts of your life. I'd like to raise a tough question though. Can you prioritize things, so that God is #1 and all the other activities take 2nd place? When we really think about it, though these things are a big part of our day-to-day schedules right now, they don't amount to anything in our relationship with Christ.

Personally, I've re-evaluated my schedule time and time again. It's super hard! But if we really want to stay on the same page with God and "keep the line open", we will need to set aside a certain time to talk and listen to Him. Even when we're busy, it's great if we talk with Him on the go, too. Though you may find (or have found) it harder to concentrate if your mind is going in a million different directions. However, we should pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). If we multi-task, it's harder to focus our energy on Him and find it much easier to just keep working on the present project--which will most likely "drown Him out". Like in the middle of a test, I sometimes find more peace if I can just break for a couple of seconds to just ask for God's help. As I said earlier, God doesn't put a word count on prayers.

As another personal note, I find mornings to work best for a prayer/devotional time. At night, I tend to be studying/working/watching a TV show; so mornings work the best. Plus, I feel that I'm starting the day out right. :) Of course, go with what works best for you. We all have different opinions and we might all discover that certain routines work better for us than they do for others. I encourage you to look for the best schedule that works for you and to stick with it as best as you can!


I hope that you are encouraged and are able to (if you have not already) find a time to spend with God in prayer. Remember that God doesn't expect a perfect, well-rehearsed, six-hour, bedside prayer. He just wants you to be open and honest, no matter where you are.

Psalm 5:2, "Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, for to You I will pray."

Sister in Christ,
Anna

His Day: The Lord's Day!

For the Son of man is Lord 
even of the sabbath day.

Matthew 12:8

In response to the "Announcement" Anna posted previously in June on Facing the Waves, one of our readers requested a post regarding Sunday worship. This was not a topic I had consciously thought about (hence the very late post), though I did for a short time a couple months ago. So, I went to Scripture and sermons to refresh my mind.  

Likely, we have all grown up with slight differences in how we observe Sunday. Many people want to know "What can't I do?", rather than focusing on the heart and asking "How can I best worship the Lord on His day?". Dividing this post into two sections, I will attempt to explain what the Lord's Day should mean to believers in the 21^st century. 

What Sunday is not...

Sunday is not the Sabbath. The Sabbath Day was given to the Jews--the Israelite nation. Sabbath was the day on which the Lord rested after He spoke His creation into being. This day was one of rest for God which served as a day of remembrance for the Israelites--a reminder to worship God as Creator. The Lord commanded the Israelites that the 7^th day of the week was to be a day of rest for the Jews and pointed to certain judgment if God’s laws were not kept. (Exodus 31:13-17)This day was to be one that was set-apart; it was marked for sanctification. Israel was not to act like the other nations around them; this Sabbath day was one created specifically for them—a sign of sanctification and rest, in order that they would remember their Creation, His creation, and their sinfulness.

Sunday is not a day in which we commanded to observe the Old Testament rules. The Lord laid out clear laws that the Israelites were to follow, and among those rules were many pertaining to the Sabbath day. They were not to collect manna on that day, and they were not to go on any long journeys, to name a couple. And whoever violated the Sabbath day was to be put to death. (Exodus 31:14) Through these laws, man was to recognize that Creation was marred and that man was filled with sin, and that the only way they could receive forgiveness was by keeping the law.

Sunday is not identified on Judaism’s calendar. The Sabbath day was the 7^th day of the week; one that was to be a reminder to the Israelites that God rested on this day. Not because He was weary, but because it was His day to enjoy His creation and bless all that He had made. (Genesis 2:3) The Sabbath day was a memorial to the original creation—a reminder that Paradise had been lost and forfeited by man’s sin and that there was now judgment if they disobeyed God’s law. The Sabbath was a sign to the Israelites connecting them with the Fall of Man and reminding them that the only way to regain a taste of that Paradise was by observing a day of rest—the 7^th day. The Sabbath was only a shadow of the substance (His rest), and yet it was a promise of future salvation.

What Sunday is…

Sunday is the 1^st day of the week! This is the day that approximately 2000 years ago, Christ victoriously conquered death, paid for the sins of mankind, and provided redemption, justification, and sanctification for all those who would believe in Him. (Luke 23:53-12:1-12) This is the day that Christ appeared to His disciples, showing them that He is risen—proving that all His past ministry and death made sense, that the Old Testament was broken once and for all, and that the Father affirmed His finished work on the cross. He also promises to His followers that they would receive the Holy Spirit after He had been received up into heaven. (John 20:19-23) Again, on the first day of the week (a different Sunday ;), the disciples received the Holy Spirit and were given the gift of speaking in tongues, and Peter preached the first “Sunday sermon”. (Acts 2:1-4, 14-43)

Sunday is a day in which we are no longer under the bondage of the law.  When Jesus died, He eliminated the priesthood, sacrifices, and holy days—including the Sabbath. Sunday was the day Christ arose and overthrew the law. He eliminated the need to work for salvation by following the law.  Believers rest from the works approach to righteousness, because we have entered into the new covenant—the one where Christ is our ultimate rest. The law only pointed to Christ—and Christ was the fulfillment of that law through His atoning work on the cross. We are not under the bondage of the law anymore, but rather, we are bondage of grace; and through grace, we have freedom in Christ. (Romans 14:1-6) (Galatians 4:9-11) The Sabbath laws were mere shadows of the hope to come; Christ’s resurrection is the hope. (Colossians 2:16-17) And while, Sunday on this earth is still only a shadow of the rest to come, we now have the promise of salvation. If we try to hold on to the old laws of God, then we make His finished work of no avail. No longer are we only left with a shadow of rest as the Old Testament provided, we now have the substance: Christ, and He is our complete rest. To paraphrase John MacArthur’s words: When Jesus picked the 12 disciples, He left the Old Testament leaders behind; when He picked the 1^st day of the week, He left the 7^th behind.

Sunday is a day in which we worship Christ as Redeemer, Savior, and Lord. We observe this day because this is the day when our Lord proved His deity and the sufficiency of His fulfillment of the law. After all, He was the one to demonstrate the throwing aside Pharisaical laws by healing and working on the Sabbath. (John 5:3-18) He isn’t honored with the keeping of some day of the week; He is honored in our worship of Him on the Lord’s day. While the other Old Testament commands are repeated in the New Testament, there is never a command to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath was done away with, so the disciples came together on the first days of the week (And not just the first days! Sometimes they worshipped together for days in a row.[Acts 2:46]) , without the bondage of the law. This is the day when we glorify Christ as Redeemer; not worshiping old creation, but the new! This is “the Lord’s Day”: set-apart for Him. (Revelation 1:10)This is the day when the disciples gathered together to break bread, worship, sing, preach, and embrace the truth of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) This is not a day that is just a “stop-off” in the middle of the week; it’s a day to remember the glory of your salvation. We are not forbidden to work or play—but, remember, this is the day that God named as His own. Surely, we can give Him—He who created us, died for us, and saved us—one day of the seven He gives us. We are commanded not to forsake the assembling of believers, and especially as the coming of Christ draws nearer by nearer, so our communion with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ should increase. (Hebrews 10:25). Celebrate His resurrection and atoning work, by filling the Lord’s Day with worship, preaching, and fellowship; and rest in Christ and in the reality of your salvation. This is our day to find greatest delight in Christ and to fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord, because He rose from the grave, victorious over death, and  is now seated at the right hand of the Father, living to intercede for His chosen ones.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

In Christ,

Kaleigh

Hold On

           
  "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4  
           
As human beings, this is all we know. The colorful blossoms of the trees of spring; the warm green colors of summer; the orange and red leaves of fall; and the blustery snowstorms in the winter months. We see people being born and we see them die. We see the sun rise in the morning and set at night. But when we start to think about heaven, where it's continually day and people don't die, it's hard for us to imagine such a place. However, we know that there is, because we are told about it in Scripture.

Revelation 21:1 "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea."

The things we know now will be gone forever. Man-made objects that we value today like our computers, cell phones, televisions, cars, and houses will no longer be needed. This is not all there is to life. For Christ commands us in Scripture to be more concerned about our heavenly treasures than our "possessions" on earth. Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

So, the question arises, which do we hold on to more? Our earthly goods or our treasures that we are storing in heaven? It's quite clear as to which is more important, but it can sometimes get easy for people to get comfortable with where they are. Their surroundings and possessions become so important to them, that in some cases, something "outside" is alien and not worth pursuing. And as humans in a world where things and lives are only temporal, it's hard to imagine a world where nothing never ends. It's continuous and nothing ever dies out, fades, or ceases to exist. It's sometimes hard to imagine eternity. I remember that as a young girl, I had a hard time imagining that God was never created. It's just amazing to us, because we know things to have a beginning and an end. But He never had a beginning; He always was. He will never have an end and He will never "die out". God will always be there.

But back to the question. It might be good to ask just how much stock we put in what we own. Do we put our talents before the One Who gave us those talents? Does our bank account mean more to us than putting money in the offering plate on Sunday. Of course with money, people are struggling financially. But we are commanded to give to the poor and needy.  God will bless those who give to the unfortunate. And I wonder if I have been like that where I get so wrapped up in "my little world", that I fail to seek God's guidance in areas or forget to spend those "quality" times with Him? Because holding on to what's important is a matter of setting our priorities straight. Do we put football before going to church? Would we rather watch Youtube videos than spend time in the Word. Where do we focus our energies the most and why?

My main thought with this, is that as Christians, many need to get things in their proper order. Our eternal home is more important than our earthly homes--though we all try to take care of them as best as we can. But when priorities are mixed up and God is put on the back burner, eternal things don't matter. I'm not saying that wanting more treasures in heaven should be our focus. But rather, because we want to serve and honor God; to make Him smile.

1 Corinthians 3:8 and 12-13 "Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor....Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is."

Revelation 22:12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."

To sum up these thoughts, I thought I would add a commentary by Charles Stanley regarding Matthew 6:21, in which he asks "What do you think about most throughout the day? What gets your heart beating fastest and loudest? What do you think you couldn't live without? Whatever "it" is, it's your treasure--and nothing but God is worthy of it".

God bless
Anna   
 

2013-The New Year

John 12:26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

Well, here we are. Starting a new year all over again and it might feel kind of weird. I've found that the older I get, the faster time goes. I mean, it's the 16th of January already and it's hard to believe. However, it's a new year to grow closer to Christ and walk with Him closer than the last. It's a year to set new goals. Which is something I'd like to touch base on for this first blog post of 2013.

Being January, we tend to think of "New Year's Resolutions", but they tend to be quite a controversial topic. There are very few people who follow through, but if you are one that goes all the way with your new year plans, good for you! I, however, am not very good with continuing with my new year goals. I may set some, but after a few weeks, it becomes something that just "drags me down". Not exactly what New Year's Resolutions are supposed to do. However, this year, I decided to try something different.

Every day of this year, I'm giving one thing up. It can be as simple as avoiding sugary foods or something harder like staying off of Youtube or Facebook. You might ask, "Why?" and I'm going to tell you in a little bit. :)  But first, I'd like to say, that it's been going well for me. This year, I think I can actually stick with it, because it changes every day. It's not the same old thing like: "write more" or "eat less", because it gets old really fast. Probably the biggest reason that people give up on their new pursuit. But the plan that I came up with has one goal: to give up something that is important to me for 24 hours and replace it with something more worthwhile.

You might be asking, "But Youtube or social networking?". But it's because those things have become "routine" with me. I want to break away from things that don't matter and maybe read my Bible more that day or listen to a sermon on the radio. Things I can't do if I'm busy with social networking. The "take-aways"-as I call them-can vary and doesn't take long to plan. I usually decide the night before what I'm going to "take off" my list for the next day and what I'll "add to" that list.  I'm not saying that this will work for you; I'm just saying that it's my way of being more motivated to stick to a goal. Adds variety. And I admit, giving up YT was so hard for me. But the next day, I only listened to a little bit of music. I plan to avoid it on many other days this year. I don't want to make it so important to me that I can't live without it. Before, I didn't think it was possible to live without music; but I did it, and I'm glad I made that decision.

I'm not advocating New Year's Resolutions or trying to force you into thinking you should do what I'm doing. Not at all, as some things work for some people, but it may not work for others. It varies as we are all very different. :)

But my challenge to you this year is to continue to use your gifts to the glory of God; to be His hands and His feet; to persevere; to be the salt and light of the earth; and to live for Him and Him alone.

May God be with you this new year of 2013 and always.

Blessings,
Anna

James 1:17
   

ICBF blog and Life

I'm having a challenging time finding something relevant to write about at the moment, so I'll just update you on some of my weekly activities. :)

I wanted to let you know about the other blog that I'm co-authoring, though. This blog was recently launched in order to keep record of our Bible study group's notes. Several students got together about a year ago to study Scripture, and though there have been many changes over the past year our group has, in some ways, expanded and is still a time and place for friendship and study. You can find the International Christian Bible Fellowship blog HERE and you are more than welcome to follow it. We still meet on a Google+ hangout each week, and they are something I always look forward to--especially in the middle of a busy (and sometimes tiring) week. :)

After passing Western Civilizations 1, Introduction to Computing, and English Literature in October to increase my credit count to 18, I began studying College Math and Biology in November. They are both going well. I'm thankful for the good background in math and science that the BJU curriculum gave me through high school. People often have asked me how different studying college at home is from attending a traditional campus. It is not much different from the 12+ years of homeschooling that I recently completed. However, I do most, if not all, my studying on a computer. CP is very flexible, although I do schedule out my study plans. Sometimes, I get stuck studying and forget to "just live" (as Pollyanna would say), but I am grateful that I am still at home with my family, church, and friends. I will have my Degree Consultation on Wednesday, Lord willing, and my current plan is to earn a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies.

I still babysit with Hannah (my sister) about 6-8 hours a week. Kids often don't "connect" to me as quickly as they will with Hannah, but I still love taking care of them. Being in charge of children is a great responsibility, but it is something that I am used to now. I have watched children of all ages, and have been blessed with valuable experience in that area.

I have a few more weeks of harp lessons left for this semester. I am currently preparing for the harp festival in February, as well as for a duet audition in January (possibly). Playing with my group as well as just on my own is something I have always enjoyed. On Thursday, I will be playing background music for a seniors' home. There is something more rewarding playing as background music than there is just performing, in my opinion. People can still socialize and enjoy the music without having to "pay attention". Of course, there is less pressure on the performer, too. ;)

Other than day-to-day activities, there have been other events over the past month. Some good, some bad. Yet, in all God has been faithful, as He always has and always will be. One of my life verses has stuck with me through it all: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Seeking Him,
Kaleigh

My Week

As many of you know, I graduated last Friday night. The weeks prior to the actual celebration were quite busy, and I’m not even sure where I should begin. All my family was involved and so were many of my friends. Actually most of the people invited came, so my church was quite full (around 100 people). But it was a wonderful night and I would gladly do it all again…except that it isn’t necessary. Many of my friends got to meet my other friends, so it a way it was a “reunion”. It was for me especially: I saw a lot of the people who have had a large influence on my life all in one place. It was wonderful.

On Wednesday (18^th) Elizabeth, Daragh, and Mrs. Drummond arrived at our house around 6pm. We helped them unpack and after things settled down a little Liz, Sarah, and I tried to listen to the Bible study with other friends. Hannah and Daragh began cooking dinner in the kitchen. Overall I don’t think I remember much of the Bible study, but I do know that we were probably a great distraction to those who were actually trying to listen. :P But after the actual Bible study we “hung out” and just talked and laughed together. 

We found out that Daragh LOVES taking pictures so everything we did was photographed pretty much: food, laughing, making faces, animals, etc. After dinner Liz and I opened our grad presents from each other’s families and then Liz and I hid in the loft (ok, we didn’t really hide, but we do hang out there a lot) and I practiced my grad speech on her.

Thursday was my 18^th birthday. I first opened my presents with my family quite early in the morning. Soon after breakfast we all traveled to my church (an hour away) along with a few others to help set up everything and decorate the tables. I took my two collage boards and we managed to successfully hang them from the ceiling. We also rearranged the sanctuary somewhat and shoved everything unnecessary into the teen Sunday school room. Then when we got home some CPers had a birthday call for me and read their messages (which were all collected and posted on G+) to me. SO special. :) At the end of the day Liz and I once again retired to the loft to practice my speech. Hannah and Daragh were often frequent observers as well. So I had lots of good criticism for my writing/speaking. :D

Friday morning I opened some grad presents and edited and practiced my speech some more. Daragh and Mrs. Drummond left to visit some friends and then met up again with us at church that night. THIS was like THE best day ever. One hour before I had to leave for church…I got this card in the mail. From the McKees and from lots of my CP! friends. That hour was the hour where I could just start getting tense about everything or I could relax and decide to have fun. After reading through the card from all my friends, getting uptight about things just didn’t happen. I knew there were others praying for me and wishing they could be here, too.  The friends I have made through CP are so amazing, and I don’t know how I could ever repay their loyalty to me. One hour later I (and my family and Liz) left for church to attend my long-awaited grad ceremony. It was so special and I had a LOT of fun. I wasn’t nervous when I was giving my speech (it was actually really fun) and the games afterwards were great. I’m actually in the process of uploading them to YouTube so I will post links if that works. The amount of gifts I received was overwhelming. I am so thankful to be surrounded by Christian friends; they are worth more than any treasure the world could offer. After the ceremony, everybody ate food and fellowshipped together. It was a late night home and I was up until 1:40am. But it was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day. Sometime these kinds of days show you a little bit of heaven on earth. ;)

On Saturday morning, Daragh gave me her birthday present: a photo shoot of Liz and me in our grad dresses. It was lots of fun to find different places around the yard for pictures. I think it turned out pretty well. Later my sisters, mom, and I went to the beach with some friends (who had come to the island for my graduation). There were eight girls (not counting the three moms) in total and one little boy. One event was really funny. At the end of the visit at the beach a lady (who was leaving the same time we were) came up to all of us and tried to match all the kids with the moms! She did a great job, except she didn’t match some of us quite correctly. It was a great day at the beach…although we did have to say goodbye to the Drummond family in the morning.

Sunday was a wonderful day also. We took Liz to church with us (as she had stayed on the island) and then spent the afternoon at some church friends’ house. We took our puppies for a walk and let them wade/gallop through 6 inch mud. They were two dirty dogs at the end of the walk. Good thing hoses and sinks were invented. Church in the evening was also a blessed time as we gathered together, worshiped God, and fellowshipped with one another.

Today, Monday, I have been writing a lot and not doing any studying. It is my last week of no “official” school as I start college studying next month. I am looking forward to it all, but I am enjoying the break I have right now, too.

Getting back into Western Civilization 1 will be a challenge, I’m thinking, but I hope it will go well.  I also received a birthday card in the mail from a very sweet 12 year old. That made me smile lots. :D This week will be somewhat relaxed although I have several things I want to complete—much of it including writing.

God bless you all as you serve Him each and every day this week (and forever afterwards, of course).

In Him,

Kaleigh 

His Joy!

Sometimes life is crazy. So much to do. Studying. Family. Friends. Emails. Chores. Decisions. …..Life. And then I get into this routine of nothing. It’s like I just do everything automatically. Doing chores is like walking around the house in a dream. Talking to family is like communicating through a thick blanket where people have to enter into my world with “Hello, Kal. Are you there?”. Studying…that’s just black and white words on a page. :P Emails turn out to be diary epistles and chatting with friends is just fingers typing. Decisions are made logically with almost no feeling at all. There’s just a distance from everything. It’s when I get wrapped up in my own little world—thinking, remembering, re-playing too much.

And then there are those days when I remember why I love living. Studying the courses I have, I remember that I just love learning. I love studying and memorizing. Especially when I “get it”.  Family members made me laugh until my stomach hurts and siblings share inside jokes while the parents go cross-eyed. :P (Yes, we do explain to them  afterwards usually. :P) Friends are there to discuss the deep conversations that make me think and consider things in a new way. Emails and chatting become trivial as both sides wish for face-to-face conversations. Chores become enjoyable again and I am reminded that, yes, I do love cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry. Feelings return when I hold those little babies, and have that intense God-given desire for children of my own. That’s when I remember my purpose here on earth.

Yet, in both those kinds of days I have a choice. A choice that affects how I carry out anything else. A choice that affects my emotions, attitudes, responses, actions and everything else. It’s the choice to choose joy. The joy that exceeds any pain and turns it into rejoicing because He is our strength. (Neh.8:10) The joy that refocuses my thinking and turns me to the One who is the Giver of that joy.

God never promised that in this life

There’d be no struggle with inner strife.

Endless temptation on every side;

Evil desires and sinful pride.

Still he is with me to make me strong.

Keep me from fainting when days are long,

And in each trial give victory.

That’s what He’s promised me.

That’s what He’s promised me.

It is in His strength that I go through every single day of my life. Communicating with people, studying from books, working in my home. In His strength. Not mine. His strength and His joy takes each hasty response and turns it into a meek and quiet spirit. His strength shows me the joy of completing the mundane everyday chores. His joy that makes me love living in the place He has sent me to.

God’s joy also exceeds any of my happiness. The enjoyment I find in studying, in family time, in  writing, in talking is SO much less than the joy He can give me.  His joy is eternal and nothing can take it away. (Ps. 16:11) The happiness that I receive from meeting like-minded friends—a happiness I cannot describe—will be nothing compared to entering His heavenly glory and hearing His “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matt.25:21) I think that the joy His children will receive at that moment will be more than we could humanly handle. Yes, His joy is far greater than anything I could dream of, and I am willing to give up the happiness of this world to one day receive His joy—the kind that is only found in Jesus Christ. The joy that comes from knowing He is faithful. (1 Thess.5:24) The joy that comes from loving fellow believers, abiding in His love, and obeying His commandments. (John 5:10-11) The joy that comes from surrender and casting all your cares upon Him. (1 Peter 5:7)And the joy that comes from being a child of an ever-faithful, all-knowing Father, who holds us in the palm of His hand. Carrying us through each valley and over each mountain. Reaching the Promised Land. And then, finally, hearing His “Well done.” That is true joy. 

Today, may you all seek true joy in every circumstance and situation. Because His joy will surpass all of your pain, and any of your happiness. His joy is what will keep you going through the toughest and happiest of times because the joy of the Lord is your strength. 

Peace

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (NKJV)

Finding a quiet time during the day with our busy, day-to-day schedules can sometimes be difficult. With school, jobs, families, and the responsibilities that are added to our already “packed” days, it may not always be easy to find time to talk to God. Sometimes the word “overwhelming” may seem like an understatement with all of the work that we have to get done throughout the day. With all of this work and no end in sight, it’s hard to find peace and quiet.

I’ve found that to be my problem lately as I’ve been working on three school courses in college, starting to work with my horses again, outside work on our hobby ranch (as it has started to warm up earlier this year), and many other tasks that keep me busy throughout the days and weeks. There is never a dull moment.

How do we, as Christians in today’s society, find time? God reminds us in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” If we seek Him first (Matt. 6:33), before all else, He promises to give us peace. One verse that I have found to be very helpful is Ephesians 2:14 which says: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” Colossians 3:15 and Romans 5:1 are two other verses that I have found very comforting as well.

We can search high and low for peace on this earth, but the peace that the world has to offer does not begin to equal the peace that God gives us.


In Christ,
Anna
Numbers 6:24-26

One of those days...

We all have difficult days. Some perhaps more than others. I have had several of "those days" in a row this week.

I remember a similar day when I was grade nine. I don't remember any of the circumstances, but my Algebra I teacher (I use the BJU curriculum--teacher's instruct the students through recorded lessons) listed several passages of verses that really meant a lot to me. So...when you are having a challenging day read these and remember that God is in control. ;)

Psalm 86

3. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

4. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, I Lord do I lift up my soul.

5. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

7. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefor will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Lamentations 3:22-25

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 55:8-11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

There are so many other verses that I could list, but I hope these encourage you in some way. God is always with us. Even when we can't see Him, He is still there, waiting to carry us through every circumstance in our life.

God bless,

Kaleigh

Heather's Study Day

Hi! My name is Heather, and I’m a 19-year-old college student currently living at home with my mom, dad, and 3 siblings. I was really excited to be able to contribute to Kaleigh’s and Anna’s blog and share a little about my typical school day.

I am enrolled in CollegePlus! which, as most of you probably know, is an independent, home-based learning system which allows me to earn my college degree mostly through CLEP, DSST, and FEMA exams. Later on, I will enroll in Thomas Edison State College to complete my degree. So far, I have earned 54 credits, with 6 credits pending.

A typical study day for me is…so varied and inconsistent, that I guess you could say I don’t really have a typical study day…but I try to fit in at least a few hours of studying every day. Usually, I get up anywhere from 7:00 to 8:30 am. I don’t have a strict work schedule, so my daily routine is normally very flexible. Once I have sufficiently woken up and am somewhat alert, I enjoy my morning devotions and eat breakfast. Some time during the earlier parts of the morning, I will go down to the barn and feed our horse and clean out the stall.

Hopefully by mid-morning, I will finally have time to sit down to study for a few hours before lunch. I’m currently working on the DSST exam Technical Writing, so I’ll typically read my main textbook for that course, The Elements of Technical Writing, for an hour or so, and then do additional studying online at various websites that address technical writing. To keep my study day a little brighter and colorful, I like having a good supply of music to listen to while studying.

After lunch, I’ll do more reading in my textbook or online studying. During the rest of the afternoon, my time is taken up with many other activities such as practicing the piano and/or harp, which are both a major part of my life at this time; reading; taking a walk out on our country roads; playing with my younger brother; or taking care of the horse and our other animals. The evenings are usually set aside for family time….watching a movie, playing games, and family devotions. Later, before going to bed, I’ll usually work on my ALEKS Intermediate Algebra course for about an hour.

And there you have my not-so-typical day, which surprisingly turned out to be more typical than I thought it would be.

I’m so thankful that I found out about CollegePlus! It has dramatically changed the way I look at college, and I have made so many amazing friends through it. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any young person looking for a way to get done with college faster, for less, and for sure. And no, I wasn’t paid to say that.

Sofia's Study Day

I am a 14 year old, and a freshman in highschool and college.

A typical study day for me consists of lots of things. I always start out my day with my Quiet Time. Right now I am reading the book of Romans. (I highly recommend reading it. It's an amazing book) After breakfast I start with Math. I absolutely love math, although when I do it for too long, it gets boring.

I am doing my highschool math/algebra, but through my curriculum I am studying for my College Mathematics CLEP. It has taken longer than I had anticipated, but unlike other subjects, math isn't something you can rush.

Then comes Spanish. I really enjoy Spanish. I have grown up hearing it, but I still struggle with all the conjugations. I hope to go on mission trips with my dad, but I have to get better at my speaking skills. I don't talk much in English, my first language, much less Spanish. But I passed my CLEP test so that makes me happy.

During my school day, I also work on my instruments. Piano, guitar, violin, and my voice exercises. Music has become a big part of my life. One of my goals is to do music as my profession.

Right now I am studying for the Western Civ 1 CLEP test. I study for about 2-3 hours a day on this subject. I am enjoying it.

That's my typical study day.

Collin's Study Day

Since Kaleigh and Julianna asked me to contribute to their blog, I will attempt to sketch what a typical day (as much as a day is typical in homeschool families ;) ) is for me.

I wake up at 6:15 sharp every morning. Many times I will listen to music to keep me awake, as I start lifting a half hour later. I will many times do some light stretching or mobility work as a warmup.

Depending on the day, I will either do lower or upper body. Monday and Thursday are lower body days. Monday is training speed as well as building overall strength. Thursday is a maximal effort day-meaning I lift as much as I can in an exercise such as a squat or a deadlift. Tuesday is speed and overall strength for upper body, and Friday is maximal strength for upper body. 

I generally finish in less than an hour, so I will then do devotions and take a short nap before breakfast. I will start up CollegePlus studying at 9am, continuing on until lunch. After lunch, I generally check social networking and take about a half hour or do to chat with people on Skype, although the time I get on varies from day to day. During the afternoon, I will continue studying, but most of the studying then is on the Learning Network. After studying, I will do chores.

In the late afternoon, I will do stretching and mobility work. After that, I will either study yet again or relax until supper.

After supper, it is general family time until family devotions, which are usually around 8pm or so. After devotions, I will go back on Skype or just general time doing things. 

Depending on the day, I go to bed anywhere from 10:20-11:30. I usually fall asleep around 11:30, to wake up again at 6:15 sharp the next morning.