The Message

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=220 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U><IMG SRC="040bf930.gif" border=0 width="191" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Glance at Reading Readiness"><U>A Glance at Reading Readiness</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Ba"><U>A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Bark</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasing Palette"><U>A Pleasing Palette</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Treasure So Fine!"><U>A Treasure So Fine!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion"><U>Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aunt Bettys BBQ Sauce"><U>Aunt Betty's BBQ Sauce</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back to School"><U>Back to School</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Beginnings of Habit"><U>The Beginnings of Habit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being Poured Out"><U>Being Poured Out</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Broccoli Chicken Casserole"><U>Broccoli - Chicken Casserole</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Educ"><U>Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Education</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Choosing Curriculum for the new year"><U>Choosing Curriculum for the new year</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives"><U>The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dwelling in Safety"><U>Dwelling in Safety</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall: The Season of Change"><U>Fall: The Season of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promise"><U>Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For the Love of Ginger"><U>For the Love of Ginger</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Covenant Journey Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Pure Vessel Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!"><U>Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure"><U>The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in t"><U>Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in the Lord</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have You Been Working Out?"><U>Have You Been Working Out?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="His Love"><U>His Love</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Educators and their Books"><U>Home Educators and their Books</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling... A New Adventure"><U>Homeschooling... A New Adventure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Shoals"><U>Homeschooling in the Shoals</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Springtime"><U>Homeschooling in the Springtime</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Swamp"><U>Homeschooling in the Swamp</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How the Created Thing "><U>How the Created Thing </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Prepare a Tincture"><U>How to Prepare a Tincture</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In the Final Analysis"><U>In the Final Analysis</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Joy of the Lord and His Plan"><U>The Joy of the Lord and His Plan</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just Enough Stress"><U>Just Enough Stress</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Loneliness in the Homeschool"><U>Loneliness in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <B>The Message</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nature Studies Indoors"><U>Nature Studies Indoors</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nursing ParkerDaniil"><U>Nursing Parker-Daniil</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Teacher"><U>Our Teacher</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Relationships in the Homeschool"><U>Relationships in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S is for Skullcap and Sleep"><U>"S" is for Skullcap and Sleep</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Great Deception"><U>Satan's Great Deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Science through a Nature Club"><U>Science through a Nature Club</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sharing from My Excess"><U>Sharing from My Excess</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"><U>"Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Storms of Change"><U>The Storms of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Strength to Face the Day"><U>Strength to Face the Day</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two Moms, One Jesus"><U>Two Moms, One Jesus</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Waiting excerpted from Parables from Nat"><U>"Waiting" excerpted from "Parables from Nature by Mrs. Gatty</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Water and the Blood"><U>The Water and the Blood</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Are You Homeschooling"><U>Why Are You Homeschooling</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!"><U>Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Your Liver loves Burdock!"><U>Your Liver loves Burdock!</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> <A NAME="__crooked_pines_ministries__________"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>  Crooked Pines Ministries</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles by Mary E. Woodis"><U><B>Articles by Mary E. Woodis</B></U></A></div> <div> The Message</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Message</div> <div> By: Mary E. Woodis</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Move</div> <div>      It always amazes me to watch God's hand move through my life and the life of those I love. His fingerprints are so distinct that you can't miss them. While shopping for last minute Christmas gifts in Target, my husband's phone rang. On the other end of the line was his mother. She was calling to tell him that the family home had been sold and they were moving immediately. His father has had this home on the market many times over the years and has tried to make deals to trade properties. It never has worked out, at least not until this time. This time it was different. The buyer came to him and proposed the deal. It was a home that they had looked at and tried to deal on before. This time God's hand was moving and the deal became a reality. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Memories</div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >The day after Christmas we began packing things. The memories came flooding back and our children we treated with a lesson on family history. Many different things brought back times long gone and humorous episodes in the lives of our family. What could only be looked at as an opportunity to serve and work, became a wonderful time of warm and funny memories and poignant reminders. Over and over again we heard, "Do you remember this?" and "This used to belong to _____, do you want it?" We brought home so many treasures that  our home is now bulging. I'm sure our children will never forget that day at Grandma and Grandpa's spent packing up and listening to story after story.</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Winter </div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >The best memories are made during winter. We have so much more time together to bless one another with thoughtful gifts and treasures from our hearts. This season we have been blessed to host treasured friends in our home for meals and read aloud times. I love to snuggle up in front of the fireplace and read a wonderfully engaging story aloud to my children. I'm sure that you have memories like these also. On one such night, a particular verse came to my mind that was so perfect for the occassion. Let me share it with you here:</FONT></div> <div> <B>Luke 2:19</B>, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Anger </div> <div>      With closed in days and lots of "in your face" time, comes the inevitable flashes of anger. Most often these are provoked by frustration, impatience and illness. I would like to encourage you to take these moments as an opportunity to train your children how to biblically handle anger. It is not a sin to be angry. Scriptural tells us:</div> <div> <B>Ephesians 4:26-27</B>, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil."</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Choices<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" > </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >     </FONT>Is it possible to be angry and not sin? Yes, it is possible and even likely. You see if you are willing to sin to get something or sin if you don't, you have made a wrong choice. If you are angry because God's word, not your word, has been violated, then you are not sinful. When you view an angry episode as a training episode, you have made an eternal choice. This is so exciting and really helps to lessen the frustration. Your child is not sinning against you, but against God. Therefore, you have been given the chance to bring your wayward lamb back to the Master. You become the loving shepherd of <B>Matthew 18</B>. You must choose if you are going to be the angry taskmaster, the frustrated mommy or the loving shepherd. I wonder what you will decide in that split moment the next time you are given the opportunity.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Results</div> <div>      I can't begin to tell you the difference this one principle has made in our home. I have pondered this message from our Dear Lord. I have stored up treasures in my heart from our moving experience with Jessie's parents. I have made the choice be a loving shepherd. You see, God's word has given me an example that can't be ignored. The message is clear:</div> <div> <B>John 10:4</B>, "And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice."<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Trebuchet MS" > </FONT></div> <div>      My children know my voice, I can loudly say, "Son!" in a crowded room and his little head will pop up and he will answer me with, "Yes, ma'am?" It is the same way with our Dear Lord. If He says, "Son!" I want my child to be so well trained that he will answer, "Yes, sir?" without hesitation. This is the eternal result of our training. But it all begins with my choice. Will I be the angry taskmaster, the frustrated mommy or the loving shepherd? Will I start the habit training that will remove the frustration or will I continue assigning tasks and never following up? Then, when I discover the task unfinished, I become frustrated and angry. I must decided to finally end the vicious cycle and the decision is mine. The habit training starts with me. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Message</div> <div>      This message started when I heard the news that my inlaws were moving. Over the last week or so, this message has continued to grow in my heart until it was completed and ready to be delivered. I have pondered all these things in my heart and now I am ready to share them with you. The week spent helping my inlaws to pack and move has been tiring and stressful and this has offered many opportunities to train my children. Some I have negotiated successfully and some I have failed miserably. Just today I yelled at Jessica when she again turned the wheel too sharply when she was backing out of our driveway. I have only told her about that 50 million times! Yes, I became unnecessarily angry and bit her head off. It was not a good way to start our trip to town. It would have been better had I reminded her of our previous conversations and asked her to try again. I ask myself and I ask you, what voice do you want your children to recognize? What message are you teaching them? How will you change after reading this article? Have you received the message?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#__crooked_pines_ministries__________" TITLE="The Message"><U><B>back to the top</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Mary E. Woodis is the wife of Jessie and the mother of Jessica - 17yog, Emily - 14yog, and Parker-Daniil - 9yob. We educate our children following scriptural principles, using the philosophy as taught by Charlotte Mason. This article is copyrighted, 2004. If you would like to print this article in your publication, please contact us at jessiew@hiwaay.net or 1365 County Road 74, Florence, AL 35633.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>This page last updated March 2005</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>