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Sunday’s Memory Verse, 7/16/23

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16 NIV

My Thoughts: Lord, Give us the boldness to freely share the Gospel with those around us.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Is It Time To Dump Public School Education? A Look at Homeschool Data

As Critical Race Theory, the Transgender Agenda, and Woke ideology invade our Public School System, Christian parents are considering other options. One option is Homeschooling, but can it successfully prepare our children for life? You might be surprised to learn that homeschooled kids generally fare much better than their Public School peers. Consider these statistics:

  1. Extracurricular Activities Studies have shown that homeschooled students are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities than their peers in traditional schools. 98% of homeschooled students participate in an average of 5 extracurriculars per week.
  2. College Graduation Rates An American study from 2009 showed that the section of homeschoolers that graduated from college was 66.7% whereas for the public school students, it was 58.6%. 
  3. SAT Scores Homeschoolers scored higher than the national average on SAT scores.
College-bound HomeschoolersNational Average
Critical Reading567497
Math521513
Writing535487
SAT Scores, NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute)

4. National Standardized Tests Homeschoolers scored higher than the average, or 50th percentile, in all academic areas on National Tests.

Academic AreaHomeschooler Average Percentile Ranking
Reading89
Language84
Math84
Science86
Social Studies84
NHERI study, including almost 12,000 homeschooled students taking National Tests

Why Parents Choose Homeschooling

Some Reasons for Homeschool Success:

  1. Homeschoolers can avoid the indoctrination of Public School policies such as Critical Race Theory, the Transgender Agenda, and Woke ideology.
  2. Homeschoolers don’t have as much peer pressure so they learn to think for themselves rather than adopting the views of their peers.
  3. Homeschoolers can move more quickly through assignments and subjects they understand, and spend more time on topics that are challenging and interesting. They learn at their own pace. (As a retired public school teacher, I know how important this is. It was very difficult, if not impossible, to provide instruction that met the needs of all the students in your classroom which could have as many as 35 students or more.)
  4. Homeschoolers have a shorter day. Public School typically lasts 7 hours /day plus travel time. So a child’s school day can last from 8 to 9 hours. But a homeschooler’s day is typically much shorter. For example, grades 5 and 6 spend 3 to 4 hours/ day, 4 days per week.
  5. Greater exposure to more adults through field trips and other activities.
  6. Less ridicule and social pressures that can reduce self-esteem and discourage learning.
  7. No bullying.

According to the Harvard study, ” … increasing smartphone use may have contributed to the recent huge spikes in adolescent depression, anxiety, and school loneliness. Cyberbullying, sexting, and ‘phubbing’ have also become more common in children’s daily lives, especially in school settings. We might expect that these issues may be less common among homeschoolers than their public school peers.” New Harvard Study: Homeschoolers Turn Out Happy, Well-Adjusted, and Engaged

You can find an endless amount of information about homeschooling online. What I have presented is literally a drop in the bucket. You may discover that homeschooling is actually a better option than you thought!

Home-schooled children generally develop into well-adjusted, responsible and socially engaged young adults,”

 Brendan Case and Ying Chen, Harvard University Study

“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:6-7 NIV

“Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 AMP

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NIV (emphasis mine)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Sources:

New Harvard Study: Homeschoolers Turn Out Happy, Well-Adjusted, and Engaged

https://progressiveschooling.com/are-homeschoolers-more-successful/

Brighterly.com Homeschooling Statistics in 2023 – USA Data and Trends

CalvertEducation.com

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Friday’s Verse, 7/14/23

 Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17 NASB

My Thoughts: Perhaps the most life-changing words in all the Bible…

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Verse for Meditation, 7/13/23

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

My thoughts: Now is the time to spread the Good News, while Jesus tarries.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Quote of the Week, 7/12/23

Unity at the expense of truth is a false sense of unity.”

Justin Peters

We have been given the final word on what is true: God’s Word, the Bible.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Tuesday’s Verse, 7/11/23

“Woe to those who call evil good
    and good evil,
who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20 NIV

My Thoughts: What the Bible calls sin is called good by the world. It’s always been this way, but now more than ever, except maybe during the days of Noah. Hmmmm

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Monday’s Verse, 7/10/23

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.  And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.  Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” Luke 12: 54-56 NIV Read full chapter

My Thoughts: Are we interpreting this present time? As Jan Markel likes to say, “Things are not falling apart. They are falling into place.”

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Sunday’s Memory Verse, 7/9/23

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

My Thoughts: We live in a time of great deception, but the Lord has given us the Bible, the source of all Truth.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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Spiritual Discernment: Now What?

Discernment is scarce in the Church today. And people who lack discernment usually think they have it. But let’s say you are a person who has diligently studied the Bible, and you have honed the skill of discernment. You recognize false teaching when you hear it because you know the truth of God’s Word well.

Now what? How does one use that discernment in a Godly way? It isn’t as easy as it sounds. The following words from Hannah Anderson spoke to me as I contemplated this question.

“Discerning people use their insight to serve those around them…They use knowledge to build up and unify – not to tear down or create division…Sometimes this means having the patience to wait while others think through what you already know…Sometimes it means foregoing your preferences for the good of others. Sometimes it might even mean being misunderstood precisely because others can’t yet see what you do… They resist the temptation to flaunt knowledge or prove themselves right.”

Hannah Anderson

This calls for a meek and gentle spirit when correcting a fellow believer. This calls for love to be our motivating factor. It calls for putting the interests of others above our own.

I’m not suggesting that we compromise – not for a moment, not ever! I believe we have a responsibility to speak the truth, but you can’t make someone see what they don’t see. In fact, many times your next step is simply to pray for them. This is why it is so important to be led by the Holy Spirit in these matters.

Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to faultfinding.

Corrie ten Boom

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

I realize that this post is addressed to a very specific audience. But I think it is something we should all think about.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15

What will you do if you discern error in your local church? Will you speak out or will you remain silent?

In His Love, Cindy

Read more about discernment in this post:

How To Be a Discerning Christian

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

All Scripture references are from the NIV unless otherwise noted.

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Friday’s Verse, 7/7/23

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39, NIV 1984)

My thoughts: What was it like in the days of Noah? Watch TV.

In His Love, Cindy

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Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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