Developing a Biblical Worldview

Greetings from Me and My House,

Developing a Biblical Worldview

The teaching of "thinking skills" has become big in education in the past few years. Although we believe God wants our children (and US!) to learn to think correctly, in fact Romans 12:1-2 tells us that our way of thinking HAS to be CHANGED, as usual I think "school" (the mentality, whether in a government or Christian institution, or at home) has gone about this all wrong. There is a place for Formal Logic and Reasoning to be learned by some - mature teens and adults, but generally, I don't believe children need to be taught "thinking skills" as a separate class subject.

It's not that we don't think it's important, but rather we believe learning to reason properly is a part of LEARNING in ALL subjects, actually all aspects of Life. It is through the application of gaining Wisdom, in ALL of Life. It isn't a separate, fragmented class to take, just as "Christian Education" isn't tacking a Bible class onto your academic curriculum list. It is impermeating, and basing ALL that you learn, with and ON God's Word. "Wisdom is the principal thing," for wisdom is thinking God's thoughts, and there is no higher Logic.

We really don't focus on "thinking skills" as such, but rather developing a Biblical Worldview, which is just another way of saying "thinking God's thoughts". It's having the same view of an aspect of Life that God Himself has of it. We think this is the most important thing we teach, and our goal in training and teaching our children - beyond loving and knowing Jesus personally, of which this is a part.

I think we're doing a great job in "giving" our children a Biblical World, through reading that imparts the Scriptural view of things, and our own modeling of "Biblical thinking". It truly is something WE must develop in our own lives first. Most of us have been thoroughly indoctrinated by our own education and just living in society with a humanist, even Marxist, and definitely unbiblical way of thinking. Many, perhaps MOST, of today's Christians - even Evangelical Christians - have not renewed their minds and been transformed out of this mindset. We allow this mindset to not only remain in us, but it's ever increasingly anti-scriptural view to set our children's way of thinking, too.

That's why, in several of the last few posts, in talking about "where do we begin?", I've stressed that the parent's reeducation must be the foundation. Although these articles have focused on transforming our view of EDUCATION, our renewing can't stop there. Our way of thinking must be transformed in ALL areas - not just education. God has a view and His Word has the answer for EVERY area of life. As Marshall Foster, of the Mayflower Institute says, our goal is not to just raise kids who aren't pregnant and on drugs by age 18. It's to raise World Changers, for the glory of God. To do this we must have a transformed, Biblical Worldview AND impart that into our children.

4 simple steps taken from Marshall Foster give us the guidelines to this:

1. Teach the mighty deeds of God - that is History as His Story, the workings of God throughout the ages. Read Psalm 78. Verses 4-7 say: "We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. ... which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; ..."

2. Read original biographies. These are the true original stories of people's lives and how God worked in them, including the futility of those without faith in God; not a dumbed-down, politically correct, revisionists view of someone's life. Read Hebrews 11. 1 Cor. 10:11 says: "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."

3. "Bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Cor. 15:33 According to the Word, your children will turn out like who they spend much time with, and other's bad morals will rub off much faster than your child's good morals will rub off on them. This includes real people of course, but also TV, computer or video games, and even reading books that have a non-biblical view. Pro. 13:20 "He who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." I could go on and on here, but would undoubtedly get off on a rabbit trail that I will cover more thoroughly in another post. Hint: It has to do with Wisdom and Fearing God, the whole basis of a Biblical Worldview.

4. Make life and home a joyful revolution. Home is the center for God's dynasty and the basic tool for God's kingdom to be built. You are the center focus of this. Make your home the center of YOUR and YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE. Make it a joyful place to be. Model Biblical "gender" roles. Develop an atmosphere - provide a good library, historically 60% theology, 40% history. Build culture yourself - paraphrasing Dr. Spurgeon, "Set yourself on fire and your kids will come to watch you burn." As I said, MODEL IT! God has a purpose and plan, not just for YOUR life, but for your DYNASTY - those you disciple. Deut. 6:3-7 says: "YOU fear the Lord your God, keep all His statutes and His commandments... be careful to observe it,...these words shall be in YOUR HEART. You shall teach them diligently to your children ...." Pro. 22:6 says: "train up a child" - this is a word picture of passing on YOUR tastes and culture to your children. Make sure they are GOD'S! - the way they SHOULD go. There is far more said to our husbands than us moms on this, but Pro. 14:1 says: "The wise woman builds her house..." And Pro. 31:26: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, ..."


As I said, by modeling this and giving our children great reading based on a Biblical Worldview, they will *HAVE* a Biblical Worldview. But will they be able to REASON from this worldview? I believe THAT training takes a little more than just reading and having modeled to him. Hebrews 5:14 says: "Solid food belongs to those who are mature, that is those who by reason of use (practice) have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." To do this, we must (and must teach our children to) not just read, but also study and "exercise their senses". Their reasoning skills aren't developed just by hearing, but also by practicing. This is accomplished through the 6 Processes of Learning:

1. Receive - taking in information.

2. Record/ Recite - record that information through quoting and through their own words, "parroting back" through Copywork, Recitation, Oral or Written Narration.

3. Ruminate - "to chew on", think about the new info, relate it to what we already know.

4. Reason/ Relate - to actually process the information and make judgement on it. We MUST have the foundation of Wisdom through God's Word in order to do this. The 4R method used in the Principle Approach, through Researching what the Word has to say on a topic, "exercises our senses to discern," causing Wisdom to be gained. God "has given to us ALL things that pertaining to Life and godliness..." 2 Peter 1:3

5. Respond - this is the step of deciding what to do with the information. Toss it totally if it doesn't line up with Biblical Truth. Keep the "baby" but throw out the "bathwater", if there is some Truth buried in man's faulty understanding. Embrace it and make it our own - if it totally lines up with Biblical Truth.

6. Release - communicate the results of the above process, sharing what we're learned - through discussion, essays, teaching others, etc.

We must TRAIN our children how to walk through this Process of Learning, but it is done through whatever learning they are doing, not through separate "classes" on it.

So, while there is a place for learning Formal Logic and Reasoning "techniques", I am far more concerned with my children developing a strong Biblical Worldview through ALL that they learn, to not only live their own lives by, but to also be able to present, through God-given Wisdom, from His Word and His Grace (supernatural empowering), His Truth to all who may "ask for a reason for the hope that is in them."

Proverbs 4:7: "Wisdom is the PRINCIPAL thing, therefore get Wisdom and with all your getting get understanding." Proverbs 9:10: "The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of Wisdom.." And Wisdom is having a Biblical Worldview. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." That is probably the key to what we all want for our children (and our own lives), that they/we would be prosperous and successful in God's eyes, and that comes from developing a Biblical Worldview, by knowing God's thoughts and thinking like Him.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

Getting Started with L.E.D. - MindMap

Greetings from Me and My House,

Do you want a quick overview for Getting Started with LED? Do you like things laid out in a "1-2-3" way? Do you want to see what I'm talking about when I say "Learning Map" - an AWESOME way to brainstorm, plan, and outline? We first learned of making these as a pre-writing help many years ago (about 13?) when we used the Weaver unit study curriculum. I don't remember what they called them, but I was impressed by their usefulness and teaching benefits. Last year I came across the information that there is *software* out there to make designing MindMaps easy, neat looking, and computerized. We tried several programs, and this is the one we liked best and bought. You can download a FREE "viewer" of this program to open the attached Learning Map.

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To open the attached map(s) you can download the free
MindManager Viewer.
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[UPDATE: MindManager was the first mindmapping software we used, and the one mentioned in this article. It was a powerful program, but only available on windows, and quite pricey (for the professional version I liked.)

Since then I have found a couple more mindmapping programs that we like. Inspiration is a program specifically designed for classroom/educational use - and was the best we could find for use on Macintosh computers - and it is bi-platform.

Since then I have also found and like NovaMind better for Mac. It is a fairly new program, originally designed for Mac, and now brand new for Windows. (It's rare that I will purchase a type of software that I already have, unless I'm really impressed with the second.) You can download any of these for a free trial period.

BTW, I had no trouble recieving the substantial educational discount as a home educator. I will warn you ahead of time, don't send for the educational discount coupon until you are ready to purchase. It expires within a couple of days of being sent.]

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

The Balance of Routine

Greetings from Me and My House,

Did I promise an article on Routine? Well, let's see if I can get it done today.

Some people are very structure oriented, some very variety oriented. The problem is that it is very doubtful that EVERYONE in your family is the same one. We must work at finding the right balance of Routine for our FAMILIES not just for OURSELVES. Yes, God gives us our specific family members to balance us. We all have seen the extremes of "schedule obsession" and "too flighty to finish anything", and none of us want to be like those people. Even if WE are those people, we don't want to be. And our families certainly don't want us to be.

How do we find this balance? Let me suggest a middle of the road approach to "Routine" that can be adjusted slightly one way or the other to best suit your family. Although I'm giving this in a step-by-step format, I realize, and I hope YOU do too, that Real Life and Relationships do not operate by formulas.

Step 1) Start by making your list of priorities. This is NOT a lengthy, impossible "to do" list, NOR is it your "life goals" list. This is a list of basic priorities that are important to your family. Perhaps customizing the "7 Disciplines of L.E.D." will give you an idea to start with. You can see the 7 Disciplines online - http://www.angelfire.com/ne/meandmyhouse/led-7disciplines.html - and more details are given on the "8 Principles of Lifestyle Education" tape. These are specific to our *educational* priorities, obviously other things are priority too; clean clothes, picked up house, healthy meals, husband/wife time, etc. but, in this article we are talking about our education routine, AND, as you'll see in our example below, we have included most of those other priorities - husband/wife time is not included during the "school-day routine, household chores are.

Step 2) Set a few "checkpoints" during the day. I find that mealtimes make the most effective checkpoints. One reason is that they can be slightly flexible if necessary (unless you have someone that comes home for a certain lunch hour). Other checkpoints can be based on set appointments; i.e. someone has to leave the home at a set time. Perhaps you want to have Family Worship before Dad goes to work.

Step 3) Set up your basic daily Routine upon these priorities. Do them in order of priority, filling in other details as needed. This is the ORDER they are done in, not TIME that they are done. This is Routine, not Schedule. That way if interruptions come, or you have to drop everything for an emergency, you still know that the most important things got accomplished. There is a saying called the Tyrrany of the Urgent; that the important often gets crowded out by the urgent. If we begin and order our day by the most important things, this is less likely to happen.

Let me give you an example, based upon the 7 Disciplines.

Checkpoint #1 - Breakfast at 9:00 - personal devotions and grooming done before. I don't care what time you get up, just have these things done before 9.

After breakfast - Family Worship (includes Disciplines 1 - 3) then
Daily Chores

Perhaps you want to add another checkpoint - at 10:30 - everyone back to the table for Table Time:
Character Study
Copywork/Handwriting
Free Writing
Life and Learning Skills (any help and training you need to give them, from math concepts to cleaning the toilet)

Checkpoint - Lunch at 12:30 - after lunch:
Family Read Aloud
Weekly Chores
Active work - Learning Experience and Discovery
Individual Reading and Assignments/ Notebook work

After all the above is completed is Free Time, whenever that time comes. Since the afternoon, after lunch and Family Reading, is basically "individual" time, Free Time will come at a different time for each person.

Our next checkpoint would be - Supper - 6:00 - with "Blitz" completed before then (however long before then that you need). Blitz is a quick pick up of house and putting away of all projects.

Perhaps they/ you finished early, before a checkpoint time, go on to the next thing (or if the next thing is a family thing, and not everyone is done and ready, they go on to the next *individual* thing.) If they/ you don't finish by a checkpoint time, or you get called away from home for a while, pick up where you left off when you get back. If an individual doesn't finish in time, they finish up before they can have Free Time. If it's an issue of nobody got done because of an emergency or appointment, perhaps rather than picking up where you left off, you will choose to go straight to Free Time, knowing that what you did do was the most important.

Utilizing a basic Routine like this gives you more Freedom than a clock-based schedule, yet allows you to accomplish more - AND the things that are most important to your family, better - than "flying by the seat of your pants". And that's what Lifestyle Education is all about "Freedom and Simplicity".

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

F&S High School RecordKeeping

Greetings from Me and My House,

A List-Mom asked about simplifying High School record keeping for transcript-building, and our products for such. Below is my reply.

Let me explain our "Freedom and Simplicity" recordkeeping - some of it available as "forms" now, other parts to be included in the Lifestyle Curriculum - Or Excellence without Textbooks book (that I will finish in "publishable form" sometime, when LIFE - i.e. being a wife, mom, homemaker, Bible study teacher/writer, home school teacher, ...... :- ) - allows me a bit more time. In the meantime I just try to answer questions as they come, individually - locally and email, through our website, and email list.

Anyhow, what we do (and notes as to what is available NOW) - with a focus on high-school recordkeeping, moving from daily records, to long-term planning - is:

Daily Log - This is a journal form, and my preference is for my children to keep it on a daily basis. They write a paragraph of what they did that day. I want this to be in a journal (diary-type) form, not just a list. (They don't always get it done. : -( )Of course, you could use it any way YOU please. There is a block on the page for each day of the week. (Forms are in either of the Redeeming the Time planners - or we have some discontinued books - a year's worth of forms, comb-bound - that we are including FREE with any order over $50, or for $5 with smaller order, while supplies last).

Tracking Sheet - This is my most helpful, at a glance form. It lets me see very quickly, just exactly what they've been doing. More explanation and a sample form (Word attachment) are in a recent l.e.d. email list post.

As the youth study and learn, they are creating Notebooks - their own personal "living study" of the topic. It will remain their personal reference on the topic, and can be used in the future as their own review or to teach others. These Notebooks though are not particularly for MY use in record-keeping - except in assessing how thoroughly they have covered the topic and put their information together - I use these more to assess such "classes" as Compostition, since these Notebooks contain their compositions and we don't give further "Compostion" assignments.

Topical Journal - As they "complete" a topic ("class" if you must), they fill out a Topical Journal of it. A simplified overview. It includes a Bibliography of the resources they used (and a check list of whether they took notes/wrote a summary/discussed with parents), a Projects page (giving description, self-evaluation, and parent evaluation). They write a page of Highlights - interesting things they learned, and a Summary page - what they learned, their thoughts about it, etc. - somewhat of a short "term paper" - though not as formal. This is what I use for most of my "assessment", in assigning a "grade" and "credits" to a Course/Topic. (Forms available - with permission to copy for the purchaser's own children - for $3.00.)

Most of the other "high-school" documentation we do is through our High School Planning and Record Notebook - what "Lifestyle Curriculum ,,," will cover. In a nutshell, what it contains is:

Our High School Graduation Requirements - how many credits in what courses and topics

Our Documentation Guidelines - how and where they are to document each area, any requirements for forms to use or things to include in specific notebooks.

Course Record - The forms I use to actually compile a transcript. One per course (with a note of how many credits required), divided into the Topics within that course and the basic requirements and credits for each class, the grade received. We also note "date finished" for each Topic/requirement, if appropriate. Things like "Learn the Bible in 24 Hours" (1 requirement for Bible Survey) have a definite ending date. Things like "Descriptive, Narrative, and Biographical Composition" don't.

Topic Assessment Criteria sheet - (for appropriate Courses - such as History, Science, Health, Practical Arts) - tells what their grade will be based upon. I have a general one, for the above courses that require Topical Journals, but a few more specific ones for other courses - such as Math, PE - listing what is required to get an A, B, or C.

Learning Maps and/or Topic Record sheets - one for each Topic (division of a Course) - ex. our Bible Course (requires 4+ credits) is divided into the following topics - Bible Survery (1 credit), Bible Doctrine (1 credit), Biblical Principles, Christian Living, Male/Female Roles, and Ministry (1 3/4+ credit), Personal Bible Studies (1/4+ credit.) Each of these Topics (for each course, not just Bible) has it's own Topic Record sheet headed with the Name of the Topic, and the date the Topical Journal is done. Below that is a list of "assignments" completed, their beginning and ending dates and a place for me to initial. The first few lines (or one or *none*) list any of MY required "assignments" - if there are any books or other resources (this could be 'other resources' like, "talk to Grandpa about practical investing") on the topic that I REQUIRE (noted with an 'R') or that I consider excellent, though not required (noted with an 'O' - optional). The rest of the page is filled with blank lines for them to fill in resources and projects that THEY come up with and do. These sheets were designed and in use long before we began using the Tracking Sheets, and may now be somewhat redundant. But since these sheets aren't necessarily turned in every week, I designed the Tracking Sheets to keep me more "up to date" on their progress, and Learning Maps more as planning sheets, to give direction.

My Redeeming the Time planner has several other Education Planning and Documenting forms in addition to all the homemaking forms.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

High School Bible Course

Greetings from Me and My House,

I'm asked often, but rarely share publically OUR curriculum, as we believe that is such a personal family thing. We really believe each family needs to seek God for specific direction for what to do - not what "pre-published curriculum" to use, but for God to write through them THEIR OWN PERSONAL FAMILY CURRICULUM. I have debated within myself for years as to how much to share. The questions keep coming, more and more frequent. (Please orderour "Introduction to Lifestyle Education through Discipleship" and "8 Principles of Lifestyle Education" tapes to know what we REALLY want to share with you, the foundation, philosophy and principles to build your own family's education and curriculum upon.)

I don't want any family's home-education (other than ours) to be dependent on whether I get a complete curriculum "published", but I am seeing the benefit other families could gain from me sharing outlines of what we do. So many moms have said, "I really don't want to *copy* your curriculum verbatum in our home, but I'd just like to see what yours looks like to give me an idea of where to start."

So..... with that in mind, I share with you a basic outline for our Bible Course (taken from our Bible Course Learning Map).

1. Bible Survey
pre-requisite: Read through the entire Bible and
Keep a journal of your devotions (a notebook form we have - "SpiritualJourney", or something of their own covering similar info).
Our primary resource list: Learn the Bible in 24 Hours, What the Bible is All About, opt. Hayford's Bible Handbook

2. Bible Doctrine
primary resource: Bible Studies for a Firm Foundation, book list for each topic studied

3. Biblical Principles (Christian Living, Male/Female roles, Ministry)
way too many resources to list, but included are: Basic Life Principles, Advanced Life Principles, Life Notebook and an extensive book list of possibilities.

4. Personal Bible Studies
various types of studies and using Bible reference books - expositional, inductive, word, topical, contextual - also includes Scripture memory
primary resources: How to Study the Bible, How to Study Your Bible, Bible reference books

These Topics (especially Doctrine and Principles) include journals and essays. The Survey includes book summaries and timelines. The Personal Studies are followed in various ways. I give this basic "requirements" and book lists (which aren't always written, but "on the shelves") and they take it from there, each completing it in different ways. We have used God's Priceless Woman before, but I've come across many other resources since then, so don't know if I'll keep it as "required" or let them pick and choose. I also like to encourage deeper devotional reading (thought provoking) books.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa

Daughters / College - Yes? / No?

Greetings from Me and My House,

I'm forwarding this post I sent to another hs list this am.)

The "Ask Marilyn" article referred to was evidently in "Parade" magazine. It was a question about whether to hs or not. "Marilyn" had a very negative, obviously uninformed answer.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
Me and My House
1 Thessalonians 5:23

----- Original Message ----

Hi all,
Another post just to add more discussion and food for thought to this
topic. (Please forgive my use of CAPS. I'm not yelling at anyone :- ) I just am a very emphatic speaker.) This is long. It has nothing to do with writing transcripts, but everything to do with the college/ career question - focused toward daughters, because
1) that's what was asked, and
2) sons open a whole other "can of worms".

?said (sorry I didn't catch the poster's name): "One more thing, our 13yodd is a very bright, aggressive student and person...most assuredly "college material"...even career material! ... How do I reconcile my dd's gifts and abilities with a soft-pedal approach to higher education?"

Although I quote this *small* portion of ?'s note, this is not aimed at her. It was spurred by the "Ask Marilyn" article, and I ask/ present this as food for thought for all. (To our ? poster specifically, I would say *promote higher education to the nth degree*. Isn't that our goal, to develop lovers of learning - not "college educated" career people, but lifelong, self-initiated learners? This doesn't end when *we* "finish" with them. But this also doesn't mean promote "college".)

Must our daughters (or even sons) pursue college just because they are bright and gifted, white collar executive material? Must bright and gifted people pursue this route because their life would be a "waste" to themselves and society if they don't? As indicated in the "Ask Marilyn" article, this is DEFINITELY the thoughts of the world.

It is *hogwash* (excuse the uneducated sounding terminology :- ) IMO to think that "smart" people go to college and get good careers, and that it is a "loss" if they don't. As "Marilyn" put it (my paraphrase, I didn't save the original) homeschooling robs the world of all the good these smart, educated people could provide. It is also, very strongly, implying that *SAHW/ SAHM* that have a brain are robbing "the world". This is our society's very SOCIALISTIC attitude.

I strongly pray that this worldly attitude is not present in homeschoolers. I hope hs-ers have the vision of God to see the MUCH GREATER FUTURE GOOD, and not the American/ World microwave, instant, I-want-it-NOW (with no vision to the future) good, of what we are doing. We are not here to promote "society", we are here to CHANGE LIVES! A better society is only built by changing one life at a time.

Perhaps our bright children will impact thousands, perhaps they will impact a few neighbors, perhaps they will impact not many but their own children and raise another John Wesley, or Noah Webster. Is this considered a "loss"? Socialism will not change our world. Only Godly people pursuing Godly avenues, with the vision to project that into the future through our children, and leading our "neighbors" to train their children, can do this.

Am I saying that college is an evil to always be shunned by God-fearing people? NO, it is an avenue that is sometimes needed because we live in this world, and it is the way of this world for certain areas. College, for a God-directed field of interest and life's work is a necessity for some in our society. It's the only way to enter certain fields. College for the sake of college, is a waste.

If the point is just "furthering your education", rather than entering a specific field of calling that requires a worldly degree, then there are much better ways of pursuing this, as home educators should know. That's why we do what we do.

If we hs because we believe we can provide a better, more efficient, individualized education for our children, why do we believe they can't continue to pursue the same after their years of training under us? Why must our "bright" children continue their education in an institution, with cookie cutter ideas about how to "succeed" in the "real world"? Many "geniuses" pursued their learning "outside the box" and gave our world/ society some of our greatest contributions (in the "world's" own eyes). It is faulty to conclude that the "brightest" people have a string of initials after their names, and a 6+ figure income career. AND that they are making a "better" contribution than a SAH*W* (not even necessarily SAH*M*) without even a high school diploma.

Lest you be questioning, I am not anti-education! Nor anti-career! Nor anti-money! I DO think outside the "normal" world's box though. AND I do VERY STRONGLY believe that all those things will pass away. Only relationships are eternal. Our society has made education one of, if not THE BIGGEST gods, right along side of money (as our nation's consumer debt proves). Pursuing of careers has destroyed more marriages and family relationships than probably any other thing.

Yes! I believe the highest calling we (*men* and women) have is to marry, and then raise Godly-"seed" (children). To aim them as arrows into the future to change this world through impacting the lives THEY contact, just as we are to model this by also impacting the world through the others God brings across our paths. This does not require a college degree, or even a lot of money. Yes, we are to be good stewards and utilize all the gifts and talents God has given us, to do that, but still, good stewardship (even of talent and brains), in God's eyes, is not equated with college and career.

He gave us what He gave us to glorify Him. If it is His will that someone enters a certain career, to impact the people He has placed within that sphere, AND that career *requires* a college degree, then that is the path he must take. If this is His will, then it CAN be done without sacrificing His higher calling of relationship.

I firmly believe that the "hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". We can make the greatest impact on the world by being home with our children and raising them for God's glory, to be world changers. Yes, I believethat is true for ALL women, no matter how bright and talented they are. AND that we can use every gift and talent, and ounce of "smarts" God has given us to do this, AND to stand by our husband's side as a *helper for HIM* as our *family* together impacts those He has placed us amongst.

I know also that there is a present thinking of "what if God doesn't have marriage in store for my children?" (especially daughters). Then they "must be prepared with a good career to support themselves." It's a *possibility* (though not *probability*) that your daughters (or sons) not marry, and Paul said, "I would that all men were as I am, *for the present tribulation*" (unmarried). But GOD said, "It is not good for man to be alone." AND He made women for the PURPOSE of being a "helper" i.e. WIFE of a man.

Since marriage is a representation of God Himself in several aspects, it is His will for most people. Therefore, I don't believe that women should look at just "leaving the workplace" to raise children, and then return and "make her contribution". She is first and fore-most a Helper for her HUSBAND (not the world), and she is to be a "keeper at home" for HIM not just the kids. i.e. that doesn't mean she's home just to raise his children (or for that time period).

That's a whole other topic, but to keep this on this topic, for our daughters, this means they do not have to be trained in a career for pre- or post- children days, or even pre-marriage days. ( I know, that's way too foreign of an idea to consider a daughter might remain under the care and protection of her father, in his house, serving her family and extending her hand to others, if she doesn't get married.)

As was mentioned in another post, women (including the virtuous wife of Proverbs 31) have many times earned extra "pin" money, through doing some sort of production or service out of her own home. Most times this was through selling the excess (whether product or service) of something she was already doing for her own family - an ideal way for women to use her gifts and talents to benefit her family AND others around her.

God has graced some women, at SOME SEASONS in their lives, with the ability to extend their hands (in greater ways) to others without negatively affecting her own family, marriage or children. The extent of this reach is determined by her current SEASON of life. Many pre-married women are able to do this, although it must always be taken into account that she's to do "her husband good and not evil ALL the days of her life". And she must take care that she is not developing a lifestyle, attitude, or independence that will be harmful to her marriage later on.

Just one aspect of this can stem from placing herself under authority of someone other than her father or husband, who doesn't have the same protective attitude toward her, and whose authority will come in conflict with theirs. Who will she follow? She will lose her job, which is not based on commitment and relationship if she doesn't do what they want. But she will damage, if not lose altogether, her relationships if she continues to chose to obey lesser (self-appointed) authorities over God-ordained authorities. Is it right for a woman's family (children, husband, or parents) to have to make these "sacrifices" to accommodate her job outside of the family?

The question of *preparing* our daughters for college/ career has much deeper implications than not wasting their brains and talents. It has much to do with passing on what we value. What God values. And what He gave them those gifts for. We must seek His whole councel, including His Word to know His unchanging ways, not just in prayer for what we "feel" He may be saying. Yes, we pray for specific direction, but His answers never go against His infallible Word - and we must know His Word to know this. We must not presume that talent and brains means He's called them to college and career, or that they won't use those talents and brains if they don't pursue college or career.

As we prepare our daughters for God's highest calling (and IMO that is
what our goal in preparing them should be), their own interests and bents may ALSO (not instead of) prepare them for their future learning to include "college" for the purpose of a specific direction, that may be in working at her husband's side, as his "helper"; or as an unmarried woman called to "extend her hand" to a specific sphere of influence. But, (IMO) it should never supercede preparation for what she most likely will be called to - to be a Helper of her husband, a nurturer of her children, and a keeper at home.

Yours for provoking thought,
At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
Me and My House
1 Thessalonians 5:23