Without a vision.....

"Where there is no vision the people perish" Proverbs 29 v 18

 "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it"           Habakkuk 2v2

It's important to have something to aim for - to keep you on track when you get a little bogged down, to inspire you on the bad days, to focus you when there seems to be so many different options available to you.

Our goals for home educating are
laying down the rails that our childrens
lives will run on - what a responsibility!
All the more reason to lean on
the wisdom of Gods word rather than  our
own understanding..

Here is our home educating family vision, the big picture if you like.....

1. That the boys will find Christ as their personal saviour and to cultivate a relationship with Him through prayer and the study of the Bible. Jesus said,

 "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment" Mark 12 v29-30

"For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the world, and lose his own soul?" Matthew 16 v 24-26 

     If we succeed in giving our children a high standard of education academically, so that they can go any where and do anything they aspire to do in their future careers, but we neglect to instill in them a knowledge of the truth (that one day they can make their own decision  whether to  accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, to personally know and love Him, or not). Then I would consider that as a failure on our part as parents. Please  Note!  We are NOT trying to brainwash them - but to make the truth known, that they can make their choice - God doesn't want religious robots, he made us all with free will, he wants man to know him and love him through their own choice, and we cannot 'make' our children christians, anymore than we can make them like brussel sprouts! But we can instill in them biblical truth that will help them to judge right from wrong, truth from lie, which will serve them well in life on it's own, but more importantly,  it is also sowing seeds into their hearts and minds for the Holy Spirit to water and cultivate, drawing them into their own exciting walk with the Lord should they chose to follow it. And as we as parents seek to discharge our responsibiltiy to our children in this way and through prayer, we can be encouraged by Proverbs 22v6 which promises us,

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

2. After telling us the greatest commandment, Jesus went on to give the second,

"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Mark 12 v 31

Cultivating right relationships, and a serving heart, be it in the home,family, friends or society,   and character training/ good habits  in the boys. The emphasis is on character and relationships. This is something which is done day in , day out, every day of the year - it is life. Living with them,' walking' with them in the nitty gritty, day to day life. The greatest way they learn is by example - now there's a challenge! These first 2 goals go right back to Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

3.To give them the skills they need to become life long learners, that they would enjoy learning. To provide a solid education (there will be a seperate post on 'what education is' at a future date), that they may work in what ever field they are led to. Including instilling in them a good work ethic, in their studies, their extra curricular activities, and responsibilties within the family.  (Luke 10v7 the labourer is worthy of his wage).
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So there is the 'Big Picture', the 'vision' we are running with as a family.

What's yours?

Jo x