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The Schoolhouse Expo will help recharge your heart for homeschooling as you enjoy live sessions with an incredible array of speakers at our fantastic, online, five-day conference! Covering a vast amount of information, you’ll hear about ways to improve your homeschool and plan for the upcoming year.

We bring the speakers right to you! You can attend right from the comfort of your own home! It doesn’t matter if you live in the states or internationally, you will benefit from the Schoolhouse Expo as you join us for five days of interactive sessions with dynamic speakers, a virtual vendor hall, fabulous door prizes, and free gifts valued at over $200 for every attendee!

Mark your calendars:
Monday, May 16, to Friday, May 20
Bonus Preshow Sessions: Tuesday, March 15, and Tuesday, April 12

Right now, you can buy your ticket to the live 2011 Schoolhouse Expo for an amazing price! We’re thrilled to offer you a savings of $20 off the regular ticket price during the Early Bird Sale. This special offer won’t last long! The Early Bird Sale ends February 9 at 11:59 p.m EST. Click on the heart above to help me earn money while you get a great deal!

Here is more about the very cool apps for homeschoolers!

I invite you to take a moment and do a spiritual inventory on this season. Do any of your gifts reflect your love for the babe in the manger? Have you taken time to walk with the Lord during the busy holiday season of shopping, wrapping, baking, writing out Christmas cards, visiting, etc.? What is the reason for the season?

Luke 2

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

So why was the Christ Child born in a manger? The Bible says in Verse 10 says “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Verse 11 says “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. You see, it doesn’t end with the babe in the manger. That is just the beginning! God sent His only begotten Son to be born in a manger so that He could die on the cross for our sins. For my sins. For your sins. We are all sinners. No matter how good you may think you are, you are NOT perfect, the Bible says in Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Therefore, you and I are sinners. We all fall short of God’s standard of perfection. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

You see, there is a penalty for our sin. The penalty is death. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death.“ Ezekiel 18:4 says “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

But, why would a loving God send His only begotten Son to be born in a manger only to die some 30 years later? Because God created you and loves you! John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

So the babe in the manger is a gift from God to all of us. However, it is not ours, until we receive the gift. So, how does someone who is not perfect get into Heaven? It is the recognition that we will never measure up to God’s standard of perfection, and coming to God with a repentant heart, and asking the Lord to save us. A repentant heart…what is that? Well, it is seeing yourself as God sees you – a sinner. It is asking God to forgive you for you sins. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

You see, I was brought up Catholic and always went to Midnight Mass. I knew in my mind that Jesus was born in a manger and even that He died on the cross for my sins, However, I never took that gift as my own, until April 14, 1998, when I received Christ as my Saviour. Romans 10:9-10 says “For if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE IN THINE HEART (emphasis added is mine) that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The desire of my heart is that ALL my friends and family and anyone that I meet might accept God’s free gift of salvation for themselves. I cannot say a prayer and save you. Only God can save you from going to Hell when you die. It’s your choice! I pray that you have the Christmas JOY that can only come from Christ. Jesus is my JOY!

Have a blessed, JOYful, Merry Christmas!

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Country Patch Apron

Isn’t this the cutest apron? It is April’s newest creation from Jumpinbloomers.com . She has a whole bunch of new creations and I am STILL working hard to get the makeover to the site done, there will be lots of great new stuff on it, including this Country Patch Apron, that can be YOURS HERE FREE!

We are live with the makeover for the site, and I just couldn’t wait with this giveaway. It is time for another apron giveaway from www.jumpinbloomers.com !

The most coveted prize of all my giveaways, APRONS! from jumpinbloomers.com and just in time, so you can create with country girl style! Most of the items from Jumpinbloomers are custom made.

I will be adding this apron to the jumpinbloomers site and you can get it in any fabric.

This contest is open to US mailing addresses.

This contest will end July 22 at midnight and a winner chosen and announced that Friday.

visit the site Jumpinbloomers.com and come back to tell me in a comment what your favorite is, if you want additional entries you can get them this way

leave a separate comment for each entry

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* you can get an extra entry if you add my button to your blog, here is the code below, add it to a sidebar or as a widget, then come back and tell me in a comment

What is the secret place? Well, it is the time that you talk with the LORD. Not just talking TO the LORD, but talking WITH the LORD. No, I don’t mean the LORD will talk audibly to you, but I do mean that He will speak to us through His Word and our quiet time with Him. When is the last time you had quiet time with the LORD? Psalm 91:1-2 tells us “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust.”

I know my quiet time can use some revival. I have good intentions, but sometimes, I just get busy and put other things before the Lord. But PRAISE THE LORD, He is always there just waiting for His children to come to Him. He wants and desires for us to dwell with Him in the secret place and have our quiet time with Him.

Psalm 95:1-7 tells us “O Come, let us sing unto the LORD, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. To day if ye will hear His voice.”

So do you want PEACE and JOY today? It all starts with Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. Here is a recent devotion from Dr. Paul Chappell on PEACE. EnJOY every moment and dwell in the secret place TODAY!

Peace Be Unto You

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

Luke 24:33–39

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace.

The resurrection of Christ is the most beautiful picture ever painted, the most beautiful song ever sung, and the most beautiful sunrise ever witnessed. It is the embodiment of everything our world strives to portray. Hollywood seeks to produce the ultimate good-triumphing-evil story, but that story has already been told in the Bible. Singers seek to compose a song that touches the depth of a person’s soul, but God’s song of resurrection has already accomplished that. Artists seek to move people’s emotions through art, yet the picture of the empty tomb moves more than paint could.

How glorious is the empty tomb! It is the symbol of victory. It is the finisher of salvation. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55–57, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Death no longer has power over the saved. The grave is powerless in the life of the saved. Death no longer means the end, but the beginning of a new life with Jesus.

While many religions look somberly to the death of their leader, notice the gift Jesus provides us through the empty tomb.

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Fear was running rampant among believers after Jesus’ death, yet as Jesus appeared to His apostles, He greets them with a reminder of peace, “Peace be unto you.”

Jesus’ resurrection quieted the doubts and fears of those watching His ministry. He offered peace to those troubled by the uncharted waters they were facing. He promised peace to those worried by the chaos in the world. He extended peace to those trying to make sense of confusing events in their lives. His resurrection offered peace.

Our Lord no longer lies in a tomb. His ministry didn’t end at His death. Our God is alive and reigning in Heaven right now. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.

Jesus offers you peace today through His empty tomb. You don’t have to worry about the future or stress about the unknown. As Jesus told His apostles, so He tells you, “Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

The apostles wondered at their fate so much that they locked themselves in a room and refused to let others inside. They were frightened by the Lord’s death. But as Jesus showed them His resurrected body, He quieted their fears and reassured them that He was very much alive and still in control.

Why are you troubled today? Do you believe Jesus is alive and in control of the world? Don’t allow the world’s problems to worry you, but remember that because of the empty tomb, you can know God is in control.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
2 Chronicles 13–14 | John 12:1–26