greek mythology

Well, if you had asked me a year ago if I would ever do a blog titled "Greek mythology" I might have answered "um...no."

But you know how it goes with me....learning to never say never.  :)

So, a few weeks ago I noticed that we were finishing up Ancient Egypt and about to discuss Ancient Greece in our history lessons.  I browsed through the curriculum and came across the topic of Greek mythology.  These were some of my thoughts:  "Who cares about Greek mythology?  Not me.  Aren't my kids too young to learn about that?  Won't it confuse them?  Can I talk about ancient Greece without it?  I definitely think I will skip it.  Seriously, this does not excite me.  mythology....ick."

Pretty quick into my discussion with myself, my heart remembered the verse that is our theme verse in home school:

And so I started discussing Greek mythology with the Lord.  I finally laid the subject at His feet and asked Him once again to guide me....for Him to guide our family.....for Him to lead us with what He wants us to talk about, to discuss, and to learn about as a family.  I did not want my own fears/thoughts to get in the way of what He wanted us to learn and yet I didn't want to just simply and foolishly follow the curriculum.  After a week or more of praying about it, I, all of the sudden was just filled with peace that it was okay to proceed.  A little anxiously, I began to dialogue with my kids about Greek mythology.

I couldn't believe what happened next.  To see the light bulbs go on in my kids minds was so unbelievably awesome.  They started connecting all of the pieces in their brains of some of the movies they have seen and/or other things they have encountered to the gods and mythology.  "Little Mermaid!" was the first thing I remember them shouting out. I was like, "what?"  Then THEY went on to explain to ME how Ariel's dad is just like the Greek god, Poseidon.  And then they discussed the movie, Hercules, and then cupid...and then...and then...and then.  Are you kidding me?  All of the sudden I got to watch my kids thinking deeper about so many things. 

And it gets EVEN better.  Guess what our family is studying right now in God's (the one true God.  :) )Word?  Oh yeah baby, Isaiah 44!  We are all in Bible Study Fellowship right now and it JUST SO HAPPENS that their study has had us camping out on this chapter.  I did not go looking for it or seeking it out....Guess what it is about???  Let me quote just a bit of it:  "This is what the LORD says- the LORD Almighty:  I am the first and the last;  apart from me there is no God.  You are my witnesses.  Is there any God besides me?  No, there is no other Rock;  I know not one. .........All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.  Those who would speak up for them are blind;  they are ignorant, to their own shame." 

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooo!  God is soooooooooooo freaking amazing!  His timing and His ways are just too glorious and awesome to comprehend.  He is so good.  Mmmmm.......

Ah, thank you, Jesus.  Thank you for Your knowledge and understanding and wisdom.  Thank you for homeschool.  It rocks.  To You alone be all glory!



Isaiah 42

This week in Bible Study we are reading through Isaiah 42.
Frankly, the last several chapters of Isaiah have totally spoken to my heart and rocked my world in a very very good way.....so beginning upon this chapter I had some unspoken feelings that nothing could compare to what God has already done in my heart through the last few chapters.  I kinda felt like I have been on the mountaintop with Jesus the last few weeks and it may be time to come on back down.....

And so yesterday morning I read these words from God (Isaiah 42:6-8) somewhat emotionally disengaged:

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;  I will take hold of your hand.  I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord;  that is my name!"

I did a short amount of study on this passage, wrote down some of God's promises in it, pondered if God is talking about Jesus and what He will do, thanked God for His fulfillment of all of His promises, and then closed up my Bible for the day.

And then last night happened.  I ran into a highschool friend that I haven't seen in 10+ years.  I will sum up our amazing conversation with this:  After living in dark dark darkness for over 36 years, a couple months ago God brought him out of the dungeon and my friend is now BEAMING with God's light and joy and telling everyone he knows about God's amazing salvation and grace that he has received through Jesus!

This morning I read through this passage again, this time I was TOTALLY emotionally engaged.  Indeed, He opens the eyes of the blind, frees the captives from prison, and releases from the dungeon those who live in such darkness!  Indeed, He alone is God.  He alone is worthy of all praise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yahooo!!!!!!!!  God is so good!  I am soooooooo in awe of Him.  So thankful that I am still on that mountain with Him and He still is choosing to speak to my heart and drawing me closer to Him, and SHOWING me a peak into how He indeed is fulfilling His promises!

"I am the LORD: that is my name!"

Isaiah 42:8