- - Eyes2Jesus - -

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2 NIV 2011
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. -Eph. 6:12 NIV 2011
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Some Basics
How to be Born Again
Picking a Bible Version
Do Only Men Go To Heaven?
Power in the Blood Bible Study
Dates of Christ's Birth, Death, and Resurrection

Through The Bible
Isaiah
Daniel
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Revelation

Christian Ladies
A Day in the Life of Me
Do Only Men Go To Heaven?
Are Women Allowed to Preach, and are They Supposed to Submit to Men?
Head Covering
Is it Okay for Christian Women to Wear Pants?
Can Women Teach the Bible?
The Samaritan Woman Preacher
Women Preachers, Rise Up!
Scriptures for Women in the Ministry

Revealed Deceptions
Church Membership
Why There are Cults
Mystery Babylon Revealed
Torah vs. Grace

Are You a Sabbath Keeper?
The Revelation 4:1 Deception
Pre-Trib Rapture Deception
Vatican vs. God
Counterfeit Christianity
The Black Thread
Jehovah's Witnesses
More J.W.s at my Door
Scriptures for J.W.s
Homosexuality

Holiday Truths
The TRUTH About Romans 14 and Colossians 2
Demons and False Gods of the Holidays
Joining the Holy Guild Fellowship
"Saint" Patrick's Day
Independance Day?
Remembering Christ's Death
There is no "Good Friday"
The Ishtar Deception
Easter is Pagan
Don't be an April Fool
Halloween Truth
Election Day
Thanksgiving
The Bible Says When Jesus was Born
The Real Christmas Story
Christmas is not Christian
Scriptures About Christmas
The True Christmas Spirit
Happy New Year
Holidays and Romans 14

Eschatology
Angel and Trumpet
2 Thess. 2 Truth
The Rapture: Did You Know?
The Revelation 4:1 Deception
What About the Wrath of God?
Pre-Trib Rapture Deception
Revelation Revealed
And Took Them All Away
A Matthew 24 Parallel
The 7 Thunders
When is the Rapture, and When is the Second Coming?

Science
How God Created Everything
A Multiple Universe Paradox
Time and Our Perception of It
How Many Saved People are There?
The DNA of Angels
Neuroplasticity, Personality, and Epigenetics
Thoughts That Transcend Dimensions

More Bible Studies
YLT vs KJV
The Gender of God
Divisive Christians
Loving the Brethren
Compassion, or Hell Fire?
Corinthians Controversy
Can Women Teach the Bible?
Pastoral Authority?
Can You Lose Your Salvation?
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Faith and Works
The 'cations of Scripture
Putting the Sabbath to Rest
Simply Shunning
Children's Church
Legalism and Legalism
Tithes and Offerings
Watch What You Say/Write
Scriptural Prayer
War: Flesh vs. Mind
Oil and Lamps
Blurred Distinctions
Christian Pacifism?

Angels, Aliens, Demons, and More
The DNA of Angels
Demons Behind False Gods
The Nephilim and Rephaim
Are You Practicing Witchcraft?
Angels, Aliens, Pyramids, etc.
What Demons Are
Beings: Hollow Earth and Outer Space
Three Hells and Three Heavens
The Truth About Aliens
Dragons, Spaceships, Aliens

Home and Family
Cleaning Routines
Emergency Quick Clean
Messy House Rescue
Homemade Cleaning Solution
Planner University
Your Schedule
Sample Schedules
Children's Chores
Children Sitting Well in Church
What is the Trivium?
Homeschool Plan With Me
Simplicity and Survival

Health
Perimenopause and Menorrhagia
How to Lose Weight

Recipes
BREADS
Basic White Bread
Drop Biscuits
Almond Bread
Banana Bread
Persimmon Bread
Egg Bread
Unleavended Bread
BREAKFASTS
Chia Seed Pudding
Granola
Pancakes
Pancake Syrup
Breakfast Cake
Egg Casserole
Baked Oatmeal
Baked Custard
SUPPERS
Homemade Pizza
Pizza Casserole
Cheeseburger Casserole
Chicken and Dumplings
Crock Pot Beef Stew
Creamy Potato Soup
Black Bean Burgers
Tuna Patties
Cowboy Beans
Crock Pot Chili
Baked Chicken Breasts
Baked Swai Fish
OTHER
Jam
SPECIAL
Cranberry Cobbler
Russian Apple Pie






Finishing the Curriculum Chart, and how to Save Money: {Homeschool Plan with Me #3}

Now that you have determined which subjects you want to teach, and on which days to teach what, it's time to put together the next column in the curriculum chart. In this column, write/type in what books/materials you'll be using for each subject, along with any other info you will need to include, for example, if there are some subjects that your husband, and/or a co-op will be teaching, you may want to note that, etc. I titled this third and last column "Books/Info."

This is where it gets exciting, because this is the point where it's time to determine curriculum. Which books/curricula do you want to use for which subjects? After you've determined that, then you can shop around, to find the lowest cost option, to save you money.

I just purchased all the books/materials we'll be needing for this 2017/2018 home school year, and for all of my kids, the grand total was 165 dollars. That is cheaper than any curriculum package I know of out there, for just one child, and I'm homeschooing multiple children.

Before I get into which books/materials I'm using for which subjects, let's touch on saving money on curricula...

My curricula for my kids was fairly low cost, because:

1) My oldest child accelerated his schoolwork, and reached his goal of graduating early. He graduated at age 17. It was his choice to accelerate his education, and graduate early, or not. I also had a very long test he had to pass with flying colors, before I'd graduate him. He did all his work, and passed the test, so I now have my first homeschool graduate child. Therefore, part of saving on curriculum this year, was that I only had to buy for three children, instead of four.

2) Also, I have just about every teacher's guide for every subject where I need one, for about every grade, so I didn't need to buy any teacher's guides this year. This is big savings, because teacher's guides are often much more expensive than the textbooks/workbooks.

3) In past years, when I did need to buy teacher's guides, I rarely bought them brand new. I'd look up the edition to the textbook/workbook that I was going to purchase, and then I'd check used bookstores and Amazon.com for used teacher's manuals. It is imperative that if you do this, that you match the edition of the teacher's guide with the edition of the workbook/textbook. Different editions don't always match up.

4) I buy some of our textbooks/workbooks used. For example, for literature, we are doing Themes in Literature. Brand new, it costs around $47.30, which includes the textbook, a supplemental lessons book, and a teacher's guide. I don't need the supplemental lessons, or the teacher's guide. I only need the textbook, because I will be teaching from it via the Trivium method. The textbook, by itself, new, is around $38.80. These prices are from Christian Liberty Press, as of summer, 2017.

I then decided to check Christianbook.com, and Abeka.com, and got pretty much the same prices. I then went to Amazon, and found a used one, in great condition for 10 dollars, with free shipping. Sold!

When you need to get workbooks that are to be written in, don't write off getting them used. I've gotten used ones with their teacher's manuals from used bookstores, in brand new condition. Also, I've often gotten used workbooks off of Amazon that were never used. The details by the seller should tell you if the book has been written in, or not.

5) There are also many free, online sources for schoolbooks, these days. The public domain holds many educational books that are still very relevant for today. Also, if you can catch a library, when it is purging its old books, you can often get educational material for little, or even no cost. I got a lot of free books that have lasted us for years, from a homeschool provider business that closed down, and eventually just gave away a lot of its used books for free, or just for pennies.

6) Don't forget shared curricula. Over the years, I've gotten a lot of free curricula from other homeschool moms who ended up changing curriculum. Sometimes you can trade curricula with other homeschool moms, because you have what they want, and they have what you want, etc.

7) Also, sometimes the best curricula for certain subjects is homemade. For example, I could never find a good, Christian, homeschool curricula for practicing cursive, that I liked. So - I made one. My cursive homeschool book is for all ages - even adults. It is for those who already know how to write in cursive, but need/want practice, while learning scriptures. It is free - Cursive Copy Work With Scriptures.

8) You don't necessarily need teacher's manuals with all subjects and books. This will depend on how good you are at the subject at hand, and also on your teaching style. Other than math and grammar, I don't generally need/use teachers books/answer guides, as that is not necessary in teaching via the Trivium method. For example, with reading/literature - we discuss, and the child may either verbally dictate back to me what he or she read, in their own words, or write a summary of what they read. If they are younger, then I would often have them copy key portions of what they read into their copy work books, etc.

9) Combine grade levels. If your children aren't too far apart in age, you can combine some of their lessons, such as history, science, foreign language, etc. For example, if you have children ranging from sixth grade to tenth grade, then you may want to consider just getting curricula for tenth grade history, and teaching history to all of your children at once. You can read the lesson out loud to all of them during a meal, for example, and then afterwards, they can do grade-appropriate assignments that you give each of them. If you teach via the Trivium, then the children would either verbally summarize what you read, or they'd write a summary, with or without a picture illustration, etc, and you'd all discuss.

Hopefully the above nine points gave you some ideas on how to save money on homeschool books and materials.

When it comes to choosing which books/materials you will be using for which subject, it is important to first know what your teaching style is. Since I know how I like to teach, how my children learn, and that I like the Trivium, this helps me determine which books to choose and use.

To choose which books to use:

1) Choose what teaching style you are going to follow.

2) If you are able, go to a store that sells curricula, such as a Mardel's, or similar, and look at the various books/options they have available.

3) Use the internet. Use a search engine to find various homeschool providers, then open Notepad, and make a list of URLs of providers that you are considering.

4) Decide if you are going to use a pre-packaged curriculum from a provider, or specifically choose which books/materials you want for which subjects. Most providers give you either option.

5) Decide if you are going to use books and materials all from one provider, or different ones. If they have the option, try to view an online preview of some of the books you are considering. Look at the Table of Contents, and also at one or more sample lessons, if possible.

Here is what I'm going to be using for the 2017/2018 school year:

Bible - King James Bible

Devotional - Morning and Evening, by Spurgeon

Grammar, Writing, Spelling - ABeka books for their individual grades, and spelling lists from Graded Spelling Lists (on the public domain, lists for each grade are in the book)

Copy Work - Assignments from a list of things I want them to copy. I make this list each year. This list includes scriptures, the states and their capitols, geography and science, vocabulary words, and anything else I want them to have extra work on, or to memorize.

Cursive and Penmanship - My book - Cursive Copy Work With Scriptures

Math - Everyone does their grade level from ABeka

Science - Chemistry: Precision and Design, and Handbook of Nature Study, which is available free on the public domain

History, Geography, Citizenship, U.S. Constitution - A Beka - United States History; Label maps; U.S. Constitution (in reading lists); Verbal lessons with Dad, and various YouTube videos

Latin - We have been slowly going through Getting Started With Latin

Logic - Logic: A God-Centered Approach
The Fallacy Detective

Reading - I make reading lists for them each year. In these lists, I include books on science, history, math, classic literature, etc. I also make sure to also include some reading above their levels, to encourage vocabulary. If you are stumped on what books to put on your child's reading list, consider some of the curriculum whole book choices from Amblesideonline.com

Literature - Themes in Literature

Music, Picture study, Poetry, and Art - Hymns, classical music, and art combined in lessons and assignments in other subjects, craft projects throughout the year, etc, and Type Lessons for Primary Teachers in the Study of Nature, Literature, and Art, available free on the public domain

Family Read Aloud - We choose mostly classics, but sometimes practical Christian books, as well. This year, we will be going through some of the books by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Government, Automotive Mechanics, Computers, Electronics, etc. - taught by Dad

Health, Safety, Conservation, and P.E./P.T. - Life skills, home economics, walking/jogging, swimming, gymnastics/tumbling, foraging, gardening, nature study, form and function in proper exercise, cooking and eating healthy meals etc.

In the next installment in this Homeschool Plan With Me, we will be creating a homeschool schedule. This is also where you may start to see a way to homeschool, without having to keep an extensive lesson planner.


Build Your Foundation on the Rock of Salvation

"It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. 49 But those who don’t put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed." -Luke 6:48-49 CEB

"The Lord lives! Bless God, my rock! Let my God, the rock of my salvation, be lifted high!" -2 Samuel 22:47 CEB

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32 CEB

"Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6 CEB

The terms "Christian" and "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have been thrown around so much, that for many people, they have lost their original savor. What is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it going to church? Is it being a "good person?" Is it via doing certain rituals, or following certain traditions? No, it is so much simpler than that.

Jesus says:

"Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me." -Revelation 3:20 CEB

Let Jesus into your heart and life. Put your faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone.

Why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He came to pay for our sins. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments? Did you know that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that just looking at someone with lust in your heart is the same thing as committing adultery in your heart?

Many people will say I'm a good person. Sure, I've stolen a few paper clips in my time, and I've told some lies, but I've never killed anyone, so I'm good enough for heaven. Don't be so sure. Have you ever felt hatred toward someone? If so, then you are guilty of committing murder in your heart:

"Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them." -1 John 3:15 CEB

If you have stolen, lied, lusted after someone, hated someone, loved someone or something more than God, etc., then you have broken at least 5 of the Ten Commandments. Do you really think you'd make it to heaven? Not according to God's Word:

"Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse, thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CEB

But there is good news:

"That is what some of you used to be! But you were washed clean, you were made holy to God, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11 CEB

We are all sinners:

"All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory" -Romans 3:23 CEB

Even Mary, the woman chosen by God to be a vessel that would carry Jesus in her womb, was a sinner, and in need of a Savior:

"In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior." - Mary said this in Luke 1:47 (CEB). Only sinners need a Savior, and Mary also accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.

We are all imperfect, fallible sinners:

"This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:5-8 CEB

The blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us from all sins. Jesus came to this earth to die to pay for our sins. You see, Leviticus tells us that 'the life is in the blood,' and that it takes spilt blood to atone for sin.

When we choose to truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and to live our lives for Christ, then Christ's spilt blood cleanses us from our sins:

"Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool." -Isaiah 1:18 CEB

Jesus tells us this:

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son." - Jesus said this, in John 3:16-18 (CEB)

Paul gives us a simple "step by step process" on how to be saved:

"Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame." -Romans 10:9-11 CEB

Jesus is our one and only mediator:

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus" -1 Timothy 2:5 CEB

Jesus is our High Priest:

"Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." -Hebrews 4:14-15 CEB

We are to follow the Lord and the Bible, not traditions of people:

"Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you?" -Matthew 15:3 CEB

Jesus is God:

"Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory." -1 Timothy 3:16 CEB

If Jesus isn't the Lord of your life, then I hope that you will let Him into your heart and life this very moment.

"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 CEB

Have you built your foundation on the Rock of Salvation?

Jesus is the way. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life, then let Him know. Pray to the Lord, telling Him that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and that you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for your sins. Tell this to God in your own words, from your heart.

"The wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 CEB

Believe, and Receive:

"You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ." -Ephesians 1:13 CEB

When you believe on Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit. You are sealed as a child of God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior, and you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place, to pay the death penalty for your sins, and that Christ rose from the dead three days later, and you are ready to let Him lead your life, and you will live for Him, then you are saved, and born again.

You are now a saved Child of God, with the Holy Spirit living within you. Dedicate your life to the Lord, and live for Him. Please get a Bible (I suggest the Common English Bible - CEB) and turn to the Gospel of John. That is the fourth book in the New Testament. If you don't have a Bible, then you can read it for free, online - here.

After you've read the Gospel of John, go on to read Acts, and then Romans. These three books will bring you through the Gospel, the early church, and basic Christian doctrine. After you've read these three, then turn to the beginning of the New Testament, and read it all the way through. After that, read both the Old and New Testaments.

You should also follow the Lord and get baptized in water. A Believer's Baptism doesn't save you. Only faith in Christ saves you. A Believer's Baptism is an outward showing of your salvation. It symbolizes you being born again. When you are lowered under the water, it shows you dying to your old self, and when you are raised up out of the water, it symbolizes you being born again, as a new creature in Christ. This is called a Believer's Baptism, because, according to the Bible, a person is supposed to get baptized after they have believed on Christ. Anyone who was "baptized" before having faith in Christ just got wet - nothing more. You don't need to find a church to get baptized in. Any born again Christian can baptize you in any acceptable body of water - even a public swimming pool.

Find a good, local church congregation to attend. Search in your area for a Nazarene church, Foursquare church, or non-denominational Full-Gospel church.

Immerse yourself in the Bible. The Bible is God's love letter to you. It is also your Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

2024+ Reading List

Currently Reading


Unveiling Paul's Women

The List:

The Making of Biblical Womanhood

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause

The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood

Unveiling Paul's Women

The Unfettered Word

Textual Criticism of the Bible

The Great Sex Rescue

Tell Her Story

Reverse Time Travel

A Quantum Case for God

Hidden in Plain Sight 3

The Lost Realms

When Time Began

Giants on the Earth

Cosmic Code

The Revelation Explained

Enquire Within Upon Everything

The End of Days

Frankenstein

When Angels Fell

The Einstein Theory of Relativity

Following the Equator

Why Does he do That?

The Witness of the Stars

Charlotte Bronte and her Circle

The Five Giants

The Mysteries of Udolpho

Tales of Giants from Brazil

A Little Bit of Everything for Dummies

The Giants from Outer Space

Essential Oils: Natural Remedies for Your Family

The Giant's Robe

The Art of War

The Giant of the North Pokings Around the Pole

Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented the 20th Century

The Secret of the Island

Cleopatra

The Beautiful and Damned

Experiments With Alternate Currents Of High Potential And High Frequency

Hide in Plain Sight

The Symbolism of Freemasonry

The Chimes

The Cricket on the Hearth

Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp

Number in Scripture

The Island of Doctor Moreau

Martin Chuzzlewit

The Mysterious Island

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Nicholas Nickleby

Bleak House

The Old Curiosity Shop

Our Mutual Friend

Pink and White Tyranny

Crime and Punishment

The Secret

Twelve Stories and a Dream

The Uncommercial Traveller

Master Zacharius

The World Set Free

A Drama in the Air