Beginning Week Two... thoughts

Beginning Week Two:

My first thoughts this morning were something along the lines of "oh no, here we go again" as my oldest slept through his alarm clock and then had to be told to get his Bible so we could start the day.  Oh he arrived at the dining room table at 8:00, but he was hardly "ready to start"  Fine, we did our Bible reading (more about that in a moment) and then the kids were supposed to get started on their work for the day.  I gave the older boys their weekly assignment sheets and went over some things with them to help clarify for me what they'd already completed, and clarify for them what I expected for this week.  Finally they are working!  Thankfully all is peaceful right now (But for how long, Mr Spock? But for how long?) adn it seems as if things will go well today.  Whew!  I will be telling them later today that every morning they are not on time for school and ready to go, their bedtime that night will be moved up by a half hour.  That rule is being made today and will be enforced beginning tomorrow. 

 

Now, Bible reading... In January we accepted the challenge our church gave, which was to read through the entire Bible in one year.  I am doing the reading with the older two boys as part of our school day.  We are somewhat behind schedule, but even if it takes us 15 months instead of 12 to read through, we are still benefitting from the Scriptures!  What I've found interesting is that our readings last week and today have referenced the civilizations we are studying in History.  Obviously that won't happen all the time, but it was just a neat way to start a new year.  For instance, last week we read Daniel - and we had been studying the Babylonian Empire in History.  Also the prophecies in Daniel that talk about the kingdoms that would follow the Babylonians were quite timely.  Hopefully I'll remember to reference some of these Scriptures when we come to the Persians, Greeks, and Romans in History.  Today we read Jonah, and we've just finished discussing the Assyrians and their city of Nineveh.  Made me wonder which of the Assyrian kings was ruling in Nineveh at the time Jonah preached to them, because the Bible says that the king proclaimed a time of fasting and repentance before the LORD.  I also wonder about the sailors on the ship Jonah was on.  The Bible says that when the sea calmed immediately upon them throwing Jonah overboard, "the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him."  So did they keep their vows?  Did they seek to learn more about the God of the Hebrews when they returned to port, so that they could worship Him properly and know Him?  Did others come to know of the LORD because of the sailors' testimony and seek Him for themselves?  Interesting to think about.