Pajama School book, Homeschooling Life, Author Natalie A Wickham

When God Exposes Sin

December 6, 2011 by natalie

As I read through part of the book of Acts this morning, I was struck by the relationship between jealousy/envy and a tendency to contradict and revile others.

“The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.”
Acts 13:44-45

As I recognized the reality of jealousy/envy in my own heart, my response was to want to do something about it. I realized that this is my typical response to the sin exposed in my heart. I want to make up for it somehow, or overcome it. But what is the right biblical response?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

The verse is so familiar, and yet so foreign. Instead of trying to deal with my sin, or work through it, or compensate for it by trying to do better, God calls me to confession. For it is only in confessing our sin to God that we can receive forgiveness and truly be cleansed. What a humbling and beautiful promise!

Back to Blogging

December 6, 2011 by natalie

For quite a while now I’ve been contemplating blogging more regularly again. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve done much in the way of personal blogging – other than a few random articles and poems – but I keep feeling compelled to start back up.

There are lots of reasons that I enjoy blogging and look forward to posting regularly (not the least of which is that I just bought a bluetooth keyboard and can now blog via my super cool iPod Touch!), but there are also lots of reasons that I hesitate to do so (e.g. I’ve always had a fear of saying things that would make me look stupid…). 🙂

As I was reading through Hebrews the other day, though, I was particularly inspired in this endeavor when I read 3:13:

“But exhort one another every day…”

I don’t anticipate blogging every day, but I do want to use whatever means the Lord gives me to exhort others and share the abundant life that God has given through Jesus Christ. I am more and more aware of “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8) and pray that He will be exalted in every area of my life.

Of Autographs and Brain Floss

November 2, 2011 by natalie

I remember the whole scenario with vivid clarity. Embarrassing moments are like that. They have a way of lodging themselves in the mind with the same inescapability as a piece of corn chewed from the cob makes its home neatly between two teeth. If only there was such a thing as brain floss to extricate an unpleasant memory from the mental archives…

An e-mail from the local music store announced an upcoming workshop to be given by the gifted pianist and composer, Joseph Martin. I transferred the date and time to my calendar and made plans to attend. As the day of the workshop approached, I excitedly told my sister about it and asked if I could take the compilation of hymn arrangements she had been working on so that I could get it autographed. She agreed.

On the day of the workshop, my sister handed me the book and I made the short drive to our music store. The head of the print music department welcomed us and Mr. Martin, giving an impressive introduction of the accomplished musician. I sat through the two hour presentation, soaking up the music and stories he shared with the audience. When his part was finished, I joined a string of others waiting to talk to him and secure an autograph. I finally reached the front of the line and presented him with the large volume, telling him how much my sister and I had enjoyed playing his arrangements for years. He granted my request for an autograph and conversed graciously for a moment before turning to the next person in line. Mission accomplished.

I gathered my things and headed toward the door. A friend of mine who was working at the music store stopped to talk and asked if I had gotten an autograph. I proudly opened the book and pointed to the newly inscribed signature. My friend took one look, then turned his eyes toward mine and uttered the exclamation I will never forget…

>>Read the rest of the article in this month’s issue of Generation Impact>>

Homeschool Grad Interview with Chase Hiebsch

September 29, 2011 by natalie

[This is a homeschool grad interview that was featured in the latest issue of Home Educating Family.]

Chase Hiebsch Will you tell us what it was like growing up in your family (when you started homeschooling, how many siblings, etc.)?
I am the second of six children, five of whom are boys. Our house was rambunctious growing up, but I never sensed that my parents wanted anything different. My mom showed a lot of patience and perseverance. We started “homeschooling” when my older brother Cal was ready to start school, but I don’t think there was ever a time that my parents weren’t teaching in some manner.

I loved the things that boys are known for: fishing, camping, wrestling with brothers, playing guns, computer games, airplanes, and especially doing things with my dad. Cal and I joined a Boy Scout troop with another friend when we were old enough. That was a large part of my life through high school and I eventually earned my Eagle Scout. In all of our activities my parents drew out spiritual applications and encouraged us to grow closer to the Lord through difficulties. Seeing God move directly on several occasions greatly deepened my faith.

What are some of the highlights of your homeschooling experience?
Being able to set my own schedule for the day. Most of my study was on my own, and the sooner I finished, the sooner I could do stuff I really wanted to do. Beyond that, I loved the ability to learn from many different environments, not just the traditional classroom. I spent time working on a farm and attended several music courses in another state. I can play the piano for my church to this day because of those courses! Adventurous camping trips with the Boy Scouts and piano competitions were also highlights.

I’ve always been impressed by your ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, and your heart for sharing the Gospel with them. What suggestions do you have for those who would like to grow in these areas?
I remember being scared to hand out Gospel tracts to people, let alone talk to them about Jesus, and the burning in my heart knowing that in a sense, I was “ashamed” of the Lord – or at least that my fear of people was greater than my love for Him.

I had several profound experiences and mentors that God used to shape this area of my life. The first was a mission trip to Mexico at the age of 15. It was on this trip that sometimes I didn’t even pass out a tract because I was scared to do so. But I watched my pastor, several men from the church, and my brother Cal boldly talking to people and giving them tracts, and slowly I gained the courage to do so as well. Two years later when I returned to Mexico, I was even more convicted of the need to tell people about Jesus. Often now, my motivation in striking up a conversation with someone is almost entirely to direct the conversation to spiritual things and be a witness of the Lord.

In between my trips to Mexico, one of my friends had the vision to start a door to door witnessing effort in my hometown. He teamed up with our church pastor and a couple of the men from the church to bring the vision to reality. During the year and a half or so that we went out once a week, I learned more about talking to people than I had in the 16 years to that point. Seeing older men and their reactions/responses and knowledge of the Bible had a huge impact on me. I knew that I needed to be like them to be an effective witness for the Lord. As each Tuesday would roll around, it was also a huge motivation to confess anything I had not gotten right with the Lord or other people. I could sense an enormous difference spiritually if I was not right with the Lord before going out witnessing. That was another important lesson imprinted on my heart from those times.

Here are a few practical suggestions for those who want to more effectively share their faith with others:

1) Start somewhere. Try to find someone who has experience, and then just do it.

2) Prepare key verses ahead of time and memorize them.

3) The Scriptures are your most powerful weapon; don’t be afraid to use them! Intellectual reasoning has its place, but using Scripture is always your best “weapon.”

4) If you don’t know the answer to someone’s question or argument, make it a point to find the answer. You may or may not be able to go back to the person, but someone else may bring it up and you better have done your homework after the first time!

Chase Hiebsch Now that you’re married and have children, what are your thoughts and plans for their education?
My wife and I are going to homeschool our kids. We want to be the people most involved in our children’s development, upbringing, and education, and homeschooling fills that desire better than any other option at this point.

Your family has recently launched some home business ventures. Will you tell us about them?
We have several branches of our fledgling home business. When our first child was born, I built him a changing table that doubles as a dresser. It is one of our most used pieces of furniture – even now with three children! Because of how much we like ours, I’ve built several others since then and am offering the same design for sale. I can also do custom work if someone wants a different design. I also build and sell doll furniture, and my wife, Tiffany, makes tutus in a variety of colors and sizes.

Another branch of our business is all-natural, handmade goat’s milk soap. Goat milk soap is naturally moisturizing and free of chemicals. We started using it to alleviate our son’s eczema. After seeing it completely clear up his skin irritations, we were convinced it was a good product and became distributors. We don’t have this on our website, so the best option for more info on pricing, fragrances, etc. is to e-mail us at chiffanys@gmail.com.

Our website is chiffanys.com. It’s still new, so we don’t have everything up yet, but we will be updating it in the coming days.

In what ways do you think homeschooling contributed most to your life now as an adult?
My relationship with the Lord is at the top of the list. I wouldn’t have the depth of relationship with Him if it weren’t for my years of homeschooling.

Secondly is my love for learning. This wasn’t always the case, but as I matured I grew in my desire to learn, and homeschooling gave me the tools to do it.

Finally, the character that my parents sought to instill in me has proved invaluable in my workplace. Seeing the fruits of being honest, responsible, and hardworking has opened opportunities I would not have had otherwise. I am glad for my home school background and feel that it gave me an edge in my faith in God, purpose in life, learning, and work ethic.

Searching for the Will of God

September 6, 2011 by natalie

The will of God –
a mystery
we often try to find;
We beg and plead
and search for it,
“oh, show us, Lord, Your mind.”

Afraid to choose
lest wrongful be
the way, though it seems right,
We wait and seek
a perfect fit,
framed clearly in our sight.

But in the midst
of wrestling
and tossing side to side
We miss the clues
revealed in Christ
to see God glorified.

His plan was formed
and set in place
before He made the light –
To send His Son,
tear heaven’s veil
so all things could unite.

Thus our mistake
is earthly gaze
when looking for a guide,
But truth is found
clear as can be
in Jesus crucified.

So fix your eyes
on things above
where every day is styled
To work God’s will –
redeem the world,
forever reconciled.

This was inspired by several recent conversations with friends, reading the book, Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung, and spending some time studying what the Bible says about the will of God. In particular, in Ephesians 1:3-14 it becomes clear that the will of God centers on Jesus Christ and the redemption of God’s people through His blood.

The unchanging will of God for all eternity is to see the world reconciled to Himself through Jesus Christ. Everything hinges on this. Our lives should consist of those things which enable us to carry out God’s will – speaking, doing, working, and making decisions based on how we can most effectively share Christ with the aim of reconciling others to God through Him. This is God’s will.

What a new perspective this gives me for making decisions and determining how to live each day! We who formerly were slaves to sin have become instruments of righteousness, and God wants to redeem others to Himself through Christ who dwells in us. It begs the question, “How can the parts of my life be employed toward the aim and end of the whole – i.e. reconciling the world to God through Jesus Christ?” This should be the question at the forefront of our minds as we seek to know and do the will of God in every area of our lives.

Summer Essay Contest at Generation Impact!

July 1, 2011 by natalie

Do you love freedom? Are you proud to be an American? Enjoy writing on inspirational topics? Then check out the Summer Essay Contest at Generation Impact! The ezine publishers have teamed up with Light a Candle Films to offer young people 12-17 and adults of any age the opportunity to write a themed article. The winners will receive a copy of the film The Battle of Bunker Hill and publication in a future issue of Generation Impact. This is a great opportunity for any writer to work on a summer project and get more visibility for their work!

The Duggars

June 24, 2011 by natalie

Check out this amazing promotion for the Duggar’s new book, A Love That Multiplies! Pajama School is participating, so if you order A Love That Multiplies between June 28-30, you’ll receive a coupon code for 25% off of Pajama School – plus dozens of other freebies and discounts from other companies! View all of the incredible deals below:



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Join Us at the TPA Homeschool Conference!

May 24, 2011 by natalie

In just over a week, hundreds of thousands of people will converge on the Century II Convention Center in downtown Wichita. True, most of them will be coming for the annual River Festival festivities, but a good couple thousand will brave the masses to attend the Teaching Parents Association homeschool convention. 🙂

My mom and a friend will be running the Pajama School booth full of lots of great resources. And I’ll be hanging out with all the staff, teachers, and children at Adventures In Character – one of my favorite places to be! Here’s our theme this year:

Enemy Encounter

We have an amazing group of young people that come together each year to put together the program. You can see pictures and bios of the staff and advisory committee members on the AIC website. Here are a few other snapshots from our preparations:

AIC

Alexander, Wesley, Annabelle, and Mr. Davidson discuss some of the details of scene eight.

AIC

Captain Finney prepares his crew for the imminent attack of the pirates.

AIC

The dread pirate captain, Adolphina, and her scraggly pirate crew, are ready to take on the crew of the ship, Speranza. We are also thrilled this year to have composer Jared Kraft writing original music for our drama soundtrack!

AIC

Our first teacher training was a tremendous success!

AIC

The Lord has raised up a host of godly young people to serve in every aspect of AIC. We are truly grateful! If you’re in the area, there is still time to register for the convention. The keynote speaker for the adults this year is Voddie Baucham, so it should be a wonderful weekend of challenging and inspiring messages!

Reflections From a Maiden’s Heart

May 20, 2011 by natalie

As I was thinking about some things I’ve recently experienced and observed, I was compelled to write the following little poem.

Reflections from A Maiden’s Heart

It’s true my heart is fixed on Christ,
but as on earth I dwell
I cannot help but look around
for one who’d suit me well.

A man of God who loves His Word
and seeks Him every day
is what I watch for most of all
in men that pass my way.

A purpose and a calling
that’s worth a lifetime spent
would beckon me to leave what’s mine
and go wherever he’s sent.

Though I confess my heart may leap
at charming words and attention,
true honor is reserved for those
whose goal is my protection.

While I may never notice
all the little things they do,
the heart of a true gentleman
is always shining through.

Every man bears differently
the image of God in his life,
but true and pure his way must be
if he wants a godly wife.

Free Chapter in Honor of Cathy and Jed

May 16, 2011 by natalie

Today marks the seven year anniversary of the tragic car accident of our dear friends, the Strain’s. I’ve been reading the book, The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit by Matthew Henry the last several days and can’t help but be reminded of Cathy. In my mind, she epitomizes a woman who was adorned with “the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” 1 Peter 3:4. The example she set as a godly woman, wife, mother, and friend, will inspire me the rest of my life.

Jed will always have a special place in my heart as well. Even though the Lord took him home just before his 13th birthday, he left a legacy that will be long remembered. Mature beyond his years, Jed was a model of respect and responsibility. I observed this often in our conversations, the many hours spent with their family, and throughout the years he took piano lessons from me.

In honor of Cathy and Jed, I’ve decided to make chapter 18 of my book (Pajama School), Tragedy Strikes Close to Home, available as a free download for anyone who is interested in reading more about Cathy and Jed and the events surrounding their homegoing seven years ago. I hope that it will be an inspiration and blessing to you!

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