This was announced on My EP, but I thought I should share it with those not logging in daily. We have a new half-year math course on the high school site, allinonehighschool.com. The course is called Everyday Math Applications. It reviews basics and then is based on word problems from around the home, from figuring out how much paint you need, to adjusting recipes, to saving money on your electric bill.

Our other two half-credit math courses are Consumer Math and Business Math. I had a student email me and tell me how helpful the Consumer Math course was and how grateful she was to have taken it. She said what she learned has really come in handy and she understands so much more than her friends.

Mr. G, my husband and ever popular pop-up teacher on My EP, wants to let those of you interested in the Biblical Hebrew courses know that he is adding midterms and finals for both courses. There had been requests for tests, so those are getting into the courses.

Did you ever “believe” for something and it didn’t happen? What was wrong?

What went wrong is that we place our faith in the wrong thing. We put faith in our faith. We’ve made a “Christian” copy of the “Power of Positive Thinking.” We try to control things. We’re not God.

We make terrible gods. You shouldn’t want to control things. You don’t know the future. You don’t know the plan. You don’t know the best way. If you have goals other than God’s perfect purposes being worked out in and through you, then you are aiming at the wrong goal.

We want God’s “perfect” for ourselves and our loved ones, and hopefully for everyone! What’s our part in bringing it about? We believe. Our part is having faith. But what do we have faith in?

Did you ever wonder at Elijah’s faith that it would only rain at his word and then wonder at his lack of faith, running away in fear? What happened? Why was there faith in one circumstance and not the other?

God had told him that it wasn’t going to rain and when it was going to rain again. He had the Lord’s sure word. He could rely on His God’s faithfulness to keep His truthful word. He had no word from the Lord about Jezebel wanting to kill him. He fled instead of running to God.

We need to put our faith in what we know. We don’t know God’s plans. We don’t know how He’s going to do things. If He does more than we can ask and even imagine, then we’re never going to be able to have faith for the specific thing God is doing. We don’t know what it is! We can’t even imagine! We want that more-than-we-can-even-imagine, not the limited-view thing we want and try to “believe” for. Even if we feel sure we know what is promised us and can have faith in that, I still say, it’s a limited view of faith to put your faith in a thing to happen. Even if you are absolutely right that promise is coming and can believe it, you don’t know the steps along the way to get the fulfillment. Don’t put your faith in what you think should happen next.

So, what do we put our faith in? Faith is knowing. We can only put our faith in what we know. Knowing is different than trying to stir up faith through declarations. If you know something, you don’t need to keep trying to convince yourself it’s true!

What do we have faith in? We put our faith in God. He is steadfast, sure, unchanging. He’s a steady rock to plant your faith on. We can know He will always be good. We can know His motivation will always be love. We can know He will be faithful. We can know He will be true. We can know He will be righteous and just. We can know He will be wise. We can know He knows it all!

When the doctor said my son’s surgery couldn’t wait, I didn’t have faith for healing. I would have been faking it and trying to stir it up. I would have been trying to make his healing happen through my work of faith. (That’s working in your own strength.) But there was something I knew. The doctor said it was “impossible” for my son’s condition to improve, that it would only deteriorate. I knew it wasn’t impossible. I told God I knew it wasn’t impossible. I knew my God was able to do what the doctor called impossible. That was our faith as we prayed for healing, though we didn’t know what would happen. My faith was in what I knew to be true about my God – He is able, He is good, He is in control, etc.  It wasn’t impossible. My son’s condition improved, and years later now, he’s still never had that surgery that “couldn’t wait.”

How much easier could you pray if you weren’t trying to have faith for things, but rested in prayer in true faith in the good God who does all things well?

Know Him. That’s your pursuit, knowing Him. We’ll be getting to know Him for all eternity. You won’t reach the end; the relationship will never grow stale; there will always be more to glory in when it comes to our glorious God.

Desire Him and all His “perfect” for your life. Trust Him and rest in Him with gratitude.

Most of you are familiar with the famous story of Job from the Bible. He was the wealthiest man of the East in his time. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And although he feared God and stayed away from evil, there was something else he feared.

Job 1:5 …Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.

Job was afraid his children would sin and die and so he acted as mediator between God and his children and made offerings to God on their behalf, wanting to justify them before God. He was trying to save his kids.

Are you homeschooling out of fear? Are you trying to save your kids? Whether you are wanting to save their souls or save them from the school system, fear should never be the motivator, and saving your kids is not your job.

We feel the heavy weight of homeschooling because we take on a burden that isn’t ours. Your child’s future is not in your hands. You don’t know the plan. Someone else does, though.

Don’t carry the weight of a burden that you were never intended to carry. You aren’t the primary teacher, provider, protector, comforter, rescuer, and savior to your kids. Those are words that describe God. You are not God. Taking on a role that’s way too big for you will crush you. Even if you are a “Pintrest perfect” mom and seem to be crushing it today, you will never have the ability to see into the future to know what your children need today to be prepared for tomorrow.

There is Someone who can work it all out for the best, who can meet every need, and who gives you a specific job to do: love your children. Enjoy them. Enjoy being with your kids.

Fear is not the motivation to homeschool; love is. Do it out of love.

Job loses all of his children. He loses all his possessions. He gains an understanding that God is awesome, bigger than we can imagine, in control, all-knowing, all-powerful, only good and always loving. Job learns that he isn’t God.

I will not encourage you to self-empowerment; I will encourage you to truth. The truth declarations I remind myself of are that I know nothing, can do nothing, and have nothing. Jesus is my all in all. In Christ I have everything, can do everything, and in trusting Jesus, I know that I don’t need to know everything; I just need to know Him.

If you are carrying a burden too big for you, give it over to God. Just pray. Tell Him you are giving it to Him to carry. Thank Him for taking it and for doing a better job than you could. If you don’t know God, tell Him you want to get to know Him. Who wouldn’t want to know an always good, always loving God? And to start getting to know God or to get to know Him better, I would suggest to you the Bible study on our site, “This Is Eternal Life.”

Maybe you’ve heard it said, “God is never in a hurry.” I was thinking this morning that applies more broadly than it may seem at first.

Jesus stops on the way to heal someone’s dying daughter. She ends up dying before He gets there. He still goes, unhurried. He raises her from the dead. But you know when else Jesus didn’t make haste? Before He overturns tables and drives the merchants out of the temple courts, he makes a whip.

You can get the idea that Jesus sees the temple marketplace and in His zeal for His Father’s house starts scattering coins. But He doesn’t fly off in a rage. He stops. He stops and makes a whip first.

How often are you reactionary?

Do you ever make homeschooling decisions as a reaction? Things don’t go well one day and you jump ship and try something else without considering maybe there’s a miracle up ahead if you stay the course.

Do you ever make a decision in a moment of zeal without first looking over what’s needed?

I can remind myself even in the kitchen, “Don’t make haste,” if I start hurrying about. It will get done. Things get done if you just keep moving, no need for the hurry.

There’s the busy kind of haste, where everything seems to be hurry up and go. I determine not to be busy. I keep well ahead of things so it doesn’t come down to, “I HAVE TO do this now.” If something’s on the calendar, it’s because we chose to have it there, not because we HAVE TO do something. There are choices. We can choose to not be rushed about. We can choose to not make haste.

I live a slow life. I learned it several years back. I asked the Lord to teach me to live in His strength. The result of that prayer was a slow life. I don’t make haste. I stay the course. I wait on the Lord and trust Him. I’m not here and there and back again. I do what’s in front of me to do right now without feeling the weight of all that’s still left to do.

And I stop and pause and pray because I don’t want to make decisions as a reaction and I don’t want words to come out as a reaction.

I don’t want to make haste. I want to make peace in my life and in my home.

I started cooking on Tuesday for our Thursday feast. I’m hosting in Pennsylvania and will have guests from North Carolina and Georgia. As I’m standing at the stove, I’m working on giving thanks for the chance to serve and show love and praying for all the others standing at the stove stirring pots. So, maybe I prayed for you 🙂

I do pray for my EP family regularly. That’s all of you and your kids and your families. Whenever I’m bagging up our groceries at the store, I pray especially for any EP families struggling with the budget. I pray all sorts of things for you all. I pray for your kids for the schooling. I pray for relationships in the home. I pray for things like the fruit of the Spirit to grow in orchards in your homes 🙂 I pray for prodigals to return. I pray for the Lord to raise up laborers from our EP kids.

I am thankful you are part of our EP family. That is how I refer to you all, my EP family. I hope you are full of thanks. The sun rose each day this year. You are alive and reading this. Always find the place of thanks giving in each day.

 

Below is Psalm 145 written out as a prayer.

We exalt you, our God and King. We praise your name forever and ever. We praise you every day; we will praise you forever.

Great are you Lord! You are most worthy of praise! No one can measure Your greatness.

May we tell of your mighty acts and proclaim your power.

May we meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles and awe-inspiring deeds.

May we proclaim your greatness and share the story of your wonderful goodness. May we sing with joy about your righteousness.

Lord you are merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are good to everyone. You shower compassion on all your creation.

May all of your works thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers praise you.

May we speak of the glory of your kingdom and be examples of your power.

May we share the good news of your mighty deeds and the majesty and glory of your reign.

For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and you will rule throughout all generations.

Lord, you always keep your promises. You are gracious in all you do.

Lord, you help those who have fallen and those bent under a heavy load.

May we always look to you in hope. You will always supply what we need. You open your hand to us and satisfy our hunger and thirst.

Lord, you are righteous in all you do; you are filled with kindness.

You are close to all you call on you in truth and you grant the desires of those who fear you. You hear our cries and rescue us. You protect us who love you.

We will praise the Lord. May everyone on earth bless your holy name forever and ever.

I never got around to writing a life update in January of this year. Well, here we go. We’ve had a different kind of year. My husband and I will have been away from each other around 80 days this year. That’s extremely unusual. We’re together a lot, like all the time. The majority of that time apart was helping his dad after surgery. Being a few hours away and in the same time zone is very different than when he was on the other side of the world doing ministry, though. While he was in Maryland and I was in Pennsylvania, we had five phone dates daily and he could come home each weekend, and so we made the best of it. Our parents are in their eighties and needing more help these days.

My husband, Dave, affectionately known as Mr. G by our Easy Peasy family, has a gift of encouragement. While he is gifted in languages which he uses in Bible translation, and he is a teacher, which he uses for EP and also in creating teaching materials in the Bible translation language, one other way in which the Lord really uses him is in a ministry of encouragement. Mr. G has relationships with pastors and Christian leaders all over the world. He meets with them online, prays with them, and occasionally visits them. On his recent trip to India, they kept Mr. G busy. They had him speak in gatherings up to three times a day, baptized dozens of people, and prayed for who knows how many people individually. At first I was frustrated that they had him doing those things that Dave and I would both say are best done by the locals, but then I realized how encouraging it was to the whole church instead of just the two leaders he went to see. Some people walked long distances to meet Mr. G, hear him preach, have him pray for them. He was the first foreigner to visit some of these churches. It means a lot to them that someone knows they exist and cares about them and is praying for them.

My daughter has started her Master’s degree. She’s in fine art, a painter. The program is full scholarship. She is required to teach one art class each semester, so she gets great experience along with the education. She also won a $48,000+ stipend from the school over the two-year program. It’s to cover living expenses, but the Lord provided a $200-a-month apartment with free food! So, she is saving up all she can. She’s already looking into PhD programs. She’s a great student. She loves all that reading!

My oldest son moved to Florida a year ago. He goes to the beach daily and has taken up roller blading. He loves the lifestyle. He has his own online company and is doing well. He’s found a church he really likes and some people he really likes. One of the Lord’s provisions for him was that he met someone from his Discord group for his business who lived in Florida. They got together when my son moved down there and it turns out this guy had lived in Turkey and Macedonia too, just like my son. What are the odds of finding someone his age with that shared life experience? They became fast friends.

My youngest is in fifth grade. There aren’t any little kids around the house any more. Dave and I enjoy daily dates when he’s home, though that includes grocery shopping and errands!

I have added new courses on the site, including math, though Bible courses have been a focus of late. I am continually writing devotionals for the Good Morning, Lord! series. I have been putting out short books of Christian teaching as well. I have recent books on the word of faith doctrine, sin, and faith. My latest, which is still in editing, is called Becoming Nothing That Christ May Be All. I added more miracle videos to the site as we experienced more miracles! I’ve done interviews. The most recent was with a student researcher doing a project on social entrepreneurship. I also recently talked with a volunteer looking to use EP in a ministry to help adults get their high school diploma. EP’s gone around the world. Now it looks like we’re going into prison!

EP is a gift to all of us. It’s a testament to the goodness of God.

Around the 4th of July is typically when we do any bigger changes on the site. In response to the trouble we had with one of our servers a few weeks ago, we are moving our store, placement test, and Brain Blast (vocabulary and spelling activities) to a new server. That will come with some temporary outages hopefully all just over the weekend and you’ll never notice! For some of you, it may take longer for cache things to clear out and let through the new info. If you are having trouble on Monday accessing those things, you could try resetting your router (turn it off and on).

This week there will be a couple of other changes. I’ll be deleting off the site a couple of our old courses that no one should be using. A couple of courses are moving from the main settings page to the “extras” page as they have been replaced and are being phased out. People using those courses have had a note on their course about that. You’ll be able to continue those if you are still using them, but no one should be starting with those courses. They will be labeled OLD.

The courses moving are the OLD Algebra 2 and the OLD full-year Consumer Math. Learn More!

I updated our designs for the new year. Congratulations to all our EP graduates! Click on an image to find that design in the store. A couple of the designs have bags and hats too.

 

 

A new half-year course has been posted for high school, Business Math.

Course Description: This course is built from this business mathematics course. It will make this course easier to have completed consumer math since there is some overlap in topics, but it is not required.

This course uses text and video to provide basic understands of business problems in mathematical terms and how to solve those problems. Topics include the application of basic mathematics to business and industry using ratios, functions and graphs, simple and compound interest, financial instruments and discounting, annuities, mortgages, loans, and leases. Also included is cash-flow analysis applying rates of return, net present value, and payback.

I have had so many EP kids tell me that they were planning on becoming nurses that when I was contacted by this CNA test prep site about contributing an article, I told them they could submit something to me and I would decide if it was helpful to you all. I never do guest posts because they are all about advertising, but I’m giving this to you because I really have heard from so many that you have the goal of becoming a nurse, and so I hope this is helpful to you! I did NOT receive anything for posting this article. I NEVER do things like that.

Want to Become a Nurse: What You Can Do in High School That Will Help You Out

As a high school student with aspirations of becoming a nurse, your journey toward this rewarding profession begins long before you enter a college or university. 

This article looks at the aspects of high school preparation for prospective nurses. It explores cost-saving options, such as dual enrollment and community college programs, which can significantly alleviate the financial burden of pursuing a nursing degree. 

Additionally, we discuss the right time to embark on this educational journey and guide you through the transition from high school to nursing school.

What You Can Do as a High School Student to Prepare for a Nursing Career

Here are a few ideas to help you start on your nursing career journey while in high school.

Build a Solid Academic Foundation

Subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics lay the groundwork for understanding the human body, disease processes, and pharmacology, which are fundamental to nursing practice. In addition, mathematics courses, especially algebra and statistics, develop essential analytical and problem-solving skills crucial for nursing. 

Another area you can develop through academics is your communication skills. Since effective communication is at the heart of nursing, English and communication courses are as important as science and math courses. 

High school English classes help you develop strong communication skills, which are critical for providing clear instructions, documenting patient information accurately, and showing empathy and compassion.

Psychology and sociology courses can also provide valuable insights into human behavior to help you understand and empathize with patients because nursing often involves dealing with a patient’s emotional and social needs.

In some regions and healthcare settings, knowing a second language can be an advantage as a nurse. Therefore, high school foreign language courses can lay the foundation for becoming bilingual or multilingual.

While these classes are beneficial as you prepare for nursing school, note that different nursing programs may have specific prerequisites. Hence, check the academic requirements and admission criteria of the nursing program you plan to join.

Explore Low-Cost or Free Options

Two valuable avenues to consider are dual enrollment and community college programs, along with utilizing free practice tests for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.

Dual enrollment programs allow you to simultaneously enroll in college courses, often at a reduced cost or even for free. This initiative enables you to earn college credits while still in high school, providing a head start on your nursing education. These credits can apply later to your nursing degree and save you time and money.

Another option is a community college program offered in conjunction with your high school. Such programs often provide an affordable pathway toward an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or practical nursing diploma. These options typically require significantly less tuition than traditional four-year universities, making nursing education more accessible. 

Start by researching nearby community colleges that offer nursing programs. You can do this through online searches, college websites, or contacting your high school guidance counselor for recommendations.

In addition, schedule a meeting with your high school guidance counselor to discuss your intention to enroll in a community college nursing program while in high school. Many community colleges require students to take placement tests in subjects like math and English, so prepare for these tests to ensure proper course placement.

Another strategy to learn about nursing is finding a useful CNA practice test resource. First, it’s free, so there’s no added cost. Secondly, it’s a complimentary practice test to help you prepare for the CNA certification exam. These tests simulate the exam experience, so you can decide if that’s the academic path you want to take after high school. 

Identify the Right Time for Nursing Education

Typically, you begin college-level courses after high school graduation, but some may opt for dual enrollment programs to initiate their studies earlier.

Therefore, your transition from high school to nursing school involves several key steps. First, research and select accredited nursing programs that align with your career goals. Then, meet admission requirements. These may include standardized tests, letters of recommendation, and interviews. 

Although you can become a CNA without a high school diploma, there are specific requirements you need to meet. The exact requirements may vary slightly by state and employer, so it’s essential to check the regulations in your area and the specific facility where you intend to work.

Find Pre-nursing Programs for High Schoolers

Often, these are collaborations between educational institutions, community organizations, and healthcare facilities.

One common form is the nursing summer camp hosted by colleges and universities. These camps offer you a hands-on introduction to the nursing profession. They typically feature workshops, lectures, and practical experiences, allowing you to explore various nursing specialties and gain insights into the academic and clinical aspects of nursing.

Become a Volunteer to Gain Experience

These experiences offer numerous advantages that can significantly enhance your readiness for a nursing career and bolster your application to nursing programs.

Firstly, engaging in volunteer work or part-time employment within healthcare settings provides a unique opportunity to develop essential skills and qualities necessary for nursing. Through hands-on experiences, you can cultivate skills like patient care, effective communication, empathy, and teamwork.

Secondly, volunteer and work experiences demonstrate your commitment and passion for nursing when you apply to nursing programs. Admissions committees highly value applicants with insight into the healthcare industry and possess a clear understanding of its demands. 

To find such opportunities, you can start by exploring local healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Additionally, nonprofit organizations and community groups often seek volunteers for healthcare-related initiatives and events. You can inquire with your high school about partnerships with local healthcare facilities or health-focused clubs or programs.

Furthermore, online resources like volunteer databases and websites dedicated to connecting volunteers with organizations can provide a list of opportunities.

Final Thoughts

In your journey towards a fulfilling career in nursing, the early preparation during your high school years serves as a critical foundation. One of the areas you have to focus on is your subject choice and your GPA. You want it to remain high. 

Although nursing leans toward science and math courses, you should also get good grades in humanities as they affect how you communicate and interact in a healthcare setting. As you work on your high school grades, you can also take a pre-nursing program in a community college. But that would require you to know the specific nursing specialty. 

Therefore, join a volunteer program to learn about the nursing field. In addition to experience in areas you’d like to pursue after high school, volunteering also boosts your chances of college or university admission.