Tuesday's Toolbox - WOOD Mood: a-ok Topic: Blog Carnivals!
A fellow blogging friend of mine from over at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds has begun a new meme this week as well...AND, she even thought of me and designed a blog button that wasn't too feminine! It's called Tuesday's Toolbox and it invites bloggers to blog about a common household object that can also be a teaching tool. You can click on the above picture to find out more about it and read what some of the items are for this week. I thought it was a great idea, so I wanted to be involved. And my first toolbox item is...
WOOD!
Any item made of wood will do. Even a wooden pencil will work. I have used this as a teaching tool to explain why it is important to study. I've also used it as an object lesson to talk about how God has to reform us in order for us to be a useful tool for His use.
Let's use the pencil for an example. You see, this pencil didn't begin as a useful object...it began as a tree. If you would have asked the tree if it wanted to be cut down it would have said "NO!" right away. It didn't realize that although God can use anything in it's natural form if He wants, He often has to refine us and shape us in order to make us into something beautiful and useful for His work. The tree would have to be cut down, sawed into pieces, shaped, sanded, and painted in order to be turned into a pencil. If the wood could speak, I'm sure it would tell us that it was a very painful experience. It's not easy to be refined into something that we don't want to be shaped into. But, the Master Potter knows what we need to go through in order for us to be valuable to Him.
The athletic saying "No pain, no gain" is very true. In order to be the best that we can be, we usually have to go through much pain. It's not easy to be an A Honor Roll scholar or a star athlete. You have to sacrifice to reach your goals. Sometimes you have to go through many failures before you gain the success. It's not easy being a child of God either. But, if we want to be the best that we can be for Jesus, then we have to realize there is going to be some pain along the way. Just as the wood became beautiful and useful in the end, so we will become beautiful and useful to God...and the rewards are out of this world!
No, I'm not practicing for a vocal concert. However, I do love to sing (I guess I've just revealed another of my secrets!).
What I am doing is asking for forgiveness for forgetting to announce this before today. I'm taking part in another Carnival, but, it is run much like a Meme. Now, you might be asking "What's the difference". Well, a Blog Carnival is usually run just once or twice a month. There is usually a host blog that you send your post's link to. They will then make up some cutsie little blog post to introduce all of the submissions for that month.
A Meme (pronounced just as it is written "me me") is much like a Carnival, but is usually every week. And, the host usually has something right on their blog called a Mr. Linky or a MckLinky to put your link on.
The new Carnival that I sent my post to is called "Works for Me Wednesday", and is run much like a Meme but they call themselves a Carnival. So, maybe there really isn't that much of a difference!
Anyway, the reason that I am apologizing (and the reason my mood says "irritated") is that I usually remember to put up the Carnival/Meme's button right away, but this time I forgot. Yesterday was the opening day, and I haven't put up a link to it until just now! So, here it is. Again, it's called "Works for Me Wednesday", and is on the "We Are THAT Family" blog. Please visit it. You can get to it by clicking here, or on any one of the hi-lighted links above.
Don't forget to check my post along with all of the rest of them. And, while your at it, vote for your favorite Meme Badge for the new Meme that I am beginning next week - Men's Monday Meme!
Forget the Carnival, I'm Going to be in the Movies! Mood: caffeinated Topic: Blog Carnivals!
Actually, it's a movie at the carnival. Or is it a carnival at the movies? Oh, all right! It's a carnival. But I'm still going to be in it. It's called The Homeschool Showcase. The Homeschool Showcase is run by Kris, a fellow TOS Homeschool Crew member. I've submitted a post and it, along with a lot of other great posts, will be featured on Monday. Just click on the above clapboard to be taken straight to it.
Oh, and by the way, Kris' blog, Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers, has been nominated for a couple of Homeschool Blog Awards also. To find out which ones, just click on her blog and she has them listed in the right column at the top. And, if you haven't voted for me yet, just click here and it will take you straight to the voting page. Kris and I would love to have your vote!
A New Carnival Ride! The Venus Fly Trap! Mood: a-ok Topic: Blog Carnivals!
Doesn't that sound like a wild ride at the carnival? The Venus Fly Trap! But, alas, once again, I'm not going to a carnival nor do I have a Venus Fly Trap in my garden. I am, however, taking part in a Garden Carnival. You can find it at My Gardening Patch. Just click here to join in the fun! What post of mine are they putting on My Gardening Patch? You'll have to check it to find out. The August carnival is posted sometime on the last Wednesday of the month. Have fun at the garden carnival and, while you're there, take a ride on The Venus Fly Trap!
Hi All,
The mother-in-law of Brenda Emmett, the lady who hosts this carnival, passed away right before the August edition was to come out. I'm sure, as things settle down, she will post the new carnival. Keep checking back and clicking on the link to see if it is up yet. In the mean time, please be in prayer for Brenda, her husband, and the rest of the family.
Off to the Carnival Again Mood: on fire Topic: Blog Carnivals!
No, I'm not at a real carnival, but at another blog carnival. But, they are almost just as fun as the real things! This time it's the Blast from the Past carnival hosted on Debbies Digest. Please join us at the carnival and have some fun! Just click on any of the highlighted links and remember to not eat too much junk food.
.gif)
a-ok
Let's use the pencil for an example. You see, this pencil didn't begin as a useful object...it began as a tree. If you would have asked the tree if it wanted to be cut down it would have said "NO!" right away. It didn't realize that although God can use anything in it's natural form if He wants, He often has to refine us and shape us in order to make us into something beautiful and useful for His work. The tree would have to be cut down, sawed into pieces, shaped, sanded, and painted in order to be turned into a pencil. If the wood could speak, I'm sure it would tell us that it was a very painful experience. It's not easy to be refined into something that we don't want to be shaped into. But, the Master Potter knows what we need to go through in order for us to be valuable to Him.
irritated
caffeinated
on fire
