"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Loss comes in many forms and for many reasons. Certainly we experience loss when a person we love dies, but loss can also occur when a friendship or romantic relationship ends, when we lose a part of our life that defined us, or when a drastic change in lifestyle (positive or negative) causes us to change our previous environment and habits.

In this fallen world, loss is a daily part of life. I say “fallen world”, because loss was not a part of God’s original plan for the world. In Genesis 1 and 2 we see a picture of the completeness and wholeness that God intended. Loss entered the world with sin and has become part of the human experience ever since then. However,God has not left us to deal with loss alone; we can find comfort in Bible verses dealing with death and loss.

Do you increasingly get the feeling that public school isn't right for your child? There are many reasons why students may not thrive in public school, but the truth is this: every child has a different learning style and traditional schooling tends not to recognize that.

Pulling a child out of school to homeschool is a tough decision, but it is one that can bring rich rewards in the quality of both your children's education and your family life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschooling. 

Part 3: Helping Your Children Reach Their Full Potential

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is in control, yet we are called to cooperate in His guiding will. According to Romans 8:28, “God works in all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” That does not mean we must fearfully search for a single path that we think He has planned out for us in order for us to be in and cooperate with His will. That is impossible; we cannot know the full depths of His wisdom. Rather, He knows our path as we experience growth in God’s will daily.

One of the challenges for online students can be maintaining a healthy social life and finding homeschool connections with their peers. I remember struggling to find a social arena when I was homeschooled, and I hear my students echo this difficulty in their essays and assignments.

Home-based learning can present a unique challenge, because it can be difficult for online and homeschool students to find the right spaces to connect with their peers. It is difficult to find a balance, because some homeschool students are choosing to learn at home because they have had difficulties with their peers in the past. At the same time, we know that it is important for online students to connect with their peers, to have the opportunity to make and maintain friendships and to talk with other students their age. With this goal in mind, I would like to suggest four ways for online students to connect with their peers.

As a teacher, I know that students hate studying grammar. While I can’t say I don’t understand this attitude (after all, I remember being a student and thinking it was the most tedious and complicated thing ever), I believe that this hatred is based on a misunderstanding of the purpose of grammar.

Grammar was not, counter to popular belief, invented to torture and confuse students. Rather, the purpose of grammar is to provide a common set of standards for communication and for the organization of words. Quite simply, grammar is the rules for the game that is language. Being a grammar ninja means that you have become a master of those rules.

Are you unhappy with your current school? You are not alone. An increasing number of parents are seeking alternative ways to educate their children, and the options can be overwhelming. There are public and charter schools that are funded by the state and the local school system, Catholic and Christian schools for which you pay tuition, homeschooling curriculums, and online schools.  Each system has its merits and disadvantages.

When I was 13 years old, a big change took place in my life: my family moved. Suddenly I had to adjust to a new home, a new city, and a new school. It soon became clear that the public school I was enrolled in was not a good fit for me. The classes were not at an appropriate level for my abilities, and I had difficulty making friends. So I came up with a plan and devoted months to convincing my parents. It worked, and my parents agreed to homeschool me for eighth grade. At that time, the only option I considered was traditional homeschooling, as online school education was still a new development in education.

What are some of your goals for the year 2016? Working out more? Eating better? These are excellent goals, but what about your spiritual diet? A survey from the American Bible Society showed that 60% of Americans want to read the Bible more. Just among teens, 62% say that they want to spend more time reading the Bible.

Where is a good place to start? I suggest making a plan to read the Bible in a year; this may sound daunting at first, but if you are able to set aside time each day, it is not difficult. Below, I will give overviews of five different plans to read the Bible in a year.

Part 2: Helping Your Children Reach Their Full Potential

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

God works in mysterious ways, and everyone’s combined experiences affect them in ways that makes them unique. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). This truth is what is most important for us to instill in our children: every person is made in the image of God, the way that they are meant to be, for their own sake, for the sake of those around them, and ultimately, for the glory of God.

The life of a parent is busy, and the beginning of a new year brings the addition of new plans and an ever-growing family schedule to keep track of.  Yet in the midst of it all, the beginning of a new year presents the opportunity to contemplate what is truly important.

In this new year, I recommend that parents make resolutions aimed towards finding and maintaining balance in the different areas of their lives. With this in mind, I suggest three simple New Year’s resolutions that are foundational to leading a balanced life.

New beginnings present a chance for renewal and a reminder to make a fresh start. Still, New Year’s resolutions can be intimidating, especially for students, who often feel that their lives are already full of assignments and commitments. Some make the mistake of making resolutions so monumental or complicated that they give up before they even start. A New Year’s resolution for Christian youth needs to be simple enough to succeed, while maintaining a strong foundation in the Word of God.

We encourage students to use this opportunity for contemplation and to consider some simple resolutions that they can meet and that will benefit them throughout the year.

Here are 3 simple resolutions for Christian youth who want a fresh start in the New Year:

I have often wondered what was different about Mary. How did God choose her to be the mother of Jesus? What was in the heart of Mary, the peasant girl from Nazareth, that made her worthy to give birth to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Mary was a simple country girl, with no exceptional expectations and engaged to be married, when the angel of God came to her and told her that her life would never be the same again. The Bible says that Mary was initially “greatly troubled” (Luke 1:26), and the angel told her “don’t be afraid” (Luke 1:30). After asking about some details, Mary says simply, “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38).

The bullying trend is on the rise among America’s top social problems. Although stopbullying.gov reports that 28% of children have been bullied, I believe 100% of children have been bullied, will be bullied, or have witnessed bullying at school. If this is true, each one of us has a role in stopping this trend. Although there are many types of bullying, I will be focusing on the two types: self-esteem/self-worth bullying and ringleader bullying.

As an avid reader and lover of books I can testify to the fact that there are many benefits to reading. Not only does reading expand the brain’s capacity to think creatively and use language, but it also opens up a world of adventures and imagination.

After I finish a good book, I invariably want to discuss it, and when I find someone who also loved it, I discover new details about the book through our conversation. I have spent so much time discussing books with my friends that we might as well start a formal book club. For this reason I have put a lot of thought into book clubs and choosing book club themes.

From early childhood I earnestly sought to follow the path God has for me.  Like many young Christians, I pictured this path as a singular direction, a “destiny”, which I had to find. When I graduated from high school, I was ready to find that destiny. I asked myself sincerely, “What is the will of God for the rest of my life?”

Before I started college my mother gave me a book called The Will of God as a Way of Life. In the first chapter author Jerry Sittser says, “The will of God concerns the present more than the future; it deals with our motives as well as our actions; it focuses on the little decisions we make every day even more than the big decisions we make about the future.”  

Part 1: Helping Your Children Reach Their Full Potential

Writing as one who has faced many challenges in life: low self-esteem, being bullied, sometimes being the bully, succumbing to peer pressure, and the uncertainty of not knowing what “I want to become when I grow up,” I am certain that I would not have achieved confidence and success in life without the support of my family and the unending humbling from God’s grace.

The constant motivating force in my life really boils down to how God has been in control every step of the way. It is my desire to share what I’ve learned as the youngest of eight children, to shed some light on how children might be guided to grow up to be someone they’re proud to be. 

Most parents will experience a distinct moment when they ask the question, “When, where, and how should I start setting a good example for my child?” As Christian parents we know that God has given us children to teach and direct in the way of Him. It is a great responsibility! How do we know where to start?

Here a short guide to when, where and how to set a good example for your child:

On Friday, I was invited to the 10th Anniversary Celebration Reception of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) at Eastern Washington University. This event hosted several amazing speakers from local companies and former alumni. It also showcased several of the robotic engineering and animation labs, where a variety of student projects were on display.

It was exciting to talk to these students and their professors about their projects, interesting STEM careers and academic backgrounds!

One of the advantages that homeschooling families have is the ability to design a learning space for their students in their own home. Social media sources like Pinterest and online blogs are full of ideas for homeschool organization. These sources often emphasize the importance of designing a learning space that fits the needs of your family.

Today, I would like to take this idea one step further and suggest that the ideal learning space may not be the same for each family member. What is seen as ideal by a parent may not in fact be ideal for a student. What qualifies as an ideal learning space may even differ from child to child.

I love Jesus. There is no doubt in my mind. I also love people, and I know that Jesus calls us to share His love with others every day. Even so, sometimes I get distracted. From paying bills to watching sports, grocery shopping to reading a good book, there are a thousand things to compete for my attention.

Then I come across a story that reignites that passion to see people come to know my God and His great love, stories of people with great passion and deep faith. God has used the these stories of missionaries from around the world to remind me of His calling to share His word and His love. As you read these stories, may your faith be renewed and your fire relit, as mine have been.