At a recent trip to our public library we had an opportunity to inspect a fire truck.  They are amazing pieces of equipment.

Group discussion afterwards.

To learn means to acquire knowledge or ideas of something before unknown.  Some of the ways we learn things are by instruction, by study, by experience, and by observation.

There are two prerequisites to learning spiritual things.  The first is a changed heart, one disposed toward righteousness.  The second is a heart forgiven and cleansed of sin.

Consider this verse:

Psalm 119:26  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

The psalmist confessed his sin (declared my ways), was forgiven and absolved of sin (thou heardest me), and now has a teachable heart ready to learn (teach me thy statutes).

You can’t really have a teachable heart unless sin is confessed and absolved.  This is why you might notice that people who are holding onto sin are not teachable.

This is critical to good relationships, to worship, and to just about anything you want to name.

My desire for myself, my family, and friends is that being teachable would be a defining characteristic of life.

Let’s be good learners.

A learner’s prayer (based on Psalm 119:26):  Lord, I have kept score of what I have done.  You are aware of this.  You know my score is pitiful, and I humbly come before you with nothing to give.   Thankfully, in Your Word You have said that you will hear me.  Please, hear me.  Take away my sin, absolve me of guilt.  Lord, I know that when you remove sin from me, I will be in a state of learning.  I am ready to learn.  Teach me.  Yet, I know I’m going to react to Your gentle and nurturing teaching so don’t just teach me in that manner; goad me, prick me, and pierce me so that I learn the lesson and will never forget it.

Matthew Henry on catechizing…

Catechizing is the nursery in which the trees of righteousness are reared that afterwards are planted in the courts of God.

Bacteria are microorganisms that live practically everywhere.  There are over 40 million in 1 gram of soil and 5 x 10³⁰ bacteria in the world.

Using this book, Matthew put together a bacteria experiment.

Swabs of bacteria were taken from various places and cultured to see how fast they would grow.  Notice the swab in the middle.  Either we keep a very clean house or very dirty other things; or perhaps, as Matthew read in the book, that was the expected result.

The children in my home begin their music education early in life.   The Bible does command us to sing and praise the Lord with voice and instruments, and I take that seriously; so my home is constantly filled with music as my family and I train, learn, and refine our musical skills; all with the intent to offer to the Lord the best musical sacrifice we can.

Here is a picture of Kimmy Joy (age three) playing the piano and singing.  She can’t actually play the piano yet, but she is fast developing a love for music and singing.

Click here and here for more on music in the Christian home.

From a Mom’s point of view: click here to read.

More from a Mom’s point of view - Laundromath #2.

Click here to read an article (Laundromath) from a Mom’s point of view.