The Wilkes Team

Announcement: Answers to quiz have been posted (See comments)!

The Apostle Peter encouraged the believers of the First Century Church to grow. He laid out in the first chapter of his 2nd epistle, eight steps for Spiritual growth.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2Pet. 1:5-8).

The order is key. Faith must be the foundation of Virtue (character). Then follows knowledge. Too often, knowledge is sought without developed character and the result is pride. The world does not need any more proud know-it-alls. That’s  why character, built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (faith) is so essential.

On a recent evening, Dad gathered us together for a memorable family night. Pulling out a much loved volume of the Character Sketches, he began to read a story of an animal which exemplifies the character quality of Decisiveness. Everyone listened in rapt attention with the goal of being the first to discover the ‘mystery  animal.’ Hands went up throughout the story as guesses were made. And the answer was…….the Red Fox!

Attentiveness was key as Dad went on to read through the many amazing characteristics of the fox. Its cunning ability to slip away from the keen scent of hound dogs, the loyalty it displays to its mate, the unique  ways it hunts woodchucks, rabbits, & mice, and the remarkable accuracy of its eye & ear senses were just a few of the fox’s remarkable attributes.

Then came the test. A number of Character Sketch Crossword Puzzle books were issued and the challenge given to fill out the puzzle for the Red Fox. Let’s test your knowledge of the Red Fox – perhaps you’ll learn a fact or two. Answers will be posted in about a week.

1. What animal the fox hunts by hiding & waiting for them?

2. When afraid, their body emits strong _ _ _ _ _ .

3. What closely related animal is faster than the fox in snow?

4. Direction the fox will trot when hunting: _ _ _ _ _ _

5. The fox exemplifies the model _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ within the animal world.

6. The fox hunts this animal with the body held low and parallel to the ground.

7. The shape of the eyes in the fox family: _ _ _ _ _

8. The fox can hear the squeaks of a _ _ _ _ _ 150 feet away.

9. The part of the body that allows the fox to release body heat _ _ _ _ .

10. The foxes heavy tail reduces its _ _ _ _ _

11. What the fox will do it senses confidence when it smells you: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

12. The English translation of: Vulpes Fulva – _ _ _ _ _ _

If you are looking for a creative family activity. The Character Sketches & accompanying Crossword Puzzles make for a meaningful family event that teaches character and knowledge through the lenses of Scripture.

Decisiveness: The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God.

6 Comments » | posted in Book Reports, Tid Bits

          "Take time to be holy let him be they guide.

           And run not before him, whatever betide.

           In joy or in sorrow still follow thy Lord.

           And looking to Jesus, still trusting his word.

           Take time to be holy, the world rushes on

           Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone

           By looking to Jesus, Like him thou shalt be;

           Thy Friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see."

                    By: William Longstaff (1846-1945)

These are just two verses of a very thought provoking and inspiring hymn. 

Matthew 5:8 says "Blessed (spiritually satisfied) are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." May all our inner longings, and desires be met in Jesus Christ alone.

Being close to the Lord and learning of him takes time and effort on our part. We must not let anything get in the way of our time with the Lord each day!

We say we want to be like Jesus in all we say, think and do. Yet we don’t take the time to be with Him and learn of Him. We let sleep, stress, people, school, worldly pleasures and the list could go on and on of things we allow to get between our time with the Lord.

This world we live in will always be calling us and our flesh will bid us go. But we must stand faithful if God’s blessing we would know.

I remember something that Martin Luther said he would do when he had an extra busy day. He said he would spend double to triple the amount of time in prayer. Why? He wanted to make sure his heart was right before the Lord so he could walk through his day and not forget that God works all things together for good. Whether his experiences told him so or not!

What is our natural tendency when we have a real busy day ahead of us? To shorten our time with the Lord or even worse, decide not to do it at all? Do we really realize what we are giving up?

We forget so easily that God is the one that is in control. He controls our stops and our starts. He promises to never give us more than we can handle. Why do we doubt Him and decide to set him aside?

Does our relationship with Christ really matter to us?

Let us take the time to read the word, to pray and watch, to memorize God’s word, then to meditate on it. In so doing we will be blessed with joy unspeakable and a testimony that will leave us in awe of our incredible Lord!

5 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits

Be sure to read all the way to the end for a special project!

Leaders don’t just come out of nowhere. Careful, concentrated effort steadily builds leaders. But is not simply the effort. Pondering and preparation are what preludes the performance.

Case in point:

Michael Farris, founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) & Patrick Henry College, is a living testimony of one who pondered and prepared prior to performing. Few were probably present when Mr. Farris’ plans were drawn. But as with a rock dropped in the midst of a lake, the ripples of his impact continue to reach farther and farther. Today, this ministry is preparing the leaders of tomorrow as business owners, teachers, government leaders, students, and families are joining Mr. Farris in a world changing cause.

It began with a plan.

From the inspirations of such men as Michael Farris and with a desire for greater effectiveness, our family took two days over the New Year for family planning. Dad patiently lead us through the following 4 steps for wise family goal making.

Read the rest of this entry »

5 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

8:57….8:58….8:59….The minutes ticked quickly by. At 9:00am the 24 hour challenge ended!

The discoveries were made. There is only 168 hours in a week, 720 in a 30 day month, and 8,736 in a year. Should a person live to the age of 90, they will have lived just 786,240 hours – how short time truly is! How imperative that we be about, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Eph.5:16).”

The hours in each day go by so quickly. Everyone was required to record the happenings of each hour for 24 hours. Have you considered lately what you spend your time doing each day? Psalms 90:12 bears a timely plea to the Lord to, “…teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

The third component was memorizing as much of James 4:1-10 as possible. Every memorized at least 1 verse with a couple actually memorizing the entire 10 verses. Scripture   memory teams could be seen scattered throughout the home.

Then came the wards! According to each one’s achievement, in close proportion was their award. Each contestant received a brown paper bag. When told to, they peered within and found what could of appeared to be a random food item  ranging from flour to eggs, salt, oil, etc. A bit of perplexity was evident . But when the final award was given, all became clear.  Markie peered into his bag and discovered a small portion of cinnamon and a recipe for……cinnamon rolls – Yeah! But another lesson was to be learned. 

God has entrusted each of His children with particular talents and abilities. We are not to compare ourselves amongst one another as the manner of some is (2Cor. 10:12) but focus rather on fulfilling the unique role God has called us to.  Some memorized all 10 verses while others just 1 or 2, and they were awarded accordingly. Yet, each proportionately awarded ingredient was absolutely necessary for the success of the recipe. One  couldn’t say, we have no need for that ‘small’ portion of cinnamon (1Cor. 12:21).

Once combined together, the ingredients resulted in an extra scrumptious batch of cinnamon rolls! Great job everyone!

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you (2Cor. 10:13 ).

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

The clock is running! The Wilkes Team is on a 24 hour challenge centered around the mathematical principle of fractions.

The 24 Hour Challenge began with this morning’s study on how Matthew 5:8 relates to mathematics.

The terms of this challenge are as follows:

- Record how every hour of the next 24 hours are used

- Discover how many hours are in a week, month, & year

- Memorize as much of James 4:1-10 as possible

To be discovered by the individual contestants is how each of the above terms are directly related to fractions and the Spiritual analogy of double-mindedness.

How will the fractions of time within this next 24 hours be used? Only time will tell…. Go Team!

3 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits

During a recent practice with my bow, I shot an arrow over the target (a square hay bale). While looking, I realized the difficulty of finding it. The arrow could be in an area of almost 30 feet wide by 80 feet long and hidden under dead mown brush. I walked the area twice with no sighting. Then I purposed to go over each square foot, dragging my foot through the cut brush and into the soil. The process was long, arduous, and seemingly fruitless.

As I began contemplating the hopelessness of the situation (finding the arrow), the Lord brought to mind these thoughts. He said,

This is how you sometimes search for Me: you come to the point that you think you have looked everywhere, become lazy, determine it is too hard, and then decide to quit. If you search for Me as for silver and gold or even as you are now doing for this arrow, you will find Me. I will then share with you the knowledge of My will with all wisdom and Spiritual understanding (Col. 1:10).

God was revealing to me His desire to be real to me in all areas. Through showing me that because He has done it all for me, I now, because of that, must choose by faith to walk in it.

Will I search for Him the way I searched for the arrow? Will I be content with the results and God’s timing?

It is in the search that I find the most joy: knowing that God is directing my steps and will take me exactly where He wants me to be.

5 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits