Winner Announcement: Devotions From Torah!

Congratulations goes to...

Marguerite Harrell

and

Denise W.

Thank you for participating in the giveaway! I hope you are blessed through your studies!

Blessings!

*All winners, as always, are randomly selected via Rafflecopter.

Winner Announcement: Scripture Lullabies Giveaway!

Congratulations goes to...

Marguerite Harrell

and

Vanessa!

Congratulations on each of you for winning one Hidden In My Heart Scripture Lullabies CD or digital download. Please check you e-mail {and your spam folder}. Please respond within 48 hours with your appropriate contact information, otherwise I will need to select another winner. Be sure to indicate your volume of choice and  whether you’d like a CD copy or digital downloads.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Blessings!

 

*All winners, as always, are randomly selected via Rafflecopter.

More Than Mere Education Giveaway!

One of my goals with Principled Academy is to offer excellent quality giveaways which may bless you and your homeschool.   

So, have you read any of C.S. Lewis' works? I have heard people mention Mere Christianity but I had not read it until becoming a part of this wonderful launch team for the Mere Christianity Analysis Journal by the Homeschool Adventure Co. And I have to say... I am thankful for this journal!! My review of it will be coming up in January. 

In the meantime, I am excited to announce this generous giveaway from the Homeschool Adventure Co. and many other participants! Check it out! 

  

The Home School Adventure Co. Launch Team is excited to help celebrate the release of the Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal with a special giveaway filled with books that will compliment your classical studies, as well as a couple of special surprises.  

The best news is that there will be two winners, each receiving a very valuable prize package!  

We would like to thank the following friends for their generous sponsorship of this giveaway! Be sure to stop by their websites to say thank you!

Institute for Excellence in Writing
Nancy Pearcey
Trivium Pursuit
Bright Ideas Press
Raising Real Men

Here are the prize packages you could win! 

Prize Package #1

Our first prize package contains all of the print resources from Home School Adventure Co., as well as wonderful books, curriculum, and even a marriage retreat. This prize package, sponsored by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, Nancy Pearcey, and Trivium Pursuit, has a value of $500!

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal $28.95
Philosophy Adventure - Pre-Socratics Complete Set $89.95
Philippians in 28 Weeks ESV $28.95
The Wise Woman with Literaray Analysis Journal Questions $28.95

IEW Teaching Writing/Student Writing Value Pack (Winner's Choice of Levels A, B, or C) $249

The Soul of Science $11.99
Total Truth $25.00
Saving Leonardo $26.99

Teaching the Trivium Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style $20.40
The Fallacy Detective $22
The Thinking Toolbox $22

Prize Package #2

Our second prize package is filled with all of the resources offered at Home School Adventure Co. in their downloadable editions, as well as a set of all 3 volumes of The Mystery of History by Linda Hobar. This prize package, sponsored by Bright Ideas Press and Raising Real Men, has a value of $300! 

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal Download $18.95
Philosophy Adventure - Pre-Socratics Digital Download $39.95
Philippians in 28 Weeks ESV Download $14.95
The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions Download $14.95

The Mystery of History, Volume I $49.95
The Mystery of History Volume II $49.95
The Mystery of History Volume III $59.95

My Beloved and My Friend book and Marriage Retreat Online $45
Pollyanna Audio Book Download $18

To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Residents of the U.S., age 18 and older please.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope this opportunity is something that may benefit you! 

Blessings!

Heather 

 

Review and Giveaway- Devotions From Torah

Have you ever studied through the Old Testament? Not just read through it, but studied it? 

I love studying the Bible as a whole book. Needless to say then that I enjoyed reading Devotions From Genesis: It's Not Just Ancient History and Devotions From Exodus: Learning To Live in Freedom Part One by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn. Devotions From Exodus Part Two is in the making, and I am looking forward to reading that, too!

What I Appreciate About Nicole Halbrook Vaughn's Approach

Going through these devotions is much like sitting down with Nicole in conversation. I love her personal, transparent style as she shares her thoughts, experiences and personal spiritual growth. The questions she warmly asks her readers are to encourage her readers to reflect on their personal relationship with the Lord and to allow themselves to go through spiritual growth of their own.

I appreciate several of Nicole's insights. She eloquently goes through passages in the Bible and invites individuals to see personal parallels with the people and events we read of in the Bible. 


What I Love About the Devotions From Torah

I love that she reminds individuals that salvation for us through Jesus Christ does not mean that we can just go off to live life our own way. We were set free from the Law of Sin to freely serve our Creator God the way He wants us to.

I love that she brings Hebrew Words into the study. Going back to the Hebrew helps us to understand so much more of the Bible- the definitions are deeper than what he have in our English.

I love that Nicole comfortably refers to God by His various Sacred Names. This is something our family has been learning over the past couple of years and it's exhilarating to read His names in the Hebrew in a devotion. I believe this is important for us to learn in order for us to know God more fully. 

What You Can Expect of Devotions From Torah

In typical devotional style, passages of Scripture are read along with the author's voice. At the end of each section, there is a sample prayer. Some people prefer to say their own prayers as they are moved by the Holy Spirit, and this certainly can be done if one prefers.

The devotions are not dated, so this is nice for those who have more of a routine approach to life and education vs. a strict structure to follow. Those who would like a strict structure have room to jot in the dates they would like to study.

Among Nicole's friendly, conversational style are questions for self-reflection. Much of it is also something that I found we could go through with our children of various ages. I think the conversational flow helps us to do this.

Time with the Lord and being in His Word is precious. The evidence of this cannot be ignored whenever reading about persecution and bondage which Yahweh's people have suffered. ~One way to make the most out of these devotions is to have a notebook or special journal to record your thoughts, things you'd like to perhaps research further, to journal what the Holy Spirit gently guides you to... maybe even keep a family journal as you go on this journey through the Torah with your children.

In Devotions From Genesis, you will learn and reflect about:

• Discovering the Character of God and Man in the Creation, the Fall, and the Flood (Gen. 1-11)
• Discovering Faith and Obedience through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 12-36)
• Discovering the comings of Christ and Trust in the Midst of Trial through the Life of Joseph (Gen. 37-50)   

In Devotions From Exodus, you will learn and reflect about:

• Moses meets the I Am (Exodus 1-6)
• The Plagues (Exodus 7-15:21)
• Entering the Wilderness (Exodus 15:22-19)
• The Giving of the Law (Exodus 20:1-16)

Depending on Where You Are At In Your Studies of the Torah...

You may be in a different place in your studies of the Torah regarding Sabbath and God's Laws. Still, there is much offered in these devotions.


Are Devotions From Torah a Fit For You?

Whether fresh to or well learned in the Old Testament studies, I think individuals will be blessed by these devotionals. I know I was!  

These are also something the whole family could do together. My husband and I are going to go through these with our family during our studies prior to bedtime. The portions are just long enough to keep their attention and explained in such a way that I believe most of our children {preschool through 8th grade} will be able to comprehend and dialog about them together.


Where Can I Buy the Paperback of Devotions From Torah?

It'd be a blessing to us at Principled Academy if you would purchase your copies through our Amazon affiliate links: Devotions From Genesis and Devotions From Exodus: Part One. Thank you!



The Giveaway!

December 5th- December 12th, 2013

Would you like your own PDF copy? Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn is generously giving 3 PDF copies of Devotions From Genesis and Devotions From Exodus Part One in a giveaway to 3 winners! Enter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blessings!

Heather 

 

Devotions from Torah Giveaway!

Hi everyone! It is a joy to share with you all about a new series of books, Devotions from the Torah, by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn. 

Do you wonder how the Old Testament is more than just ancient history? Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn beautifully brings readers around to some of the relevance which the Old Testament holds for us today- just as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 explains to us {"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.."}.

As I poured through the pages, I was impressed with insights that the author shares. It has been such a blessing to go through these devotions and I think many of you will find that to be true for you as well. 

Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One are now available! If you, too, are hungry and thirsty for more of God's Word, I'd like to encourage you to read these devotions!

The Devotions from the Torah Launch Team is excited to help Nicole celebrate the release of the first 2 books in this series -- Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One -- with a special giveaway of incredible books, several of which will enhance your study of the Torah! This giveaway is a $160 value!

We would like to thank the following companies for their generous sponsorship of this giveaway! Be sure to stop by their websites to say thank you!

Home School Adventure Co.
Knowledge Quest
Great Waters Press
PhyllisSather.com

To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. One winner will be selected and announced by noon ET on December 5, 2013. U.S. residents age 18 and older only please. Other Terms and Conditions can be found in the Rafflecopter.

Here's what you could win!

Devotions from Genesis by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn
See for yourself how Genesis, the book of beginnings, is not just ancient history and that the Word of God is still alive and timeless. Nicole Vaughn’s Devotions from Genesis will take you on a journey from the garden of Eden to the courts of Pharaoh in Egypt, allowing you to see your own hurts, struggles, and joys through the lives of patriarchs from Adam to Joseph. You will gain insight into your heart and more importantly, insight into the very heart of God. One day at a time, you will be reminded that you are not alone with these Devotions from Genesis.

Devotions from Exodus Part One by Nicole Halbrooks Vaughn
Devotions From Exodus Part One will take you from the bondage of the children of Israel to their freedom. The children of Israel were set free from their bondage in Egypt, and they had to learn how to live in this new freedom. As you study through these first twenty chapters of Exodus, you will see that after God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, he still had to get Egypt out of them. Our deliverance in Christ is no different. God delivers us from the world, but he still has to get the world out of us. We, like the Israelites, are learning to live in this freedom.

Philosophy Adventure: Pre-Socratics (digital download) by Stacy Farrell
Philosophy Adventure™ is designed to help students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately as they explore the history of ideas.

Philippians in 28 Weeks (digital download) by Stacy Farrell

The Bible is banned in many countries. Countless believers have sacrificed their freedom—and many, their lives—to spread the message of God’s love and salvation contained within its pages. Are we exercising our freedom responsibly. Memorize the entire book of Philippians in 28 weeks!

A Child's Geography: Explore the Holy Land by Ann Voskamp
Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey...your family probably hears or reads about these names frequently. In an increasingly complex world, it is vitally important that children learn to see the world through their Creator's eyes. As we explore the Holy Land you and your family will delight in incredible, mysterious landscapes, hidden wonders and beautiful peoples - all created in God's image.

A Cry from Egypt by Hope Auer

Have you ever wondered what life was like in ancient Egypt? As an Israelite? And a slave? Want your children to understand the Bible is history? Adventure, excitement, love, and faith come together when Jarah and her family find themselves at the culmination of four hundred years of history.

Purposeful Planning eBook by Phyllis Sather
Do you need a plan to keep your family moving in the direction the Lord is leading you? Perhaps you don’t know where the Lord is leading you. Phyllis takes you step-by-step through the process of planning a time together for your family to help determine the path the Lord is choosing for each area of your life. Her family has followed this format for over 12 years and has found that it provides the compass they’ve needed to plan and stay on course.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm looking forward to doing a full review on Devotions from Genesis and Devotions from Exodus Part One for you in the near future!

Blessings!

Under Drake's Flag Dramatic Audio Winner!

 

Congratulations goes to...

Carla Beatty Evans!!!

...for winning GA Henty's, Under Drake's Flag dramatic audio download by Heirloom Audio Productions!!

Please reply to the e-mail with your mailing address within 48 hours so that Heirloom Audio Productions can get your prize to you (check your spam folder if you do not see the e-mail). Otherwise, I will need to select another winner.

*All winners are randomly selected via Rafflecopter. 

Thank you so much to entrants for participating! 

Blessings!

Review: Under Drake's Flag!

This is a Review for "Under Drake's Flag."

Disclosure: In exchange for an honest review and promotion, I received a free copy of the audio drama. No other compensation was received. I am disclosing this information in compliance with FTC Regulations.

{At the end of this review you'll also find activities to go along with this audio drama.}

Brief Historical Background

It can be easy, perhaps, to think of the Reformation as having only taken place during the 17th century... the time of the Pilgrims. It began, however, in the 14th century with Wycliffe. 

Francis Drake lived in the 16th century. He was the oldest of 12 children. His father was a Protestant farmer, thus danger lurked as Protestants were being persecuted. His family fled for safety during the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549. At a young age, he became a captain.

The Review!

If you are avid fans of audio dramas, I think you will be delighted with this presentation of history  as much as we are! 

Under Drake's Flag begins with two young men needing to do a research paper on Captain Francis Drake. They meet an older gentleman who offers to aid them with their research by telling them some history. The young men, Ned and Gerald, are cleverly weaved into the story. This gives a smooth transition into the historical narration with stirring acting.  

While this dramatic presentation is not so much about Drake himself (as I had presumed), much is learned about the Spanish Inquisition during this part the Reformation period as we follow Ned and Gerald on their adventures.


This audio drama is well designed. The pace with which the storyline is told keeps the imagination going. The music and background effects do not drown out the characters unfolding the story. This is so nice as it prevents confusion when following the plot.
Principle Approach® homeschool families and Principle Approach®  schools will especially love this audio drama as Bible Principles are illustrated! This makes it easy to research Bible verses and to come up with leading ideas! 

Some things some people may want to consider...

Something courtship-minded families may want to skip are a couple of scenes where a young lady (Donna Anna) gives away her kiss to Ned. Gerald wants in on a kiss too, though the young gal declines him. This happens a couple of times during the story.

Some rather suspenseful and/or rough scenes were a bit much for Dreamer who is round about five years old. That's just something to keep in mind if you have younger and/or sensitve children in your family. You'll find a little guide at the end of this post for you if you think it may benefit your family.

Henty Alive's Goal!

Henty Alive's goal is to, "Give the children of your life timeless stories of character, courage and commitment that will ignite a lifetime of passion for living boldly in God's World.

So, do they deliver this? Yes!! They do!! I was so pleased that Christian Character was presented throughout the audio. Despite the dangers people faced during the Reformation, courage, bravery, relying on God for help, and loyalty to God are exemplified. This is of great value to our family. ~Won't you visit  www.hentyalive.com to learn more about them?

What my family has to say about Under Drake's Flag:

 

 Coloring Pages!

Sir Francis Drake in uniform: print it out at Raising Our Kids


Sir Francis Drake portrait: print out at Activity Village 

Sir Francis Drake's Ship: print out at Activity Village 

Spanish Galleon: print it out at Activity Sheets 

Spanish Galleon Anatomy: print it out at All Kids Us 

A Note: Under Drake's Flag clearly is about historical accounts during the Reformation/ Spanish Inquisition. While battle and war and other unpleanstries of life are to be expected in the storyline, they are tastefully represented in this audio. However, it still can be a bit much for some children. Below you will find a little guide to help you gauge approx. when those scenes are to be expected so you can skip them if you feel you need to for some of your family members.

 

 Download your guide by clicking here.

Do you know you can listen to the first chapter for FREE?!!


Click here.




Now, what you have been expecting!

Now, here is your chance to enter to win one audio drama download of Under Drake's Flag which Heirloom Audio Productions has generously given! Thank you Heirloom Audio Productions!!

Please walk in integrity as you enter. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blessings!

  

The Winner!- Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Epistles!

Congratulations goes to...

Bridgette Stowe Silvas!!!

...for winning Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Epistles by Simply Charlotte Mason!

Please reply to the e-mail with your mailing address within 48 hours so I can ship your book out to you (check your spam folder if you do not see the e-mail). Otherwise, I will need to select another winner.

*All winners are randomly selected via Rafflecopter. 

Thank you to entrants for participating! 

Blessings!

Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Epistles!- #ReformationDay Blog Series

*Full disclosure: I did receive a personal copy of this book for private use in exchange for a review. My review is my honest opinion of this product. I am disclosing this information in compliance with the FTC Regulations.


Simply Charlotte Mason is generously giving away one copy of their Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and Epistles family study handbook!!

If you are the type of individual who thrives on a routine but can get overwhelmed with the rigidity of a schedule, you will love this handbook!! However, this still works for the individual who thrives off of a rigid schedule as you could write in your dates!!

{Click image to enlarge the photo!}

In our personal homeschool, we do a lot of subjects together based off of the same Bible Principle being taught. The way Simply Charlotte Mason has the studies structured with a family read aloud and then additional readings for children to expand their learning, fits perfectly with how we operate!! If your homeschool is bent in this direction, too, this may be a perfect fit for you!

This is also a dream for bibliophiles! They have many books listed for reading {some books I have not heard of before}. I also love how the books are already categorized by time period and people in history. This makes it easy peasy for me to teach along the Christian History Timeline and also for organizing our books on our bookshelves!

{Click on the photo to enlarge it!}

This giveaway ends on Friday October 25th at 3:00 pm!


Would you like enter for your chance to win a copy of this book by Simply Charlotte Mason?! Raffle Copter is below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Full disclosure: I did receive a personal copy of this book for private use in exchange for a review. My review is my honest opinion of this product. I am disclosing this information in compliance with the FTC Regulations.

Blessings!!  

The Mighty Works of God- Reformation Day

Today, we are blessed with an article and a downloadable giveaway for all by Ruth Smith of The Pilgrim Institute! It is our hope that you enjoy reading and learning about the blessings we have which were birthed out of The Reformation. We pray you will be impacted for His Glory!

~Heather

Understanding the Bible in English on the Chain of Christianity is important to a proper understanding of what would come to be known as The Reformation.  So, how do we teach the Bible in English?

Answer by Ruth J. Smith, Pilgrim Institute:

Ruth J. Smith
Pilgrim Institute

To narrow the teaching of the Bible in English link to three main ideas is difficult, but I would propose the following:

1. The Price that was Paid



“Many Americans have little understanding of the price that was paid for us to have the Bible in our hands. It is important for the students to treasure the Bible as the Word of God and to recognize the price that men paid to give us the Bible in English.”1

The history of the Bible in English begins with the earliest light of John Wycliffe’s translation from the Latin. The Roman church of that day did not approve the people having the Scriptures in their hand, but Wycliffe labored for the people of England to have the Word of God in their language. Though his life was threatened, God preserved Wycliffe and his assistants to produce the written word. But first the people had to learn to read. Even without the printing press, the knowledge of the Word spread throughout England. “Historians tell us that if you met two people on the road in England, at least one would have followed the teachings of Wycliffe.”2

“William Tyndale had studied the Word of God. He knew it was very important for each person to read the Bible for himself. He did not think the church leaders should be the only ones who could have a Bible. He declared, ‘If God preserves my life, I will cause a boy that driveth a plow to know more of the Scriptures than the pope.”3 Tyndale dedicated his life to translating the Scriptures, not from the Latin, but from the original languages. For this labor, he paid the ultimate sacrifice, as he was imprisoned and martyred. God, in His wisdom, opened the door for Tyndale’s translation in England. “Within one year, Tyndale’s translation of the Bible was brought to the King. The King said the Bible could be sold in England.”4

Persecution of Bible scholars and teachers under the bloody rule of Queen Mary brought together the men who would produce the Geneva Bible – the Bible of the Pilgrims. Though Queen Mary’s purpose was evil, God meant it for good.

The story goes on with the great price that was paid for the Bible to be in English for all the people. Do we as individuals and families know this story and do we treasure it?

To learn what you can do to preserve liberty in our nation, enjoy this free audio download:

The Character and Destiny of Free Government

Please like Pilgrim Institute on facebook by going here and then clicking like. {And thank you!}

Keep up with Pilgrim Institute! Sign up to receive their e-mail newsletter by going here.

What is necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and keep a nation free? Liberty is a God-given gift to people who choose to honor God's principles of liberty. Armed with an understanding of the proper view of the individual and how God intends for him to be governed, the American Christian can begin to influence the character and destiny of free government by his decisions and habits at home, at work, at church, and in his local community.

{This is an affiliate link.}

 

Continue reading about the importance of the Bible in Engish:

Without the Bible, Truth Will Be Hidden

http://pilgriminstitute.org/blog/2011/11/without-the-bible-truth-will-be-hidden-part-two-of-interview-with-ruth-j-smith/

The History of the Bible Is the History of Liberty

http://pilgriminstitute.org/blog/2011/11/the-history-of-the-bible-is-the-history-of-liberty-interview-with-ruth-j-smith/

Footnotes:

1Ruth J. Smith, The Mighty Works of God: Liberty and Justice for All – Teacher’s Guide, (South Bend: Bradford Press, 2003), page 61

2Ruth J. Smith, The Mighty Works of God: Self Government (South Bend: Bradford Press, 2002), page 44.

3Ibid., page 47.

4Ibid., pages 49-50.

{This blog post does contain affiliate links}