Encouragement & Inspiration

I had the honor of delivering the following graduation speech on June 4, 2016, at the North Carolinians for Home Education commencement service held at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem. One of my daughters, Molly Caroline Carman, participated in the ceremony, becoming the fourth of our seven children to graduate. In this article, I...

I cannot sing well. Some would say I can’t carry a note in a bucket. As a matter of fact, I have three notes in my repertoire, and it probably does sound like I carry those in a pail. . . . addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making...

We can glimpse God’s signature by using science to understand his Creation. It’s spring, and flowers are blooming in a rainbow of colors. What appeared to be cold, dead earth is coming to life, and landscapers are planting seeds and seedlings. Likewise, this is a good time to grab your kids and plant the seeds...

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. (Joel 2:12-13) Joel may be a minor prophet...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) According to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Many songs and silly sentences have been created through the...

The secret ingredient of C. S. Lewis’ writing is his wordsmithing. He possessed a rare gift of communicating profound realities in simple terms and, to help us all reflect and celebrate Easter, we’ve collected some of his top quotes on the Resurrection. As we remember the sacrifice of our Savior and His triumph over the...

“The trees once went out to anoint a king over them…” (Judges 9:8) The following is my paraphrase of an Old Testament parable that appears in Judges 9:7-15. Scripture is meant to be enlightening and thought-provoking, and this passage is something of a hidden treasure. Perhaps this story will make for some good bedtime reading...

Deb Bell was the first homeschooler I heard use the phrase, independent learner. For me, an exhausted mother of four at the time, that sounded like heaven. The very idea that my kids might possibly at some point in the distant future be able to learn without my direct supervision sounded wonderful. But I could...

Have you ever eagerly purchased some flowers at a local nursery on a Friday afternoon, brought them home, taken a short break to tend to other matters, and then neglected to plant the flowers the same day? No big deal, right? You’ve got all day Saturday to transplant those beautiful blossoms. Saturday rolls around, and...

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. (Habakkuk 1:5) Have you ever prayed for months or even years for a personal breakthrough or solution to a problem? After days of feeling like your prayers are bouncing...