Meaningful Thanksgiving

Let's make Thanksgiving a compound word and divide it into its two meanings to make our next week more thoughtful and thankful!

THANKS
I challenge you to look around and ask God to open your eyes to the many blessings in your life. Don't leave out anything and keep a notepad nearby to jot down when something comes to mind. Read it or share it with your family on Thanksgiving morning. Don't forget the clean water you get to drink each day and the air conditioning/heat that keeps your home at a perfect temperature. That should get you started!

GIVING
The second part of this word is yet another action word. Let's look for ways to give our time, our money, our resources, and our hearts to others. I know that we are in a very tough spot financially, but I have also found that I can still give. Giving often means money in our society, but I challenge you to find ways to give that don't involve money. Send a thoughtful email, or visit someone in the hospital, or clean out your closet and donate clothes to a homeless shelter, or help your neighbor get ready for out-of-town company.

May your holidays be centered around these two actions of "thanks" and "giving"!

Difficult Times

Are you going through difficult times? Maybe your child is not responding like you thought he/she would to the curriculum you chose? Maybe your finances are limited due to the economic downturn? Maybe you are being harrassed for your decision to homeschool?

Turn to God for your strength. Today ask Him to become real to you. Start every day saying a prayer in your heart or out loud. Try to keep the conversation going with Him throughout the day as you struggle with your child through math, or as you discuss the bills to be paid with your spouse, or as you listen to the hurtful words of someone who doesn't understand. Ask for His peace, ask for His thoughts, and look for His ways. His Word says that if we seek Him, we will find Him (Matt. 7:7-8), and I stand on that promise for you and for me!

Don't believe the lie that God has given up on you or that you have given up on God. Your circumstances may not look like everyone else thinks that it should look, but rest on the promise that He is there.

A Perfect Homeschooling World

Alpha Omega Curriculum Publishers offers a wonderful daily e-devotional for homeschool families, DailyFocus. Here is a devotional from last week:

• In a perfect homeschool world, your children would greet you with a smile each morning and help prepare breakfast and clean up afterwards.
• In a perfect homeschool world, there would be no sibling fighting, lost workbooks, or unprepared students.

As we enter the harvest season, reflect on the harvest you are reaping with homeschooing. What are the wonderful things/ benefits that you are seeing already? Are there still things that need constant care and supervision? Most harvest is most “needy” right before reaping, so don’t get discouraged or frustrated if it doesn’t seem like you will ever see fruit. You will reap a harvest if you don’t give up.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9

In Memory of Christopher Columbus

Today has been set aside as a day of celebrating a man and his dream/passion to find the New World. Here are some inspiring quotes from this interesting individual:

No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.

By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.

I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvellous Presence.

May the life of Christopher Columbus inspire you to pursue the dreams and passions that God has put in your heart!

Celebrating His Provision

We are now nearing the end of the major Jewish holidays of this season. It ends with The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. It is a time of celebration as the provision of God is remembered. There is a remembrance of the Israelite journey from slavery in Egypt through the wilderness to their new home, and it is also a time to celebrate the harvest and provisions for the coming year.

Isaiah 12:2-3
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."

May you be blessed with God's provision of wisdom and physical needs for your homeschool journey this year! Celebrate His work and enjoy the moments of "harvest."

Day of Atonement

Today marks yet another Jewish holiday which focuses on cleaning up one's heart. It is a time of making things right and getting back on the right path.

Have you felt like your life as taken a wrong turn? Are there people whom you need to forgive or to whom you need to apologize? Now is the time to make that change!

1 John 1:9 holds a beautiful promise of a clean slate: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

May you look to Jesus to take away ALL the wrong in your life and live in the joy of forgiveness!

Happy New Year!

You may or may not know that this past week was the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah. During this holiday, the birthday of the world is celebrated and the birthday of a new year is established. Apples are served as above with honey to represent the wishes for a sweet year.

Traditionally, the Jews believe that they must prepare to make sure their name is in the Book of Life for the new year. They send cards with the greeting: "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year."

This is my prayer for each of you that you would be blessed with a good year. That you would taste and see the sweetness of life, especially as you trust in God.

Surprise your children this morning by yelling "Happy New Year!"

Homeschooling Blues

OK, some of you have already hit it - the Homeschooling Blues! The moment when you say to yourself, "What isn't it working the way I dreamed?" Or, maybe - "I didn't sign up for THIS!"

As you make a commitment to pour into your child's life, you are now faced with the many character issues and discipline issues that have yet to be resolved, on top of the fact that they still don't know their multiplication facts! The world is ending as you know it. You try to count to ten and breathe slowly. You really just want that yellow bus to stop, so you can throw all the discouragement and frustration out the front door.

This is the moment when you do need to stop, and you do need to throw some things out the front door. It isn't your child though. It is your plan for a perfect day, your unrealistic expectations. For many new homeschooling families, I encourage you to bring yourself back to the "why" - Why did you decide to homeschool? What are your ultimate goals?

One of my favorite Scriptures from the Bible helps me to get refocused during those rough times: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." In other words, don't give up because you will see your goals for your children fulfilled!

So, if you need a shoulder to cry on, find one and get back on the "horse" for the wild ride! You will love where the adventure takes you AND your children, and they will learn those multiplication tables---eventually!

Darkness

On Friday, we had our first official field trip of the school year at Rickwood Caverns. It was a wonderful tour, and I know that I was amazed to see that this treasure was literally in our own backyard. As we went through the tour, I was reminded of a little known fact that I had heard earlier this summer. "If you were to spend a month in total darkness, you would go blind." Evidently, your eyes would not be able to reflect or detect light any longer.

I thought this was interesting, and especially as I begin to apply that fact to our spiritual lives. If we are surrounded by total darkness (evil), we will be unable to see the light of Christ. So, here come the challenges:
1. Make sure you are not surrounded by only Darkness, but surround yourselves with other "lights" to help you keep your vision. Embrace the Light which will sometimes be uncomfortable when you've been in darkness for a while.
2. Go and be the "light" in a dark world. Don't just keep your light in your home; go and share! Total darkness is scary and full of uncertainty. Let's help others see the Way.
3. Teach your children the importance of being IN the Light and shining THE Light to others.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator---who is forever praised." Romans 1:25

Before you can even recognize a lie, you have to know the Truth. You have to know the truth of God's love for you. You have to know that there is no such thing as perfect people. You have to know that God is working all things together for the good. You have to stand firm in what you know you are supposed to do - even if others think you are crazy.

I challenge you to seek out the lies that you are serving and exchange them for the Truth. I pray that we will all encourage each other in the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.

Daily Bread

OK, I know this looks yummy. But, I am not talking about literal bread today. I am talking about our daily needs. In the Lord's Prayer, this is referred to as "daily bread."

I want to encourage you to start each day seeking Him for the things you need to survive. Don't worry about the curriculum that still hasn't been purchased or how you are going to be able to get them in the music class or even how you are going to pay the bills! Start your day looking at what God has provided, and as the Lord's Prayer directs us, take a moment to ask Him to provide your needs for today. After that, complete your daily tasks trusting that somehow He will provide. I know---it is hard to do. I have been on a personal journey of learning to trust Him more.

I have learned that as I trust Him and simply keep doing what I know is right, He is faithful to take my little and multiply it into all that I need, and even some of what I want! It is a beautiful miracle. I pray that all of us start our days looking to Him as our provider and that we discover the beautiful peace that comes with trusting Him.

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." - Jesus, John 6:35

Fruit

I am so excited about the new school year, what my children will learn, and how they will grow. What sweet fruit will burst out of their lives? Will they become more compassionate? Will they be more self-dependent? Will they discover their purposes and callings?

What about us personally, and what about our families as a whole? What "fruit" will we bring forth this year? God wants to be so much more involved in our lives, and He wants to use us to encourage and lift up others around us. In John 15, Jesus states that we must remain in Him in order to bear fruit. He is even so bold as to say that we can do nothing without Him.

Let's take the challenge here at the beginning of a new school year to keep our dependence and faith on God. Then, we will really accomplish something and see the "fruit" of our labor!

Keep Running!

On our way home late Sunday night, we drove by a fire station, and there was a single file line of firefighters running around the parking area. They were all wearing the same outfit and keeping the same step. It looked odd, especially at ten o'clock in the evening.

My husband used that moment to point out to the girls that they were keeping themselves ready. These men needed to be able to quickly run up a flight of stairs in the event of an emergency. They didn't need to be out of breath in the middle of a dangerous situation. They had to be prepared.

I know that I want to be ready to help others when I am called. I want to be ready to help my children as well. I need to work out, and that may not be jogging around the parking area at ten o'clock at night. (Though I know that I could use a jog!) I see that work out as learning to be more faithful and dependent on God, which many people translate into more prayer and Bible study. I think it also includes more time with others who can encourage and support me.

Paul, a writer in the Bible, says, "Let's run with endurance the race set before us." Let's endure and bring others along with us! Let's keep running together!

God is...

Last week I discussed commitment, and later this week, I realized that many of us will not commit or give control to someone we don't know. It is important to know in whom you trust.

So, who is God? Our pastor challenged us to embark on a discovery of the many answers to this question. So, I challenge you to answer by commenting here - who is God to you today?

Paul writes to Timothy: "...I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." If you do not know Him, you really aren't able to fully entrust or commit your plans to Him. My prayer is that you will come to know Him and that you will be convinced that you can trust Him!

Commitment

As you plan for the new school year, let's explore what God's Word has to say.

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

What a wonderful promise! If we commit---OK, what does "commit" really mean? After a quick look on Dictionary.com, I discovered that it is a verb, an action. So, it is something we are supposed to DO. So what are we supposed to DO? Give in trust or charge. We are supposed to give our plans to the Lord and trust Him to be in charge. Trust that He will make sure that our plans are successful.

In a world full of dishonesty and uncertainty, it can be hard to even trust God. And, as the old hymn states: "Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him. How I've proved Him o'er and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus. O for grace to trust Him more!" My prayer is that we will have the grace to trust Him more with our plans this year, and that we will discover the true success that comes through this "commitment."

How?

I have often heard this statement after I have revealed that I homeschool: "I could never do that." This is always perplexing to me. In some ways, I feel like I must be doing something incredible, but then I am quickly brought back to the reason and how I homeschool.

Homeschooling is a way of life, and as a Christian, depending on God is the only way that I can "do that." He is my source, and He is my daily direction. How? Well, it is through prayer - a constant dialogue (usually inward). For many people, prayer is such a struggle because they think it has to be a set aside part of the day, and come to think of it, that is probably why others think homeschooling is so hard. But, prayer and homeschooling are hand-in-hand, a way of life.

Have you forgotten to include God in your homeschooling journey? Have you tried to make homeschooling and/or prayer just a part of your life?

Psalm 146 states: "...Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save...Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,...the Lord, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry...the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,..The Lord reigns forever..."

Start today to make homeschooling and prayer a way of life, not just a part of your life! You can "do that."

Who? - The Most Important Question

Last week we started the New to Homeschooling support group, and we have always started off the first week with making sure you know the answer to the question, "Why?" I was challenged as I read Big Picture People by Doug Carter, and he said that the first question we need to settle is "Who?" Read more:

"Settle the who question first. Then trust Him with all the other questions. When we focus on Jesus and make Him the center of our lives, we discover that the all-powerful, never-failing, totally sufficient, ever present Christ is willing and able to take us victoriously through every situation of life---even though those times when there are no answers to the why, where, when, what, and how questions. He becomes the only answer we need. Like Paul, we exclaim triumphantly, 'In him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:28)."

Road Less Traveled, Part 2

Last week we discussed what the road less traveled is not. It is not one that has no other travelers; it is a road that is simply traveled less often. The good news is that as we take the homeschooling road (which is definitely less traveled), we are not alone!

There is another presence on the road less traveled. This presence is very possibly why you chose the road. It is God. He leads us to this road in order to have more time with us. He wants to get to know you, and He wants you to get to know Him.

Don't forget that He is there! Look to Him for the strength you need. He is your best travel buddy ever!

"The Lord will guide you always; he will sastify your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Is. 58:11

Road Less Traveled

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken", 1915

Many people have used this poem to describe how we need to choose a better path that may not be what the norm of our society has chosen. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus said, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Please note that neither of these quotes refer to an abandoned road or an empty road. They are simply talking about the roads that are less traveled, less common.

For many of us, homeschooling is the less traveled road that we have chosen. We want to lead our children and families to life, and we want to be the few who find it.

I want you to realize that the road may be less traveled, but at least it is being traveled! We are not alone; we are just fewer in number than the wide road of societies' norm. Don't believe the lie that you are alone, and please don't try to travel alone. Let's find a way to travel this road together!