Homeschooling and Community

Last week was really busy. I went to a homeschool convention with a large group of people from my area. I had been feeling as though I was on an island to figure out things all on my own. What a big, fat lie. :) As usual, God showed up. His kindness continually amazes me. He has gone ahead of our family and made sure that I was able to see that each day last week. The last day of the conference focused on community and it's importance in the body of Christ. I was so encouraged to see individuals and families stand with testimony after testimony of how the community of believers surrounded one another when the load was light and when it became too much to bear alone. The community of believers reached well beyond homeschooling.  

 Isn't that how it's supposed to be? We come alongside one another stirring up gifts and God-given talents. We are to call each person up to walk as God sees us. To me, that's real accountability. Not pointing out our short comings (and boy are those plentiful) but pointing to the one who has redeemed all.  Friends, remind one another of our truest identity and our firm standing in Christ. We are all a new creation in Christ Jesus. Your feelings and circumstances don't determine your standing, neither do your failures or successes.  Your standing is eternal and fixed when you are in Christ.Thank God that He was an over-payment for all of us.

 Looking forward to August. Have a great week, y'all! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is anew creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the freshand new has come!

Psalm 68:6God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Mixed with Faith

Don't waiver in the waiting. Instead, let it be a time that God speaks to you and encourages your faith in Him and in His promises. Don't forget what His word says- It says that He is well able to do all that he has promised. The Bible is one promise after another.  

Let us take up our faith and receive those promises. When we do this, we are giving life to the seeds of promise that God plants inside of us. 

When God speaks, be bold to believe and ready yourself to receive. The greater always gives to the lesser. Promises mixed with faith are powerful beyond our own understanding.

^{Hebrews 4: 2} For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with ^[c]the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; ^[d]neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).

^{Romans 4: 20} No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,

²¹ Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.²² That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Beep Beep, Sheep

God's been talking to me a lot about what it means for him to be my Shepherd. If He is the Shepherd then that would mean that I am a sheep. Earth shattering, right? I am to simply be what I am.- nothing more and nothing less.

My daughter calls sheep 'beep'. It's cute. I know she'll grow out of it. But in the meantime, how many of us live as beep beep sheep? Always searching, looking to speed ahead to the next stop light. You know what I'm talking about- the people that floor it and cut you off only to get caught at the next stoplight right in front of you? Kinda makes me laugh when that happens. Anyway back to the sheep. The sheep follow the Shepherd. They respond to the sound of his voice. They are not trying to dart around him or jump ahead of His leading. They just follow with an expectancy that He will guide them and lead them to places of nourishment and rest. Every road has it's bumps. It's my job as the sheep, not to get so caught up on the bumps that I lose sight of my Shepherd. When He gives direction, step out in faith even if you don't have all the pieces to complete the puzzle just yet.

If there's one thing I've learned from having children it's that you cannot make them do two things: eat or sleep. Even though manufacturers of the next magical children's products might say otherwise, just ask the parent of an infant. If they don't wanna do it, they aren't gonna do it. Yes, their natural bodies will eventually force them into both of those things but not without many hours of tears and struggles. At the same time, I can provide them with food that tastes good and an environment that calms and helps them enter into peaceful sleep. But, in the end, the choice is ultimately theirs. They CAN go on for a certain amount of time by their own will and their own strength but it will not be fulfilling nor will it be peaceful. How many of us are starving and exhausted from our own push and striving to gain the things that the Good Shepherd will provide to us if we simply relent and receive? He is faithful and kind to meet us where we are.

 Psalm 23, the psalm of the Good Shepherd, says that he refreshes and restores our soul. I don't have to qualify for this refreshing and restoring because Jesus qualified FOR me, in my place. He took my place of brokenness and curse and gave me His place of righteousness as a gift at the cross. His sacrifice was acceptable in the sight of God. My job is to receive. My job is to let Him lead and to follow. He's gone ahead of me and understands what I'm facing now and what I will be facing. It's HIS job to provide my provision, comfort and times of rest. It's my job to receive it. Time to lay some things down and give Him the honor of taking it. Then comes joy and peace because I'm not shouldering something that was not intended for me. Hope y'all have a great week!

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

² He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

³ He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.

⁴ Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with ^[a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

⁶ Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Seeds of Truth

Lots of changes going on at our house. My small fries are growing and learning. The job of referee has become one that I know well. But, I know they'll get it eventually. Planting the seeds of kindness and devotion to siblings sometimes takes quite a long time before the fruit is seen. Just when I think I might snap at the sound of the next stage 5 meltdown- I look over to see my son praying for our youngest who has been having a tough time getting her front teeth. When I say tough time, I mean awake from 1:30-4 am. I consume copious amounts of coffee. Ok, maybe not copious but it's a lot. I digress. The point is that I know His spirit is telling me to keep going. Even in all the mistakes I make as a parent the seeds of faith, hope, and love are being planted and HE is the one who is watering them. There's no greater joy. 

Each new stage is a new chapter equipped with some uncharted waters. The thing about growing is that there's some stretching involved. Sometimes it's an achy, painful stretching. Regardless of the feelings, it's new growth and fresh strength is being born. The areas of my struggles past and present and future, are the battlegrounds of my greatest victories. Those are the areas where God's deepest truths are revealed. They strip away all falsehood and only truth can remain. But, I have to set foot on the battlefield first. I have to rise to the occasion regardless of what it may require of me. Whether it means to referee, teach, wipe, lovingly rebuke, cast vision and identity, or sincerely apologize.  The good news is that Jesus is always by my side and He has already purchased my victory. Something about Jesus, when he points out some area He wants to go with me- It's 100% truth and 100% kindness. I doesn't leave me feeling like he's sucker punched me. Its true, but not mean or harsh. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. 

Don't let one negative naysayer keep you from believing the truth that God has put down into your spirit.

^{Isaiah 54: 11} “O storm-battered city,
    troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
    and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
¹² I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
    your gates of shining gems,
    and your walls of precious stones.
¹³ I will teach all your children,
    and they will enjoy great peace.
¹⁴ You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
    Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
    and terror will not come near.
¹⁵ If any nation comes to fight you,
    it is not because I sent them.
    Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.

¹⁶ “I have created the blacksmith
    who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
    And I have created the armies that destroy.
¹⁷ But in that coming day
    no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
    raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
    their vindication will come from me.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

He Is Faithful

My daughter is running around with whatever article she can find from the laundry basket (namely various pairs of underwear-scattering them around the house only to be found at the most inopportune or embarrassing moment possible), the littlest is finding new and creative places she can hide the scrambled eggs that she ate for breakfast (mostly in her diaper) and my oldest is playing happily with his birthday presents.  There are mountains of laundry, bathrooms to clean, dishes to wash, yadda yadda ya. Pretty regular day in our house and for that I'm beyond thankful. With all of the wonderful simplicity, there's an expectancy of big, extravagant things to come. Maybe the areas of regularity in our lives are the areas where God invades and speaks the clearest. A friend of mine reminded me the other day- look at each area of your life in the light of glistening hope. Even the really, really difficult areas. I won't even try to name them. Everyone has them and they all look different.

He.  Is.  Faithful. I don't have anything super insightful to write about. Just that God's been talking to me a lot about his faithfulness. That whatever he speaks and promises to us, He will do. Don't lose hope in the waiting, but let it be a time to get further into his word. Allow the waiting places to be your areas of greatest growth. That's something that I love about God. He gives me something to grab onto, something of deepest substance that is immovable and immutable. My life is constantly changing and growing. I desperately need something that I can hold onto that is faithful and true. Be encouraged. Have a fantastic week.

^{Psalm 89:34 (NewLifeVersion)} I will not break My agreement, or change what was spoken by My lips.

Psalm 89:34 New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁴ My covenant I will not break,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

John 20:29 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Thomas,^[a] because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Just A Few Thoughts

There's one thing in particular I keep noticing the past few days and weeks. I was putting a load of laundry in the dryer the other day and the Holy Spirit said to me, "You cannot force someone to receive the goodness of God."  Huh. Interesting. 
I suppose the same is true of God's grace. We can't force someone to receive it and rest in it. Sometimes I can barely force myself to receive it- But I am thankful that he's taught me that's where my strength comes from. Especially after the past few days. I had been snappy, grumpy, short with my kids and husband. The only problem is that I've got 3 little sets of eyes looking back at me- watching. They're always watching. And then doing what they see me do. Eek. One little "I want you to be happy with me, Mama." Can bring me to my knees faster than just about anything. 

My cup overflows because of His goodness and glory. For that, I am forever thankful.  I am learning to let nothing separate me from receiving God's goodness and grace. God certainly didn't. He gave up His child to die for some filthy, ugly, undeserving person. He must have known that when I take in Christ, it transforms me entirely. If I let it. Not by my own efforts am I changed, but by beholding Him alone will he take me from glory to glory. Man, I needed that encouragement. Have a great week.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

World English Bible (WEB)

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

David Crowder Band After All (Holy)

A few thoughts

I have learned that when I allow myself to be even more honest with Jesus and when I allow myself to be completely UNDONE in his presence, something remarkable happens. He puts me back together. One touch from him, one kind word (or many) change it all. I'm not saying it's perfect instantly, but it's different. Redeemed.  It puts me at rest to know that when I ask Him to change a part of me that's rough or ugly, He takes that seriously. He's the most faithful person I know to take my mess and transform it into something of Him.  He is heart oriented. It doesn't matter how you worship as long as you worship in spirit and truth.

I feel like it's time we believers begin to honor God by speaking the truth about his truest nature. His kind heart, his ferocious passion to see His creation living a life of Freedom.  Free to look at Jesus with unveiled face. Free from the burden of works to earn right standing with God.  Because of Jesus I am free to enter the rest of Christ's finished work. You don't have to be cleaned up before you come to Him- let Him wash you with his blood and the water of his Word.

He's so solid and nothing escapes him. I don't particularly like the saying "the devil is in the details." Mainly because my eyes have been opened to the goodness of God by his dealings with the "details" of my life. My GOD, he is kind. The biggest truth taken away from this week and weekend. Jesus Christ didn't suffer, die, and rise again to make us safe- He died to make us FREE.Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. 

 He. Changes. Things.

Praying for endurance and clarity for the days to come.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17 NKJV)

^{John 8:36} So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.