Filling in the Holes

I sat down with the boys this morning to do a Bible study. 

Some moms worry about teaching the Bible and search for the perfect curriculum.  I have a few Bible curriculums that my children use on their own because I'm sure I'm going to miss something.  But my favorite way to teach the Bible is by discussing verses that the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart.  Verses that have helped me thru a problem, etc...

Sometimes we use the "child directed" (God directed) method of Bible study which is what happened this morning.

 

I opened the Bible and was going to discuss one of my favorite passages, Luke 7: 36 - 50. 

As I was turning to the passage, Jared starts to recite some lines from a Tim Hawkins skit about painting a child's room in a Noah's Ark theme.  And when he gets to the lines about "your brother's room is painted with the stoning of Stephen", Jared said, "The stoning of John."

I stopped him and said, "Jared, you got that wrong.  Who was stoned?"  And our quick thinking son says, "David? No, no...Isaac? No, that's not right....um...."

I realized we had a huge gaping hole in our Bible study....so instead of the passages I wanted to study, we decided to study the stoning of Abraham.

Just kidding...trying to keep you on your toes.  :)

Personalities

I received a copy of a homeschooling magazine, Home Educating Family, that featured an article by Sally Clarkson.  I enjoy and am always encouraged by Sally's writings. 

The article was called "Which personalities are the most acceptable?" 

I have six children.  They are all so very different, all going in different directions, all going at different speeds, all going at different sound decibels.  Their personalities are all different, too.  As a mom, it would make things easier if they were all the same - Christmas shopping, school books, music lessons, sports, concerts...

I have children that don't fit in the box.  They don't fit in the traditional "Christian box" and they don't fit in the "Worldly box".  They laugh too loud, talk too loud, dress too conservatively, dress too modern, dance when they worship, swing dance on Saturday nights, etc...

Well meaning advice comes from all sides. You shouldn't let them do that.  You shouldn't let them do this.

Sally writes that "We live in a world that values conformity.  We want to use our force, our power, our authority to make people, and our children fit into the box.  Be good. Be tame. Be moral.,..., Perhaps you prefer one type of personality, but all personalities are holy to the Lord.,..., if I had followed the advice of those in the world who just knew God's will, and told me to spank Nathan more, to make him fit in, I would never have seen God's will, would never had known the story of God shaping a young man's soul to be passionate for Him, to have the courage to dream, and to love Him unconditionally with his stripes and spots - just as God had made him."

Thank you, Sally.

Irene - Tree Fell On Our House

The neighbor's tree fell on our house.  It fell on the strong log part of the house and not the screened in porch roof.  It fell on Becca's old bedroom which is still empty.  God has protected us.  There were no injuries.  Things could have been much worse.  We had no water in the basement.  We have had electricity the whole time. 

Becoming all things to all men

I was going through the attic looking for school books for this coming homeschool year.  I have boxes and boxes of homeschool books.  Some dating back to our first years.  School books are a major monetary investment so I try to purchase things that can be handed down from one child to the next.  (As long as I don't forget where I put them.)

I came across a booklet from the Sonlight Curriculum, "The Kingdom Strikes Back".  It's a short look at how "events" (some not so pleasant) in history, aided in the Great Commission to spread the gospel to all tribes and tongues. 

This booklet picked up right where Brother Andrew's biography left off.  The books we have been reading have given us a renewed interest/energy in evangelism and discipleship.  I'm not sure where this is leading but it sure seems to me that God has given our family reading time a "theme".  My family's workplaces, colleges, and friendships have all taken on a new meaning with new opportunities to "Go share the love."

One section of the booklet quoted the apostle Paul and I had to look up the Bible verses in their entirety.

1 Corinthians 9:22  The Message (MSG)

 ^19-23Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

My Matthew 5:43-47 Prayer

Lord help me to show love to everyone.  Even to those who are unkind or who think differently than I do.  Give me Your grace, kindness and love. The grace, kindness, and love that I don't naturally possess but You do.  Change me.


^43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Looking beyond the Negative

It seems that lately I’ve been hearing about moms taking a lot of “heat” for having large families.  I’ve been there and my dismay isn’t with the people giving the heat.  When you do something different you can expect that reaction especially from the world.  My dismay is from the reaction of the moms. 

I realize there are people out there with an anti-family agenda but our reaction should never be anger but a testimony to our God.  Loads of people believe one of our nation’s biggest needs is revamping our public education system.  Many people know we have a problem with our young people …they are just mistaken as to what the answer is…they need Jesus.

Sometimes people say negative things like, “We could never afford to have children.”  “How do you survive?”  Our response should always point them to Jesus…, the Lord has always provided for us, we have always had more than enough.  If you are obedient to Him, He will supply all your needs. 

Sometimes other moms say negative things because they are going through a really rough time.  They can feel desperate and overwhelmed.  Negative remarks and comments are often a sign of pain and hurt.  If our response is a quick tart remark, the chance that they will want to follow our Jesus is not so likely.  Showing them love and understanding may not be the first thing on the tip of your tongue but it should be.  Turn their negative remarks and attitudes into an opportunity to minister and lead them to the Lord. (Reread The Hiding Place if you need too.)

As Christians, we should all try to be encouragers.  The next time a mom says “…wait til you have teenagers.” Maybe say something like, “I’ll remember to pray for you this week.  How are things going?”

Or try to make her smile by pointing out an older sister in the Lord and saying, “Look at Ruth, she raised more kids than both of us put together.  Her husband looks happy.  She still has all her hair and can speak in complete sentences.  If she can do it, we all can.” 

Sometimes seeing through the negative remarks and looking at the person within, the person Jesus loves and died for, can change a situation, an attitude or maybe even a life….the simplest response can open a flood gate and allow us to speak love and encouragement into the heart of a mom who needs it.

Deciding...A Person's Will...

One of my best friends sent this to me. She is filled and led by the Holy Spirit. She is always an encouragement to me, my trusted confidant, loving me unconditionally, always pointing me to Jesus.

You really need to read this devotional in full.  Below are just the highlights that spoke to me and will hopefully peak your interest.  Here is the link to the My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers  complete day's devotional

Will to Be Faithful...

. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . —Joshua 24:15

"..., I cannot give up my will— I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God’s Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. ,..., Your choice must be a deliberate determination,..., The proposal is between you and God— do not “confer with flesh and blood” about it (Galatians 1:16). ,..., God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. ,..., Openly declare to Him, “I will be faithful.” But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, “You are witnesses against yourselves . . .” (Joshua 24:22). Don’t consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, “I will serve You.” Will to be faithful— and give other people credit for being faithful too."