Hoping to Encourage You

It never fails, EVERY school day someone says, "I don't like ____________________!"(insert any subject you want.).  It is so frustrating when they do this.  Don't they know how hard I work picking out curriculum, doing their lesson plans and grading their papers?  I can be a bit defeating when I hear them complain.

I do ALWAYS correct them with, "This is the job God has for you." or "This is one thing God wants from you."  I guess I'm trying to take the pressure off myself and put it one someone else.

Well, this morning it was like a smack in the face.  As I sat and listen to my daughter say, "I don't like any of my subjects," I thought this is exactly what God heard from me this morning before my feet even hit the floor, "I don't like teaching school" I have also thought "I don't like doing lesson plans." or "I don't like being responsible for their education"  Isn't this what God has for ME to do?  Isn't this what he wants from me?  Isn't this what he has called me to, placed on my heart???  The answer is yes!!!

Sometimes I think my kids needs an attitude adjustment, but I think God thinks the same thing about me.  I can hear him say, "Hey, this is what you have been called to do, this is what I WANT YOU TO DO."

As homeschool moms we always could use a little encouragement.  Let me try and be that for you today.  It is hard at times, but very rewarding.

The things that keep me going:

 "For where your treasure is, therefore your heart will be also."                Matthew 6:21

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your heart.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.  Deuteronomy 6:5-9

    

The time I get to spend with my kids is priceless.

Knowing that God's hand is on this, crazy endeavor. 

Watching my children learn something new.

Seeing  my 7 year old's excitement when he gets to learn about animals.

Knowing my kids friends. 

2 week family vacations to the beach in October!

Working in God's Plan for my family.

Knowing that we are almost 9 years down and ONLY 11 years to go.  Almost half way there!!  LOL

I hope the confession of a humbled homeschool Mama help you when you are questioning your calling!!

Sometimes Change is Good!

So, I had blogged resently about choosing a word to describe the kind of year I want to have. The word I picked for 2013 was Committed, but I think I am going to change it. I'm going with Heavenly Minded, Focused 
God has really been speaking to me through my pastor the last couple weeks. Here are some of my notes from his sermon on January 2, 2013... 

His first message was about Transformation. 

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;"    
                                                                                                  Ephesians 4:22-23 

He was talking about transformation, the Greek word is Metamorphoo (met-am-or-fo'-o:
to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.)  We should be passionate about our transformation, we should to have a healthy spiritual renewal. 

1. Think progress not perfection.  That was a light bulb moment for me.  I tend to not start things because I know I won't do it perfectly.  I never think, "This is all a progress."  I should have a sign that says, "I am a WORK IN PROGRESS!!" 
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."     Philippians 3:12

2.  Think Future not Past.  I may not of made great choices yesterday, but I do have tomorrow.  In the area of diet, which is where I am right now, I may not have made the best choice for breakfast, but I can do better at lunch or dinner.  
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14         

3.  Think Together not Alone.  We should be in small groups, bible study.  We should have people of accountability. 
"not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."    Hebrews 10:25

We should have regular bible reading time, Worshiping God for who He is. 
 "Do it yourself stop waiting for others."   Dave Stone

I had already started an accountability group with some other ladies to help each of us with our weight lose journey, this just confirmed we are doing it the right way. We not only encourage each other with what we eat and how much we are moving, but with a bible reading and our prayer lives.  It is invaluable!!

4.  Think God's Spirit, not Your Willpower.  I really liked this one.  I know that I am weak, very weak to be honest, when it comes to food.  I have to listen to the Holy Spirit when I start to eat something I shouldn't.  Sometimes we actually argue, but I need to let the Spirit win!!  
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."   Galatians 5:16-17

We should live by God's Spirit in our prayer time, worship time, alone time.  We should read God's Word.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."   2 Peter 1:3  

"Put ourselves in a position of transformation by God's power.  I can't, He can, I think I'll let Him!!"  Dave Stone

What a great way to start a new year.  Focusing on God and trying to stay Heavenly Minded.

If you want to take a look at his sermon here is the link to the podcast.