waiting for someday

Do you ever find yourself longing for "someday"?

As a young(er) mom of four babies under the age of six, I often looked at the piles of toys and books and dishes and laundry and thought, "when... then... if..." At one point in my life I was searching and waiting. Waiting for something big to happen. For God to write out words in the clouds revealing to me what I'm supposed to be doing with my life, for some grand calling. "When these kids grow up, then..." I wondered what my "spiritual gifts" were. I wondered what my ministry was. I looked at all the other moms and how they served over there and did this and worked on that and felt like I was doing nothing worth while.

"When these kids grow up, then..."

Paul and Silas didn't seem to have that attitude. They were wrongfully arrested, falsely accused, beaten with metal rods tied in a bundle, and thrown into the deepest part of the prison where their legs were spread as far as they could go and their ankles put in stocks. And there they waited. For what? A trial? More beatings? Death?

I don't know what these men prayed for at midnight. If we know Paul, we can guess he was praying that God's word would not be bound, that the door to be wide open for gospel! They certainly were singing hymns of praise. And you know what? The prisoners were listening.

And when God moved, did they take off running? No, they stayed right were they were. They were instrumental in saving not only the physical life of the jailer but also his spiritual life. They spoke the word of the Lord to him! They told his family about Jesus. They baptized him.

I can get so caught up in my circumstances. Like I'm in a holding cell, waiting for my "real ministry" to begin. I overlook the ministry of my "right here and now." I get myself over-committed because I push aside my babies, looking over the tops of their heads, trying to catch a glimpse through the crowd of what I perceive to be a better ministry  "out there."

What would if have been like if Paul and Silas thought the same of the other prisoners? What if they saved their songs and prayers for when they were released?

God has placed me in a country where I am free to teach my babies at home. Free, without fear of reprisal, to teach them about how He made everything, and how He made them, about our sin and His grace, about the absolutes found in His word. God has placed in my home four babies that are sinners and need to hear His story of redemption everyday--24/7! I get to mentor them and disciple them every single moment. It's not about "when... then... if." It's about here. It's about now. It's about this man and these kids and the people at the grocery and the doctor's office and the gas station and sitting in the church pew next to me, and wherever else God sends us.

Look at your current season in life as an opportunity. Work now to create a vision for the ministry of the home that God has entrusted to YOU.

Start with your husband. What needs of his are you setting aside until "when... then... if..."? Are you committed to praying for him? Do you have a spirit of "singing hymns of praise" while you do your chores, make dinner, care for the kids, fold his socks? What does he desire that you can take the initiative to do without him asking? What's the one thing he dreads doing that you could do for him? How can you make his mornings run smoothly and his evenings more peaceful?

Then look at your kiddos. Are you looking over them to other ministries outside the home. Are you gazing longingly at "someday"? Do you pray and sing hymns in their presence? Do you speak the word of God to them? Do you take them with you in ministry opportunities? Do you save your best for someone else, some other time, a different place?

God has given me a grand calling. What bigger words of confirmation of my ministry do I need than a positive pregnancy test? Seriously, words in the clouds would be fun. But isn't it enough that God, the creator of the universe, saw fit to put these kids in my care? Truth is, all that He has given, my "right here and now," is enough. I don't need to wait on a better calling!

grow not weary

Wow, I totally ditched you in February for week three of my brilliant idea. Do you want excuses? Not really?

I did have something planned to share--I'll eventually post it once I get my mind around it. Parenting and homeschooling is a sanctifying work. God is ever-changing me. Sometimes refining by straightening a photo or adding a potted plant. Sometimes doing a complete, down to the studs remodel. Sometimes the only solution is a bulldozer.

So. Here we are. April's end. I should be thinking about planning next year. Truth is, I'm always planning next year. I guess technically I'll have students in grades 2, 4, 6 and 8--although for a homeschooler those lines blur and you kinda forget that they exist and you just start to see your kids as themselves. They excel in one area and need focused attention in another. So when you ask, don't be surprised by the blank stare until I remember how I'm supposed to answer.

Next year I'm putting everyone on the same history rotation. We'll have the core readings and then everyone will have their own independent readings in that same time period. I'll give each child some choices in this area and let them follow their interests.

Science will be by Apologia. General Science for my oldest and Astronomy for everyone else. We'll be in our homeschool co-op for labs each week which will be a nice addition.

Literature will go much the same. I'll probably introduce formal grammar for my thirteen-year-old.

I'll plan more consistent dictation with my eleven-year-old. I'll probably help her make her own book of centuries too.

Things will be much the same for my nine-year-old. She will probably take on more of her own reading and maybe dabble in written narrations (but it's still early for that so I'll just start suggesting and encouraging and see what she does with it). May I'll add some dictations since she's been asking for them all year.

My six-year-old (who will be seven by then) may graduate from Handwriting without Tears and start his own copywork book. I hope will be an independent reader by then. I'll still read the bulk of his history, science, and literature to him and ask for narrations.

So that's the plan for 2012/2013. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Well, there are still book selections and purchases. A book of centuries and dictation notebook to be printed and assembled. A grammar program to research and review. And assessments and notification paperwork for the district. And since it looks like I may be actually teaching the General Science co-op, there are a years worth of lesson plans and my own reading to do as well! But other than that...

grow not weary, week two of challenges: child training and discipline

These last days of winter I tend to get a little stir crazy and things can get tough. So I set out to post some challenges to help us get through the tough days and into the bright, warm days of spring, that we grow not weary in our work of schooling and raising kids, running a home, and all the other things we juggle throughout the week.

Last week the challenge was to "sow to the spirit"--to commit/recommit to personal study of God's word, incorporating prayer, journaling and memorization.

This week I focus our attention on training and disciplining the kids. When we set out to educate our children, we need to have their attention. Math can get really hard with a kid who is cronically disobedient. Take some time to examine why you feel stressed and exasperated. Could it be that you don't have the attention of your children? We're not perfect, but we can encourage each other to keep growing, keep loving, and to strive for consistency with our kids.

I enoucrage you to get some books, take a long look at what the Bible says about training and disciplining your children and the example Scripture sets before us, and then take some time to get this right.

Our standard in our home is for our children to obey "right away, all the way, and with a happy heart." And I have to work really hard to not repeat myself and be consistent.

If you need to, take a week off from formal studies and do nothing but work on first-time obedience. It is worth your time to reset the standard at your house if you need to. Your study time will become more peaceful and productive when expectations are clear and order is restored.

Some resources I found helpful:

Don't Make Me Count to Three 
Shepherding a Child's Heart 
Getting Your House in Order
Multi-Generational Promise
Child Training

sow to the spirit challenge no. 4: memorizing scripture

I’m learning by heart the heart of God

and this is what calms my heart.

-Ann Volskamp

This morning I offer one more sow to the spirit challenge: [re]commit to memorizing scripture. I challenge you to set out to memorize scripture as a part of your daily study routine. I personally have learned that I must do this first. My personal method takes only a certain amount of time while the study portion takes an indeterminate amount of time. If I wait until after I study, the kids are up and the memory portion gets sacked. In addition, memorizing is hard work and I struggle with self-discipline. So for me, it's memorize first.

Everything to say about why we should memorize scripture has already been said. And better than I could say it. So this morning I give you some links for inspiration and and some practical links regarding the how to. And I challenge you to set aside time, pray for desire and self-discipline, and [re]commit to the daily practice of memorizing scripture.

The One Habit More Important the Quiet Time by Ann Volskamp at A Holy Experience

How do you memorize scripture? John Piper answers the question of how he memorizes scripture

An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture by Dr. Andrew Davis

A whole lot of scripture memory links from Desiring God

Charlotte Mason style memory system from Simply Charlotte Mason

sow to the spirit challenge No. 3: prayer journaling

These last few weeks of winter it is my goal to offer three weeks of challenges to give us that needed bump of inspiration and energy to get us through to spring. It's been a mild winter and I am thankful. But the blahs and the blues of dreary, gray days still make me and my littles a bit restless and stir crazy and the math lessons seem to grow longer and harder, the reading a bit tedious. And who wants to read about science... we want to get outside and experience the re-birth of spring and get dirty! Thus the challenges...

He draws near to you in His word.

You draw near to Him in prayer.

-John Piper

This morning's Sow to the Spirit challenge is about prayer. The challenge is to [re]commit to prayer journaling during your daily study. There is sweet fellowship to be had with our Living God when we study His word intently, listen hard, and pray big prayers.

I shared on Tuesday about my method of studying scripture. The last portion of my study is prayer and I'm learning to pray specifically regarding the scripture I studied. I recently started “tagging” my entries in the margins of my page and tracking the tags on the first page of my journal so I can go back and reference my entries according to categories.

Ann at A Holy Experience has some extensive information on prayer journaling, writing prayer poems and tagging/tracking your entries:

Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline: An Act of Prayer (includes info on writing prayer poems)

Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline: How to Set up and Organize a Journal (includes info on tagging and tracking your entries)

Hurry is the death of prayer.

-Samuel Chadwick

grow not weary--challenge no. 1, day 2

These last few weeks of winter I’m putting together three weeks of challenges to keep up going until spring! You can go back and look at the past posts here.

This week my challenge is to “Sow to the Spirit.”

Yesterday I encouraged you to set up a time for your own personal study (or recommit to your current routine).

This morning my challenge to you is this: Establish a study method, pray for consistency in daily study, pray for accountability and seek out a mentor.

“Study every detail that you can ascertain concerning the Father and the Son; the minutest touch upon the canvas is worthy of a century’s study, so full is every point of deep mystery and rich instruction to the soul. And I am persuaded that, as you increase in knowledge of the Father, and of His Son, Jesus Christ, through the revelation of the Diving Spirit, you will also increase your fellowship with the Father and with his Son.” Charles Spurgeon

God’s word a rich and deep well and a lifetime would not cover it all. Every detail is worthy of our attention and not a second you spend in study could be considered wasted.

I use a method of study taught to me by a dear friend. I like this particular method because it is simple, I can do it anywhere and I don’t need any special tools or other books—just me, a journal, my favorite pens, and a Bible.

In my journal I write the date and the passage reference on the top line. If the passage is not very long I write it under the date/reference. Next I write these headings, leaving space under each heading for my observations:

Who is God?

What does He say/do/command?

What about man?

What should I believe?

Application:

Prayer:

So my paper looks something like this:

The method is simple:

1.   read the passage

2.   write it out
3.   fill in your observations under each heading
4.   application (usually these come in the form of questions to myself)
5.   prayer

When I'm done, I have something like this. Although I don't always have something for every heading.

When I am finished I re-write my “belief statement” on a post it and stick it on top of my notes. This is simply something that I am to believe based on this scripture. At the end of a study I write out all my belief statements in one place. Sometimes I only have one, other times the entire sheet is filled with stickys. It looks something like this:

I use this method on entire books of the Bible. Before I start on the first section I read the whole book. Then I start with the first chapter. I break up the chapter into manageable sections and study a portion each day. Each time I sit down to study I try to read the entire chapter first, before I look at the current section. I also try to go back periodically and read the entire book--how often I do this depends on the length of the book. For a book like 1 John I could easily do this once a week.

After I have studied a passage in this way I do often refer to a Strong’s concordance (via the Blue Letter Bible) for words that stand out to me or need further defining in my mind. I read commentaries like Matthew Henry or John MacArthur, and I often listen to related sermons while I do the dishes, fold the laundry or paint a piece of furniture. I also use the 1828 dictionary to help define any words I might be iffy on.

Don’t skip the application. God’s word is able to heal (Psalm 107:20); bring about saving faith (Romans 10:7; 2 Timothy 3:15); shatter the rocky places of our hearts (Jeremiah 23:26); teach, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16); and equip God’s people for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). And that's the short list. In your study, avoid gaining knowledge without application.

"Unless that knowledge is pure and unless it is applied so as to conform your life to Christ, it does nothing but fill your mind with facts. And that’s pretty dangerous because the more biblical information you receive and don’t apply, the more deceived you are about your true state of immaturity if it isn’t life changing, it becomes spiritual deadening.” John Piper

If you struggle with consistency or desire, find some accountability. Get a group of like-minded ladies together and start a Good Morning Girls study. Get into a small group Bible study at your church. Seek out a woman of faith to mentor you. Share your heart with your husband and ask him to encourage you.

grow not weary--challenge no. 1: Sow to the Spirit

And let us not grow weary of doing good,

for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

This verse from Galations 6 is a familiar one. If you're like me, maybe you take this verse and read it as a "if I keep doing good stuff, God will give me the good stuff I'm working toward" promise.

Something like this: if we pour the good stuff into our kids—completing the entire math curriculum before June, asking the kids to pick up their shoes one more time, giving them the best books for literature study, carting them around to piano and dance and soccer, training our children to be respectful and kind, teaching a wiggly boy to read—we'll get good kids.

And we get tired of pouring.

Let us not forget the verses before this one:

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked,

for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

For the one who sows to his own flesh

will from the flesh reap corruption,

but the one who sows to the Spirit

will from the Spirit reap eternal life"

(Galations 6:7, 8).

Ladies, I grow weary and tired when I depend on the strength of my flesh to muscle good things into being. And when I think about it, the things I can manage on my own strength aren't even the things I desire. I want the big promises and huge dreams that only a big God can do.

So, this week's challenge is to SOW to the SPIRIT.

Do we stop doing all those good deeds that God has commanded us to do? Not at all. We need to be faithful in running one more load of laundry, teaching one more lesson of fractions, and cooking one more family dinner with a toddler on the hip and a zealous nine-year-old helper by our side. But we need to [re]commit to living by the Lord's strength, and not our own. We need to sow less from our flesh, and more to the Spirit.

Thus says the Lord,

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

and makes flesh his strength,

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

For he will be like a bush in the desert

and will not see when prosperity comes,

but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,

a land of salt without inhabitant… (Jeremiah 17)

This is what I want you to do. Take this week and [re]commit yourself to the study of God's Word. Look at your daily routine, make a plan, and set aside a time where you can apply yourself in study, meditation and memorization. Where your flesh is weak, give that over to God. Confess it to Him. Ask Him to give you the desire to study His word faithfully. And then set those feet to running the race and trust your big, big, God to be faithful to His promises.

...Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit” (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

Psalm 1 tells us that that tree—the one with green leaves, that yeilds fruit, and whoes roots reach deep down to the stream—the delight of that tree is in the Law of the Lord and he meditates on it day and night. I want to be that kind of tree for my family.

This week, [re]commit to yielding fruit by the strength of the Lord, not your own flesh; be faithful to the daily study of God's word.

grow not weary--three weeks of homeschooling challenges

This is about the time of year where I feel like crawling out of my skin from boredom and weariness. It's the I-Just-Can't-Manage-One-More-Day-Of-Routine kinda feeling. Spare energy. Wall-bouncing. Antsiness. Winter-blahs. The distracted, diverted, discontent days of late winter, one more good month stretching out ahead, and then the long rainy days of April. Need I go on?

I need a good dose of encouragement right about now and a change of pace. How about you?

So I have three challenges, for me and you both. I'll parcel them out over the next three weeks. And we'll get through this together. Promise.