I Don't Feel Like It

I tend to procrastinate. I can reason out every excuse not to do something until I just absolutely have to do it.

I prayed for five years for a desire I had on my heart. Five years seemed like a long time waiting for a dream to come to pass. Yet, this burden would not leave me. I asked the Lord that if the desire was not from Him to remove the desire from me. But He didn’t. Finally, four and a half years ago my desire and dream came to pass in HIS timing. I started home schooling my oldest child, then one year later my youngest.

This blessed me so much even through its ups and downs I kept pressing on with the journey. It was new and fresh. Therefore the challenges inspired me. And God put other home school moms in my path to encourage me.

I confess now four and half years into this journey, I wanted to quit. This past holiday break; we took almost three weeks off. We went skiing, came back home & celebrated Christmas and New Year’s. I fell out of routine, and I didn’t want to get back into it. I enjoyed sleeping in. I enjoyed indulging in fine confections. I enjoyed visiting with family and friends. I just didn’t want it to stop.

The home educator, the teacher in this situation, did not want to go back to school!

Quitting this journey is not an option. The job is not finished and I must press on. I know that in my heart.

I knew I needed to work on lesson plans to start back to school this past Monday. But I delayed and found other things to do. Finally Sunday night, I worked diligently to put together some plans. In the midst of it, the phone kept ringing, friends stopped by and other things happened so I only got one week’s worth of planning done (I normally plan out four weeks at a time). This week I have other things to work on as I’ll be hosting some special out of town (actually out of the country) guests.

Monday morning came and school started in our home. I had to do it anyway. To my surprise, things went well—just the usual stuff with the two boys—talking, bickering, some fussing about assignments, etc. (I said a prayer for the public & private school teachers that have 20+ students in their class.) Overall a good day. Yesterday was a good day.

I didn’t feel like going back to school. But I realized—routine is good. I learned through this that feelings are fickle and can’t be trusted. I have to do what the Lord has given me and entrusted to me in this season of my life. I must obey in spite of how I feel…

1 Samuel 15:22
…To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

I’m off to serve the Lord in my home with the children He entrusted to my care and instruction.

Lord, I praise You for You laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Lord, I thank You for Your Word that strengthens me and encourages me to press on in Your will. Lord, I thank You for these young lives that You have entrusted to my care. May I obey You and do what You have called me to do. Lord, I pray that I work for You and not for my own selfish desires. I pray I do my work as unto YOU and stop the procrastination. I pray that You lead me in giving these boys instruction. I pray that I train them in Your ways and Your truths so that when they are old that they wont depart from it. Lord, I bless Your Holy Name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Blessings in Christ--

Under Construction

I'm working on the look of this blog. I'd like to update it and create an inviting look. Comments about changes are welcome. I'm working on some templates and I'm talking bribing my teen computer guru to work on a template for me for a one of a kind look.

Please be patient as I experiment with the look.

Blessings in Christ--

Share Our Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, but He overcame this world! (John 16:33) Those of us who have overcome trouble by the power of the blood of Jesus, we’re to share our comforts with those experiencing trouble. Share the hope & comfort we have in Jesus Christ.

I am comforted by the fact that when I’m going through trials and troubles that the Lord puts people in my life to comfort me. In turn, I’m to comfort others He puts in my path. That is the amazing way God works!

Yes, I do agree and understand that we can draw comfort from God alone and there are times for that. Yet, we’re not to live our lives isolated from others as the body of Christ needs each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…

That’s the purpose of this blog to encourage and build each other up.

My friend, Tiffane, shared with me a video that her 16 year old daughter, Alyssa, made with her friends. This video is set to the music by SuperChic[k] and the song is HERO. It about doing what is right and helping others. The teens in the video are friends of my teen son and the young boy in the video is the best friend of my youngest son. Seven of the children in this video are children of my friend and running partner Anna.

***Disclaimer*** The content of this video may not be appropriate for young children as there is adolescent and adult content. Please use discretion. I posted the video as the issues are real issues that God could possibly use any of us to be a "hero" in someone's life.

Hero Lyrics

No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong, do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
And a kindness from you might have saved his life
Heroes are made when you make a choice

[Chorus:]
You could be a hero - heroes do what's right
You could be a hero - you might save a life
You could be a hero- you could join the fight
For what's right, for what's right, for what's right

No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She's in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm and wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she's brave
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way
Each moment of courage her on life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made
Heroes are made when you make a choice

[Chorus]

No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn't know he's the leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he's made
He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it's his right
The choices he makes change a nine-year-old's life

[Chorus]

We Must Finish the Race!

In 1988, a team from Jamaica entered the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. This oddity received much criticism. Who thought that four men from an island could compete in a winter sport? The odds were stacked against them.

I first learned about this sporting team as I watched holiday movies with my family. I came across a movie called Cool Runnings with John Candy. This movie was inspired by the first Jamaican Bobsled team, but is not an accurate depiction of actual events. Yet a very motivational movie like Mighty Ducks and Rudy. I searched the internet (oh how I enjoy the convenience of research from my kitchen table) and found news articles that revealed the true story. The parts that I want to portray from the movie are factual.

Underdogs in the competition, this team had only three months to prepare; failed to find sponsors and adequate funding; and were definitely unaccustomed to the cold weather. But they had determination that drove them past the crude remarks and many other obstacles that came their way.

The team qualified in the time trials by overcoming one of the obstacles of learning how to run and push off on ice. When the team competed in the first heat, they ran a slow speed and came in last place. In the second run, the team had the fastest start time and finished in a very competitive time limit. Inspired and encouraged the team readied for the third run fully believing they would place high in the event. Disappointment came upon them only meters from the finish line when they crashed. Lying on the side on the ice one of the team members said, ”We have to finish the race.” The team got out and pushed the sled across the finish line (in the movie they carried it) in order to finish the race. Nevertheless, they came in last place but had earned the respect of the spectators who clapped, cheered and shook their hands.

As believers in the body of Christ, we are on the same team. Our lives in this world is a race we must run. We must run this race as if to win the prize and with strict training.

1 Cor. 9:24-25 (NIV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Our trials and circumstances train us for what we’re to do for our Lord. The trials strengthen us and prepare us for what lays ahead. When life gets tough we need to be encouraged to finish the race. We may get knocked down, but we have to get up and finish the race and we will receive our reward. As Paul told Timothy:

2 Tim 4:7-8 NIV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

I have been knocked down but had to choose to get up. If you get knocked down, choose to get up.

Proverbs 24:16 NIV

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

As team members let’s encourage one another in the body to get up so we can finish the race. Let’s get up again and again. As many times as it takes to finish the race.

As we start 2008, I want to encourage you (and myself) that when we get knocked down to get up as we must finish the race!

And I do believe that along the way before we receive our crowns that will last forever which we’ll cast upon our Savior’s feet, we will win other prizes along the way. See the post below for a prize I recently won. Our God is good and gracious to keep us encouraged in this race!

Happy New Year--2008!

Blessings in Christ--

Blessed with a Prize

Before Christmas I visited Joanne at The Simple Wife and entered to win a book cover that she was giving away. She held the drawing on December 21 and one of her sweet daughters randomly drew my name!!! I was just tickled so as I seldom win things!! I believe that was a sweet blessing from my Lord through Joanne! I received my prize on New Year's Eve. Below is a picture of the hand sewn book cover I won which fits the Beth Moore study books. Perfect as I'm facilitating another group in Beth Moore's latest release of Stepping Up starting in a few weeks. With this book cover no one will accidentally walk off with my study book again! Thanks Joanne!!



Also of note, my father-in-law gave me the Beth Moore's Jesus 90 Days with the One and Only for Christmas. What a treat to spend time with our Savior each day through this devotional. Thanks Dad!

I pray each of you have a healthy and prosperous New Year 2008!!

Blessings in Christ--