Recently I spent some time looking back over my journal. I started reading entries from May of 2007. May is when Heath graduated from seminary and accepted his first senior pastorate. We moved from the Delta in Arkansas to Northwest Missouri. We spent 9 months in a church that made life miserable for us. Those who know us, and our story, would all agree that we went through a very difficult time. To sum our experience up briefly: it was the most unloving, inward focused church I’ve ever been a part of in my life. When you hear, “I don’t care what’s Biblical” during a deacon’s meeting, you know you’re in trouble!
It would be very easy to dwell on all the negative experiences and people we encountered during our time serving that congregation. It would be easy to get stuck in a rut of un-forgiveness and bitterness, and forget about our calling into a life of surrendered ministry to Christ.
While looking through the previous 14 months of journal entries, I see people who came to Christ, people who followed the Lord in baptism, I see a young couple’s Sunday school class growing (spiritually and in number), I see relationships with non-believers built, I see friendships made that will continue over the distance, and I see a married couple who grew closer to Christ and one another (Heath and I).
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Verse 18 really shouts out at me, “give thanks in all circumstances.” A former pastor of ours, preached on this passage one Sunday and he helped me learn that I don’t have to thank God FOR my circumstances, but I do have to give thanks IN it.
I’m not going to thank God for the mean people or the difficult circumstances, but I am going to thank Him for all the lessons learned, and for His faithfulness to me.
When we face difficult circumstances, we have two choices to make: respond with godliness or ungodliness. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” If you’re not responding with godliness in your current circumstances, perhaps you are not spending enough time with Him, and increasing your knowledge of who He is and what He is able to do in your life and through your life.
Allow me to be transparent here. There were times I was extremely angry at a certain antagonist in our former church. There were Sundays I did not even want to go to church because I would have to see this man. But, that’s when God gave me a burden to pray for him. God led me to read Matthew 5:43-48 (loving and praying for your enemies), Romans 12:21 (overcome evil with good), Acts 7:60 (forgiving those who persecute you).
A journal entry from June 27, 2007: “How Lord? Show me how I can show this man love? Even though he has hurt us and is trying to destroy us – people were arresting, and beating, and even killed you – and yet you cried out for the Father to forgive them (Lk. 23:34). May I be like you, Jesus. I need you to fill and consume me. I need you to give me courage and wisdom. I need you to SHOW me Your ways.”
How could I NOT forgive, love, and pray for whom I call my “enemies” after all Christ went through for me? Compared to Christ, I’ve endured very little.
Monday, July 14, 2008
You Are Special
Everyday I tell my children how much I love them. Multiple times, actually. I also tell my children how special they are. They are special to me and to God. They are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). God has special plans for them (Jeremiah 29:11). Often I will say,”________, You are so special! I’m so glad I get to be your mommy!”
Our “baby,” Lauren always says this to me after I tell her she’s special…”Yes, because Jesus gave me to you.” She’s right. Absolutely right! Jesus did give her to me!
When our firstborn was just a baby, a friend of mine taught me to sing or speak blessings over my children. My children (ages 6, 5, and 3) still ask me to sing this song to them. I’ll use our firstborn son’s name to share the words with you…
Tyler, Jesus loves you.
Tyler, Jesus cares.
Tyler, God has a plan for your life,
and you know that He’ll always be there.
I encourage and challenge parents to not only tell their children how much they are loved, but also let your children know how special they are. Speak or sing scripture over their lives!
Our “baby,” Lauren always says this to me after I tell her she’s special…”Yes, because Jesus gave me to you.” She’s right. Absolutely right! Jesus did give her to me!
When our firstborn was just a baby, a friend of mine taught me to sing or speak blessings over my children. My children (ages 6, 5, and 3) still ask me to sing this song to them. I’ll use our firstborn son’s name to share the words with you…
Tyler, Jesus loves you.
Tyler, Jesus cares.
Tyler, God has a plan for your life,
and you know that He’ll always be there.
I encourage and challenge parents to not only tell their children how much they are loved, but also let your children know how special they are. Speak or sing scripture over their lives!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Hiking through the Woods
We discovered this little neck of the woods not too far from our "vacation" home here in Mid-MO. Enjoy the pics!
Lauren's Birthday
Many of ya'll know that we've been without internet access in our home since our move in February. So, I am behind in my posts. Since Tyler's birthday is less than one month away, I figured I better get Lauren's birthday post done fast!!!!
Easter 2008
Easter Sunday Morning
This one is for you Mrs. Jimmie Ruth! The children LOVE getting packages from you in the mail! Thank you for loving them the way you do! We hope to make a visit down south REAL soon!
This one is for you Mrs. Jimmie Ruth! The children LOVE getting packages from you in the mail! Thank you for loving them the way you do! We hope to make a visit down south REAL soon!
Friday, July 4, 2008
For The Children's Sake
I just finished reading, "For the Children's Sake, Foundations of Education for Home and School" by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.
This book was a great encouragement to me! I've always been a "gentle" homeschooler. What I mean by that, is I believe children should have lots of time to explore nature, play, run...simply BE a child. The early years of elementary, should not be spent in a desk for many hours doing worksheet after worksheet.
I like how Macaualay puts it, "Education is an adventure...It's about people, children, life, reality!"
Much of what Macaualay writes about comes from Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. You can read more about Mason by clicking here.
Mason also says, "education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life." These are principle numbers 6-8.
"Education is an atmosphere." Education is an atmosphere" doesn't mean that we should create an artificial environment for children, but that we use the opportunities in the environment he already lives in to educate him. Children learn from real things in the real world."
"Education is a discipline" means that we train a child to have good habits and self-control.
"Education is life" means that education should apply to body, soul and spirit. The mind needs ideas of all kinds, so the child's curriculum should be varied and generous with many subjects included. (
I believe the mistake some people make is to think their children are only learning during structured lesson times. Children learn when you plant a garden together and watch it grow. Children learn when you go on a nature hike together. Children learn when you ask them to set the table, and prepare dinner together. Children learn when you read wonderful "living books" together (above their own reading level).
Let me share with you a bit of how our family spends a day. In the mornings, we have what we call morning work (eating breakfast, brushing teeth, making our beds, and getting dressed). Then, we have prayer, devotional, or scripture memory time. We spend time each day working on the basics (reading, writing, and arithmetic). Then the afternoons are spent doing our read-alouds, playing, exploring nature, etc...After dinner, our family has family worship time. My husband plays his guitar and we sing worship songs together, read from a children's Bible, and then everyone draws a card from the prayer basket and we take turns praying for people listed on our cards.
I have learned to let my children take the lead a little when it comes to their education. What are they interested in? What would they like to learn more about? I learned this lesson in a bit of a painful way. Well, my feelings were hurt just a little. One day, I gathered all the supplies we needed to make a bird feeder together. It was going to be a bit messy, so we went outside to the porch. Our supplies included a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and bird seed. All the children were going to take turns smearing on the peanut butter, and rolling it in the bird seed. Then, we were going to choose a tree branch to slide our bird feeder on. Once we got outside NO ONE was interested in making the bird feeder! Didn't they know that it took time and money to get this special project together? Didn't they know that I was doing this because I thought they'd enjoy it and it would be fun? Instead of wanting to make the bird feeder, all three children were crawling around on the grass catching crickets!!!! There were so many crickets in the yard, all they had to do was put their hand down on the grass, and scoop them up. They had dozens of crickets in a jar in no time!!!! Here I was standing on the porch pouting because nobody wanted to make a bird feeder with ME!!!!! Then, I felt the Lord soften my heart, and prompt me to go join my children, and enjoy the moment with them. The bird feeder could wait, but the crickets may not be in such excess the next time we come out to play!
So, this momma has learned to be a bit more flexible in her planning. Some days, you just need to go outside and enjoy the crickets, and save the bird feeder for another day! And as I learned from Macaulay's book, always remember to make education an adventure!
This book was a great encouragement to me! I've always been a "gentle" homeschooler. What I mean by that, is I believe children should have lots of time to explore nature, play, run...simply BE a child. The early years of elementary, should not be spent in a desk for many hours doing worksheet after worksheet.
I like how Macaualay puts it, "Education is an adventure...It's about people, children, life, reality!"
Much of what Macaualay writes about comes from Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. You can read more about Mason by clicking here.
Mason also says, "education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life." These are principle numbers 6-8.
"Education is an atmosphere." Education is an atmosphere" doesn't mean that we should create an artificial environment for children, but that we use the opportunities in the environment he already lives in to educate him. Children learn from real things in the real world."
"Education is a discipline" means that we train a child to have good habits and self-control.
"Education is life" means that education should apply to body, soul and spirit. The mind needs ideas of all kinds, so the child's curriculum should be varied and generous with many subjects included. (
I believe the mistake some people make is to think their children are only learning during structured lesson times. Children learn when you plant a garden together and watch it grow. Children learn when you go on a nature hike together. Children learn when you ask them to set the table, and prepare dinner together. Children learn when you read wonderful "living books" together (above their own reading level).
Let me share with you a bit of how our family spends a day. In the mornings, we have what we call morning work (eating breakfast, brushing teeth, making our beds, and getting dressed). Then, we have prayer, devotional, or scripture memory time. We spend time each day working on the basics (reading, writing, and arithmetic). Then the afternoons are spent doing our read-alouds, playing, exploring nature, etc...After dinner, our family has family worship time. My husband plays his guitar and we sing worship songs together, read from a children's Bible, and then everyone draws a card from the prayer basket and we take turns praying for people listed on our cards.
I have learned to let my children take the lead a little when it comes to their education. What are they interested in? What would they like to learn more about? I learned this lesson in a bit of a painful way. Well, my feelings were hurt just a little. One day, I gathered all the supplies we needed to make a bird feeder together. It was going to be a bit messy, so we went outside to the porch. Our supplies included a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and bird seed. All the children were going to take turns smearing on the peanut butter, and rolling it in the bird seed. Then, we were going to choose a tree branch to slide our bird feeder on. Once we got outside NO ONE was interested in making the bird feeder! Didn't they know that it took time and money to get this special project together? Didn't they know that I was doing this because I thought they'd enjoy it and it would be fun? Instead of wanting to make the bird feeder, all three children were crawling around on the grass catching crickets!!!! There were so many crickets in the yard, all they had to do was put their hand down on the grass, and scoop them up. They had dozens of crickets in a jar in no time!!!! Here I was standing on the porch pouting because nobody wanted to make a bird feeder with ME!!!!! Then, I felt the Lord soften my heart, and prompt me to go join my children, and enjoy the moment with them. The bird feeder could wait, but the crickets may not be in such excess the next time we come out to play!
So, this momma has learned to be a bit more flexible in her planning. Some days, you just need to go outside and enjoy the crickets, and save the bird feeder for another day! And as I learned from Macaulay's book, always remember to make education an adventure!
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