Author: pamela

Trust & Obey

wesafterheartsurgeryFor there’s no other way. But to trust and obey.

This photograph was taken one year ago today.  A few hours after the vent was removed, following open heart surgery, my husband began to wake and once again I saw the mercy of the Lord.  I marveled then and I marvel now—knowing all that I know from that time to this: God is (and has been) only good all the time; All God’s ways are (and have been) good.  Surely it is true that I know nothing of tomorrow but that Providence will rise before the sun.  Surely, God is the Lord of all.

Whatever you’re facing today, whatever trials are strewn across your path, whatever fears are in your heart and mind, surely the Lord has you in mind and the anguish, doubt, pain or despair you’re experiencing can be laid at His feet, and in His arms you can be carried.  Surely His arms are not shortened that they cannot save to the uttermost.  This is the truth.  Your circumstances may be sounding louder than the truth, but the truth cannot be silenced or drowned out.

Will you seeing, yet not seeing, believe God?

It’s often easy to believe God based on favourable circumstances and difficult to believe God based on personally challenging circumstances, but God does not change–His truth does not change–He cannot change. If blessings are lavished upon or withheld from us, we still have a loving Heavenly Father.  If our relationships are filled with ease and comfort, if our toils bring little weariness, if our health is strong and our burdens seem light: Praise the Lord — it’s so easy to do so in such times as these.  But if our relationships are strained and our work is futile effort, if our health is fragile and pained, and our burdens heavier with each passing day: Look to the Lord — it’s so needful especially in such times as these.  There is never a day, never a moment we do not need His abiding care.  There is never a day, never a moment we could do without His abiding love.  Sometimes it takes a tragedy to see this… sometimes it takes a tragedy to know this.

Throughout this year with all its ups and downs, I know that He is only good, His ways are only best, His love is unfathomable.  He truly does work *all* things together for good.  He calls us to lay everything on the altar.  Everything.  And to then to look to Him there… to wait on Him there.  I may have to do this a thousand times today… but I know it’s the best place to be.  And I know that I know that nothing happens without His expressed permission and purpose. My will fights that knowledge—but in my heart I know there is no other way… but to:

Trust & Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

In The Course of Reading

Openbible

One of my greatest delights is to see the goodness or the hand of the Lord in the land of the living. I’ve been so amazed through the years at the many times we have come upon a verse, in the natural course of reading, that was so appropriate or applicable to a particular situation we were in, or dealing with or would soon see or experience.  It’s nothing short of a miracle, a serendipity of the Lord, a gift just for us to take in and treasure.

 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see
the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
Psalm 27.13

The amazing thing is that often a verse is read and we instantly know the Lord is ministering to our hearts, meeting us right where we are.  When these things happen, it’s surely no coincidence, but rather, what I like to call a: CoIncident.

It’s almost as if, from time to time, the Lord sees our weakness, our frailty, our lack of hope or faith or strength to carry on and He delights to give us a drink of cool water to refresh our soul.  It’s often as though He sees us stumbling along with no hope and gives us a lift, a glimpse of His beauty, an unexpected provision meeting our very present need.  No, not a coincidence, but a CoIncident, yes.

CoIncident

His delight is in loving us right where we are that He might demonstrate His love and His power and that He would receive honour and glory and majesty in our lives.  I see His tender loving care in doing these things and I see His power in His work in our lives.  So many times I shake my head and marvel that nothing but God could have made this or that to happen… nothing but the power of the Cross could bridge gaps we face or trials we undergo.  Nothing but the Love of God could show us what we’re shown from time to time — more often — if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

These have been wearying days, uncertain days, trying days in my life and I marvel each time I come upon a taste of honey in the Word, a sip of cool water, a soothing balm, a strong plank on which to stand.  Tears flood my eyes when I see His mercy in His Word or in something spoken or provided or accomplished. Whatever the need, the Lord continually shows Himself strong on my behalf — which He longs to do for each one of us.  I’m so humbled that He thinks on me… He thinks on you.  Do you know that?

 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro
throughout the whole earth,
to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them
whose heart is perfect toward Him.
2Chronicles 16.9

In our family reading this morning we came to Numbers 11.  In an astounding answer to Moses’ much doubting, and the children of Israel’s much complaining and murmuring, and the weariness Moses was experiencing at the heavy load he was carrying, the Lord answers Moses with a simple question in verse 23: Is the LORD’s hand waxed short?

Upon hearing that, I was humbled and tears have come to my eyes many times throughout this day as I recount this question to Moses.  It’s a question to me, as well.  And I fall short. God is only great; He is only good; He is only faithful and cannot fail.   I know this.  This is the hardest thing I know.

 

Labels and Names

coffecupI’m mulling over a Kelly Crawford “quiverfull” article I read yesterday.  It so resonated with me (as her writings often do) and brought to mind several related labels and names.  One thing that came to mind almost immediately is the number of times recently that I’ve wanted to distance myself from a particular word, practice, inference, organization, person, product, etc., etc., when any one of them failed or turned out to be different than  I thought or understood them to be — or when my personal definition or application of a particular word or practice didn’t/doesn’t line up with whatever the latest scandal portrays.   As in, say, quiverfull or large family or homeschooling or complementarian or Christian or a myriad of other buzzwords in the news.  Lots of times it’s not the words used, necessarily, but the way they’re used (and especially the inflection of voice in the way they’re spoken).

Immediately, I want to say (usually only in my head as I pull weeds in the garden), yes, but I’m not that kind of homeschooler, I’m not that kind of large family, I’m not that kind of mother, etc., etc.  I’m not in that kind of homeschool program or that kind of church or whatever.  Sometimes I have to add: well, not any more.

Sometimes my (or your)  “not any more” occurred long before the publication of a ‘bad report’ or a scandal.  I know that, and you know that, but maybe others don’t that. And I am (or you are) still assumed to be connected to/with or defined by a particular name or label.  And probably a misunderstood, misinformed idea and/or mischaracterization of that name or label.

So my thought here is that all these different media assertions, characterizations or biases are very instructive. First they instruct me to be very careful regarding my alignment with a particular personality or program.  Then I need to be careful what message I portray and how my actions affect or represent that message. Then I need to pay close attention to respectfully hear objections and discern the motive behind the messages.  Is the message really an attack on me?  Probably not, but is rather an attack because of a preconceived notion or because of a negative experience with whatever I seem to represent.  So then, should I take it personally?  Probably not. No.

So you have a bunch of kids.  Doesn’t make you The Dugger’s… ‘makes you a mom with a bunch of kids like a whole bunch of other moms with a bunch of kids and they aren’t The Dugger’s either.  So you homeschool and/or you only wear dresses and/or you dress modestly (or whatever other thing you do or don’t do, the best you know how).  Doesn’t make you Amish or ATI or Mennonite or part of a cult or whatever… ‘makes you just a woman who’s made some decisions that are different than some decisions others have made.  And you go on.  So you take a stand for Biblical, traditional marriage.  And you’re castigated for it.  You’re wrongly labeled as phobic or narrow minded or intolerant.  Think it not strange.  Their comments don’t make you any of those things… just continue on in faith, trusting the Lord to bring about His plans and purposes in all these things.  Sure, all these different misunderstandings are painful and difficult.  And, sure they’re inaccurate — but we are told in Scripture that in this world we will have tribulation.  But the big deal is that Jesus didn’t stop there — He went on to say that we are to be of good cheer.  And what is the basis of that cheer?  Jesus. He tells us that in Him we might have peace and that peace is because of who He is and who we are in Him and because He has overcome the world. (John 16.33) So, we can be overcomers.  That’s powerful. That’s Good News!

And you know how else all the mislabeling instructs me?  I’m instructed to be very careful how I might be mislabeling others, making wrong assumptions of others, mischaracterizing others.  I am reminded to be careful to not jump to conclusions about a matter based on a preconceived notion or experience (good or bad for that matter) and then have to back-peddle when more information becomes apparent.  I see more and more why we need to be in the Word, in prayer, and walking in faith.  And that’s where iron sharpening iron sorts of friendships also help us get and stay on track.

Our House Our Welcome Home

♫ Never_Walk_Alone

Wfencee stepped inside the front doorway of our new house nineteen years ago.  From that moment, this nearly one hundred year old farmhouse felt like home to me.  In my notebook that I carried most everywhere I went was a page of notes — prayer requests, actually.  And among those requests were *specific details — astonishingly, right before my eyes, most everything in and about this home that day.  I realized that the Lord had, in His merciful kindness allowed me to write that list, pray over it and wait on Him.  It was also in His merciful kindness that He would provide or answer those requests.

That list was made as a result of talking with my sister in law about the non-availing search for a home for our family — her thoughtful, encouraging suggestion was that I just write out a request and lay it before the Lord.  She encouraged me to write it out seeing that He already knew my heart and more importantly, that He already knew what we needed and, Providentially, His own answer to those needs.

The day I first walked through this home, pregnant with our ninth baby, carrying the eighth in my arms, our other children walking beside me, hand in hand, I was overcome with all I saw.  So much history worn into the floors, walls and door frames of this old house.  That mental picture comes to mind whenever I wonder: Can God provide a table in the wilderness?  And when I affirm: surely, His eye is on the sparrow.

I’ve always imagined that when we get to heaven, the Lord will take us in His arms and say, Welcome Home.  And we’ll forever be home.  We’ll forever be in the place He prepared for us and we’ll never lack, never doubt, never hunger, never wander.  We’ll never seek another, never long for another place when we’re finally home.

In the early days, we sat on the *porch swing, soaking in the morning sun — so much *open space around us.  We stood in *our yard and watched the sunsets.  Light streamed in the *windows on *all-four-sides of our house. Our yard – what an amazing thought to us!  We were overcome with gratitude to the Lord for His goodness.  Every day, the sun (or the rain or the wind) was visible outside our bedroom window under the canopy of the *willow tree. Children ran up and down the lane, played in *the field, took turns on the tire swing hanging from the *willow tree.  They bathed in the old *claw-foot bathtub and each had a *special area in the bedrooms–*enough room for everyone.  … we ate from the *garden — raspberries and a little later that year, apples and walnuts.  All these * things * were on my list.  All of these things so amazed us day after day.  More so, year after year.

Around that time, on our front door I wrote: The Welcome Home.  I never wanted to forget that this house was a little glimpse, a little foretaste of heaven.  Anyway, that’s why I call this site The Welcome Home… the blog I write under the willow tree of the welcome home.

Pamela’s Guacamole Dip

mixingbowllgIn light of Cinco de Mayo, mañana… here you go – a guacamole recipe to go with whatever you’re fixing (you can make it with lower/no fat mayo and it will work just fine).  O, and  don’t forget to get a bag of *Juanita’s Chips or fry your own *flour tortillas that you’ve cut into wedges. *These are not THM 😉 ♥

Guacamole
Recipe Type: Dip
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: ♥ pamela
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 8 cups
Guacamole dip for chips, taco salad, etc.,
Ingredients
  • 5 Large Avocados
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • 2 cans olives
  • 1-1/2 cups chunky salsa (your preference mild or hot) *
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 2 tsp. Tajin Clasico Seasoning
  • 1 tsp. garlic salt
  • 2 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • Salt and Pepper – to taste
Instructions
  1. Mash avocados in bowl—if using small avocados, then you’ll need to get a few more.
  2. Put the Salsa into a screen mesh colander over a bowl to drain off liquid. Save that liquid for adding to Mexican rice, taco soup or taco/burrito/enchilada meat.
  3. Finely dice tomatoes and kinda squeeze them out as you lift them into the bowl.
  4. Finely dice the onion and the olives.
  5. The salsa should be drained enough at this point to add to the avocado mixture.
  6. Add the minced garlic, Tajin seasoning, garlic salt, Worchestershire sauce and mayonnaise
  7. Add salt & pepper as needed for personal taste.
  8. Eat and be happy!! 🙂

 

Sincerely wrong. The IBLP-ATI Years.

wisdombookletAnother IBLP/ATI article has surfaced… and brings to mind so many memories tonight. As many of you know, for several years, beginning in the late eighties, our family was involved in attending and subscribing to the Institute in Basic Life Principles and then for a few years with the home school program, ATI – the Advanced Training Institute.  It is very easy to distance ourselves from both IBLP & ATI today — but there was a time in the early days, it  would have been unthinkable  (I’ve written about this a number of times as referenced below).  It would have been unthinkable to question the material, motives and authorities in ATI.  I think that’s probably the case for other former IBLP/ATI families, by the way.  Even though, from time to time, a couple of other families we knew would talk over some ATI issues or problematic areas.

ATI was a time of eager desire, a time of striving, a time of sincere effort to be and do all we could possibly do to be a godly family, to be wise parents raising up a generation of bright and cheerful, obedient and attentive, grateful and radiant children.  We really did buy into giving the world a new approach to life!  It looked so good, sounded so good, felt so good, seemed so good. We sincerely strove for excellence in all we did. But then at some point we began to see error — error in ourselves, error in the material, error in the messages and conflict with what the Bible was actually saying vs. what the Institute was sending.  Then blatant error. We couldn’t reconcile what we knew to be true and what the Institute was teaching. Then gross error.  We couldn’t continue excusing and ignoring the errors.  We began to see the legalism (even though we were emphatically told that what we were doing and being taught was not legalism).  We couldn’t overlook the works based faith and the utter lack of Biblical grace.  We could no longer accept a counterfeit to genuine faith and genuine waiting on the Lord.

What initially seemed to be such a sound homeschool curriculum was actually a series of booklets laced with error.  There sincerely was much good — very much good — but the errors persisted. We began to see the Bible misused or misapplied.  And the gift of God’s inspired Word to us was being used by the Institute as its source of lifted and twisted scriptures neatly worded and arranged to instill and fit into a neat package: a new approach to life — which was actually a systematic indoctrination and conformity to the Institute.  IBLP & ATI were initially Scripturally sound —no, wait— they seemed to be Scripturally sound.  But it wasn’t.  And, in the end, the indoctrination of IBLP & ATI took years to untangle, years to sort out and years to unlearn.  By the grace of God, we walk by faith.

IBLP & ATI:    Runner

From   Blue & White  quote…in a Mother’s Meeting in Tennessee and I would hear a phrase  that would come to have incredible significance to me.   One of the mothers commented to another:  Well, you don’t have to be so blue and white about it!  I let that sink down in my ears.  Tucked it away for some future day… and when that day came, I understood.  I totally understood.”

From More ATI / IBLP Baggage & Freedom  quote…Errors ought to raise red flags. flag_red They have with me… and if you/your family was involved in the program, probably with you, too.  It may seem a moot point to bring all this up, now, but actually, I’ve shared much of this in the past and stuff keeps resurfacing.  And then there’s this strange unspoken cardinal rule that one doesn’t question the Institute or Mr. G.  (Yep, and that oughtta be a red flag for ya!)

From Unpacking The ATI / IBLP Baggage  quote…it’s my hope that the unpacking of some of the ATI / IBLP baggage will be a freeing experience — that it will be an encouragement to other women to be done with wondering if you’re doing the Christian walk right enough  or — if you’re in, or formerly in, ATI: whether you’re good enough, charitable enough, hard-working enough, orderly enough, diligent enough, attentive enough, thorough enough, bright eyed enough, smiling enough, industrious enough,  virtuous enough, resourceful enough, wise enough… or any other enough of the 49 character qualities.   I’m not mocking character qualities — seriously, I’m not — but if the source of character is anything or anyone  but the Lord Jesus, then it’s just flesh.  It is walking/operating in the flesh.  It’s just like what Eve did… it’s wanting to make self wise and using personal resources and personally determined logic…”

From The ATI-IBLP Mess  quote In 1991 we enrolled in the Advanced Training Institute.  I say with all sincerity, it really did seem like the best  thing for our family as we were already homeschooling our children and we really wanted them to have a full-well-rounded Christian education. At home.  I see now how easy that program was to get lured into desiring.  We’d already been receiving much training through the seminars and materials and so it seemed the likely next step. As we saw the ATI materials and the bright, smiling faces — who wouldn’t want that for their family?!?  I sincerely thought they were all h.a.p.p.y.  And I wanted to our children to be well educated, smiling, grounded and h.a.p.p.y. like that.  I know, I know, some of you are, at this point, taking a break to throw up in a bucket.  Sorry if your keyboard is a mess.  But I guess I just want you to understand — or, really, I just want to recall to mind what really was going on at the time.  And subsequently.”

From ATI / IBLP Tangled Web  quoteWhat’s to follow is sort of a synopsis of some aspects of our ATI days.  Man was it a sticky mess sometimes.  Problem with good things is that they are so often a substitute for best things—good things are so often the enemy of best things —– we see the good things and grab onto them, not taking the time to fully weigh them to see if they are best things.  So we settle for good things… thinking they are best things.  This analogy breaks down, of course, but thinking in analogies is one of the good things in the tangled web of ATI/IBLP.”

dividerfleurish

Over the years I’ve reflected many times on things I regret doing or not doing because of what was going on in those years.  And as for the ATI/IBLP? I’ve had to stop recounting stuff to our children and even to myself for the most part bcz it all really doesn’t serve much of a purpose and defeats the strides we’ve made through the years.  It also digs up stuff that’s long been forgiven or long been settled and we’ve sure settled a lot!  Besides, if the Lord’s covered it, why do we go and dig it all up and rehash it again?  As sincere as we were, we’ve had to just settle it that we were sincerely wrong about a lot of things.  And hopefully all the wiser for it.

Waiting.

coffee_4Waiting.  Perhaps the simplest and most difficult action we’re commanded is waiting.  I don’t know if anything epitomizes our sin nature more than our natural response to waiting.  We’re naturally prone to not wait.  To not want to wait.  To not seek to wait.  More often than not, we believe or live as though we believe otherwise.  Think of the times you’ve exclaimed, “I cannot wait!” in reference to an upcoming event or for somewhere you want to go or for something you want to do or for someone you want to see. But in the end, you waited, though you thought you could not.

Most of us have heard or been told at one time or another, Don’t just stand there, do something!  But that’s not really walking in faith, is it?  I think that waiting is often the greatest demand in walking in faith.  [cp_quote style=”quote_left_dark”]Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. –Psalm 27.14[/cp_quote] It’s more Don’t just do something, Stand there action that’s required in true and living faith.  Standing still is a very active place of faith.

So much of the time, our experiences define our action in or our reaction to life’s situations instead of Scriptural truths defining our actions and reactions or instead of faith defining our actions or reactions in and to life’s situations. I find this is true more often than I would like to think by this stage in my life.  I’d like to think I’d be “further along” by now—I surely thought this would be so, anyway.  But, no.  I’m still often like my little girl self who could not wait for an event or an accomplishment or a certain age.  Even though all those things I couldn’t wait for have come to pass — and were, for the most part, very different than what I thought I couldn’t wait for.  And, thankfully so.

Why then, are we instructed to wait?  Why were the children of Israel instructed to wait?  Why do we teach our children, over and over again, to wait?  I think it’s bcz we and they would not choose what’s best, would not seek the Lord’s will, would not obey His directions were it not for the instruction and education that waiting provides.  We’d not choose some of the methods He would use for our good and His glory–but in the end, they’re exactly what we’d choose had we all the facts in the beginning.  This is the grace and mercy of God.

Some nineteen years ago, within a very short period of time, we needed to find a new place to live and thus began our search in earnest. We drove all over the place, searching, looking, hunting for the perfect home.  And indeed, we thought we’d found it.  But early one morning later that week, we were awakened by the Lord and impressed that it wasn’t the right home for us  and we quickly ended the negotiation process. It was a Friday morning.  We determined to wait — to wait on the Lord through the weekend and not do a thing about our eminent need.  We prayed—and we knew the Lord had heard our prayer.  We determined to wait on Him.

Monday came and through the course of the day, we looked for a home with an address we’d been given.  We never found it and, in a bit of sinking despair, we were headed back to our house.  On the way, I noticed an inconspicuous sign on a post, For Sale by Owner.  I called the number, heard all the details about the home and even though we could not meet the criteria, I went along with our children and saw the home.  It was just right.   And within days, it was confirmed to us that it was just right.

Can God provide a table in the wilderness?  Does He command us to stand still and wait and see what He will do?  Yes, and yes.  It’s not because it’s been my experience that this is true, though it is, it’s true because God commanded it to be so that it’s true. He hears us when we pray.  He answers in His timing according to His plans and purposes.  When we think He hasn’t answered, we think He hasn’t heard us.  But that is not true—He hears because He is God, He knows all things, sees all things, hears all things. We so often rest on our experiences to prove God instead of resting on His promises to prove Himself.  This, we know by faith, this we learn in waiting on Him.  Waiting for Him.

quotebeginAs ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him,
and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Keepers @ Home

u_skap_4[cp_dropcaps]I[/cp_dropcaps]n Titus 2.4-5 we read, in part, that younger women are to be taught by older women to be keepers at home, we see that there must be something to this ‘keeping a home’ for it to warrant teaching or knowledge of skills to do the keeping. This home-keeping, something that needs to be studied, or which requires skill, must also be pretty important or noteworthy for it to be contained in the list of imperatives in the book of Titus concerning what ought to be taught through and to women.  I will add that this ‘home-keeping’ be done well because it does not stand alone. In context, it is in the verse which concludes: that the Word of God be not blasphemed.

Everything we do must be measured against the standard of God’s Word.  Nothing we do is worth anything if it does not measure up to the Word of God.  That’s convicting.  And it’s also tough teaching—but that’s the Word—God’s Word to us.  You know what’s also convicting?  Older women are directed to do this — to be about doing this.  More often than not, I see the younger women hanging around the younger women and working it all out.  I see the older women feeling like has been’s, antiquated in their ways and ideas and not all that willing  or able to impart teaching to younger women.  Younger women may also not really want advice or training from older women, either.  Whatever the case, the Scriptures are pretty clear on “discipleship” and instruction to youth.

So, what if the older woman isn’t in a position or doesn’t feel capable to teach the younger?  It seems that desire to be available probably ought to be a priority and then action when opportunity arises.  But regardless how this all plays out in a woman’s life, there needs to be some nurturing of the desire to be used of the Lord in other’s lives—the willingness to be available to others in their time of need, the willingness to be open and vulnerable over a cup of coffee, as an example.  And all the while, older women need to continually grow in the Lord and in prayer — sharpening their faith, skills, understanding, and knowledge — so that they will be ready to give an answer! ♥

So, the home is a shelter, a place of worship and prayer, a place of refuge, a place of forgiveness and forgetfulness, a place of refreshment, a place where skills are taught and where they’re learned — it’s a place of hospitality.  It is all of these and more.

I will suggest that the home is also a place of harmony.  A place where lives are blended in order that a whole may be formed.  Two come together as one—a whole is formed.  A child is added to the whole and it is made more complete—perhaps another or many others are added in order that that whole might be made more complete.  Whatever the case, the home is where harmony and oneness are learned; it is where communication and cooperation are learned; it is where acceptance and rejection is learned and handled. The home is where relationships are modeled and worked out.  The home must be a safe place for all these things to be nurtured or understood.  All of these facets of human relationships will be learned somewhere—a nurturing Christian home will help all of these develop healthily.  The longer I live, the more I see the value and necessity of a nurturing home.

The keeper at home has a tremendous responsibility to make sure that the home is all of these, that in addition to these or the working out of all of these, makes sense with the home a place of work, creativity, industry, health, basic education and training for the desire for life-long learning.  When the home is seen in proper perspective— in line with the Word of God, it is a dynamic place—a place that’s so full of life that it’s naturally growing and incorporating and encouraging each member, friend, or guest, and the model is Christ-like.  And isn’t that our greatest desire — our whole hope—our whole hearts’ desire: That the Lord is glorified and that we may be like Him?!!?   Then it stands to reason that our homes should reflect that desire—they should radiate that hope or that tone—and should be ever growing in grace as each season passes.

If being a keeper at home has been difficult for you (as it has been for me at different times and in different seasons) then maybe it’s just time to stop and refocus, time to stop and reevaluate where you are, what’s going on and where you’d like to improve.  I do this from time to time so that I can sharpen my focus or get back on track where I’ve derailed.  Only the devil will attempt to convince you that you’ve failed or that you’re not capable of getting it right (bcz you never do) or that it’s too late.  Those are lies.  The truth is that [cp_quote style=”quote_left_dark”]the Lord has created you specifically with all your special skills and abilities, quirks and even your limitations[/cp_quote] the Lord has created you specifically with all your special skills and abilities, quirks and even your limitations — and desires that you use them for His glory, that you cry out to Him to equip you, strengthen you for the task, give you hope, joy, peace and patience for the journey and that He would work in you to be a gracious blessing to your family.  I think that’s why He’s set many of us in our homes where we often feel like we know not what to do—but with God all things are possible.

homeschool conference withdrawal

 [cp_dropcaps]E[/cp_dropcaps]ach April, for the last ten years, a highlight for us has been the annual Christian Heritage Family Discipleship & Homeschooling Conference—this year, particularly so—for so many reasons.

When I awoke this morning, I realized I’d been processing the conference in my dreams all night long.  I wondered how many other’s night’s sleep were filled with screen images, books, papers, faces, admonitions and beautiful music.  Through the day today, I’ve recounted conversations, in addition to important talks given by various teachers, I see and hear, in the theater of my mind, the beautiful performances and music that blessed us all — thousands of voices lifted in praise for what God has done.

But I also pondered, as I went about the dailies this morning, that there are probably countless others who’ve come away from the annual conference feeling overwhelmed and maybe even defeated — defeated in their home, homeschooling, family, marriage or homemaking — before they even put on Monday’s running shoes.  They may have arrived at the conference feeling that way, too.  But at the conference, they were uplifted, encouraged, cheered on!  At the conference, they were inspired to tackle the responsibilities that lay before them, to seize the opportunities set before them, and with gusto and fervent desire, to grasp the gold ring, so to speak.

And today they’re experiencing conference withdrawal.   Our kids talk about this sort of withdrawal when we drive away from an annual Bible conference weekend at the river in eastern Washington or from our annual family reunion gathering—mountaintop experiences that make normal, daily life seem ever so mundane.  And flawed.  I experience it, too.  Even though I predetermine not to.

I didn’t buy a thing at the conference this year — not even the cute commemorative coffee mug.  I didn’t order the whole conference on CD or mp3 (and not bcz it wouldn’t be totally worth buying!).   I didn’t feel compelled for even a moment to look for the key to homeschooling or the latest and best math or writing curriculum.  I didn’t even wonder what I was missing.  For the first time ever at a homeschool conference or convention.

No, I haven’t arrived and no, I don’t feel like I’ve got it. Surely not! I just finally know that I know: there is no key out there.  There is no magic homeschool: bling! you’re done!  There is no one-size-fits-all, success-in-a-box, homeschool  program.  All that, and if I live to be one hundred, I could not fully utilize, read, implement all the stuff I already have.  Seriously.

But there’s withdrawal… even still.  One thing I believe is common to us all is that we’re all seeking to do well, to finish well.

I wish I could convey that to others who are feeling inadequate as they come down from the past weekend.   Especially those who looked around all weekend and saw all the perfect mothers, perfect children, perfect curriculum packages, perfect books and perfect manuals… and are feeling like this mom:

homeschooler cartoon

And what I’d like to say to this mom: take it easy.  Do the next right thing. Stop collecting stuff and start using what you’ve got.  Study the Word to know the Lord.  Read aloud.  Hone in on the basics.  Talk & listen.  Listen and talk.  And take it easy.  Major on the majors and not on the minors.  In the end, it’s really all about God:  loving Him, knowing Him — what He has said, who He is, what He has done and what He will do — trusting Him, following Him, hearing Him, obeying His voice and doing His will.  Stay in the race with your children.

The race is shorter than you think.