Contentment

Our house could really use some work! We need new windows, the trim needs painting, there is a leak in our roof...oh boy! I could go on and I bet you have a list of woes in your home too! As I consider my home I stop myself from just listing the bad and am more inclined to list everything that I am thankful for about it! So here it goes...

⚫Every window is in tact!
⚫The doors open and close!
⚫We all have a bed and our own space for our belongings.
⚫The gas and electricity are on and functional!
⚫I have food to eat.
⚫There are large beautiful trees growing all around our home.
⚫It is cool on a hot day and warm on a long winters night!
⚫We have clean clothes to wear each day.
⚫We have clean bedding with plenty of blankets and pillows.
⚫I can cook in the house or out on the grill.
⚫There is plenty of space to play, work or just relax

I could go on and on just like I could when I was thinking about everything wrong with our home. I had to change my focus and then I started going on a more positive track! I don't know about you but that was much more enjoyable then a list of woes!

As I studied the Word recently in my notes section it said that contentment is not given as a gift from God but rather He teaches contentment as I allow Him to be ruler of my life. Contentment does not just happen it is learned, as I trust His authority and plan for my life I can accept the way I look, the means He has given us to live within, the family I have, the struggles that have happened, the jobs we have, and yes even our living arrangements.

It went on to talk about stagnation - standing still, not flowing, bad smelling and foul from no movement, sluggish.  If there are areas in my life that dissatisfy and within God's leading they can be changed then I should pursue God's leading! I should never act as God's people in the Old Testament who ventured out to the Promised Land which was a journey that should have NOT lasted 40 years! Their complaining kept them from the very blessing that God wanted to give them.  So, take the dissatisfaction to God and see if He challenges me to do something, being content in the meantime as I work toward His goals.  There is a balance between "I have learned to be content" and "I can do all things through Christ" (Philippians 4:11, 13)

I must trust that God has given me everything I need for this moment in time! I need to be content knowing that is the ultimate acceptance of Christ's leading in my life.

Being mom

I have been mothering for almost 21 years and I have to admit, it has not gotten any easier. I still struggle with doubts and wondering if I am doing okay. I can look back at things I have done that may not have been the best mothering choice. For instance the time I told Kelsey I was taking a pencil sharpener to the police to be fingerprinted. She swore up and down that she had nothing to do with the broken crayon in the sharpener that I had told her not to put crayons in. Oh, and she was still the only child....hmmmm! She cried and begged me not to go to the police. Yes, it is pretty funny now but it was very upsetting to her then.

Another moment of brilliance was putting a tv in the girls room. It may work for some families but I just couldn't stand waking up at 5:00 in the morning, or other hours of the night, to the sound of cartoons blaring.

How about getting after a little one that keeps coming in my room during the night because her tummy hurts and then she throws up all over her older sisters stuff.  Really, I thought she was just being a pickle. I didn't know she was really sick! Well, I got to clean puke when I would have rather been sleeping, but that is what moms do.

We nurse until we feel like we are just a giant boob, we help a little girl pee by the side of the road because we forgot to have her go potty before we left, we hurry to the school when our little one (a freshmen in high school) won't come out of the bathroom, and we go without so many things so our kiddos can have their needs and wants met.

I wouldn't' t have it any other way! It is not always easy but being a mom is one of the best things that I have been blessed with. I have learned to relax...a lot! It really will be okay. I have learned that a child's way of cleaning does need coaching and guidance but the job they did is better than it was before they started...usually! They are learning and someday I am sure I will enjoy spending time in their homes that they keep just fine.

Now I rarely ever fold laundry or empty the dishwasher because this is part of the girls daily chores. The clothes are sometimes crumpled or the socks don't match but someday, before I know it, I will be back to doing it all. So, for now I am thankful for the ups and downs and the joys of having four wonderful girls. I pray the girls will give me grace and realize that I did the best that I knew to do.

I may even organize my silverware drawer but for now...I'll take it just like it is!

Fish Hatchery

Today marked another homeschool year coming to an end. The day started foggy and a little cooler than expected for an outdoor field trip to the fish hatchery.  As we walked around the grounds the cool breeze felt so good and the scenery was just beautiful.  The kids got to see the holding tanks for fish eggs, and all of the tanks the fish move through until they are ready to be moved to their new home. It only takes about 2 to 3 weeks and the fish are ready for their big move. We also enjoyed feeding the fish at the holding ponds.







 I think the favorite by far was the tadpole tank. The girls could have spent hours at that one tank. There were tadpoles of every size.  It can take up to 2 years for the metamorphosis to take place. God's creation is just amazing! Two weeks and fish are ready for the big lake but two years and many tadpoles are still growing and changing!











When our time came to an end we made our way over to the Rainbow park for a picnic lunch and some great time playing with friends.  I especially enjoy these times because I get to visit with some wonderful ladies.  Some special friendships have developed and spending time catching up is always uplifting to me.  However, I think sometimes I may talk to much at these gatherings. I guess I am making up for all the time I spend around the kids...all day...every day!

It is hard to believe that we have completed our 6th year of homeschooling. I cannot even begin to share with you the ups and downs in this journey so far but as each day ends I know deep down in my heart that the Lord blesses our persistence and perseverance. The ultimate goal is for our children to grow into young women that love the Lord with all of their hearts, soul, mind and strength. Goals are a vision or plan for the future and there are steps to take to reach those goals.  Just like the fish eggs that start out in a small cylinder move to larger tanks as they grow, so are my daughters starting out in my care with my daily guidance.  Eventually they will move to the outside pond just as the fish do.  The fish that have grown strong will continue in the lake and that is our goal with our daughters in their life pursuits that they will move ahead, standing firm and not falling away from the path.  The steps are important...small steps along their path with their direction coming from our amazing creator, the Lord God Almighty!


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Time

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a time for everything. Obviously I have not made the time for my  blog in the last several months. I could list out probably by week everything that has deserved my time and attention but that could become painful! Let's just say  I am thankful to have this time tonight to sit and reflect on the past few months.

 I had a day recently that I messaged a good friend asking for prayer because my attitude was in the mud! I was trampling dirty tracks all over my home and was ready to start throwing mud balls at anyone who entered my space. I was feeling messy and life was covering me with a stench that was becoming unbearable...even to myself!

This precious friend took time from her busy schedule and had us over for dinner and then just her and I had lunch a few days later. She made the time for me and that helped me to clear away all that mess. There were no profound revelations about what I should do differently or some promise from God that I was missing. She cared for me, listened to me and let me be transparent to the point of washing all those dirty tracks away!

So, next time you want to get or do something for someone remember that the best thing could very well be your time...simple...yes, but so often just not done.

More of God's love

The separation of two people that love each other is a time that is long, dark and lonely.  This is just how it was in the Old Testament.  The Lord desired closeness with those He loved and they continually turned away from Him and created a vast separation.  There became a veil that kept people from the presence of God.  God could not and would not let that separation continue so He provided the way for us to be in His presence. 

The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell us about that way.  The Lord Jesus was born and lived a sinless life on earth and then took ALL sin upon Himself on the cross.  He was crucified as the sacrifice to cover each of us.  Matthew 27:51 says "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split"

Wow!  The veil was torn all the way from the top to the bottom, nothing can no longer separate us from His love! That is super exciting and makes me want to do all I can to be closer to Him and share that love with others who have not heard the good news or maybe they are not experiencing it in their lives. 

Those two separated lovers have a goal to be with each other once again. There also is a goal for God's love...eternity.  He wants to be with us forever! 1 John 4:16 says "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."

Our Motivation of Love

The Bookmobile came to our house today!  We are so lucky as homeschoolers in a very small town to have the Bookmobile come right to our house each month.  I always pick about 30 books for my mother-in-law, who can read a book a day.  I then usually pick a bunch of easy readers and books that will go with up coming holidays or themes that are being studied but today I was drawn to the adult non-fiction section and came across the book: Experiencing God Day by Day - The Devotional by Henry and Richard Blackaby.  I thought that it might be a book I would like to read over the next month.  I put it in the crate of books to be checked out.

This evening I sat down with the book and turned to the devotional designated for January 22nd and I was just blown away.  It is just amazing to me that I have been focusing on love...specifically God's love and the title for today's devotion is "Our Motivation of Love"  Shut up!!!  Are you kidding me...no God would not kid me.  So with that said here is that devotional:

Our Motivation of Love

"O righteous Father!  The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:25-26

You do not "organize" the kingdom of God, you "agonize" the kingdom of God.  You cannot be close to God without being affected by His love.  The heavenly Father loved His Son with an eternal love.  Everything in the heart and life of the Father was released to His Son.  As the Father expressed His love for a broken and sinful world, this passion was manifested through the life of His Son.  The Father initiated His plan to save mankind, and out of a heart of devotion, the Son accepted the assignment that took Him to the cross.

As Jesus walked among people, the Father's love filled His Son.  Jesus recognized that no ordinary love could motivate Him to go to the cross.  No human love could keep Him perfectly obedient to His Father throughout His life.  Only His Father's love was powerful enough to compel Him to commit His life to the saving purpose of His Father.

Jesus prayed that God would place this same love in His disciples.  He knew that no other motivation would be sufficient for the assignments God had for them.  God's answer was to place His Son in them.  It is impossible for a Christian to be filled with this measure of love and not to be on mission with God.

You will be incapable of ministering to everyone God sends you unless you have His love.  You cannot forgive others or go the extra mile with others or sacrifice for others unless you have first been filled with the boundless love of God.  Seek to know the Father and His immeasurable love, then allow His Son to love others through you!


Oh Lord, take me on this journey...you are my motivation of love!

Elements of God's Love

We have all read the famous passage of scripture about love...1 Corinthians 13~ Love is....but there is so much more covered in the scriptures about love.  Some of the elements of God's love that I have come across are:

God's Love is:

• Indestructible~ Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Oh that each of us could just grasp this about God's love for us.  His love IS there and nothing can change that! Of all the circumstances I could go through and endure, even death can not/will not separate me from my Lord!
• Compassionate~ Isaiah 49:15-16 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands..." A mother is so devoted to her little ones and imagine that our Lord is even more devoted to us.  The baby cries and I am quick to care for his needs.  In the same way, my God has provided all that I need!
• Constant~ Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you." I have people in my life who always let me down and make me feel unloved but God's love is everlasting and He draws me to Himself.  After I have been so disappointed I sit quietly and ask my Father to wrap His arms around me and just come over me and be near me.  I am never disappointed...He is happy that I have asked for His closeness and I always feel Him!

 With that and the weekend that I just had...I will gladly go and sit quietly in the presence of my Lord.  I need His love for I know that it is indestructible, compassionate and constant!