Here are some lessons that I've learned in the writing of Sufficient Grace for Home-school Moms, I have a long ways to go on these but this is what God is teaching me:Plan flexibility into your school year
Be flexible with the curriculum--it's there to serve you...don't be a slave to it.
Be flexible with the schedule
Pray!
Pray your children's salvation
Pray about character issues
Pray for wisdom
Work on spiritual/character issues first, academics second
Cut off contention before it gets a good start.
Teach your kids by example to give glory to God and deflect it from themselves.
Be quick to confess your sins
Strive for patience and calmness in teaching
Take time out when starting to feel frustrated with your children. When calm come back and deal with the situation.
Spend time studying the Bible. Send you roots down deep so the tough times don't topple you over spiritually.
Do what you can no matter how small. Every little bit counts.
Schedule "Mom time"
Evaluate your priorities & revise if needed
Live with your eye on the goal--the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
Don't look around at your circumstances & allow them to distract you with fear
Don't compare your homeschool or your life with anyone else--it will only make you focus on your shortcomings or envy others and cause you to dispair
Watch your tongue--your family and others are listening and learning habits from you.
Keep your focus on Jesus
Remember the blessings of motherhood
Remember that the difficulties of raising, training and teaching your children may come with the reward of children who later bless you.
Look for the good things in your circumstances
Remember God will never leave you or forsake you
Cling to God in the storms of life
Be assured God has a good purpose for what He is allowing
Don't dwell on how big the task is--break it down into baby steps
Take one day at a time
Persevere through the tough times
God is accomplishing His good purposes
Thank God for the difficulties because they give you the opportunity to grow the fruit of the Spirit.
Exercise your faith even when God seems distant and silent
Take measures to manage stress in your life
Do not fret or become anxious over the stress--this only adds more stress
Let the difficulties drive you to God and His Word
Don't strain against the wind of adversity
Turn toward the wind of adversity and let it propel you forward toward Christ
Take time to relax
Depend on God and His grace
Remember that God is already in the future--He goes before you and has a good purpose for all that He allows.
Let the chaos that goes with home-schooling & raising a family remind you that God makes order out of what seems chaotic to us
Rejoice and look forward to the day when God will make all things perfect
Listen to uplifting music
Run your own race--not someone else's
Do what God has shown you to do
Don't try to live up to other's expectations
Say no if it isn't in keeping with the path God has put you on
Know your limits and live within them
See Christ in your circumstances instead of your circumstances
Don't push your kids so you can be proud & brag about what you have accomplished with them
Don't get so busy you neglect time with God
Be careful of complaining
When God sends a trial your way check to be sure it's not for correction due to some neglected area of your life.
Adjust your perception of success to match God's--truth, do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God, keep God's word, don't deny His name, keep God's commands, persevere
Seek to do all to the glory of God
See complaining as disbelief
Give thanks in all circumstances
Find the positive in your circumstances and give thanks for it.
Ask God's guidance in what you should do each day
Realize you are not invincible--pace yourself
Write stuff down
Temper your temper
De-clutter your life
Get adequate rest, nourishment and water
Remember you are not alone
Be still before God
Find hidden blessings in the trash and other unpleasant tasks of your day
Set fewer goals
Work for 15 minutes then rest if you need too
Play praise music to help your frame of mind
Be responsible and teach your kids to be too
Work on organization
Be diligent--don't get sidetracked if possible
Watch for discontentment
Discipline your children consistently
Never take for granted what God has provided
4 comments:
While not a homeschool mom, I did find value in many of these lessons. In particular, "Exercise your faith even when God seems distant and silent". I struggle here. When I do not sense God's presence, I tend to look around for other inappropriate amusements, so this adage is good counsel for me.
There are times when I liken the Christian life to walking through a very long dark tunnel. You can't see the light at either end and you can't see God. He seems distant and silent. Yet, He is there. His light shines all around outside of the tunnel. He is there in the tunnel with me, but I can't see Him. Even when I read His Word, sometimes it rings hollow. But these are the times when we need to persevere in our faith even when we don't feel like it. I have found that when I do this eventually, I see the light at the end of the tunnel I realize that God was there with me all along and it was a test of my faith. So persevere in your faith! You will be rewarded with the light of His presence eventually. Like the old message you sometimes get on the TV..."This is a test. This is only a test..." The only thing is God doesn't announce that He is doing a test. (smile)
You recommend "praise" music. Many seem to reject contemporary Christian music, as if it is not acceptable to God. I find many "up tempo", more modern songs uplifting. Not all, but many. What are your thoughts. Are some drums okay?
I had written a rather lengthy comment but hit the wrong button and lost it all. So I will attempt to write a shorter one hitting on the points in my lost one.
1. In my own experience, in the churches I have been a member of, when the praise music, worship teams & bands came in, the sermons were shortened, became watered down and doctrine was no longer that important. Only my experience...not saying it happens in all cases.
2. Drums are rarely used with good taste in worship services. They almost always overpower the music, do not bring glory to God but rather to the ability of the drummer to make a lot of noise.
3. Most churches say if God has not forbidden it, then it's ok to do it in the worship service. Therefore you end up with all kinds of crazy things in the worship service...I've even seen dance and gymnastics done in the church worship service in the name of worship! Contrast this to the church I attend where they say if God has not commanded it to be done in the worship of the church then we will not do it in our worship service.
4. In my personal life I enjoy upbeat and sometimes rowdy Christian music to pep me up and get me moving for the tasks at hand of cleaning house or paying bills or whatever I need to do. The problem I have with this kind of music in the church worship service is that it leaves me ready to get up and clean house not settle down and quiet my heart before God to listen to a sermon and hear what He wants me to hear that day. I want church music to prepare my heart for worship and hearing what God wants me to hear.
Post a Comment