Change is Comin'

Happy New Year! So many people take the beginning of the year to make changes in their lives, I guess it's a good time to start something new--at the beginning. I've never been one for making resolutions, perhaps it's my inability to focus on anything for too long, honestly, I usually just forget! And most resolutions are things we don't want to do anyway, so why do it!

This year though, we're not making any resolutions per say, but we are making some changes. My family is venturing out on a new adventure. Actually, we're not totally new to this adventure but the way we are going about it is new. We are planting a new church. We are going to host a video church. If you are not familiar with a video church, you may be thinking that we are a little crazy! Honestly, we can tell that many of our friends and those we are leaving behind at the church we have been attending for the past 3 years, think we have lost our minds! Maybe we have, but we truly feel that God is calling us to do this, NOW! The cool thing about a video church is that so many people can benefit from an incredible speaker that is hundreds of miles away. It is so much more than a bunch of people watching TV together! We will totally be able to care and love for the people that come, we are praying hard for people to come and meet Jesus--that's the ultimate goal!

We start this Sunday! Crazy I know! We are both freaked out and incredibly excited about this! So we are praying for people, please pray with us that God would bring us people--people who have a love and passion to reach other people, and people who need to meet Jesus!

I'll keep you posted as see what God has for us on this adventure! Can't wait to see where God takes us!!! Hold on!!!

What if...

We never went through the dreaded "why" phase with our children when they were little, however, we had one that incessantly asked "what if...?" That was about as bad as "why", because he would set up scenarios that we would have to think through to figure out an answer. In the end, we started asking him "what if?" to make him think about how that situation would turn out, it did curtail some of the questions.

But how often do we truly ask what if? What if we go in this direction? What if we stay where we are? What if we choose this? What if we choose that? There are so many what if's in life, it can be a bit unsettling if you look at them all at once.

Let me throw this out into the world of what if's...What if we truly trusted God and did what He told us to do? What if we just obeyed, instead of, wanting all the answers right now before we get out of the boat? What if Christians dared to get out there and reach people?

What if...?

Road Trip

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to enjoy a week-end away. We had such a wonderful time spending time together and going on an adventure. One thing that we did this past week-end that we've never done before was to use a GPS. I know it sounds crazy in today's world that we have never used one, but I actually prefer a map that I can see the whole picture and know where we are going. The more we used it we realized why people like them, it can get you back on the right road if you make a wrong turn, it tells you how fast you are going or how fast you should be going, it tells you of areas ahead that might be area of slow down due to construction or other traffic tie ups.

It made me think about Who our real GPS is. I am reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. We are not shown the whole "map", just the turn or step we are to take next and usually that information is not given until it is time to turn. And then, there are those times when we need to be "re-directed" because we have made a wrong turn knowingly or not.

One thing that is different is the fact that you program the GPS to where you want to go, but God has the plan and everything is already programmed, He knows where you are going. It's up to us to follow when He tells us to turn and to turn the right way. It's always interesting to me how He gives you just enough information to make the next step. I'm glad that we can't always see everything that is ahead, there are times that I think we would be overwhelmed.

So what's you next step or turn, have you been given the signal to make a move? Are you hearing the voice telling you which way to go?

Discontentment vs Uncomfortable

Is there a difference? Really? How do you go about separating them and then discerning which is which? We are told by Paul in Philippians to be content (Phil. 4:11), but what about being comfortable? I think you can be content while being uncomfortable.

So here's my two cents on the difference--I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this one. To me, being content has to do with a mind set--always wanting more whether it is stuff or otherwise; while I believe God can make you uncomfortable. In some ways, I think God brings us to the place where we are so uncomfortable that we have no choice but to move where He wants us. A lot of the time, it does have to do with getting out of the boat to where He is and move closer to Him. Unfortunately, for me, I tend to be a slow learner in those areas...

It's never fun to be pushed and confined, and sometimes I don't realize it until I'm squeezed so tight that I can not even move any more. So in the end, does being uncomfortable actually make it easier to make the move and be obedient? Perhaps it does. I'm thinking it's time to move, not exactly clear yet on which way to go, but I definitely see my options!

Do you have thoughts on the differences between being content and comfortable? Would love to hear them!

Remembering a Fallen Hero

I did something today that I've never done before. I went to the viewing of a fallen soldier. I didn't know him well, I remember him when he was much younger, but I do know his parents. He was killed last week in Afghanistan. It's been amazing to see the reports on the news and read about it in the paper, the comments on the obituary page have to be so encouraging for his parents. They held the viewing today and the funeral tomorrow at a large church close by, we went early and had to wait more than a half hour to speak with his parents! His parents seem to be doing great! We were told that they were comforting others at church yesterday, at the loss of their only child! That's God's peace! They said they know where he is and that's what they are focusing on. Praying that some will come to know Jesus through his death!

You can't help but think about all of those who have given their lives for our freedom, freedom that we take for granted. How often do we even think about our freedom, of course, that is until we think our freedom has been violated! It also takes me to thoughts of how God gave His only Son so that we might live and have freedom from the penalty of our sins! Another "freedom" that many times I take too much for granted as well.

The next time I hear of a fallen soldier, I will make sure that I listen to their story, remembering that they made a difference, not just in the war but in life as well. They were someone's child, grandchild, sibling, and best friend, so much more than just a military picture on the screen. May we never forget!

Back to School

Well, we are starting back to school tomorrow. It's about a week after most of the government schools, and that's because we can! Looking at the coming year is always a bit overwhelming, but it's always good. I love figuring out what we will study. This year will be very different for me--three of my children will be 95% self-sufficant--I will hand them a schedule and they are off on their own.

My homeschooling journey has very much changed over the years--we've gone from complete hands-on on my part to almost entirely hands-off! Crazy thought for me! I know this is part of the plan, raising young people that can function without me holding their hands, knowing how to discern what they are learning, and overall just knowing how to think! I pray that I have made wise choices and have done my best in those areas.

So off we go into our 8th year at home! I know God will continue to lead us down this path and He knows where we are going...

Encouraging One Another

If you know anything about me, you know that I am passionate about homeschooling! Committed to it and would love to see others commit as well. But how did I go about that? I spent the evening with a couple of friends and we chatted about that. I posed the question "Do you think there is a need for us to get a group of homeschool moms together to encourage one another?" They were both very much in agreement that that would be a good thing. So, where do I being...What is the one thing that homeschool moms need most? What types of questions do they have? In what ways are they overwhelmed, especially if they are new to the world of homeschooling (I call such people "homeschool virgins")?

I am hoping to get a group of moms together soon to encourage one another and truly to come along side each other and let them know that they are not alone in this. What types of questions or thoughts do you have that you would like answered or talked about in such a group?

Kids and a Video Camera

So this is what happens when you leave cousins alone with a video camera and Veggie Tales! This is their salute to Veggie Tales Do the Moo Shoo. Enjoy!

Quote for the Day

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Let's Be Friends

Ahhh, friendships! Do you ever stop to think about how many different "types" of friendships there are? Of course, there are the casual acquaintances that you politely nod your head to and smile at at church. Then there are the "duty" friends that you really know nothing about but because of responsibilities or other commitments (yours or your husbands), you make small talk about the weather and such because honestly, you really have nothing to talk about with them. There are also the "needy" friends that at times can suck the life out of you if you're not careful. We all have good friends that we share most of what's going on in our lives but even then we are still guarded to some extent. Some of us have "crisis" friends that we love dearly, but don't always hear from unless there is a crisis, however, we gladly run to their side because we know that they trust us and need us to hold them up. The accountability friends are very important, you choose these friends wisely, because you want to know that you can trust them with your "stuff". And what about the "lifers"? These are the friends, few they may be, that will be our friends forever because, frankly, they just know way too much about us!

I was chatting with a "newer" friend today and we were discussing friendships. We were discussing difficult aspects of friendships, like when we, ourselves, get in the way and perhaps our selfish side takes over. Or when we way over think a situation or conversation and get all worked up over something that is only in our head! I'm really creative so I do this really well! As I was thinking about our talk, I began to think more about friendships in general and how God has used them in my life.

There are different seasons to friendships. Was there ever a time that God has brought someone into you life that you knew would be a dear friend and wondered why? I know that's a strange question, but it's happened to me! I remember meeting someone and as we talked, I knew that we were going to have a good friendship and wondering why I was going to "need" this friend. Only in time did I realize why she had been brought into my life at that particular moment. Today we are still friends but only talk or e-mail only occasionally, but for that season of life we needed each other.

What happens when you are feeling God leading you to sever a relationship? That's a tough one. Many times, basic circumstances in life cause relationships to end, or at least take a huge step back from what they once were. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. I think many times God uses us and others in different ways to teach things that we could only learn from that person at that time. If we do not move on, we may never know who else He has for us to learn from or teach.

God made us to be relational, and friendships are a gift from Him!


I do realize that you are trying to figure out which type of friend you are...

A Quote

If you can fully explain what is going on in your church, then God is not working in your church.

--Perry Noble, Perry Noble Leadership Podcast, Desperation = Inspiration

Quote for the Day

The most dangerous ideas in a society are not the ones being argued, but the ones that are assumed.

--C. S. Lewis

Are You a Chia Pet?

I love when things hit me and I don't see them coming. I'm talking about things God shows me. I just finished listening to a sermon in which we were presented with a choice, Would you rather be a chia pet or a guitar? The point being until we are fully surrendered to Holy God we are as useless as a chia pet. On the other hand, when we completely surrender to God, we become a guitar that He can use to make beautiful music. Why is it that we are so afraid to allow God to freely and totally use us as He sees fit? After all, we are made in His image, He created us because He wanted us and loves us, more than we can imagine--remember He sent Jesus! Oh, how we could turn this world upside down for the sake for Christ if we were totally sold out and surrendered to Almighty God! Lord, may we be BOLD in your name!

** Sermon by Perry Noble, Newspring Church, Identity Theft Series, Chia Pet

An Eye-Opening Lesson From History

So here is a short history quiz for you. What time and place in history do the following statements take place? I'll even make it multiple choice...

Use these choices for all of the questions:

A - America during the 1950's
B - Ancient Greece, during the later stages of its decline
C - America today

* People, especially the educated ones, have rejected traditional religion
* Cults from the East have been accepted
* Astrology is practiced
* Patriotism has declined
* Men practice manners which have previously been considered effeminate
* The upper class is consumed with the pursuit of pleasure
* Education stresses knowledge more than character, and produces masses of half-educated people
* Public athletic games have turned into professional contests
* Homosexuality is popular
* Men who want to watch dances by unclad women do not have to go far to find them
* The dramas of the day are full of seduction and adultery
* A women's liberation movement has brought women into active roles in a previously male-oriented culture
* Motherhood us devalued, and the bearing of children is viewed as an inconvenience
* Abortion is commonly practiced, as well as infanticide

So, how'd you do? Well, if you answered B or C, either one will do, to any of the questions, then you were right! Little scary, huh? We can learn a lot from history,but how many people actually take the time to investigate it?

I found this quiz in a book that the boys and I are doing in school this year, Assumptions That Affect Our Lives by Dr. Christian Overman. This is chapter 1!!! Can't wait to dig deeper in this book! We were looking at how our culture has been affected by primarily both the ancient Greeks and ancient Hebrews. We are at this point in our country leaning more toward the Greek influence, and we see where that got them...

Just wanted to share what we were learning and hopefully, inspire you to look at our current culture differently and stand counter to it!

Bailey

So this is Bailey. She has lived with us for a few months now and as you can see she is quite comfortable here. She believes she is royalty and expects those around her to treat her that way. We are slowly breaking her of some of this attitude however, she does try... She loves to lay in the sun and as the days get warmer she is enjoying being outside more and more. She is adjusting to her new life and home quite well as so are we.