Foundations

Last week, President Obama made a startling announcement.  He has formally announced that our country no longer believes in right and wrong, but only in social trends at the whim of the people.  The United States has been heading down this road for many years, but to hear it come directly from the President is most unsettling.  The issue here is not truly gay marriage, but truth.  There are two truths which we must uphold for this issue.  First, homosexuality is sin.  It is defined as such by God Almighty in the Bible.  Of course, like all sin, we are called to love others into repentance, not force with hate and oppression.  But sin is still sin.  Secondly, according to our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and numerous other sources, the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation.  While we do not persecute people of other faiths, we do hold fast to our Christian principles.  This should be evident in our laws, policies, and the kind of officials we allow to lead us. 

                Why is it so important that we speak out and stand firm on scripture?  Because we must stand on something – or we will crumble.  By turning our backs on our Biblical heritage, we are eroding the foundation of our country.  The tossing sea of popular opinion is hardly stable enough to survive upon, much less to build a mighty nation on.  We will sink into our own uncertainty if we do not stand on the Truth of the Almighty.  Our Founding Fathers understood that the Bible was this Truth.  George Washington said “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”  Andrew Jackson said “The Bible is the rock on which this Republic rests.” 

                So the question becomes, what will you do?  Will you speak out and stand firm?  Will you show that you have a strong foundation?  Or will you continue to ride the sea of uncertainty until our nation crumbles and is no more?

Faith in Limboland

The second half of this year's CBS study we have been working through the book of Hebrews.  Wow!  It is amazing to me how much God uses His Word to talk to us where we are at the moment.  The last few weeks we have been looking at the eleventh chapter - the "Hall of Faith".  We have talked a lot about faith and perseverance.  This is something I need right now.

We seem to be stuck in Limboland.  We thought we would have been moved long ago, certainly by now, but we haven't even put our house on the market!  In fact, we aren't even sure where we are going.  All this with no more job here (construction project, not actual paycheck).  One job near for a few more months, but what next?  We thought we were going on to another job, but that job keeps getting pushed back.  This is truly one of those moments when we must put our hands in His and let Him lead us through the dark.

This, for two type A personalities who need a plan for everything, has been trying to say the least.  But through these lessons in faith and lots of prayer, I am at a point where I can honestly say "I'm good with it!"  We are learning patience and contentment.  You would think these lessons would lend themselves to every aspect of life, but, no, it seems that I must learn them individually for each part of my life.

While I was "finished" being stressed about our life in Limboland, I decided to be stressed about school instead.  I am a total control freak.  I have gotten into a huge rut of doing things like I did when I taught in public schools.  This totally doesn't work for homeschooling!  The trouble is, over and over again, I have had to learn this lesson.  I don't know that I would say we are called to totally "unschool", but certainly we are called to RELAX!  Learning happens so much better when we are relaxed.  I am learning that this is also a matter of faith.  When God says to me, again and again, "Don't you trust Me?" and I find that He is even talking about my children's education, well, that is faith stretching.  There are so many "what ifs?" that go through my head.  But all He says is "Don't you trust Me?"  So, the faith lessons continue - stretching into new areas of life all the time.

God calls us the trust Him in all areas of our lives.  If He calls us to do something - He will make us able through Him.  He never calls people to do things and then leaves them on their own.  Think of all the ways He helped Moses.  Think of the man of faith He became.  But did He start that way?  No!  He had so many doubts in his own abilities that he actually argued with the God of the universe at a burning bush!  Oh, how I argue.  But faith is there, stretching, growing, holding me tight to Him.

So, trust, stretch, grow - faith in action every day!

Crushed, but not broken

Anyone who really knows me (the few there are), knows that I love children's literature. One thing I love about really good, usually older, children's books is the parallels that God reveals about Himself to me through these timeless treasures. The more I study God's Word and commmune with His heart, the more I see these. Here is my most recent discovery:

The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams is a great example. Hebrews 5:8 says "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." As I pondered this truth, and the truth that our own suffering is for our good and His glory, I was a little confused. Why do we have to suffer and what does that really mean? Then I read this book, and the Spirit spoke clarification to my heart.

In this book, a young boy receives a stuffed rabbit for Christmas. The rabbit is beautiful and nice, however, not played with at first. Then, as the boy loves the rabbit, it becomes shabby and suffers because of its misshapen body and loss of "fur". The more the boy loves the rabbit, the more it becomes "real", but the more it seems to suffer physically - no more whiskers, pink lining turned gray, the nose kissed off. But, through all this, it becomes "real".

How that is like us! Jesus loves us so much that He loves all those fake things off of us, even when it hurts, so that in the end, we can be real and with Him.

Blessings

I feel sorry for people who don't have children. Not so much people who can't have children, but people who purposely choose not to have children. Why? Because there are so many aspects of God's character that I understand only because I am a parent. So, here is something I am learning, because I understand something of being a parent.

Our children remain safe in our homes simply because they believe we love them and are there for them. We long to bless them with good things, we long to give them more than they ever dream of, better than they can think of, we love our children, truly and earnestly, with everything we are. They cannot fathom it. They cannot understand this truth, because it is bigger than they can understand. We long to bless them, but we cannot when they are in constant rebellion. We long to give them good things, but we are prevented from doing so because of constant disobedience. We cannot give them these good things, because we are constantly cleaning up the messes of their mistakes and blunders. Oh, sometimes we are able to bless them in small ways, but never really the way we want to. It isn't in their best interests when they have not learned to fully obey. It isn't what is good for them. And what happens when we are able to bless them in small ways? They get comfortable in the blessing and then rebel again, rather than being grateful and respectful and loving in return. They are still safe in our house, belonging to us, but not fully blessed in all the ways they could be.

Now, change every "we" to "God" and every "they" to "us". As God's children, we are saved simply because we believe in Jesus. However, to be in a place of blessing, we must be obedient. That isn't very popular in our culture. We talk all about a loving and merciful God. About being saved by grace through faith. All of which is totally true and of utmost importance. But also important is obedience. Obedience. How can we obey what we do not know? And so, another importance, prayerfully studying God's Word - it is our daily bread. We cannot obey in our own power, only in our surrender to the Spirit in our lives, working through His Word and in our hearts.

Our relationship with God is the most important one we will ever have. To put other relationships and activities to build these relationships first in our lives is idolatry, plain and simple. Will we first be His? Will we first be with Him? Will we first obey Him? Believing is essential. But it is only the first step of abundant life.

Roller Coaster

I haven't blogged in a while because I have been on my usual roller coaster ride. I'm not talking about life being crazy hectic, although it is, I'm talking about the spiritual roller coaster. Some days, I feel God's presence in an awesome way. Other days, I feel like I am wandering around in the dark. I was praying about it this week and it hit me - I am always focusing on my position and that is where my problem lies.

Last week we were looking at Deuteronomy 12,13, and 26 in our CBS class. One of the main themes of these chapters is worship. We talked a lot about how to worship - not just on Sunday mornings, but with our lives. I love it when God uses His Word to speak to us! It hit me, I was (and am, as I struggle) pridefully focusing on me and what I need to do to get close to God when all I need to do is focus on God and then I am close to Him. So when I start focusing on me and where I am and what I am doing, I am starting to fill that with praise songs and prayer about God (instead of about me) rather than all my thoughts about me.

Tired

Wow! I have nothing profound to say or even think. I remember why we do school year around - so we can take frequent breaks. Every other school year I have just tried to average 15 days a month and been content. But last year, I worked hard in the fall, expecting to move near the end of the school year. Of course, that didn't happen. So we ended up taking a longer than usual summer break (sort of) and started our school year with August 1. We have been going full tilt since then. Obviously, that is more than 15 school days in August - actually, it is 23 days. Why am I pushing? Once again, a move at some point in this school year is hanging over us. I think I am going nuts. We are going to have to do shorter periods of intensity. No one seems to be able to handle this! Next week - a shortened week. Then - a whole week off!

The Sweet Walk to School

This week we are having VBS at our home (we don't have a church building). People keep asking me how I am handling the stress and I have to admit, I'm not the slightest bit stressed about it. Oh, I was, earlier in the summer, about a few things. But now, nope, not a bit. God gave me a great picture as to why that is, and I want to share it.

In the first half of the last century and previous to that time, when a boy "liked" a girl, he would meet her at her house in the morning and carry her books to school for her. That is what Jesus does for us every day. He meets us at the doorway of our awakening and willingly takes all our "books" and carries them for us. We know He is going the right way, so we just gaze lovingly at Him and listen and walk along with Him. He is carrying our "books", so it is no big deal for us. He is leading the way, so we don't have to pay attention to anything but Him. We just have to choose to give Him our "books" and walk to school with Him.

I know that is a simplified version of life, but it is only when we stop doing it each and every morning that things get stressful. Think of the trials that Peter, Paul, and many others have been through, yet with Joy and Peace, because their gaze never left their Beloved.