Grace for the Moment....

As I drove off from the local Hardee's, My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Let me back up and tell you why....

We were rushing out the door for church and I had not gone to the grocery store so we were out of everything food wise. I needed to do a quick run through a drive thru. Which never happens before church because I hate drive thru breakfast. I am not a fan of fast food period and I won't get on my soap box about how unhealthy it is to eat fast food, so I will leave that there. Nonetheless, we went to Hardee's for breakfast....when I got to the window to pay, my daughter said, "Mom, tell her Jesus loves her."

 

And I froze!!

 

Why? I don't know. I have prayed with people a good bit during my walk with Christ but I am different today. I have come into an understanding that I had not known before. I tasted of the Lord's love but I am learning to walk more in his love than I ever have in times past. I am realizing that HE didn't save me just because I was lost and that reason only. But that I would show HIS great love for a hurting world to those that are hurting. Perhaps my daughter saw that she needed to know that or she believed that everyone we encounter needs to encounter HIM.

 

 

In that moment, I just wanted to get to church "the safe zone for ministry" right? LOL!!

Not so!!

We are supposed to BE that Jesus encounter to those that need to know HIM.

Everywhere We Go!

 

I missed it today...."In everything set them an example of good" Titus 2:7

My daughter needed to see it lived out....and I missed it.

 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone that believes" Romans 1:16

Where have I been....

2015 seemed to be one of the hardest years thus far for me but it ended with an amazing gift from God. My sweet Alyssa Jade was born December 4th.

She is now almost 3months. So life got a little crazy for our family. Homeschooling has been a little crazy as well but we are getting to what we can. We actually took the month of December off so I could get adjusted. It took a little longer for me to recover this time around than with my other children.

 

The children are absolute in love with their baby sister. She was a gift for us all.

Motherhood is one of the greatest gifts from the Father and I am so thankful.

Grace for the Moment....

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord," plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." You will call to me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord."       Jeremiah 29:11-14


I can't begin to tell you where I have been emotionally these past few months but this verse dropped into my heart this morning just before waking to get ready for church....

and it blessed my heart greatly!


Oh, how the Father knows exactly where we are and what we need.


I pray that this falls freshly on pliable hearts this evening as we all, mommies especially, journey toward this goal of fixing our hearts and minds on Jesus :)


Many Blessings,


Along THE Way



Fix your eyes on Him....

As I lay in bed that warm Saturday morning tired from being up with a feverish 4 year old, I am reminded of my dream. In the dream a group of young girls and older ladies gathered in a circle with me to pray and one of the ladies looked at me and said, "You begin the prayer." I looked at her with the look I often give in the natural of ......noooo,you pray. So I raised my head and said, " Oh, Lord you know how I feel about prayer like this (in a group setting), so please give me the words to say. Help me!" Then I began to pray and declare...Fix your eyes on Jesus, no matter the trial or circumstance, no matter the heart ache or test, no matter the blessings or joys....Fix your eyes on Him day after day after blessed and gifted day :)

And there it was....He had given me what I asked for; a verse to cling to

throughout this school year.

Hebrews 3:1 

This is just what I needed.

So it is....we began our school year slowly but with a focus on what it is that God wants to accomplish each day through us. I planned through the summer to drastically change our curriculum but through much prayer decided not to. I had been reading up on another curriculum that sounded so great and works very well for others. The reviews were amazing.

But it was not for us....
 

I did make a few changes that I felt was right on time. So, we are continuing with the Abeka book curriculum with all four children. I chose Easy Grammar and Easy writing with writing strands 2 and 4 for my older two. I am also creating a reading list of read alouds to do through out the school year. My girls will be joining the local American Heritage Girls troop and my boys will continue in Royal rangers. Both girls will also do the Swim and Gym at the YMCA.


Prayer, prayer and more prayer is what I intend to bathe this school year in....


How did your school year start off?
Let me encourage you along the path of prayer. We, as mothers first, then teachers will need it throughout this year.



Much needed.....

After having such a busy and jam packed summer; when it was time for school to start I was drained. Desperate for a much needed dose of strength straight from the throne room of God.

 

 

 

Anyone else out there ever experience anything like this?

If so, how did you overcome it?


In His Grace,
Along the way

Only by His Grace...

As I drove away slowly from the church, watching my twelve year old walk in; I think how he has grown up.  One more glance toward the door and I can see him waving the I Love You sign. Something we often do when i drop them off. He was on his way to the Pinewood Derby. He really takes great joy in building his car but spending time with the other boys and there dad's, building relationships; is what this mama treasures. Does he? There is so much I want to give him as he grows. The desire to love others and putting his whole heart into the things he do; are things that rank pretty high on my list. A genuine desire to draw younger boys under his wing and encourage them seem to come so naturally to him.

"But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her

 heart and meditating on them." Luke 2:19 

Thinking on the things God has given me over the years about him and watching God perform those very things in him; is astounding. The role of motherhood is to be treasured and honored. Though disciplining is necessary; God truly performs the work. He does the growing. He is the One in control.
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act....." Psalm 37:5 
I think so much of the time how we, as mothers, get to be there and witness the miracle of God's word in action. And I am so thankful.
As homeschool moms, we can get so caught up in the things that need to be done each day and forget that we are mothers first and that we must allow love to grace our actions and words. It is only by HIS grace that we complete the task well.

I challenge you to slow down this last half of your school year (for those of you that take a summer break) and perhaps regroup; and meditate on this miraculous work of the our Father.

Many Blessings,

Along THE Way



"But by God's grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective." 
1 Corinthians 15:10a

Winding down for the holidays....

We hit the ground running with school early August with many hopes that when we arrived at this point in the year; we could just relax and enjoy the season. Turns out that we needed the cushion because everyone was going to be sick. Worked out anyway right.Ha! I could use a laugh right about now.

Something I'm learning this school year is to 

place my trust in God and remember that He is God alone. 

No matter what it looks like, God is still God!!! And He is so good. He knows exactly where we are and where we are going.

A little side note for me: God will get me there :) 

I don't have to worry about it. Which is something for me because I like to fit all the pieces together or at least see them coming together before I leap. 

We decided not to do extra-curricular activities aside from swim and gym for Indya; and Isaiah will do basketball in the winter. We will begin both in January. I think we will re-evaluate this decision for next year. We are still using all Abeka book curriculum with Easy Grammer to help when needed. The reading program has done it again for me. My sweet 6 year old is reading amazingly well. I have used it with three of my children now and it has been great. They all have different learning styles.This curriculum has worked so well for us. I keep thinking....I should at least look around but I always fall back to this one. It's just plain good for us ;) I will be sending in grades for the mid-term and putting away the books. Ahhh...this is just awesome.

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good." Titus 2:7