The Coming Storm

We are all anticipating the eminent snow storm today but, are you prepared for whatever storm the Lord brings into your life? Are you in a storm right now? Even as Christians, our Father has given us a standing storm warning. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Yesterday, I made the mistake of bringing up the possibility of loosing power in a conversation with my husband while my kids were in the room. All day long, they were scurrying about finding the flashlights, checking their batteries, finding lots of blankets and making a sleeping plan. In their minds, they were doing their best to prepare for the coming storm. They didn't know if we would loose power but they were preparing just in case. What are we doing to prepare for the storms God places in our lives? You know, the more prepared we are, the better we will handle them. My children were preparing themselves with the appropriate "tools" for the snow storm. In order to properly prepare ourselves for the spiritual storms, we should prepare our souls with the Armour of God. Dig into His Word; bath in His promises and of course, continual prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually, Finally, don't forget to "give thanks in all circumstances". 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. During the trials we face, we may experience fear, anxiety, and low visibility but, we can be sure that He is still there for us. He has proved that to us over and over again in His Word. He hasn't broken a promise yet and I am confident He won't start now. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Are you ready for the storm? Are you ready for what He wants to teach you through this storm?

Why Should I Worry?

Good Morning! I know I have been quiet for a while. Let me share what has been going on with me. Have you ever had one of those "scares" in life? It may be with one of your children, your husband, a parent or yourself. I personally feel I have had too many of them in the past year but, the Lord always teaches me something I need to learn through them so I will trust Him. Don't get me wrong, when I say "I will trust Him", it has not come as easily as just saying it. I have had to learn the hard way. The past couple of weeks I have not felt very well. This has been a different kind of not feeling well. Something I have not been able to put my hands on. To be honest, I believe I have made myself sick with worry. Have you ever done that? I haven't done this for a long time but now the tell tale signs are becoming familiar again. I know that whatever my body is fighting right now, I have magnified it by my worry about it. As a Christian, the Lord warns us against this many times in His Word. So, I started taking more of my spiritual medication and found relief through it: Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ... The whole chapter of Matthew 6 has so many truths to glean from. These words really helped me realize my worry was futile. After all, He is in control of my whole life no matter what. I can worry or I can trust Him and pray. But, how do I pray when something really worries me? Look earlier in the chapter. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. First, I should give praise to Him! It doesn't say this should be conditional. Next, I should be praying for HIS will, NOT MINE. He has the best plan for me in mind. Every time I go with my plan, I fall short. We know this through Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I know we normally think of this verse for sinners that don't know Him but, I am still a sinner. I am just a forgiven sinner. I still fall short on occasion because I am human. Only after our praise and adoration; only after asking for His will to be done in our lives; we can ask Him for our needs. We ask Him for strength for whatever He brings our way. We ask Him for forgiveness. We ask Him to deliver us. Deliver us from temptation, from worry, from Satan's ways. We may not be delivered from our physical ailment, from financial problems, or from relational problems. Why should we trust Him? 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Our Father didn't promise us that everything would be perfect in our lives. He actually warned us that we would face trials and hardship. It is how we handle them that is the true test of our faith. Will you trust Him?

This morning, my three year old woke me up before my 5:00 alarm went off. He has an old notebook computer of ours that no longer works and so this is "his" computer. That is what he was crying for. His computer. I told him "no" which made his whole world fall apart. He cried, he yelled, and he woke up his brother. But, I stuck to my guns. He did not need his computer to sleep with. It was not the best things for him. I knew that, but he didn't care nor understand this. I fought the battle of the wills with him for over an hour. But, his little body could fight exhaustion no longer, and he finally went back to sleep. There was a point that I really wanted to give in just so that I could get on with my morning. But, I knew that I had to win and not give in. As ridiculous as I thought this argument was, I realized that I am the exact same way sometimes with the Lord. I really want something that I think I need or want and am determined to get it. I fight too. But, the Father knows what is best for me and won't let me have it. On occasion, I may surrender to His will but not always very willingly. Sometimes I am stubborn and immature like a toddler. I cry, I whine, I pout. I often think, "Why can't He see it from my point of view?" Because, He sees it from His vantage point and it is better than mine. Isaiah 55:8-9 (New International Version) 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. He has a plan for us: Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. He protects us: Psalm 84:11 New International Version For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. I was patient with my little one, after all, it was first thing Monday morning.;) But, I as I was tempted to loose my patience, I kept thinking of how the Lord is patient with me over and over again. Not just for an hour. Sometimes I throw my fit for days. Next time we are tempted to act like a three year old, let's step back from what we are holding tightly to and take time to listen to our Father. Ask Him what is best for us and TRUST HIM. After all, the Father really does know best!

Giveaway!

I LOVE giveaways! I found a couple of  AWESOME websites that are having some great giveaways right now. A Mom's Balancing Act is giving away a Mamas and Papas Trip Umbrella Stroller. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have one of these! With our upcoming trip to Boston, it would be nice to have this stroller for our little man. If you would like a chance to win one, hop on over to A Mom's Balancing Act and check it out! Good Luck!

Imagine Childhood Back-to-School Giveaway

I LOVE chances to win educational stuff! I love school supplies, games, puzzles, manipulatives, educational toys and fun school gadgets. Over at Imagine Childhood they have given you a chance to win a $75 gift card in the imagine childhood back-to-school giveaway. They have some really cool stuff!! It's worth a few minutes to post a comment and "like" their facebook page. Good luck! :)

Struggling Writers

As most people know, every kids is different. My first and second are two opposites. Number one is very intelligent but absolutely HATES to write. We have fought and argued and fought some more over this but so far, I have yet to get him to do it right and joyfully. I think I may have found the solution though.

I have a fellow homeschool friend, who lives in another state, has a boy about the age of mine. I heard he was collecting state quarters but just lacked one. My son, who was also collecting quarters, had an extra one of that state. Upon mentioning this to my son he wanted to send his extra quarter to this boy. What a brilliant idea!;)

I actually got my son (who HATES to write) to make a prewriting web about himself, a rough draft and a final copy that WAS LEGIBLE (did I say that my son HATES to write?)!

By finding something of interest to him (I know, this was a no brainer) he was willing and maybe even eager to write. Now we are anxiously awaiting the first letter from my son's new pen pal!

Lessons in Leverage

Don't you just love when an opportunity to learn is naturally presented and your children actually WANT to learn? This happened at our house. Yes, it does happen.

We have had to hire a bulldozer to come in and do some dirt work around the farm to slow down erosion problems. Costly, yes. Worth it? I hope in the long run that it will. But, the kids our lessons learned were highly valuable.

The bulldozer operator, Red, and our kids really hit it off. He was always making them feel a part of the process by asking for their help. Each of the kids rode along with him for a while. During Anderson's turn, they were pushing some trees to build up an area. They then proceeded to drive up on them. Anderson asked, "why are your doing that?".  Bingo! This started a lesson on leverage. They talked extensively about this concept (from what I was told) and Anderson really enjoyed it. Seeing his interest in learning, Anderson was invited about everyday to learn something more. The last day the dozer guy was here he was teaching Anderson about surveying. Kind of deep for a 9 year old but he understood the process a little more than before.

Next phase of the process is getting ready to start. This weekend we will be seeding and fertilizing the areas that were worked. I am sure that there will be another opportunity to learn.