Teaching

This is one of my favorite verses about home schooling:

Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.
Deuteronomy 32:2 (NIV)


Sometimes, Lord, my words want to beat down like sleet. Help my words to descend like dew on my seedlings. Help my words to be as abundant rain on my tender plants.

Contentedness

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

Two syllables. Starts with "c" and ends with "t." Similar in form, but a world apart in action. Covet or be content. Which are we going to allow to rule our lives?

If our conduct is to be without covetousness, that includes not only our actions, but our facial expressions, our words, and our tone of voice. In addition, we are to be CONTENT with what we have. We can't erect a phony facade. We must be content. Content like a kitten curled up on a quilt in the sun. Content like a baby settling in for a nap in mama's arms.

How can we do these seemingly impossible things? He promises that He will always be with us. God will never leave us, give up on us, renounce us, or abandon us. NEVER.

(Congratulations and blessings to my cousin, pictured above, who is in Guatemala, adopting her new baby daughter. This post is NOT an editorial on what's wrong in her life! I just liked the picture of contentedness; both on the part of the daughter and the mother!)

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Just a few last comments on Job, begun on a previous post.

One could argue that Job is the poster boy for the sentiment of Rabbi Kushner's book: When Bad Things Happen to Good People. I never read this book and it's probably just as well, for the true paradox is quite the opposite. Why do GOOD things happen to BAD (sinful) people?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

I have never experienced the depth of loss that Job felt. And yet I've found that it's easy to wallow in self-pity, thinking more highly of myself than I ought. It's difficult to accept troubles and trials with humble gratitude towards God, especially when it appears that others around us are not in similar situations. But, our Lord tells us not to compare ourselves to others. We are to keep our eyes fixed upon the Savior and follow Him.

Then Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved...[and] said to Jesus, "But Lord what about this man?"

Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
John 21: 20-22 (NKJV)

Another Milestone

This isn't our son's, but the x-ray we saw at the doctor today was somewhat similar. There was notable bone growth visible! Praise God! We can see the steel plate (our son's is quite a bit longer than this) and the screws, but we also saw much more bone growth. Just as God knits us together in the womb, we have been able to see the same knitting together of our son's bone over the past few months as we view the x-rays.

Today the surgeon gave the go-ahead to put full weight on the broken leg. Such progress! When we got home, my tall twelve-year-old son took two steps without the walker and gave me a hug and a big smile.

It was far better than his first steps when he was a baby!

Forgive us, Lord...

...for 34 years of legalized murder.

For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in Your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 13-16

(The photo is from a website called Danny's Song. It is of the ovum, which divides into two new cells two to three hours after conception. Check out the site for more amazing photos.)

"Hail to the Lord's Anointed"

This was our processional hymn today, sung to a wonderful German folk song melody that was unfamiliar to me. Trying my best to belt out the lively alto part, meditating upon the words, thinking of loved ones who are not yet part of The Fold, rejoicing that our son is continuing to heal from his injuries, thankful that we sing real hymns every Sunday...it was all enough to make me cry.

To hear the melody we sang, go here, and click on the MIDI link for the traditional Woodbird German melody. If you don't have time to read all five verses, it's useful to read and meditate upon even one verse, the words are so rich.

"Hail to the Lord's Anointed"

Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.

He comes in succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, were precious in His sight.

He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

Kings shall fall down before Him, and gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing;
For He shall have dominion o’er river, sea and shore,
Far as the eagle’s pinion or dove’s light wing can soar.

O’er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious, all blessing and all blest.
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand forever, His Name to us is Love.

Then Job Answered the Lord...

Then Job answered the Lord and said:
"I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?'
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know,
Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.'

"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42: 1-6 (NKJV)


(Public domain clip art comes from http://breadsite.org.)

Then the Lord Answered Job...

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
"Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you and you shall answer me."
Job 38: 1-3 (NKJV)

So begins the first of the two discourses which God delivers to Job. Just when you think Job could use a little TLC, he gets hit instead with the stark reality of who God is.

God, help me to keep silent when I lack knowledge. Help me to 'prepare myself like a man' and to answer You.

(Public domain clip art from http://breadsite.org.)

A New Blog to Try

It was with sadness that I recently deleted the link to the very informative and thoughtful blog, Spunky Homeschool, because its author decided to quit writing.

I have just discovered a brand new blog, quite different from Spunky's, but written by another Christian woman whom I greatly admire. Ann Voskamp of Holy Experience has teamed up with writing buddy, Tonia, to create a new blog, The Sacred Everyday. I have added it to my list at right, precisely where Spunky's blog used to sit.

I urge you to check it out!

Of Vines and Such

Compare the unwise and uncaring "advice" of Eliphaz to Job regarding wicked men (which, in Eliphaz's opinion, include Job), with the words of our Lord in John.


[The wicked man's] branches will not flourish.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
Job 15:32b-33 (NIV)


"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
John 15: 1-4 (NKJV)



Dear Lord,
Thank you for your mercy. You don't leave us alone to rot in the garden. You don't leave us alone to wither in the scorching sun. You don't leave us alone to be attacked by unrelenting winds and snow. Instead, painful though it sometimes is, you prune us to bear more fruit. You, the perfect Gardener, allow us to abide in You. Because of you, we are clean.

"What Star is This, With Beams So Bright?"

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY

This was our recessional hymn in church today. It was new to me, but the words were written in 1736, and the melody comes from the 15th century. You learn something new every day! Click on the title below to hear the melody.

"What Star is This, With Beams So Bright?"

What star is this, with beams so bright,
More lovely than the noonday light?
’Tis sent to announce a newborn King,
Glad tidings of our God to bring.

’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed,
“From Jacob shall a star proceed”;
And lo! the Eastern sages stand
To read in heaven the Lord’s command.

While outward signs the star displays,
An inward light the Lord conveys,
And urges them, with force benign,
To seek the Giver of the sign.

True love can brook no dull delay;
Nor toil nor dangers stop their way
Home, kindred, father land and all
They leave at their Creator’s call.

O, while the star of heavenly grace
Invites us, Lord, to seek Thy face,
May we no more that grace repel,
Or quench that light which shines so well!

To God the Father, God the Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
May every tongue and nation raise
An endless song of thankful praise!

Pray

A friend of mine sent this photo to me, along with this prayer:

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

We've got troops putting their lives on the line every second of every day. Please remember them.

And remember my friend. He and his wife recently went through their second Christmas without their son who was killed in Afghanistan. Please pray that God would comfort them.

Lessons Learned

While our son was hospitalized for his broken leg and multiple surgeries, I learned a few lessons:

When you think you can take no more, you will be given more...

...but God is there to strengthen you.

When you are at your lowest point, the Deceiver will attack...

...but God is there to strengthen you and fight back.

When you realize you would willingly take every bit of your child's pain upon yourself...

...you comprehend just a wee bit more, the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

When the first people to provide you with food are the very families who can afford it the least...

...you thank God for them.

New Year's Resolutions

As I contemplate New Year's Resolutions I am reminded that the Bible is full of God renewing His covenant with us, His wayward children. He keeps pulling us back, keeps reminding us who we are and in Whom we should rest. God, in His mercy, grants us many opportunities throughout the year to begin anew: birthdays, the beginning of a new school year, anniversaries, and during Lent and Advent. But I suppose it is on January 1 that everyone typically thinks of resolutions, because this is the one day which is common to everyone.

A quick perusal of a Bible concordance will not reveal many references to any form of the word "resolve." Yet this search does lead to Jehoshaphat, one of the "good" kings of Judah, whose actions are recounted in 2 Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat is informed that a large army is advancing in order to make war with Judah.

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 2 Chronicles 20:3

After the people of Judah gather and fast, Jehoshaphat prays and concludes, "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 Chron 20:12b

The spirit of the Lord comes upon one of the Levites, who proclaims to the assembly,
This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.' 2 Chron 20:15b

As Jehoshaphat sends his army out to defeat the invaders, he places men at the head of his army who are appointed to sing praises to the Lord.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever." 2 Chron 20:21b

Our lives on this earth are a battle against a formidible army and it is quite alarming when we come to experience this first hand. Yet, we can follow Jehoshaphat by: inquiring of God, realizing that we have no power to face this vast army, and admitting that we do not know what to do. We must quickly cast our eyes upon Him, not become afraid or discouraged, give thanks to the Lord, and let Him fight the battle.

This year I resolve to cast my eyes upon Him and let Him fight the battle.

Thanks be to God for giving us new beginnings, for His infinite patience and mercy, and for being the One in whom we can rest.

(Clip art from http://holiday-clipart.net/)