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This post is part of a series by Melissa Barnes titled, “Sitting at My Savior’s Feet…A Short Devotional for Homeschool Moms.”
I love the part in It’s a Wonderful Life when people all over town are praying for George Bailey. You can hear their prayers lifted up to God in unison, and it sounds like a beautiful chorus.
A lot of amazing people have prayed for my family recently as we have journeyed through an adoption. On one such day when we were waiting for an important, time-critical clearance that just wasn’t coming, I had a shocking realization. I had verbally requested, texted, and posted on Facebook to numerous people asking for prayers over this situation but had not spoken one word of petition myself. I was so horrified that I had to stop driving and repent immediately.
I wish I could say this was the first time I have done this, but it isn’t.
The day that this occurred, I wondered how God viewed my oversight. I wondered how significant my own prayer really was. How do others’ intercessory prayers intermingle with our own personal petitions?
God brought to mind the familiar verses of Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (NIV’84).
I wonder if our personal petitions are the keys that unlock all of the other prayers lifted on our behalf? While, I have no theological backing to this idea, I found it highly motivating to me as a praying person. I know God wants me to present the desires of my heart to Him, but all too often, I rely on others to do that for me. This is symptomatic of a larger problem—that of looking to man before God.
When something big happens in my life—good or bad—I often pick up the phone. I may call my husband or text a friend. I may update my status on Facebook or send a quick email to someone. But God is always present, always available, and always interested in what I have to tell him—AND in what I want to ask. He should be the first person I go to with big news or with a need.
James 4:2 tells us, “You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God” (NIV’84).
I wonder how many times God has withheld blessings and answers because I failed to turn to Him first or to turn to Him on my own behalf. Thankfully, He is a God of grace and undeserved mercy, and He has chosen to bless His people despite themselves.
I appreciate all of the prayers that friends and strangers have offered to the LORD on my behalf. I have felt the power of prayer in mighty ways over the preceding weeks. Theologically sound or not, I now see my own prayers as critical to “turning up the volume” on the chorus of prayers others lift up for me. I desire for God to be the first person I “call” with big news or needs.
He promises to respond: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV’84).
Who do you call first with the problems and news of your life? Do you intercede on your own behalf? This week, how can you draw closer to the One who truly meets your needs?
mbarnes @ January 25, 2012
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Homeschool Encouragement |
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Q. I received a letter from my school district offering testing in April for my homeschooler. Is this a good option? What are my other choices?
A. Homeschooling parents are required to submit the results of a standardized achievement test or independent evaluation by August 1 each year if they have complied with §22.1-254.1 of the Virginia Code by filing a Notice of Intent or sending a letter to the school division.
A few school districts may offer free testing for homeschool students, but this is not your only option. If you test with a local public school, all sections of the test (language arts, mathematics, history, science) will be given, and the test results will go directly to the school, not to you. If your child should happen to score lower than expected because he is in a strange environment, or he is intimidated by a new situation or teacher, you will not have an opportunity to retest.
Parents have several other testing options. First, parents may choose ANY nationally normed standardized achievement test from a variety of tests such as the Stanford Achievement Test, the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), the California Achievement Tests (CAT), the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS-TAP), Science Research Associates (SRA), or the Woodcock-Johnson Educational Battery, to name a few. Costs range from $25 to $50.
If you use a standardized achievement test, only the composite score for language arts and mathematics (the basic battery) must be submitted. The composite score includes all sub-tests for language arts and mathematics. Science and history test sections are not required. The student’s composite score must be in the fourth stanine or higher (23rd percentile) in order to continue homeschooling.
For students who may not do well on an achievement test, parents may submit an independent evaluation or present a portfolio to the division superintendent instead. If an independent evaluation or assessment is chosen, the evaluation letter must be completed by a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master’s degree or higher in an academic discipline who has knowledge of the child’s academic progress. It must state that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress. With an evaluation, the division superintendent or his designee will determine if the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress.
An evaluation or assessment may also include a report card or transcript from a community college or university, distance-learning program, or home-education correspondence school.
If you’re wondering where to purchase tests, HEAV has put together a list of companies offering tests for homeschoolers. We’ve also compiled a page listing counselors, testers, and tutors who have expressed an interest in working with homeschoolers.
Watch for more information in the spring in our Testing Update!
Regards,
Yvonne Bunn @ January 19, 2012
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This post is part of a series by Melissa Barnes titled, “Sitting at My Savior’s Feet…A Short Devotional for Homeschool Moms.”
Our family adopted a baby boy last week. We met him and held him, and now we are anxiously waiting for his arrival in Virginia. During one of my “nesting” errands this week, I saw an acquaintance I don’t see very often. She had heard the news from a mutual friend and was eager for details. I proudly told her about our sweet baby and how excited we are to bring him home. She listened and smiled and seemed happy for us. Then she paused, looked at me somewhat seriously, and asked, “Is he…normal?”
Naively, I questioned, “What do you mean?”
Before she could even answer, I swallowed hard and knew exactly what she was going to say.
“Well, you know. Is he special needs?”
Numerous responses raced through my mind. Things like “No, he’s a baby” and “How would you define normal?” I restrained myself, though, and answered her question matter-of-factly, explaining his needs in rather general terms and redirecting the conversation.
Later, I reflected on it and realized that it has been quite awhile since I have encountered questions like that. I am blessed by a church, a homeschool co-op, and a circle of friends that know that people with special needs ARE “normal”—at least as normal as the rest of us.
I mean, what is normal? Is it a standard of some kind? Is it a minimum? Is it a statistical majority?
What makes one person normal and another not? Is my daughter who is left-handed not normal because she is a statistical minority? Was my grandpa not normal because he required a wheelchair to get around? Am I not normal because I like to wear shoes all day long while my family goes barefoot?
I know being “normal” isn’t a biblical measure. I did a keyword search of the NIV on Bible Gateway and the word “normal” did not appear one time in the entire Bible. The closest thing I found was the use of the word “normally” in 2 Kings 11:7. So, maybe to God there is no need for such a label? If He doesn’t need it, do we?
Let me clarify that I feel no resentment toward this acquaintance even though her questions struck a nerve. Before my youngest daughter was born with Down syndrome a little over three years ago, I may have said the same thing.
No more.
I have learned many, many things from my daughter, but one of the most important is the limitations of labels. Soon after her birth, I was privileged to read an article by Kathie Snow about “People First” language. In it she makes a compelling case for thinking carefully about how we label and identify one another. Rather than saying my daughter is a “Down syndrome child,” which I often hear, Ms. Snow (and now I) would advocate calling her “a child with Down syndrome.” Because, after all, isn’t she a child first? The Down syndrome is just a small part of who she is. There is so much more.
While not intended to be a biblical concept, I think it very much is. Thankfully, God does not label his people. He made us in His image (Genesis 1:27), He sent His Son to save all of us (John 3:16), and He values each and every one of us as if there were only one of us (Matthew 10:29-31). Shouldn’t we use “God’s people first” language to speak of—and even think of—each other? Shouldn’t we see and value one another with His eyes?
Children ARE not “special needs”; some of them just HAVE special needs. The difference one word makes is tremendous. We are not defined by our attributes, whether they are amazing talents or medical diagnoses. We are defined by the One who created us. While I waited for my daughter to be born, I knew that she may have an extra chromosome. That worried me greatly…for about a week. Then God blessed me by telling me unmistakably that He created her, whether the extra chromosome was there or not, and that to Him she was perfectly formed for His purpose and glory. “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” (Psalm 139:14-16a, NIV’84).
If the idea of “People First Language” or doing away with words like “normal” are new concepts to you, don’t feel bad. They were to me just a few years ago. But once you become aware of the importance of labels and how they affect our beliefs about people, it can radically shift what you say, as well as what you believe. Labels don’t define us even when people use them. The people who use them don’t typically mean any ill will. But, subtly, they do affect how we view one another, what we expect of one another, and how we interact with one another. This is not God’s intention for us. We are all His creation, and we all have the potential to glorify His name. In His kingdom, we are all “normal”—whatever that is.
If you would like to read more about “People First Language” this week, please check out Kathie Snow’s article or at least scroll to the bottom of it for a great list of examples. You can find it at:
http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/314043/1474836185/name/People%20First%20Language%2Epdf
mbarnes @ January 19, 2012
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Homeschool Encouragement |
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Why would a homeschool mom write a devotional about football? Because God has been saying a lot through football lately, and I am trying to listen! My career as a Tim Tebow fan goes back about seven years to Jacksonville, Florida, where my homeschooling journey began. Pam Tebow spoke at the first homeschool convention I ever attended. She was preparing to homeschool Tim in his final year of high school during the summer that I took the plunge into the world of homeschooling. Today I find myself benefitting from the fruit of her labor as I learn lessons from her son.
In a day when society offers our children empty, shallow, media-driven role models, it warms a mother’s heart to see a football player that her son can look to as an example of biblical young manhood. All the debate about whether Tebow can throw or how long he will last in the NFL means nothing to me. It isn’t the wins or the losses or the last-minute miracles—and I do think some of them are miracles! Instead, it is the testimony of a life of obedience. No doubt critics are looking for the flaws or the big fall, but any honest Christian will tell you there is no need to look hard. We all have them, and Tebow is no different. What has been beautiful to witness this season is how God honors someone who follows Him wholeheartedly
It is a rare opportunity to have a public figure who appeals to our kids AND has qualities we actually want our kids to emulate. So, what lessons can we point out to our children this week while Tebow is so heavily in the public eye?
- Live with a posture of praise. “Tebowing” now appears in newspapers, on t-shirts, and—most recently—as the closing pose for sportscasters after the Steelers-Broncos game. Whatever you call it, we see Tim giving praise to his Savior every chance he gets by public prayer and praise and by his first comments in interviews. His default posture in all circumstances is to give glory to God.
- Our accomplishments do not define us. Tebow has been quoted as saying, “Football does not define me.” In a day when the world tells us that our worth depends on how much money we make, the kind of job we have, or how many people know our name, it is refreshing to see someone “famous” who knows where his real worth lies. What a great opportunity to examine the source of our own worth and to make sure our kids are grounded about theirs.
- Being a Christian does not mean you win every game. Watching some miracle-finishes to games this season has been great fun. God has “shown up” and rewarded Tebow’s obedience with some awesome, odds-defying victories. The general public may be tempted to say that the losses reflect an inconsistent God. As Christians we know better. The Christian life is like any other life in a broken world. It is full of ups and downs. The difference is that we walk them with a Savior who knows our struggles firsthand and who can bring good from all circumstances.
- Work hard all the time. Tebow’s work ethic is no secret. Supposedly, he sprints from station to station in practices, while the “norm” is to walk leisurely. In his noteworthy speech following a Florida loss to Ole Miss in 2008, Tim tearfully and humbly declared, “…I promise you one thing. A lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see another team play as hard as we will play the rest of the season.” Despite the loss, Tebow’s Gators went on to win the national title that year. Hard work pays off. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23, NIV’84).
- It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of you. People either love Tebow or hate him. Neither matters to him. The only approval he seeks or cares about is that of the Lord. He repeatedly tells the media that he does not pay attention to his critics. Much of the criticism surrounds his public displays of his faith, but as Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of things against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12, NIV’84).
- Public notoriety brings great responsibility. In a time when athletes sign multimillion-dollar contracts and splurge on extravagant cars and houses and flamboyant lifestyles, it is refreshing to show our sons and daughters an athlete who spends his free time in orphanages and prisons and uses his wealth to build a children’s hospital for children in the Philippines. Tebow constantly acknowledges his position as a role model for young people. As Jesus stated in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much more will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (NIV’84).
- A true hero knows he isn’t worthy of being a hero. None of these observations are intended to elevate Tim Tebow. He is a sinner and would be the first to tell you so. He needs a Savior just like you and I do. He has, however, been provided a unique platform. So far, he has used it well, and we can be grateful to learn from it. Jesus Christ is the only person worth emulating, but our kids like to have “heroes” to look up to. The Bible is full of them, but it is a blessing to have a “real, live” example who actually recognizes the responsibility of that position.
Whether you are a true football fan or a curious onlooker, Tebow’s season—and the upcoming playoff games—offer a great opportunity to show our sons and daughters what a life sold-out to God can look like. It isn’t easy, you don’t always win, and it doesn’t mean people will like you. But if you focus on your Savior, praise Him in all circumstances, work as though for Him, and live a life worthy of the calling to which you have received, God will honor that—even on the football field.
mbarnes @ January 12, 2012
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Homeschool Encouragement |
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Q. In order to teach the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education, I must show completion of an “approved correspondence course.” Which courses are “approved,” and where can I find them?
A. Getting a driver’s license for a teen can seem daunting, especially when looking at the forms, finding an approved course, and trying to follow the proper steps.
There are three basic steps for a teen to obtain a driver’s license:
1) Obtain a learner’s permit by passing a DMV vision-screening test and a two-part knowledge test,
2) Complete an approved classroom course and a behind-the-wheel driving course, and
3) Obtain a permanent driver’s license.
In order for a parent to teach their homeschooled teen the classroom and behind-the-wheel portions, the homeschooled student must currently be enrolled in a homeschool program acknowledged by the division superintendent.
All teens may take the classroom and behind-the-wheel portions of driver education at a public school, a private school, or a commercial driver-training school on a space-available basis. However, if a student is homeschooled, the homeschool parent may teach the classroom and behind-the wheel portions. In this situation, the parent may choose one of four approved classroom courses. There is only one approved parent-taught behind-the-wheel course.
The following four classroom driver-education courses have been approved by the DOE for homeschooled students:
- DriversEd.com
Attn: Virginia Home Study Course
436 14th Street, Suite 420
Oakland, CA 94612
1-888-651-2886
www.DriversEd.com
- National Driver Training Institute
4432 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918-2934
1-800-942-2050
www.usdrivertraining.com
- VADETS OnLine Driver Education Course
Virginia Association of Driver Education and Traffic Safety
A non-profit Virginia association for driver education teachers
(804) 512-0101
www.vadriveredu.org
After completion of the classroom portion, homeschool parents who want to teach behind-the-wheel must use the only approved course: Module 11 – Behind-the-Wheel and In-Car Observation.
Links to the appropriate DMV forms, the cost, and more details can be found at the HEAV website here. Please call our office at 804-278-9200 if I can further help you.
With regards,
Yvonne Bunn @ January 10, 2012
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Homeschool Q&A |
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Q. Can I start to homeschool now? If so, what steps should I take to begin?
A. Yes, you may begin homeschooling after the school year has begun. The Virginia homeschool statute (§22.1-254.1 (B)) states:
“Any parent who moves into a school division or begins home instruction after the school year has begun shall notify the division superintendent of his intentions to provide home instruction as soon as practicable and shall thereafter comply with the requirements of this section within thirty days of such notice.”
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Know the law! This is a critical step when beginning to homeschool. If you know the law, you will have confidence and know your rights as a parent. For complete information, visit the law section of the HEAV website. You’ll find links to the actual statute and tips on what you need to know. For a comprehensive overview of the choices you have, be sure to view the Law Flowchart.
2. Complete a “Notice of Intent” form or write a letter indicating how you have complied with the law.
You may download a “Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction” form here. On the form, choose one of the following options:
- show evidence of a high school diploma (attach a copy of your diploma or transcript, or higher degree), or
- submit your Virginia teacher certification, (attach documentation) or
- provide a program of study or a curriculum that may be delivered through a correspondence course or distance learning program or in any other manner (attach an acceptance letter or evidence of payment), or
- show evidence that you are able to provide an adequate education for your child. (Carefully write a grammatically correct letter stating why you are able to provide a good education for your child.)
3. Include a description of your curriculum.
The law requires limited documentation of curriculum—just a description. To comply, you could write a brief description of what you intend to study during the year, or you could attach a list of subjects to be taught and the textbook titles. Your curriculum is not evaluated or approved by the superintendent; your description merely shows that a curriculum is in place
If your initial “Notice of Intent” does not include complete curriculum information because you are making still making curriculum decisions, you have 30 days from the initial notice to complete the requirements and fully comply with the law. However, once notice has been given in compliance with the statute, your family should be considered legal homeschoolers.
4. Notify your division superintendent.
There are two ways to notify your superintendent:
- You may mail the “Notice of Intent” form and attachments to your division superintendent. If you mail it “certified, return-receipt,” you will have a record of the date the superintendent received your notice. After the date of receipt, you may withdraw your child from school without concern for truancy issues.
- You may also hand-deliver the “Notice of Intent” form to your superintendent’s office. In this case, ask for a hand-written receipt.
If you will be withdrawing your child from public school in order to begin homeschooling, it is important to file your “Notice of Intent” form with your local superintendent before withdrawing your child from public school. Once you have proof that the superintendent has received your homeschool notification, there should be no confusion about complying with school attendance laws. However, if you first take your child out of school, then notify the superintendent, it may raise truancy questions and could possibly result in a truancy investigation with fines up to $100 per day.
As a homeschooling parent, you are not applying for permission or seeking the superintendent’s approval to homeschool. You are simply notifying the superintendent’s office of your intent to provide for your child’s education in a manner already approved by the Virginia General Assembly. The law requires a parent to notify the superintendent of his intent to homeschool, but does not require a parent to wait for “approval” from the division superintendent before withdrawing a student from a traditional school and beginning to homeschool.
5. Contact a local support group in your area.
HEAV networks with more than 220 support groups throughout the state. Here is a list of groups and their contact information. Local support groups provide opportunities for student involvement in variety of activities, as well as encouragement for new homeschooling parents.
Please contact the HEAV office at 804-278-9200 if you have homeschool questions. Our staff and counselors will be glad to help you! You’re also welcome to join us for one of our upcoming Homeschool Success Seminars. With this information, you’ll be sure to get off to a great start!
Regards,
Yvonne Bunn @ January 5, 2012
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This post is part of a series by Melissa Barnes titled, “Sitting at My Savior’s Feet…A Short Devotional for Homeschool Moms.”
I had the privilege of attending a youth-led worship service at our church recently. The youth handled the entire morning: teaching Sunday school, greeting, leading worship, and preaching. Later that evening our Life Group discussed the obvious zeal that our youth have for Jesus. Some of us expressed a longing to reclaim that fervor in our own lives. I thought about the times in my life that I have been “on fire for Jesus” and felt a twinge of guilt for the times that I have barely flickered for Him. I pondered this the next day, wondering how a believer can sustain such a passion for Christ. God blessed me by saying I didn’t need to…at least not exactly.
God cares very much about our zeal for him, but we often mistake true zeal for an emotional substitute. Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (NIV’84). Zeal is defined as “eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something.” It is not an emotion but an action. True zeal isn’t a feeling but a strong desire to move toward Him. This paradigm shift resembles another one I once had to discover about love.
About ten years into my marriage, I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. The third chapter alone was worth the price of the book to me. It spoke of the difference between the “in-love experience” and “real love.” In it Chapman writes, “We can recognize the in-love experience for what it was—a temporary emotional high—and now pursue “real love” with our spouse…It is a love that unites reason and emotion. It involves an act of the will and requires discipline, and it recognizes the need for personal growth. Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be genuinely loved by another, to know a love that grows out of reason and choice, not instinct. I need to be loved by someone who chooses to love me, who sees in me something worth loving.”
That’s the kind of love God gives us. It is genuine. It is something He chooses to do. And that principle of “real love” applies to our love for God as well. The young man who preached at my church on youth Sunday compared our relationship with Christ to a lifelong date. He said it isn’t an event we get ready for but something we begin doing the moment we are born. Our walk with Christ will have highs and lows just like any earthly relationship. We may have a “honeymoon phase” of our relationship with God. In fact, I would venture to say we have several during our Christian lives. But just as the marriage does not end when the honeymoon does, our love for Christ is not defined by our emotions. It is a choice—sometimes a hard one. We love Him easily when we feel His love most deeply, but we must also choose to love Him when the debts climb high, when our homeschool days bear more burdens than fruit, when we miscarry, when a friend betrays us…
Likewise, true zeal is not an emotion but a choice to pursue God even when life gets difficult. It isn’t about how we feel about God but how we seek Him. In the book of Revelation, John writes to the Church at Laodicea, saying:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:15-20, NIV’84).
The solution for the Laodiceans’ lukewarm nature is to actively move toward God, to be earnest, repent, open the door, and receive Him. It is no different for us. James 1:17, tells us that God “does not change like the shifting shadows” (NIV’84). He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and Praise God, His love does not depend on anything we do or feel for him. He does, however, expect us to be in constant pursuit of him. And when we do this, He will always show up.
What is your spiritual temperature right now? Have you allowed your zeal for the Lord to fade? How can you consciously choose to press into Him this week?
mbarnes @ January 5, 2012
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This post is part of a series titled, “Homeschool Q&A.” The series features questions we’ve received from parents on a variety of topics–and the answers!
Q. Can homeschoolers participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee? Where can I find information?
A. Scripps Howard and other newspapers sponsor spelling bees at elementary schools and homeschool support groups across the nation. Each year, students (ages 10-14) from public, private, home, and parochial schools aspire to compete in the final four rounds of the bee, which will be televised from Washington, D.C.
Homeschool students can participate through a local support group that has registered with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. If a homeschool student resides in an area where no homeschool association/group/co-op exists, the student’s family may enroll for a fee of $89. Homeschool students who reside in an area where no homeschool group exists should click here to complete a service request form to inquire about enrollment in their area.
According to Janice Liebenberg of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, “Homeschool groups may enroll at spellingbee.com to ensure their students are eligible to participate and to receive the materials needed to conduct spelling bees. During enrollment, bee coordinators receive details about their local bee program.” These details include local dates, deadlines, and participation guidelines.
The extended enrollment deadline is very near! The enrollment period was from August 16 through October 17, 2011, during which homeschool groups could register for a $109 materials and enrollment fee (this was the same price as for all other schools). The late enrollment period is October 18 through December 16, 2011. Groups enrolling during this period incur an additional $75 fee per group. Individual homeschoolers are also in the late registration period. Deadlines for joining a group will vary with each local group.
It’s not too late to contact the support groups in your area to see if they are registered to participate. You can find the support groups in your area here. You may also click on this link to find out if a support group in your zip code or in a nearby zip code is registered.
Eligibility guidelines and the Scripps National Spelling Bee FAQ include more helpful information.
Regards,
Yvonne Bunn @ December 15, 2011
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This post is part of a series by Melissa Barnes titled, “Sitting at My Savior’s Feet…A Short Devotional for Homeschool Moms.”
Sometimes I walk into a room in our house with the intention of getting it “in order.” I enter the room full of energy and enthusiasm for the task, ready to conquer the mess and restore order to my chaotic home. As my eyes scan the room in search of a starting point, however, discouragement quickly sets in.
Mini-mountains of books have no home. Boxes of last year’s schoolwork await filing. Tiny scraps of a young child’s paper project litter the floor like confetti. Random toys and game pieces, overlooked during clean-up time, lay abandoned on the floor. Nothing looks quick or easy.
I’m sorry to confess that this is not an uncommon occurrence in my home. The tasks vary. Sometimes it’s the dreaded change of seasons in which my husband brings the kids’ clothes boxes down from the attic for the semiannual “sorting of closets.” Other times school work piles up on me, and I face a mountain of papers to grade. Often it is laundry that multiplies to cover every empty surface in my bedroom.
Usually these tasks pile up as a result of neglect, an unexpected interruption such as a sickness or surgery, or a season of busyness that causes a traffic jam of sorts.
Sometimes we experience a similar sense of despair as we face the ruins of a damaged relationship, a spiritual drought, or even a family culture that does not reflect Christ. We “wake up” and recognize the problem, but we don’t begin to know where to start to “fix it.”
In such times the Old Testament prophet Nehemiah offers great wisdom and a plan of attack.
When Nehemiah inquired about the condition of Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant who had survived the exile, he was overwhelmed. The people were in “great trouble and disgrace,” the wall was “broken down,” and the gates had been “burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3, NIV’84).
His response?
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4, NIV’84). Then he prayed a beautiful prayer acknowledging his own shortcomings and those of his people. He called on the God he knew would keep his covenant if only they would return to Him. Nehemiah then went to the king and asked to be sent to rebuild the city.
Can you imagine how overwhelmed he must have felt when he arrived and saw for himself the desolation of the home of his ancestors? My messy rooms and mountains of laundry seem insignificant in comparison, but damaged relationships, spiritual deserts, and broken families do not.
When faced with such seemingly impossible rebuilding tasks, we can follow Nehemiah’s lead. We can return to our God with humble repentance and begin to attack the problem we face brick-by-brick and gate-by-gate.
The rebuilding of the wall was not an overnight project for Nehemiah. He had groups of people working on individual sections of the gate, tackling the project section-by-section. He faced opposition and ridicule, but persisted. Despite working with “all their hearts,” his laborers grew weary (Nehemiah 4:6-10, NIV’84). Still they pressed on until the task was complete.
Whatever area of your life appears to be in total ruin, don’t give in to the despair you may feel when you survey the damage. Pause, turn back to God, seek Him earnestly through prayer, and set to work rebuilding one gate at a time, taking to heart the encouragement Nehemiah offered his workers, “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14b, NIV’84).
Do you or someone you know face a “ruined” relationship or family culture? Have you suffered a recent drought in your walk with the LORD? If so, step back and survey the damage, seek the LORD with all your heart, and begin to rebuild…one day, one conversation, one prayer at a time.
mbarnes @ December 14, 2011
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Homeschool Encouragement |
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This post is part of a series by Melissa Barnes titled, “Sitting at My Savior’s Feet…A Short Devotional for Homeschool Moms.”
My daughter turned three this week. By all worldly standards she is grossly behind in every way…from her height and weight to her speech and language to her fine motor skills. She has developmental delays in every area. But over the past year, she has acquired more than one hundred signs, learned more than one hundred words, gotten used to wearing glasses, learned to run, begun to feed herself, and gained numerous other skills she didn’t have last fall. So is she a success or a failure? Who decides?
Once, a good friend gently pointed out to me that my third grade son didn’t know his math facts. This was no surprise to me as learning them was not so high on my son’s to-do list, and our curriculum didn’t really drill math facts. I shrugged off the comment but later reflected on the timetables that homeschool parents often impose on themselves and each other…reading independently by the end of the first grade (one of my daughters was in second), mastery of the times tables by the end of third grade (one daughter was in fifth), potty training by age two (my kids were all three). Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we do it to our kids?
There’s a song I love on one of my newly three-year-old daughter’s Signing Time DVDs. One of the verses says:
Sometimes I see you stuck
For such a long time.
A daily nothing new
Pretend I don’t mind
With lists of things you’ll never do
Until somehow you do
And you do—you do—you shine.
The song goes on to say:
And Sammy will do what Sammy will do when Sammy is ready to do it.
And Trevor will do what Trevor will do when Trevor is ready to do it.
And Lucy will do what Lucy will do when Lucy is ready to do it.
And they’ll do…it in their own time.
(From “Shine.” Written by Rachel Coleman. Signing Time Music, www.signingtime.com.)
We do ourselves, our children, and each other a great disservice when we impose man-made timetables on one another. In 1 Corinthians 4:6-7, Paul writes, “’Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not take pride in one man over another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (NIV’84). All is grace. Whether we are ahead of or “behind” somebody’s external timetable is irrelevant. Even the things we work to achieve are achieved because God allows them to be.
Aren’t you grateful God has no timetable for our sanctification process? That He is patient and persistent with our growth? That He believes in us and by Christ’s blood sees us as He intends us to be rather than as we are? That to Him we SHINE. Not that He doesn’t push and challenge and stretch us. Not that He doesn’t care when we fail. He does. But He surely doesn’t compare us to each other or to some heavenly developmental chart.
In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. In it a landowner hires men early in the morning to work for him for a set amount of money. Throughout the day he finds more men without work and sends them into the vineyard to work for him as well. That evening the landowner calls the workers in and pays them, beginning with the last one hired and ending with the first. Those who were hired first began to grumble because they were paid the exact same amount as those hired last, despite working many more hours. The landowner says to them, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same pay as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:13-15 NIV’84). Jesus ends His story saying, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16 NIV’84).
Let’s do ourselves a favor and throw away the timetables. Sure we need to monitor our kids’ progress and get them help when they show true signs of delay. We must ensure they make adequate progress each year and that we meet state homeschooling requirements. But we also need to do away with the judgment and guilt that come from these outside standards. We should trust ourselves and value our children as the unique individuals God created them to be. We need to let our kids SHINE…in their own time.
How can you seek this week to see your children as Christ sees them rather than comparing them to other people’s standards? How can you encourage a friend to do the same? How can you resist comparing yourselves to others around you and be grateful for the work God is doing in your life—in His own time?
mbarnes @ December 7, 2011
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Homeschool Encouragement |
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