The sharing of my faith

For some time now I've been pondering Philemon 1:6.  "...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.^"
What I have been pondering over is not the sharing of my faith in general with people I meet, strangers, or those not in my family per se.  What I have been pondering for some time is how this verse speaks to me as a Mom and what implications it has for me in my daily life with our son.  Wyatt is a precious gift to our family and especially precious to us as he is our only child.  The weight of the knowledge that he is our only child weighs more particularly in light of our desire to raise him to be a man of God.   It's been a road that hasn't always been straight or clear, and at times, the road has become quite rocky with dangerous curves and unexpected turns.  We've done battle with the enemy on behalf of and alongside our son especially these last two years.  My husband and I have become more convinced with each passing day how so very much the enemy seeks to derail our son in his walk with the Lord.  And because of this I, especially, have given into more controlling behavior, desiring to "change" our son without truly getting at the roots by constantly correcting him and not truly building my relationship with him.  I was trying to be the Holy Spirit to him.  In doing that I began driving him away and planting a seed of rebellion that was looking for a place to plant itself.  Then one day, the Lord showed me Philemon 1:6.
 What struck me, especially with this verse, are the words, "may become effective for the full knowledge of everything good."  When I began really meditating on this verse I noticed that sharing my faith isn't just preaching at or to people and especially my son.  All the "sharing" in the world falls on deaf ears if not covered with prayer, love, and edification.  "The sharing of my faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in Wyatt." (emphasis mine).
Look closely.  My sharing is effective when I acknowledge the good things that are in Wyatt.  Instead of only focusing on what I perceive that needs "fixing" I focus on the good things while sharing with him from my walk.  Leading him and guiding him in love is much more effective when I don't focus on the negative all the time.   Now I know our children need correction and reproof and discipline.  What I am sharing here is that I cannot only focus on what needs correcting without the balance of encouragement and edification.  I think that is where we moms have the hardest time.  We fall into the trap of comparing our children to others or ourselves to others.  We seem to desire the best for our children and lose sight of the importance of seeing the good things in them.  So we begin always focusing on what needs to change without effectively encouraging them in what ways they are succeeding.  
I began making a conscience effort to begin sharing my faith with Wyatt without all the preaching at him and began sharing while acknowledging the growth I was seeing in him.  When walking into his room, instead of immediately commenting on the condition of the room and how it needed cleaning, I began commenting on a decision he made during the day that was right and true.  Or congratulating him for the self-control he practiced in staying focused on finishing his schoolwork.  Once I began acknowledging every good thing in him, it opened his heart to receiving correction more readily.  What both my husband and I are noticing is that he is much more willing to enter into conversations with us regarding issues that are bothering him, struggles he is having, or even doubts he may be experiencing.  We have freed him to be allowed to make mistakes and know that we will love him regardless.  He now knows that he can come and talk through issues with us without condemnation from us.  Whether or not we were condemning him that is what he perceived.
So each day is an opportunity to focus on sharing my faith with Wyatt knowing it will be more effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in him.  This journey through some of the toughest years for a child have a whole new look to them now that I have freed myself (and Wyatt), from being preached to/at and entering into a relationship where he is encouraged and edified and even disciplined with love and encouragement.  Reminds me of a Southern saying, "You attract more flies with honey than vinegar."

New School Year!

Well, we've started our school year here.  Actually we did a little school over the Summer.  Mostly Math and some Grammar.  Took some time off with DH and now we've kicked off.  So far it's all going swimmingly!  :-) 
We did change a good many things with our curriculum and I am liking the changes.  This year is going to be so different in so many ways.  DH will be earning a Masters in Sacred Theology in Ethics for the Army this year and that's basically his job.  He is going to school.  No unit duties, no Chapel duties (Yay, we get to go to church like a "regular" family), just school.  He is working on his DMin on his own so he'll have a full plate but he will be home.  So this will truly be a schoolin' little home this year!  
I'm quite excited for this will be such a benefit to our little family.  We have made some changes to our schedule and made some different family rules but also are building more time in as a family together now that he is free from Army unit duties.  He can be more involved with our school, be able to carry out family devotionals more regularly and our son can have more "Daddy time."  Honestly I know DH will miss the  ministry to the soldiers but I feel sure he will have an active ministry every day with our family and with his fellow students.  His gifts are Exhortation and Encouragement and I can see him using them everyday.  
Our son is growing like crazy, too.  He's officially two inches taller than me now and I do believe he might have grown a touch more as he can see clear over my head now!  He's only 11!  God has blessed him with height.  We have tall people on my side of the family way back so I guess those genes have come out.  He is adjusting to "sticking out like a sore thumb" around his friends but we continue to work with him on accepting God's design for him.   He has had a Summer of struggles but the Lord has been so gracious and steadfast with him and us.  Our prayers are reaping fruit and it is a joy to see our son come full circle.  We are convinced the Lord has set him aside for something special because the enemy certainly has been working overtime on him.  But we are in the trenches with him and will remain in the trenches arming ourselves with our best weapons...Prayer and The Word.
Of late I've become more and more convinced of the power of prayer.  Not that I wasn't before but the books I've been reading lately have brought this to the forefront of my pondering.   Our enemy works like crazy to keep us too busy to pray.  If we don't pray then he can keep us sidelined.   Keep us busy, tired, engaged, distracted or whatever and we become ineffective.  
But I also see that our prayers do affect heaven.  Our prayers are heard.  They really are.  Heaven isn't some ethereal place and God isn't some impersonal being that looks down His nose at us.  Heaven is for real, like the book says, and God loves us with an eternal, burning love.  He desires to have us commune with Him and send our prayers to His throne!  And what a release it is to realize He does listen, care and reach down to His loved ones.
I know there is so much more to share because I'm not always good about posting regularly but these thoughts are what come to mind tonight.  
Lean on the Lord for He is good.  Call on His name at all times.  He loves you!

Memorial Day, Summer...This and that

I honestly cannot believe it's Summer already.  Where does time go?  
Life has had us busy lately but it's been all good and full of blessings from the Lord.  We're gearing up for a year of my husband being in school full-time for the Army.  So the whole house will be "doing school" next year.  It will be an exciting time and a time to reconnect as a family with the added blessings of him being home more than being gone.  We can't wait.  I can't wait!

We are also in the midst of fostering kittens for a rescue organization in town.  After having to put my sweet Sadie to sleep we've wanted another cat but Mac hasn't been feeling that need as much as we have.  :-)   We like to adopt older cats that most people overlook but it seems we have had this run lately of personalities that don't mesh well together.  So the next best thing is fostering!  We currently have 7 kittens which means our normally quiet little house is rocking with tons of kitten energy.  Dusty doesn't seem to mind too much but he's never much minded other cats or kittens.  Fresca, DS's kitty, is pretty much freaked out.  Mac has actually been the surprise.  He has played and played with the kittens and been like a big brother to them.  It's been so sweet to watch.  Since having the kittens they have grown so much and it has been quite fun to watch their personalities blossom.  My precious husband has even said I could adopt one if I wanted.  Such a sweetie.  I haven't decided yet.  

We commemorated Memorial Day yesterday.  Because we are a patriotic family and military family that holiday holds a special meaning for us, but since 2003 it holds a particularly special meaning.  That year was the first year of the war in Iraq and my husband's first deployment.  One certain 1st Sgt. went out of his way to befriend my husband and that friendship grew and deepened before and during their deployment.  Not everyone wants to be friends with "the Chaplain" but Robert sought my husband's friendship out.  However Robert J. Dowdy lost his life during the ambush/attack on the 507th Maintenance Company in March of 2003.  This loss still affects my husband to this day and Robert and his family are never far from our thoughts and prayers on Memorial Day.  We know we will see Robert again but miss him now on this earth as we know his family does.  

We're also excited about some changes we'll be making with school next year.  Another year of growth in the Lord and hearing Him clearly in some areas has led to the changes.  We'll still use the Wisdom Booklets as supplemental curriculum but looking into fine-tuning our direction with our son's gifts.   I am excited about the changes and look forward to seeing how the Lord will use them to work in our lives especially our son.  But as always I seem to see all the good for him and the Lord winds up working in my own life the most.  

Stay cool in the new Summer heat that has been turned on.  I was sincerely hoping for a more temperate summer since we had a colder winter but it appears that since June 1st has a heat index of 110 forecast I may be in for a disappointment.  :-)

Proper response?

It's been quite a week for Americans and for our family since we are a military family.  With the death of Usama Bin Laden there has been a myriad of emotions here.  And there has been a myriad of concerns that have been awakened in military families across the globe.  However as Christians how should we rightly respond to this news?  I've seen and heard a number of speakers, teachers and others remarking and voicing their opinions about the proper response of Christians to the news of Bin Laden's death.  But the opinion that means the most to me is the one of God.

One verse is Ezekiel 18:23, "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"  2 Peter 3:9 also states, "...not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
I believe that we should not rejoice in Bin Laden's death so much as we should be saddened and our hearts quickened.  We should not rejoice that he is now suffering eternal torment beyond anything we can imagine.  Yes the world is less one evil man who reeked much havoc in so many lives.  But rejoicing in his death knowing he is suffering eternally, I think, should not be our response.  We should be reminded rather that we, too deserve such punishment but have been redeemed to share in eternal glory with our Lord.

Yes, there are instances in the Bible where evil was defeated and the people rejoiced.  Certainly that is a human response and I'm not saying that we should not be glad that Bin Laden can no longer perpetrate his evil.  We should be glad of that.  But we need to be tempered in our rejoicing for it could quite easily have been us that would suffer the punishment we all deserve if it were not for the blood of Christ.


If you do not know Jesus and the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life please go here to find out more about the grace and mercy of a loving and merciful God.


For another insight that got me thinking about all this see Francis Chan's response.
 

What good can come?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 NIV

 Because of His sacrifice that is why we can commemorate Good Friday and call it "Good."  And His sacrifice was given willingly.  He even gave His life.  It was not taken from Him.  He gave it even to His last breath.  This isn't the end but the beginning!

Soul Surfer

Our family went to see the movie Soul Surfer this afternoon.  I recommend you to go see it if you have a chance.  An excellent movie that shows the Hamilton's family faith loud and clear.  I tell you, Bethany Hamilton is quite a role model for young people.
So if you are looking for a great family movie take some time to see Soul Surfer and be encouraged.

I used to like roller coasters

I used to like roller coasters.  In fact I might still enjoy a ride or two in a good one.  But the ride we've been on this week and especially yesterday has had a few more twists and turns and loop-t-loops than I care for.  If not for the care and grace of My Father I would have reduced to a heap of tears and most certainly an ulcer.
Yes I am speaking of this government shut-down issue.  I have deeply thought out and strongly held political ideas and won't get into any of them here.  In fact my blog is mostly for me to get out what rolls around in my head on any given day and hopefully encourage others who visit.  So I won't get into finger-pointing and blaming for there is plenty of that to go around.
What I will say is that the roller coaster of hearing military families wouldn't get paid, to hearing about half pay, to actually less than half a paycheck/stub being listed on the Defense Finance website at one point yesterday, to all pay stubs being removed from the site, to.....Well, you get the idea.  I spent a great deal of my day yesterday trying to encourage friends and spouses of mostly enlisted ranks who struggle to make ends meet on a full paycheck much less a half check or less than half or none at all.
What came from yesterday as I sought to encourage others was that the Lord encouraged me.  Though some I spoke to and wrote with are not believers I spoke to them of the God that cares for them and, through His very names, promises wonderful things to us that are His.  
I did a study several years ago from Kay Arthur called Lord I Want To Know You.  One of my favorite names was and still is is Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Provides.   That name kept coming back to me throughout the day and I shared that name with those who were concerned about the military losing their pay.  This name was the name that Abraham called the place where he had taken Isaac to sacrifice at God's behest and God provided a ram at Abraham's obedience in the last moment.  What a beautiful picture!  But in this story I see again that the Lord's provision doesn't always come when we want it to.  Most often it comes in time but at the last moment.  Yet the Lord provides.  What is beautiful about this is that Proverbs 18:10 tells us that "the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."
This battle isn't over for military families.  The government shut-down was averted because of an agreement on some monetary issues but we are in an extension that will give them time to draft the new budgetary bill.  But I will rest in the Lord.  I will run to His name of Jehovah Jireh and take refuge in that name.  He provides and I will trust Him at His Word and His name.
What are some of your favorite names of God?  Is there something you are facing where you need to hear that He will provide for you?  Run to Him and be encouraged.

Homeschool Conventions, patches and lemons. Oh my!

Last weekend I went to my first ever homeschool convention and I was able to go with my dear friend and former college roomie.  She is special to me for so many reasons including being a very important person God placed in my life before my Dad passed away and introducing me to homeschooling when our son was born.  Our time at the convention was almost like being in college again, staying up late talking, etc.  We had so much fun!  
The speakers at the convention were well-chosen and all I heard were encouraging and offered insights and wisdom for the convention-goers.  I came home tired but edified and excited about what the Lord showed me.  Some things my husband and I chose to change right away but others will be changes that we will implement for the following year.  
I would encourage you to attend a homeschool conference or convention in your area if you can.  It was well worth the time.

On the homefront our son continues to excel in archery and shot for his national ranking.  He did well and we're so proud of him.  We are also seeing his real gifts shining especially in regards to his artistic nature.  

Dusty, our The Cat Chronicles kitty is 15 years old now!  As with humans he has developed some of those pesky senior health issues.  His asthma is stable right now which is a blessing.  But he is now on medicine for his hyperthyroidism and also for his early renal insufficiency.  I never knew how much my former nursing experience was going to come into play having pets!  But it's been fun incorporating Dusty's health issues into our school time here and teaching our son basically Biology and Anatomy.  It has started a fire in him so I have ordered Apologia's Human Anatomy book for us to begin on.  
If you can get to a homeschool convention do go.  Here are some recent pictures in no particular order.

Our son napping as his kitty, Fresca naps nearby

Dusty cuddling on a cold Sunday afternoon.

Our son's first still life painting.  Lemons.  Yum!

With his first shooting for national ranking our son has made "Master."  Way to go son!

More bonding with "Dad."

"Ah, that blanket sure feels nice."

"I sure hope Mom puts that camera away soon."

Wheels For Noah

Please consider helping this lovely family of 10 get new wheels.  Their precious 4 year old son, Noah, has a rare and progressive genetic disease and they need a new van that allows his wheelchair so they can ride together as a family.
If you visit this site go to the Silent Auction link on the left and see the wonderful materials donated to help raise money for them.  There are some awesome deals including tickets for the Creation Museum, jewelry, etc.  
And here is a picture of Noah for you to enjoy how precious he is!

Books, books, books!

I'm excited like a kid in a candy store!

Today we (our son and I), had lunch with my Mom and we then plundered the bookstore.  It's been quite a while since I've been in the bookstore.  I love bookstores but tend to stay out of them because I get in so much trouble there.  However today I did pick up a few books I'm very excited about getting.  I have gotten into the habit lately of going to the library for books instead of buying them.  The economy, the desire to pay debts off and the fact that we just don't have enough room for the sheer volume of books we collect drove me to that point.  But when there is a book I strongly desire to keep (for many reasons), I will buy it.

Today I brought home a couple I've been wanting plus some others I found that peaked my interest.  If you check out my sidebar you can see what I am currently reading and what I have read recently.  I'll add in my newest books there but you can also check them out here, too.