The Extra Mile

And whoever compels you to go one mile with him,go with him two.(Matthew 5:41)NKJV


I recently have viewed a commercial on television in which zany,far-fetched accidents happen.The insurance company that created it claims they will be on your side.Their catch phrase is "Life comes at you fast";therefore you need their help to recover your damages.

There is some truth to that in life,or at least in mine.Lately,I have been hit hard with responsibilities at home,and at church.The house needs a good cleaning,I am behind on planning and grading for homeschool,and I am involved up to my ears with church activities.I find myself doing the least amount possible with each activity,just to be able to check it off my list.

This is not God's best though.He is an excellent God and expects His people to have a spirit of excellence.The world is watching God's people because they are seeking something above mediocrity.Are we giving ourselves to what we are doing,or do we only go through the motions? Are we going the extra mile to meet the needs of our children,our husbands,our friends,the stranger that is in need or hurting?

I encourage you to be a blessing to someone today,go out on a limb. Do more than what is expected of you,more than what is comfortable,or more than what you think you have time for.As you do it as unto the Lord you will receive joy and you will begin to see unexpected blessings come your way.

Prayer For Today

Father God,Thank you for going the extra mile with me.I come to you and ask for forgiveness for not giving you my best.Help me and teach me how to be a woman of excellence and integrity.Help me to see clearly how I can bless those around me by going the extra mile with them.In Jesus' Name,Amen.

This Crazy Life

God is always up to cool stuff in my life.In fact I rarely have the opportunity to become bored.Fall is always a busy time of year;preparation for ministry during the holidays,settling into homeschool(which,being my first year,I feel as if I am not even close).We also are organizing a fundraising event for my cousin's husband.He was burned in a freak accident over 30% of his body.He has been in the hospital for over a week and will be in there 2 more weeks at least.He and my cousin have 3 children in diapers and 1 on formula and no income.

Homeschooling has been a challenge these past few weeks with life events popping up left and right.Life does not stand still just because you homeschool.Some days we are doing good to read and write. I am learining to roll with the flow,something that is not easy for me.Oh well! I am starting to think that I am the one who is learning the most.

Learning to lose my life in Christ and His works will enable to really find my life.Does anyone else have homeschooling solutions for life on the go?

Holding On

Holding on for dear life might be more accurate.These past few days have left me emotionally exhausted.Homeschooling these 4 girls is alot of work.I knew there would be challenging days like this.Alot of what is going on right now is trial and error.And honestly,I hate trial and error.I love black and white,cut and dry.I like a rigid formula,tried and true methods.

So goes Lesson 1 in my homeschool journey.I am being trained by the Lord to be flexible and have fun.It is so difficult for a control hog to just go with the flow.I am experimenting with many approaches to learning and teaching.I have learned that the more I know, the less I know.Does that make sense?

I would love to hear from some of you how you have grown personally from homeschool.Have you learned to pray more?read scripture more?Do you get up later/earlier to tackle those piles of ungraded work/lesson plans that are not even close to being completed?Do you ever just get so frustrated and get the kids so irritated that you close school early and go to the park?

How do you deal with the overwhelming feeling that you might be inadequate?
John 15 keeps coming to me..."abide in Me,...I will abide in you...you can do nothing apart from Me." I have the sneaking suspicion that I need to just "be" with Jesus more.That's where I get my strength,in His presence.I just need to do more of it.

It helps to know I am not alone.I have my Lord and lots of support from others who have faced the issues I now face.Hit me back with your comments and suggestion.

He Giveth More Grace

Today was Day 2 in our homeschooling adventure.It is awesome,challenging, too.I am receiving so much different info. from lots of homeschool veterans I am finding helpful.For instance Kerry Beck informed me how to Educate and Develop Leaders,instead of teaching my children to be followers.This is sooo invaluable to me at this point,even at the beginning,considering my oldest is in 7th grade.

God is amazing.The way He is working in me and through leaves me overwhelmed with thankfulness.I am picking fruit in my life I have never eaten before.The transformation that is taking place in me is more than I can form into words.All I can say is He giveth more grace! And more and more and more.....

I am walking into my God-ordained place and it feels so good,it flows so peacefully.Who would have thought me,a girl from a background that was so broken and marred and hopeless,would be raising up mighty women of God,leaders,warriors,winners for my King!? I barely graduated high school,but I was the first in my family to do that in who knows how many generations? And now Jesus is growing me in skillful and Godly wisdom.

Forgive me for bragging,but I only brag on the One who gave me life,abundant,til it overflows.There is no better way than His way.If you are not following Jesus,you are settling for second-best.Never settle.There is no limit to what Jesus will do in and through you if you only follow Him and be a doer of the word.

God is Good

Well,God came through for me again.I went to a homeschool kick off last night and scored some great freebies.Mathusee,Abeka Science,art supplies,etc. Then a fiend donated some money for purchasing the girls' school books.I went to see the coolest homeschool mom ever.She was so helpful and kind.She has a consignment bookstore in her home.I got loaded down with Saxon math,unit studies,BJU Lit.,and so much more.God really used several people to bless me and in just less than 24 hours I have received almost everything I need to start a great year.Praise Him!!

Strength Will Rise As We Wait Upon The Lord

Today has been a day of hopefulness and expectation,even though I feel like I could cry at the drop of a hat.I have been looking at curriculum all summer.I have been doing research and window shopping in every arena I know of to purchase my girls' curricula.And still,I have yet to buy one solid piece of work for them.Bills have overridden any attempt I have made to save up to buy educational materials.

But I know this is a test and God will show up at the last minute as always.He is never in a hurry,I wish I could say the same for myself.I have been pounding the information highway for anything free(worksheets,websites,ideas)that I can get my hands on.If nothing else I can wade my way through for the first 2 or three weeks.

I have tried to schedule the girls to do subjects together and schedules that would juggle my time between them.Nothing looks good on paper.So I am about to make a vague plan and trial and error my way until I find something that works for us.I am the kind of person who leans more on rigid schedule,formulas and control,but I am beginning to think that will be lesson #1 God will break me of.

I know that bible study and prayer for God's guidance each day will be my strong point.His word says the steps of a righteous man are directed by the Lord.I believe that word is for me.

Dh seems to doubt my ability;I guess you would just have to know my past and my background.But God doesn't use my history as a guide,He has plans for my future that has nothing to do with my past failures and mistakes.It really hurts when God gives you a word and even the closest people in your life don't believe in the God inside you;the Spirit of Christ that enables you and infuses you with grace to do what He called you to do.

To do something hard with support is difficult,but to do something hard with no one supporting you is harder.But it makes me that much more driven and determined ,because now I have something to prove.I do have a great friend,Cassie,that is a great encouragement.She is a single mother that is starting homeschool this year too.She is awesome and an inspiration to me.And I have a great friend Kathy,lifting me up to God for help and strength.I have a couple of friends who believe in me,I just wish dh felt the same.

I just know the next time I write I will have curriculum and support.Thanks for everyone's support and prayers.God is on my side,who can be against me?

Decisions,Decisions

It has been a very enlightening few days for me considering homeschooling.I have read some wonderful blogs such as - I Have To Say and stumbled across some great sites like Homeschool Oasis.com. My biggest thing is i want this first year to be fun and simple as possible.I want to learn as a family and begin to move away from public schools' way of educating my children.

I also want lots of freedom and choices concerning how and what I teach them.I want to incorporate real life into practically everything they learn.Relevance is key,practicality is,too.I have wanted to purchase some high dollar packaged curriculum,but funds were not there thankfully.I think it would have been a mistake.I still do not know exactly where to go but God is leading me there,a step at a time.Whatever I do I want to honor Him.I believe I am under the direction of the Lord here.

My 7th grader suddenly came up tonight to me and and announced she wanted to go to public school.She has been so excited about it before,I guess she is missing her friends.I have to stand firm,though.Her safety,her,spirituality,and purity is at stake.She will love homeschooling,once we get the hang of it.

So tell me...Any of you have children that have been less than thrilled at the idea of being homeschooled? How did you handle it?