Where is your devotion?

Life comes at us fast. We make choices every day that reveal our heart's first love. How are we spending our time? What are we spending our money to buy? Who are we spending time with? Where are we going? What are we thinking about? What do we worry about?
All of those things are an indication of the object of our devotion. Are we living each day in a posture of devotion to God? Are we processing the events of our lives through the lens of God's word? Are we thinking of Him each day, as we plan our schedule and start checking off our to-do lists? Have we checked in with God and asked HIm what is on His agenda for us to do today?
And what is most important in our lives today? Are we keeping the main thing the main thing? So often we do get preoccupied with important things to the detriment of the most important thing!
For example, I relate this to our homeschooling adventure. I am striving to have a God-focused agenda for our school days. I am praying to see all of my kids love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. And to love others as they love themselves. And to become fishers of men. And to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with their God. To be a good friend. To help those who are hurting. To give to the poor. To serve the body of Christ. To reach out into the world and make a difference for the next generation in every land! These are lofty goals. And, I believe, godly goals. And along the way, as I teach them to follow Jesus, I hope they will learn to read, write and work math problems. I hope they will embrace all that we read of history as HIS story. I hope they capture the perspective of the Creator as we study all that He has made. And I hope they will appreciate all of the gifts that God has bestowed upon man as we appreciate art and music.
So often, the important things (learning to read) can drown out the more important things (learning to love). My desire is to see the atmosphere of our home, the routines of our daily life, and the relationships we have with one another, all come together to culminate in people who are truly Christ-followers.
Our worldly culture tells us otherwise. Weekly I have to drown out the opinions of the majority in order to hear the God who is near. He whispers the reminder, softly, gently, and with love: "Seek first my kingdom and my righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you as well." And so I rest.

Not Busy................FULL!

Why is it that I feel like writing when my life is so full? Wouldn't it make more sense to write when I had nothing better to do? As it is, I don't have spare time. All of my minutes are taken up. No, more like joyfully surrendered to a calling. I am mom. I am teacher. Hear me roar! Well, Hopefully not ROAR. But, yes, Roar it is on some days! I have happily embraced my role as homeschooling mom, yet still struggle at times with what each day should look like. Or each hour. But I know that my efforts are not in vain. Whatever I do, I know God can use for His purposes in my children's hearts. I will just be faithful to keep teaching and training, keep loving and learning, keep challenging and helping, and HE will do the rest. The brilliant thing is, GOD is always with me. When I can't figure out what to do next, I can call on Him. My favorite song during this season has been "I need you Jesus, to come to my rescue." And He does. Day in and day out. He comes. He renews my strength and gives me his patience and peace. Fills me up with Joy so that my cup overflows. And then I can do the "full" life again. He has made me glad!

More Fun at Co-op

a little footage of the boys at work! They were painting a salt dough map that they made last week. We also did our own version of the nile at home. The kids loved making the dough. And they made it again the next day! By themselves. They made pyramids, because we are studying Egypt; and volcanos, just because! They did the baking soda and vinegar trick to make them erupt! Good times. We were so blessed to find this Homeschooling Co-0p. I heard about it from a friend of a friend, and she hooked me up with her friend! We have been enjoying field trips and social activities through the summer so we could get to know the kids, and the moms! It is really nice to have a group of likeminded people to be able to share ideas with and ask for wisdom. God has blessed us already through these new friends!