Friday, September 22, 2006
Consider this. . .
Have you ever heard this? "Christians are the only army that will kick their fellow soldiers when they are down."
It kills me to think about this too long, because I would have to confess that I would be guilty of doing it myself. I would be guilty of getting on a close friends case because she is in a bad place, and I don't have the patience to deal with it. How dare her rain on my parade~right? After all, life is all about "me" isn't it? I would chalk it up to a bad attitude, and even possibly neglect her for a L O N G time. Leave her to "deal" with it herself, and when she is in a better place and can stroke my ego again. . .well, then we can talk.
But then I started thinking about it. What is going on in her life that is causing her (or him) to behave this way. Have I even asked? Even if she treated me poorly, did I love her? Jesus loved the people who spit in His face, and mocked Him, and beat Him, and killed Him. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)
Have I cried out for my fellow Christian sister or brother in that way? Or have I rolled my eyes~called them a name~or just not called them at all? Have I been spiritually prideful? This is NOT how I want to live my life for Christ. I want to be set apart from the world. I want to be able to love because HE loved first. The good news is, I have a Savior who forgives therefore, I can ask forgiveness~from Him and from those I have mocked or neglected. Christ humbled Himself on my behalf, and He will give me the strength to humble myself when I need to. How about you?
It kills me to think about this too long, because I would have to confess that I would be guilty of doing it myself. I would be guilty of getting on a close friends case because she is in a bad place, and I don't have the patience to deal with it. How dare her rain on my parade~right? After all, life is all about "me" isn't it? I would chalk it up to a bad attitude, and even possibly neglect her for a L O N G time. Leave her to "deal" with it herself, and when she is in a better place and can stroke my ego again. . .well, then we can talk.
But then I started thinking about it. What is going on in her life that is causing her (or him) to behave this way. Have I even asked? Even if she treated me poorly, did I love her? Jesus loved the people who spit in His face, and mocked Him, and beat Him, and killed Him. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)
Have I cried out for my fellow Christian sister or brother in that way? Or have I rolled my eyes~called them a name~or just not called them at all? Have I been spiritually prideful? This is NOT how I want to live my life for Christ. I want to be set apart from the world. I want to be able to love because HE loved first. The good news is, I have a Savior who forgives therefore, I can ask forgiveness~from Him and from those I have mocked or neglected. Christ humbled Himself on my behalf, and He will give me the strength to humble myself when I need to. How about you?
Monday, August 28, 2006
This isn't happening
OK. I have like 9 freakin hours to find my boy's belt before his first day of school. I cannot screw this up. How do you lose a belt just one and a half days after it was worn. My house is small. I'm talkin' flippin tiny. There are not that many places to hide it. Arggg. I'm so on the ball. I actually ironed pleats into his tiny little pants today. A WHOLE DAY BEFORE HE NEEDED THEM. Lunches are packed. Socks are waiting in shoes. Shapened pencils are all pointy and happy~just waiting to be used. This day will be remembered forever, and do you know what he will remember? Mommy couldn't find the belt, and he was not in proper uniform. All the other kids will be in proper uniform, but no. . .not my kid. His drawers will be droopin, and his shirt will become untucked, and he will forever been known as the ex-homeschool boy.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
My New Adventure
Well. . .tomorrow I am writing my first check to Tall Oaks Christian School. Hurray! I'm sure this just doesn't seem like a big deal to most of you, but homeschooling was all I have ever known. I will really miss my children (believe it or not), but I am so thrilled about the level of education they will be receiving at this school. I just want to send a shout out to Dr. B for having the Lord use him in his ramblings on Christian education. It really had an impact on not only me, but also a close friend of mine who was also wrestling with the whole home/public/private debate.
***Side note. . .when Dr. B had mentioned how in December his children had learned about Kwanzaa and the menorah, but only Santa at Christmas. . .it got me thinking. . .why is that? Then it struck me. Christ is THE truth. It doesn't matter if you teach about Buddha or Kwanzaa or Jewish tradition or Allah. . .it is all false teaching. If people decide to follow these religions as a result of the teaching, who cares? But if Christ was taught and people came to follow Him as a result of it, then that changes everything. Teach whatever you want, but don't mention the "J" word. Doesn't that really have an odor of hate to it? It proves to me (and this is what it boils down to for me~I struggle with needing proof sometimes) that Jesus IS real because just the mention of Him is such a threat to so many people. Buddha is not a threat. Allah is not a threat. Tree worshiping IS NOT A THREAT. Am I making any sense to you?
Back to school. Yippie skippy flapper doodles. I am excited. I do not feel bad at all for having made this decision. I gave it a try. It was fun, but ultimately they can do a better job in some areas, and that is okay. Now I can do the whole first day of school pics, and I can have warm cookies waiting for them, and I can chaperone field trips, and I can play with Liam and Millie (my baby, not my dog. My dog is Pearl, and I don't much care for her). Fun good times.
That reminds me. I never introduced my family. Here it goes.
Ben~my totally hot husband.
Madeline~age 9, very dramatic. Loves dogs and talking a lot.
Elijah (Eli)~almost 6, very cute and talks with a lisp (he is very aware of it and broke my heart when he asked if he would talk normal in heaven)
William (only referred to as Liam. . .unless he is getting in trouble, then it is WILLIAM BLAKE!!!) age 4~he is my trouble, but so, so sly. Totally cute, too.
Amelia (Millie May~because I am a hillbilly that's why) age 2, a very sweet little girl who loves doing little girl things. Yes, I realize that my best friends girl is also Amelia. I loved the name forever~never planned on having any more children~she asked if she could use it~I said yes because there was only a 50% chance I would ever be pregnant again, and only a 50% chance it would be a girl. We took a gamble, and lost five months later. I still had to use the name. I really wanted Hazel though. It will grow on you after about 3 years. Ben hated Hazel. Millie has hazel eyes~I'm still pretty bummed.
***Side note. . .when Dr. B had mentioned how in December his children had learned about Kwanzaa and the menorah, but only Santa at Christmas. . .it got me thinking. . .why is that? Then it struck me. Christ is THE truth. It doesn't matter if you teach about Buddha or Kwanzaa or Jewish tradition or Allah. . .it is all false teaching. If people decide to follow these religions as a result of the teaching, who cares? But if Christ was taught and people came to follow Him as a result of it, then that changes everything. Teach whatever you want, but don't mention the "J" word. Doesn't that really have an odor of hate to it? It proves to me (and this is what it boils down to for me~I struggle with needing proof sometimes) that Jesus IS real because just the mention of Him is such a threat to so many people. Buddha is not a threat. Allah is not a threat. Tree worshiping IS NOT A THREAT. Am I making any sense to you?
Back to school. Yippie skippy flapper doodles. I am excited. I do not feel bad at all for having made this decision. I gave it a try. It was fun, but ultimately they can do a better job in some areas, and that is okay. Now I can do the whole first day of school pics, and I can have warm cookies waiting for them, and I can chaperone field trips, and I can play with Liam and Millie (my baby, not my dog. My dog is Pearl, and I don't much care for her). Fun good times.
That reminds me. I never introduced my family. Here it goes.
Ben~my totally hot husband.
Madeline~age 9, very dramatic. Loves dogs and talking a lot.
Elijah (Eli)~almost 6, very cute and talks with a lisp (he is very aware of it and broke my heart when he asked if he would talk normal in heaven)
William (only referred to as Liam. . .unless he is getting in trouble, then it is WILLIAM BLAKE!!!) age 4~he is my trouble, but so, so sly. Totally cute, too.
Amelia (Millie May~because I am a hillbilly that's why) age 2, a very sweet little girl who loves doing little girl things. Yes, I realize that my best friends girl is also Amelia. I loved the name forever~never planned on having any more children~she asked if she could use it~I said yes because there was only a 50% chance I would ever be pregnant again, and only a 50% chance it would be a girl. We took a gamble, and lost five months later. I still had to use the name. I really wanted Hazel though. It will grow on you after about 3 years. Ben hated Hazel. Millie has hazel eyes~I'm still pretty bummed.
