~ Biblical Parenting in an R-rated World ~

It is no big surprise that we have seriously declined in appropriate entertainment in this country.  Good wholesome movies, shows, and music are getting harder and harder to come upon and even cartoons have to be screened first before letting the kids loose.  I’m stunned at the things parents allow their kids to watch on TV and the music they’re allowed to listen to these days.  Lyrics and shows filled with disrespect for their elders, inappropriate relationships, vile language, immodest clothing, etc.  It is our responsibility as their parents to guard what goes into their minds through entertainment and also calls for some unpopular decisions to be made.  We had to make a tough decision just last night about a video game that we didn’t have peace about. After explaining it to our son, he was in agreement that it, in no way, was beneficial to him. Was he excited about it? No. But he respects our decisions. I am thankful that my children understand the tough decisions we have to make in our home as we follow in obedience to our Heavenly Father.  Though they haven’t always been thrilled about it, they understand that  “everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial” (1 Cor. 10:23). 

Even though it is getting harder to come across good entertainment venues, they are still around. We try to find movies and TV shows that promote wholesome family values and in a lot of cases, great spiritual insight. There are still movies that show respect for people and don’t have to be bleeped out every other word, entertainment that can just be fun. We see the wonderful benefits of these things and the impact it has on attitudes and behaviors.  Just last night, I was watching “Little House on the Prairie” with Caleb and I was moved to tears in just the first few minutes as not only wholesome values were being portrayed, but also strong biblical truths boldly expressed.  The values of families praying together, depending on God for their every need, and serving others by being the hands and feet of Christ.

It was a wake up call that really made me want to be more proactive in the things that are going into my children’s minds and also in my own mind. I want to be able to proclaim Philippians 4:8 boldly which says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

This world is not G-rated anymore! As parents, we have such a brief time with our kids at home to be able to instill biblical, wholesome values in them.  Before we know it, they will be out on their own and we pray that the foundations we set will be ingrained in them in such a way that God is their source when questions arise.  When they are faced with temptations we pray they will have the courage to turn to God instead of what they saw on the mainstream media. When they look for relationships, we pray they find Christ-like qualities in people instead of celebrity looks or behaviors.  When navigating through the difficulties of life, we pray that they use God’s Word as their guide and not succumb to what the news media preaches.

Guiding our children in a dark world is not for the faint of heart.  It is a huge responsibility but also a great honor to direct our children in the truths of God’s Word. We are committed to going the distance no matter how challenging it becomes.  I pray that other parents choose to be unpopular. I pray that other parents will take a stand and be a true parent to their children instead of their best friend. I pray that other parents learn to say “no”, and I pray that other parents find the true joy of parenting in the example we have in our Heavenly Father.

We have one opportunity to parent these precious children! I want to make it count!

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

~ Beautiful Sunset ~

Beautiful sunset to end a beautiful day!

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised." 

Psalms 113:3

~ No Bullies Allowed ~

Well, this week hasn’t gone exactly as my planner had mapped out, but it is what it is and I will make the best of it and give all glory to God! It really does astound me when I set my eyes on my God and the beautiful things he has in store, that the enemy begins bullying me around harder and harder. This is nothing new. That is his plan; to bully me and get me down. Well, I don’t like bullies and I take great pride in beating him down with my arsenal of scripture!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

John 10:10

I began my Monday intent on it being a wonderful day in the Lord; seeing as how it was the first full week of the New Year I was excited to move forward full speed ahead. My, how quickly the enemy wanted to put a damper on things and began throwing darts at me trying to get me down. All day was like that but I kept praying through the shots and firing back with my own ammunition of scripture. Even late Monday night I got a request for prayer from a friend across the country.  I immediately began praying asking God to bind Satan from this situation and typing my prayer out for her and just as I finished, my iPad shut off. The battery had died and when I plugged it in, the prayer was gone. Now, God heard my prayer, of this I am certain, but my friend had not. By this time it was 11:15 and even though I was tired, I was NOT going to let the enemy get the upper hand so I prayed again and typed even more. I pushed send and thanked God for giving me strength to press on in confidence he heard my prayer twice now!

Tuesday began great but started deteriorating as I began getting sick, quickly at that. Ahh, and then the fun of Wednesday morning as I awoke to fever, terrible aches and pains and headed to the doctor early.  I was the second one in line and was still there for 2 hours. Throw in the fun of almost passing out in front of a jammed-packed waiting room full of people and you just have the makings for a great memory! Haha! Then came the diagnosis of flu and being quarantined on bed rest for 5 days, it was time to rearrange life. Shew!  Cheerleading practice, ballgames, work, Ocean Blend, church, meetings, pickup schedules, etc. Let me just say, it is not easy when mama is down. Haha! But thanks to some amazing people in my life who step right in and take over for me. Love them all!  Even through all the chaos, Callie and Caleb stepped up and did their homeschool work (and actually more than needed) without being asked and did extra chores around the house. I am so incredibly blessed by the wonderful family I have.

So by Wednesday night, things had settled down a bit.  I took some time to thank God for giving me strength to stand up to this bully. I praised him for allowing me time to be in His Word a little more.  I do not like being sick, but I will look at this as a way to refuel so I can continue fighting the enemy who tries to bully us and bring us down. I will not wallow in my sickness. I will enjoy precious time in God’s Word, enrich my mind with more reading, and praise my God for rest and healing. I will do all of this with my box of tissues, bottle of Advil and Tamiflu, and lots of liquids!

My God really is AMAZING! My plans don’t always come to fruition, but no matter what the enemy throws my way…. God equips me with a heavenly-sized bat to knock him out of the park! Lol!  No bullies allowed!

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”

Isaiah 54:17a

~ Faith Christian Academy Commences ~

Well, here is the update on Faith Christian Academy's grand opening:

Today went fantastic! All praise to God for paving the way and giving us a great first day! Also, a very special thanks to my mom for supervising my students while I was at work. You see, we are not a traditional homeschool. I know that doesn't surprise most of you seeing that I don't always do things the "normal" way. Yes, God made me different...special. (Or, I guess you could say "special ed" haha!) Anyway, I still have a job that I will continue to work. I love my job and do not feel God has called me away from it. It is a ministry in so many ways and because it is part time it still works wonderful for us to homeschool! 

Caleb is homeschooling full time in 3rd grade and Ben and Callie will homeschool part time and still attend WCA on a part time basis. This way they still have a great opportunity to take some classes and be involved in sports and other activities. Ben is finishing out this semester so he is still in full force till the 18th of this month. The kids go to my mom's house in the morning and get a lot of their work done till I get off at 1:00. Then I take Ben and Callie to 6th and 7th period at WCA and Caleb and I have some teaching time of our own till they get out. Today we enjoyed that time at Starbucks! What a blessing it was having a Bible lesson in the middle of Starbucks having people listen as Caleb read John 10:1-11 out loud! Woohoo! Preach on my brother!

So, this a recap and a brief synopsis for those of you that have asked me how in the world we were going to do this. Now, mind you, this is our current plan and it worked well today! Lol! As we go along, we will continue praying and reevaluating their needs to see what we need to tweak, but we are thankful for a good starting point. I have been so blessed by my sister, my mom, and others who have offered their help as well. God is definitely in the center of this and I would not have it any other way.

Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we move forward. Pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment in the meeting the needs of our kids and that our focus will stay on bringing honor and glory to our most Amazing God! Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers today! They were truly felt and I'm so grateful for you all!

~ A New Walk of Faith ~

Well, today we begin a new journey! We have prepared and we have prayed and now we move forward in faith. Another faith walk in this family. Another call to say, "yes" to our God not knowing all the details and all the "how tos". Another call that demands complete focus and trust on the One who called us to it because the doubts and questions in our own minds and from others around us could hinder the work he set before us. A walk of faith not knowing how long this journey will last. Yes, faith!

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

This morning my mind goes to those men of great faith in scripture; Abraham, Moses, Noah, Isaac, and Jacob. Men who were called by God to do a task but it didn't make sense to those around them. Men who said, "yes" to their God not knowing all the answers. Men who trusted their God and through their faithfulness, God did a tremendous work. God did amazing things through and among them because of their trust and faith. Today, I am thankful for their example. I am thankful God's Word to guide me through the unknown with the promise that He will never leave me and equip me to do the work in front of me. My dependence on God will never end! He is my Rock and to him I give my trust!

So today, Faith Christian Academy begins! A fitting name for the call on our family! We go forth in excitement and anticipation of all the beautiful things God will show us along the way! We praise him for the good and not-so-good days we will have and we trust in his unfailing love!

"For he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord ’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!"

Psalms 117:2 (NLT)

~ Bring on the New Year ~

If you would have told me one year ago today of all the changes that I would encounter during this past year such as, quitting my job at weight watchers, stepping down from the choir and praise and worship team, facilitating women's Bible studies and prayer groups, and homeschooling my kids, I would have thought you were absolutely out of your mind! But I sit here today, one year later, and I am the crazy one! Haha! Wow, the things that can happen in a year!

2012 will definitely be a year that I will never forget! It wasn't the easiest year, as a matter of fact; it was just downright hard! But it was also a year that brought such hope and healing into my life more than ever! It was a year of healing, not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually as well. It was a year of tremendous growth as God shaped and molded my heart closer to his. It was a year of utter surrender and release in closing chapters of my life as God placed new ones in front of me. It was a year of new friendships through the bond of our precious Jesus. It was a year of making a stand in what I truly believe. But more than all of that, it was a year of getting to know the heart of my Savior so deeply and intimately that nothing else mattered. Oh, how I fell in love with him!

As I gathered with my family last night in the last minutes of 2012, we prayed together and thanked our God for the amazing lessons we learned, the blessings we received, and his presence so evident in our lives through the year and we committed 2013 to him. We praised him for the journey in store. Although we don't know what that journey holds, we have confidence that he is in full control of it.

I enter 2013 knowing there is so much work to do. God is not finished with me and I move forward still in a place of surrender to do his will. I know he has called me to be bold this year. I am a woman who says, “yes” to my God and that requires boldness. Bold in speaking his truth, bold in sharing the gospel, bold in standing up for God's Word even if I'm standing alone, bold in stepping out in faith when he calls, and bold in holding to my Biblical convictions in a world that has lost all of its own.  It's not an easy word to stomach but a word that has been etched into my soul for the coming year.  BOLD, for HIM, for HIS glory! I will continue studying his Word for direction and lifting my requests and praises before his throne.

2013 is ALL about him! I go in excitement and anticipation for all that he has in store and I pray God’s richest blessings on you all!

“When I cried out for help, you answered me. You made me bold and energized me.”

Psalms 138:3 (NET)

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.”

Proverbs 28:1 (NLT)

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”

2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV84)

“My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.”

Philippians 1:20 (NET)

“Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.”

Ephesians 6:20 (NET)

“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

~ New Year's Eve Traditions ~

I love New Year's Eve! This is a day that we sit down as a family and talk about the past year and discuss the upcoming new year.  We talk about the many things God did in our lives and give him praise. We talk about the challenges we faced and how we handled them. Did we give them to God or try to handle them in our own strength? We talk about the victories we experienced and who received the glory for it. We talk about our mistakes and what we can learn from them. But most importantly, we pray together and praise God for seeing us through another year, the good times and the bad.  We seek his face, together, in moving forward to another year in hopes that we will grow closer to him, closer as a family, and honor him with our hearts, lives, and service.  Together we close the year that is now in the past and commit this new year to him, to walk in his will no matter where that leads and to be bold for the cause of Christ!

"Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold."

2 Corinthians 3:12 (NLT)

"I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever."

 Psalms 145:2 (NLT)

What about your family! What New Year's traditions does your family have? I would love to hear them. Please share.........