Home School Spaces

It truly is amazing the difference a functional learning space makes! Although I've been homeschooling for years, I've never had a space that "worked" for us. When we lived in Georgia with just one little learner, we set up a tiny space in an upstairs dormer window nook. It was cute in a kind of Owl-house-of-the Hundred Acre Wood-way, but cute isn't always functional. Let's just say as I grew with a second pregnancy, that space became really, really small. 

Our home in Florida had a quirky little "library area" outside the children's rooms. There was a wall of great shelves and cabinets; but with everyone going through the space to our main entry, we could not leave anything out or risk tripping and trampling. Besides, three kiddos, with a mama toting number four soon made that space impossible. 

So, we set up shop in our sunroom. The sunroom was not heated or cooled, and temperature was a huge issue. It worked well in October, okay in November, some days in December, not so much any other month except March. Still, we had to make do, and somehow we had fun learning moments there. At least it was large enough to accommodate 4 kiddos and a mama carrying one more. 

Planning our Missouri move (another story altogether!) our house miraculously sold in four days! With my husband in a hotel in Missouri, we were homeless. I loaded up the kiddos and moved in with our precious friends where we started school in her upstairs theater. (A beautiful space, for which I was immensely grateful!)

Our house hunt was centered around 3 things, land, an actual laundry room and a homeschool room. We looked and looked and found nothing. One weekend Dan called to say he'd found a house with almost five acres, a bedroom sized laundry and a huge open space for school. My friend and I sat at her kitchen table and walked "virtually" room by room with my husband as he toured the house with our agent. He described each room as he went, showing me the possibilities. We needed to settle on something due to our upcoming adoption, so although the outside of the house is a little "colorful" and the inside needed paint (in every room) as well as carpet, the house was only 4 years old and a great space. He made the offer; it was accepted, and I saw it for the first time at inspections. 

By this time we'd moved to Missouri and were schooling in a townhouse. (Super funny memories.) When we were able to move in, we painted everything we could, changed carpet and completed our adoption. We finished schooling for the year, but we hadn't quite made the room functional. Sooo, this year, I worked like a madwoman with the help of the kids, my husband and our precious neighbor, to finally make a fun, functional space to learn. Here is the tour. ( I love virtual homeschool room tours!) 

I found this great table at Tuesday Morning on clearance for less than $200!

The chairs came from a little antique store in town. They were brown till my sweet friend helped me give them an antique robin's egg finish. The color came from the new rug. I found the rug at Ross for $109. (So exciting! It's huge and colorful!) 

 

Precious canvas painted by my daughter.   Our theme verse reminds us we are anchored by Jesus and launching out to discover all He has for us to learn and grow! 

Our reading/ listening corner with fluffy pillows (from Tuesday Morning) a cubbie bench, and chalkboard (free plywood from Home Depot painted with chalkboard paint from Joann's). We attached the board to the back of our other set of cubbie shelves from Target. The map rug is from Biglots. I think it was only $10.

Our craft table/continent wall/ cubbie area. This table has floated around our house for YEARS. At one time IT was the homeschool table! I paid $5 for it at a yard sale- great investment! On the right, vintage tin cans, from another local antique shop hold chalk and erasers. (Love those!) 

Our high school "lockers"! We love this new addition! I wanted real lockers, but did not want to pay $150 for them; so my husband and I found this antique "pantry" at yet another local shop for $52! The kids love it! 

Calendar corner, comprised of a display board and foam mats (less than $10 from Five Below). We also use the square mat for Lego play. This keeps Legos contained and makes for easier cleanup. 

The largest investment in the room was the library wall. It covers the whole wall behind the table. Desperate for a spot to house our huge library of books (which we use daily) I saw a similar display on Pinterest and was determined to try it. My friend and I walked into Jo-Ann's, saw a crate display and politely asked if they would dismantle it to sell us every crate they had. With my coupons and discounts, I paid about $300; but compared to the thousands for real wood bookcases, my husband was pleased with my purchase...That is, until I sent him on a citywide search for more crates because I had misjudged the space! We love the finished product and had no problems moving all the books for our recent wall painting. 

 

This antique Scrabble board has a lazy Susan base and is perfect for spelling practice. Plus, it's just fun! 

Maybe you're just starting out on your homeschool journey, or maybe you, like me, have struggled for years to settle into a space that works for your family. I hope  this little visit into our schoolroom gives you ideas to try for your own space. I'm so thankful to have a spot that allows us to learn and grow together each day! Praying your spot will become all you need for your everyday. Although, I'm incredibly thankful and happy with our new space, I know that our togetherness over the years in big or small spaces, has been the greatest blessing of all. 

Nehemiah...Lessons for Life Building

Nehemiah is a powerful book nestled between the Old Testament prophet Ezra's account of God's release of His people from Babylonian captivity and God's protection of His people from Persian slaughter in the book of Esther. Reading through all three books gives us an amazing picture of God's mercy, His restoration, His rebuilding and His fierce protection. 

My children and I just completed Nehemiah by reading a chapter each day. I was blown away by the depth of Truth they were able to grasp from every chapter. The older ones contemplated the teaching while the littles ones were captivated by the action. 

Chapter by chapter revealed a new Truth for us to apply in our everyday lives. We recorded each one on a chart and talked about ways we can incorporate them in every area of life. 

Chapter one: Recognition and Confession. Recognize what is broken and confess your part in it. 

Chapter two: Step up. Count the cost. Volunteer to work at rebuilding. Examine what is needed, how long it will take and make provisions for your current responsibilities. 

Chapter three: Work together. Each person has a gift or talent to bring to the task. Encourage others in their gifts and put them in a place of service.

Chapter four: Have a mind to work. Remember The Lord.  Our God will fight for us. 

Chapter five: Fear God. Be generous.

Chapter six: Do not fear man or circumstances. Pray this: "God strengthen my hands."

Chapter seven: Work in an orderly manner. Be faithful. Fear God.

Chapter eight: Obey God. Love His Word. 

Chapter nine: Separate yourself to holiness. Confess your sin. Stand up and bless The Lord your God.

Chapter ten: Do not neglect the house of God. 

Chapter 11: Bless those who willingly offer themselves to step out in obedience and sacrifice. Be a person worthy of that blessing.

Chapter 12: Rejoice with great joy-as a family-rejoice!

Chapter 13: Guard your gates. Put your spiritual house in order. Take a firm, concrete stand against sin and temptation. Never back down! 

We enjoyed learning these Truths. my desire is for them to take deep root in our hearts. I pray we, like Nehemiah, will be builders of God's people, as well as rebuilders of the broken down places. 

Running Behind

I can't get used to this Midwestern weather. One day, the sun is brightly shining and running in shorts feels just right. The next day it's cloudy, windy and about 30 degrees colder...not pleasant.

Last week was an experience of weather extremes and I was not in the mood to run in it. My husband talked me into layering up and lacing up. We headed out and grumpiness hit my heart as soon as the chilly wind hit my face. I began to complain...loudly.

As we rounded a turn, my husband ran in front of me. At first I thought he was tired of hearing me whine about the cold, but then I realized he was blocking me from the full force wind we had turned into at the corner.

I ran behind him for a while, thankful for the break from the cold, until my grumpy heart had another complaint. I couldn't see ahead of me. And I didn't like not seeing where we were going. All I could see was my husband, running ahead of me, out in front, choosing our path. Hmmm, comfort or control. My bad attitude cried out for both. I could not be satisfied with comfort because I could only focus on lack of control.

In that moment, God spoke to my heart. He called me to look at my discontentment on this run and consider it as a reflection on my life run with Him. Ouch. I realized how often my heart cries out for control. God stays in front of me, shielding me from the icy onslaught of the world and I become grumpy because I can't see ahead, I can't choose the path.

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is Ps. 25:4. It says, "Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your path." Not only is He willing to teach me His wondrous ways and to show me His providential paths, but Jesus is willing to take the full force of any icy wind blowing my way.

Why do I keep trying to run up front? Because my nature thinks it knows a better way and my feet blindly follow my selfish flesh, leaving my heart out in the cold.

I'm learning to run behind The most Elite Runner of all time on this race of life. Hebrews 12 tells me Jesus has run this course before, knows the path, chooses to run before us and shields us from dangers we won't ever have to see. Although I often can't see what's up ahead and I have to trust Jesus to choose the path, running behind really is the way to get ahead.

Out of the Blue

On this last journey through toddler years, I'm soaking in every new phase. To me, each progressive stage of newborn to elementary age is fascinating, but the one we're in now just sends me over the moon.

My littlest Little is five, just stretching into his five year old britches, with a mind and personality that are both a bit bigger. I adore watching his unique personality develop. He's quite the charmer when he chooses to be.

More than a budding charisma, I love watching his heart decipher the big thoughts in his little mind. Daily, he has questions, deep questions. He longs to understand, to piece together the stories of Scripture he's learning with the heart of their message.

On a recent vacation, we were nestled together as a family in a tiny, touristy ice cream shop. I turned to see my little man with a far off look in his eye, and from that out of the blue place came this question, "Mom, were the people who made the Titanic like the people who built the Tower of Babel?"

Uh...Gulping my frozen yogurt and pushing aside the fact that no one was speaking of the Titanic or a tower of any sort, I tried to get to the heart of his question. "Do you mean were they prideful?" He nodded with the most urgent look on his face, as if to say, "This is important. I've got to get this pride thing. It's big and it's bad and I think I might understand it." "Well, yes, "I replied, "They thought they could make the biggest and the best and the unsinkable. They didn't listen, so, yes that was prideful." He nodded, this time in affirmation to himself of the connection made in his mind and heart. And with that he went back to his single sized scoop and his triple sized thoughts.

Oh! I want to linger with him in that out of the blue place where his eyes are opening to spiritual things. It's a beautiful place. It's the place he goes to each morning in devotions when he listens with such intensity that his facial expressions react to the drama of the text. As we studied the events leading up to the crucifixion, he focused on every scene of the upper room. In his mind he was there.
It's a breathtaking thing to watch.

As a mom, my heart cries out to God to continue to woo this little one with His Word. I pray his fascination with it, his focus on the details of each passage, will never fade. My biggest prayer though is that God's Word will continue to connect with his heart.

I wonder why we can't all be like my little man, living in that out of the blue place where our hunger to understand compels us to match what we see in the world with the message of the Word. Why can't we rise above all that is taking place around us to see Jesus and let His Truth be our reality? Is it because we've stepped out of the blue and into the gray? Everything we once simply understood, believed at face value, depended on in childlike faith has somehow gotten lost out there in the murky gray of the foggy teaching of the world.

So how do we go forward, through the haze? We go back, back to the simple, but profound Truths of the Scripture. Instead of seeking more of the world in flesh, we seek more of the Word made flesh. We seek Jesus. We ask Him those out of the blue questions to bring clarifying connections in our heart and mind. He's promised if we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him. If there is anyone who seeks with all their heart, it's a child. Their determined focus is amazing. Just think about when they want a new toy. They seek a relenting yes and focus until they get the desired answer.

I believe this is the way Jesus would have us live. As a matter of fact, focusing on a child Jesus set in their midst, He taught the disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" Matt. 18:3).

Let's go there, to that out of the blue place where we see life, death, family, friends, strangers, enemies, work, home, church, everything, as Jesus sees them; connecting His Truth to our circumstances and trusting in His answer to be the only Answer we ever need. And contemplating it all over a frozen yogurt just might help.

Suffering for the Good

Through my high school years, I was privileged to sit under my dad's Bible teaching in Sunday school and in my youth group. Many of the deep truths and funny stories he shared stand out in my mind. He had a way of making the Bible come alive as he taught.

Most fixed in my mind is his account of the crucifixion. I remember when he came to the verses describing Jesus' suffering on the cross, he would step away from his podium to give us a visual of the passages.

Dad would take us to the garden to envision Jesus agonizing in prayer as His disciples nearby succumbed to sleep. Dad described in detail the great blood drops of sweat as Jesus pleaded with the Father to remove the cup from Him. He made sure we understood that cup contained the wrath of God against every sin we would ever commit. We could not begin to imagine such horror. Dad pointed to Jesus' heart of submission as He said, "Not My will, but Yours, be done."
Moving from disciples who slept to one who betrayed, we "saw" the kiss of Judas in the garden of Gethsemene; Satan slithering through the twisting of olive branches.

Dad would continue through the night time mockery of judicial proceedings, detailing Peter's cowardly denial, the enraged beatings, blaspheming, spitting, slapping, laughing, abusing of the body of our Savior. Then, he would describe the crown brought by soldiers, huge, stabbing thorns, twisted into a circle and pushed down, piercing the head of that bowed to the Father on their behalf.

We heard of the scourging, tearing of flesh by shards of bone attached to leather strips, repeated until flesh, muscle and nerves were shredded. At times, Dad's descriptions were too much to bear.

He went on to explain the cross, where Jesus willingly lay Himself down. Nails, spikes really, driven between bones in His wrists and ankles. Then, he demonstrated how Roman guards, adept at tortuous killing, hoisted the cross and dropped it into a hole, ripping through flesh at the nail sites. In hanging, Jesus had to pull Himself up with suspended, extended, fatigued arm muscles to breathe every breath. Yet, using every ounce of strength, He spoke words of comfort from the cross, concerning forgiveness, provision for His mother, assurance of salvation to a dying thief, and agony in thirst.

The most heart-wrenching words ever spoken came from His lips in hours of complete darkness as God the Father turned His face from His only Son, Who had become sin for us. As Jesus cried, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" At this point in Dad's lesson, I could no longer take it. Jesus, perfect, blameless, hanging there in utter darkness, in a state of complete isolation that I will never have to comprehend. Too much.

Dad came to the end of the lesson, recounting Jesus' last words from the cross, "It is finished." Holding my breath, I remember one question rising from the depth of my soul, "Why?" I wanted to know why He had to suffer so much agony. I knew blood was required. I understood sacrifice; but suffering, like that? Why? After all, Dad reminded us He could have called "more than twelve legions of angels" to stop the torture at any moment (Matt. 26:53).

Hebrews 12:2-4 explains Jesus despised the shame of the cross, yet He chose to endure. Why? I've found my answer in passages like 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him Who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

I also learned why from 1 Peter 2:21-24, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously; Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."

He suffered to endure every type of suffering you and I could ever experience, abuse, hate, false accusation, beatings, nakedness, humiliation, betrayal, abandonment, loneliness, physical, emotional, spiritual agony, death.
Hebrews 5:8 says, "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. He suffered to identify with us. We suffer to identify with Him. In dying, He showed us how to live in a world suffering as a result of sin. He suffered to raise our dead hearts to righteous life in Him.

Ultimately, the answer is found in Isaiah 53:10, "Yet, it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. " It pleased God to make Him suffer in our stead. His stripes were necessary so that we could be eternally healed. Through His suffering, our broken souls are made whole. Amen.
Hosanna...Jesus saves!

Little Brothers

I remember the "new mommy" days after bringing home each of my five newborn babies from the hospital. Sleepless nights, new schedules, exhausting days, sweats and no makeup, longing to see friends, figuring out a new normal with a growing family.

I also remember the joy of watching siblings bond with a new little brother or sister. One of my most treasured memories is of four precious little ones huddled around their baby brother after waiting days for him to come home from the NICU. Three sisters, two brothers melting together into the heart of our family. My friend calls them "the clump".

Through the years, I have been adamant about their continued bonding. Watching them grow as friends fills my heart with joy. So, when our new addition was welcomed in just a few short months ago, I wondered. What will happen? To be honest, as I watched the shifting dynamic of the clump, my heart grieved a little. I truly worried about how he would fit. How would he become one of them, one of us?

In many ways, bringing our little guy home has been the exact same as those new mommy moments with a baby. Sleepless nights, new schedules, exhaustion, sweats and no makeup, even longing to spend time with friends have all been a part of this journey. Don't get me wrong, there has been sweetness in and throughout these new days of adjustment.
It is just a process, an ocean of unchartered waters. And I tend to get nervous when things get wavy.

But today, I heard the sweetest words so far...Our new little guy came to tell me something our youngest had done and he said, "My little brother is so silly." The significance of his own words wasn't lost on him as he quietly repeated, "My little brother..." "Yeah, buddy," I thought, "Your little brother is silly...and you're just like him! Silly as the day is long." Sweet realization sweeping over both of us.

God truly sets the orphan in families. He doesn't just drop them off and move on to the next one. With the gentle pressure of His great Potter's hands, He molds, makes and forms us together in one big, beautiful (and yes, even silly) clump. I'm so thankful God chooses to clump us together in physical families and in His spiritual family as well. I'm learning to bond with new family members in my house and in His. I just can't wait till heaven when we get to be one great big family clump at the throne of Jesus!

Vera Ate my Bible

Today I had the ultimate first-world problem...My Bible ribbon on my Vera Bradley Bible cover got stuck in the zipper! I literally could not get my Bible open! I couldn't get to the Word.

Now, I have numerous other copies of God's Word, but the one inside my purple cover is MY Bible. It's the one I use for devotion, for study and for church. I love my Bible. Not having the ability to get to it was frustrating.

In the middle of desperately trying to pry the pink ribbon from the grip of zipper teeth, it hit me that there are believers throughout our world who cannot get to God's Word. Their hindrances are far more serious than a Bible trapped inside a $28 Bible cover. Their hindrances are no Bibles in their language, copies that must be shared with numerous other believers, threats of prison, beatings, torture and death if they are found with a copy...Wow.

Their reality puts my "problem" in crystal clear perspective. These people fight fear and brave suffering just to have a portion of the Bible we often take for granted. I'm so very thankful God promises to be found by those who seek Him. Choosing to give in to my frustration this morning and walk into my day without the Word is not an option.


So, I took out another copy of God's Word and read these words from Jesus in John 17:7-17:


"Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.

For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

I pray for them.

I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.

Holy Father, keep through Your name those whim You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name...

But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

They are not of this world, just as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

So, how do we help persecuted believers, blocked from access to the Word?

We pray for them, like Jesus.

We read, study and teach our copy of the Word.

We let the Word set us apart from the World.

If God calls, we go to them and serve them however we can.

We remember them and call on others to pray for God's Word to spread and for God's people to be kept from the evil one.

There is a powerful new book out called The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken. Read it. It will change your heart.

Now, I'm going to find some pliers for Ms. Vera's teeth...

No Place Like Home

As Dorothy clicks her ruby slippers, closes her eyes and says, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home," my heart whispers that same sentiment.

As a child, Dorothy and her yellow-brick-road adventure played in my mind as brightly as the technicolor that splashed over Oz. In my childhood, home was a stable, dependable place. It seemed permanent with roots dug deep. It's no wonder that the first tug on those deeply planted roots was the toughest. God not only tugged, He uprooted my little family and moved us to a sandy place where my roots couldn't grab on so tightly.

Yet, He called and He caused us to bloom where He planted us. Bloom indeed. There our family grew, ministry grew and budding friendships blossomed in the golden sun. Just when I thought my roots could spread, He tugged again.

This time His transplanting was swift and much more painful. And again, He called us to bloom. He grew our family, a new ministry and even budding friendships. I know God is in control and I don't doubt He moved us for His glory, but at times I'm still looking for the slippers...

While there's a part of my heart that longs to stay in the same place, surrounded by generations of family and friends, I'm learning to plant my roots deep in soil I can't see. I'm discovering that my longing for home isn't a longing for any place on this earth. That unsettled, homeless feeling in my heart is the way it's supposed to be. 1 Peter 2:11 reminds us we are "strangers and pilgrims" on this earth. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us God has placed "eternity in our hearts". Psalm 84:5 says, "Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage." Although God commands contentment in whatever state we may be, He doesn't call us to be home in any place but Heaven.

My home is not found by skipping down a yellow brick road to an Emerald city where 3 clicks of my ruby slippers will magically transport me. It's found in following the narrow path made of dust mixed with blood, leading to a Roman cross where 3 nails were driven into divine flesh and my eternal Home was secured by the death of Jesus.

Each day on this earth is an opportunity to point the way Home to travelers tempted by the glitz of a fairy tale city. I always cried when Dorothy woke to realize Oz had only been a dream. I don't know why. Maybe it was because she had to go through so much to finally believe the truth of her words. Dorothy's heartfelt declaration to those surrounding her is the Truth we should all declare to those around us. They need to know and believe there really is no place like Home. I can't wait to see God's children bloom there.

Coming Down to the Messy

Moses was a man like no other. Hidden away, protected at birth, adopted by royalty, raised in wealth, God uniquely prepared him for the leadership and spiritual guidance of His people.

Finding himself on the run after a guttural reaction of violence, Moses ended up tending sheep as a virtual nobody in the middle of nowhere. Until one day when a bush caught a flame that could not be extinguished. And the voice of God spoke from that flame. And an unquenchable fire was ignited inside the heart of Moses. Everything changed.

I've often wondered why God chose a burning bush as the sign of His calling. I think it was a demonstration of His dominion over nature and its elements. Moses had to see this from the start because he had grown up in the midst of a people given over to idols who they believed controlled nature for good or for evil. To appease their gods meant possibility for bumper crops or for drought prevention, or for family fertility. God showed Moses there is no other god in control of anything but the great I Am.

Moses would see God work miracles in nature throughout the next forty years. By His works, nations would know His name. One such miracle was the tremendous activity of nature as God called Moses to come up for a personal meeting atop the mountain of Sinai. Now journeying up any mountain is difficult at best. There's risk, there's resistance, there's even reservation. Yet, the result of reward in mountaintop exhilaration drives a climber upward.

God called Moses up and he pressed on to the top, through thick smoke and darkness miraculously appearing at His presence. God spoke with Moses. Moses spoke with God. Exodus 24:18 says Moses' mountaintop experience lasted 40 days and 40 nights...And in those days and nights, God revealed mysteries and Truths about Himself no man had ever known. It was beyond life-changing. It was eternity- changing.

Still, Moses had to leave and come back down the mountain. Often the return trip is just as treacherous as the trip up. If a climber isn't careful his foot can slip, causing him to reach bottom quicker, but much less intact, than intended. Once down the mountain, there's a whole different struggle. The climber's view has been altered. On the mountaintop, God is near and people are far. The presence of God is huge and people are tiny. On the ground, people are big and God's presence among them may seem small. Air at the top is clear, crisp and clean. A ground-level full of people is messy.

Moses descended his mountaintop to find the people in a mess of idol worship. The same God Who called him up is the same God Who sent him back down with a purpose to minister in the messy. We see Moses cleaned up the place and his people, and begged God not to remove His presence from them. God promised.

In his second mountain climb, God revealed even more of His glory to Moses. As Moses made his way back down to the people, he was not only transformed on the inside, he was changed on the outside as well. He saw people differently. People saw him differently. His face shone with the glory of The Lord, so brightly that he had to wear a veil over his face. This time Moses saw the people through the veil. And in the messy, Moses ministered.

Often in my mountaintop experiences with the Lord, I don't want to leave. Looking down at the messy, I can't see how to minister. I want to stay and bask in the miracle of His presence. But God has a job for me, for all of us, to do back on ground level. He sends us down with a mission, keeps our feet from slipping and allows us to see His miraculous hand at work, even in the messy places. From Moses I've learned to look for God's glory on the mountaintop, ask Him to use His glory to transform me, and to purposely see people differently. If I begin to see them through the Veil, through Jesus, then, I'll see clearly how to minister in the messy.

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and out bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. " Heb. 10:19-23

Positioned for Healing

"He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." Psalm 62:6

As a sixth grader, I had dreams of becoming a gold medalist in a newly created Olympic sport--figure roller skating. I was certain I could petition the IOC to add the sport and would practice on our back patio for hours to be ready for my debut. Unfortunately, a freak accident involving a crack in my neighbor's driveway ended my visions of glory. I was performing my best practice moves while waiting for my friend to lace up her skates, when suddenly my wheel caught and there was nothing to break my fall but my arms...Break they did, both of them. Ouch.

With two broken arms, immobilized in a cast on one and a bulky brace on the other, I could do nothing for myself. It was humbling, frustrating and exasperating. Thankfully, family and friends helped in any way they could. They wrote for me, fed me and my best friend's mom even washed my hair for me. Yet, the one thing I needed most, they could not do. They could not heal my arms.

After six long weeks of wearing a cast, we went to the doctor who determined my right arm still wasn't healed. So, he repositioned my arm with my wrist bent wrapping it in another cast to hold it in this awkward position. My friend thought it would be a great idea to draw eyes and a forked tongue so that when i lifted my arm it would look like a cobra. I was not amused. I couldn't understand why the first cast had not done the job of healing my arm. It didn't occur to me until my arm was frozen in the new position, encased in a new cast, that the plaster itself did nothing to heal me, except for hold my arm still, protected from outside danger, and in position for the healing to take place on the inside.

As we are learning more about our newly adopted little guy, we're discovering he has some broken places. Any time a child becomes an orphan, there are broken places. As much as I thought being in our family would bring immediate healing on some level, I've come to realize we are just the cast. It's our job to position him for the healing that will come from God alone. We are here to hold him in a still place, encase him in our love, protect him from outside danger and wait for healing on the inside. It will take time. It is humbling, may be frustrating and could even become exasperating at times, but it is eye-opening, heart-opening, even.

As I see broken places in my son, I see broken places that were in my own heart as well. I'm thankful that during times of brokenness, God allowed others to encase me in their love and by their prayers, position me at the foot of His throne for healing to take place on the inside.

On this journey, I'm learning to let God mold me, just like the plaster of a cast, and use me however He sees fit. I'm thankful the healing is in His hands. He is the Great Physician, after all. If you desire healing for someone you love, pray about how you can step back from trying to be the healer yourself and ask God to make you the cast. Then wait for the One Who comes, "with healing in His wings."

Covenant Friendship

I'm fascinated by the entangling of lives that happens in friendship. It's easy to see friendship is a true gift of God; however, the grasping of that gift often isn't easy at all. Totally unexpected and unplanned, this week I will be teaching all 3 Bible classes on the same subject: friendship. We are studying the life of David in two classes and the book of Ruth in one. It just so happens that in both studies we'll be digging deep into the rich soil where friendship is planted...commitment in Christ.

In both studies we are examining the two most complex, most wholehearted, most committed declarations of friendship ever made between two people in Scripture. Apart from friendship granted to us by God through salvation in Christ, the covenant made between David and Jonathan and the declaration bond between Naomi and Ruth are the deepest commitment to friendship we will ever see. Covenant friendship, friendship of the heart, is the gift God intended for His Body to exhibit in the world. Yet, I dare to say there are few Christian women who truly grasp the gift. We often have token friends, who share the same hobbies or interests. We can certainly have fun together participating in or talking about those outside shared interests; but when we walk away from our time together we realize we don't know very much about the inside of our friend at all. Then we have location friends, those who are where we are in life, in neighborhoods, at jobs, in schools, in sports activities. We get together around a common purpose, we meet, we talk, we grill out, we cheer on our team, but we never dip below the surface to discover the life journey that brought us to our common place. We also have church friends, the ones we see a few times each week. We go to Bible study together, sing worship songs together, share preschool duty and bring potluck lunches together, but we never share what Jesus means to us, how desperately we need Him. We close our Bibles, pick up our casserole dishes and go home to live out our busy lives apart, until we see each other at church again. All of these types of friendship have one thing in common: they don't have any HEART.

A HEART friendship is one that Honors Jesus at the center, is built by Encouragement in the Word, is an Accountability relationship, not dodging the tough questions. As friends, there is a common desire to Reach the world. A HEART friends consistently Takes the other to the Throne of God in prayer. I am so very thankful for the gift of covenant HEART friendships in my life.

These are the women who, like Ruth, have gone the distance with me when I, like Naomi, didn't make the distance fun. They have run to find me to strengthen me in The Lord when my heart, like David's, has become weary in the battle. They have rejoiced with me like Naomi when God has planted me in just the right field like Ruth. They have cried with me like Jonathan when God said it was time to move away, like David. We have prayed the deep, soul-starving, God-seeking prayers together and for one another. We have laughed and danced like the king in the Presence of our God. These women have confronted me in moments when my heart was confused at the hearing of the Truth my head was screaming. They have given me wisdom greater than their years. They have served me meals when I was sick. They have served with me as His hands and feet and mouthpiece as we have loved, given to and taught women in the Word together. I know and have full confidence that like Ruth's declaration to Naomi and David's covenant to Jonathan, my people are their people and my children will always have a place at their table. I am so very grateful for covenant friendships of the HEART.

My prayer as I stand before the women this week and we walk with these four Biblical friends, is that each of them discover the gift of a covenant friend in our midst with whom they can share their HEART. I pray the same for you today. If you have this gift of friendship, I rejoice with you. If not, look to Jesus and ask Him to show you the gift He has waiting. It may be someone you least expect. After all, a tired, elderly Jewish widow never expected a vibrant young woman from a pagan background to take up so much joy space in her heart.
And the royal heir apparent never expected to pledge his allegiance to a shepherd boy successor. Yet, God orchestrated the exchange of friendship gifts between them and left us beautiful footsteps to follow in our heart journey to and with our friends.

"By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." John 13:35


Sweet friendship,
Stephanie

Action Plan

Today we went to the doctor for my daughter's asthma. It was the 2nd visit in two weeks. I was frustrated. But, this visit was different. Today the doctor gave us an "action plan". It involves using a breathing meter to see where she is on a measured scale, two inhalers, allergy medicine and an asthma journal. We're on it. Having an action plan helps me feel like we're making headway on this sometimes overwhelming and confusing journey. Life can can be an overwhelming and confusing journey as well. At times, it leaves me feeling as if I can't breathe. That's why I need my own action plan, a spiritual action plan. Everyday, I need to pray and ask God to assess my heart, showing me clearly where I am on His measured scale. Then I need a heavy dose of His Word, breathing deeply and letting it fill my spiritual lungs completely. I need to guard against those caustic things in life that cause reactions in my heart and mind. And, I need to keep a record of all God is doing in my life. I need to daily record prayers, praises, questions and answers found in His Word. Then and only then, after I've followed the plan, I can breathe freely, deeply, fully, enjoying life at full speed. My daughter's plan will cost us at the pharmacy counter. My Father's plan cost Him at the cross. I'll gladly pay the price for hers. I'm so very thankful that Jesus paid the price for mine.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" Eph. 1:7

The Way I See It

I took a blurry walk down memory lane today. A trip to a new eye doctor reminded me of the first time I went at age 14. Up until that time no one knew I had a vision problem. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know I had a vision problem. I thought my distorted view of the world was the way everyone else saw it. I'll never forget the day everything changed. Instead of glasses, my doctor started me out right away with contacts. Once I finally mastered the art of sticking a foreign object in my eye and keeping it there, I was set. I met my friends for our morning jaunt to the bus stop, when suddenly I saw something I had never seen before...leaves...on trees. I did not know people could actually SEE the individual leaves on trees. The trees in my world looked exactly like I had drawn them in the first grade; brown stumps with large green circles on top. But, now, in this whole new world I not only saw leaves, but actual blades of grass! I thought for sure I was seeing something no one else could see thanks to my miracle-working eye doctor. I grabbed the arms of my friends beside me, waved my hands frantically in the air, saying, "Do you see this??? Leaves, can you see the leaves???" After glancing at one another with an "I knew she had issues" look, they explained the leaves had been there, individually, all along. And, yes, they have always been able to see them. Grass blades too. Wow...I was floored. How had these wonders been all around me for my whole life and I had never seen them? That day was full of new discoveries and incredible revelations. It makes me think of the blind man given sight by Jesus in Mark 8:22-25. Jesus spit on his eyes and put His hands on the man, asked if he could see and the man responded, "I see men like trees walking." Then Jesus touched His eyes again and made him look up. Miraculously, the man was healed and could see everything clearly. I don't know why Jesus chose to heal the man in stages. I especially wonder about the blurry moment in between total darkness and perfect clarity. If Jesus had chosen to leave him in that state, his sight would have been better than before, but definitely impaired and incomplete. Yet, the man would probably think everyone saw the world the way he did and he never would have seen the face of Jesus clearly in front of him. When we blur the lines between the fleshly and the spiritual, we see "men like trees walking," or brown stumps with green circles on top. We begin to believe that everyone else sees things the way we do, so we never look up, never reach for clarity, never really seek Jesus. Through our blurred misperception, we miss God's hand in the world, and more tragically, we can't see Jesus standing right in front of us. But, if we point our face toward Jesus, and in submission, close our eyes behind His hands, He will perform a miraculous healing of our sight. Then when He gives the command to look up, we'll see the face of Jesus, clearly; maybe even for the very first time. And the sight of our Great Healer will change everything...Forever. Oh yeah, just for the record, I had a great check up; one more year without bifocals!

Mommy war

Last night we had a break-in. It wasn't the criminal type of break-in; it was much worse. It was an Enemy break-in. And I was mad. Somehow the door to the mind of one of my children was left unlocked and the Enemy invaded, ransacked that little mind and poured words out of the unguarded mouth. The words were wrong, inappropriate, and completely unexpected. And I was furious. Just like a break-in through my front door would leave me feeling vulnerable and helpless, I sat down in the middle of the mess and started to sink into what I perceived as helplessness... Until I realized the feeling inside of me wasn't one of vulnerability . I wasn't feeling helpless. I was feeling furious. At the Enemy. And God spoke, reminding me of the Truth, "Greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world."As I fell asleep in prayer, God gave me a battle plan. This morning He handed me His Sword. Then, I went to war. All day long I saturated the children in the Word. We put aside the bulk of math and science and focused on the Bible. We talked about our thoughts and words and prayed and made up hand motions with our memory verse. I downloaded a playlist of music with Scripture as the lyrics to play all night in their rooms while they sleep. All of this may sound extreme, and it is. War is extreme. As a mom, as a Christian, I can't forget I'm also a warrior. Ephesians 6 instructs us:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This same chapter reminds me to pray and keep on praying. I'm thankful for a God Who listens when I pray and promises we are "more than conquerers through Him Who loved us." So I have my armor, I'm wielding my Sword, and I'm trusting Him for the victory.

Running for Home

My runner-girl daughter is training hard up in these hills. Yesterday she ran up and over the monstrous hills surrounding our house with determination in her heart. The temperature was below freezing, but somehow she managed to run her fastest time ever for the distance she covered. She's preparing to run a race in the Spring; but the race is not her ultimate goal. Her goal is to be home. The race takes place back home in Florida and she desperately wants to be "home" running with her sweet friends. And so no matter what the day holds, she trains, gets out there and she gives it all she's got. No. Matter. What. Her discipline got me to thinking; what if I lived like she trains. Paul says in Philippians 3:14,
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
What if we pressed on, persevered, endured no matter what the day holds?
What if we pushed for the goal, the upward call, which is defined as the "invitation" of God and we did so in Christ? What if our goal truly became running Home? And what if we ran with the purpose of being surrounded by sweet friends who we've invited to join in the run with us by sharing the Gospel with them? If Heaven becomes our daily goal we will run our lives in a completely different way. My daughter makes sacrifices each day as she chooses to do the hard work of training over the comfort or enjoyment of taking it easy. She has a plan to go farther and get stronger on her run. She also measures everything else in her day by how it will affect her training. What if we willingly made sacrifices daily to do the hard work of discipleship? What if we made a plan to live stronger Christian lives with boldness? What if we thought about how everything in our day affects our Christian growth? Oh! Picture what our race would look like as we accept God's invitation to press hard toward Heaven. It would look like a Hebrews 12:1-3 kind of run..."Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
We would be casting off sin, keeping a steady pace and craving the sight of Jesus. We'd be focused and running hard for home. If this is how we plan to live and really begin to live the plan, we will be surrounded by sweet friends, all running home with us where the prize is the Ultimate...The greatest Prize is Jesus. What do you need to change, to start (or stop) doing today to press toward the goal? What will you do to start running hard for Home? I don't know about you, but I'm ready to lace up my running shoes and get out there, hills and all! I'll be looking for you on the road...

Dancing in the Grace Place

I have a confession to make...I've been dancing. That's right, my very Baptist self and I have been dancing. You see, these past few months have been unbelievably difficult. My heart has struggled many times just to keep beating, my lungs to keep breathing...tough days. The challenges of a huge move, new home, new church, new people--new can be achy when you long for the old. Your mind plays tricks on your heart and convinces you that the woman you saw driving past on that unfamiliar road was most definitely your friend from home, but why was she in a red suv when hers is white? Frustration comes when you can't find your family's favorite cereal on the foreign grocery shelf. And tears flow when you realize the place you called home for 10 years has now become a vacation spot. Throw in the everyday life of teens and littles, the rigors of homeschool, the 15 hour distance between mom and freshman daughter, along with the rollercoaster ride that is adoption and you find yourself in a very rocky place. As a matter of fact, it was more than all that. I found myself in the place where my trust was betrayed, answers were delayed, my emotions were played and my nerves were completely frayed. But it is in this place that I've seen grace. God has graced me with His presence in the rocky places. And just as our God is known for doing, His presence changes everything. He transformed that rocky place into a place of grace. And there in the grace place I found my soul dancing. I've been studying David and am fascinated with his reaction to the return of God's Ark to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. As God's presence, represented by the Ark of His Covenant, moved before David, the Bible says he danced "with all his might." David's soul rejoiced in the presence of the Lord. I think I know how he must have felt. He was in the grace place. Through the struggle of the past few months, God's presence has been so real, so vivid, so kind and gentle that it moves my soul to dance in the grace place. So, if you see me standing still, just know on the inside I'm dancing with all my might.

Crocodile Tears

We are absolutely loving the joy our new little guy brings to our family each day. Yesterday though, something happened that I did not love-at first. Crocodile tears. You know the ones where the face scrunches up and the fists reach up to rub some form of liquid resembling tears from the eyes. These tears are the ones that scream, "I don't like this! I'm not happy! I don't want to do this!" when the voice knows it would be way too dangerous to shout those thoughts. It all started over rest time, not even the resting part, just the time. My new little guy is VERY concerned about time. When he wakes up, he wants to know what we will be doing during the day and when his rest time will take place. After rest time, he wants to know what the remainder of the day will look like and what time he will go to bed. We have basically the same night time routine and bedtime is set; yet, he is still concerned that somehow it might creep up an hour earlier. Yesterday, his time obsession got the best of him. I told him rest time would be until 5-3-0, made sure he heard me and sent him up to bed. For some reason, he came bounding down the stairs an hour early. I quickly told him he had another hour to go...And then it happened. His face scrunched and, mumbling something about it not being fair, the big ole' tears came out. It was as if time stood still for me. Through his tears, I could see clearly. We were about to turn a very important corner and for his sake, I was going to be sure to be in the lead on this one. I pulled him close, looked him in the eye, gave him the same instructions I had given him earlier, pointed out his mistake and lovingly, but firmly sent him back upstairs. I had moved from the "honeymoon phase" of coddling him to the real life phase of parenting him. It was a moment. And an hour later, he was up at the right time and happy about it. As I thought about this transition, I realized the only way it happened was because of the way God parents me when my crocodile tears flow. In those times when my heart says, "This isn't fair. I'm not happy. I don't like this!" In His goodness, God pulls me close, points out my mistakes, gives me His instructions again and lovingly, but firmly points me on His (not my) way. This week we're studying the book of Jonah here in the Little Academy. And, oh what a king of crocodile tears he was. God gave him instructions to go to the people of Ninevah and Jonah just didn't like it. He didn't think it was fair and he wasn't happy. So he ran and he hid and he fell and he sank and he ended up in the belly of a great fish. And there he decided to follow God. After a very messy repositioning, God planted Jonah on the shore and lovingly, but firmly, gave him the same instructions again, "Go to Ninevah." Jonah went, gave the message and the people repented. We would think Jonah would be rejoicing; but instead, he cried, crocodile tears over burning sun, a withered plant and a people he felt didn't deserve to believe in God. At the end of the book, we see God once again parenting, not coddling, lovingly, yet firmly pointing to Jonah's mistakes, instructing him in His way. God's way doesn't change. His instructions do not bend to our selfish manipulations. Our crocodile tears do not melt His heart because they come from a heart crying, "I, My, Me!" They flow from a fountain of pride. James 4:6 reminds us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." It's not our feigned tears of frustration that move Him. God is not against our real tears, tears of a broken heart, tears of repentance, tears of submission. As a matter of fact, He wipes away the tears of the humble and calls them "blessed". Luke 6:21 says, "...Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." Psalm 56:8-9 speaks of God's tender handling of our true tears, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know because God is for me." God is for us. It's in humility that His grace is given and our way is made clear. What a way to parent...I'm so thankful to call Him Father.

Do-Overs and New Beginnings

I am a big fan of do-overs. I love wiping the slate clean, going back to the beginning and trying something again. Anyone who ever played softball with me in the church field growing up knows I'm the Queen of the do-over. I feel like I'm in the middle of one big life do-over and I'm finding that it's a great concept when you're on the verge of striking out, but not so much fun when your do-over includes leaving behind people and places that you love. Ten years ago God called us to do something big. He moved our family from Atlanta, GA to Jacksonville, FL. So many wonderful and exciting things happened in the ten years we were there! We saw God working in our lives in amazing ways! Two new children were welcomed into our family, bringing us from "Little, party of 5" to Little, party of 7," new friends were woven into the fabric of our being, God opened our hearts to adoption, ministries were birthed and blossomed for both of us, I became a runner and my husband a triathlete. We played and worked, danced and ran, laughed and cried and raised little ones together. And then one day God called for a do-over. And we did. He moved us across the country from the beaches of Florida to the woods of Missouri. My heart ached for those friends and family members we left behind. Leaving a firstborn at college 15 hours away is not a do-over I ever want to have again. In the short time we have been in Missouri, God has shown us He is in the business of the do-over. He planted us in a church, supplied a home, birthed a ministry, gave us some precious friends and brought us a child, all in a matter of two and a half months. After 10 years of praying over and thinking about adoption, we were able to bring our son, seven-year-old Nathan, home. He has been such a joy to us as God is molding him to his new family. There is a part of my heart that grieves over all we've left behind; but deep in my soul I know God is working, He is moving, He is making all things in this do-over brand new. I'm excited to be able to share this new beginning with my family, friends (both new and old) and with the women of West County Community Church as I work to serve as their Women's Ministry Director. I can't wait to see what God will do over in and through all of us.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Is. 43:19

Take a look at my website as we add new things: Bible studies to download, 28 day challenges meant to inspire, teach and challenge young men and women in the Word. Please feel free to use materials you see here. If you have questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to let me know! I'm learning as I go and am always up for a do-over!

Joy to you!
Stephanie