Friday 'Fess Up

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I've been sharing with you how important it is to quit those things that are not pointing us toward our vision, goal, or dream. Well, a few days ago, I decided that I needed to "practice what I preach." It was a decision that I had to make. And I'm glad I did.

I've struggled for several weeks with continuing on in a position at the state level of my youth organization. Sure, it would position me better. But it really wasn't about me and what level I could attain. God will see to that, I now know. It was about being diligent and staying the course with my youth kids. I tell almost of them every week that they are my favorites! And each one of them is.

I know what it's like to want to do this and do that and keep so very busy. But I also know and believe that God gives us His very best in life, jobs, positions, organizations, etc.. Sometimes stepping down, out, or even off of a position is really what is best for us at some point in time. And so that is just what I did. I resigned. For the first time in a few months, I have felt very much at peace with that decision. I know that I could have done the job. But it's more than that. I also know that it wasn't the time for me to be in that position.

So this weekend, prayerfully consider that position, job, or thing you've been trying to cause to happen and see if it really fits into your vision, goal, and dream. If it doesn't, ask the Lord to help you know when and how to move out of that situation. I promise you He won't let you down!


Have a blessed weekend!


Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

As a homeschooler of high schoolers, one thing that we always discuss with our kids is whether or not they want to attend college. For some families, this is not negotiable. For others, it is left up to the student. My husband and I prefer the latter.

Some of our children have attended college following their graduations. One son needed college to enlist in the military. One got a degree in automotive technology. Still another simply took a few classes to see what she thought and if it fit in with her lifelong plans. While another took another step in furthering her education following graduation by attending a non-traditional schooling path. One thing that we have considered, alongside our children as they make the decision for college or not, is if it will move them toward their vision, career, or life goals.

A college degree is definitely an investment in the future. As the days are fast approaching when the Lord returns, be mindful and prayerfully consider the calling on not only your child's life but on your life as a homeschooling mom. How can you help your child reach his or her goals for the future and for the Kingdom of God?
If your children are younger, begin praying for them and ask them what they want to be when they grow up. Continuing this tradition each school year will begin to form a vision, dream, or passion in their lives and help direct them as they reach high school.

They may choose college right after high school or they may wait. Determine what is best for your children with regard to college and begin to support them toward that goal!

Happy homeschooling!


Lyn~

Are You Willing?

A friend shared on her timeline today that 14 celebrities have passed away just in the first four months of 2016. If you are like me, you begin to think about the Lord and about your loved ones. Today, I want to share a quick method of talking to folks about asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.

Riley Stephenson, an evangelist with a worldwide disaster relief ministry, spoke at our church 2 years ago and set our evangelism team on fire for the lost. So here are the things you can do:

1) Ask, if you died today, not that it would happen, but do you know where you would go?
2) Inject them with the Word of God:
   

3) Tell them to pray this prayer with you:
     Father God, I believe that Jesus dies on the cross for me and rose again. I give You my life. I want Jesus to come into my life and into my heart. Amen.


Heaven and hell are real. It IS important to know where we will go when we die. And it is our job to tell others about Jesus and what He did for us all on the cross. That's it!
Some of us will sow seeds, some will nurture, and some will reap the harvest of the lost. Some will have the opportunity to do all three in one sitting! But we must be willing first.

What will you do today?


Lyn~

Death is Just The Beginning for the Believer

This past Friday, a dear friend from church passed away. She had battled cancer for almost a year. As I thought about her fight while getting ready for church on Sunday, I began to think that she had lost the fight against this disease. But the Lord quickly stopped me! You see, Jesus overcame death for you and me and my friend. And while we will miss her here in this life, we weren't made for this world! We were made for God's Kingdom, and that is our overall goal when our work here is done.

There is a song called "Temporary Home," and that is just what this life is here on Earth, temporary. Our work is all for the Kingdom of God. Our thinking has to switch to the things that are eternal. And this world is not eternal; Heaven is! We need to switch to Kingdom thinking and what that is like for us here and when our time on Earth is through.

This weekend as we say goodbye to our friend, we will remember that she is in the arms of our loving Father God, and as her husband says, "She's dancing with her dad, my dad, all her relatives, and she's got her long hair and a whole body again!"

Praise the Lord!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

As women and moms, we often get busy. We're running children around, hanging out with friends, taking care of getting things done at church, busy with our social groups, and in our other endeavors. I don't like to let people down, so I tend to do a lot of things that I really shouldn't be doing because they aren't leading me toward my vision. Anyone else do that?

Sometimes, I just need to get away from all the chaos I've created or allowed in my life and just be alone with the Lord. For me, that involves going for a drive or a walk. Just getting away to listen to the Lord and eliminate the voices all around allows me to enter in His rest. I can cry out to the Lord about what is troubling me and wait on Him to hear His guidance.

This weekend, instead of rushing off to more events and doing more things, take time to get alone with the Lord...


Blessings!


Lyn~

Homeschool Hump Day Encouragement

As we get near the end of the school year for some of us, we may find that our children are getting restless with the curriculum, the learning environment, and school in general. With today's technology, we are able to offer more options for our children in learning through television shows on the History Channel, Science Channel, and Discovery Channel, and games such as Minecraft.

We can also get outside, especially as our weather changes from cooler to warmer! Go to local lakes, parks, National Parks, open spaces in our areas, and even for walks around the neighborhood. There is so much to learn beyond basic academics, and all we have to do is go and look for it. Visit the library (although many homeschoolers have their own library days already!), but what about visiting the library in a neighboring town? You don't necessarily need to check out books, just go experience a new venue!

What ways do you have for refreshing your final months of homeschooling? Do you school year round or have an August to May schedule? What works for you? Share if you'd like...it might be the answer another homeschooler has been searching for!


Have a blessed week!

Lyn~

Where Are You Camped Out?

This time of the year, people in our state begin to think about going camping. Now I was raised in the south and camping wasn't a foreign thing to me. I just prefer to have running water and electricity, you see. (Can I get an AMEN?!)

Lately, I've been meditating on a particular set of verses. They refer to the rest we have in the Lord.

I've figuratively camped out on this verse, seeking the rest we have in faith that our situation, work, or issue already has a solution in Christ. Now, this verse isn't meant to imply that we should become lazy in our work and sleep all the time. Quite the contrary. We are called to exercise our faith and not simply try to do good works without faith. The Bible says, "...without faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6).

When we meditate on the Word, or camp out there, it gives us opportunities to wait on the Lord, exercise our faith without doing anything, and be obedient to His Word.

But when we allow our minds to camp out on the situation or problem, we can't exercise our faith. We're camping out with what Satan is telling us! You can't pay that bill. Your paycheck is too little. You're not good enough. Why would you ever think you can do that?! Listening to this all the time will only decrease your faith.

MOVE YOUR TENT! Camp out in the Word instead!!

Ask yourself where you've been camping out. And if necessary, move your tent!


Lyn~

Friday 'Fess Up

My confession today is that I found the rest in faith that comes with work. I had been stressing over a situation that I had no real control over. It was causing me to lose sleep, trying to figure contingencies or perhaps even a solution to the issue. Again, I had no real control over this issue!

Well, our message at church was on trying to do things in our own power and that even the service we're called into becomes overbearing, overwhelming, and burdensome because we try to do things on our own. When we believe in faith that the solution is already there, we can enter into His rest knowing it's taken care of. 

I had never allowed myself to do that. I am a bit of a control freak and problem solver, so coming up with an answer was driving me and motivating me. But it was steering me in the wrong direction away from the Lord.

The phrase "Let go and let God" is powerful! If we give up our power, especially over things we have NO CONTROL OVER, then we can enter into His rest.

What have you struggled with this week? What have you given to God and rested in?

Have a blessed weekend!

Lyn~

Is Your Life Out of Focus Because of Distractions?

We've talked about things like this a bit before. But yesterday, during church, the message was about this very thing, but with a different view. I'd like to share that with you today.
Have you noticed that some of the things you're doing in life, things that keep you busy and create a culture of busyness in your life are becoming overbearing and burdensome?  Well, there is a reason for that!

If Satan can't distract you with things away from the Kingdom, he will try to overwhelm you with the Lord's work! Don't give him room to wear you down in the work you're doing. He wants to move you from faith into just doing works! But the Word says we can't please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I really know what God's will is for my life?
• Am I trying to do things on my own?
• Am I doing things that aren't important according to God's will for my life?
• What does God want me to do?
• Are My priorities HIS priorities?

The good news is that once you know God's will for your life, there is rest and all the chaos and feelings of being overwhelmed and burdened will cease! We can rest in knowing that God is taking care of the things we have wasted time worrying about. 

Matthew 6:33-34 says, "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes (The Message).

Let's pray together:

Father, I ask you to show each of us what it is you want us to do in our lives. Highlight the things in our lives that should go. As we seek you, may we find out Your will for our lives and find rest in our faith. Amen.

Lyn~