I was thinking back to election day when across the nation Americans cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice. Many will base their decisions on a candidate's personality rather than how the candidate votes on the issues. Sadly, many Americans stay home and don’t vote at all. The outcome of the last election will be critical to our nation's future.
Every day we elect to raise our children in a way that will determine their future. The outcome of our homeschooling and childrearing will be our children's beliefs, values, character, and wisdom. Our children will either serve Jesus or walk in the ways of the world. They will either believe the Truth or they will believe lies from the Devil and the world. They will either build up the Kingdom of God or tear it down.
If our nation continues to move away from God and His ways, the church can still survive and be strong. It is all in how we run the race and how we pass the baton.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).
Fix Our Eyes
Jesus is the perfect place for our attention to focus. He is the Creator of all that we see and everything else that we can't see. All authority on Heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Yet, He humbled Himself and endured the cross. He ignored the shame and humiliation because of love. He loved you and me. He loved the world. His love set us free. Our freedom was bought at a high price.
In homeschooling, as in all of life, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. Educating our children at home is not about me or even my children. Our homeschooling is about pleasing the One who loved and died for us. Jesus is the reason for our home education.
Fix our eyes on Jesus in homeschooling means to choose curriculum that teaches Truth and glorifies the Lord. It means praying and asking for wisdom as we make choices about schedules, support groups, and who our children will spend time with. Most of all, it means loving our children with God's love and seeing them through His eyes!
One day I was frustrated with one of my daughters and I complained to Him about all her faults. Then I felt convicted, so I quickly prayed for God to change my heart. Immediately, I sensed a different perspective. I saw all her strengths and all the things I loved about her. Instead of seeing her as stubborn and strong-willed, I saw a great leader with some blind spots that I could help her with. My whole attitude and tone of voice changed too!
Run Strong
Every day we elect to raise our children in a way that will determine their future. The outcome of our homeschooling and childrearing will be our children's beliefs, values, character, and wisdom. Our children will either serve Jesus or walk in the ways of the world. They will either believe the Truth or they will believe lies from the Devil and the world. They will either build up the Kingdom of God or tear it down.
If our nation continues to move away from God and His ways, the church can still survive and be strong. It is all in how we run the race and how we pass the baton.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).
Fix Our Eyes
Jesus is the perfect place for our attention to focus. He is the Creator of all that we see and everything else that we can't see. All authority on Heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Yet, He humbled Himself and endured the cross. He ignored the shame and humiliation because of love. He loved you and me. He loved the world. His love set us free. Our freedom was bought at a high price.
In homeschooling, as in all of life, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. Educating our children at home is not about me or even my children. Our homeschooling is about pleasing the One who loved and died for us. Jesus is the reason for our home education.
Fix our eyes on Jesus in homeschooling means to choose curriculum that teaches Truth and glorifies the Lord. It means praying and asking for wisdom as we make choices about schedules, support groups, and who our children will spend time with. Most of all, it means loving our children with God's love and seeing them through His eyes!
One day I was frustrated with one of my daughters and I complained to Him about all her faults. Then I felt convicted, so I quickly prayed for God to change my heart. Immediately, I sensed a different perspective. I saw all her strengths and all the things I loved about her. Instead of seeing her as stubborn and strong-willed, I saw a great leader with some blind spots that I could help her with. My whole attitude and tone of voice changed too!
Run Strong
It is easy to become discouraged when there are failures, distractions, and relational discord. But, when we run with eyes on Jesus, we become like Him. We forgive and reconcile at any price. We dust ourselves off and move on toward the goal of eternal life.
It requires strength to keep homeschooling on days when we've had a fight with our husbands or hear the children say, "I wish Mom would put us back in school. It takes strength to wake up to have a Quiet Time with the Lord when we have been up all night nursing a baby.
I am very emotional and easily hurt. But, I am also a pastor's wife, so I would not be able to minister to people if my feelings were always hurting. I have learned to press into Jesus. I go on walks to pray when I am hurting or angry and pour my heart out to God, just like Hannah did in the temple. So, if you live in Lake Mary and Sanford and you pass a blond woman walking and emotional words pouring out--it's me!
Take your homeschooling frustrations to Jesus. He knows how to change a curriculum, motivate a lazy student, resolve a conflict, and schedule in all you have to do. Jesus was super-busy--that's why He woke up early, before the sun rose, and spent time with the Lord. He traveled with disciples who argued, "just didn't get it," and were puffed up with pride. He can relate to our world!
Finish Well
To finish our race well, we must pass the baton. The next in line takes our place and we move on to other ministry or to our Home in Heaven. A relay race is won or lost in the passing of the baton.
Pass the baton on to your children through homeschooling. Don't just teach facts. Teach your little ones and teens to be world changers. Help them to see how the Bible applies to all areas of life and every subject that you teach. Prepare them to lead their own families. Keep a vision in your mind of what you would like them to be like when they are adults and work toward that end.
Would you like to be equipped to run strong and finish well? Please come to our conference, Finish Well, on March 1-2, 2013. You can register online.
God is faithful and He is with you! Run strong and finish well.
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
It requires strength to keep homeschooling on days when we've had a fight with our husbands or hear the children say, "I wish Mom would put us back in school. It takes strength to wake up to have a Quiet Time with the Lord when we have been up all night nursing a baby.
I am very emotional and easily hurt. But, I am also a pastor's wife, so I would not be able to minister to people if my feelings were always hurting. I have learned to press into Jesus. I go on walks to pray when I am hurting or angry and pour my heart out to God, just like Hannah did in the temple. So, if you live in Lake Mary and Sanford and you pass a blond woman walking and emotional words pouring out--it's me!
Take your homeschooling frustrations to Jesus. He knows how to change a curriculum, motivate a lazy student, resolve a conflict, and schedule in all you have to do. Jesus was super-busy--that's why He woke up early, before the sun rose, and spent time with the Lord. He traveled with disciples who argued, "just didn't get it," and were puffed up with pride. He can relate to our world!
Finish Well
To finish our race well, we must pass the baton. The next in line takes our place and we move on to other ministry or to our Home in Heaven. A relay race is won or lost in the passing of the baton.
Pass the baton on to your children through homeschooling. Don't just teach facts. Teach your little ones and teens to be world changers. Help them to see how the Bible applies to all areas of life and every subject that you teach. Prepare them to lead their own families. Keep a vision in your mind of what you would like them to be like when they are adults and work toward that end.
Would you like to be equipped to run strong and finish well? Please come to our conference, Finish Well, on March 1-2, 2013. You can register online.
God is faithful and He is with you! Run strong and finish well.
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
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