Learning In Spite of Labels~ Practical Teaching Tips and a Christian
Perspective of Education by Joyce
Our Father Abraham~ Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin R.
Wilson
A Family Guide to Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson and Linda
Pierce
Good and Angry by Scott Turnasky and Joanne Miller
Having Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
A Parents Guide to The Spiritual Mentoring of Teens ~Building Your
Childs Faith Through the Adolescent Years by Joe White , Jim Weidmann
Wild Days ( a book about language arts and nature journaling) by
Rackliffe
How to Create Your Own Unit Studies by Valerie Bendt
The Power of Parents words by H. Norman Wright
How to read the Bible for all it's worth by Gordon D Fee and Douglas
Stuart
Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes in You and your
kids by Scott Turnasky and Joanne Miller
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully Grades 4-8 by Ruth
Beechick
A Strong Start in Language
An Easy Start in Arithmetic
A Home Start In Reading by Ruth Beechick
Any Child Can Write by Harvey S. Wiener
" This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look: ask for
the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you
will find rest for your souls."
Jeremiah 6:16
Floyd Bowen is the best finish carpenter I've ever met. He has high standards and an eagle eye for plumb and level lines. He's always looking for new tricks, tools, and products to pick up his pace. Customers trust his judgment for woodworking trim styles and sizes. He accommodates other subcontractors. Floyd's methods are often faster, more accurate, and require fewer tools than those described in woodworking magazines. Besides all this, he's pleasant.
Two months ago, Floyd and I installed a handrail system and curved window casings in a new residence. During one of our early morning conversations, Floyd confided in me that he had lost his confidence? When he began to think he had fewer skills than I did, I knew he was in trouble.
Did I think any less of Floyd ? Not at all. Almost every man I know goes through times of losing his confidence. I do it myself.
One night I worked alone, trimming a house. My watch said nine o'clock. My energy dwindled. Only two pieces of baseboard needed installation and I could go home. They were tricky pieces; I just couldn't cut them to fit. One piece went between a curved fiberglass shower and what appeared to be a ninety-degree corner. My attempts to cut that piece failed repeatedly. A fear came over me that I would never get out of that bathroom ! I took another trip to my saw, then another and another.
"I can't do it !" I said. However, I had to finish that night and no one else was there.
I learned some things about confidence while playing high school baseball. I got plenty of hits but they always went to right field. My coach blamed it on my slow swing. But when we played against McKenzie's High School, the reason for my trouble became clear.
Tim, McKenzie's pitcher, was the fastest in our league. He could throw a fastball past most of our best hitters, strike after strike.
The first time at the plate, I hit the ball so hard it knocked down the shortstop. My next hit went out into left field for a single. My third swing sent the ball all the way to the left center fence ! How could this slow right-field hitter blast Tim's fastball almost out of the park ? My shocked coach asked, " What happened to you ?"
The answer was simple. "Confidence". Tim was the only pitcher in the league that could control the baseball. I had complete assurance he wouldn't hit me. With other pitchers, I feared being hit. The wilder the pitcher , the more I thought about the ball hitting me, rather than me hitting the ball. However, with Ti8m it was different. When he started winding up, I started swinging. I trusted his control, kept my eye on the ball and hit away.
At the root of Christianity begin is the belief that the God who created the universe controls it. Every life event thrown to you and me comes from the most controlled Pitcher in the world.
When a Christian begins to lose confidence, it's often because he's lost sight of God's control. False, fearful ideas creep into his mind where thoughts of safety and courage belong. He starts to think that events happen by chance instead of under the watchful eye of God.
The first step back to confidence is telling God the details of our life-what's happening and what you think about it. Instead of struggling , running, crying, or hiding, stop; quietly open your heart to God. There is a tendency in all of us to run when we get scared. Running only increases our trouble.
The night I worked in the bathroom installing baseboard, I felt that urge to run. I wanted to hurry and get out of there. That made me unable to concentrate on my work. I needed to slow down , tell God my trouble, and then quietly measure and cut.
Isaiah 30:15,16 described me, "For thus saith the Lord God , the Holy One of Isreal; In returning and rest shall be saved: in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift."
Returning to the simple belief that God is in control, telling Him every detail of my trouble and resting in His care is the greatest source of my confidence.
Sometimes I lack confidence to start complicated woodworking projects. However, if I boldly attempt the obvious steps, when the difficult steps arrive God usually has hiven me the wisdom to accomplish those also. By the time I get my tools unloaded and my saws set up, I have an idea of what to do next.
Joshua didn't know how the Israelites were going to cross the Jordan. When they put their feet in the water, the river upstream stopped. A dry path opened before them and they walked across. It worked for Joshua and it works for me.
Sometimes a man loses his confidence when he has been away from his work for a season. An injury, a vacation, a layoff can all get a man out of practice and unsure of his abilities. Floyd knows if he takes a vacation from finish carpentry work, it takes two or three days to tune up his skills again once he is back on the job. He expects it, begins slowly, and with effort gets back up to speed.
This happens to students the first week of school after a summer vacation. Maybe you too doubt yourself, "Will I be able to do the math I did last year ?" Sure you will. However, it might take some review to polish up your skills.
When your assurance shrinks from lack of practice, it's easy to remedy. Start doing it again. When temporarily laid off from a job, keep practicing the skills you need for it. If you can't actually do the work, read about it and mentally go through the process. Clean your tools. Be ready to start again when the opportunity arises.
God desires His people to live with poise. When you find yourself backing away from your responsibilities because of fears, stop struggling. Tell Him the details of your trouble. Rest. Take the next step you know to take. Regain your skills when you can.
After a couple weeks of questioning, Floyd's confidence returned. He stepped up to the plate and hit the fastballs of woodworking. He continues to be the best finish carpenter I know.
How about you ? Where is your confidence? "Batter Up!"
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep
thy foot from being taken Proverbs 3:26
On Saturday I would like to give part 2 and it will be what God has been doing inside of me. And how this devotional touches me in so many ways. God Bless
Oh Mary. This is a fine book you are reading with your sons. I can certainly relate to lack of confidence. I like what this said about not giving up. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story in part 2..
(((hugs)))
Jenn
What a great devotional. It is awesome when something does happen that is out of your control and you choose to do the things suggested in your post.. Peace that passes understanding is really real. A few weeks ago I almost had an utterly humiliating experience in a public place. After freaking out, I just laid it out to the Lord and He gave me knowledge and confidence and minute by minute got me by.
I need your address to send your Bible study book. btw did your DH know when he saw the first pic or after a hint? :D I should post the rest of the story about that silly game hehee...
Oh Mary, Thank you!
I have this book and read this very devotion some time ago.... and then forgot it. How quickly my brain loses the good stuff. I needed to read this again.
First , I am a daughter of the King almighty and a
a wife to my Handsome of 17 years. A mom of 4 on the go boys 15, 13, 9, and 7. I grew up in the states but married my Canadian sweetheart and moved up north.
We live in the southern part of British Columbia , Canada on our homestead. We have homeschooled our four boys from birth and plan to go the distance till all four graduate from our homeschool. I teach with a Charlotte Mason style and use the Heart of Wisdom Approach. I love to craft! I am a beader, knitter, x-stitcher, quilter. We have been on a journey of being apart of building "The House that God Built". I have been recording our journey on my blog. Go to my links and you will find it. I know God has a lot more instore for us and we just need to follow where our Lord takes us.
On Saturday I would like to give part 2 and it will be what God has been doing inside of me. And how this devotional touches me in so many ways. God Bless
First , I am a daughter of the King almighty and a
a wife to my Handsome of 17 years. A mom of 4 on the go boys 15, 13, 9, and 7. I grew up in the states but married my Canadian sweetheart and moved up north.
We live in the southern part of British Columbia , Canada on our homestead. We have homeschooled our four boys from birth and plan to go the distance till all four graduate from our homeschool. I teach with a Charlotte Mason style and use the Heart of Wisdom Approach. I love to craft! I am a beader, knitter, x-stitcher, quilter. We have been on a journey of being apart of building "The House that God Built". I have been recording our journey on my blog. Go to my links and you will find it. I know God has a lot more instore for us and we just need to follow where our Lord takes us.
