"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God." Psalm 43:5

We have twenty-some people in our home this weekend doing a flooring project at the orphanage. It went well yesterday doing crafts with the children, monitoring our own children and laying a floor over the concrete. We went to grab a bite to eat at a nearby shopping center and parked our cars under the lights. When we returned to the cars an hour later, one was gone. The family had driven 10 hours to be here in Mexico helping orphans and at the end of the day the cost was very high. Their car, passports and hundreds of dollars worth of belongings.

Pray for this family that they would hope in God, and the sacrifice would come back to them in blessings.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment upon the head....' Psalm 133:1-2

As I lay down for a short afternoon rest for my weary pregnant body I could hear sounds of a scuffle in the hallway. My five and seven year old boys were going at it again. It seemed that the slightest provocation ended in blows with these two lately. I prayed for patience for myself and wisdom in how to reach the hearts of these little brawlers.

Many of us struggle with fighting children at times, and unfortunately we sometimes join in the fighting ourselves, with spouses, other Christians and extended family. Where do these wars come from? James says in Chapter 4 that wars and fightings come from lusts, or in modern English, desires that fight in ourselves. I can certainly see that in my own children. One is whistling so the other one gets angry and asks him to stop, a clear case of both fighting for their own rights. James solution is this, "God resisteth the proud but gives grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:6-7) Clearly my children are not humble when they are fighting for their rights, and when we as adults impute the most evil intentions onto the actions of our brothers, while believing that all our own actions are right and good, we are acting the same way as selfish little children.

James 3:17 says, "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." As we meditate on what the wisdom from above is, and teach it to our children, we are sowing peace and we will reap it in our homes and in our churches.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

This is one of my favorite verses, we quote this often in our home, and I really try to be aware of this truth in my interactions with people. I am not perfect, sometimes I don't take my cart to the front of the store, and occasionally my children fight in public.

However on a recent weekend at a campground I was grieved and embarrassed at the behavior of some who advertised their Christianity. There were the neighbors with fish stickers who threatened to sick a vampire on my dog for barking (we had checked with them before and after to make sure the dog wouldn't be a bother), they may have been joking but certainly didn't let their light shine. The crowning embarrassment of this weekend though, was the family group who were wearing matching t-shirts that said, "Jesus is Lord." They cut in line at the hayride, even after being warned to desist, yelled the names of rival football teams during the entire ride and trooped off in a single file without stopping to let anyone pass. All their actions were inconsiderate and very attention getting. The really sad thing is that they may actually not have been Christians, apparently a well meaning aunt had bought the t-shirts for everyone, Christian or not. One atheist niece declined to wear hers, thankfully sparing the name of Jesus more shame.

Depending on your worldview this loud, obnoxious behavior may seem major or minor, but to my children and I, it was depressing. We are trying to let the light of God shine through us, our family desires to walk in His Spirit so that the fruit shines through, things like gentleness, kindness and patience. Sadly, any on the ride who don't enjoy that type of behavior would have one more check against Christians and Christ.

What do your actions say about your faith? I was at first happy to see the t-shirt wearers, thinking they might bring light to this place with their message, but unfortunately they didn't represent our Lord well. Let us shine like lights, remembering actions speak louder than words.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." Matthew 10:20

This week at the orphanage Scott helps, two new babies were dropped off. They are brothers, one year and two years old. The youngest one has a growth on his belly the size of a golf ball, apparently the result of an untreated birth injury. The director's already have their own two-year-old son, and another two-year-old boy, not to mention the 20 or so other children. They live in a two-bedroom house with one bathroom, and there are days when they are not sure they will have food for the day. The boys sleep on mattresses in the living room, and the girls sleep on lovely little bunks a group came and built for them.

Are any of you feeling worn out with caring for little ones this week? Imagine yourself in the place of this Mexican family who are doing it only for the Lord, you cannot compensate someone in earthly goods for the sacrifice this family is making. It is easy to feel that the unending demands are more than we can handle, but when we love and care for the little ones in our home, we are doing it for the Lord, and he will reward those who care for His children.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

jennpepito@yahoo.com

".....Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20

Scott and I are looking at taking a break from the mission field for a while as we prepare for the birth of a seventh child. Our last birth was an ordeal of moving from place to place, capped off by an emergency c-section, and we are hoping to welcome this baby with a little more tranquil living situation. As we have been thinking and planning this possible move, we have gotten a wave of bad news about different situations in the world. Wars and rumors of wars, fires, recession and increasing government control are all bits of the news we have heard. Just as we are looking for a rest from a high-pressure mission field full of crime, where in one weekend we heard of a friend's baby on the verge of death, another man losing his wife in childbirth and a young mom being raped by a passerby, it seems our homeland is ramping up the pressure as well.

I am encouraged by reading Eric Liddel, Olympic gold medalist who was immortalized in the film Chariots of Fire. As he was facing internment in a Japanese prison camp, while serving the Lord in China during World War II, he had this to say, "Help me in the day when I need it most to remember that: 1. All things work together for good to them that love the Lord. 2. I can do all things through Him that strengtheneth me. 3. My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

He chose to meditate on God's word, instead of the circumstances and daily proclaimed Christ by his acts of service. When a job needed doing he quietly went to work on it, encouraging many others by his cheerfulness and willingness. As we care for our children each day, there are many opportunities to  model peaceful, servant leadership, and in doing so encourage others in whatever their circumstances may be.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

We have been watching D.V.D.'s on marriage with another family down here in Mexico. They are by a man named Emerson Eggerichs who does a wonderful job of communicating godly principles for marriage. I have read a lot of books on how a woman ought to honor her husband but this series has been really helpful for understanding how harmful to men our contemptuous attitudes can be, as well as how we can communicate respect to them.

I really appreciated hearing from a man's perspective what our communication means to them. For instance, most women get close by talking together, when we go out with our husbands, naturally what we feel will draw us closer is to talk. This might mean discussing issues with children, or ways we can have a better marriage. Strangely enough this type of talk did not seem to inspire closeness in my husband. As Emmerson explained it, when men want to feel close they often do things together, without much conversation. Things like hunting and fishing, or watching a game or simply going to the hardware store together. As women we can try to understand that our husbands are different from us, and show respect for those differences by trying to meet their needs.

As it says in Malachi 2:14-16, God hates treachery in marriage because he desires a godly offspring (paraphrased). We honor God when we work hard at our marriages, and having a happy, God honoring marriage is one of the best ways to give our children a heart for the Lord and His ways.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editoral

"The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25

Many of us are wrapping up a year of homeschooling and thinking about what curriculum we will use next year. As we pore over homeschool catalogs and wonder how we will meet the needs of all the children God has placed in our care, our tension often mounts. I found a good antidote to this worry at the orphanage my husband helps.

There are three new girls living there now, and one of the older girls, only there a few months and recently having failed her sixth grade classes, was sitting with these new girls patiently sifting through their hair with a fine toothed comb for lice. It was such a vivid contrast, this child, like many here in Mexico may be 20 years old by the time she graduates, if she does.  The Mexican school system does not advance you until you complete the previous grade, so if you spent your first years of life on the streets, you will likely start school far behind. Another boy, fourteen years old will be repeating 6th grade next year. It certainly puts my fretting in perspective.

I have many children, of varying abilities, and some of them have serious struggles, but by the Grace of God, I am able each day to bring them a little further on the journey. By the Grace of God, I am also able to keep moving them forward, knowing that there are many ways to get a high school diploma, or to get a college education.

I am thankful to God for small ways to help these orphans, and for His mercy in allowing me to teach my own children. I am reminded to keep trials in perspective and enjoy the journey.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as also ye do."  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Yesterday was the end of the year party for our fledgling homeschool group here in Mexico.  We were a diverse crowd, some missionary families, a few Mexican nationals and an Irish family living here to adopt a baby. Some were young families, some older. A few families had many children and one of the families was homeschooling only one. The one thing we did have in common was a desire to love and care for our children in the best possible way.

Are you a part of a homeschool support group? You might argue that you have been homeschooling a long time and don't need support, but what of the families who are just beginning? One of the new homeschoolers there credited our family, among others, with helping her get started. Would she have begun the homeschool journey if we had simply kept to ourselves or only hung out with "mature" homeschool families? I am thankful for all the women of my first support group who were available to answer questions, and consider it a privilege to encourage new homeschoolers as they step out in faith to teach their own children. As we edify and encourage one another in the journey we are operating as the Body of Christ should, loving one another, because He first loved us.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:4-5

This psalm has been a great encouragement to me at different times in my life. I don't exactly understand it, usually we reap what we sow, but here God, who is so gracious gives us joy in exchange for the tears we have sown.

What are the tears? It might be family struggles, or financial struggles.  It could be the loss of a loved one, or giving up a lifestyle to serve God in some new arena. Even going from dropping your children off each day at the local school, to giving up those free days to teach them yourself could be a field sown with tears, frustration and self-doubt.

What a beautiful promise, that even as we are sowing a field in tears as we suffer trials while following Christ, we are promised a joyful return, by His grace.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient...."  2 Timothy 2:24

We recently found out we were expecting a seventh child, and our joy has been mixed with some apprehension as I wondered how I would manage the coming weeks of all day nausea. We have been managing, I have been very thankful for good read alouds and children who are willing to be hands and feet for me as I struggle to keep up with our busy household. At the peak of this time however, I found my attitude to be a bit peevish.  I was managing school okay, but without a very sweet attitude.  I found my responses to my children to be less kindergarten teacher and more drill sergeant as I fought to overcome the rumbling and aching of my tummy. I even broke my cardinal rule of never insulting my children to tell two of them I thought they had sawdust in their heads, while slogging through a math lesson. I really blew it on that one.

I don't know exactly what effected the change, but God gave me a new dose of grace, and the realization that no matter how I feel, they are still children, given to my charge and I need to treat them with gentleness. I don't think that grumpiness is listed in Galatians 5 as one of the works of the flesh, but that really is what it is, letting my flesh, how I feel, rule how I act. God calls us to be ruled by His Spirit, and the evidence of that is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith. We can be sweet and loving with our children, even when we feel yucky, but for me at least, I can only do it with help from the Lord.

Jen Pepito

As a mother I sometimes feel as if I am just going from small crisis to crisis.  I was unpacking our car from a weekend camping trip, and trying to do dishes when I decided to also leave the babies diaper off to give some air to a rash she was fighting and take an opportunity to put her on the potty.  That was my first mistake.  Potty training I firmly believe should be started before three years old, but definitely not at 18 months on the tail end of a camping trip with a mother dealing with morning sickness and a post camping clean up.  Well, she was not put promptly on the potty and her sister stepped in the evidence of that and proceeded to track it across the floor.  As if I didn’t have enough work to do without chasing down flip flop tracks across my floor.  Thankfully my floors are tile, which show every speck of dirt (a fact I am often not thankful for, but today it was helpful). 

As mothers, many of our days with young children will be filled with messes and inconveniences.  They are growing people who are learning new skills all the time, often with resulting mistakes. It is important that we take each little disaster in stride, teaching them how to do it better but not overreacting to accidents.

I did not feel like rejoicing while I was cleaning up, and I most certainly did overreact in this circumstance. It is good that God gives me new opportunities each day to learn to rejoice in Him always and to love His little teachers.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

".....Well reported for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. " 1 Timothy 1:10

The King James verb tenses are a little strange to my modern mind (she have?) but the message here about widows showing hospitality is a good one.

We watched the video The Family Meal Table, featuring Nancy Campbell teaching about the importance of having a regular family mealtime.  It was great to hear the testimony of her daughter regarding their happy meal times and regular family devotions, as well as the impact it has made on her life as a mother.  To be able to show hospitality to others, a requirement for an elder or a supported widow, we must start by having meals with our own families.  Although we regularly have people over for meals, and sit together as a family, I appreciated Nancy's exhortation to put effort into lovely meals and lovely tables.  With our water situation (we buy water by the truckload) and our power situation (we have to use a generator and solar panels) I find myself taking shortcuts.  We use paper plates often, and I rarely put food into special serving dishes.  The video did inspire me to try, at least once a week to set the table with a tablecloth, use real dishes and maybe even add a candle or a flower.  I certainly want my own children to be civilized at meals with their families one day, and we as mothers are setting the stage for the next generation.

 Lord, help us to be a civilizing influence in the lives of our children, for your glory.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded to our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God..."    Psalm 78:5-7

I was upstairs in my room the other day, and my seven year old son came in my room weeping, saying, "I am a bad boy, I can never get to heaven!"

I asked him what was bothering him, apparently he had been listening to a Rich Mullins song about Jesus and was convicted of his sinfulness.  I explained to him that we are all bad, and none of us can get to heaven by our own goodness, that it is only the goodness of God by sending Jesus to shed his perfect blood that can give us access to heaven. We prayed together and went downstairs to greet a visitor.

Would he have heard enough to convict him of sin if the music had been Silly Songs? I have nothing against silly songs, or silly Sunday school, once in a while, but so often today it seems that adults want to consign children to dumbed down religious instruction to their detriment.  There are actually churches where children are not allowed in the service.  They are stuck in Sunday School singing Father Abraham, while their parents get to sing really wonderful songs about who God is. They are eating cookies and gluing animals on the ark while their parents are hearing the gospel.  I have nothing against children's programs.  It is a fun break for my children occasionally, but when parents aren't allowed to make the call about where their child will be most edified, when parents are forced to leave their children in a silly program when they could be learning to worship, this bothers me.

I am raising adults, not children, adults who I pray will be passionate about their Savior. How will they become passionate about Him without knowing His word, and being aware of their position in relation to Him? Sunday School is a fun diversion for my children, a place where they can learn classroom skills and be with peers, but it should not be their only instruction in righteousness, and should not cause them to miss worshipping God with adults who, by their passion, can instruct our children to be worshippers also.

Jennifer Pepito- Chapel Editor

"Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 19:13-14

Several years ago we went for the first time to a church where the pastor's were very involved in homeschooling.  It was the first time we had been to this type of church and we were amazed to see all the families sitting together, enjoying God's word.  Some of the little ones were coloring or drawing, but none of the parents were feeding their children candy to keep them quiet, as this young and uninformed mom was doing.(I can't believe I did that!) We were encouraged to see that families could work together, and we enjoyed having our own children with us for the service, especially singing together as a family.

We just received the brochure for a large homeschool conference in California, and my husband was amazed to read that they will not be allowing children in their sessions.  Personally, I really enjoy going to a conference by myself so that I can take notes and enjoy the speaker, but I have never felt imposed upon by other children at conferences and am discouraged that the practice of separating families, which is becoming so common in churches, is carrying over into homeschool conferences as well.  For some families, I am sure the option of a kids club (they are providing one) is helpful, but to not have a choice where your children will be, or to be forced to leave your children in a class with caregivers you are unfamiliar with, shouldn't happen in the homeschoool world.  A homeschool conference should be the one place where families are sovereign, and can make the decision about where their children will be most edified. 

There will be some wonderful speakers at this conference, and some of the sessions would really minister to my 7 and 10 year-old boys, but unfortunately they wouldn't have the chance to hear them.  Discovering this, makes me thankful for local conferences, where families are generally welcome to come together, and learn together, a core value of homeschooling.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

Jennifer will be speaking at the CFS conference in San Diego, California on May 10th.  CFS welcomes entire families.

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

I thought I was really suffering yesterday afternoon.  Note the word thought.  I had to purchase food to feed a group of people who are coming this weekend.The group will be building bunkbeds at a nearby orphanage.  There will be two families staying with us and on Saturday we are taking lunch to the orphanage so I needed to buy something like 160 slices of bread, not to mention numerous packs of ham, veggies, fruit and the big necessity, cookies. Costco can be overwhelming on a normal day, but try going with six children to buy food for up to 50 people for 4 days. 

When I suffer (or think I am suffering), I usually get mad at my husband.  Is this a right response? No, but it somehow seems, to my twisted way of thinking to be more his fault than God's (blaming God would be a direct lack of trust, but really, if I blame my God given head, it is just as sinful) when I am in difficulty.  Now, I realize it is really wrong to get mad at your husband for wanting to serve God and feed orphans but my flesh often seems to transform my mind, rather than the Spirit of God.

It was great to read Romans 8 this morning with my children and see a few truths.

Truth #1-The sufferings of this present time, are nothing compared with the glory to come.

Truth #2-The whole creation groans and travails in pain (all of us struggle as we wait for God, and his coming glory).

Truth #3-The Spirit of God is praying for our weaknesses (yes I am weak, but God is going to help me).

Truth #4-We can conquer through Christ who loves us (God can help us get victory, through His Word over wrong thinking patterns).

Truth #5-Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God for His word, which encourages me, that even in struggles, great or small, He is with us and working things out for His glory.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor