"These aren't our rules. These are God's rules.....right here in the Book of _______, chapter ___, verse ___."

I mean, how can an 11 yo argue with that? How can anyone argue with that?? I believe it takes so much pressure off of us parents when we can show our children that we're not trying to Lord over them. We're just carrying out the job that God has called us to do. And it IS according to His Word. It was a revelation this week to all three of my kids to memorize Deuteronomy 6:5-9....for them to realize that God has called us to train them up in His Ways, but that it all begins with loving Him.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on you hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Isn't it ironic how you you learn something new, and it doesn't seem to take too long before you're tested in that exact area? Last week I spent most of my extra reading time in the same chapter of my Charlotte Mason Companion, the chapter on the training the Will. No sooner did I write Part I of this entry, did the lesson get tested. WE have definitely waged some battles of the Will this week. But I'm also thankful to say that WE (both parties) are winning.

The battle this week has primarily been with my 11yo. I'm afraid we are heading straight in to the eye of the hormonal storm with this one. And believe me, it's hard to always keep your cool when there's so much attitude blowing around. I am determined to take one day at a time and try to consistently tackle the problem with the Word...training that Will of his in the ways of the Lord. My personal goal through all of this (and unfortunately was how I was raised) is to NOT make the mistakes so monumental. I can remember feeling so guilty and defeated when I made mistakes, and feeling like I might as well give up çause there was no way to do it right.

So, this week my hubby and I have been trying to give our son some room to grow. He's made some wrong choices and has some unfortunate consequences he has to face. But the fact is (as we've told him), we all make mistakes and we all have to face the consequences, no matter what age we are. More then anything else, we love him and we only want what's best for him.

We've talked alot about putting on that armor of God and battling the temptations from Satan with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Each time he is tempted to fall in these areas of weakness for him, we've equipped him with several verses from the Word to fight back with...verses that he chose based on his need. So in essence, we are training him, on how to train himself.

It's hard for me to think about the day that my son will leave home and make some other place his permanent residence...to know that we won't be around all the time to set him back on his feet and point him in the right direction. But, that's why we labor in love so much now...to try to prepare him and equip him with what he needs to fight the good fight on his own one day.

Yesterday was Briar's Spiritual Birthday. Two years ago he gave his heart to Jesus. I was touched that he marked it on his calendar and made sure to tell everyone he new. He's been praying everyday that God will help with to work through his weak areas. I know he's trying real hard.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly  kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.....For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-10

Bless You Lord for being so patient with us. For being the God of second chances. For using our mistakes for a greater purpose. For giving us your Word to always refresh our souls, fall back on, and empower us to press forward.  We love you. Amen