Greetings!  As Jude so aptly put it:  “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:  Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.”

Before us lies a new homeschooling year.  A clean slate.  The books still smell new and we haven’t yet pitched our plans for the year.  (Rev. 21:5a Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”)  Opportunity abounds to change our bad habits, to adopt new habits, to lift our focus up, and to begin afresh.  (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.)  We are eager to implement our prayerful plans.  (2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.)

The possibilities before us seem limited only by our deficient imagination, our fears or our refusal to receive gifts freely offered.  As we plan for both our groups and our own homeschools, what will be written upon that serendipitous page?

On this precipice, we stand only because the Lord has preserved us and bestowed us with the courage and conviction to be leaders, looking forward, mindful of the past, and enjoying our companions who are walking this unfamiliar path with us.  We can glory in the incandescent joy that we find along the way, and use the bitter times to gain knowledge, discernment and wisdom.  And all of this seems so serene and attainable, until real life hits you like the proverbial bug and windshield.

A child becomes ill, a sleepless night spent rocking a restless infant or toddler, unexpected guests arrive, something disrupts your carefully crafted schedule.  Then you have to find the determination to begin – AGAIN.  And AGAIN, because it always seems there is something disrupting our harmonious schedules.  (I Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.)

Each time we are stalled from moving forward, it is important to remember that His mercies are new every day!  (Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.  Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.)  Each day we can turn to Him for the vital needs that sustain us.  (Psalm 3:5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.)  He also delights in blessing us beyond our needs!  (Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.) 

What an awesome God to care so very much for each of us!  (1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.)

Part of that caring is the way the Lord shepherds each of our homeschool groups.  As we allow Him to work through us while we serve others like we’ve been taught in scripture -- from our hearts, bolstering and heartening each other as we ultimately serve HIM, He serves us by placing others in our path from whom we can gather knowledge, encouragement and wisdom.  Essentially, we have each other to lean upon and learn from.  We pray you will reach out in times of need, uncertainty and doubt.  There are so many ways that we can nourish each other – not only in prayer, but also with gentle words of reassurance, advise, support, hugs, mentoring and friendship. 

We look forward with anticipation to where the Lord will take us this year.  We’re grateful for your companionship along the way.  May this year be filled with blessings beyond our imaginations, with an elimination of our fears, and the grateful reception of His gifts as they come to us through each other and our support groups.

 Abiding in His mercy, grace, peace and love,

Mike and Paula Anderson

Colossians 2:2, 3  “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

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