I have a couple of things on my heart this week. The first one is the disappointment to not hear from my former employer in the time frame he told me that he would call. In some ways it is a relief to not have to juggle working in town with homeschooling and my first love - motherhood. Last week the graduation speaker, Doug Sparks, told the graduates that living by faith means not knowing where your income is coming from, yet trusting God to supply it. Here I am I guess fully living out what it means to live by faith. This is not new to me...I've been in this place many times in my missionary career. In some ways it is exciting, but it is also hard on my husband, who isn't as used to it. Hopefully it will be a good thing in the end, and that too takes faith...
The second thing on my heart is something else I've been pondering this week. I grew up a very insecure kid, so I did whatever I could to "fit in". At this time in my life, I'm finding that I am living on the fringe. I don't really fit in anymore, and yet I strongly hold the values that I hold and I'm purposed to go on living them until the Lord leads me otherwise. In the past two years God has led me to take the whole Bible, including his early instructions, as valid for today. Daily I strive to obey the commandments, and this often brings me into a place of conflict in the missionary community that God has placed me in. For example, my family doesn't eat pork. We have to make our own meat several times a week and eat differently than those around us. Fortunately, my husband is the cook, so he willingly does this for us. Due to health issues, I and my three girls cannot eat gluten, which is a separate hassle that puts us on the fringe. Within my husband's family and my own, I tend to hold different religious, political, and traditional beliefs. This can become a problem if we gather for holidays and such. We have a family website and various topics may come up. I am reluctant to join in because at times when I have it hasn't always been accepted with openmindedness. Anyway, that is what I've been pondering in my heart these days.
On the Homefront:
Our chickens are here now. This is finally the fulfillment of a dream of both my husband and I. We aren't getting a lot of eggs, but it is fun anyway. Here are some picks:
In the School Room:
We actually started reading some of our read-alouds for the new school year last night. It is so good to be back to Sonlight! I am reading Bubbies' Egermeier's Story Book, Usborne Internet-Linked Children's Encyclopedia about dinosaurs and The Boxcar Children. She seemed to really enjoy it. The older girls and I started The Moccasin Trail. I made a big effort to use the reader guides to help increase our vocabulary and went over the questions as well. I am still anxious how we will do with all three children doing all of their subjects when we get going full-time...
On the Mission Field:
My husband shared at our church this week regarding our financial situation. We were hoping that at some point they would start giving us a monthly support check, but that still is not happening. It is not a good time really to be seeking it as the monthly giving at our church is down. We need to do support letters or something like that, but still haven't gotten clear direction from the Lord as to how to proceed. Since He is our provider, we will wait for His clear direction. He has never failed us yet.
In the Literary Scene:
I'm making a little progress with Torah Club 4. I read from The Charlotte Mason Handbook. I finished my 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) for this term which ended June 30. I am prereading William Wilberforce by John Holzman (I'm so glad I watched Amazing Grace twice before this so that I could understand all the ins and outs first).
Feeding on His Faithfulness,
Carol
If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories. Then leave me a comment with your name and the link to your summary. I'd love to read your weekly summaries too! I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday. At the latest it will be on Sunday. If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox.
Those pictures are so absolutely breathtaking - definitely a place to visit.
I don't hold the OT as being something we are obligated in total to follow the rules of - yet I really see that God put those rules down not just as a test of how difficult they were to follow (and how much we need grace) but also because there were benefits. I think you'll definitely see health benefits because of what you are doing. I think if we look at it as beneficial and not something mandated, others are more receptive. Yet, also I see, from my viewpoint anyhow, that the church at large doesn't want to say anything is right or wrong New Testament or Old Testament. That's frustrating. I'm glad your husband doesn't mind helping you out with your food requests. I pray the Lord's blessings on your work.
Oh, Carol, I love your Weekly Wrap Ups! Your pictures are breathtaking! And I can relate to your "living differently" issues. We live quite differently tha those around us and related to us. We don't have television, we grow most of our own produce, we raise chickens in the middle of the city, and we love the Lord with all our strength, minds, hearts, and soul. However, several months ago I heard this, "Those who dare to live differently now will live differently in eternity." I loved that! Living differently isn't so bad afterall!
Hope you have a blessed week!
Betty
PS. Love the chickens!
Oops, almost forgot to mention that I posted my Weekly wrap up and that the reason Mr. Linky isn't working for you might be because you can only have one Mr. Linky on the screen at a time. Just a thought.
Betty
Regarding the OT commandments, I do not believe they are required for salvation. I just don't believe God changes. When Jesus said, those who love me do what I say or talks about obeying His Word, He wasn't referring to the NT. That wasn't even written. I agree that their are benefits. More than that, God promises blessings to those who will follow His Ways. He's made it quite clear how we should live. When we do follow His ways, we are blessed. Problem is, our Church has strayed from these ways, and makes it hard for us. I don't believe Jesus ever intended for their to be Judaism and Christianity. We are grafted into Abraham's family when we accept Jesus' sacrifice for us. Anyway, I'm not trying to convert you...just explaining where I am. The Bible all makes sense to me now. The OT is all about Jesus and it is so fun to read and see how Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies and is the core of each of the Biblical holidays and so forth. I just get excited when I think about it and see Jesus there!
Have a great Sunday. We'll be headed for church soon.
Your photos are beautiful! I just love the mountians and that white flower. And of course your beautiful family. Chickens!!!!! I know you will love the grass/bug fed chicken eggs. They are so different.
I could so relate to your living it out by faith and being on the fringe. Our currcumstances are different but so much the same in that we stand out as we stand up for what we believe and live by the word. Even among other Christians we are different. It seems like breathing to us and what we are suppose to do. There are times when we ( I ) feel so isolated. God is so faithful but in my human mind I do struggle with it all. We have lived by "faith" for more than three years. The Lord making up the 1500.00 difference in our cash flow each month. Month by month. Each and every month I am amazed..even though I know He is our provider. I struggle with "should I go to work" often...my heart is at home and with homeschool. It would be nice to have health insurance. Again a matter of living by faith.
I admire your living the bible out. ( no pork etc). It takes knowing who you are in Christ to stand firm in love.
Thank you for commenting on my blog.I am so sorry for the delay in a response,but our computer has been going crazy for the last couple months and we just recently fixed.I do want to say that I like your blog.I am also happy to see your interest in the book of Feast.I am a Messianic beliver and my husband is Christian ,so if you dont see anything too current on the feast in blogs ,it is because we go through such a process to combine the teachings of our faiths that by the time taking a picture or even the opportunity to blog on it comes around we are already on to preparing for the next feast or celebration. I do however have blogged about our feast.I believe I have hannukah and purim and rosh hashanah on my blog.Our family is very open with how we feel about the feast and my children know so much on the history in the bible because of the biblical feast book. It was truly a Godsend. If you do have any questions you would like to ask ,I would be happy to help as much as I can. I love your new chickens.I long for a farm! from my mouth to the father's ears. Blessings to you and your family.
jessica
I understand the gluten thing since I'm gluten-free also. Wow what a challenge it has been. One thing good is that it has kept me from being a slave to food. When others are eating biscuits with butter at a restaurant I have to accept that I just can't have that.
Nice to see those chickens! What a blessing!
First of all, I want to give you a big cyber-hug and let you know that I will be praying for you and your family. I'm sorry your faith is being tested again with finances. I know the Lord will provide though. I've seen him do it time and time again. Try not to lose heart. Again, I'll be praying fervently for you in this area.
Regarding "fitting in", I so know what you mean though perhaps to a lesser degree. It's so hard to teach your children not to be so concerned about fitting in when I, in fact, struggle with it myself. We just keep on studying the Word, praying for understanding, and living lives that are true to what we believe. I love this quote by Jesus:
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and "a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." - Matthew 10:34-39
~Karen
P.S. Here is my weekly wrapup for last week:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JustKaren/705763/
In regard to "not fitting in" - I think alot of us feel that way. Add homeschooling on top of that - and we get double the comments, disbelief, confrontation, etc.
I think that's why it's so important to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and his standards - not our friend's or family's. We are supposed to be a peculiar people. We are supposed to look and act different, just not to the extent that we turn others away or make them feel like they can't live up to our standards.
I think it's one of those hard things about being a Christian, that I've struggled with too. How to live by God's standards and yet, not seem haughty or judgemental toward family and friends. Even when you're not trying to push your beliefs on them, they still see you as a threat. But - we have to be strong in our stance and yet loving and kind, so that the Holy Spirit can work in them and we won't be a stumbling block. Hard work!
Just be who God wants you to be. That's all.
I will possibly use your format occassionaly. I love it!
Hi Carol!! It has been so long since I've been over to say hello :) I have loved catching up on your blog and I'm hoping to get back to mine soon. Been on a bit of a vacation from it *grin*. I am so proud of you for standing firm in your beliefs even when it puts you on the outside. It is such a tough thing to do day in day out. I have encountered this mainly for the homeschooling and it can be so painful. Keeping you in my prayers and big hugs!!
Rosina
Your pictures are beautiful! Your husband did a wonderful job on your chicken area.
I will be praying over your financial support. I can relate as we have been hit with a 15% pay reduction just since February. Times are so hard, but I loved your wording about relying on Him.
I will post that teriyaki sauce recipe later on this week and let you know. I've been playing a lot of catch up on photos and posts and still trying to put together our upcoming school year.
It's late again but here is my weekly update....
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ams/706479/
Happy birthday to your baby girl. My biggest was a whopping 11lbs 2oz, didn't think they got any bigger that that! Lord bless, Antoinette
Hi Carol,
Sorry to hear that you haven't heard back from your former employer and that things are a bit tight - a good time to trust Him, huh? You aren't receiving any support? Oh, I didn't realize that (or probably
forgot), that is tough. I pray things turn around $-wise for you soon.
I'm with you on the fitting in thing - being Torah observant, holidays, extended family, and dietary - it is a struggle - something we/I are/am constantily working on and never arriving at a solution. But then again, the Bible never promises us fitting in, but rather the opposite, so I guess we can rejoice in that - we must be doing something right. ;) Perhaps if we fit in, then it's time to worry.
I love your chicken coop/run and your chickens. How old are they anyway? Our rooster still hasn't crowed yet and no eggs (unless they are laying them in a super secret hiding place). I hope we see eggs soon.
Love your pretty pictures! Have a good week/weekend!
One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty, the beauty of the Lord. To inquire in His temple, the temple of the Lord.
This is my everyday thoughts about being a mother to three little ladies (12, 10 and 5) and a three year old son. We serve God full-time, and I am a physician assistant. I have the most awesome husband in the world. I am trying to seek and serve God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength.
From the Heart:
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