As much as I enjoy writing, I have consistently received far more than I've given here.   Song of the Sagebrush and Dawn were kind enough to award me the Arte y Pico award for ‘posts are challenging and insightful,’ and for ‘thought provoking entries that refresh the soul’ (their comments respectively).    Wow.   You guys bless me so much!   I will pass this on—in time.   I have several deadlines I need to meet, but after that…

I’m also grateful for the words of wisdom and encouragement that come my way but don’t increase my comment count (smile).    Though I realize that people blog for a variety of reasons—from those that are closet authors, to those that want to journal their homeschooling days, to those that just get a kick out of making friends online—my goal has always been to inspire and encourage with honesty and integrity.   It’s not always pretty, but it’s always real where I live.  Though the joys and benefits of interacting as a family in this way are hard to articulate, there is at least one down side—the potential for adult isolation.  Finding the right venue and way to express our innermost hopes, doubts and fears can be difficult.   Such was the case of the mother who sent me this message after I posted the last entry:

…I could have written your post at many points over the last 2 years. I know the struggle you described. I know everything you stated - even down to the disciplinary issues. There's only one difference though... I took it personally - as something I was not doing well enough. I felt alone and inadequate after [a move to a new state]. I saw myself as a failure who needed to let someone else step in and help. Otherwise, I couldn't be all that I needed to be as a mother. My faith in the Lord and in myself weren't where they should have been.

I promised her that I wouldn’t use her name, but I was so touched by the comment until it became, at least in part, a focal point for an article I’m writing for next month’s Heart of the Matter magazine.

God is with us and ready to take on our burdens.   If we will come as we are to Him, He will step in and move mightily in our situations.   My own testimony since I’ve posted last time is coming slowly, but it’s coming.   In the meantime, please, please, please pray for families that are making decisions at this time of year.   Satan’s plot is to kill, steal, and destroy, and in a wearied and uncertain state of mind, we can fall prey to all types of lies and deception.   Let’s go before God:

Most High God, You are the author and the finisher of our faith.   You are the beginning and the end.   There is none like You and no one beside You.   Though we don’t deserve Your continual love, mercy, and care for us, we plead the blood of Jesus as we come before You once again.   We confess places that we’ve turned over to fear, we confess areas that we’ve allowed Satan to step in, stealing our God confidence and clouding the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice.   Right now, we cancel every assignment and every attack of the enemy in Jesus’ name.   We cast those demonic spirits into the pit of hell; we speak and release the truth that will set us free.   We are more than conquerors; we are blessed in our going in and our coming out.   You will do in us more than we can ask or think according to the Power that is already working in us.   Do it for us, Lord, and let our cries reach the heavens for those homeschooling parents we don’t even know, but who also need Your touch.   We want what You want for each child: for them to know You, to walk in Truth, and to share You with others.  You are honoring the work of our hands and you will add to it 30, 60, and 100 fold.   You will equip them with whatever they need spiritually, academically, and emotionally to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath.  Let us prepare to receive what You have in store, and to feel a fresh wind over our plans and our days.   As we pray, we believe that our households are changed forever, and we bless Your name for it.    In the name of Jesus, Amen.