Dec. 15, 2008 - God's Reminder
We've been so sick with coughing, sinus infections and such around here lately. What always seems to come with that for me is that everything gets so "off routine". Don't get me wrong, we do not hyperschedule around here. But I've noticed we have routines to most of our days. But all it takes is a sickness, and then laundry piles up, dinners consist of something frozen or take-out, and my Bible reading time goes to nil. I don't know why, but when I am sick, I do not want to watch anything or read anything.
But this morning, I just made up my mind that I needed to spend time with God and His word. I am so glad He blesses my attempts at following Him. I read a portion of 1 Samuel 14. Here's the part that really ministered to me this morning: v. 6 "...'Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.'"
I love the commentary which said that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were really no match for the Philistine army, but everyone else was afraid. It went on to say, "...they trusted God, knowing that the size of the enemy army would not restrict God's ability to help them. God is never intimidated by the size of the enemy army or the complexity of a problem" (Zondervan, NIV Commentary).
What an awesome reminder that God is not intimidated by my mountain of laundry! Just kidding...sort of : ) What I really got out of the lesson was this: God called us to homeschool. But, often, we feel like Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and that we are up against the huge army of the Philistines (lesson plans, a child who still isn't reading well, a child who struggles with math, financial problems, health issues, and on and on). But God reminded me this morning that He is not intimidated by the size of the enemy or the complexity of the problem.
This story ends with a victory. Jonathan and his armor-bearer defeat and kill about 20 enemy soldiers. The soldiers, in confusion, turn on each other. If you keep reading, you find that this act of trust by Jonathan, encourages the entire Israelite army to mobilize and push the Philistines back.
So I would encourage fellow homeschoolers to keep trusting, keep teaching those precious kids, and keep loving your family. Your act of trust in what God has called you to do just may encourage a multitude of homeschoolers who feel afraid, overwhelmed, and defeated.
Or your influence may be on a much smaller, but no less, scale. You may encourage one homeschool mom to keep going. By your trust in God, you may be showing your child how to live out their trust in God in a practical way. Wouldn't we all count that as a victory?
Comments
Dec. 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by RenJac
Im sorry yall are sick :(
hope yall get better soon
Dec. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by westward
Hi Candace!
It's Cindy from the Georgetown Co-op. I popped over here from Nancy's blog - I didn't realize you had a blog until today.
Your post was wonderful and something I need to remind myself of (every year about this time!)
I hope you are feeling better!! Have a very Merry Celebration of our Lord's Birth!
http://ourjourneywestward.com
