Bless Your Children Daily - It worked in the Bible!

Tonight I was the sole parent and, as usual, was looking forward to my quiet time. The three-year-old was put to bed first. After that, I went into the older boys room and we read about how Gideon was to defeat the Midianites. God told Gideon to reduce his army of 22,000 down to 300. Sounds like something a democrat would do, hey? Anyway, God wanted to be sure that it was well known that He was the one who gave Gideon the victory, it was not of themselves. I then gave them 10 minutes to play a game on their MP3 player and went into the hall. I could hear a voice coming from the 3-year-old's room. I went in to start his music box to get him to sleep and he said, "Mom! I'm talking to God!" Of course, I told him he could do that as long as he wanted, and left the room.

In the hall, I thought about this child and his faith journey. Before we had him (between child 2 and 5), we watched a daughter walk home with Jesus and then lost another baby before Jack zoomed into our lives. Through those years, I sought God's wisdom daily, hourly, trying to make sense of the tragedies that seem to be attracted to us. When Jack arrived, he was perfect. I was thankful and knew he was like the Joseph of the 21st century. I'd guess Joseph was potty trained, but there are some similarities anyway. Throughout the Bible, God records people blessing other people. Blessings were a powerful and sought after possession, and also had permanent ramifications for the ones who got, and the ones who failed to get. Sadly, as parents, we don't have as much wisdom for the first child as we do later on, but Jack came in the blessing phase of my Bible study life, when I'd realized this power. Since the day he was born, I have blessed him every night. I must confess, that in the beginning, my motives as a sleep-deprived, over-nursed, sore mother were to get this kid to sleep, so the blessing went more like this, "Jack, I bless you with tired, heavy eyes, tired arms, heavy legs and a sleepy body. May you rest in peace, quickly, and sleep knowing God is always with you." I got more creative after I got more sleep. These blessings soon became the character traits I wanted each child to have. I bless them with wisdom, a love for learning, compassion for others, great faith in Jesus, love for the others, and leadership abilities.. and good health, of course.

As I stood out in the hall, while Jack was busy talking to God, I promptly re-entered the room of the other boys and told them what I'd been doing for Jack more habitually, and that I wanted to bless them more regularly too. I have certainly blessed them before, but re-committed to doing this for them nightly in addition to our regular prayers. My older kids are great, and as I've prayed for them and watched them develop their gifts I can see a great heart of gentleness and compassion in my 8 year old, and great wisdom and faith in my 10 year old. These are not their only gifts, but I am thankful that tonight I've learned how to give good gifts to my children. Not gifts that plug in, but gifts that turn them on to life and passion for God.

We may know the next president on October 29, 2008

Most people know or have heard what's happening the the polls, but when it comes to accuracy, where do you turn? Those who REALLY want to know whether Obama or McCain will run our country have a highly accurate predictor available to them. It is not a poll of highly educated, politically motivated media manipulators, but rather a group who is manipulated, or rather mentored, by voters themselves, their parents. Capitalization on this unique resource made Bill Cosby rich and famous, Elmo a household name, and it could very well tell us on Wednesday (Oct. 29) who will sit in the Oval office next term. They picked George W. Bush in 2004 and, prior to that, picked who our next president would be in 12 of the 13 elections that preceded.

Using your great powers of intuition and my mediocre skill at foreshadowing, you may know the genius behind this highly accurate poll. It's your children! The Weekly Reader poll taken in schools across America has the highest accuracy of any poll in the nation.

If you are a McCain supporter, what hope do we have when Obama seems to be in the lead? Perhaps we hold out hope for the Bradley effect? The Bradley effect is a theory that may account for poll errors when a white candidate and a non-white candidate run against each other. No matter who you're supporting for president, the sad fact is, that many Americans trust in men before God. Some vote on a moral line. Some vote on the economy. Should we be fearful?

The Bible says that God is sovereign. In fact, the Bible addresses God as "sovereign" 297 times! What does sovereign mean? Websters defines sovereign as a supreme ruler or authority, preeminent, indisputable, and being above all others in character, importance and excellence. Will God override your vote? No, God gave us freedom to make our own choices. There is also no doubt that we, as a nation, are held accountable for our choices. We are responsible for "bringing every thought into the obedience of God." We can pray for the hearts of people to hear God's direction and call for a just and righteous leader. While it is important to show love in our ministries, we are also directed by God to speak up for truth instead of hiding behind a fear of offending others.

I hope that you will not take MY advice on who to vote for. I don't presume to be sovereign. I do challenge you to closely examine each candidate and decide which one is "erecting barriers against the truth of God." (see 2 Corinthians 10:5 below) If we seek first the kingdom of God, He promises that all these things will be added unto you. Question this? Track the Israelites throughout their history. With God all things are possible. Change the emphasis on the "with" instead of the more common "all" and you'll find the impact of this verse changes dramatically. Who is our god if we choose to put money first? The economy first? Who are we putting our trust in?

How many people care to know the "truth of God?" I hope you are one of them. While America will have to face the consequences of electing either candidate, personally, we are accountable for our thoughts and actions... therefore have a stake in working for or against God's purposes in this world.

Verses to ponder....

2 Corintians 10:3-6 (The Message)

3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

or , if you prefer, the New International Version

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Update with the full story and details of the results in different states... Obama won, but it was very close in many states.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/The-Nations-Students-Pick-Barack/story.aspx?guid=%7BBFCBCCF9-9DD6-4215-B1FE-B2368CCF72FD%7D

Obama - Your Tax Dollars at Work!

Every once in a while I get the Jimmy Buffet craze. My favorite song is "Fruitcakes." Jimmy Buffet and Obama have something in common, a cult-like following. Buffet appeals to people who just need more vacation time and sometimes, a little Buffet fix can restore them before they have to face the seriousness of the world.

Now, Obama, he's got a following too. In fact, if you listen to people polled in the streets on NPR, you'll hear things like, "I know he's going to be a terrible president, but I'm probably going to vote for him anyway." When God made man, he gave us many gifts. One of them was passion and vision. Barack Obama has a vision, but what is it? It seems to attract people like flies to sticky paper. (Doesn't that say it all?)

Back to Buffet, there's a bit of wisdom about the world gone wrong in the world of Fruitcakes. Jimmy Buffet talks about some things we really value in America, like freedom of choice.

"I don't want other people thinking for me!"

and on government....

"speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government? Your tax dollars at work."

This is a close race for President and until now, I was down on Obama and up on McCain, but now I'm downright terrified of Obama (and still up on McCain). There are no words to better explain the reason for this fear than Senator Obama's words as he addressed the Planned Parenthood organization, and I quote, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president would be to sign the Freedom of Choice act." If you've never heard of it, here's the view from the horse's mouth with a few facts added in.





I know there are many on-the-fence Americans when it comes to the topic of "Freedom of Choice". It's called abortion by those less "politically correct" and more truthful, but when it comes to "our tax dollars at work", I certainly don't want to be guilty of funding this American catastrophe. Even if you're a "waffler", not sure whether abortion should be considered in some circumstances, do you want government deciding whose abortions YOU FUND! Do you want them deciding whether you are informed when your little girl makes a decision before she's even old enough to vote for Obama?

If you read this before election day, please help bring to light the incredible "audacity" of this man so he has no "hope" of winning this election. Send the link to your family, friends and people who don't want these types of decisions made for YOU by the government.

Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

McCain or Obama to Address Homeschooling?

Hello ?? Is anybody listening? Is Mike Huckabee the last person in this election to mention homeschooling rights? I've checked with the official websites, with the blogs and heard the speeches, but nowhere do I find reassurance that we can count on either one of these candidates to respect the rights of parents to homeschool their children.

I've emailed John McCain and will next email Mr. Obama. A fellow blogger "spunkyhomeschool" wondered with me. Where is our representation? Perhaps they don't want to add one more issue to an already crowded debate, but I can't pity them for that. How many homeschoolers would it take to have an affect on an election? It is not easy to count the number of homeschooling families in America. The Institute for Educational Sciences estimated there were 1.1 million children homeschooled in 2003, five years ago. The numbers grow continually as parents' choices of curriculum and options increase and their wariness of public, institutional indoctrination in our schools grows stronger. Could that change the outcome of an election? Perhaps the popular vote.. I remember a close call in the last election. Can you say "recount"?

Comments welcome and information would be appreciated. Leave me a link if you find an answer. Who will be the first to commit to voting for homeschooling in America, McCain or Obama?

Update: 10/22/08

Here's an article telling what an Obama education looks like. The title of the article "Homeschooling Will Explode Under Obama" simply meant that if this is what education looks like under Obama, homeschooling will greatly increase. Connect to the article to see what a "social justice school" is and more interesting views on education mixed with social issues.

Homeschool with Confidence: The Yearly Vision

Throughout an ordinary day, there are many conversations you will have with your child. Some familiar ones may be,

"Is your math finished?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Has your room been cleaned up?"
"Yes, Dad."
"How was your day?"
"Good."

Once in a while, you might want to have an actual brain-interfacing, life-connecting, probing conversation with your child. If that dear child attends school out of your home, you probably face a weary person at the end of the day who just wants to be in control of their time when they get home. All the way home they were probably thinking, "Wow! I can't wait to sit down and have a deep conversation with my Mom or Dad about my character and academic development." Fear not, a listening parent can find opportunities to work in great conversation. Sadly, those moments may not be as often as you desire and for some kids and parents, rare.

The blessing is that we, as homeschoolers, have a little more room to take advantage of these opportunities since we can spend more time interacting with our children. You have the opportunity to initiate fascinating conversations on any subject under the sun -- and you have ALL DAY to do it! The conversation above is still a part of the daily accountability lesson and uses some of our valuable energy, but keep the blessings in mind as all the talking and reading sends you to the secret stash of chocolate chips in the pantry. Let's face it, everyday life is distracting, busy and tiring. It often keeps us from slowing down, listening and parenting with purpose -- in an intentional way.

If you are a homeschooler your kids may be facing a very weary mom at the end of the day. If you don't have great confidence in the plan you've chosen for the year or the day wasn't filled with all the inspiration you'd expected the night before, you may also feel a bit hopeless at the end of the day and perhaps defeated. This has certainly happened to me, but prayer and vision for my kids has put new light on our direction as a family and for me as a leader. I say leader, not just because I'm still the tallest one home all day, but because I have the potential to make change and direct with wisdom, love and of course, complete control at ALL times (don't be defeated at that bit of sarcasm).

To keep myself on a confident path, once each year I spend one to two months revisiting the way I'm leading my kids. It takes that long (or longer). I really believe that only through observing your children, reflecting, praying and waiting can I know how to go on with their education and mentoring. If you haven't found a way to work through your visionary roadblocks, you may want to get out your planner and dedicate some time (alone time is ultimate of course) to a visionary beginning. It can be a few minutes in prayer each night, or a weekend away at a quiet inn. Telling your husband that you need a visionary weekend to assess the success of your efforts and plan for your children's lives is always a good way to get that needed alone time! How could anyone say no to that? When I've found my quiet place, I write down and pray about are:

• How has each child changed or grown over the past year?
• What are their strengths and weaknesses in their academic life?
• What are their spiritual strengths and weaknesses?
• What gifts do I see emerging?
• What is their attitude toward learning, toward faith and life as a whole?
• What have we done that has encouraged them in any area?

What did we let "fall of the map" and are their consequences associated with that?
This is your chance to know that your choices were made for a reason. When chaos strikes, you can "refer to your notes" with confidence that at one time, on one day, you really did seek the Master's plan for how you are living this day, today. I spend time praying for insight about my children, about what the Master has created them for. I pray He would show me what their lives might look like if they used their unique gifts to His full advantage. The Bible says that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This tells us that we are created in Christ, he is a full part of who we are now. Your child is not only your child, but Christ living inside your child. How do you lead that? It is a humbling experience. Fortunately, God gives us some tools to communicate with him on how this can be done. We have the Bible to give us great guidelines, but also our senses and prayer to personalize our parenting for each child.

A proverb says "Train up a child in the way that he should go," but there is more to that than teaching them the 10 Commandments, right from wrong and even who their Savior is. It requires probing their heart, entering their mind and exploring their passions! God gave them those things. He is the master with the artists brush! He "equipped them for every good work" and according to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, God prepared us in advance for those works. What your children need to be God's best is already inside of them.

What is "God's best" for your child? That can be an overwhelming task to figure out. Do we want them to be the best in math? -- It wouldn't hurt. Do we want them to be spelling masters? -- My husband has been highly successful without that skill. Perhaps you want your child to be in ministry. Notice a common thread here? "Do we want...." Sometimes we rely on too much human wisdom and knowledge in the choices we make for our children. Have you ever read a great book, but felt left out of certain details that just leave you wondering? The author is only source for those answers. As humans, the author of our being, of each purposefully created soul, is the only one with the answers for the guidance you seek.

So, after the list has been made and the praying has been done, the listening begins. Facing our jobs in an honest way is what makes all great leaders. As parents, we hold the future in our hands and daily wipe the melted chocolate chips, jelly and peanut butter off of "it". With a listening spirit and an intuitive heart you can effectively change the direction of the life of your child. You are now ready to made decisions for your child and can:
Choose a school or curriculum that fits their unique being.
Encourage and provide opportunities for them in their areas of giftedness and passion.
Help them understand their weaknesses and how to work around them.
Provide the level of structure necessary for them to work efficiently to their maximum potential.
The great benefit of parenting this way is that you will find more peace and confidence in your decisions. You will find you are less swayed by the opinions of others because that "page of wisdom" shows you who your child is and is becoming.

A few books that have had an influence in growing my understanding and passion for parenting in this manner have been:
Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna
The Treasure Inside Your Child by Pamela Farrell
A Biblical Home Education by Ruth Beechik