Promises

What is a promise of God that you need to remind yourself of? One of the MANY valuable reasons for regularly reading and sharing God’s Word is to refresh ourselves on His promises. God’s promise is His absolute declaration assuring that He will do what He said.

Consider these:

• Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go…”

• Deuteronomy 31:8: “The Lord Himself goes before you…"

• John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…”

• Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

• 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…”

• Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…”

• And 1 Peter 2:24, Jeremiah 29:11, Exodus 14:14!

The Bible is full of them—we are the benefactors!

More on Promises

How can there be so many absolute promises, yet often I live as if I’m totally unaware of any of them? (For example: letting worry rule over any God given promise!) I’m not able to answer that question but I do want to share two things that I do when I see it happening in my own life. (Yes, often many times a day).

1. Bring to mind a Scripture that you’ve already memorized. It need not be related to your problem at all. For me, I almost always go to Numbers 6:24-26 or Psalm 23:1. The enemy and God’s Word do not co-exist. Often this Scripture that you choose must be repeated and repeated, meditating on each word.

2. Get personal with the Holy Spirit. While we know that He indwells us, we often“forget” that means He is right there, fully aware of our circumstance. I talk to Him as a friend. I ask Him to empower me. I thank Him that He stays with me. Just being aware that both of you are together in the horror gives you clarity and power.

Praise God. His promises are for us!!!

Methods for Teaching

Our goal in teaching comes from Matthew 22:37, 39: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If this is the goal, every year, every subject, we will add projects and questions to any text or course of study that we choose. An example: US history – upper elementary. Hopefully this will include videos, field trips, lectures, visiting someone whose hobby this is, perhaps a text, biographies, and any other material. One of the reasons you will want this varied approach to US history is because of what your child will face concerning new or rewritten US history. You will want to spend more time on “teaching methods” as you use a variety of materials. Be very careful of your methods!!!

Do not assume that re-written history will look as stupid to your child as it does to you. Simply use enough evidence to show the historical truth and challenge your student to search for truth when he’s confronted with information.

More on Methods

Looking for truth when teaching this US history or any subject at any age, consider:

• If your child argues with you about the truth do a search together. Do not minimize what he is saying or what he may be thinking. Learning is built in steps. What he sees and believes at this elementary history level will affect what he believes about family, economics, politics, religion, and life.

• If your child appears to agree with you as you read and study, continue to pose questions and require that he formulate answers.

Questions such as:

• How do you know that?

• What is the source of your answer?

• Did everyone believe as you do?

• What caused the shift in belief?

• How do we guard ourselves against a lie?

If the child is totally disinterested in US history and asks that you just tell him what the required reading is, remember that the foundation of historical truth is still important for him to understand. If you do choose to get a history text – read and test – please have the student retell what he has read OR teach it to his younger sister. As this is happening or during any conversation talk about WHY proper view is important. Ask questions and weigh the answer.

Rattle the foundation of a country’s history and you have rattled the foundation of a country. When the foundation crumbles, what becomes of what it was holding?

Help your child see how everything he learns or thinks is affected by his understanding of truth. It begins with: “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’” (John 14:6a)

Getting help

When is it time to get help?

• When you’ve used every bit of energy and wisdom to train your son, but you know something is not right.

• When you are physically exhausted and a good “once over” of the entire house would allow you to catch your breath.

• When the math (or science, or literature, etc.) this school year is simply beyond you and getting help could prepare your student for the next step.

• When you see a need you can’t fill and having it not filled would be disastrous.

Please ask God to free you from the bondage of comparing yourself to all those who “NEVER” need help.

Remember this: calling for help profits both you AND the one who helps. (Hebrews 6:10; Galatians 6:2)

Refreshment

Right now is a good time to pause and accept the refreshment offered to you. You can find it by:

• Enjoying one bloom in your garden.

• Putting one spot into order in your garage.

• Taking time to delight in a friendship, even if just by text.

• Watching a sunset and not feeling compelled to rush into kitchen chores.

• Choosing a Bible verse and looking at all of the ways that it applies to you.

• Finding joy in today’s garden weeding, laundry or other routine.

• Making real lemonade and finding a shade tree for you and your children to ponder and worship together.

• Practicing deep breathing on purpose.

“…being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy…” Colossians 1:11

Love, Becky