WITH COURAGE

"With courage you can stay with something 

long enough to succeed at it." 

 -Earl Nightingale

Most things worth doing take courage and perseverance.  Raising godly children is certainly something that takes that kind of fortitude and resolve.  Homeschooling is another one of those tasks that takes great 'stick with it' strength. 

As I have been working on my Proposed Course of Study for the new year, Tom and I were laughing at how I kind of go through the five stages of grief each year.  It sounds completely terrible to say because I love being home with our children and I love the ability to homeschool-  I don't take any of that for granted!  But if I am completely honest, I must admit that some years it takes me a few steps to get to the acceptance stage.  Why is that?  Because homeschooling can be hard!  Combat hard.  And hard things are easily discouraging. 

It takes time to see the fruit of our work and it takes trust to believe God that we will reap a harvest if we just hang in there. 

Let us not become weary in doing good, 

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest 

if we do not give up.   

-Galatians 6:9

I have a few verses that I tend to remind myself of at the beginning of each new year.  You know, once I am past the denial that summer is coming to an end and I've stopped asking God to send a Christian Mary Poppins with excellent grammar to my house to do the work for me (could be called the bargaining stage).  Once I remember again that this is a special calling for my life, it is then that I remind my soul to focus on truth.      

Maybe homeschooling isn't your specific calling from the Lord.  Maybe you are focusing on the task of raising godly kids in an ungodly culture; just trying to make your marriage work or are simply trying to function in godly way in difficult circumstances.  I hope these verses will encourage your heart as well because truth is truth.  And in order to be courageous, our feet must be planted on it.    


God says that we are not alone; He will be our help!:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  - Psalm 121:1-2

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'  -Isaiah 41:13 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  -Proverbs 3:5-6  

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  -Philippians 4:13


Whatever the task, it is GOD who gives the knowledge and understanding that we (and our students) need:

To these four men GOD gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.  And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.  -Daniel 1:17



When we see things clearly, we realize that our success depends less on us and more on Him.  Our courageous task then becomes simply to trust the Trustworthy One.

May we meditate on His truth!

______________________
Officially homeschooling and proving that God's strength is made perfect in weakness since 2002.