Welcome BACK to Heart of the Matter Devotional Study~
(Todd's site can be found here)
We've come the conclusion in chapter one that the LIES are out there. Those lies plague each of us and are a detriment to our home school and our homes. We each struggle with these lies at some time, and they affect our ability and desires to teach our children.
What exactly are the lies we fall for?
Todd begins by saying that many of these lies sound crazy, silly, even weird when you speak them out loud; not in the least 'spiritual.' However, when our spirits are attacked, we are discouraged and frustrated, not at all living in the will of God.....
so on with the "crazy" list.
My name is Lori and I'm a home school mom who has believed the lies.
WHEW, that felt good!!
The lies I'm prone to believe are likely not the same ones that continually trip you up.
On page 38 and 48 Todd gives us a list of lies and asks which we identify with most.
Ladies, here it is....
What exactly are the lies we fall for?
Todd begins by saying that many of these lies sound crazy, silly, even weird when you speak them out loud; not in the least 'spiritual.' However, when our spirits are attacked, we are discouraged and frustrated, not at all living in the will of God.....
so on with the "crazy" list.
My name is Lori and I'm a home school mom who has believed the lies.
WHEW, that felt good!!
The lies I'm prone to believe are likely not the same ones that continually trip you up.
On page 38 and 48 Todd gives us a list of lies and asks which we identify with most.
Ladies, here it is....
My list:
*Everyone's kids are better than yours*
*Everyone is better disciplined and 'way more' spiritual*
*You are the only one who is falling apart and feels the way you feel*
Maybe it's because my kids often 'forget' to wear shoes, forget to brush their teeth, can't carry a tune let alone have a desire to play an instrument. Maybe it's because I get up early every day and find myself distracted by 'this or that' and my quiet time just isn't what I imagine every other homeschool mom out there having. Maybe it's because I'm a girl.
Why am I so darn hard on myself. There are plenty of lies I don't fall for. I'm comfortable with how clean my house is. The meals I prepare will never grace the cover of a "Gourmet Food Magazine," but they are healthy and delivered daily. I have a wonderful relationship with my husband, he is my best friend....
WHY then, do I not focus on what goes well, examine the areas that I need to work on and move on? Why do I return to those things, especially at "that time of the month," on the list above.
It's because I'm not being careful enough.
The chapter begins with a verse that I believe is where the answer lies.
"Be on the alert, your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
1Peter 5:8
The only way to not believe the LIES is to know that the 'liar of liars' is always lurking. Always whispering, "you are not good enough." Always putting in front of me in the grocery line, the perfectly coiffed, perfectly educated, perfectly perfect mom. That's what he does. He attacks, but without roars, but with subtle hints dropped at the homeschool group, subtle hints dropped by other kids about what they are 'doing.' He attacks when I show up at the grocery in sweats only to run into "the perfect mom." Ladies, he does it to me and while reading this chapter I came to one conclusion....
NO ONE can make me believe the LIES!
There are areas that I know God is revealing to show me that I need to do some work, that is different, that is of God. I have a friend who reminds me often that,"God is not a God of confusion...if it's confusing, it's NOT of God."
What wisdom in that. I know when God is speaking to me. It's gentle and real, it's ALWAYS to make me better, more like Him. It's the other voice that carries confusion which leads me into self doubt and fear.
Whew, I've come through Part 2 more aware than I've ever been about what is "lurking" to attack me as a home school mom. I see much more clearly that NONE of us, if we are honest, can say that we can't identify with any of those lists that Todd provides. We are after all women.
I don't know about you but I feel a sense of release here! I feel that knowing where my weakness lies, I can guard those attacks. I also know clearly to ask and seek God in discernment as to what is of Him and what is not.
Whew, I've come through Part 2 more aware than I've ever been about what is "lurking" to attack me as a home school mom. I see much more clearly that NONE of us, if we are honest, can say that we can't identify with any of those lists that Todd provides. We are after all women.
I don't know about you but I feel a sense of release here! I feel that knowing where my weakness lies, I can guard those attacks. I also know clearly to ask and seek God in discernment as to what is of Him and what is not.
So what if we routinely have to run into the Dollar Store to buy flip flops because one of the three people who regularly travel with me FORGOT again....
I'm not perfect and that's ok!!
(but you still wouldn't want to hear us sing!!)
(but you still wouldn't want to hear us sing!!)
Father,Thank you for this time in study. Thank you for the revealing that the lies that plague us are not YOUR best for us. Help us to discern YOUR voice in the midst of the lies that the enemy so cleverly whispers and places on our paths, defeating us in our homeschool journey. Victory is in YOU. Hope is in YOU. Love is found in YOU. Your love is abundant and your grace sufficient for each day. Father, help us on this walk to move out of believing the lies and moving into the TRUTHS that are found only in YOU. Guide us gently on this journey, help us to be still and hear your voice and to seek and live out the example of your son Jesus.
God is Good, All the time.....you created each one of us for "such a time as this." Thank you for your faithfulness Father, and hold our hands each and every day.
Amen~
9 comments:
I agree that we all believe different lies to some extent at various points in our homeschooling. To me, it seems to stem from insecurities on our part and also comparing to other moms or kids. I think if we focus on God and his will for us, then we'll be less concerned with what others are doing and less likely to compare and despair about our own situation.
I blogged this weeks -
http://aprendemos.yuriar.com/blog/?p=104
I just posted my new entry on my blog as well.
http://hismercyisnew.com/blog/?p=203
I read part #2 thinking, "I don't believe any of these lies." After I got done lying to myself, I admitted I believe quite a few of these lies at one time or another. Lies I've believed are: everyone's kids are "better" than mine (not really better, but they're doing more...the 4 year old novel reader, the 5 year old violinist, you get the picture), everyone's house is cleaner, everyone fixes better meals, everyone is more disciplined and spiritual, and everyone else can do it all. I know everything falls into place if you put your eyes on God. I know that Mom's who appear to be perfect are not really perfect (there's not a perfect one among us, we're all sinners). My daughter told me the other day that I was the worst mother in the world (Why? I don't remember; she doesn't call me that on a regular basis.). So I asked her if I beat her? "No" do I starve her? "No", and on and on with examples of terrible mother things. She couldn't answer yes to one of them & decided I wasn't so terrible after all. If we're going to compare ourselves(confession: I'm a woman & I compare myself to others), maybe we need to look at the things we're not doing to see all the good things we are doing, instead of idealizing other women who we really probably don't know the whole truth about.
(Hmmmm... I left a comment earlier. I'll wait to see if it shows up :) If not, I'll add my 2 cents again!!
Loving this book!
Thanks for that!
My chapter thoughts are up and ready.
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/teaching4Him/98473/
This section of the book served as a reminder to me to not do comparisons of myself to others. I can become overwhelmed by trying to hold myself to what I see in others and I can also make myself feel better if I compare myself to those that I see are not doing all the "wonderful" things I am doing. But when I look at those around me - I am taking my eyes off Jesus. I need to remember to focus on what God wants me to be doing and what His plan is for my home, homeschool, marriage, kids, etc. I may never be all that my husband, kids, family, friends or even I want me to be, but being what He wants me to be is far better than any of that.
Here is my blog on this chapter.
http://homeschoolerinflorida.blogspot.com/2008/05/lies-homeschooling-moms-believe.html
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