Archive for category Life Lessons/Inspiration

Are You Listening?

Posted by jlsgrant in Life Lessons/Inspiration on June 20, 2010

God speaks…..Are you listening?

It’s funny how God speaks, isn’t it?  I have a good friend that God has used, twice now, to tell me what I should be doing…and there were others along the way as well.   When you’re not sure which way to head, ask Him and He will make it clear.  Here’s a little something to think about:  

” Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;  He’s the one who will keep you on track.”   Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message

So here’s a little story for you….

Once upon a time, there was a diligent student.  She loved to study the Word of God in a very detailed fashion, Precept Upon Precept.  Her family took an exciting journey to a somewhat faraway place.  It was sunny there, and warm; a place where the palm trees swayed and the waves lapped gently on the beach.  And so, a decision was made to relocate to that favorite place, much to the dismay of her beloved family and maybe a friend or two.  

The Student loved to study the Word, so the first thing she did in preparation for the move, was to hunt down a Precept class.  To her dismay, none could be found.  Her teachers said, “Well, maybe you should lead one!”  To that, The Student replied, “Who me?  I can’t do that!”  But God planted a tiny seed that day.   A few weeks later, another wise teacher handed out a test booklet and requested that her students, “Take it home, complete it, and bring it back next Sunday.”  And so she did.  Lo and behold, the booklet said, “You have the gift of teaching!”.   The Student once again replied, “Oh no, that can’t be right!”.    And the teacher announced with confidence, “The Student is going to Florida to teach people about Jesus!”   The Student thought there was some kind of conspiracy going on….but alas, the tiny seed was watered.   Soon after, The Student moved away and the Lord provided plenty of sunshine to make the seed sprout! 

But The Student still could not locate a class to take!  Then suddenly, a courier arrived (well actually it was the mailperson), with news of a special “leader” training class in a village not far from her own.  So she thought for awhile, and decided to attend, even though SHE was certainly NOT a “leader”.  And the plant grew a little.  After the class had ended, she said a simple prayer.  It was something like this: “Lord, if you want me to lead a Bible Study, you’re going to have to walk right up to me and ask, because You know I’m not going to be bold enough to volunteer.”   That very next Sunday, after a wonderful time of worship, The Student was standing around visiting with friends and neighbors, when out of the blue there was a tap on her shoulder, followed by a question.   A friend says, “We were wondering if you would consider leading a women’s Bible study for us?”   God speaks….the plant grew another inch that day.  And so The Student began to lead…   

Years later came another tap.  This time, the tap came while The Student was having a little Mango & Vanilla Gelati with friends to discuss the possibility of having a high school biology co-op.  That same friend, pipes up and says something like, “I nominate The Student to lead the Biology Co-Op!”   And so The Student, once again, was called upon to lead!   God speaks, sometimes through others, so that The Student might hear a little clearer.    

God prepares us through life, for the journey ahead….even when we’re not watching the road.    You see, years and years ago, The Student studied Biology and was granted a degree, but has never had the opportunity to use it.  In younger years, a different path was taken, that lead her to the place she abides now…  

 

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There are days….

Posted by jlsgrant in Life Lessons/Inspiration on April 29, 2010

There are days when you couldn’t be more sure that you’re doing the right thing; when you know, because you’re homeschooling, your children are getting what they need to become the people God created them to be. There are days when you get the pleasure of watching the bond grow between your children, days when you get to witness the “light bulb” moments when they take the initiative in their own learning and life course, and days when you see them melt under the power of a good book.

But sadly there are those days, when you have to be strong against the rushing tide, a tide that will happily tell you that what you’re doing is crazy.  It’s funny to me that what most non-homeschoolers voice concern about is the “lack of socialization”, as if your children will learn good social skills from the kids at school.  One would reason then, if their theory is correct, that people who lived for all the many centuries before government-run schools existed  must have been totally void of social skills.   And people like George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Beatrix Potter, Ansel Adams, Andrew Wyeth, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Patton to name a few, not having the benefit of being properly socialized, would not amount to much and have nothing to contribute to the world.

Remember on those days, that the opinions of those who are inexperienced in what you’re doing, that know little about it, and have no first hand experience, are only “opinions”.   (After all, you may have an opinion about how to do brain surgery, but having never performed it, the doctor is unlikely to take your recommendation seriously.)  Ask your critics these questions:

  1. Can a child benefit, in any way, from one-on-one instruction?
  2. Does quality time spent with loving parents impact a child favorably?
  3. Who is likely to be a better influence on a child, a loving parent or a classroom of kids their own age?
  4. Are there no outlets for social interaction other than in a traditional classroom setting?

School is supposed to be about education, not socializing, right?  Funny how our critics don’t usually bring up the academics.

There are days, when you need to reflect on all those good things that you know to be true.  There are days, when you need to silence the critics still bubbling around in your mind.  Today is the day!

“Point your kids in the right direction – when they’re old they won’t be lost.”

Proverbs 22:6,  The Message

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