The End In Mind

I’m always amazed at how complicated I can make my life and how quickly I can make it that way.  There are really only two things that should be my supreme priorities.  Those two things are:  (1) To Know God and (2) To Become Like Him.

Those two priorities, if they are truly my priorities, will make the rest of my life so much simpler when it comes to planning, scheduling, decisions and so much more.

When I get carried away with the pulls of everyday life…….(sports schedules, music lessons, job responsibilities, homeschooling, self-improvement, home responsibilitieis and so much more) and I don’t have my life revolving around the two “supreme” priorities of the Christian life, my life suddenly becomes complicated, unclear and even distorted.

I started the day with a list of things on my mind.  There were personal things to get done around the property, animals to feed, clothes to wash, food to fix, things to pack in order to leave for my upcoming staff conference, ALOT of preparation still to complete for my part of the staff conference, phone calls to return, faculty still to hire, schedules still to work out and it felt like ALOT more kept coming my way.  Everything was important and everything seemed urgent.

I also had an eight year old boy who seemed to really desire to spend time with me the last few days.  The example of Christ and his love for children is a constant challenge for me.  He never pushed them away……and he told all of us that if we do something to the “least of these” we have done it unto Him.  God knew the timing of my “list of to do’s” and in his sovereignty, He also knew about the needs of my son.

So…that being said, Jared and set an appointment to go on a walk at 11 a.m.  That gave me a couple of hours to get some things done to clear my mind and gave Jared something definite to look forward to.  At 11 a.m. we set off on a walk in San Isabel National Forest which is right behind our home.  We took our bird book, our wildflower book, a box of drawing pencils and a sketch book, and without even a watch on my arm, we took off on a walk with our dog Miss Bibbs.  We stopped whenever we saw a new flower or bird, made notes of what we saw and just visited and enjoyed watching God’s creation.  It was amazing how things cleared from my mind and how being with Jared was the only thing on my mind.

Why am I always amazed at how God’s own creation shows who HE IS?  Just by observing God’s creation and sharing it through the eyes of a child, my child, I learn more of him, know more of him……and see ways to become more like him.

Sharing in God’s creation on a regular basis has a way of putting things in perspective….clearing our heads and minds so that we can make wise decisions and decisions that rotate around the two supreme priorities of the Christian life.  When those two things are kept in focus, in the forefront of our minds, life is kept simple, decisions are simple and we can enjoy the simple things of life as God intended.

I’m saying nothing profound that’s for sure……but I am saying something that is simple and real…….and sometimes those are the things that elude us the most.

You may remember that we have recently moved to a rural setting in the Rocky Mountains.  It is something we have talked about and dreamed about ever since John and I started dating in college.  We absolutely love it and I have so many stories and illustrations just from the past few month’s worth of experiences that I COULD write about them nonstop for several days I’m afraid.  However, today one occurred that really made me stop and think.

You see, we are building a barn for our horses.  Well, truthfully it is John that is building a barn and I’m watching and assisting from the “sidelines”.  John’s dad even came to help for about 12 days.  That has been such a help!  Today, as I stood canning more of the SIXTY pounds of tomatoes I have to work through, John and his dad sat on the couch with their heads bent over the plans discussing a problem they had become aware of today.

It seems that somehow as they set the poles for the pole barn, with all the wind and rain, and in spite of the strings and careful measurements, the measurements for the height were off just a little bit.  The problem is, that if they are off a little at the beginning, by the time the project is complete and beams are added etc., what started off as “being off a little” would end up being “off alot.”

Now I realize that I am describing this in very novice construction terms.  Let’s face it, I am a musician and an educator.  However, as I stood by the stove, it just seemed like the principal behind their problem hit me smack in the face.  If I am “off” even just a little in areas of my life, and IF I continue to build on those areas without correcting them, I will end up with a structure that is not what I had intended it to be.

I’m not sure if I’m making sense.  However, I realized that if I’m not constantly in God’s word checking my foundation to be sure it is constantly and consistently lined up with what His word says, then I will definitely end up being off not just in the “spiritual” aspects of life but in EVERY area of my life.  Because, as you know, for a Christian there is no difference between the sacred and the secular.

I was convicted once again that I must always use the mirror of God’s word to tell me if I’m building a square and firm foundation.  I can’t even begin to do that if I’m not in God’s word daily.  I can’t trust the wisdom of man…there is too much at stake.  Not only am I responsible for my own life, but currently, I am responsible for being a mother and a guide to four precious children and a help-meet to my awesome husband.  If I’m off….if I’m relying on feelings, or people’s opinions, or human wisdom, then my life will affect those around me and cause them to build on a foundation that is “not square” and not firmly rooted in God’s Word.

While I may not be out there physically building the barn, I am most certainly responsible for building my family and for constantly taking “measurements” to see if I am in keeping with God’s word and God’s will for my family.  Why would even want to do it on my own?  Remember, simply put, my family is not MY family at all…..they are each children of God and as such, I must lead them to Him on a daily basis.

One last thought……..in order for me to know if I’m off not only must I be in God’s word….but I must know WHAT I am attempting to build.  Sometimes we get so busy doing…that we forget what we want to accomplish as an end result.  When we get discouraged with homeschooling, it is often because we have begun to look at the daily details instead of the end result we are working toward.

So……sometimes I need to get my “plans” out……..and remember what I started out to accomplish and to build. I must always double check my measurements of the plan through prayer and God’s word, and then step by step, continue the building and measuring process….thus, staying true to the original God-given vision that I have been given, that YOU have been given for family.

I’m of Paul, I’m of Apollos, I’m of Cephas….and the list goes on!

Great thoughts on education as we start a new year!

Most of my childhood, I grew up in Colorado!  While living in the South, I KNEW that I missed the wide open spaces, but probably couldn’t have told you why.  It’s funny how the place we grow up affects us in so many different ways.  Although, there are days when I wish we had a few more trees on the ranch, I wouldn’t trade the wide open spaces for anything.

Why?

I can see!

You know the saying…..You can’t see the forest for the trees!  Well, it’s kind of like that.  When I’m surrounded by trees, I feel like I miss the big picture…….I miss the 360 degree views of the Rockies, I miss the AMAZING sunrises and sunsets that I became so accustomed to growing up.  I miss seeing what type of weather is headed my way.  When I’m surrounded by trees, I forget to look up and out.

Life’s kind of like that!  When I get surrounded by details, circumstances, tasks, and issues, I forget the big picture…..I forget to look up….and I forget to look out.  I get focused on the “me” and the “mine”.

Since the beginning of the year, we have had one AMAZING sunrise after another.  A reminder that I should:  “Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.  Habakkuk 1:5

The same God that makes these amazing sunrises, that controls the weather moving in and out of the area…the same God that made the amazing mountains that surround me……is able to do things in my day….that I won’t believe…..even if He told me.

Faith and Courage,

Lori

I assume that the enemy knows my vulnerable spots…..because once again I was struggling with the issues described in the post below which originally appeared on homeschoolblogger.com four years ago.  Thankfully, the same thoughts returned….but as I started down that familiar road…..I didn’t go as far this time…..maybe I’m learning.  Hope this encourages you as well!

You have probably heard references to the “Cinderella” syndrome or the “white picket fence” syndrome.  You know…the one where women have a tendency to think in terms of an idealistic nature….where everyone lives in peace and harmony….where the house is always clean and smells of freshly baked goods.  This “syndrome” seems to always hit me hardest during the Christmas season. I mean shouldn’t that be the time when everyone gets along,  where the house is picture perfect, where everyone enjoys homemade meals and fresh baked pies and cookies.

It’s true!  When we stop and savor the moment…….although things may not be “Picture Perfect”….there may be alot more to cherish and savor than we stop to think about.  It’s just that we don’t know it!  Somehow, I always focus on the fact that once again, this year, my divinity looked and felt like globs of salad dressing, I still can’t make toffee without burning it, and believe it or not I procrastinated baking Cookies (which I HATE to bake!) long enough that Christmas is now past and there are STILL no cookies.

So, instead of focusing on the fact that everyone was pleased with their gifts, that there was much laughter in the house, that everyone seemed relaxed, that there was plenty of food to eat,
that there was snow softly falling outside ON CHRISTMAS DAY, that the house was beautifully decorated…and most of all, that we were CELEBRATING Christ’s birth…..I started to beat myself up for all the things that I hadn’t gotten done, for all the things that weren’t perfect, and for somehow not meeting up to that impossible “supermom” image that I say I don’t believe is possible…….but somehow, still manage to try and hold myself to!

I KNOW I’m not the only one that does this to herself!  I don’t know if it is the effect of all those fairy tales we read growing up, or it was all those Disney movies that we watched where the ending was always happy and included a very handsome Prince Charming.  No matter what the cause……women tend to ALWAYS be striving for that “little house with a white picket fence” lifestyle.

If you have ever visited my home, you may have seen a beautiful print of a painting by Katherine Andrews Fincher.  It is a picture of young mother resting in a hammock with her beautiful newborn resting on her chest.  They are surrounded by softly muted spring flowers and you can tell that the mother depicted in the print is as contented as she can be.  When Kathy signed the print for me, I asked her to put a phrase that I had heard from a speaker at one time:  Savor the moment, cherish the child.   Such a powerful phrase!

Fortunately, this Christmas my sweet husband reminded me of this phrase and I didn’t waste too much time dwelling on all my shortcomings in comparison to a supermom…and I was able to sit in my comfy chair by the window on Christmas day, watch the snow falling outside, listen to the kids playing with their new toys, (yep, even the big kids) watch my family devour turkey and the rest of Christmas dinner and just enjoy one another’s company without the CONSTANT pressure of trying to make things look perfect or FEEL perfect for my “white picket fence” mentality.

Christ certainly did not experience a “white picket fence” world when He was born so many years ago.  He came to earth, knowing that the end result, would be his death, burial and resurrection so that he could secure for us our salvation and pay the debt for our sins.  In fact, in the days of Christ, during the Roman occupation, I doubt many of the Jewish people experienced anything close to a “white picket” lifestyle.  Yet Christ, exuded peace and although knowing his ultimate mission, still took the time to enjoy those moments with precious friends and loved ones.  Remember his talk to Martha…..and his reminding her that Mary had chosen the better thing……the opportunity to sit and savor and cherish her time with the Savior.  Such a challenge that is to us!

May we savor the moments we are blessed with and cherish the children, family and friends that God gives us…letting go of our idealistic “white picket fence” and dwelling on the true gifts that God has given us…..especially HIS SON, our Lord Jesus Christ.