FYI (For Your Information)

Just an FYI... postings may be rather sparse in the next few weeks around here.  My family is moving (only 3 miles away) and shortly after the move my husband is having surgery (nothing serious), so well... I've got much to do in preparation for all that in coming down the pike.  Thank you for understanding!

Just a reminder that Teacher Appreciation is the week of May 6-10, 2013.  Start thinking and preparing now how you want to honor your child's teacher.

Unless, I am so moved by the Spirit more than likely I will see you all on the other side of my chaos.

Summer Expectations

Do you feel like you're hanging on by a thread?  I always feel that way this time of the year.  There is so much going on to wrap up the school year -- Field trips, concerts, spring sports, etc.  Thankfully, in the busyness of life, God also sees fit to give  us warmer and longer sunlight days... it somehow seems to make the crazy schedule so much easier to handle.

However, we often transition from one busy schedule to the next as we attempt to tackle so much in the summer months to make up for what we can't do in the winter (at least that's true for us northerners).  I always have such high expectations for my summer... places to visit, things to teach the kids, projects to complete, friends to have over... you get the picture.  I've noticed the older my kids get they too have expectations and often our expectations collide and one or both of us are disappointed.

I heard a great idea this week while listening to a web cast featuring Lysa TerKeurst and Crystal Paine.  Crystal talked about establishing a "Bucket List" with your family before the summer begins... each family member lists 2-3 things they desire to do, then you meet together with calendar in hand and schedule all the activities before the summer months are here and then gone again.

I love this idea for several reasons... mostly because I'm a list kind of girl.  I recognize that some of you are more a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of person, so if that works well for you then by all means continue doing what you're doing!  I also love this idea because it allows me to plan ahead financially, so I can enjoy the activity without the added stress of wondering how I'm going to pay for it.  Another reason I like this plan is that it allows me and my kids to look forward to periodic outings throughout the summer... there is something to be said about anticipating something in future.  I think it makes the activity more meaningful if I've waited in eager expectation.

I should also note that just because your child has a certain desire it doesn't mean it has to be done.  I'm sure all my kids would put on their "Bucket List" to go to Disney World and well... that just can't happen this summer.  So it may be a good idea BEFORE they make their list to explain to them the parameters their expectations need to be within.

What plans do you have for your summer months?  I would love to hear about them!

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  (Matthew 24:32, NIV)

The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.  (Song of Solomon 2:12, ESV)

A Christian Perspective of Earth Day

Even though I'm 20 plus years beyond my undergraduate years, I am still learning so much thanks in part to the education my children are recieving.

When I was in school, recycling and protecting the planet wasn't taught.  I went to a small private school and I'm sure there were lessons here and there about taking care of God's creation, but not in parallel to the modern day public schools teaching about Earth Day.  As we've become more knowledgeable about our world, we've come to see how our carbon footprint is affecting the world we live in and the one we will leave to future generations.

When my children first starting attending the public school and being taught about recycling and protecting the earth, I will admit I thought it was a bunch of man centered hog wash and so I rebelled and poo pooed it with my children.

I still believe the public schools teaching about the earth is man centered, but they do give us a good launching point to start a conversation with our kids.  It's our responsibility to step up to the plate and take it one step further and talk about God's view of taking care of the earth.  And, oh He does have something to say!

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)

Earlier this year, I came across this link to a question and answer time with John Piper.  It has changed my view of how I look at Earth Day.  I see now that it is a matter of loving mankind, which is not an option according to God.  I would encourage you to take five minutes and listen to it yourself and then talk to your kids about it; giving them the biblical reason as to why we as Christians are to protect our planet.

Weariness of Winter and Sin

I'm weary. 

There are some days I really question if having my kids in a public school is the right choice, but then I have to remind myself that this isn't my choice at all... it's Gods.  I know there are some who would say that's a cop out, but for our family it's really the truth.  I've said it before and you can read my story on the sidebar, but I didn't want my kids to attend a public school and I tried to chose a different path.  But God knew and knows what is best for our family and for now this is His choice and knowing that makes it easier to trust in His choice.

Maybe my weariness is the result of a very long Minnesota winter... we are more than halfway through the month of April and our weather forecast is predicting snow today, tomorrow and into Friday.  It won't be a blizzard, but the thought of more snow and colder weather is starting to wear on me.

Maybe it's the heaviness of sin that is causing me to feel the weight of weariness.  Yesterday afternoon was a particularly difficult day.  Both of my older kids came home and unloaded on me.  First of all, let me say that I am blessed to have kids that share with me the highs and lows of their lives.  I know for many parents it's like pulling teeth to get a word out of their child's mouth, so I'm not bemoaning the issue, it was just hard information to hear and bear with them.

Some background...

Up until very recently my daughter has been part of amazing group of friends.  I kid you not when I say that there were probably 8-10 girls that treated each other with kindness, there was no cattiness toward each other, and they seemed to care less about what was popular or in style.  I loved these friends and the relationships my daughter had formed with them... until recently.  I'm not sure if some troll enters the life of a 5th grade girl, but over the course of the last few months these girls have become just the opposite of everything they once were.  I'm baffled as to why they've changed... is this just what happens when a girl turns 11 or 12 years old?  My daughter is struggling right now because she doesn't like what is happening to this once amazing group of friends, it puts her in a difficult position to feel like she has to chose sides, etc.  I see her enjoying those friendships less and less but I'm beginning to see that God in His wisdom placed within my daughter's heart something that baffled me at the time. 

You see my daughter's school is part of 8 elementary district schools... most of them are "in town schools".  My daughter's is not.  All the "in town" schools have transitioned their 6th graders to one of the two middle schools, but the two rural school have chosen to keep the 6th graders on site.  This is where I see God's wisdom.  Back in January, my daughter asked if she could attend the middle school next year.  Both my husband and I questioned her because she would be moving on and NONE of her friends would be.  I was amazed at her courage to step out, but I was also wondering where this courage was coming from.  Now I see that God knew the best place for her next year would be in a different school and with a different set of friends.  It can only be the work of God because by human standards, back when we made the decision to allow her to move on to a different school, it seemed like a foolish one.  Now I'm rejoicing and thanking God that He worked in the heart of my daughter giving her the desire and courage to step out and be the "only one".

I love how God works!  He change the heart of a then 10 year old and gave her courage to go against the flow.  I am so very thankful I didn't put my foot down and squash something God wanted to do in her life.  He continually reminds me in His Word that He has made our children to do great things... they do not have to be 20, 25 or 30 years old before choosing to do what is right.  Be encouraged by the life of Josiah and take some time today to pray for your kids and what they may be facing in their school day.

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, *while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.
Chronicles 34:1-3 ESV  (*Emphasis added) 

Teacher Appreciation Week

I love teachers!

In our family we've been blessed with mostly awesome teachers all along the educational journey. They've each been different in personalities and teaching styles, but my kids have learned from each one of them. This year my daughters have particularly GREAT teachers... if it were in my power I would give them both a substantial raise! J

Since it’s not within my power, I will have to settle on doing something special for them for Teacher Appreciation Week.  For those of you who don’t know, Teacher Appreciation Week is an actual federal day devoted to teachers.  This year Teacher Appreciate Week is May 6 – 10, 2013.

I will admit I haven’t been very good at this special week in the past.  I always have the best of intentions, but then the week sneaks up on me and I find the week is nearly over or past and I failed to recognize my kid’s teachers. L

This year I am vowing to do a better job and I know the key to making it happen is planning ahead, which is why I’m posting this blog entry so far in advance… I’m assuming there are others like me who don’t do well flying by the seat of their pants.

There are literally hundreds of gift ideas all over the internet… do a Google search of Teacher Appreciation Week.  But if your pockets are empty don’t despair, a handwritten note from you and your kiddo would be especially meaningful as well.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you

in our prayers.  (I Thessalonians 1:3)

 

Facebook Addiction

My name is Jennifer and I'm addicted to Facebook... there I said it.  I already feel better!

I wish like so many people that Facebook were not an addiction for me, but if I'm honest with myself I tend to stalk my computer a lot throughout the day.  I wish like my friend that I had the self-discipline to limit myself to 15-30 minutes a day, but I don't... I cave so easily!

I can't tell you the number of times I've contemplated temporarily deactivating my account... too many to count.  But in recent weeks, I've felt a strong urging from the Holy Spirit that now was the time to take a Facebook fast.  I don't say that to make anyone feel guilty about using social media... this is just something I know I need to do.  It is a perfect time for me to take this fast since my family is on the verge of moving and I have much to pack in the next month, my husband is having surgery shortly after our move and then summer will nearly be upon us.  I want to use this time away from Facebook to spend more time with my family teaching my kids some practical things over the summer months and to evaluate where my focus needs to be.

To be honest, I really struggle with this decision because I fear all that I'll miss in the next several months... what if someone goes on vacation and I don't know about it - GASP!!!!!!  In the end though, I can't ignore the nagging I feel in my heart that this is what I need to do for a season.  Earlier this week, I was listening to a audio cast by John Piper regarding this very issue and it was while listening to him talk about his time of social media fasting that I felt a strong prompting to make the same choice for myself.

What does this mean for Salt and Light?  Really not much, except I will not have the ability to post articles to the Facebook Salt and Light group page.  This was another reason I struggled with the decision to fast from Facebook.  I feel a sense of obligation to the group and I don't want to leave anyone who reads the articles through Facebook high and dry.  So if you would like to continue receiving Salt and Light articles, I would highly recommend you subscribe to the blog to ensure you do not miss anything.  Subscribing is really quite simple... all you need to do is scroll about halfway down the page and on the right sidebar you will see a place that gives you the option to "follow by email".  Please note that I do not have any personal information when you subscribe... it is completely private.

I want to be perfectly clear, I will continue to write articles for the Salt and Light blog (in fact, I have several things written and scheduled to post in the coming weeks)... this fast is only affecting what I post to Facebook.

I love the 10th line in the verses below... "being available to your own families".  It speaks volumes to my heart!

This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ 

 

(Isaiah 58:6-9, The Message)

 

I will leave my Facebook account open for a few more days to ensure you have enough time to link through to subscribe. 

 

On a side note... I want you to know how much I appreciate everyone who reads my thoughts and ramblings.  The kind comments you leave me are very encouraging... Thank you!

Will I Ever Learn?

As I read through the Old Testament, I've come to a conclusion... I would make a GREAT Israelite!

So many times in my life God has proven his love and faithfulness to me over and over again and yet, I still question if He cares for me;  I still try to figure things out on my own before turning to Him.  Why do I do that?

Sometimes I find myself getting irritated with the Israelite people... seriously,when are they ever going to learn that God will provide for them, He will guide them and He loves them immensely?

But really, I do the same thing.  I don't fret about food and water and I don't fear having to wandering through the desert for 40 years, but I do question God.  I do wonder if I'll have enough money in the future to fix my ailing van even though God has provided for us time and again.  I worry about if I'll be asked to return for the next school year as a preschool teacher aide even though I've clearly seen God provide employment for me when I needed it.  I fret about how people view me even though He's given me amazing friends who constantly love and encourage me.  Why do I tend to focus more keenly on the what ifs rather than rejoicing in what God has already done for me and trusting Him to provide and guide me for the future?

I don't like this character quality in my life and I talked to God about it this morning and I've come to a new conclusion... I'm thankful He is patient with me and He readily forgives my doubting and feelings of inadequacies just as He did with the grouchy, impatient, wishy washy minds of His Israelite children.  My prayer is that with each new day I will get better at trusting Him for all my needs and become less dependent on me and my worry wort of a mind!

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:19)

 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  (Matthew 6:26)

Wading Through the Murky Waters of Dating

On the Salt and Light facebook page I recently posted an article and a picture/quote about dating, which got me thinking more about the topic in recent days.

I grew up wanting to date really, really bad all through high school and into college.  Because of that desire and my insecurities, I chose to become involved in dating situations that were probably not best for me or the other person.  I dated very selfishly, like most teenagers do.

Shortly after I finished college and about three years after I was married a book came on the scene called "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Josh Harris.  I immediately hated the book and I hadn't even read it.  Looking back I think my disdain came from a book title that was telling me I dated wrong and I didn't want to admit that maybe I had.

I now own the book and have read some of it with my son.  I discovered that I completely misunderstood Josh Harris' premise and once I understood his heart, I have come to agree with him and his provocative book title.

If we are honest with ourselves and think back to our own early dating relationships, I think we would say it was very hard to remain pure.  When you are in "love", I use that word loosely, it is hard to remain sensible when it comes to our emotions.  So unless a young person makes a commitment to God BEFORE he or she starts dating, it is to easy to get off course and just wing it.  And winging it generally leads to disaster or at the very least an unhealthy relationship.

My pastor has also helped me in understanding this issue as well.  I've come to see under his teaching that the bible is very clear on what God expects from us in our dating relationships.  Because we are Christ followers, we are to live in selfless submission to one another.  I'm not talking here about the husband-wife relationship, but any and every relationship within the church body.  We are to be like Christ and that means we live to serve others, not to serve ourselves.  My best guess would say that most teenagers are not ready for that kind of relationship.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

I have had countless conversations with my two older children, particularly my son in regard to dating.  I know this is a tough issue for him because his friends are "dating" (if that's what you can call it in Junior High) and he is naturally wired by God to be attracted to girls.  So we talk a lot about how God mandates us not to be unequally yoked by becoming emotionally attached to a person who is not a Christ follower... that's hard because there are some very pretty and sweet unsaved girls.  We've talked about how you have to be emotionally stable to handle a dating situation.  Let's face it most teens are very emotional, wishy washy and possessive.  Those are not good character qualities to add into a dating situation.  And to be perfectly honest we've talked about how a teenagers hormones are raging and it is very hard to say "no" to those emotions.  I've told my son that until he is ready to financially handle a wife and baby, it is probably best that he hold off on dating.  That may sound extreme to you, but I'm just being realistic that it can happen and I'm not naive enough to think that my children are exempt from those emotions that have the potential to led them into a sinful union.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

 

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a

pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

I know talking about this with my kids is not a magical pill that will cure them from somehow being attracted to the opposite sex until they are 25, but I do want them to starting thinking now while they are young about the kind of relationships that are God honoring and spiritually healthy both for them and the other person they find attractive.  Right now I want them to wholeheartedly pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.


NOTE: I recognize many people may not agree with this approach to dating and that's fine... these are just things that God has taught me.

A Mom's Calling

I was talking to my son tonight about Career Day that is coming up at his school the end of this month.  I jokingly asked him if he wanted me to come and represent the newspaper carriers of the world, or perhaps the preschool teacher's aide, or those wanting to be a mom.  He declined my offer, but as I was rattling off my list of jobs, I realized they don't sound very enticing or significant.  There aren't many kids who are aspiring to the jobs I hold.

It would be easy for me to feel like less a person because I don't have a profession that sounds cool or inviting, but I know that God views my "jobs" as very significant.  The work I do outside the home, though minimal, does provide needed income for our family and my mom job is very significant because God is using me as His ambassador to reach the hearts of my children.  Only time and perhaps eternity will tell the breadth of this work.

Tonight I read this article from Desiring God that validated exactly what I was thinking.  The following verse is a commendation of the work that Timothy's mother and grandmother had in his life.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  (2 Timothy 1:5)