Home Schoolers...

THIS is a great article. Want to see a study on why a homeschooler probably doesn't have to fear being unsocialized or ill prepared for college?

Go read this: http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2012/06/01/home-schooled-teens-ripe-for-college

What Do I Know?

I just heard this song, What Do I Know by Sara Groves. And it really meant something to me, it touched me. It's a sad song, but it will probably mean a lot to you if you are grieving right now. At least, you'll really understand the emotions of it.
I have seen this, the way life ends "too soon" at 80 or 90 years old. I've seen it a lot doing clinicals in a long-term care facility. I was just talking with a fellow student about why we feel like an aging body that starts breaking down, why death, is so un-natural. Because God made us to live forever. We were created for an eternity.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Precious in the sight of the Lord, Is the death of His saints.
Psalm 116:15

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Revelation 14:13

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4

"O Death, where is your sting?"
I Corinthians 15:52-57
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

” O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Poem

The night I first saw you
You were
Scared
       Hurt
              Angry
                     Lost
You wouldn’t look into my eyes
Your gaze was fixed
Downcast
You wouldn’t trust me
Wouldn’t dare
To think that I might last
Any longer in your life
Than those who scarred your past
I loved you, held you,
Gave you a piece of my heart
Gave it up forever,
Though I knew we might part
But you didn’t want
My love
Afraid it was an act
You refused it
Pushed me back
The words I spoke to you for healing
You fought like an attack
You were angry
I don’t blame you
I was angry for you too
Your hurt was deep
Your pain was vast
I didn’t know what I could do
But the God Who made
And loved
You
Is the God
Who’d see us through
With time
You came to trust me
Your numb, closed heart
Began to feel
And it was beautiful
When you smiled
God would whisper, “Spirit, heal”
But then, too soon
Came the fateful day
When we had to say
Goodbye
Yet that could not take my love away
I’ll know your name
I’ll see your face
I’ll love you still
Until I die

Waisting My "Young Years"

A lot of people say I should get a job (or two) and hurry up and enroll in a good college. They tell me, from a good heart, that I need to have savings and a sure source of income for an unsure future.

Well, I’m not juggling jobs and college for one reason: God’s ways are not man’s ways. And I want to follow His will above others, even my own.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold” Proverbs 22:1

I am asking God to give me a greater character in this life than a career.

(PLEASE UNDERSTAND: I am not saying that you are out of the will of God if you have multiple jobs and earning a college degree.)

But God hasn’t called me to do that. Right now, according to a lot of people, I look more like I’m wasting my young adult years. I’m not working very hard to save up for a car of my own, a home for myself, a career for my future.

Maybe God knows exactly what I need, and all the things I have are exactly that. That in turn means that all the things I don’t have, are things I do not need. It is possible that if I had a car, a high salary job, a career or college scholarship, then that is where my confidence would lie. Or maybe I would let my confidence lie in the bank. How much have I saved? Will it get me through what I need for this year, or how about this month? But money doesn’t help anyone, unless the Lord is their first provider. (Ps. 127:1)

Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying stay home, and be a slothful bum who says “Oh, but God will provide.” I’m not saying we’re to do nothing and trust God. I’m saying we’re to do something; trust God! And if He calls you to go, go! And if He calls you to stay, stay! And if He says you need to work at this and not at that, then work this way and not that way!

For me, (and most believers and some point or another) that means trusting Him even when it looks wrong to everyone else. Even when it looks wrong to ME, I want to follow His will. Sometimes I think, “God? Doesn’t what they’re telling me make a little sense? Shouldn’t I be doing more? How can I help You when this is all that You have me doing? How can I bless others if I don’t work more? I’m so glad to be a daughter who can live at home with her family, but shouldn’t I support myself a little more?”

And He says  “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) And, “whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)

The fruit of obedience doesn’t come in a day. But the seeds do sprout, and fruit will be harvested. It is stored up for the perfect season, and it does not rot away.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold” Proverbs 22:1