Wednesday, January 13, 2010

homeschooling,Rick and Bubba and the radiance of God

I took my sister to Alabama to be in the studio audience of the Rick and Bubba show's first radio broadcast of 2010. Unlike their names suggest, the two men are incredibly intelligent,articulate, hilarious men of integrity who honor God in every show-- which is syndicated nationally on a secular network. Unfortunately, Nashville has just pulled them off the air. When they discussed this at the show, it seems that broadcast companies want to "peg" each show into a specific category. The Rick and Bubba show is at times a sports-talk show, a morning of comedy, a political talkshow...AND a Biblical teaching format show. ClearChannel wants them to pare down and choose ONE...but they prefer to be who they are--well-rounded--able to discuss all that interests and defines them.
I thought about this in reference to homeschooling. In the elementary grades, it is our jobs as moms to expose our children to as many topics, subjects, and ideas as possible. We broaden their horizons as God begins to show us their future. It would be detrimental to their growth to LIMIT their studies to one topic. We strive to produce well-rounded students who can succeed in a variety of situations.
During the show, we laughed until we cried, we "Amen"ed many political observations, and we learned a lot about hunting in Texas! It is obvious that they are living out what they LOVE to do and what they are WONDERFUL doing. It seems as if this is what they were MEANT to do.
Which brings me to my next observation: My daughters-in-law and my daughter have never been more GORGEOUS in their lives. I am truly not trying to brag, but just noticing. My two daughters-in-law are pregnant--they are past the really tired stage--and they are truly GLOWING. I sometimes stare at them in amazement because, except for my last pregnancy, I don't believe I took the time to appreciate the miracle of that growing life inside. And my daughter is SO enjoying being a mom --it seems as my two girls parent, they are filled with the radiance of God. They are exactly where they are supposed to be--doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing!!! Wow---talk about the center of God's will!! And that is what we should all pray as we parent--that He will continue to show us how to walk there.
Karen Costello — author of "Go Fly a Kite — Ten Surprising Strategies for Success in Your Homeschool". Karen is also available to speak at your homeschool conventions and other homeschool functions.After 25 years of homeschooling, Karen has refined fun, successful teaching ideas which will work for you!

Friday, January 1, 2010

homeschooling, Tim Tebow, and being overwhelmed

We are this minute watching Tim Tebow's last collegiate game. He is the present "poster boy " for homeschooling, and a better example would be hard to find. Luke just noticed that he has written Eph.2:8-10 on his face. We looked it up and there it says: "For it is by grace you have been saved- through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
I LOVE that he constantly gives glory to God for bringing him where he is today. I feel certain that his homeschooling mom took seriously her role in listening to God and His plan for Tim.
God is interested in the small ways we acknowledge His working in our lives. As our world becomes more secular and humanistic---as our education selections come under more scrutiny-- and as our children grow up with so many more choices of all types---we are going to need to be guided by the Spirit of God. If Ephesians is inspired (and I believe it is), God has already prepared good works in the future lives of our children. We have to be listening to discern how to lead our kiddoes to the future God has prepared for them!! Wow--it is so GOOD to feel overwhelmed in the sense that without God's help, we can do NOTHING.
OK--so my sons will not set 25 new records for a mammoth college football powerhouse. But , God knows them intimately and loves them more than I ever can--and He has a plan for them---to do good works for Him. Today, on o1-o1-10, I want to learn to be still and listen to God's promptings as I train my Luke for the future God has prepared for him.