You Always Get More Than You Expect!

I was trying to print an advertisement for the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus for Grayson and Seth. The first copy came out and the colors were a little washed out but I figured that it was as good as the color would get. Then when I tried to print again, it jammed. It jammed over and over and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I finally said to Grayson that I would only try one more time and then give up if it didn't work. And then it worked! It did not jam! Not only that, but the colors were perfect! I looked at Grayson in amazement and he said, "You always get more than you expect." I asked him what he meant. "Well," he said, "when you pray, you always get more than you expect. I prayed that the printer would work and it didn't jam AND the color was fixed too!"
(Grayson, age 9)

Not Enough Time!

Where has the day gone? What happened to that list of goals for the day? I barely touched it! I feel this way day after day. But I find that when I start my day in God's Word asking him for wisdom to guide me through the day, I accomplish much more. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Consistency

Consistency is a process that I strive for in many areas of my life as a wife and mother.

Consistency in disciplining my children

Consistency in a daily schedule

Consistency in a schooling schedule

Consistency in making meals

Consistency in patience and love toward my husband and children

My list goes on...

But what is the key to being consistent in these areas? It is consistency in my personal daily time with God. If I am not consistent with that, I will not succeed in any other area.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8

A Prayer to Start My Day

“Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.”

This is a prayer by Betty Stam who was a missionary in China and died at the age of 28. It is a prayer that I desire to pray each day.

Coping Under Pressure

A fellow homeschooler approached me recently with the request that I do a workshop about "coping under pressure." I laughed and said, "That's easy." She looked at me a little bit surprised and I continued, "Just say 'no'... So the answer is 'no'."

When I later shared the conversation with my husband he was amused at my response and glad that I had not taken on another responsibility at this time.

I must consider my priorities carefully and not be afraid to say "no." It is easy to agree to do things and justify them spiritually. After all, I was being asked to speak on a spiritual topic! I will perhaps use this venue (my blog) to even approach the requested topic but after I get my dishes done and my kitchen cleaned up....