I homeschool
my oldest two children
, Garrett and Isabelle. They also attend a supplemental program
that is one day a week, during which the younger two, Abigayle and Gabriel, are in childcare
there at the facility. I attend class
with Isabelle.
my oldest two children, Garrett and Isabelle. They also attend a supplemental program that is one day a week, during which the younger two, Abigayle and Gabriel, are in childcare there at the facility. I attend class with Isabelle. One of the last weeks of the semester we had been reviewing the last details of their presentation
on the way to school
. Garrett and Isabelle weren’t interested and not participating and I was getting frustrated
.
on the way to school. Garrett and Isabelle weren’t interested and not participating and I was getting frustrated. 
to them in 
. As we were approaching the school
I was apologizing
for getting angry
. I covered the usual spiel of how I was human
and make mistakes
, too, but I do my best. I said I love
them very much, and sometimes it’s hard
for me to obey, just like it’s hard
for them. I said I was sorry
and asked them to forgive
me, and assured
them again that my inability to obey God
did not reflect how much I loved
them.
I was apologizing for getting angry. I covered the usual spiel of how I was human and make mistakes, too, but I do my best. I said I love them very much, and sometimes it’s hard for me to obey, just like it’s hard for them. I said I was sorry and asked them to forgive me, and assured them again that my inability to obey God did not reflect how much I loved them.After school
, one of the moms attending the childcare
stopped me to tell me about the day, particularly Abigayle. Remember, Abigayle is only two, bursting at the seams with personality
, and has the vocabulary
to express
it.
, one of the moms attending the childcare stopped me to tell me about the day, particularly Abigayle. Remember, Abigayle is only two, bursting at the seams with personality, and has the vocabulary to express it.
with the 
, talking to them about 
. “Do you do anything bad?” she asked all the children.
“No,” answers Abigayle, “but Mommy
does!”
does!” Busted!
“That’s why,” I told the mom
, “my philosophy
is to tell all my secrets
before my kids do!”
, “my philosophy is to tell all my secrets before my kids do!” With four kids, I don’t stand at chance
at getting away with anything! And 1 Corinthians
4:5 reminds me that we won’t: “…the Lord
…who will both bring to light
the hidden
things of darkness
and reveal the counsel of the hearts
.”
at getting away with anything! And 1 Corinthians 4:5 reminds me that we won’t: “…the Lord…who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsel of the hearts.”But the truth
is, I’m not interested in trying. Reason is, I’m not alone, “for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory
of God
.” (Rom. 3:23) What is important
is what I do with it.
is, I’m not interested in trying. Reason is, I’m not alone, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) What is important is what I do with it.“If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)If I am cleansed from all unrighteousness, as Philippians
3 says, I bear the righteousness of God
. In spite of my sin, I am no longer slave to it (Rom. 6), and can use my struggles
to comfort others
(2 Cor. 1) and glorify God
(2 Cor. 12).
3 says, I bear the righteousness of God. In spite of my sin, I am no longer slave to it (Rom. 6), and can use my struggles to comfort others (2 Cor. 1) and glorify God (2 Cor. 12).MEDITATE ON IT
When you make a mistake
, how do you tend to handle it? With conviction of the Spirit
, or guilt
of Satan?
, how do you tend to handle it? With conviction of the Spirit, or guilt of Satan?How do you believe God
sees you in those moments?
sees you in those moments?What lies
can you replace with truth
to encourage you to be open
with God and others about your struggles
?
can you replace with truth to encourage you to be open with God and others about your struggles?PRAY ABOUT IT
Father God, in Your infinite kindness
You cover us with the blood and righteousness
of Christ
. Thank you for never expecting us to be perfect, only faithful. Give us the courage to bring our weaknesses and sin before You, trusting You to cleanse and change us. Forgive
us when we attempt to keep things from You. Humble us before You and others so we can use all things, including our struggles, to encourage others and draw closer to You.
You cover us with the blood and righteousness of Christ. Thank you for never expecting us to be perfect, only faithful. Give us the courage to bring our weaknesses and sin before You, trusting You to cleanse and change us. Forgive us when we attempt to keep things from You. Humble us before You and others so we can use all things, including our struggles, to encourage others and draw closer to You.LIVE IN IT
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave
the iniquity
of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)
the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak
, then I am strong
.”
(2 Corinthians
12:10)
, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians
12:10)