Love- A challange

I shared this with my 'Good Morning Girls' group this morning and thought I'd post it over here too.


I'm reading Crazy Love by Frances Chan...it's incredible.

It's really challenging. I guess the only thing is if I don’t apply it, it’s a waste of time…so I’ve been trying really hard to apply what I’m learning. I think I’ll have to read it about 6 more times to be able to remember everything.



Love.

We are called to Love.

In general I would say that I am loving and find it easy to Love.

God tells us what love is and what it is supposed to look like and it’s really not as simple or as easy as I had thought! Most of us our very familiar with 1 Corninthians 13

4Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5It is not rude,

it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails.



In the book, Frances Chan, asks the reader to do this following exercise. This was a HUGE eye opener for me. He asks you to read this passage of scripture outloud but using your name in place of LOVE and it.



Try it! All I could say was OUCH! And to be honest, couldn’t even finish reading it.


4(Name) is patient, (Name) is kind.

(Name) does not envy, (Name) does not boast, (Name) it is not proud.

5(Name) is not rude,

(Name) is not self-seeking,

(Name) is not easily angered,

(Name) keeps no record of wrongs.

6(Name) does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7(Name) always protects,

8Love never fails.

This poor blog has taken a big dive lately. Sorry.

I am all geared up and ready to homeschool this year. Back in May, I registered Hallie at the public school, just-in-case. Yesterday they called because she was 'absent'. It through me for a loop. I hadn't finished all the paperwork they sent me home with after registering her and I didn't send in confirmation of our address, which was a requirement, so I wasn't expecting them to call.

I felt kind of empty knowing that she was on a class list, had classmates, a teacher, a cubby, a desk and an opportunity. She was missing out on so much. Her teacher will know her name but never the chance to know who she is. Her cubby will be empty and the kids will just say "I wonder who Hallie is?"

I suddenly felt like I was keeping her from something. A heaviness came over me and I felt so inadequate. I felt like I was depriving her of something.

I dropped off our babysitters and busted through their door. My friend P, was sitting at her piano and I think I nearly ran her over as she turned around to see me. I couldn't keep the tears in. I begged her to tell me that she has felt the same way before and needed her to tell me that I wasn't going to 'screw Hallie up'

Paige had to say very little before I remembered all the reasons why we are homeschooling and here are just two quick ones (cuz my kids are needing breakfast and being really noisy)

- It's not about what she's loosing by not going to school, it's about what she's gaining by staying home (no time to list them all)

- I can't do it on my own but they great thing is, I don't have to and I'm not.
Philipians 4:13. I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. Without Him I am nothing and with Him I can be all that I need to be.

- oh, and a third one cuz it's a biggy.... I feel called to do it. There are few things I can say that I've honestly felt "called" to do and homeschooling for this season is one of them and until I hear otherwise I will walk in obedience and enjoy the ride.

Seems like most of my homeschooling friends have started the year with a big "why we homeschool" post and I might get to that eventually too... but for today, I'm not going write more about it, I'm just going to do it and love it and let the Father carry me through.

Happy Father's Day!

Earlier in the week I had this feeling of emptiness.  Something was missing.  It didn't take me long, just a song a radio, to realize that I was desperately missing my Grandpa.  It's Fathers Day today!!!  There has been commercials, signs, advertisements all over the place to remind us of this very special day where we honor our dads.  I have a great step-dad.  Problem is, when he and my mom got married, I was to much of a little brat to let him actually be a father to me.   Fathers Day always reminds me of my Grandpa.  I could write a book about him and the wonderful example he was as a father, grandfather, friend, husband, and Christ follower. 

Here's a list of what I'm remembering today. 

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Faithfulness
Goodness
Gentleness
Self-Control.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain.  Faith. Hope. and Love.  and the greatest of these is Love. 

More on this later...I'm off to make my childrens father a yummy breakfast!!!