Crazy Times

It has been crazy times for our group so far this fall and getting together each week has been a challenge. We've been able to meet a couple of times at night and it has been so nice to be able to talk and share without the kids running around. Speaking of kids, we are getting close to the end of our book, Grace Based Parenting. I have really enjoyed reading this book and the last chapter really convicted me. The author was discussing the importance of showing grace as children deal with difficult emotions. I think we all struggle with our kids making a big deal about something that seems so insignificant to us. But we have the passage of time and increased wisdom that comes with age to look back and realize the things that we had made a huge deal about as kids, really were not that big of a deal. I need to work on showing grace to my 5 year old when he gets really upset about a playdate being broken or his brother not sharing with him, etc. I need to shrink myself down to his size and see how the world looks like to him and see that the world can be very disappointing, scary, confusing and time seems to crawl by. A challenge indeed but an important one.

Grace and the Freedom to Be Vulnerable

Okay, so this is my first post. I tend to think on things and chew on them and never get around to posting. This book has spoken volumes to me of the grace that God gives each of us. I have found myself basking in His grace as I am striving to learn how to raise my son in God's grace. This book fits in to other things that I have been focused on, all pointing to the amazing grace of God.

This chapter was no exception. It speaks of the freedom to be vulnerable and be completely who you are and still receive a secure and unconditional love.
"One of the great things about God's grace is the safe haven it offers to a transparent heart. He doesn't require masks in His throne room." All to often I find myself wearing a mask, trying to somehow look better or different than who I am. I'm sure others have the same act of putting on a facade. "Jesus makes people feel comfortable even when he catches them without their makeup. When circumstances scrub off the layers of their self-confidence, and their shortcomings wash away the foundation of their self-righteousness, Jesus isn't appalled by the blemishes he finds underneath. There's no sin too bad, no doubt too big, no question too hard, and no heart too broken for His grace to deal with." This grace is a tremendous comfort to me. I can be free to be who I am.

It goes on to say that we are the gatekeepers of His grace for our children. If we can somehow mirror the grace that God gives us, our children will be better prepared to receive the saving grace that only God can give. By allowing our children to be who they are and loving them through it we can reflect the grace of God that lifts us up to him constantly.

from head to heart

So.... long time no post. Have a feeling that this will end up being kind of a stream of consciousness thing --- so bear w/ me, or feel free to skip :)

Group meetings have been thin lately, it's rough sometimes with everyone being so busy. I really feel that we are pulled away from what we need most - I know that it is how we all feel. Praying for the mommas who are overbooked - AND praying that I can continue balancing it all.

Interesting conversation this evening. In this book, Kimmel continually points to the concept that we need to be making an effort to live grace out with our children. NOT just refer to the grace of Christ's sacrifice and then water down our faith to a legalistic checklist.

This started a conversation on how do we get this concept of in the heart across to preschoolers. Currently my boy is in AWANA's w/ his gma. This is an awesome opportunity for him to begin early trainings in basic beliefs. BUT - how can I bridge the concept of verse memorization to "hiding his word in our hearts"???? I keep trying to think of ways to show grace to him - not just in how I deal with him - but with how i deal with others. That is my struggle.

Also, I feel that as I read this book it is a method I should use in my classroom with my students. PROBLEM BEING - I can't quite make the connections w/ verses with them. I try to use accepted sayings of culture --- based off of Christianity - but not quite Bible quoting. It's rough though. I see how badly the kids need grace, love and understanding - but at the same time, I am not able to draw a line when they violate God's law - just the schools. It's a struggle, one I've mentioned before - I'm working so hard and trying to be the best momma possible, and I see these children and wonder where their parents are - do their parents know how rude, crude, and off their kids can be. It's not necessarily things to call home about - but still not what I would want my child doing or saying.

The other day I overheard a teacher talking, in speaking with a student he mentioned she should show him respect --- as she walked away he heard her say "I don't respect my mom ==== why should I respect you". Where have the parents gone? Why are they so absent from their children's lives, and why oh why do they not realize how badly they are needed?????

Love this book

I just wanted to post that I am really loving this book, even though I've read it before, I still love it. I really need to be reminded about God's grace in my life and that I need to give grace to my kids. How many times does God forgive me for the same sin over and over again? I am praying that the Holy Spirit will remind me of this whenever I am tempted to become frustrated at having to remind the kids "for the one hundredth time" to do something. I also need to work on not making a "mountain out of a molehill." So glad we can go through this book together!

Parenting in Today's World

O.k. this is my very first blog post EVER so bear with me. I am an accountant which means writing is not necessarily my strong point. :) We have just started a new book called Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel and while I have not yet finished reading through Chapter 1 I already feel very inspired and hopeful about what we will be reading. In just a few short pages he has pointed out so many relevant and important facts about today's culture and its effect on the way we parent. Something that my husband and I have talked about frequently and that Dr. Kimmel points out is that our culture has all but erased the moral boundaries that used to make raising children much more clear cut. He says: "We also had excellent guidelines to live by - like the Ten Commandments. But after decades of culture chipping away at them, the Ten Commandments are no longer etched deeply in stone but written in pencil on a Post-it note. They are more like ten hints or suggestions that you can use when it's in your best interest to do so. Somewhere along the way, they've lost their authority in the average family's life. To too many of today's parents, it is no longer 'right and wrong' but what I feel is 'right and wrong' that rules the day." I could not agree more with this statement and it scares me to see this trend. I am really looking forward to what he has to say in the upcoming chapters about raising children who will be well equipped to "move into adulthood as vital members of the human race."

In my effort to keep my posts short I'll end now with a quote from this book that I find very powerful and exciting. In talking about becoming a parent he says "You've been handed a piece of history in advance - a gracious gift you will send to a time you will not see." Pretty awesome! :)

frustration and tragedy

I love the idea of a blog - sort of anonymous but out there. I say this because while I love facebook, I feel that I have to be super careful with things I post due to the fact that I am a school board employee.

I am the dreaded, feared, hated, pitied, sometimes admired creature - a high school teacher.

I got a call from my father today. I can always tell from his tone that someone has died. It's that weird stilted voice and the feeling he has to say something he doesn't want to say.

3 boys were killed in a car accident - alcohol is suspected. I was relieved to discover they weren't my students, but looking at the photos posted - I recognize them. I passed these boys in the halls. I most likely have had their friends in class.

I know this seems odd and out of place on this blog - we discuss the books we've read, and our walk with the Lord. But this is a huge part of my daily life - especially since school is a few short weeks away. I constantly see kids with this idea that tragedy can't befall them. When it does happen to a friend, they have this attitude that it still won't happen to them - b/c it happened to someone they know.

There was a mandatory assembly that I had to take my students too. It was heart breaking - all about drugs and unintentional overdoses, the combination of pills and alcohol. There were students who joked afterward. The same students who are a little too fond of Bob Marley and make jokes about the weekends. I have often said how frustrating it is to hear these things - there have been lawsuits and such that make it not advisable for teachers to report this to parents directly. There is a process - refer to guidance, etc. etc. ERG!

Some of my students are so lost - they ask me questions that stun me. The one that I've gotten used to but still makes me so sad - "what religion am i?". The idea that things aren't wrong if you're not caught (drinking, cheating, stealing, lieing). The sin issue is beyond them.

I don't understand where the parents are - what are they doing? We are starting a book called grace based parenting - in the first few lines it speaks of good intentions. It's an assumption that I am finding is truly flawed. I don't know that every parent has good intentions. Maybe they had them in the cute stages of infancy and toddlerhood - but as the child grows - the interest is lost. Too often I speak to parents who have given up on their children. "Oh well - it's their life - I can't make them do anything..." A 15 or 16 year old, while desiring independence needs the guidance of parents needs their help.

I don't know anything about the home lives of these particular boys - and I do pray for their families - we know best intentions do not always mean perfect children. This was one mistake the driver made - to drink and drive.

New Book

We're just about done with "Lies Women Believe." It's been a crazy summer to get together with everyone's vacation schedule but we are on the last chapter of the book and will start a new one soon. What I like most about the last chapter in this book is that it focuses on the truths about ourselves and God that we need to memorize and dwell on. Most of the book goes through all the lies and I like that she ends the book with the truth. I think I ought to type out the truths with the cooresponding bible verses and leave it in my bible to regularly go through during my quiet time. So, on to the next book. We've decided to read "Grace Based Parenting" by Dr. Tim Kimmel. I've read it before and really liked it. Unlike the "Lies" book, this one does not have a workbook. We've found that it is a good idea for us to do a book that is in depth and requires a workbook, followed by a simpler book that doesn't. Otherwise we get overwhelmed and feel defeated that we haven't been able to keep up with it. And I have to admit I did a poor job of keeping up with the workbook this time around...:)