Hiding Out

RACHEL M 12/01/2008 22:53:29

Im so grateful to see these words. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with all the things I have to do everyday. Educate, laundry(ugh), cooking cleaning, and trying to be a good mother and wife.Not to mention work 2 days a week. I feel like sometimes I want to run away. But that would do noone any good especially my little gifts from God. Thank You for the words of encouragement.

PENNY H 11/29/2010 08:39:05

Wow! I cannot believe how "right-on" you are with so many of the daily devotionals. It's as if you were peering into my front window this morning watching me vent over about the very thing you wrote about this mroning. Well . . . instead of wallowing all day the Lord provided some creativity. Praise HIm! I am finding that I get so caught up in formal education and the drudgery of that, in order to "live above reproach", and yet it just doesn't feel right. Today I thought of something that would allow for "unschooling" as well as the formal needs to education. It was impressed upon me to alternate the two - concentrating on one type of schooling every-other-day. In thinking this through I felt that it would be good if my children could choose some things that interested them. They are very creative when working "outside the box", so I listed out many topics/items that they could choose from to study/learn on our "unschooling" days. Can't wait to see what they'll choose.

Guess I needed to get to the end of myself in order to see a better way.

Thanks so much for your encouragement, and shot in the arm!

PENNY H 11/29/2010 08:49:13

Dear Rachel M

I just read your comment. I can so relate to feeling like "I want to run away". Praise God there are those who are here for us; who will keep us focused and encouraged, as the author of this daily devotional. I know you are grateful to her too. God bless your day. May you find joy and happiness today as you work a good work on His behalf.

SAMANTHA M 11/29/2010 09:01:39

So absolutely proufound! "Just as you expect your children to fight off feelings of laziness and complacency, you, too, must reach up to the One whose purpose and plans are so much higher than yours. God has put you in this place of leadership for a reason." My children aren't always on board and I know how it makes me feel when they aren't doing their part--frustrated--wondering if the "plan" will ever work. I'm feeling I could be frustrating God when I give up or "hide..." He HAS put me in this place for a purpose!! How refreshing to know the work is worth it! I have found myself, as of late, due to a myriad of issues taking the easy way out when it gets tough...allowing the children to dictate what occurs (granted Penny H we need to let our kids learn what they enjoy) since most of the time my boys would rather do nothing. For us there are less than 2 weeks left until Christmas (there's a vacation in there)...but I feel re-assigned from this devotional. Ready to pick up the zeal and move forward. :-)

KAREN F 11/29/2010 09:14:32

How sad!!!!! I have called Alpha Omega around 25 (not 1 but 25 times) and left messages from everyone from service desk to Debbie 1745, Bob Campbell, Mike Albertic (president), his secretary, Rachel, Annie Hiller, Ron Gibson (new manager), his secretary Rachel Alberdia, etc. Not 1, and let me repeat, not 1 has called me back. The brown print on the Daily Focus is so hard to read that I can no longer read them, enjoy them, and then pass them along to others. Several I have talked to tell me this is a big problem and they are getting several, several complaints. Too bad no one, and I repeat no one will call you about this. What does it take to get a person to call you????? Karen Foster 901-595-2717

CELIA C 11/29/2010 09:16:49

GOD IS ALWAYS ON TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such an encouragement to read this

devotional this morning! The LORD knows what we go through and he sends people like the author of this devotional to speak to us!! PRAISE GOD!!!!

Rosa F 11/29/2010 09:26:52

This was wonderful for me this am. Due to a switch in my husbands employment and less income, I have gone back to work. Therefore our 8th grader goes to Dad's work whenever we are both away from the house, unfortunately in order for this to work, I have to be very diligent about the assignment book

thanks for motivating me this am.

Rosa

RYAN E 11/29/2010 09:55:39

Karen, thanks so much for your comment and concern. I'm looking into why you haven't had your calls returned. Thanks so much for your patience with us.

PATRICIA O 11/29/2010 10:17:44

Thank you for this today. After all the holiday excitement it is really hard to get back into the routine. Thanks for your encouragement.

Dia S 11/29/2010 14:26:28

For the last two years my husband has been working 3hrs away. We have a small home that we have rented close to his work. He works Wednesday through Sunday. On those days we pack up the kids and the books and relocate. Sometimes we stay in town. It's all about to end and we'll be back to one home and a sense of normalcy. Our children are young, one second grader, one in kindergarten, and a one year old. We haven't been able to connect with other homeschoolers and I feel isolated. Hopefully I can find a way to connect with other homeschool moms once we are in one home. This devotional is a lifeline for me some days. I question my ability, my lack of enthusiasm, etc. Most days I open the devotional and I can't believe that the author wasn't looking into my heart. I needed to read today's. I needed that boost, that kick in the caboose. Many thanks and God's blessings! Dee

PATTY S 11/29/2010 19:40:46

I want to ditto the comments that these devotionals are always right on! I also want to let you know that although you apologized for the mistake I laughed every time I got today's post - I think I got it six times and I needed it six times!! I thought "Wow, how do they know I need to keep hearing this one until I get it!" Thank you!!

SANDRA F 11/30/2010 06:01:36

I feel overwhelmed today, also. My 10th grader is not doing so well with this curriculum that I have purchased. He says it is too hard. He is getting behind and I'm starting to think that maybe high school is the best place for him. Does anyone know of curriculum that is not university level. I think if I can find curriculum that is best suited for him we will persevere. Any thoughts out there! Thanks for listening.

GAYLE C 11/30/2010 12:26:02

That's funny! I just realized that I received the same devotional 6 times. I don't know where I was. I guess hiding! :-) I don't usually make comments to things and I also don't usually read devotionals much, but I continue to receive them for times when I want to scan through them, just in case ;-).

After this one, I'm thinking maybe I'll rethink my attitude toward them. This was right on point for me today, surprisingly so. I substitute not just the homeschooling part of momdom but the whole of momdom for me (not sure if I worded that sentence right). I mean to say, there are times I feel like hiding from all of it (all of motherhood) and this spoke to me today in regards to that total feeling. I hope that makes sense.

But, thanks for honesty and the swift kick; both are so needed.

Lisa W 11/30/2010 18:02:17

In response to Sandra F and her search for curriculum....I teach 2 freshmen, and we like Bob Jones for math, Apologia Science (they are easier to read and understand than a traditional textbook), and we tried the Monarch online history from Alpha Omega this year. We also use Learning Language Arts through Literature for English/Lit this year, and my boys enjoy it---it makes learning literature much easier. I also use Alpha-Omega Lifepacks for electives--art and health, and the study of Christ's life and anthropology. We use a mixture of several curriculums--that seems to work best with my kids, throwing computer curriculum in with the textbooks. Hope this helps...Lisa W

ARACELIS W 11/30/2010 19:27:13

I can not tell you how these devotionals have helped me to continue on with the good fight! After a rough start back after Thanksgiving it was so good to see others feeling like myself! God is good AMW

ARACELIS W 11/30/2010 19:28:26

Sandra F: What curriculum are you using now?

SANDRA F 12/01/2010 05:49:15

Thank you Lisa W for your help with curriculum. I'll check these out!

To answer Aracelis W"s question, I'm using Switched On Schoolhouse and have for the past two years. He finds the math and science the hardest. If you know of something that would be easier for him to follow I would appreciate it. Thank you !

MICHELLE O 12/05/2010 22:33:35

I feel this way about a lot of things. Life in general. I have dealt with my own self esteem, self worth. How can I homeschool feeling this bad?!

My 11 year old is suffering badly in 6th grade public school. He can be a straight "A" student. If he would do his work and turn it in. Currently he has an F in language Arts and pretty close to it in a couple other classes. He gets 100's on most of his tests. Doing homework and turning it in is his problem. I feel called to homeschool him deeply but I'm hiding because I'm so worried I would hide even more.

SHEILA B 12/06/2010 10:45:23

Michelle O,

I can relate to you as I have dealt with depression, low self esteem, doubt, and every other nasty thing satan tried to keep me down. I am praying for you today, that you come up out of that place of depression, and see TRUTH in His word and who God says you are! You can tackle this, God is calling you to homeschool and he WILL see you through it! He has been with me going on 2 years now, and I struggle here and there but He pulls me through and He will do that for you as well. Find some friends and homeschool families to pray and encourage you. COMMAND depression leave you in the name of Jesus! You are a child of God with abiblity and authority to cast those things from your life! Repent of doubt and depression and ask God to deliver you, for He is mighty to save and deliver. Come out of the low self worth, deny those thoughts and feelings, they are from the devil. Renew your mind in His Word and begin living victorious, because the lord says, I have OVERCOME THE WORLD! Amen!

KIRSTEN J 11/29/2011 07:28:00

I so need to read and heed this after Thanksgiving break. I am just ready to have break between now and Christmas! LOL.

Praying for that discipline that I expect from my kiddos.

CARRIE A 11/29/2011 07:42:14

Just what I needed this morning. I am physically tired a lot and getting everything done is difficult. But this devotional reminds me where my strength comes from!

LINDA C 11/29/2011 08:47:52

Thank you for the reminder :) God says " we have not ,because we ask not ."

God give me the words to pray!

SHEILA M 11/29/2012 05:54:20

Wow! Like everyone says these devotions (God) truely speaks to me and also most everyones comments I can agree with and relate too! This is our 1st yr to homeschool. We have a son already in college and then 6 girls: one in 10th, 6th, 3rd, 2nd and a almost 3 and almost 1 yr old. Gosh just typing that makes me feel crazy. Two of our biggest challenges has been \"deschooling\" and ME! Praise God for faithfulness! He has shown me so much! It is so hard to resist Satan and this world PLEASE pray for me and my family! Also, my 10th grader is having a hard time too. She is missing her \"friends\" and is having trouble with the Geometry and Biology from SOS. I am not sure how to help her. Should I get a tutor, switch curriculums (she does well with English, Bible and History from SOS), send her back to highschool (just kidding but Satan tempts me ALL the time) or what?!?

ALEZA J 11/29/2012 09:12:04

Sheila m, to help with your 10th grader missing her friends, offer to let 1 or 2 come over on weekends. Im also curious why you put friends in quotations, are they bad influences? I haven\'t started homeschooling yet, my oldest is 3, so I done know about curriculum, but I have seen a lot of people suggest mixing curricula .

KATHY S 11/29/2012 09:27:14

Seems with each new day comes a new distraction, disaster, or illness to interfere with our homeschooling.

Lord I ask that you remove all the interferences. Amen.

DANIEL P 11/29/2012 09:50:53

Sandra F, check out BJU Press Heritage Studies for History, and Teaching Textbooks for math. Also, give him the placement tests for SOS and Lifepac. If anything, the placement tests will give you an idea of what he is struggling with and will allow you to see what areas he needs extra help.

SHANNON B 11/29/2012 12:53:09

I am extremely new to Home Schooling, exactly 2 days in... I am scared to death that I will not do a good job, but I love these devotions, and I know that they will be a huge help to me!!!

ANGIE M 11/29/2012 16:00:31

Michelle O.-

My son is now 12 and was doing the exact same thing at public school. He\'s a charmer and the teachers weren\'t helping me hold him accountable. This year we decided to give homeschooling a try. I deal with PTSD, ADD and depression. I started the year with Sonlight, now using LifePacs, which he hates (remember he wasn\'t doing homework) and am working on trying Switched On Schoolhouse. My daughter is doing fantastic with it, she\'s in 8th grade and very self motivated. My son argues and whines and cries daily. This is our first year homeschooling. It has been getting better. My biggest blessing has been my friends that homeschool and our Co-op. Make sure you have a good support team on place before you start. I have found that to be invaluable! Blessings, Michelle! I also am doing a course called Christlife, the Ultimate Journey. It has been very beneficial to my own healing! theultimatejourney.org has more info.

ANGIE M 11/29/2012 16:02:02

Shannon B.

Do you have a co-op? I felt the same way when I started in September!

TERESA S 11/29/2012 16:38:26

I Isupplement my curriculum with inexpensive books from book stores and Sam\'s clum- Spectrum, ect. When a subjectneeds further or a simpler explanation , I find information from these sources. I also use information from the internet. I try not to get frustrated because the girls are not keeping up to the curriculum schedule. The main goal, that the girls will learn well what they do study, is being achieved. If we do not finish the entire curriculum, I am comforted by the observation that the last 2-3 months ( at least) of the curriculum will be repeated at the beginning of next year. My 7th grader has finally grasped fractions- I feel in the next 2 weeks she will be consistently competent. This would never have happened if I did not homeschool The rigid schedule has slept away- we still start at 7:45 am until 12 Noon, and 1 pm until 3 PM. But the afternoon :together class\" is learning in a relaxed fashion. We keep at a subject until we accomplish a learning goal- so not all classes may not be done in a single day- but in the long run- everything gets done . It is neat to do as I see fit in achieving the goals I know are important for my girls.

INGRID N 12/04/2012 18:01:44

I just told my friend today that I had been feeling like getting under my covers and staying there! Thank God, He won\'t let me:0) Each day we can start a fresh. Reading this devotional and reaching out to friends (when I didn\'t feel like it) has really helped me to see how God works around me and how I can trust that He will take care of me. I really don\'t like where I was and how I felt like I couldn\'t get out of it. Thank you for lifting us up in the Lord!

God Bless

Dorothy Pardy 12/09/2013 14:53:44

I can relate to almost all of these posts. We are well into our first year of homeschooling. We pulled our five children out of a Christian school: Two in grade 8, one in grade 6, one in grade 2 and one in grade 1. The two younger ones have special needs (autism, ADD). I spend most of my time with the younger two and the older kids pretty well work on their own (Switched on Schoolhouse). I just need to spend time marking work, and helping them when they get stuck. I do feel guilty as I don't seem to have enough time with the older kids - thankfully, they were good students in school and are responsible enough to work on their own. We have had to remove some units as they were really bogging down the kids. I think next year we will try a combination of computer/workbooks, but choosing the right curriculum seems overwhelming. It is a constant juggling act (because the laundry and housework is still there). Most mornings, I do not look forward to starting my day, but I find once we get going, it gets better. I need to constantly remind myself that God has called me to homeschool and He will enable me.