Transformations
Posted in Daily Focus on Sunday, December 29, 2013
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Everyone needs to grow up, including the children of homeschoolers. However, sometimes we make the homeschool nest so comfortable that our children stave off responsibilities they should be assuming as adults. We need to stop pacifying them with material comforts and encourage instead their desire to provide for themselves. After all, homeschooling means teaching our children to learn how to work, as well as how to think.
Sometimes we like our comfortable spiritual nest, too, and fail to grow into mature believers. The apostle Paul had much to say to the new Christians living in Corinth. He was looking for followers of Christ who were ready to feed on the meat of the Word; instead, he found selfishness, jealousy, and strife (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). The writer to the Hebrews was also concerned about the lack of spiritual maturity in believers when he penned: "For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:13-14).
What about you? Do you want just enough of Christ to get into heaven, or have you grown up in the Lord? The testimony of your salvation experience is not the only thing you should be sharing. If you are chewing on the meat of God's Word, your prayer life will be vibrant, and your testimony will reflect what God is teaching you in your life today! "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18a).
Lord, thank You for Your patient love that pushes me to trust You more. Give me a new hunger for You and Your Word today, so I will become the mature person in Christ whom You desire. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(14 comments)
LORETTA W 12/31/2008 07:27:55
Good post. We are struggling with our 18 yr old. Capable, but not in a rush. He works part-time construction, but we're tempted to make it full-time, since he's not doing his schoolwork. He can only think 'rugby', (he's on ntl under 20) and not much else. frustrating!
NANCY H 12/29/2010 06:06:43
I can relate to your post, Loretta. Our 16 year old seems more like a 13 or 14 year old.......not interested in driving, has to be prodded repeatedly to do schoolwork that is sometimes substandard, plays video games too much, and is only giving partial effort in the homeschool sports program he is involved in. I want him to get a parttime job soon, but I am wondering how we will fit it all in. How can we stop enabling him to wallow in childhood? I welcome any seasoned input! I have been praying about this for awhile, and, so far, don't sense any clear direction from God. I have considered taking away or limitiing the video play, but don't have backup from Dad in this matter.
MONIQUE P 12/29/2010 06:36:28
Hi Loretta! Hi Nancy! My name is Monique and I live in North Dacolda (Dakota) =) Not sure what your weather is like but sometimes the weather in our homes can make a big difference in the overall outcome of our children. Sometimes the weather in my house is cold sometimes it's warm it just depends on whether my son is driving me crazy....LOL! Anyway, I do not have an 18 year old or a 16 year old but I have been exposed to a Christian Ministry which I have found most helpful. You may or may not have heard of them...they are called "Love and Logic." I have bought a lot of their books and have found their CD's so very helpful for me. Sometimes you can find a lot of their books on Amazon for a more reasonable price. My sister has even found some of their books at a library. They help parents in guiding their children as well as teens how to learn to make responsible decisions in their life and to learn from the consequences of bad choices....when the price tag is not so big. The way in which you parent can also help you keep your cool and still be in control....which I am still learning =) Love and Logic also has a Facebook page where parents get ideas on how to handle certain issues, kinda like a Christian support group for parents...you can also call their 1-800 number for help if you needed. They have seminars also all over for parents as well as teachers to learn how to overcome the most common issues with children/teens. Praying that this info is helpful in your quest for answers. Many blessings to you both.
PENNY H 12/29/2010 06:40:17
I know all too well what both Loretta and Nancy are dealing with. Our 18-yr. old son slugs along with school work as well. His bend, however, is to work heartily in the physical realm. He will work in the dirt digging for hours when necessary; he will move heavy furnishings to transport our things from one house to another (when moving); he will help others in this same fashion; he will create and design mouse traps, and has made and sold many wooden toy guns, and he loves to sing in the homeschool choir - does a great job in that, and is diligent to practice at home. He is just not geared to peer into his books and study. Highly intelligent, has much understanding, but is resistant to this. He does not have even his permit, even though it is within his reach, after finishing his English, and he claims he knows how to drive already - that it's easy, but he is still not driven (pardon the pun!) to get his English done so that he may drive. He graduates this coming spring, but will most likely still have school work to finish. He would actually love to have a job on the side; he is not afraid of work, just book work. What to do to motivate him? I truly don't know!!! Can't squeeze him into the world's mold, or mold him into the world's dream citizen. On the other hand, he has to obey us, and the laws of the land - its all Scriptural - that is where true maturity comes from - honoring God through honoring parents, and following the law, regardless of what I "feel" like doing instead. How to grow one up in the Lord? Only the Lord truly knows what it takes. I cry out for my son often as I see character deficit in him, and I do get worried about who he will end up to be. The only thing I can do is . . . CRY OUT TO THE LORD!!! I need to do it until something breaks and I see change. Just cry out to the Lord and wait to see what He will do. He is greater than even "he" that is in the world, and we know that "he" is powerful to work against God and His design, therefore if God is greater than "he", we know that He (God) can and will work good in our children's lives. He loves them more then we do, and He cares about their outcome. Praying with and for you ladies. God bless. Rest in Him!
PENNY H 12/29/2010 06:46:23
Monique - good advice and counsel. Hope it helps. I did not see your post before writing my last comments. Guess we were writing at the same time. God has the answers either way we look at it! God bless.
HELEN E 12/29/2010 09:44:58
my daughter is 14, she loves to read and reads a lot, but hates doing school work too, she love working with dogs , so we just started a pet bourding buss. for her at our house and is doing good , and I have been seeking wisdom to know what to do, I believe what matters for her to become wise and mature is to learn more and more of GOD'S words so I have the DVD of the Bible read by Alexander Scorbey on the TV. screen on all day and night every day, started this a couple of years ago, I tried taking away privleges but she did not care, she is very mature, and motivated to learn to drive, she is good working with her hands too.
praying for you all
Lord here we are mothers that love you and care about doing your will today, please hear the cry of our hearts and have mercy on us and on our children, we need your help LORD soooooo much, please come to our help, give us wisdom and understanding to help fullfill our childrens needs, teachus how to love and nurtuer our diffecult children and to bring them up to love and obay you, Father...pleasing you is all what matters....In Jesus name and for his sake, Amen
NANCY H 12/29/2010 11:33:40
Thank you all: Monique, Penny, and Helen for the words of encouragement and for the prayers. I suppose it helps some to know others have similar issues. We are involved in a very good church with an active youth group and their influence is something I am thankful for immensely. I will pray for each of you in your situations and know that God will provide the knowledge and support we need at the time we need it.
ALEXANDRAV H 12/29/2011 04:47:39
My name is Alex Elizabeth I have ADHD and have lots of problems as a student but I do not let get in my way I am a very hard worker but I do not let it stop me I have been held three times on my own will because I wanted to learn the miteral so badly. I have been to public school and privet schools until we found homeschooling I am 19 and doing 10,11 grade class because I have worked so hard in catching up I am going to going virtual senior classes by the start of August I pull all nighter where I sleep 15 to 30 mins everyday. My body has gotten used to it also I was on track for a special deploma but not any more. I say I am married to school I listen to Christian music during my privet study time and I pray when I am struggling and ask God to pull me in . I do not let my ADHD take me away from studies and I an very full of energy my family the never ending plug because I just don't stop. Also I want to give my 110% . Just like God did on that cross. I hope this helps
JENNIFER V 12/29/2011 05:32:44
Alex, your determination and enthusiasm is quite inspiring. I have two children with ADD, one of them has some learning delays. they have attended private school but are now forced to go to public school since we moved and can't afford a better school. I have been contemplating whether or not homeschooling will benefit them. I don't want to hold them back. I want to have more involvement of what they are learning and how. But I wonder if I have what it takes to be the teacher they need. Keep up the good work Alex. God bless you!
CHRISTINE M 01/05/2012 09:25:40
Focus on what your kids do right! Then stop enabling them. Trust GOD to take care of them. He doesn\'t help us along more than we need...He will not tolerate us doing less than our part. Praying for everyone. Praying for God to reveal steps in His direction....remember that sometimes He offers one step at a time--it may seem small but yield big results.
ANITA H 12/29/2012 08:43:52
Hello ladies. I also homeschool my children. I have 5 sons who have graduated and am continuing to teach my younger children. I think that homeshool is a God-given mandate. It is just an avenue to teach our children the word of God and how to study to show themselves approved. It is a tool to teach them diligence and fortitude. My sons struggle more than my daughters with completing their school work, but will work as hard as grown men with their father in our family business. They prefer the physical work to the mental work. I remind them that studying is important and will teach them to do the \"hard\" things that they don\'t want to do in life. Homeschooling gives us so many chances to \"teach them as they lie down, as the rise up, as they walk along the way\". May we be aware and consistent in these things.
ARMELINDA V 12/30/2012 00:46:12
Hello my name is Armelinda and I am thinking of homeschooling my 14 yr old daughter. She has ADD and works so hard in school, but her grades are not as good. She has an IEP (special ed), but I feel that she doesn\'t enjoy school. She is a good young lady. Any suggestions on what curriculum i should use? Thank you.
NANCY P 12/30/2012 07:25:47
Alex E - My daughter has ADHD, and we recently learned that it isn\'t classic adhd, but a non-verbal learning disability and an auditory processing problem (she can hear but her brain can\'t process it as fast as most people) which can actually be helped with therapy from an audiologist or speech therapist. I\'m so glad you are motivated, many people with ADHD are discouraged and give up, but you don\'t have to...you just need to accept the abilities you have and realize that they will lead you to a special place God has created you for in this world. But truly, you NEED SLEEP. I know it seems like something that gets in your way, but honestly, your brain will work SOOOO much better when you get sleep, and also as a young adult or child (even as an adult) can really mess up your physical health if you don\'t get sleep - your body makes many different hormones during sleep that your body needs to function and feel well. Aside from that, I urge you to look up Dianne Craft who is an educator and naturalist (CNHP) and has some recommendations that have helped our family. Blessings to you! Nancy P
12/30/2012 14:48:52
Alex Elizabeth.... you are an inspiration. My daughter is in the very same position as you. Her name is Heather. She is only in 8th but is trying to play catch up after being held back in actual knowlege by being in \"Resource\" class since she was in 1st grade. She is feeling hopless right now and I am going to share your post with her. Thank you for sharing, I have a feeling your post has helped many kids AND parents feel not so alone.