Homeschool Devotional for April 6, 2009

Grace in the Wilderness
By Maribeth Spangenberg

"But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not..."
Psalm 78:52-53a


God has not called you into homeschooling to leave you. What He started, He will complete! Even through the "dark days", when we feel like we’re sinking, He’s still there!

baby may be irritable. Sarah isn’t cooperating. And Joey doesn’t "get it". Frustration sets in. Doubts bombard us. And we question our capabilities.

Did we REALLY hear from God? Is this TRULY His Will? Shouldn’t the way get easier?

While we relish the good days, and certainly need the assurance of them, the challenging times are what stretch us. Homeschooling is not just for the good of the children and the family. It is also an opportunity for spiritual growth for us. As sheep with the shepherd, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, and trust in His leading and guidance.

Sometimes the days may seem long, or the academics appear out of our reach. But as we take one step at a time, our Shepherd will get us over the rocky paths. Grace will be more real as we look to Our Lord for strength and encouragement. His love will surround us when we seek His Face.

As we rest in Him, He will prod us on. When we feel our strength waning, our faith will push us forward.

Dear mother, homeschooling has tremendous rewards in the end – the closeness of family, respect for authority, lessons in submission, and opportunities for spiritual growth.

Trust God and His promises. If the Lord has called you, He will lead you. As a sheep in His Pasture, rest in his care. As our Shepherd, He will guide us.

Prayer: "Heavenly Father, I pray for your grace to continue strong in the path of homeschooling. Help me to rest in your guidance, so that I can keep going forward. I trust You to take away my fears and frustrations, and to replace them with Your peace."

Tomorrow's the Day

Tomorrow is the day we start officially homeschooling. I'm nervous about it. I mean, I know I can do this. I don't feel I'm not smart enough to, and I've got LOADS of resources should there be a question I can't help them figure out. But I'm nervous. I don't want to mess this up. Their future depends on ME now, not the teachers at school. If they don't learn, it's now MY fault.

I just keep praying that God will send the Holy Spirit to guide me through this, because that is the ONLY way this is going to work.

Right now we're getting the house clean in preparation for tomorrow. That way there is nothing to distract us from school work.