Devotions and Encouragement from the Old School House Magazine

The following post is from the Old School House Magazine e-mail devotions and updates. I read it today, but I have been meaning to read it for over a week. Procrastination? Maybe, or it just may be what the article says... the dread of getting back to work! There's too many things to do and too many things to think about and WAY too many things to organize...

Preparing for a Fresh Start December 29, 2010

Are any of you battling after-Christmas letdown? Is everyone a little grouchy and out-of-sorts? Do you find yourself dealing with a house messy from the extra activities, decorations, or travel? Are you starting to have that elephant-sitting-on-your-chest feeling that it's almost time to get back to the books, but you are so worn out that you feel like you totally missed the Christmas break?

You're not?! Oops. Maybe it's just me and y'all can pray for me.

However, if you're overwhelmed with the idea of trying to get the house, kids, and schedules back on track, just keep reminding yourself of God's new mercies every day.

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed , because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning:great is thy faithfulness.

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lamentations 3:22-24

It's not all up to you. God is your portion and you can trust in Him and His faithfulness. He gives us a fresh start every morning. Give yourself (and your family) a fresh start too. Quit beating yourself up for how behind or disorganized you are, and just press forward.

. . . but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3: 13-14

Have a blessed 2011. We're on your side and praying for you!

AOP's One Day at a Time

The following post is so true! I am always looking at the next day and the next, etc. I am always looking ahead to something else than the task at hand. I am actually looking ahead to when I post on this blog what I am writing than the spelling words I should be dictating to my 2nd grader. I can call it multi- tasking if I would like to and it may very well be, but what is more important: school work or blogging about school work? I am just fortunate that I have very smart little girls! She did very well as I dictated and wrote on here, lol!
I totally lack focus on most days, but I also know what is important. So, I would like to learn about focus some more. I blame it on the depression that will always be apart of me and also be grateful that it's not as bad as it use to be.
Well, now that I am done with my tangent, here is the post of AOP's Daily Devotional. I hope it brings encouragement to my readers.

One Day at a Time January 9, 2011

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:34).

The best advice I received when I first started homeschooling was, "Take one day at a time!" These words were easy to say, but they were very hard to do. Borrowing tomorrow's trouble is a learned family trait, and many times I had to come before the Lord in repentance. Many people like to think they are organized and prepared for the unknowns in life, but homeschooling four children has a way of changing that mindset. Each day I needed to erase the failures from yesterday and realize that God was providing His strength and creativity one day at a time.

Seeking God daily for strength is a lesson the people of Israel had difficulty learning as well. Each day for forty years, God rained manna from heaven to feed the Israelites (Exodus 16:4). The organizers in the group thought they could run ahead of the Lord and gather extra, possibly planning ahead for those unknowns. However, any amount the people gathered that was more than they needed for that day spoiled. God's provision of manna was not only for nourishment, but it also was a test. God wanted to see if the people would obey His commandments and trust that He would provide for their daily needs. God had commanded them to collect only enough manna to last for one day's needs. Only on the day before the Sabbath had God commanded the people to gather twice the amount.

One other motivating factor also played a part in the gathering of this "daily bread" — the people had to gather the manna before the heat of the day (vs. 20-21). In this way, God showed them that they needed strength before the day's problems began.

Do you miss the joy of homeschooling your children today because you've run ahead to tomorrow? If you continue to look only at the "forest" of your child's academic goals, you will miss the many wonderful moments of the "trees" today. Perhaps that is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11).

Jesus, You are the bread of life, and without You I can do nothing. Teach me to wait on Your daily provision of strength and help me to find the blessings in homeschooling every day. In Your name, Amen.