“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV (emphasis mine)
When I feel too weak to do what God has called me to do, there is only one thing to do. I approach the throne of grace to find help in my time of need.
A lot of people assume that homeschooled children receive an inferior education compared to public school children, but that is not true.
Research indicates that homeschooled children frequently outperform their peers academically, often scoring 15 to 30 percentile points higher on standardized tests, regardless of their parents’ income or education level. They typically demonstrate strong social, emotional, and psychological development, and often achieve higher GPAs in college.
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:6-7 NIV
“Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 AMP
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NIV (emphasis mine)
If you are considering homeschooling, these messages from some of my readers might help you decide.
Comments from Readers:
“Our children have all graduated from homeschool, and we now have grandchildren being home-schooled. But the lessons we all learned during that time have stuck with us. It was a wonderful time of exploring God’s wisdom. God had opened up so many doors for our children to explore so many venues in the industry, arts, crafts, etc. But the greatest blessing was the growth in relationships with the Lord. Watching our children’s faith bloom and now our grandchildren discovering God’s world and wonders was and is such a blessing.”
“We started homeschooling in 1984 because our son was put on suspension for questioning evolution in the 1st grade. We knew then that we did not want our children under the influence of the public school system. We tried to get the creation curriculum in, but we were not able to get any of the other parents at that time to see the handwriting on the wall for public schools.”
“DCHS gave us so much trouble for pulling our son out of school, but praise God, we knew our rights and were able to stand up against them. Our vindication was that by the time both of our children were in 8th grade, they were doing college-level work because they were learning with God’s ways, not the world’s.”
For more information and statistics, see this post:
Have you ever felt like giving up? Did you ever feel like you had all you could take? I felt like that once when the Bible Study I attended started using a popular new book written by a false teacher.
I started searching the websites of other local churches. When I checked the Women’s Ministries tab, guess what? I couldn’t find a Women’s Bible Study that was actually studying the Bible itself. That’s when I felt like giving up.
Then, God reminded me of Elijah’s troubles with Ahab and Jezebel, who were killing all of God’s prophets. You can read about it in 1 Kings 19. Elijah told the Lord,
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4
Elijah thought he was the only prophet left who had not bowed his knee to pagan idols.
Feeling all alone in your misery is very hard. There is no one to talk to and no one to encourage you. But the situation wasn’t as bad as Elijah thought. God said,
“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (vs. 18)
Not only that, but Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves and provided them with food. (1 Kings 18:4) Elijah was not alone in his faithfulness to God!
Maybe my situation isn’t that bad after all. No one is trying to kill me! Maybe your situation isn’t that bad after all, either!
When you’re discouraged, remember: You don’t know everything God is doing. You have a limited perspective. God is working all the time, and He will always accomplish His will.
“Because we too often walk by sight and not by faith — thinking we can live our Christian lives by some sort of spiritual inertia — we fall into Satan’s trap of thinking he’s not really there, or at least as if he’s not very active. It does seem, after all, to be a much more pleasant thought to believe that he’s not around or, at least, that we’re really not a significant enough target for him to spend his time on.”
Burk Parsons, Pastor, Sanford, Florida
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
The Apostle Paul and his companions traveled to Philippi and stayed there several days. On the Sabbath, they went looking for a place of prayer by the river. They began to speak to the women there about Jesus.
“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:14-15 NIV
It wasn’t Paul’s preaching alone that convinced her to believe. The Lord Himself opened her heart!
Pray that God will open the hearts of those you know who have not believed the Gospel. Then share the Good News!
The Book of Ruth is a deeply moving account of love and redemption. You will see God’s tender care for women as He eases the burdens of two homeless widows. In his generous redemptive actions, Boaz becomes a forerunner of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
“The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:5 NIV
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7 NIV
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV
Although only 4 chapters long, the Book of Ruth has long been recognized as a literary masterpiece. Read it now, and you will see why.
“Here in California, we see interest on the part of millennials and younger for the Bible and for truth,” the pastor said. “Most of the time, we see statistics about how people are leaving the Church, but in many respects, young people are demanding more truth, more teaching, and less entertainment. They’re not interested in shallow expressions of religion.”
Pastor David Jeremiah
“Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth delivers people from the bondage of sin and deception.
“The Bible reveals details about the last days to alleviate the stress of wondering what is coming and to prepare us so that we will be ready. Because we should be familiar with our Bibles, God expects us to know what His Word says about future events.”
Jack Hibbs, from his book, Living in the Daze of Deception
Jesus said, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matthew 24:42-44 NASB (emphasis mine)
I spoke to a Christian friend who expressed concern about the punishment she might receive for her past sins.
But does God punish those whom Christ has redeemed? Let’s examine the Scriptures that answer that question.
“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:7 NIV
Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37b NIV
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
Do these Scriptures apply even though I have committed terrible sins? What if I had an abortion? What if I killed someone? What if I committed adultery? What if I engaged in homosexual acts? Will God forgive these sins?
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NLT
“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased]” Acts 3:19 AMP (emphasis mine)
“… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 NIV
“And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].” Hebrews 10:17 AMP
Let God’s Word answer your questions. He wants you to know how great is His mercy and love!
Real Christian Women 