Ponderings In The Field of Grace

Well, I’ve just done something I never thought I would do. I have joined a webring. I visit “The Homeschool Library” a lot, and some of the posters decided it would be a neat idea to get everyone there to be on a webring.

Honestly, I am a little nervous. I am not an active poster there by any stretch of the imagination. I have kind of gotten used to the fact that whatever I write on here will most likely never be seen by anyone but myself and spammers.

I hope I fit in with the rest of the bloggers. Already though I have begun to notice a slight difference. I don’t post much about our actual homeschooling. Maybe that is something I need to think about. I don’t know. We’ll see.

So here I am tentatively sticking a toe in the water to see if I should jump in…

So can you tell things have not slowed down any? It has been an exhausting run these last few weeks, and I am ready for a break!

The Sports guy had a 105 temp yesterday but is doing much better today. Everyone who has had the flu seems to have a nasty cough now, but other than that they’re doing ok.

We are trying really hard to get back in the groove of school. Let’ s just say it has been a struggle. But we are getting there.

I have a lot of housework to catch up on, and I need to get supper started in the crock pot.

Well better get going…

Well things have been crazier than usual around here lately. In addition to robotics, basketball, and choir we have been sick. I think the two youngest have/had the flu. Lil guy is laid up in my room with a fever. But enough about all the yucky stuff. On to the good stuff…

The professor went to State with his robotics team and placed 39th out of 81 teams. I think that’s pretty decent for their first year.

The sports guy and his basketball team are going to be playing an exhibition match on “The Day of Champions”. His team is one of the top 2 in the league!

Lil Princess and Lil guy have begun work on the Spring play at church. Lil Princess is hoping to get a speaking part this time. We’ll see.

The Knight got a new projector and a Playstation 3. Needless to say he’s been having to test it out a good bit!

AND, we all got season passes to Carowinds! This will be the first time in 3 years that we have gotten to go, and the first time since 1997 that we won’t have to take a stroller and diaper bag with us! Whoo-Hoo!

God has been good, and He has been faithful in small things as well as big!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”-Matthew 5:43-48 (NASB)

I found this passage this morning, as I was looking for something for my oldest to write. Funny how I went looking for it, so I could use it for him, but it ended up speaking to me as well. God’s like that, though, isn’t He?

If you only greet your brothers…

You see last night I ran into someone again who is living in open, rebellious sin, and knows it. They are just at a point where they don’t care. Well, I have always applied the passage Paul wrote about casting out others from the congregation after all other attempts have been made. But then I read the part about “If you greet only your brothers…” Ouch, that stung.

I realized I don’t have to act as though they don’t exist, but a polite, courteous greeting and nothing more, still leaves the door cracked for them. I say hello to complete strangers all the time, but I make a point not to acknowledge this person. That’s wrong.

Now I just have to live out the lesson.

I’m sitting at my kitchen table writing now. It’s raining outside. (Thank you God!) The kids are lying in bed watching their morning TV. (I think it’s the calm before the storm! ) This is one of those mornings that just seem to slowly spin away. If I make myself I can think of a million and one things I need to be doing. But right now, honestly, I just don’t care.

I’ve been doing a good bit of reading this week. I’m still reading Job and Isaiah in my Bible, and I checked out a bit of Bait of Satan by John Bevere, and a book on prayer and fasting that my pastor was nice enough to loan me.

I’m picking up bits and pieces of things from all of them.

From Job- Sadly I’m seeing myself more in Job’s “companions” than I am in Job himself.

From Isaiah- the Holiness of God, and His amazing love and mercy.

The Bait of Satan- how I have walked in offense with others and fallen in the trap of bitterness, particularly towards some spiritual authority figures.

Prayer and Fasting book- To learn more about prayer and fasting, how people do it, why it is spiritually necessary at times, etc.

That’s a lot to be looking at, but I’m trying to pace myself and not read too much at one time. Plus I still have the usual housework and schooling to do. (Yes, Lisa I am actually doing some cleaning around here! j/k)

Anyway, thought I would give you an update.

Also please be in prayer for a few people on my heart today.

Mr. Ronnie- he runs a badly needed bus ministry in the neighboring county. We think he had a heart attack last night, and we haven’t heard any details other than the ER dr.’s were working with him.

Andy (Seawind)- It has been on my heart to pray for him and his wife Lynne lately. I believe he is still taking classes from Fuller Seminary(?) while still PT pastoring and being a commercial fisherman. Please lift this godly man and his wife and sons up in prayer.

Mark- He is really dealing with some major authority and anger issues at the moment.

Jerry- a local pastor who needs encouraging and lifting up.

Of course there are others, but for now please pray for these if you feel led.

Thanks!