I had a wonderful time yesterday sharing with women at an event sponsored by Maryland Association of Christian Homeschoolers (MACHE). It was a day focused on what it means practically to look Godward during our mothering and homeschooling years. We know we are losing our way when we look horizontally at what others are doing as the measure of our success. Rather our source of joy and direction must come vertically everyday from God himself and His particular purposes for our lives. Part of His direction is seen in understanding how wonderfully and fearfully made each child is - supporting the development path and timing He has ordained for each of them is one way we are Godward in our homeschooling. I would like to thank the ladies in attendance for encouraging me as well. It was a refreshing morning.
I’ve attached here the handouts from the sessions: God-Centered Homeschooling, Cultivating A Love For Learning, and Standing Strong With High Schoolers.
Thank you so much for your openness yesterday at the Mom’s Day Out and your presentation. It was a devine appiontment and just what I needed to hear! I really felt like I am not alone and I am not the only homeschooling Mom who has struggled with anger issues. It is helpful to know your kids are now a success. I often pray ” Lord please help me not be a stumbling block to my kids in their relationship with You, because of the mess that I am!” I often worry that I am “ruining” my kids by homeschooling them because of my teaching short comings and my own sin nature and lack of patience. It is also good to be real about the fact that we will miss teaching them something but that we rely on God to work that out. The theme of my life seems to be ” My power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Cor.12:9. A long time ago I innocently asked the Lord to help me understand what this scripture meant. I Did NOT ask him to make this my life’s lesson! But I have felt since this homeschooling journey began with us that this is exactly what God is planning to do. Every day I say that “I cannot do this!” I was NOT a teacher. did not go to school to be one and do not have a gift of teaching. I often feel and look stupid in front of my kids asking me questions that I do not know the answer to. But you have helped encourage me and reaffirm to me that God has the bigger picture. God keeps encouraging me to press on in homeschooling. (I often ask him “why?”) Thank you for being His instrument yesterday and really speaking to my heart. You helped me to remember that God is in control and has a greater purpose than I can fathom. Not only for my kids but for me as well. I really feel like God meet me yesterday through all that you were saying. I just wanted to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Debra,
God so used you yesterday at the M.A.C.H.E. Mom’s Day Out! Thank you!
I wonder if you are recording your lectures. Yesterday’s message would had been so great to hear over and over again. If you aren’t doing that yet, I hope you give it consideration and begin to do it most soonest!
Thank you!
May you continue to see God working mightly in your life!
Michelle
I thoroughly enjoyed the MACHE conference yesterday. I would encourage you to consider putting your lecture on CD for purchase. Your homeschooling perspective has given me much to think about in my own approach to the call to homeschool. I work full-time and homeschool my son. I listen to teaching CD`s as I am working. I think your ideas will be quite beneficial to me. Took a quick look at one of your books and plan to read them as well. God bless, Ava Bassnett.
Hi Debra,
I really appreciated what you shared with us. I have the most beautiful architectural drawing of a German cathedral framed in my home. It is a wonderful reminder of the image you painted in our minds…we are building little cathedrals.
Your sessions inspired, refreshed, and encouraged. Thanks!
Thank you, ladies for the encouragement. You can order the session on Standing Strong with High Schoolers from Apologia.com - go to the Apologia Live page for more information. And HEAV, the VA state convention has all my sessions from this past summer available as MP3 and CD’s. It is my intention to focus on the content I covered yesterday at this website, and I will be doing podcasts as soon as we figure out the best way to provide those ( probably this summer). For now, I will try to provide much of that free through my blogging.