An Epiphany on Emotions

I get it. After a stressful, emotional week, I get it!

We have been groomed in our society to express our emotions, to embrace and act on them. We are constantly bombarded with images that play on our emotional responses. From commercials for chocolate promising a moment of pleasure to TV shows glorifying outrageous, shocking behavior to keep us invested in their emotional roller coaster dramas. We are a society run by emotions! Not that I'm saying all emotions are bad, just that we shouldn't let our emotions control us! Even love can be expressed in a way that hinders a person, i.e. spoiled children turn into spoiled adults. If we put our emotions first, no matter the situation, I'm not sure how helpful we would be to others.

 

My revelation for the week: Emotion is another word for self
 

Emotion is how we responded to situations. How we feel it affects us.

Google defines emotion as: "a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others" 

Though the Bible doesn't use the word "emotion" (in the translations I've seen) there are countless verses imploring us to control ourselves (James 3) and yield to the Holy Spirit. 

When Christ freed us from sin He broke all of our bonds. We are no longer slaves to thoughts and feelings. In fact, we have been called to rise above them in all situations.(Philippians 4)

This may be nothing profound to anyone else, but it left me speechless to realize that most of our sins stem from emotions; Anger, envy, gluttony = emotions.  mind = blown!

So what does this revelation mean for me? change! . . . I hope ;)


As a wife, I am praying to honor my husband more. . . even when I don't feel like it. . . even when I think he's wrong. . . even when we face consequences to a bad decision he's made. I want to be solid, unshakable, able to be a comfort to him when he needs it, and strong enough to share any burden he's carrying. I can't be a pillar for him if my responses change with my moods. I'm not saying we won't disagree, but I don't want to respond out of my emotions to defeat him when conflict does arise. I want him to feel safe and secure with me.

As a mother, I am praying to not react out of emotion when my kids screw up -And- not to take it out on them when I get overwhelmed and angry. I want to love them selflessly. I want to be able to help them when they need me, not condemn them for doing something wrong. . . we can correct without condemning!

Finally, as a child of God, I am praying to be fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit through Christ. I want to focus on His love for me and others and I want to walk in that love, even when people purposely anger or hurt me. We are told that we wrestle with spirits, not with flesh and blood(people) Ephesians 6:11-13 so why are we so impatient and unwilling to pray for those who buffet us? I have come to the conclusion that only through prayer and studying God's word can we even begin to understand what Christ has done for us. Through the Holy Spirit, He has given us the power to resist acting out through our emotions. To be sober minded and see truth instead of spending our lives justifying our bad behaviors. To see who we really are at the heart level, the good and the bad. When we get THAT revelation, when we see how undeserving we were of His love yet how fervently He pursued us, how He still cleanses us and draws us to Himself, THEN can we start to get over our emotional hang ups and pet peeves to reach out to someone else, just as undeserving, yet just as loved. Because we get it, finally!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Homeschool Mama's Sin

I'm a (wanna be) writer at heart. I work through my problems by praying and writing. This means that I will have a seemingly random post from time to time. 

Warning: This may be one of those posts. 

My hope is that in sharing this is if anyone is struggling with what I am, it will be of some help. . .


This homeschool year has been so "off" for us!

- and it's only our second! -

We've already been dealing with the extreme cut in pay for me to be home, but it's been more than that. It's been stressful. Unorganized. Frustrating!

There are plenty of places I could put blame for my new go to emotion, Panic.

• I could blame my house for being so tiny yet so full.
• I could detest my husband's job for changing his schedule so that he's here while we are learning (try keeping a 9yo boy's attention when his HERO is in the next room! Impossible).
• I could whine about the lack of funds for field trips and got-to-have resources.
• I could also have a bad attitude and LOATHE going to work. . . . I'm still working on that one.

Yet, I know homeschooling is God's will for us. I can't explain it but this IS what I am called to do. It. just. is. 


So, why isn't it working?!


It's about the heart. EVERYTHING with God is about the heart. 


This week, while whining praying my signature "why isn't it working!" prayer in my bathroom as I readied myself (reluctantly) for work, He answered. Gently, yet clearly. . .


Focus.


It seems my focus had shifted from training my son's heart, to thinking, worrying, OBSESSING over what I was teaching and whether it was good enough when I compared it to all the homeschoolers I knew. 


~ Yes. I made it about me. Again. ~


I am thankful for homeschool friends and all the advice and opinions that are so readily available through social media, BUT, we mamas need to remind ourselves that God called US ~ as we are ~ to be mom/teacher of our children. 


Each of our children has a God ordained purpose in life. A calling. Our main concern ~ MY main concern ~ should be submitting ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Not only in homeschooling, but in everything! How else will We prepare them to do the same?!


We truly screw up when we compare ourselves to others. I'm afraid we homeschoolers may even struggle a bit more than others in this area. It's so easy to be impressed by pictures that fill our news feed with happy kids doing awesome, genius, things. 


But, they are just pictures. 


Just a split second glance into that families homeschool life. 


I believe God wants ME to focus on my son's character and heart, so that's what I'm gonna do. Every decision will be placed in His hands, where it belongs. 


My child is not your child. Your child may be meant for scientific genius while mine may be called to be a missionary. Both callings are great. Both can be used to glorify God. The scientist shouldn't look down on the missionary because he doesn't have a Ph D, yet the missionary  shouldn't exalt himself for the sacrifices and works he's given to the ministry. Both can be humble servants of the King. 


We could even continue on this train of thought for our judgment of the method of schooling used by others.  . . . even those choosing to send their kids to * gasp! * public school! Dun dun DUNN!


* I might add that I know this first hand as my oldest is in 7th grade at our local public school. Admittedly, this isn't my ideal plan for his life. However, I know God has a plan for Austin and I trust Him. I have and will continue to pray for him as God leads me, but I will not be fearful for his future simply because I can't have my way. *

So, back to homeschooling:
I will encourage my son to spend quality time with his dad instead of interrupting them and forcing him to complete his math sheet. I will let him compose his own songs on his piano instead of nagging him to stick to his sheet music every time. I will pray that God show me how to prepare this still tender heart for whatever He has planned for it. Above all, I will pray for my focus to stay on Christ, because I know that's God's ultimate will for me. 


Lord, help me to focus on You and always yield to Your Spirit in all I do. Amen.  
 


     

Making a Cardboard Puppet Theatre

This week Xander wrote/ directed/ and starred in this very first popcicle stick puppet show. We made his theater out of a huge cardboard box, paper towel rolls, and old paint we had lying around. His play was about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I have video footage, but I thought I'd spare you . . .this time

The bottom piece is just a regular box with a door cut out in the back.

My husband decided to get fancy and make the top an triangle, but a smaller box flipped upside down would be perfect to!

 



 

While Xander drew a background on posterboard, I assembled the card boar pieces with hot glue. Then we both painted it together. He decided on the stickers!

 

 

 

He had a GREAT time writing and performing!

 

You can get these puppet cut outs HERE

 

OR

 

You can use THESE Bible character puppet cut outs I found this morning!

 ~ You may be seeing more of these! ~

 

 

We baked cupcakes. Yum!

 

 

 

We learned about woodworking with my super talented friend, Lisa, and her boys.

 

 Yeah, I know his sweatshirt is backwards. He thought he could use the hood as a mask. Ha!

  

I thought it was so cute I stole it and put it on my nightstand. Mamas can do that. 

 

 

We are in week 2 of our KONOS Honor study. This week we are learning about the attributes of God, pottery and sculpture, and hymns. Xander has asked to learn about the names of God so we are adding that to the agenda as well. I will post more about that later. You can check out my KONOS: Honor board on Pinterest  HERE

 

 

We are also about half way through Grammar-Land by M. L. Nesbitt. Xander has found it very entertaining and helpful. . . though we're all book worms here ;)

You can find Grammar-land in Public Domain. I found notebooking pages, worksheets, and other great resources HERE and an audio recording HERE.

If your kids hate textbooks as much as mine, I'd highly suggest Grammar-Land!


Whew! Now . . . who's ready for NEXT week?!


Blessings,
Gina <3

 

 

 

My Prayer For Austin

I can't BELIEVE my sweet baby boy will be {GASP!} 13 this month! Where has the time gone?! There's SO much I still want to teach him and show him about life and, well, everything!

I've put together just some of the thoughts I have towards him in hopes of reminding myself encouraging others that are just embarking on their parenting journey or those venturing with me into the teenage years...

Son,

The next 5 years are your most important so far and will set the stage for your adult life and all the responsibilities that will entail. I pray you weigh every decision before you move, even the seemingly small ones. Also, that you understand how incapable we are of knowing our futures and even our own hearts without God revealing them to us.

I pray you find Jesus and lose religion. Man isn't your teacher, the Holy Spirit is.

I pray you have the discernment to see the flaws in those who council you but have the grace to love them in spite of those things.

Realize you could never earn a loves as great as the love God freely gives. That you are already accepted by Him and your works could never make him love you more. But that you give your life to works for that very reason. 

Never be so hurt that you allow yourself to become cynical and bitter. Find joy in the simple things. Cherish the good in life and try not to linger too long on the bad. 

Love selflessly. I pray you see through the brokenness of your own childhood the consequences of selfish love. Cling to your wife and the family God blesses you with.

Have the wisdom to separate yourself from your feelings to assess properly which actions or inaction are best for you and your family...after fervent prayer of course.

 After arguments and disagreements, I pray you always look to God and in yourself to see if any fault is yours. If it is, I pray that you have the humility to admit your errors and ask for forgiveness.

And in conversation, that you think more than you speak (preferably before you open your mouth).

See that it's always easier to DO what's right than LIVE with the consequences of doing what's wrong.

Above all, I hope and pray that I have been a blessing in your life. That I have loved you the way you've needed me to and encouraged you to do the things God has called you to do. AND that you know how very, very much I love you and thank God for you <3