God show me more.

It’s camping season again. My husband and children absolutely LOVE camping. They enjoy being out in nature, cooking over an open fire, hiking though trails, sleeping under the stars. Well – we have a pop-up camper – so not exactly under the stars – but close. My family truly enjoys the whole experience. And I love them enough to join them on these adventures.



But there is something wrong with me. I suffer from chronic depression due to anxiety disorder. What that means is I can either be in an episode of depression – where I can not make myself DO hardly anything, or a state of anxiety – where I am nervous and frightened of almost everything. The effects of one are that I do nothing but sleep. The other causes me to be an insomniac.

This past weekend, the first camping trip of the year, I was experiencing the anxiety side of my illness. It is an irrational fear. My brain understands that completely – but my body will not respond to even my own pep-talks. This weekend it rained – and at night there was thunder and lightening. In a pop-up camper the sounds of a thunder storm are magnified 100 fold. I couldn’t sleep. I became sick to my stomach. It kept my poor, caring, supportive husband awake as well. It’s very hard to enjoy the miracle of God’s creation when one’s wife is so frightened she is pacing, and shaking, and vomiting. (sorry sweetie)


I spent the weekend reciting Psalm 56:3. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” But then I also asked God to show me more.


Wow. God must truly rejoice at that simply request.



God show me more.



And did He ever. And I began writing this to share all the wonderful scripture He has given to me in the past 3 days – but it just now hit me. Maybe He gave me this affliction for me to ask this one simply question of Him. God show me more.

He led me to a book on my shelf titled Lord I want to Know You. By Kay Arthur.


I found Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Isaiah 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.


And Exodus 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?


Then there is Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.


And I began to understand a little more. God created me. He molded me and formed me. He will keep me safe. He has a plan for me. It may be that I live a long and healthy life, and all my children outlive me. Or, He may have different plans for me. I could die sitting here at this computer. A horrible accident could kill or maim one of my precious children. But whatever happens – I can rest in him.



God – I pray you continue to show me more of You.

The Lesson

The Lesson


Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and

gathering them around him, he taught them saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek,
Blessed are they who mourn.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are they who thirst for justice.
Blessed are you when persecuted.
Blessed are you when you suffer.
Be glad and rejoice, for your reward in heaven is great.
Then Simon Peter said,
“Do we have to write this down?”
and Andrew said,
“Do we have to turn it in?”
and James said,
“Does spelling count?”
Philip said,
“Will this be on the test?”
and Bartholomew said,
“What if we don’t know it?”
and John said,
“The other disciples didn’t have to learn this!”
and Matthew said,
“When do we get out of here?”
and Judas said,
“What does this have to do with real life?”
and the other disciples likewise.

Then one of the Pharisees who was present
asked to see Jesus’ lesson plan
and inquired of Jesus
His terminal objectives in the cognitive domain.
And Jesus wept.



Author unknown

Thomas Nelson Book Reviewer

Keeping Track of God Speak

In his daily Bible study email, my pastor told me to write down what I believe God is telling me so I can see how to adjust my life to him. This is wonderful advice on so many levels. If I keep track of what I believe God is telling me, I can look back and see if there is a discernible pattern. I can look back at my journal and see how LONG God has been telling me something. If I write it down, I won't have to worry if I am remembering things the right way.

A few years ago we were praying about the possibility of moving. By writing down my questions, my fears, my thoughts, and then writing down things God was showing me, I was able to go back and read to see that God wanted us to stay right here.

Most of the time God speaks to me in small bites - the scripture during a sermon, something a Christian friend says to me, personal bible study material, a song played on K LOVE. By writing down all the "small" things - I can see clearly what God is directing me to do.

Do you keep of journal of your prayers and God's answers? Can you share some of them with me?

Is homeschool easier than public school?

Not long ago my 11 year old daughter came to me upset because a public schooled friend claimed home school was easier than public school. The first thing that popped out of my mouth was "Well of course it is! Why would we choose to do things the hard way?"
But this was NOT what my 11 year old wanted to hear. I guess she felt insulted by the insinuation. I'm not sure that the public school friend was trying to insult her, or just letting my daughter know that her life was easier because she didn't have to "go to school."

Well - it is. I don't know what else to say. I would love to be able to help my daughter respond to this - because I know it is upsetting her. I just can't tell her that her friend is wrong. But I can certainly list all the reasons her friend is right - and then maybe console her by telling her more than likely the friend is simply jealous of her "easy" lifestyle!
so here we go - a list of reasons why home school is easier than public school;

1. You can sleep when you are tired. Seems simply enough - but if my kids were in PS they would have to catch the bus at 7:10 AM - as it is now - they sleep until much later than that.

2. You can eat when you are hungry. Seems simply enough - but in PS you only get to eat at scheduled times. Personally - I'm enjoying my chips and dip as I type this.

3. You can go to the bathroom when you need to - but kids in PS don't get to do that. I remember how much stress this caused me.

4. You can learn about things that interest you, instead of what some committee of so-called professionals has decided that every single child with a birthday within the same time period must learn. A good example - my daughter is studying digital photography, learning how to sew aprons out of pillow cases, and researching different breeds of dogs because she is trying to convince her parents we need a canine companion. These are all things she would have to do in her "spare time" if she were a PS student. And since they spend 2 hours a day on the bus, 7 hours a day at the school building, and then 2-3 hours a day doing homework - I'm not real certain when that "free" time might happen. Lucky for her the principal at her school counts those topics as educational.

5. If you don't understand something - you have one-on-one tutoring available free of charge. And you can spend as much or as little time on a topic as you need. If you get the math problem the first time - you get to move on to bigger and better things even if the person next to you doesn't understand it. And if you don't understand it - you can spend the next 3 weeks figuring it out without anyone one belittling you or rushing you.

6. If you decide you have no interest in something - you can put it away to come back to later - or never. Why waste precious time memorizing boring stuff?

So - these are just the things I came up with off the top of my head. I would love to hear what others believe are reason home school is easier than public school.

Overheard at my house

Having boys is so much fun - and never EVER boring. Today I hear Ash and Rayman yelling from the other room as they run towards me - as if- the first one to me automatically wins the fight.

Ash: "MOM!!! He won't stop kicking me just because I won't stop touching him!"

Rayman: "That wasn't kicking! that was just a foot touch - they don't count!"


Now really - what can you say to that kind of logic?

Bible Study Time

During our morning Bible study, the children and I have been doing a great little book titled Write Upon My Heart: Obedience, published by Keepers of the Faith. I am enjoying this character study. We also have the Cheerfulness book.

But - I read from Jeanie's Journal about reading through the Bible. She hit home when she talked about children knowing all the Bible stories, and reading lots of PARTS of the Bible, but never actually reading all the way THROUGH the Bible. In her newsletter she sent a great little check list to print off to be able to mark off as you read through the New Testament.

Now I just love checklists!!! So I thought this would be great! I gathered all my children to me, and explained what we were doing and why we were changing. Then I turned to Mathew and started reading the introduction, and cheerfully explaining that these were man's words about God's words.

And my 11 yr old slowly raises her hand and gets that "I have something to say" look on her face. I sigh and wonder what is going to interrupt our Bible study time today. And my little scholar says
"Don't you think we should start in Genesis? That is the beginning. Starting in Mathew is like starting half way through the story."

I love my little angel. She makes an excellent point.

So I backed up - and we started at Genesis. We are only on day three. And I don't have a checklist for the Old Testament. But we are enjoying it. And we have had some really good conversations in the short time we have been doing this.

Pray for us that we can follow through and complete this "Assignment"