Homeschooling While Grieving

Grief is a hard thing to struggle with daily but that is my current situation. Getting up each day to keep doing the things that need my attention are harder some days because of grief. Sometimes it is a fleeing thought or a portion of a book that brings fresh tears to my eyes. Since last summer, a family member has been dealing with some health issues and then my dad passed away unexpectedly earlier this year – and the grief has hit me hard.

It has been by the grace of God, which is my faith foundation, that I have been able to keep going. I am blessed to have a small but close support system of those that love me and help when the burden gets to be too much. I have wrestled with if I should even write about this on the blog, but if it could help even one person going through the same thing, then it will be worth it.

So how do I keep homeschooling while grieving? The short but powerful answer is prayer. Prayer has been my lifeline even more so during this time. When things get too much or when the tears will not stop, I have to find a quiet place to pray to God. According to 1 Peter 5:7 I can cast all of my cares upon Him, because He cares for me. Then He strengthens me to keep going a little more down the road. One of my favorite Bible verses is There are days where I alternate repeating that verse and John 3:16. By faith I know that eventually things will start to settle and life will begin a new normal for our family, but the grief is still fresh right now.

 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18, NIV

On the days that business takes longer than usual, my husband steps in and helps with the homeschooling. My oldest two are able to do some of their learning independently, and the rhythm of our family studies is soothing because of the routine. There have been days where we just had to take off and reconnect as a family. We will go outside and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine or play a couple of rounds of the card game Uno. The last thing that I want is to feel like I am drowning in the grief, and distant myself from the ones that I love.

If you are in a time of grieving too, please know that you are not really alone. God in heaven loves you more than you can comprehend. All you and I have to do is turn to Him and call out to Him for help. Please know that you can email me to ask for prayer. Blessings to you!

GMG - Summer Bible Study

GMG - Summer Bible Study

Week 5 - Psalms

We are now half-way through our study of the book of Psalms! This week's chapters are some that I am more familiar with than some from the previous weeks. Today's reading is from chapter 23 which is probably one of the most often quoted passages of scripture. 

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

GMG Summer Bible Study Week 3 & 4

Summer Bible Study

Psalm 3 & 4

I have been learning a lot from reading through Psalms this summer. I especially love it when it is one written by David. The life of David was not prefect at all yet he is considered "a man after God's own heart". There are verses that stick out as ones I memorized as a child or a song lyric. I normally read a chapter from Proverbs that corresponds to the day, and it has been enlightening to also read a Psalm.

What have you been reading for your Bible Study this summer? You can still join the Psalm Bible Study group on Facebook. I would love to have you join!!

GMG Summer Bible Study ~ Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of Our Summer Bible study!!!

How did last week go for you? What did you glean from your Bible Study?

This week we will be continuing in the Book of Psalms, reading chapters 6 ~ 10. You can leave your observations here or click on last week's post for the link to join the FB group. 

Good Morning Girls Summer Bible Study

Good Morning Girls Summer Bible Study

        Today starts a 10-week study of the book of Psalms covering chapters 1-50. Each Monday and Friday we will be meeting here on the blog as well as in the FB group to talk about what we are learning. 

Link to request to join the FB group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1833088310334642/

Grab your favorite drink, Bible, pen, highlighter, and notebook. 

Grace for the Overwhelming Days

Thoughts for the Overwhelmed Mom

Have you ever had one of those days where your toddler outlasted your last cup of coffee? Or you have so many things coming at you at once that vertigo has you feeling sick? Yeah, me too! Life can be overwhelming sometimes...enough said. Right?

I've had my share of those days. Days where I wished I could just hide under the covers. Would hiding solve any of the challenges for that day, week, month or even some times a year? No, not really. Awhile back I was having one of those days that turned into one of those weeks. I would cry during the day and fall asleep exhausted at night feeling like a failure. By the end of the week I had had enough of it. I was tired of being overwhelmed!!! 

See the problem came in when I kept trying to do everything in my own strength, knowledge, and routine. I kept thinking if this situation was different then maybe things would be better, or if  "this or that" could change then things would be better. I knew deep down in my heart what I should have done the first time those despairing thoughts entered my mind. But I didn't, and instead tried to deal with the feelings of inadequacies on my own. I don't know about you, but for me that is a lonely road to travel. 

Once I said "enough already" and turned to God, He was already there waiting on me to lean on Him.

One of my very favorite passage of verses talks about leaning on Him and not on my own understanding. 

Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

I have to trust Him, and know that He is working all things together for my good, (Romans 8:28) I have to lean on Him instead of trusting my own understanding. (Isaiah 55:8-9) When I acknowledge Him, then He will direct my steps. (Isaiah 30:21) So when those tough days come, and they will, I have to keep my thoughts on Him and offer up a prayer. Take heart, He is still there for you and me waiting for us to lean on Him. Blessings!

Prayers for a New School Year

Prayer is so important in the life of a believer! Prayer is our lifeline to the Lord. I know that I have to pray all of the time because I also know that I can't make it in this life without the help of Jesus. There is always someone or some situation that I am praying for and about to the Lord. 

August is the time when I start praying more intentionally for the beginning for our school year. I ask the Lord for His guiding hand, peace for our days, excitement for the opportunity to learn, and most importantly that we always make Him Lord of our school days. We wouldn't even be on this journey without His leading as well as His provision. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV), we read "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.". (Emphasis mine) We should always be rejoicing, giving thanks, and praying without ceasing.

I want to share three verses with you for this upcoming school year. Write the verses on index cards. Hang the verses somewhere so that you will see them and be reminded to pray daily.

The first verse is about God's PLAN.

Jeremiah 29:11  (NKJV)

" For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

The second verse is about God's PROTECTION.

Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

The third verse is about God's PEACE.

Philippians 4:7  (NKJV)

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."


Let's spend some time mediating on these verses this coming week and set a goal of starting the day with prayer. I pray that your children will have a great start to their new school years.



Scripture source: Bible Gateway

Proverb Wisdom Cookies

Have you ever eaten at a Chinese restaurant? I would imagine most people have, but if you have not here is a little detail. After you have finished eating they will give you fortune cookies. Inside these crunchy cookies is a little slip of paper. On the paper will be a saying of fortune for you to read. There will also be your "lucky numbers or days" on the back. The sayings are sometimes clever, sometimes serious or even sometimes about your romantic future. My husband and I have always just laughed when reading some of them that we have gotten. Just as a side note, I am not the Chinese cuisine lover in the family. The thought hit me this morning as I was reading my Proverb for the day. Why not Proverb wisdom cookies? I love reading the book of Proverbs. I am still trying to absorb all the wisdom that I can from this book. There are just so many ideas of wisdom that are written in this book. So here are just a few that stood out to me that would make good bits of wisdom.

Proverbs 18:10, 12, 13, 19, 22, &24 (NKJV)

10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

12 "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility."

13 "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him."

19 "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle."

[One of my favorite ones.  :) ]
22 "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD."

24 "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Now to find a fortune cookie recipe.