An Update on a Time to Take Action...

The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has now stated regarding the Feb. 28 count decision, “I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents that chose to homeschool that California Department of Education policy will not change in any way as a result of this ruling. Parents still have the right to homeschool in our state."

To read the complete story, click here .

Let this be a lesson to all of us to continue to stand up for our freedoms and the freedoms of those who are too young to speak for themselves.

Time to Take Action

"A California Court of Appeal recently decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher.

The case arose in a confidential juvenile court proceeding. The family was represented by court-appointed attorneys and HSLDA did not become aware of the case until the Court of Appeal case was published on February 28, 2008.

The Court could have restricted its decision to the facts before it, but instead, it issued a broad ruling that effectively outlaws home education in California. The Court also certified its decision for publication, which means that the decision can now be cited as legal authority by all other courts in California.

The family and their California counsel are planning to appeal to the Supreme Court of California, which could result in reversal.

Another option to keep homeschooling free in California is to petition the Supreme Court of California to “depublish” the opinion. If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers.

HSLDA will be formally petitioning the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion. We would like to show that many other people, both in California and across the country, care deeply about homeschool freedom in California."

Please take this opportunity to stand up for the freedom to chose how your children are educated, whether you live in California or not. You can sign the petition to request the depublishing of California Court Case in re Rachel L here .

Don't wait to stand up until they are knocking at your door.

Inspiration

I found this quote on someone else's blog (to read the whole post, visit here .) I wanted to share this inspirational and encouraging thought with all of you.

May the Lord help me to live this way each day.

"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble." C. Spurgeon

Who knew?

So I have made an important discovery; that a surprisingly large part of the process of being a new mother is putting together what seems like a hundred pieces of new furniture, toys and gadgets. There are cribs, playpens, carriers, car seats, bouncy chairs and I'm sure I have only begun to scratch the surface. And each one of these wonderful "mother's helpers" has a 25 page instruction booklet that is just as easy to read as can be...as long as you don't try to make the pictures match the written instructions.

But by far my favorite one so far is the wrap. Now I was expecting something that would wrap around me. I wasn't expecting a fabric boa constrictor. A warning to those with claustrophobia; beware! What you are about to read is about as comfortable as walking through a turn-of-the-century mine.

First you start by unwrapping it from the plastic packaging...and unwrapping...and unwrapping. I began to wonder if I was going to discover an ancient mummy inside all of that material. But thankfully I finally reached the center. Then comes my favorite part; in order to use the wrap, you have to watch an instructional video. Yes, there are written instructions for one way to use the wrap but that only works for an older baby and besides, there are 4 other ways to put your baby in, all depending on the baby's size and what you find more comfortable. Who knew there were so many choices in the world!

Once you have unwound it, you start the process of re-winding it, around yourself. You start with it around your stomach (which, as a side note, really helps hold in that after baby tummy paunch.) Then you cross it over your back and cross again over your chest but under the piece over your stomach. (Another side note, once you are done wrapping, you won’t have a baby tummy paunch but you will have one made out of yards and yards of knit fabric.) Once you have that base, you finish by wrapping it around and around your stomach until you run out of fabric, then you cinch it up by winding it around 2 rings. This results in you feeling like the afore mentioned boa constrictor has made you its next meal.

My mom told me when I was a baby there were only three options: a baby carrier that would be uncomfortable to carry a lightweight doll in, much less a 10 lbs baby, use your arms and pray you don’t wear out half way through or call for back up. Ah, what a difference about 30 years makes!

But after all this, I have learned at least one benefit of all these "helpers"; you learn to be really thankful for simple things like staying home, where you don't need a wrap to carry your baby in and grandparents, who don't require a 25 page instruction manual to get to help out with the baby. That, I think, is real mother’s helper.

A Short Break

For those of you who have read my blog in the past, I apologize for the break in posts. Our baby girl arrived at the end of January, earlier than expected, and I have spent all my time adjusting to the wonder of being a mother.

In the last month since our daughter was born, I have realized again that God's ways are higher than mine. I, like pretty much every other mother in the world, expected to have a perfectly healthy baby. God had a 6 day stay in the hospital planned for us. God used that time to remind me that my whole life, I have had plans or ideas of how my life should be. I thought I should get married at 18. God knew that wouldn't work for us and made me wait until I was almost 27. He always has a reason for what He does in our lives, even if we don’t like His timing.

Even more importantly, I have learned that waiting has made me so much more thankful for what God chooses to bless me with and when He chooses to bless me. If I had gotten married at 18, I wouldn't have appreciated the way I do now, what a blessing marriage is. The years of waiting have made my husband even more precious to me. The same is true of being a mother; I realize now just what a blessing children are. And if I would have been able to keep my baby at home from day one, I wouldn't have learned to enjoy every time I get to feed her, even at 4 in the morning or just sit and look at her face without having to visit the NICU to do it.

I can be slow sometimes, but I am learning to look at what is happening in my life as I think God does; as lessons to point me towards Him and remind me to be thankful for every moment and every blessing He gives to me.

Encouragement for Today

It is easy in our world to become discouraged in our work at home. There are so many things we are told we could or should be doing and yet we remain here, where God has called us to be, keeping our homes, loving our husbands and children, serving the Lord on the home front.

This problem seems to grow, especially this time of year, when housewives are prone to get "cabin fever". All you can think of are the days when you could walk out of your house without having to call some one to dig you out first. And you start to feel like the walls are closing in around you.

But I have a confession to make; I love the snow. And since this is the first year since I was 17 that I don't have to drive in the snow to get to work or school, it is even more beautiful to me. I love days where all you do is snuggle down with a cup of hot tea or chocolate, a blanket and a good book. Today in fact is one of those days.

And as I was snuggled in safe and sound, I started thinking about Psalm91:1-2. These verses say:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in him will I trust.

And as I was thinking about them, I realized that that is why I like snow so much. I feel like I'm in a "secret place...under the shadow of the Almighty." I am protected, loved, surrounded by the security and peace, knowing that God has me right next to Him and He is watching out for me.

So next time you are feeling overwhelmed by the walls closing in around you, whether they be made of snow or wood or anything else, think of God's love and how He will let nothing choke you or hurt you or come between Him and you. He is our security and He wants to protect those He loves. Rest in Him and He will give you peace and rest.

Politics

With all of the hype buzzing around us concerning the upcoming election, I found this blog a refreshing perspective on what is really important for us to remember. Not only now when there is a change coming in our nation's leadership, but always. I hope you are as encouraged by it as I was. And may God's will be done in our nation again.

Thoughts on Ephesians 5:15-16

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16

When I read these verses just the other day, I started wondering what some of these words really meant. So, I went to Blue Letter Bible and this is what I found.

To walk circumspectly means to walk “carefully” or “diligently” or “perfectly”. We need to watch our step at all times, making sure we are doing what God would have us to do.

Redeeming means “to buy up for oneself’” or “buying up the opportunity”; in other words, it means taking every chance you get to use your time for the Lord. “Time” here simply means “the opportune or seasonable time”. We are not to waste our lives, not just as a whole but in each and every part of it. Our pursuit should be to find every opportunity possible to use our time wisely and for the glory of our Lord.

This does not mean that you are wasting time unless you are at church or on the mission field every minute of every day. For some of us who work at home, taking time to teach our children the things of the Lord is one way to redeem our time. Or maybe we are making our homes a place of peace and rest for our husbands; that can be redeeming the time. But some of us may not have a husband or children of our own yet. Are we making the most of the times God gives us to minister, both in our homes and out; whether we live with family or roommates? At school, at church, at work, anywhere that God has you right now? God calls each of us to make the most of what time He has given us. He knows where He has placed you and why He has you there. As His servants, our job is to make sure we are fulfilling that purpose, remaining devoted to seizing every opportunity we can of doing good and pointing others to Jesus.

The word “evil” in this verse means “full of labours, annoyances, hardships”. Jesus told us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We know that our lives as Christians are going to have, not “might” or “maybe”, but will have hardships, troubles, annoyances, and labours. We can’t escape them. But we are told that we need to make the most of the time God gives each one of us here on this earth. Our responsibility is not to get out of trials or to make the easier, but to use the time as we are going through them, to benefit God’s Kingdom. We are here to bring Him glory, honor and praise, both in word and in deed.

So let us be encouraged to start now looking for ways to make the most of our time here. Our time is short and full of trouble; let’s start taking those opportunities to do the will of the Father. Let us watch our steps; each move we make, each word we speak, each thought we have with a focus on pleasing our Lord. What a blessing to our Saviour, if we are willing to do as He has asked us to!

The Essence of Servanthood

The story of the Lawrenson family has hit me hard today. (For more about them, see the post below, Faith in Action.) Being almost 34 weeks along our own little blessing, I can't imagine what it must be like to have to watch our baby, covered in plastic tubing and casings, and not even be able to touch him or her with my own hands.

So much of our lives we spend focused on things, even those who are not materialistic about their stuff. But think about how much of our time and effort we spend thinking about hanging out with our friends, going to school or work, cleaning our homes and apartments, busing our children from one activity to another, all those little chores that fill each day. And to a certain extent, we need to do those things. Maybe we do too many of them, or maybe we let them consume our thoughts but that doesn't mean that they don't need to get done. But do we take the same care in planning time for the other things the Lord would have us be about?

Now if you are a wife and a mother, for example, part of what God would have doing is caring for your family; making meals, cleaning, loving, disciplining, etc...But do you take the time to spend caring for the Lord? Do you reach out to those God places in your way? Do you, even in the middle of your busy life or in your hour of pain and need, take the time to minister to those who are also hurting around you? I know I have a hard time with that. When I am in pain or things are particularly rough, my first thought is taking my own needs to the Lord. And I should. But sometimes I forget that if I will focus on others, my pain will lessen and I will be better off for having helped someone else instead of wallowing in my despair.

That is the essence of servanthood, to which we are all called. A servant isn't asked if this is a convenient time to serve, he is given a job to do and told to complete it. By focusing on myself, I open wide the door to self pity and I become useless to the Lord. If I will stay focused on Jesus and the work He has for me to do each day, I will be joyful in the knowledge that I am a useful servant in the Hands of God.

Faith in Action

Too often we take a stand with our words but are unwilling or unable to continue once the pressure really starts. This family is an example of true faith; being willing to stake your all on Christ and what He demands of each of us as believers in a time of trial.

The first blog is written by a husband, whose wife and baby girl are fighting, even now, for life. The second is written by his father.

Nathan's Blog
Rick's Blog

Please remember this family in your prayers. And I pray that they will be a light and symbol of hope to the world and all of us who call ourselves Christians.