Are Your Words Grace-filled

 

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. ~Colossians 4:6

“Biting my tongue” comes easily for me; only because I try to avoid conflict at all costs.
I’m not necessarily a people pleaser any more. I just stay tucked away in my corner and coming out when I know that I have something valid to say.
Don’t think that just because I don’t speak a lot that I’m not thinking. Oh, boy, am I thinking.

To read the rest of this story, visit me at Joy Comes in the Morning.



Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

No Wasted Years

 

Of all our years of home education, I look back and count the failures.

Failures that have been self-imposed. Failures that I had no control over.

Days of not wanting to face another blow-up with one of my children.

Facing days of uncertainty about the future.

Holding on to God’s hand; desperately trying to hold on tight, but feel my grip loosening too often.

Singing songs. Trying to praise in order to lighten the heaviness of spirit.
Lyrics clutching my heart:

Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His presence is true
My God will come through always, always
~Always by Kristian Stanfill

The standards that we want our children to follow; they aren’t ours. It's the standard of Jesus. Stand by the Word of God. Live by the Word of God. We’ll show you how. Doggone it, I’ll do what I can, by the grace of God, to walk by the Word!

Their life is not mine. It has to be walked out by them.

I let go…but I refuse to believe that there are wasted years of instruction. The time will be redeemed.

Prayer is ever present; even when its represented with groaning and tears only.
Faith is ever present, especially when that’s all I have to grasp.
Trust is ever present because I know that my children are in the watchful eye of God.

I draw strength and insight from my husband, sisters and girlfriends that fervently pray and encourage.

Through the valleys I find more and more fellow home educators that journey this same path. Some with stories like ours, some more extreme, most with victories and some still waiting for the return.

This was definitely a heavy post to write. The struggle is introduced, but details withheld for obvious reasons of protection. I write this in hopes that a mom that needs it will find comfort in knowing that she is not alone.
When I know that my foes would rejoice in such struggles, I still write.
Cutting through the silence and bringing things to light shuts the enemy down and that is part of my goal also.

Be strong. Hold on to the promises of God’s protection. No buckling under the pressure of attack. Standing with the whole armor of God employed. I’m standing on this battlefield with you! No retreat. No surrender. Satan can’t have our kids!!

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This post is written as a part of iHomeschool Network's The Imperfect Homeschool blogger link-up. You will find many more "Imperfect" stories.

Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

Worship and a Homeschool Convention

I knew the solid reasons that I was attending the Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartanburg, SC.

My mom heart needed to connect with other women that know my story and the things that I ponder on a daily basis.
I needed new vision and to see the newness of being a better deep-dive lover to my husband, and having a heart for my children.
I was going to worship and give thanks to God for privileges that I’d taken for granted.

I’d waited a long time to meet many of my blogging friends. This was the perfect environment to get those group hugs and photos in.
A pair of arms coming toward me reduced me to tears that had been pushed back. Tears of rejoicing that we finally got to meet. Tears of knowing that she knew the very beat of my heart. Tears of sisterhood.

Before the sessions began on Thursday evening, the Teach Them Diligently Bloggers got precious time with Sally Clarkson, I Take Joy. I’d communicated with Sally long before I’d committed to home education. Sally spoke first to my mom heart so many years ago. She remembered me. I was drawn even more to her. I followed her closely.

I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to hear that one “nugget” of information that would send me home a more enriched momma. She gave so many! Pooh on me for not yanking out my notebook!
Sally encouraged us to stay faithful to the call of motherhood.

After that session we were heading to take photos. Sally and I walked side by side. She asked a specific question. I had moments to think of answers in between smiles for the camera. I knew that I couldn’t escape the thoughts swirling in my head. As much as I wanted to put on a brave face, this was a chance to be ministered to.

It was as if time stood still. Amidst all of the movement and chatter, Sally stopped, gave me words of encouragement and prayed with me.

That was my release for the weekend!

The rest of the weekend went by in a flash! I enjoyed very much being able to ooh and aww in the vendor hall; to feel and see the homeschool material that I’d only seen in catalogs.

I ventured out to hears speakers that I’d never heard of to find great delight in those decisions.

*A word to future convention attendees: Attend a session or two by speakers that you’d never heard of. You may find a new “favorite”. It may be one of the very sessions that speaks to you the most.

If you’ve heard of the Teach Them Diligently Convention and you think you may want to go, invest your time and heart in the decision to go.

There are still two more opportunities to attend this year; Nashville, TN and Omaha, NE.




Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

*this post contains affiliate links

I’ve Been Stupid

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1

I stood corrected by my husband a few days ago and I did not like it one bit!

The thing that happened made my flesh stand up front and center.

I pouted like a baby. Only my husband knows that face and he knows to look for it in a certain, specific instance.

I thought it appropriate to vent to him. After all, he IS my best friend and husband!

I wasn’t looking for an answer or even comfort. I just wanted to be heard.

What I wanted heard should have been dealt with between my heart and God, but no…I wanted human ears to hear me.

I got a return of words that I didn’t take too kindly to, “You always do that; as if things are in your control”. 

Knowing that he was right didn’t make it any sweeter.

I hated his correction! His correction was right.

My husband immediately loved on me. As much as I wanted to reject it, I wanted to embrace it.

There will most likely be more chances for correction.

I’m not always stupid. I love instruction and knowledge from God’s word.

Sometimes though, my attitude sucks!

Those are usually the times that my husband is gracious and willing enough to guide me back.

Yep, I’ve been stupid.

Thankfully it only lasts for a few moments. No getting stuck on stupid.

Correction is tough sometimes, isn’t it ladies?

In those moments, let’s practice not saying a word and asking God to help us examine our hearts to see if there are any ways in us that isn’t pleasing to Him.

Our husbands are oft times His mouthpiece.

Talk back to God. He wont be offended if you show Him your wounds.

I’ve started writing with Angela DeRossett at Joy Comes in the Morning along with a group of other fabulous writers.
Angela has introduced a “Rubie Tuesdays” link up. If you’d like to join in, follow me to Rubie Tuesdays






Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela