Tag Archives: Jesus

By Your Side

This mommas heart has been heavy. My first born, A21 is leaving the nest. Not for a job or different college, but for love. A love that is not here in Kentucky, but in Michigan. I knew this day would eventually come, but that doesn’t help my emotions any. This is not some surprise news, they have been planning this for months. I have imagined the worst possible outcomes. I’ve cried rivers. I have thrown fits. This was not in my plan for my son!

I have very close friends in our homeschooling support group. As I whined and complained about my A quitting his job (it’s a cruddy job) and not signing up for the fall semester at college, one of the moms looked right at me and said I just simply had to trust God with my son now. I replied, “I trust God, just not my son!”

For days, no weeks, that conversation has haunted me. That other mom was right. I wasn’t trusting God with this situation.

I don’t know the plans HE has for my son. I know A belongs to God and has a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. I know the WORD is in his head and his heart. And, if he makes a mistake or two, the Lord will use it for his good. He will grow from it. And, if this move is God’s plan, then it won’t be long before I have a daughter-in-law and a very happy son!

The girl is beautiful and sweet. She loves him. I truly cannot blame him for wanting to be with her. His moving so many miles away may even be Biblical if the courtship goes right. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife” (Genesis 2:24)

It’s time for this momma to let him go. His dad and I have educated him. We have taught him the best that we could . We believe that he knows what to do to be a man. We have shared our faith and A made it his own years ago. He is smart and talented. He works hard and loves much.

I am assured that my A isn’t going away totally on his own, but he is taking his Best Friend with him. He will stay by his side, He will teach him. He will spark A’s memory of what he has learned from being a child of God.

I have this same Best Friend who will stay by my side too. He’ll comfort me, dry these tears, and remind me that He’s got this under control. He sees the big picture, not I.

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)

Dear reader, pray with me to get my emotions under control and actually start trusting the One with the plan. He will lead and guide my child. God does not require my interference, opinion, or my controlling nature with what He has in store for my first born.

betty jo

Going

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^“15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.^” (Mark 16)

All my life I’ve heard of missionaries. We have read many missionary biographies in our homeschool throughout the years. I keep mission projects on my prayer list. Our family fills a shoe box or two at Christmas time for Samaritan’s Purse and buys chickens from Gospel for Asia. I might drop a little into the collection plate at church to help a visiting missionary.

I never thought I would be able to be obedient to the going “into all the world with the Gospel”, at least not in a hands-on kind of way. I am a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom. I was born , raised, and still live in Western Kentucky. Our family does not even take vacations.

I have never imagined me in a conversation with the LORD like the one from Isaiah 6:8, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Never imagined it, until today.

I was checking my WordPress stats. I clicked on “Views By Country” and saw this:

Country
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Pakistan
Philippines
Israel
Republic of Korea
New Zealand
Morocco
Malaysia
Norway
Thailand
SingaporeHey, I am going into all the world! Wow, my mind was blown away. It never occurred to me that this blog would do that. I don’t know the faiths of my readers, but in case you are not followers of Jesus Christ let me encourage you to investigate Him. He left Heaven to come to us as a baby. He lived a sinless life even though He was tempted over and over again. He willingly died on a cross to take our place. He rose from the dead having defeated death. He promises eternal life to those who believe in Him and confess His name. He is SAVIOR! It does not matter what your past is or where you are now, He loves you and wants you to be His. This is the Gospel, the Good News. This is GRACE!Mark 16 continues, “¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”Dear LORD, I believe and I want to show these signs of a believer. I would be thrilled and honored if YOU would let me be part of driving out demons, speaking in new tongues, and healing the sick with my hands. As far as the snake and poison goes, LORD, I’d rather not, but Your will, not mine be done. I love You and trust You. AmenIf anyone needs to discuss Jesus or has questions, please do so in the comments. If I don’t have the answers you seek, I’ll find someone who does.betty jo

Teaching Hope

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(Click on the image to enlarge)

Our homeschool is finishing up our Holy Week studies and getting ready for Easter Celebrations. But in the midst of our studies we are reminded of that sweet baby’s birth we celebrated just a few months ago. And we are reminded of the “whys” He came down from Heaven. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth”, John 1:29

We made our own Resurrection Eggs from these free printables from http://www.lapbooklessons.com/ResurrectionLapbook.html.

And we are ready to put the final touches on our Life of Jesus timeline. The last days and hours of our LORD’s life are difficult for me to teach. And I think that these lessons are difficult for the kids to learn about, too, especially for my older kids. I’m not going to “sugar coat” or skip over anything with them.

Of course Jesus’ timeline doesn’t end on the cross, or even in the sealed tomb. In fact, His timeline doesn’t end at all.

This Holy Week, I’m teaching HOPE!

Here’s a video of a song we’ve been listening to.

betty jo

Blogs In Heaven?

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It’s been a little over a week since I started Still Learning Something New. I am humbled that I’ve had views, a few e-mail followers, and received wonderful, encouraging comments. I’m proud that I’m in the process of overcoming my computer-phobia and learning how to blog instead of only reading others. Really, friends, this is a huge step for me.

In my past life (not a in a Shirley McClain kind of way, but in the before marriage and children kind of way) I studied journalism in college. In fact, my folks spent thousands of dollars to see I got educated to write and be published. However, college was a “FAIL”. Those dollars were wasted. I lost brain cells instead of filling up the ones I had. I hurt me and I hurt my parents. I’ve been ashamed and I have always thought they were too. They were very educated. My older siblings have degrees. Success was expected.

After all those years I am finally committed to writing daily, I’ve finally been published. People from around the world have read what I said. It’s mind blowing. I wish my parents could know.

I don’t imagine that they have WiFi in Heaven. There is so much sin and sadness over the internet and NO sin and sadness in Heaven that I don’t think those there would even want it. However, since “all things are possible with God” , my prayer is that my Mom and Dad know that it all wasn’t a waste. I’d love for Jesus to let them read what I’ve written. And for Him to show them that “view map” on the stats board. I’d like them to see the pics of the chalk board wall, too. Mom would love that idea.

Also, I pray for those of you reading now that whatever your needs are that they will be met. And that we all will be able to do something that glorifies and pleases He who made us and saved us.

. many blessings, betty jo