my version of persevering, for now

Below is my post related to Sarah Joy Albrecht's "January Giveaway: Learning Perseverance From Making Tamagoyaki" -- Please go to Sarah's website to enter her January giveaway! You only have one day left! I only just found out about it, today! Hurry! ;o)
http://www.sarahjoyalbrecht.com/2010/01/20/january-giveaway-learning-perseverance-from-making-tamagoyaki/comment-page-1/#comment-3349

The Lord has been teaching me perseverance in many ways. He has allowed our family to be pruned by Him, for good and for God's glory (I trust; whether or not we give glory to God depends on whether or not we choose to show an attitude, and actions, of submission to our Lord's and Redeemer's Will). He has richly and generously blessed us. His riches are not of this world. They last into eternity. Souls last. His riches include wisdom, spiritual understanding, and the knowledge of His Will, and the knowledge of "The Holy."

The Lord has allowed us the opportunities He knows He can enable us to endure and overcome, by challenging situations that most would call "impossible." He likes to show Himself strong on our behalf. So, though I see my response to these "opportunities" as perseverance, He wants me to learn, by them, to trust Him more than my mind may understand how He can deliver me (or us) out of them.

We have had to change some priorities in our lives and, yet, have been learning, for quite a long time, that life is about serving others, and by that, serving The Lord. I was not born to "enjoy" life on earth. It is a journey of mine, as a stranger on earth, ... on The Lord's Way (for me) to Heaven, my true Home. Hallelujah!

We have chosen to walk the narrow-er road some call ministry. Our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), lived a life of serving others, ... teaching, healing, helping, delivering, encouraging, inspiring, leading, ... then, being rejected, despised, hated, ignored, ... then, suffering (horribly; He was innocent!) and a shameful death on a Roman execution stake (for "my" sins!!!! He had nothing worthy of death. I had! He took my sins upon Himself, and took the punishment I deserved!), ... then, He rose again to new life in His spiritual Body. So, I'd suppose that what we do (as a family) could be called following, or serving-while-training. We are learning how to live as our Lord lived. He did without some things, yet was rich in so many ways that could not be counted with a thousand fingers!

We do not depend on corporations, any longer, to provide a way for bills to be paid. A believer, who loves us, ... helps us with that. Praise The Lord! Persevering in serving is a lesson I'm learning. If I get my focus off of the serving part, I begin to wonder about some things that God has not commanded me to wonder about. He wants me to trust Him above all!

We have no regular financial support for a teaching ministry we began, over 3 years ago. God has provided a means of support, but I believe God wants us to continue seeking His Will for how He wants His Name glorified through the provision He'd like to bring forth. ;o)
If we're doing God's work in God's way, as Hudson Taylor said, a good while back, it will not lack God's provision. (my wording)
God wants us to continue doing the work He has put before us to do. He continues to give us ideas for many things, some of which He will bring to fruition, if those will bring glory to Him, by drawing others to His Son, Yeshua (Jesus).
That might include serving local folks through a food pantry we've been asked to take charge of. It might include ministering to older folks whose health is not as good as they wish it was.
It might include ministering to folks whose lives have been forever altered, through no fault of their own.
It might include encouraging other believers through singing music, in harmony, without musical accompaniment, as a group of 7 (or 8), ... and we know that if the sound uplifts the hearers, it could only have been accomplished by God Himself, the Master Maker and Glorifier of all music.
(I mean, music was first designed by God, Elohim! He made it to be used to glorify Him and praise His Name! Music that does not do that is worthless.)

Whether we get paid a regular income, or not, for what we do, each day or week, is more important to God, my Father, than it is to us. He is more concerned and busy about us having "enough" than we are! It is His responsibility to provide for His children, so ... I need not worry or fret. (though I forget and do that, at times)

Persevering, while living this way, can be a challenge. My emotions can take turns in the wrong direction. (!) But God's Word, that He has stored in my "heart," steps in and replaces my wrong thoughts, and brings me up out of the low place that the enemy of my soul would like to hold me. Satan cannot hold me. I am The Lord's! He says I am His child! He loves me with an everlasting Love and no power anywhere can overcome His Love for me! (Nothing can separate me from The Love of God, which is in Messiah Yeshua, my Lord! -- from Romans 8:35-39)

God's help, hope, peace and provision never ends!! He supports us as we choose to do what pleases Him! He has unlimited resources! He uses other believers who befriend us and relatives who show their care and love for us in many ways. The Lord has upheld us through many times of "my wondering...." God, alone, has enabled us to continue! He is faithful to remember. We are learning He alone can sustain us. We are still looking for ways to support a ministry such as ours. Doing this on a human level can be quite a challenge! We choose to focus on the serving part, rather than on the support-seeking part. That way, we're not thinking with our fleshly minds, trying to figure out "how to get money to do the next step," but working with our hands and hearts, as we believe God wants us to do. We're trying to live by faith.

Our Father in Heaven has done miracles! He has brought new, Godly friends to help us along, encouraging and praying for us so kindly and faithfully! He has shown us ways to stretch our food provisions as we never had to, before. But this has been good! Now, we can help others to do the same thing. God wanted to improve our health and used what I called "a lack" to do some good work in that direction. ;o) He also helped me learn to be more grateful to Him, for whatever He lets us use or have, to eat and otherwise.

When I wondered how we would get through the coming week or month, in a way that I believed would glorify The Lord's Name, God would come through in a way I had not thought of!
When I was not trusting Him for all things (temporarily) and was letting my emotions get the best of me, He was right there to comfort, and then renew me with His Word, and by His Spirit bringing to my mind verses He had enabled me to store in my mind / heart. He gave me lots of hugs! I need lots of hugs!!

When I was ungrateful for what He was allowing to occur, He reassured me that He still loved me and wanted me to remember that He would bless me as I submitted my will and thoughts to His, and that He would restore what the enemy was trying to destroy.
When I did not keep my focus on Him, and what He had shown me through multiplied evidences of His protection, His care, His deliverance, His healing, His blessings and His provision, He brought my spiritual eyes back to see things from His perspective! How humbling!!

Though we are still unemployed (from the world's perspective), He has enabled me to overlook that, as often as possible, and to look forward to the many ministry duties (to help our pastor) He has us doing, each week, throughout this long period of time, ... while He provides just enough to get us to places where we are sharing His Love, in action. He is faithful! Will I choose to be faithful, also?

We have seen Him provide what's needed to reach out to others who are in situations they also cannot change, medically, physically, financially, and ... He is persevering in showing me mercy, lovingkindness, patience and His faithfulness.
What can I do but thank Him? ... and persevere through the things He allows to happen.

They're all lessons to prepare me for further service! I've seen Him do things that show me I need only "ask" or "cry out to God" for what is (truly) needed. He *does* answer!
And He begins bringing the answer to our "cries" immediately, as we pray. The manifestation of answers to my prayers may take awhile. But He has to send forth His angels to do the battling in the heavenlies, before I see the results, on earth. (see Daniel 10: 9-21)
Praise The Lord, He has done this for me! And I know He is doing it for so many believers, who are crying out to The Lord for deliverance, help and healing! He did it for our childrens' granddad, their aunt and their other aunt! (and more)

His mercy endures all that I've put Him through!
I can let Him enable me to endure all that He will use for His glory, that He lets me go through!
His longsuffering and patience with me has been used by The Lord to teach me good lessons He has wanted me to learn for a good while! Thanks be to God! His patient Love for me will continue forever! Hallelujah!!

Persevering? Is He the only One persevering? Or will I persevere, ... for the glory that is due to His Blessed Name? Baruch haShem Adonai Elohenu! Baruch ha Shem Adonai Yeshua, Melech ha Olam! (Blessed be The Name of The Lord God! Blessed be The Name of The Lord Jesus, King eternal, The King of the universe!)
The Lord is Mighty, indeed!
I will persevere! He is re-making me into the image of His Dear Son! He cannot fail!
(see Romans 8:29)
Colossians 1:12-23a is a blessed passage that God has used to help me get through some trying times, while He's teaching me perseverance.
Ephesians 1:5 and Galatians 4:4-7 shares that we are sons (children) of God, also, by adoption. Hallelujah! What a great reason to persevere! (for Him only!)

"why sports teams?" (for homeschoolers)

Friends (who home educate),
(I suspect that this post will bring up "an unpopular topic"
to some, but may clarify, for others, something that many, or
most, of us, as parents, must make decisions about, for our
own children)

I have a series of questions I'm pondering. You may wish to
ponder them along with me. (that is up to you)

Parents who are convicted to home educate their children often
end up getting their children involved in local-area sports associations,
or forming "homeschool sports teams." (or they let their children
join already-formed "homeschool" teams)

My question is: When we were convicted to home educate our
children, looking at the benefits in the lives of those (from England,
France, Germany, and other countries, as well as from the U.S.A.)
whom we know as famous inventors, scientists, doctors, and medical
missionaries, as well as others, who became presidents in the U.S., and
legislators, ... and ministers of The Gospel, besides other worthy
professions, ... why, then, would we later find that we felt the heritage
of The Lord (our children are called that, in the Psalms, especially, by
David) should be directed to participate in a form of worldliness that
includes playing sports, week after week?
These "teams" do require practices, so that they can "win."
The practices do take families away from more spiritual activities,
that The Lord Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus Christ), did command
us to participate in (to do), such as soul winning, helping the poor
and widows, and helping the fatherless.

Is "involvement in team sports" an effort, through us, as parents,
to look for a positive way to provide some beneficial exercise for
our children's growing bodies? Are there not enough "chores to
do at home" for some good, physical exercise? Maybe our children
could be volunteering to rake leaves, or sweep a porch and walkway,
or driveway, of an elderly person, who lives very near, ... who "needs"
the help. The list of possible ways our children could be "getting
some good exercise" abound!

Should we let the children "learn" (consider themselves to be a part of)
the ways of thinking that are a regular part of the lives of the unsaved, by
"doing what they do?" Don't take offense. This is an honest question.
Your grandparents, or our great-grandparents, did not "all" have sports
on their minds, when they were growing up, even in the city. They did
chores, they worked at home, or for others, near their family's home,
and ... they "did" get plenty of exercise, unless they purposefully avoided
doing that. It's a choice, like so many things in life on earth.

If God calls us to be "separate" and not regularly associate with those
who "live" in "darkness," then why would we, as God-fearing parents,
want to allow our children to do this? (with local-area childrens'
sports associations, who offer "teams" the children can "play" on)

Are there not any families (near enough to where each of us live) who
will regularly "get together" for a simple (no special preparations that
would need to be made, or set up), and friendly game of some sport
that the families could enjoy "playing" together?

This has been thought about, and written about before, by others, but
am wondering if anyone who happens to stumble upon this blog has
thought deeply about this. That's, by the way, not an insult, but just a
question. Have we all thought "deeply" about this, before? Really?

Just wondering......

Perhaps there are a few families "out there (in America, I mean; but
anywhere, where home-educating families live)" who have pondered
this topic, and have determined that they will think very seriously
about this, in the future, and will make wise choices for their children,
regarding any participation in "organized sports teams."

Personally, we have had quite a challenge finding other home-educating
families who are willing to get together, regularly, to play a "friendly
game" of most any sport that they like to play, with more than one
other person. (who is a true believer) Not for competition, but for
fellowship, and for the enjoyment of the more physically-active members
of each family.

We are to live a "set-apart" life that pleases God. It does not mean
we don't do anything with anyone else, ever. It means we are to live
at a standard, spiritually, that is "higher" than the world's standard,
for things such as sports. Honestly, there were no official sports
that so many great men and women participated in "on a team"
back in the 1600s, and 1700s, and 1800s, and 1900s. So, why do
parents now think that their "home-educated" children "need"
a sports team to join?

Does getting our children 'signed up' to play on an "organized team"
truly benefit them, or the family, in their relationship (that they are
growing in) with The Lord, ...
with all the costs involved in that, and the schedules that often make
life "rather hard" for those who have babies in arms, or young
toddlers, ... or ... others who would like to do something they enjoy,
but these "other members" of the family cannot pursue "those other,"
worthwhile pursuits, because "the family" is, each week, or every
few weeks, at "the game" that one, or two, of the family's children
are "playing at" *with their team.* (ouch!)

Is anyone else concerned about this? I continue to see others
pursuing trying to get their home-taught children onto local
public-school sports teams, just because the parents are already
paying property taxes which support the local school district's
pursuits of any kind, but including sports that the local school
participates in.
By the way, what year did "sports teams" first become a
"regular part" of the public school system? Do you all know?
There are many, many years, in America (the USA) in which
men and women were found attending public schools where
The Bible was taught, each day, and ... there were no "sports
teams." Just some food for thought.

We are to live in moderation, doing things that give God glory.
We are to pursue peace with other believers.
We are to dwell among others "in agape love," which is "love
in action" but according to God's Ways and not our ways, as
humans. His Ways are higher than our ways. His Thoughts
are higher than our thoughts.

Am just thinking.
I know you are, too.

God bless you all in all you do for God's glory!!
... am hoping to share some links to information about the
lives of those who are known worldwide, but whose lives
did not include them playing on "sports teams" regularly
as part of their overall educational program ... of the "school"
they attended.

... and by the way, in my earlier years of life, yes, I actually
did run sprint races on foot, and played tennis, and ... swam
whenever I could (but not on a team), water-skiied (Dad
had a boat), and ..., in my 30s, learned to snow ski, and
much more. But do these things have to be done "on a team?"

Can we not consider these "sometimes events" when we get
to take time out, after our other responsibilities are as
fulfilled as can fulfill them, ... and "rest" (?) by playing some
physical game, that's not unhealthy or wicked, ... with others
who are believers? ... just for some enjoyment, out of doors?
... or, in the case of ping pong, or carpet ball, we can "play"
indoors.

Let's provoke one another unto good works.
Our young people are actually inspired to get together, and
join in a voluntary effort to rake leaves in an elderly neighbor's
yard! Or help them with laundry or dishwashing, or simple
meal preparations, when an elderly neighbor, or church
member, is ill and needs help with this.
Do we want to work in cooperation with The Lord to develop
"a servant's heart" in our own children?
If not, then why did we choose to home educate them?
The kind of "work" I mention, with regard to helping an
elderly person "does" involve physical effort. But, the
spiritual aspect, of taking the opportunity to do something
that blesses the other person, is worth more than gold to
our young people's hearts and souls!

... keep thinking .....