Don’t Judge Sarah Palin, Just Her Qualifications
Please bear with me as I broach the subject of the breaking news about Bristol Palin. Sarah Palin made the announcement today about her daughter’s pregnancy.
Blogs and the news are all a buzz with speculation and judgment. McCain and Palin are trying to stop the hungry media machine by issuing this statement, and Obama is saying that a candidate’s family is off limits.
As a mother, this whole situation is heart wrenching to watch as it unfolds. I cannot imagine my dear daughter coming home with this news as I know first hand all that comes with motherhood. I also cannot imagine running for office and dealing with my family’s private life being exposed to everyone. Then I think about how the Bible teaches us not to judge others or we will be judged ourselves, (Matthew 7:1) and that anyone without sin should cast the first stone (John 8:7). I feel saddened by what is happening to the Palin family.
On the other hand, I see why people are talking about the Palin family. The announcement of McCain’s running mate came as a huge surprise to the country. People are wondering if this candidate was truly vetted. Sarah Palin is an unknown entity to the country at large, and of course people want to know more. It is hard to resist juicy stories that pop up online, and it is difficult to stop our imaginations from running wild without enough factual information. Who is Sarah Palin and what does she stand for? I feel angry that the country is in the dark about who Sarah Palin really is.
The best news I have read on the topic is that Obama refuses to discuss the Palin children. I completely agree that this is truly a matter that the family needs to deal with. With that said, I think that it is important for the media to find out more information about Sarah Palin’s politics and decision making process. People want to understand how she will vote on different issues, what she knows about foreign policy, and what her views are about the office of the vice president.
Wading through everything being said about Sarah Palin and her family has left my head spinning. Rather thatn keeping the media frenzy going, as one mother to another, I am going to pray for Palin and her family to have wisdom during this difficult time. I am going to pray for the country to learn more about Sarah Palin as a leader, thinker, and politician. I will also pray that the media frenzy would stop. I want to know more about Sarah Palin’s politics, not about her family life.
Who is Sarah Palin the politician? What do you want to know about her job qualifications?
Filed under Homeschooling Life | Comments (10)Thanks for the Reminder
One of my favorite blogs, Holy Experience, has an amazing re-post called How Would Jesus Teach? It is funny that I received this particular post in my feed today because it really hits home for me. I felt like I was at home when I read it because this is truly how I want to educate my children. My goal is to become more Christ-like, right? Why not teach the same way that Jesus did when He was here on earth?
I want to glorify my God every day. I also want what is best for my kids educationally and otherwise. The funny thing is that following Jesus’ example will actually do both things for me and my kids. I need to teach my children the way that Jesus taught His disciples and the people around Him, out in the world through service and with scripture. Thank you, Holy Experience, for the reminder!
I have been working towards this goal. I have thought through how to make it happen, but I can’t seem to make it all come together. I have been missing one key piece, though - prayer. I have to pray about it and commit to making it happen.
Filed under Homeschooling Life | Comment (0)Lord, transform me. Give me the wisdom I need in order to guide my children on this journey called life. Help me teach my children more like Jesus has taught us. Amen.
“Lord God. Food. Amen”
“Lord God. Food. Amen.”
My two year old prayed for the first time last week, and volunteered to do it, no less. It was just so beautiful to hear. It was genuine, too.
Jesus tells us that we should come to him like little children (Matthew 18:3). Listening to my dear little one pray reminded me of that. I know that God honored that sweet, little prayer because the intent was heartfelt. It was innocent. It was for God. I want to come to God in that same way, but so often, especially when I pray in front of other people, I feel like my prayers are for the listeners. That is not God honoring. That is self honoring. I want to honor our awesome God instead. I want to come to God as innocently as my two year old does. Have you thought about your prayer life? Are you coming to God like a little child?
My kiddo innocently offered to pray over our meal and extended a hand out to Jesus. This is more than what some adults do, including me. I am challenged by my two year old’s act of faith to reflect on my own intentions this week.
“Lord God. Food. Amen.”
Filed under Homeschooling Life | Comment (1)The Power of Prayer
Prayer. The Bible is filled with prayer. In fact, the Bible instructs us to pray.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
At the Women of Faith Conference many of the speakers talked about how their prayers were answered. Often the answers were different than what they expected. Many times God’s answers came much later for them. In our culture we expect everything right now, but God doesn’t work like that. (Just remember how long it took Abraham and Sarah to receive their promise of a son!) These women prayed and waited for the answer.
My family prays together every day, many times a day. I have encouraged my little ones to pray on their own. I have taught them the Lord’s prayer. They know what prayer is, but I want to take it further. I want them to see and FEEL something when they pray to now that their prayers make a difference.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:15-16
I just want to share with my children the power of prayer - the power of calling on Jesus. I was reminded that God can and will bring prayer alive for my children when I heard Nicole C. Mullen sing her song, “Call on Jesus”. She is an amazing singer and this song is a good reminder and it talks about the power of prayer. With ’tweens or teens sharing this song with would mean a lot to their understanding of the power of prayer.
I need to simply pray for my children to experience the power of prayer and wait.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me. Micah 7:7
Devotions
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
This summer I am incorporating devotions into school time. It feels like my children are growing in their faith and understanding of God. They look forward to our devotional time because it is fun, interactive, and interesting. I am using visuals and games that make the concepts more concrete. We sometimes do a craft related to the devotion, or we might simply color a picture with the memory verse.
I have thoroughly enjoyed devotions with my children as well. It has gotten me to think about why the time is so meaningful even when I have not planned an activity to go along with the devotion. I am reminded of the following verse:
“And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
I am learning along side my children. I am seeing my God through the eyes of a child and remembering how awesome my God truly is. I have gained the reverance for the creator of the universe that I lose throughout the day. When I answer those sweet, innocent questions, I realize that God is just amazing. Often times I do not have the answers to those questions. At that point, we pray. I know God answers prayers, and I know that He will find an answer that is just right for my little one’s questions. The fact that I do not have all of the answers points me back to my God. I return to my place - God’s servant.
Filed under Lesson Plans | Comment (0)
