Anticipation Proclamation

As a young girl, I remember the start of a new school year being so exciting! The first day of school for me was as New Years was to the grownups I knew. It was a time for vows and resolutions: THIS would be the year to make perfect grades. THIS would be the time for me to make new friends. Yes, THIS would be the defining year of my talents as well as my personality. I would even be a better Christian witness, and EVERYTHING would be more exciting than the year before….

The cherry on top was the blessing of new clothes (or even someone else's handmedowns), cool school supplies and all the other “stuff” that was required for a student to get a good start to the new year. Cha ching! Christmas in August!!!!

On the other side of the beaming and scheming, though, was Anxiety, just waiting to rear her ugly head. What will I wear? Which teachers will I have? Who will I sit next to? WHERE did these pimples come from? Before the first bell had even rung, Anticipation, Aspiration and Anxiety had become inseparable friends of mine.

Nonetheless, now that those days are over, I wouldn’t mind having that feeling of great expectation again. Sometimes I get so distracted in the dailyness of life, even anxious about what's around the corner, that I miss the renewal and hope the Lord is offering me each day. The Bible is filled with promises to anticipate:

Lamentations 3:22-23
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

2 Corinthians 4:16
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Colossians 3:10
“…and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

So what does this mean for us? It means that we can be like school kids at the end of summer each and every day, but without the worry. No matter what fruit we are lacking, the Lord will be faithful to provide it as we put our hope in Him. It is a daily (for me, hourly sometimes) process….it is a “giving over” of ourselves with the exchange of renewed eagerness for the great things God can do in and through us as we let Him. We can choose to serve ourselves, our anxieties and our desires; or we can start the day with dependence on our Lord, who will faithfully show up and keep His promises. Let’s decide to proclaim our anticipation in Him alone this very day!

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15

Back To School In Part

My kids are off! Backpacks stuffed to the seams, lunches packed, water bottles sweating...they're gone. Uncertain of what third, fifth and eighth grade hold, we prayed for calm to their/my anxieties last night and before they left the car.

Their first day of school was today (Tuesday), and their second day will be Thursday. As a mom who tried to the full-time home school thing, it wasn't long before God showed me that was not His ideal plan for our family. (Not sure the kind of counseling we all would need as a result even exists.) However, where I live, we have an incredible alternative for those who do not feel called to send their kids to school full-time but also need help with the education. It's called parent-partnered education, and it is the right scenario for us. (Notice I didn't say "perfect scenario"?)

The school, which is accredited and goes all the way through high school, plans their lessons, teaches the new concepts and then tests them on the days at school. We've been educating this way for seven years, though I can hardly believe it's been that long.

Here's the clencher, the reason why I say it is right and not perfect: the school follows the classical model of learning, and it is H-A-R-D!!!! So when my teenage son comes to ask me about Latin translations or Roman history, I'm sorta freakin' out. The "phone a friend" or email the teacher method is usually the answer he gets. I'm so thankful for the two days of quiet, but I pay for it on the other three. Still, going with God's idea for us is best.

I was just thinking this morning: What if God chose the parent-partnered model of educating us? What if He taught us only a few days a week and left us the other days to learn new concepts from our pastors and teachers? I mean, He uses those people to give us insight and teach us things, sure, but He does not leave us on our own to do that. He gave us the Holy Spirit for each and every moment of all our days on this earth. Isn't that cool?

With this message comes great comfort and peace. Through His constant presence, we have everything we need--not only for Godly living, but for our difficult times as well.

Joshua 1:9 ( (NLT)
"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Romans 8:11 (NIV)
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you."

John 14:26 (NIV)
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Also with this message comes great responsibility. It requires obedience on our part. Sacrifice. Humility. Trust (there's that word again).

Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)
" For this is what the high and lofty One says—
He who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite."

Romans 12:1 (NIV)
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Thank goodness, God is our full-time parent, teacher, counselor and friend. Today, let's praise Him for the fact that we don't have to walk into the classroom of life alone. For without His constant help and presence, we would most certainly get a failing grade.

In the Key of HE,