Faith in What?

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The disciples felt safe inside that boat, especially when they looked out at the choppy waves and strong winds. Sometime we feel safe inside our circumstance, situation, religion, or personal confidence, and we fail to realize our misplaced faith.

Sometimes God leads us out of our comfort zone where we learn what it truly means to have faith in Christ (instead of ourselves, someone else, or tradition) and keep our focus on Him. When we take our eyes off of the Lord and we replace our faith in Christ with fear of our surroundings (as Peter did) and all the “what ifs” in life, we will surely sink.

When we keep our trust in Him and depend on Him, He will use our lives to do amazing things that point to heaven and bring glory to God. When Christ does the impossible through us, no one else can take the credit, and people will see and exclaim, “Jesus, truly you are the Son of God!”

Lately, I have felt myself sinking as I look within me and around me and realize all that is against me, naturally and spiritually. It’s discouraging. I have to remind myself on a daily basis that I have a wonderful, amazing power within me. It’s not of me, it’s of God. It’s the Holy Spirit.

And, with Him, nothing is impossible

None but Christ can satisfy!

As I pack up our things in anticipation of our move, I realize how much junk we have. Even though we’ve filtered through it multiple times this year and given huge, bulging bags stuffed with goods to charity, it’s obvious we still have more than we need.

When Brandon went on a mission trip to Belize (January), he was reminded once again how little others have, and yet they are satisfied. In their countries, more isn’t necessarily more. They don’t have the media blaring in their homes and cars (if they have cars, which most of them don’t), because they don’t have radios and televisions. Therefore, they don’t get the message societies and governments want to impress upon us:

Buy more!!!

I was watching a string of commercials the other day, paying close attention to the message, and the underlying message, in the clips. The message is:

If you don’t have one, you need to get one.
You need one because it will make you feel cooler, sexier, and more hip.
You’ll be more desirable if you have this product.
If you have one already, then it’s time you updated to this newer version.
If you don’t have this newer version, then you’re out of date.
If you’re out of date, then you must be poor.
Buy this newer version to show that you are wealthy and cool!
Buy this product and stop aging. Aging is bad.
You need this product because it will make your life easier.
You need this product because you deserve it.
You need this product because you are worth it.
This product will give you more time to yourself. Spoil yourself!
This product is inexpensive, so even if you don’t really need it, you can afford it, so you should buy it!

You get the idea… right?

Restaurants tell us that, well, we need a break. We shouldn’t be stuck in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove. Boutiques tell us that we need more clothes because the style has changed. Home improvement stores poke and prod us, telling us we need top of the line this and more efficient that.

I’m not saying we should never eat out, buy new clothes, purchase efficient appliances, or fix up our homes….. but the media insists that a little is never enough. We need to load up, spend more, and consume-consume-consume.

We don’t appreciate what we already have. No matter how much we convince ourselves, with this sort of attitude, we won’t appreciate what we gain in the future either.

I easily fall into these traps…. on a daily basis. I’m surrounded by it when I walk outside of my home, when I go grocery shopping, when I drive anywhere! When I log online, luring ads promise me a better life.

What’s worse is some churches have fallen into this mind rot! You want a better life now? How about you quit focusing on how you can get rich off of God and how God can give you everything you desire and begin focusing on what God has ALREADY done for you in sacrificing His son and realize that, no matter what someone else says, life is NOT all about you, and God is notconcerned with your earthly happiness. Yes, God wants you to have joy and peace, but those things don’t come from chasing the world and it’s pleasures and treasures. It comes from diving into God’s Word, placing your faith in Him for all your needs, and being a good steward of those things He has already given you.

Yesterday, I was shopping for clothes with my birthday money, and realized that most of these stores aren’t really selling clothes. They are selling sex. They are trying to sell appeal. Half naked models plastered on banners and signs portray confidence and beauty. Buy this… you’ll be beautiful! You’ll have confidence! You’ll look like this woman (who, btw, has been digitally retouched)!

I really like clothes. I really like shoes. However, since having children, I have had to sacrifice these expenses in order to provide for them. It’s not really much of a sacrifice really. I’d rather have children than the finest of clothes, but society tells me I need more, that I shouldn’t have to give up anything, that I can have it all, if I want!

Thats a lie. It’s a dirty, nasty, filthy, deceptive lie.

And we keep falling for it time and time again.

People have more stuff than they know what to do with, yet no one is really happy. Families suffer because, in order to provide for and pay for all of this stuff, people have to work harder and longer. We can’t live off of one income anymore, because we are paying off debts and still, of course, building more debt on top of that.

We keep buying because, well, we want our children to have the very best…. but the “very best” of material things is no substitute for quality time spent raising our children, playing with our children, and snuggling with them.

On your death bed, I very much doubt your children will say, “Man, I really wish my parents would have bought me more stuff.” Most likely, what they will feel deep inside is, “I wish my parents would have spent more time with me.”

Now, more than ever, I realize how important it is to cut off and limit as much of the media garbage as possible. I need to teach my children that the Word of God is the only thing that satisfies, and I cannot teach them that unless I am living it.

Why We've Chosen To Shelter Our Children

[by Mandy Mom, as posted in June Edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine for Homeschoolers]

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:1-3

I believe in protecting my children from outside influences in their youth. However, it’s not enough to just protect them, but I also need to be teaching them the Word. As I keep them close to me throughout their childhood, I will have many opportunities to do this, which is why it is so important that God is first in my life. How can I ever expect them to put God first, if I do not live and walk that way myself?

God has told me that I need to pay more attention to what my children watch. I really started picking apart the shows they were watching. I came to realize the Disney Channel isn’t as innocent as I had believed.

It is no wonder we raise little diva girls full of drama and attitude. They’re only mimicking what they see on television! It’s no wonder we’re raising boys who bully, lie, cheat, and rebel! They’ve learned much of this from their favorite shows.

It’s a good idea to write out your values and remove the things from your home that do not encourage those values. I know, it’s easier said than done. It will mean you will have to sacrifice some of your favorite shows, movies, and games, but if it’s not okay for your children to watch and do, in many cases, it’s probably not acceptable for you either.

As parents, we know we need to unite under discipline and authority. It’s not helpful when one parent undermines the other’s authority. This is common sense. What we often fail to see is that these television shows, movies, and books our children are looking at are teaching our little ones lessons that contradict the values and morals we long to instill in them. They are undermining our authority. By allowing our children to watch and read such things, we are sending them mixed messages.

In the same way, we also need to limit the time our children spend with people who may influence them to do things that are unacceptable. People will tell us we are sheltering our children far too much, but I believe that it is better to shelter them now while we build them in the Lord so, when they are older, they are able to stand strong in Christ through temptations and trials. In a manner of speaking, we are building a foundation for our children, and outside influences can weaken it or cause it to crumble.

Because we homeschool, we are often asked questions about socialization. Honestly, I hate these questions. It’s ridiculous, really. We may shelter and protect our children, but we certainly haven’t hindered them from being “socialized”. If anything, by limiting outside influences, we improve their socialization. They learn how to treat people with respect because they are not constantly around rude, disrespectful children and adults who only consider themselves and walk around with a “Me-me-me” attitude. I’ve been told my children are missing out on a lot. Let me tell you, I agree. They are missing out on a lot of inappropriate talk and actions. They’re missing out on bullies who push them around and brats who tell them they’re ugly, stupid, and not good enough. They’re missing out on textbook teachings which have made theories seem like fact and have excluded Christ (or, in the case of some Christian schools, they’ve left out the truth of Christ). Gee, hmm. Doesn’t sound like they’re really missing out on anything of godly substance by staying home with me!

Somehow, somewhere, we have been duped into believing that in order to have well-rounded children, we need to expose them to the world. We need to teach them to be “open-minded.” I am guilty of being deceived here as well. I have read and tried to follow the instruction of many a child-rearing book. I found myself (and my children) frustrated and overwhelmed. What we need to remember is God has given us authority over our children and has instructed us to raise them up in his Word. His Word is our guide book. Sometimes people say, “I wish babies came with an instruction manual.” Well, I know where you can get one. It’s called the bible, and you can find it wherever books are sold. The Dollar Tree sells them for, you got it, a buck!

We live in a world that says, “There is no absolute truth,” and, “Truth is what you want it to be.” As Christians, Christ is Truth and Christ is the Word, so we can put our faith in the Word. We can live by the Word, which means we can live in Truth. It does exist, and it’s Christ. We don’t need to teach our children to be open-minded to the world. We need to teach our children to be open to the WORD.

Now, I realize it may not be possible for everyone to homeschool their children. I understand that. However, if God has pricked your heart in this direction, you must obey. Sure, you may feel ill-equipped. You may feel it’s an impossible task, especially if you work outside the home. You may feel that you just can’t handle being around your children all day, every day. God makes no mistakes, and if he has prompted you to bring your children home from school and keep them there, then it is in their best interest (and yours as well) to listen and obey. A feeling of panic and fear is natural for many. There are times when I have said, “Dear Lord! You’ve given me more than I can handle!” And, the truth is, he has. You may have heard the saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” That’s a lie. God will give you more than you can handle. He does this so you will depend on him and not yourself. Rest assured, God will give you the tools to handle what he has asked you to do. Not only will he give you the tools, but he’ll also give you the blessing. However, he doesn’t hand us the blessing first. He asks for obedience, and when we take the first step, he blesses our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

As a “discipleship schooler,” or what some may call an “unschooler,” I use mentoring as my number one way of teaching. It saddens me to see parents who fail to connect with their children. They don’t fellowship with their kiddos. They keep them at arm’s length, instead of allowing their munchkins to get involved in their lives.

We need to really involve our children in our lives, but we also need be involved in our children’s lives. When I was in junior high and attending a public school, I came home one day and found myself arguing with my mother. She was frustrated over something I had posted on the internet. She said, “This isn’t you! Why would you write that?” I scowled at her and replied, “You don’t know me at all!”

Truth is, as much as she wanted to be involved in my life, as close as she longed for us to be, I was away from her for 8-10 hours a day, five days a week. During that time, I fellowshipped with people who did not have the same values as my family did. They encouraged me to do things that were against my parents’ beliefs and wishes. I had spent about 50 hours a week with people who encouraged my sinful flesh. Combined with the 60 hours I spent sleeping per week and the 15-20 hours I spent talking to friends on the phone or online, this left around 40 or fewer hours for my parents, and, well, you know I wasn’t spending every single minute I was home (and not talking to my friends) by my parents’ side. I was probably off brooding in my room, writing angry poetry, and listening to angry music. (Yes, I was that child.) When it came right down to it, I was spending more time under the influence of those who did not encourage me in the Lord. They became more important to me than my parents. After all, I spent far less time with those two people who conceived and birthed me than those who prodded me to rebel!

The year my mom took me out of public schools, I changed. I stopped being so angry. I finally picked a few friends that encouraged me in Christ. That’s not to say I didn’t make wrong choices or still have a few bad apple buddies, but I was around my parents more and bad influences less. I began to know them better, and they got to know me better. Our communication improved. I only wish this would have happened sooner!

When we send our children off to school, we lose them in a way. Again, I understand that some people may not have a choice. I get that, I do. I ache for those people, because they are truly missing out on an amazing experience, one that will strengthen not just our children, but the family as a whole.

Schools aren’t there to encourage your children to find their identity in Christ. Schools don’t care about your children’s spiritual well-being. Can you imagine what life would be like if your children were nurtured in the Spirit and were encouraged to be everything God desired them to be? Can you imagine the effect that would have on your family? Can you imagine the impact that would have on the world? All for the glory of God!

If we really, really stopped to think about it, it would blow our face off!

My ultimate goal is not to produce intelligent children. Do I want them to be smart? Sure! Yes! Definitely! Still, my ultimate goal is to produce children who are on fire for Christ, who lean on Him, and long to be useful to His kingdom - whatever that might mean and wherever that might take them. I trust, in that journey, God will fill them with all the natural and spiritual knowledge they need to know.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t have moments where I panic and wonder how I am going to teach them all of the things they are “supposed” to know. I do, more than I want to admit! Yet, deep down inside, God has given me a promise to cling to. He has promised he will protect and guide my children if I follow him in obedience. He has given me a vision of my children, and, when I feel discouraged, I cling tightly to those things he has shown me.

Mandy is a former homeschooling student who has set out to homeschool her three young munchkins in an unschooling meets discipleship method. In her column “Delightfully Discipled”, she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge and and are led though Godly discipleship. She blogs at MandyMom.com and Noggin News.