Why a Homeschool Yearbook is Good for my Soul

As I come to the end of our homeschooling journey, I'm taking time to reflect.

This post, written over six years ago, 

reminds me of God's faithfulness in the messy middle.

Whatever journey you are on, I pray it encourages you to pause, remember, and celebrate God's goodness today. 

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Sometimes I forget. 

I come to a rest stop on a long, arduous journey and I simply cannot remember anything else but the challenges, the failures, the not doing enough or being enough. I forget all that I have learned, how I have grown, the joys and thrills, and I simply feel very small, ill-equipped to continue on this not-for-the-weary journey.

If I stay in this place, consumed by my frailness in the light of the enormous task in front of me, I will not move. 

It's a dangerous place. It's a place where for a moment my eyes have fallen off of Jesus and lingered too long on self.

'What did I accomplish this year? Did I do enough? How will I continue?'

It's a place where I forget to remember God's faithfulness.

Remembering is Good for the Soul

Thankfully, God in His mercy throws me a line and pulls me out of the pit. That line is our homeschool yearbook. Sitting down to cull photos and events for our homeschool yearbook is nothing short of spiritual refreshment.

While I come face to face with my own shortcomings, I am wondrously and mercifully reminded of God’s lavish provisions.

We all have them - milestones along life’s journey, rest stops where we stop and take stock. Moments to pause and reflect - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other times of celebration, or more obscure moments like the end of your first year on the job, in a new place, or role. Whatever our milestone may be, it is an opportunity for us to look backward, look inward, and look forward.

God is so wise. He knows the importance of remembering. There are countless examples in His Word where He called His people to a time of remembrance. He knew that remembering is good for our souls.

And so, as I paused at the end of this school year, I remembered.

A Thousand Reasons to Give Thanks

I remembered that I am not fit for this task, but God is. Yes, I heard the voices, the should haves and could haves, the wish we had, but as I lingered over each photograph, each memory, I remembered behind my beginning. I remembered why I do what I do, remembered Whose ‘well done’ I’m working for, and Who empowers me to keep going. And I saw clearly and thankfully the tangible effects of God’s blessings in our lives - the accomplishments, the joys, the thrills, and yes even the blessings of the challenges. I remembered the peace that remains even when days get long and hard, the comfort of knowing that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him, and the promise of His power to those of us who are weak.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and for me - one who shies away from pictures - it is worth a thousand reasons to give thanks. I look at the picture of my daughter sitting at the computer completely engrossed in the book she is writing, and I give thanks. I look at the pictures of my son working on a robot he’s building and then subsequently winning third place in a science fair he chose to enter, and I give thanks. I see my children happily working on a puzzle together or look at the 'house of truth' we built when we completed our Christian worldview series, and I give thanks. I find so many reasons to give thanks when I remember.

Yes, working on our homeschool yearbook humbles me, brings me face-to-face with my weaknesses, reminds me of God’s unwavering presence, protection, and peace in our lives, and fills my heart with gratitude.

So, I don’t stay in that place, that place where I fall painfully short of my expectations and stumble under the weight of my responsibilities.

I climb out of the pit, and I readjust my focus.

I look backward at all God has done, I look inward and remember His Spirit within me and I look forward in anticipation of what He will continue to do as He displays His glory in our lives.

What about you? 

Maybe your rescue line is not a homeschool yearbook. Perhaps it’s creating a scrapbook of your journey, whatever that journey may be. Or it may simply be peering at old photographs, or reading old journal entries, whatever it may be, God wants you to stop and remember.

So go ahead my friend, take some time. Choose to purposefully remember all that God has done for you and His promise never to leave you. It will fill your heart with overflowing gratitude and hope and praise. Try it and you’ll see, it’s really good for the soul.

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Grace and peace to you,

Carlie

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Why a Homeschool Yearbook is Good for my Soul

Prayerless prayers, Desperate times, and a Powerful God

 

Sometimes, when I pray, I don’t look for any answers. It’s embarrassing to even admit it. I mean, what does it say about my faith? Why bother to pray if I don’t expect God to answer? And if I expect Him to answer why am I not looking for the rain?

‘Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.’  ~ James 5: 17-18 ESV

I don’t know about you, but oftentimes I don’t feel like Elijah, much less act like Elijah.

First of all, Elijah prayed a big, miracle seeking prayer. How often do I do that?

Here’s the part of Elijah’s story that has been saturating my thoughts for the last few weeks.

And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.  And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”  And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. ~ 1 Kings 18: 41-46 ESV

Seven times. Not once, not even thrice, but seven times. That’s how many times Elijah sent his servant to look toward the sea, expecting God’s promise to become reality. Seven times! Yet another way I don’t act like Elijah.

How often do you pray big, heaven opening and pouring out prayers? And do you keep on your knees persisting and persevering until you see the promise appear?

Or are you like me? Sometimes praying prayerless prayers laced with doubt?

What strikes me, even more, is Elijah’s faith when the tiny, distant cloud was finally spotted. As small as a man’s hand. So little, so far-off, I might have missed it. But it was enough for Elijah to move into action. God’s full answer was about to come thundering down.  

Sadly, in my life when I see the dimness of an answer, I’m often only cautiously hopeful. Mostly I get nervous, fearful that the promising mist of an answer might vanish before my eyes, fading away before the rain starts. It’s like I’m living expecting a drought and not the gracious outpouring of a powerful, faithful God.

But God, He tells me that I’m just like Elijah. An ordinary man praying to an omnipotent God.

If you’re like me and feel a little dried out from this rather unsettling year, I encourage you to remember who our God is. He is all-powerful and ever-faithful yet personal to each one who calls on His name. He ‘is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’. (Ephesians 3:20)

Are we willing to take Him at His word? Are we willing to risk asking great things of our great God? Are we willing to look for the rain?

May these seven points from Elijah’s story refresh our parched faith and encourage us to expect great things from our great God.

Elijah prayed according to the word of God.

Elijah believed God would be faithful to keep his word.

Elijah persisted in prayer even when there was no sign of an answer.

God answered in His perfect timing.

Elijah acted in faith when the answer was still far away.

God strengthened Elijah for the journey ahead.

And perhaps, most encouragingly, Elijah was a man just like us. 

 

Okay, I’m ready. I’m praying for a miracle, and I’m walking with my umbrella.

What about you?

Do you pray for what you believe? Do you believe that even now in the midst of all the uncertainty God can show up in miraculous ways? What is God putting on your heart to pray for today?

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Are you overwhelmed by the prayer needs around you? Want to be more intentional in your prayer time? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Prayer Planner, my gift to you when you subscribe to 'from dust towards the heavens'. 

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Are you feeling fearful, frail, or frazzled? 

Would you rather have peace, purpose, and power? 

Live Amazed - Embracing the Gifts of God in Longing, Loss, and Life is a 30-day devotional that helps to steer our hearts towards God in the midst of our secret longings, staggering losses, and day-to-day worries.  Through scripture and real-life struggles, these daily reflections invite us to embrace the peace, hope, and grace God so freely offers us. 

You can read a free sample devotion here or purchase your very own copy here. 

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Prayerless prayers, Desperate times, and a Powerful God