What's changed for you?

So we've been quarantined for a couple weeks now.

I've had people say to me, "I suppose it's not much different for you." And compared to so many other people, they are right. 

We still daily do our farm chores. We still homeschool. Thankfully, my husband is still able to work from home and earn the same amount of income. Egg business has slowed down and our high schooler is learning via the Internet at home, but other than that our life has stayed pretty normal. 

The biggest change we've had is not going to church. For us, church is a huge part of our homeschool, our socialization; it's a big part of who we are. We go to church to worship, yes, but we also go to participate in the activities. We go for Bible Studies. We go to volunteer. We go to be filled and to encourage. We go to help and be helped. Christ lives in us and church is where we feel at home. 

A notification came up on my phone yesterday. Google maps asked me "Has your work address changed? Tap to update your work address." 

Ha! I've been staying at home so much that google thinks I don't work anymore. Where does google think I work anyway? All of my jobs are at home? I tapped the notification. This is what I saw: 

We are at our church so often that Google Maps put that as my work address! What a joyous day it will be when we can gather again around God's Word, with our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith, all in one building - all in one room - all with one voice praising our Savior!

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." -Psalm 122:1

Write about Me

My goal this year has been to write one blog each month.

March came along and I prayed and wondered, "God what do you want me to write about this month?"

Then a pandemic hit. And I prayed, "God use me for Your glory in this chaos."

Then the entire nation started homeschooling. "Yes! This is my shot. What should I tell them, God?"

Nothing....nothing came to me. Until this week.

Quarantine Week

When I struggled through emotions, watched my church service online, and cried without words to my husband.

Every school day at lunch, we watch the Time of Grace video for the day. Today it was this one. God has put a value on me. And it doesn't matter what the world thinks, what I accomplish; nothing that I do matters. It only matters what God has done.

And God said, "Write about Me."

Reading other people's blogs and texts this week, I was struck with this feeling, "I've been homeschooling my kiddos for 10 years, and the whole world is better at it than me."

What a lie that is!  

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. -1 Peter 5:8

First of all, I don't know what the whole world is doing or how they are homeschooling. I only live in our house and I only truly know how we homeschool.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 

-1 Corinthians 12:4-6

But more importantly, God gave each of us different gifts. Some He gave the gift of scheduling, some of planning, some of making things fun and memorable. He gave me my children because they need the gifts that I have to offer....and I need the gifts they have to offer. He gave us to each other to benefit each other and grow us into the people He needs us to be so we can do His work.

 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10

God has good works planned out for each of His children to do and accomplish. Being jealous over someone else's good works, and sulky over another doesn't leave much energy to notice the good works God has planned for me.

All this is true, but it is so hard to believe and live out. Where is my confidence? What is my talent? Will the world see Jesus through me? If His power is alive and active in me, why can't I do something great? Why am I not phenomenal?

Because He is. 

He's the one that's great, amazing, wonderful! He's the one that has it all under control and can homeschool like a boss. He's the one that can be a perfect spouse - just what my husband needs - and a caring mother. When I try to take over; when I think I need to do more and be more. That's when things get messed up. That's when things are upside down and chaotic.

Then He placed His right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." -Revelation 1:17

God puts His hand on me. God is here, has been here, and will always be here. He's the most important. His is the story to tell. His works and actions are phenomenal. 

He lives in me and makes me what He needs me to be.