A Reason to Continue
by Teri Spray
"I don't know if I can keep home schooling." This journey is not an easy one, stay faithful, the promises will come.
Welcome to the wilderness journey of home schooling your children. Sorry, folks, this is isn't your promised land yet. But in the wilderness of walking with God, following his pillar of fire we find comfort and support for all of our daily needs. Thank God that we have been able to extricate our families from the pagan classrooms of the government schools. God allowed Colorado families to pass through a miraculous Red Sea by giving us an excellent home school law and private school enrollment options.
Don't turn back to Egypt! The chains of Egypt include minimal choices such as schedules for your family, classroom style education, labeled cliques and learning groups, and God-less teaching philosophies. Have you ever wondered how the children of Israel could cross the Red Sea, then fall into such unbelief at Mt. Sinai? Too often, we, like the children of Israel, are tempted to look back over our shoulders and hunger for the leeks and garlics of Egypt. You know those days when you would prefer to have quiet in the house instead of unruly children, and books to grade. But as we keep our focus upon the pillar of fire and follow God's leading, we can continue successfully despite the occaisional hardships of home education.
Now that we have begun a good race in home schooling, it is time to continue the race and bring our family to the next level God has planned for us. You may have experienced some real breakthroughs with your children this year. You may have overcome behavior problems, physical challenges as well as financial challenges. You may have continued to home school despite various discouragements. Surely God is showing Himself faithful to you during these days in the same way in which He showed himself faithful to the children of Israel. Remember and celebrate your home school victories in the same way the children of Israel celebrated feasts and holidays in the wilderness.
A key to your success at this time is to follow your leader. The children of Israel experienced many extra challenges during their wilderness journey because of rebellion against Moses in their camp. Perhaps Moses did not appear to be God's man for the hour. He admitted to being slow of speech. He did not appear in scripture to be a dynamic charismatic leader. However, he was an awesome intercessor and God called Him his friend. (Deuteronomy 34:10) Even when faced with a rebellion, he fell onto his face in prayer for the rebels. (Numbers 16:4)
The father is the designated priest of the home and ultimately responsible for the education of his children. The mother is the manager of the home and administers the education program of the father. If no father is in the home, then the mother prayerfully selects the program and follows the guidelines of her pastor for counsel and advice. Fathers, you can serve your family in powerful ways through your prayers and blessings. I have seen amazing results from the prayers of my husband, who does not consider himself to be either an intercessor or prayer warrior. Often his prayers have empowered me to have authority over the home and the children. When he ?mantles? me with authority (like Moses anointing Aaron) he gives me spiritual authority in his absence. Confusion between the husband and wife can be the most debilitating part of home schooling. When the couple is not honoring one another nor expecting respect from their children, the family becomes exhausted and burnout ensues.
Your daily Manna in the wilderness of home education is the Word of God. The children of Israel needed to go out each day and gather an omer of Manna for their family. In the same manner, we as believers must gather up our Bibles and apply God's word to our daily lives. We must injest his will for us and understand his heart to guide us each day. The Word of God gives us words with which to pray for our children, it provides us with hope for tomorrow and guidance for today by His Holy Spirit.
Wilderness advenutres are time to really discover God's Laws. The following is an adaptation of the Ten Commandments as they apply to home education.
1. Thou shalt not put home education ahead of God
2. Thou shalt not make thy children into idols
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God or thy children in vain
4. Keep your sabbath day holy as a family
5. Children shall honor their parents, parents shall respect their children
6. Thou shalt not kill enthusiasm, creativity and ideas
7. Do not adulterate thy personal growth and beliefs with too many outside influences
8. Do not steal time from your home education schedule
9. Thou shalt not lie to thyself or to others. Believe the Word of the Lord!
10. Do not covet your neighbor's home education success!
Note: Whenever we examine the law of God, it always causes me to rejoice in the grace of my salvation through Jesus on the cross. Without the work of Jesus Christ on my behalf, I could not hope to ever live righteously enough to enter heaven by my own works.
Follow your Pillar of Smoke by day and Pillar of Fire by night. Be ready at all times to follow the Lord and His direction for your home schooling. You may need to adjust your teaching style, your curriculum or even your goals. Home education isn't always the right answer for the moment, but it does offer things that the "Egyptian" government schools do not. By following God's guidance and humbly seeking His face. You need not be afraid of any "giants in the land." You do not need to fear high school at home. There is a lot of support for home education in high school. You are not alone! As you are faithful in the little things and daily take your children through your wilderness of home education, there is a promised land ahead. As you pass through your Jordan River of graduation, remember that your children will make many choices which may or may not reflect your choices. Perhaps they will choose a career which leads them into ministry, an apprenticeship or a college degree. My daughter chose a career as a godly wife and mother. Now my "land of milk and honey" includes two absolutely beautiful grandchildren who are growing up to love Jesus. John and Meredith are already making plans to teach our grandchildren at home as well. AAAAH, the Promised Land!