Having a Failure Kind of Day

There are days when I just feel “off my game.”  Nothing seems to go as I planned.  There are days when I feel like a total failure and wonder if my family might be better off with someone who was better at (insert anything here) than I am.  Then I remind myself, “I am not perfect and I never will be, at least not before the Lord comes!”  This road of sanctification can seem so very long at times.  I want to be there already, who after all doesn’t want to do everything right all the time!  Oh wait, that sounds a bit like impatience, discontentment, and self-reliance!  Shoot, I failed again!

It isn’t that I do not have constant reminders of the things I do right.  I do.  I often have people who tell me.  I have a husband who tells me.  I even have children who tell me.  I see the fruit of my labor in my children.  Yet, I also have constant reminders of my failings.  I have those who seek to tear me down to make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings.  I have the occasions when my children remind me they too are fallen sinners (by attitudes and actions) yet saved by grace the same as I am.  I have the Holy Spirit indwelling me as an ever constant reminder of how and how far I fall short.

The thing is…… who do I listen to?  What do I do with what I hear?

Failings sometimes seem to make us loose our focus.  Do you ever forget that it is the Lord who works and begin to think it is all about you?  Well, I will be honest here.  Sometimes I do.  I begin to think, if I just try harder I will do it right today!  A friend recently said when speaking of being a perfect parent, “When my children are asleep in their beds and I remember how I failed, I plan to be the perfect parent tomorrow, then we wake up.”

If I am focused on the Lord.  I will hear and take heart His correction.  I may even grieve that I have failed so greatly. BUT, I will remember that it is He who works all things together.  The work that the Lord does through me is still HIS work.  I will be ever mindful of His love, grace, mercy, and power to overcome.

If I allow  my focus to be moved away from Him, Satan begins to take advantage of the situation.  He tells me that it is all up to me.  That I am indeed the total failure I think myself to be.  He reminds me of how I was not compassionate, how I lost my temper, and every other thing I seemed to mess up.  Only unlike the Holy Spirit there is no offer of grace, no reminder that I am not alone, and no power to overcome!

God will let us know that we have failed.  We all fall short.  Yet he reminds us and comforts us that we are not on our own.  He is working.  He is sanctifying.  He will overcome.  In Christ we are more than conquerors.  It is the process of sanctification and we need repent, submit, seek his guidance, and move forward.

Satan, however, will turn us to focus on ourselves and try to keep us there wallowing for as long as possible.  We will conclude that we are indeed the total failures we were afraid we really were!

Failing and being a total failure are not the same.  Where is your focus when you fail?  It makes all the difference in the world.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

A Bathroom I Love

A few weeks ago I posted photos of our BEFORE shots of the main bathroom.  If you need a refresher or for comparison sake want another look, here are the BEFORE photos.   We are mostly finished.  In fact, the rest (easy part) will probably take us longer to get to just for the lack of motivation and time.  We have to put coverings over the cabinets and paint the ceiling.  So please ignore the open cabinets with all of the construction supplies in them!   Here are the AFTER shots and a good look at our new bathroom!  I did the paint job(you can’t really tell but it is a green color) but hubby did the rest.  He did an amazing job!  I am so proud of him!!

our newly remodeled bathroom

new lighting, mirrors, paint, sinks, and tile countertop

new white bathtub

white bathtub--tile all around & to the ceiling

new tile floor

new sinks with tile mosaic

Let the Nominations Begin

It is that time once again. It is time for the Homeschool Blog Awards. There are 25 categories for which you can nominate your favorite homeschooling blogs. Pop on over and take some time to get your nominations in for your favorite homeschooler blogs.

Our Daily Devotional

I have mentioned on several occasions that we begin our school days with a daily devotional.  This has changed forms over the years.  One year we went through the Proverbs cycling through one a day each day of the month.  One year we went through the Psalms.  One year we went straight through memorizing the catechism.  We would alternate year after year.  This past year I found something new and am loving it!   Rather than just memorizing the catechism (as important as that is) and just reading through the scriptures (as primary in importance as that is) we are now doing both at the same time.

Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade is an excellent resource that I would recommend to any and every family.  Catechism is one of the best methods of teaching what we believe our children. The devotions are based on the Westminster Catechism and provides a great way of studying sound Christian doctrine.  This book provides approximately two years worth of daily study.  It covers each of the 107 catechism questions.  A new question is covered each week which provides plenty of time for memorization and plenty of time for study.  There are six daily devotions per question, all with Scripture readings pertinent to the question so you can explore how God’s Word answers that question.  This tool can be used for all ages.  The devotionals only take minutes if you have very young children or you can dig deeper and expound upon them. There is great opportunity for discussion.

This is a very practical tool which will guide you through the scriptures to answer, teach, and explain the doctrines of the Christian faith to your children using the form and questions of the catechism.

Make Your Own Flu Shot

Rather than getting the flu shot, why not just make your own! This is a pretty funny clip making a good point! I will just take my chances, thank you! :O)

Back To Our Regular Scheduled Day

Our company left this morning. We had a good visit and are so glad that Oma came. Now it is back to our regular schedule. We kept up all of our paid activities but our school work; that is a different story. Is it just me, or do others find it near impossible to hold schooling lessons when you have company? I know she would not have minded in the least but our days are so full we would not have had any time to visit if we had continued. So, we have had almost a three week break.  Some of our activities are on recess for the rest of October which gives us more time to play catch up where the books are concerned.  Perfect timing once again Lord!

I am glad to be getting back on schedule.  We do our family devotions at the beginning of our school day and that unfortunately went by the way side.  I am most excited about getting back to that!  Breaking from our devotional time as a familyand having illness around here, along with bedtimes going out the window makes for some very cranky children.  Cranky children tend to make Momma a bit cranky too.  I am ready see some better attitudes all around (Momma included).

Today is set aside for cleaning which is SORELY needed!  Bedtimes WILL be on time this evening.  Alarm clocks will be obeyed.  Tomorrow the school bell will ring and class will be in session.

In summary,  Life is grand~visits are treasured~being flexible is priceless~but my schedule brings me sanity.  School is back in session!  Now, if I could only get my blog posting back on a regular schedule!  One task at a time, I suppose!