Playing Catch Up

 Life, as usual, has been busy around here lately.  I am always amazed at how other moms can be involved in so many outside activities and maintain their sanity.  I learned a few years ago that I needed to say "NO" more often so that I could keep things going on the home front.  We are busy enough as a family with music lessons, work and travel schedules to add any other activities to our load at this time.

I just wrote that and  I now see how ridiculous that looks as these last few weeks have been filled with activities that I was involved in.  A couple of weeks ago we had our annual father/daughter banquet that I helped coordinate.  We were blessed to have Geoffrey, Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin join us and share with our fathers and daughters.   The next day I began baking over 400 rolls for a friend's daughter's wedding which is this Friday evening.  This family is extremely involved in fighting a culture war in our state and I felt so blessed to be able to help them in this small way.  I have also been coordinating a How Great Thou Art Seminar with Barry Stebbing which will be held this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.   The Stebbings will also be here through next week filming a nature study series for The Homeschool Channel.

In the midst of all of this we have had our normal piano and violin lessons, Devin's teaching schedule and Jordan's work schedule.  We also had a short visit by Lauren and the boys on Saturday.  The boys are growing so quickly and now, Lauren is expecting baby number three!  Devin went home with them and helped Lauren clean her house and get ready for Elisha's first birthday party.  Jeff's parents were able to attend along with our son-in-law's family.  With just family there were about 27 people there!

Please remember Jeff's step-father, Earl, in your prayers.  He has recently found out that he may have lung cancer and will be finding out from the surgeon today when surgery will be scheduled.  He and Jeff's mom, Erma,  have both been fighting pneumonia these last few weeks and, of course, he is very anxious about the cancer prognosis.  Please keep both of them in your prayers.

After the Congressional vote in Washington on Sunday I found it a little ironic that we were beginning a study of the Revolutionary War on Monday.  We are continuing to study the character trait of responsibility and will soon begin a study on courage.  Can I just say that it would so amazing if all of our elected officials would take some time off and do a little study on these topics as well?  I am so very grateful that I can point my young men to the examples of responsible and courageous men from our country's past history.  I can only pray that they will be men who will stand in the gap, speak truth, and follow God in all they do.  No, I can do more than that!!  I can teach them God's Word and point them to Godly examples who have done great things in the past!

It is so very easy for Christians to become discouraged and dismayed in today's world.  We have had many discussions around our  dinner table about what this legislation means and how we can respond.  Jeff has shared this portion of scripture with us and it is so very appropriate.  The LORD tells us here specifically what we are to do!   This is a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah in Jerusalem to the Jews who were  captive in Babylon.

                   Jeremiah 29:  4-14  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried                away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:  Build houses and dwell in them;  plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters--that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it;  for in its peace you will have peace.  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:  Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.  For they prophesy falsely to you in My name;  I have not sent them, says the LORD.

                   For thus says the LORD:  After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me will all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity;  I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

Notice that God caused them to be taken captive.  He also tells them to build homes, plant gardens, marry, have children SO THAT YOU MAY INCREASE AND NOT DECREASE!  Seek the peace of the city, town, county, state and country that you live in.  Pray to the LORD for it.  If there is peace in the city, town, county, state and country then you will have peace.  Search for the LORD will all your heart.  He will be found!