Fleas

Flea-less Mazie

A couple of years ago I was doing the obligatory flea check on our poodle.  This is the dog that barely walks outside if she can help it, so I was not even remotely concerned. (I have caught Mazie doing her business in the garage under the truck to avoid getting her feet wet on a rainy day.)  Imagine my shock, horror, and overreaction when I saw one. 

A flea. 

On my dog... in my house.

I called the vet in a panic.  Seriously, I was so over the top I am sure the vet tech was scared.  I was willing to do whatever I needed to Mazie to get rid of this flea;  I was sure it was covering for a thousand more hiding in her doggy pits.  Everything slightly short of Mazie's death was an option.  The vet tech suggested a $40 medication that would kill all fleas, but not the poodle, within one hour of a single pill being ingested. This magic internal flea bomb would also kill any unborn fleas or new riders that hopped on and bit.  Sold!

I get a type of flea sometimes.  Lie fleas.  These little bugs jump into my thoughts and heart and take bites that create a small itch at first, but become more intense as I scratch.  Here are some common examples of lie flea bites:

1.  Someone thinks you are trying to get attention, so you back out of anything that puts you in front of others.  God gifted you in areas that require you be in front of others?  Oh well!

2. Your child is struggling in reading, math, science… or everything.  Obviously, you are a lousy homeschooling teacher and should send all your kids to a brick and mortar school tomorrow morning.  God called you to teach your kids at home?  Oh well!

3. Your friend and her husband just bought a new car and are taking their whole family on a trip to Disney World for two weeks.  If your husband took on another job, then you could do stuff like that.  God hasn’t directed your husband to get a second job and His Word says you should not nag him about it?  Oh well!

In each of the above scenarios, the Truth is being ignored. 

1. If God has called you or me to teach or sing or lead a Bible study and we decide to let someone else’s opinion of us direct our ministry, or lack thereof, then we are placing man’s opinion above God’s calling in our lives.  

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

2. If our child is struggling in a certain area academically and we feel God’s call to homeschool, then we are to push through.  Each child is unique with strengths and weakness that we as their parents are to help them grow and overcome as needed.  If you feel inadequate, call out to the Lord who promises to guide and give wisdom to those who ask in faith.   

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5, 6  

I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man [or my kid’s math lesson] do to me? Psalm 118: 5, 6 

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, [or the depths of Apologia Biology] even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:9-11

3. Jealousy is a nasty thing.  It will eat away at our thoughts, affecting our words and interactions with others.  

Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy? Proverbs 27:4  

We can become dissatisfied and bitter over the short stick we think we are getting.  In turn, we might pressure our husband to possibly step outside of God’s calling and direction for our family and end up playing Junior Holy Spirit in his decisions.  

A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. Proverbs 19:13 

The truth in Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.  In all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths – to Disney World or otherwise.

Just like that $40 internal flea bomb I fed to my poodle in a hunk of hot dog, we need to give ourselves a truth bomb when the lies of the enemy bite at us.  Don’t live with the itching, nip it in the bud!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Truth.  Nothing else matters.  Amen.

Challenge:

Determine to speak truth to your self at every turn.  The minute you feel the itch to believe a lie of the enemy, combat it with Scripture that is applicable to the situation.  Jesus’ time in the wilderness is an awesome example of using truth bombs liberally.  Identify the most common areas in which the enemy lies to you.  Arm your self ahead of time with Scriptures addressing those areas.  Have the Scriptures on index cards, ready to read the truth into any circumstance.

Jen G. 2012

Using God's ORDER to Bring Order in the Home

Have you ever felt like you were going around in circles with caring for the house? Does it seem like the more you do, the more you’re digging a deeper hole for yourself? Well, that’s how I’ve been feeling for a while. I consider myself to be pretty organized especially with having five little busy bees in our home. But it seemed as if I was no longer a woman who was organized!

I shared my frustration with my husband one morning. Then later on that day, he shared Proverbs 14:1 with me and it blessed me so much. It was truly a word given from the Lord. The verse reads:

“The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.”

Whenever I looked at this verse before, I only paid attention to the latter part. But, this time, the Lord directed me to notice the first part: “the wise woman BUILDS her house.” The Lord used my husband to encourage me that I am daily building our house. But I just need to make sure I’m taking care of the most important things first, not other things that SEEM to be important and/or to need to be done.

So, I took what he said and the Lord gave me this to work with. He reminded me of His order of things. Here’s what I came up with:

God
Husband
Wife (me)
Children
Home
Community

When I first put this list together, I began to doubt putting myself before the kids. But the Lord affirmed me because He showed me that I NEED to make sure that I’m taken care of in order for me to better care for the kids. You’ll see what I mean when you see my examples.

Looking at this order helps me know the major things that I need to do daily in our home. And once those things are done, other things can fall in place. Here are some examples of major things based on my list:

God
- Worship
- Fellowship
- Studying the scriptures
- Evangelizing

Husband
- Sexual needs met
- Clothes ironed
- Lunch made
- Honey Do’s done

Wife (Myself)
- Bible study, meditating, memorizing, and applying the Word
- Exercising
- Eating healthy
- Resting and regrouping

Children
- Loving them
- Discipling them
- Meeting other basic needs

Home
- Daily house chores

Community
- Reaching out to my neighbors
- Calling, emailing, or sending encouraging letters to friends and family

Now that I’ve put this list together, it’s been really helpful. Even with this list, I still need to remember James 4:15 (paraphrased): “If the Lord wills.” So, as you’re trying to get things in order in your home, consider God’s order and then add your daily things based upon this list.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help us as women learn how to better care for our homes. Please give us the wisdom and daily strength to do this in accordance with Your Word. In Your name, Amen.

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Challenge:

Go out for cup of coffee with your husband and seek his guidance on ideas to get your priorities in order. Keep your heart set on hearing the wisdom that the Lord has given your husband for you, not taking his input as criticism. Begin to implement the ideas and take note of how the atmosphere of your home changes.

Zinnada H. 2010

Do You Shed?

I asked my husband what I should write about this week as I was feeling quite dull. He got a very thoughtful look on his face and then told me that I should write about dogs and how they shed fur. I thought the same thing you are mostly likely thinking right now. What on earth does a dog shedding have to do with a bunch of moms?

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At the beginning of each autumn our dogs, especially the goldendoodle, begin to grow extra fur for the coming winter months. This comes in quite handy in our cold and snowy northeast Ohio climate. Come spring I am not as intrigued by this God designed winter coat as it all falls on my wood floors. However aggravating the shedding might be, it is a good thing. Can you imagine wearing your winter coat all summer in the heat? The dog's shedding allows for them to sleep better, play better, move around better - it's a good thing.

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The same is true for moms who shed their busy coats. Unlike my dogs, my shedding time comes in September of each year. After a fun, full summer I need to look at my calendar and begin to slow down. I home school my five children and I simply can not keep the same activity list as I do in the warm and carefree months. If I did, my home would be in a constant state of disarray and my children would be uneducated ruffians. It is much easier and more enjoyable to teach my children when I am not trying to fulfill a myriad of obligations outside of my home. My family needs to be my priority. When I am walking purposefully in my current season of life (summer, holidays, schooling, etc.) I find that the walk is more enjoyable and successful. I encourage you to begin to shed your fur for this coming season and enjoy the time at home.

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Let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you.

Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

Proverbs 4:25,26

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Prayer:

Father, thank you for this coming school year. What an honor to be home with my children, teaching them and training them in the ways You desire. Please help me to be focused on this season and what you would have me be involved in. Amen.

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Challenge:

If you have not yet looked at scaling back for this school year do so this week. Make sure that you leave time for date nights and fun stuff, but determine to have tunnel vision in regards to your home school. It is easy to get off track simply anticipating a coming event. Ask your husband to help you make wise choices with your time.

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Jen Gorton 2009