What a weekend! I'm trying to recover from an overload of walking, talking, and lack of sleep. This remains one of the best events of the summer, and it was well worth the time of encouragement, teaching, and plethora of social interaction. Between workshops, traversing the vast vendor hall, visiting with friends, and helping customers at our friends' booth, the time is gone before you know it, leaving behind great memories and anticipation for next year. 

Here's a few special highlights….

^The one and only wonderful Camden Spiller, co-founder of Homeschool Alumni. He decided at the last minute to make the 6 hour drive to Columbus and we are certainly glad that he did! He's an enthusiastic, smile-packed ambassador for connecting homeschool graduates across the country, and proof that there's always more friends to be made. Our weekend wouldn't have been the same without him! He's the best. :-)

^ I had the privilege of meeting Gregg & Sono Harris, both excellent speakers and the parents of Alex & Brett at The Rebelution. Mrs. Harris possesses such a gracious and sweet spirit, and her enthusiasm and joy for serving the Lord is contagious. I thoroughly enjoyed her workshop on "Restoring the Art of Biblical Womanhood".

^Last, but certainly not least, I was able procure a picture with Ken Ham! I have practically grown up listening to him speak, whether in person or via tape, video, or print, and his message is still relevant and a great reminder even to this day. He's someone I look forward to exposing my own children to, Lord willing. I'm really excited about all the creation curriculum AIG is putting out these days…almost makes me wish I was little enough to go back to school again! :-)

There are a million other things I could tell you, but there isn't time or space. Suffice it to say that it was an excellent time well spent and entirely enjoyed. I love homeschoolers. ;-)

"Anything that matters can only be rightly understood in the light of God's word." - Gregg Harris

This being Father's Day, I was planning to tell you all the wonderful things about my daddy. How he is an example of true greatness and godly manhood, how he has loved, guided, and protected me. I was going to tell you what crazy humor he has, what fun times we have together doing ordinary things, and how much I love just being with him. I was going to tell you that even though I'm nineteen, I still hold his hand and sit on his lap, and feel special when he winks at me.

I'm not a person to have heros, but if there was anyone I would ever call "my hero", it would be my daddy. Steadfast and strong, faithful and true. He is always there for me, and he will always have the trust of my heart.

That's what I was going to tell you.

But then I found this country song. And when I read the lyrics, I knew this was all I really needed to say after all…

Blog renovation in progress…thanks for your patience.

"If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you." Proverbs 1:23

Sometimes God's messages come in unexpected ways, through unexpected channels. We can miss it all too easily if we aren't looking carefully. I have been challenged lately to not only accept correction and criticism with thankfulness, as is so often commanded in the Bible, but to accept it despite the manner it which it is given or who it comes from…family, friend, or stranger.

I've had my share of people saying things to me in an unkind manner. In each situation, I can choose to dwell on my feelings being hurt, or I can honestly assess what they said to see if there was truth in their words. More often then not, it's my attitude that needs help, not theirs. And even if they are wrong or hurtful in their words, that doesn't mean God can't use it for good. As C.J. Mahaney writes,

"Humility doesn't demand mathematical precision from another's input; humility postures itself to receive God's grace from any avenue possible." 

Awhile ago I had a conversation with someone that gave me a chance to put this into practice. I came away feeling like this person wasn't willing or interested in understanding why I am living the way I am. I felt that they had spoken without consideration for my feelings, and that all they were only interested in their own opinions of how people should live their lives. Even though I know they meant no harm, I still felt hurt by their self-assured manner.

I thought I had the right to ignore what they had said, because after all, they didn't know me or know my background. But deep down I also wanted to dismiss what they said because it had brought some conviction to my heart. It took me awhile until I was willing to honestly look at why I felt hurt. But as I did, I began to realize that there was truth to be gained from this particular conversation.

Maybe this person didn't understand, but they had a point about something. Something I knew God wanted me to being changing in my life, but I hadn't been, so He brought a reminder and rebuke by way of this person. Talk about a humbling experience! My attitude didn't change right away, and sometimes I still have to work on it when I look back. Yet instead of continuing to be upset, I am now able to thank God for bringing this person across my path.

We have a choice in how we respond to what people say to us, pleasant and unpleasant alike. Accepting criticism and rebuke isn't easy; I'll be the first to say that it's plan HARD! It humbles our pride. But there are blessings to be reaped, lessons to be learned, and wisdom to be gained if we are willing to listen for God's voice as we sift through the chaff to find the kernals.

"He who ignores discipline comes to proverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored." -Proverbs 13:18

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." -Psalm 42:1

You know, the very time we want God the least is when we need Him the most.

Think about it. When we want to do things our own way, that is when we need Him to show us our way will ultimately end in heartache. When we don't want Him to tell us what to do, that is when we need Him all the more to help us obey and trust His will. When we don't want to die to ourselves, that is when we need His strength to say "no" and do the right thing, even if it hurts.

This is something I'm still very much learning…the times I push God away are the times I so desperately need Him, even if I'm unwilling to admit it. Something in our sinful human nature makes us want to be independent, to make our own decisions, and to do whatever we want however we want.

"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart." -Proverbs 21:2 

By the grace of God, when we are born again, our desires are changed, but it's a life-long process to continually follow Him. To continually choose His ways. To realize how empty and pitiful and lost we are without Him. To realize He is our all and all. To realize that more than anything in this world…He is the only One we will ever really need.

(Repost from Oct. 6, 2005)