November 27, 2024 – Finding Rest in Spirit, Soul, and Body

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Hey, Mama, He Loves You More

Hey, Mama,

It’s been a busy and stressful couple of weeks at our house, so I will focus on some encouragement: I want to remind you that if you are a believer and belong to the Lord, as much as you love your precious children, God loves you even more than that. Way more. You cannot begin to fathom His great love and the delight He holds for you. His love is perfect.

So every time you begin to doubt your worth or feel insecure, stop and look at your kids’ faces. Are they insecure about your love for them? Do they doubt their own worth in the presence of your love and care for them? Of course not. Mama, you know they are strong in body and mind because you have cared for and loved them all the days of their lives. They are secure, and they know it. Why do you think they go running to you every time they fall down, both literally and figuratively? Mama makes it better. They are strong in that knowledge.

How about you, Mama? Are you not loved far more by your great God and Savior? He loves with an unfailing love. And He directs that love straight to your heart. Don’t you dare doubt you are cared for—and greatly. Put away any thoughts that you are alone. If your kids are secure in your imperfect love, how much more secure and strong should you be in the Perfect One’s loving embrace?

His hand is on your head. He will never leave you. Just as you won’t abandon your children, He won’t leave His alone either. Lift your eyes up to the One who saves you. And accept freely that you are okay today. Did you hear, dear one? His hand is on your head today. Always.

-gena

1 John 4:19—We love him, because he first loved us.

Isaiah 41:13—For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Querida Mamá:

Han sido unas semanas ocupadas y estresantes en nuestra casa, así que me enfocaré en darte palabras de aliento: Quiero recordarte que si eres creyente y perteneces al Señor, por mucho que ames a tus preciosos hijos, Dios te ama aún más. Muchísimo más. No puedes ni empezar a comprender Su gran amor y el deleite que Él tiene en ti. Su amor es perfecto.

Así que cada vez que empieces a dudar de tu valor o te sientas insegura, detente y mira los rostros de tus hijos. ¿Acaso ellos están inseguros de tu amor? ¿Dudan de su propio valor ante la presencia de tu amor y cuidado? Por supuesto que no.Mamá, sabes que ellos son fuertes en cuerpo y mente porque los has cuidado y amado todos los días de sus vidas. Ellos están seguros y lo saben. ¿Por qué crees que corren hacia ti cada vez que se caen, tanto literal como figurativamente? Mamá lo hace mejor. Ellos son fuertes en ese conocimiento.

¿Y qué hay de ti, Mamá? ¿No eres amada aún más por tu gran Dios y Salvador? Él ama con un amor inquebrantable. Y dirige ese amor directamente a tu corazón. No te atrevas a dudar que eres cuidada – y grandemente. Desecha cualquier pensamiento de que estás sola. Si tus hijos están seguros en tu amor imperfecto, ¿cuánto más segura y fuerte deberías estar tú en el abrazo amoroso del Perfecto?

Su mano está sobre tu cabeza. Él nunca te abandonará. Así como tú no abandonarías a tus hijos, Él tampoco abandonará a los Suyos. Levanta tus ojos hacia Aquel que te salva. Y acepta libremente que estás bien hoy. ¿Escuchaste, querida? Su mano está sobre tu cabeza hoy. Siempre.

Con cariño, Gena

1 Juan 4:19 Nosotros le amamos a él, porque él nos amó primero.

Isaías 41:13 Porque yo Jehová tu Dios soy quien sostiene tu mano derecha, y te dice: No temas, yo te ayudaré.

Peace and Rest

By Cheri Blomquist

Long ago, in the twilight years of the jam-packed neighborhood bookstore, I was a children’s bookseller for Barnes & Noble. My literary knowledge was extensive, and my little domain overflowed with the riches of an exploding market. One of my clearest memories is of handselling a novel with gushing accolades. I hadn’t yet read Philip Pullman’s fantasy bestseller, The Golden Compass, but its critical acclaim was only surpassed by a new wand-wielding wizard.

Soon I decided to read his whole trilogy, something I often did to keep up my market awareness, except that now it was with rising horror. Suddenly that ordinary moment arose in my memory as I realized my terrible mistake.  I’d recommended–multiple times–the most godless tale ever written for children.  (The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials, Book 1 Book Review | Common Sense Media) 

Until then, I hadn’t noticed how steadily the industry was shifting its standards, but now I snapped to attention. As time passed, I watched both adult and juvenile publishers cross every traditional line of decency. Blasphemy, anti-Christian characters, LGBTQ content, and more became so normal that I often didn’t see it coming.

Then the day came last summer when I heard one expletive too many in an audiobook. My soul was weary. I’d had enough of trying to navigate literary landmines. Suddenly, softly, Jesus nudged me.  “Find rest,” he said. “Surrender your love of books to Me.”

Literature is both my passion and profession, but I am taking gradual steps of surrender to Jesus. That day, I deleted the audiobook and switched to a more God-honoring book. Another day, I decided to limit myself to fiction published before 2020. Soon, I’ll take another step toward better literary choices.

How hard it is to change! Still, though surrendering my entertainment to Jesus is difficult, the peace that comes with each step is sweeter than I expected—and hopefully will be so not only for myself, but for my children and grandchildren as I guide them toward wise and beautiful literature, too. https://onceuponapen.studio/

Kerry Tittle

With Rest Comes Peace 

In twenty-six years of homeschooling, a peaceful home was a hard, sought-after goal. If I am being honest, the drive to achieve this goal was not because peace honored the Lord, but because the tranquility made life easier for me. Even though I was tired, this was a selfish ambition that served only me. 

After many years of trial and error, I have found that peace can not come until there is rest. We must prioritize time to rest in the Lord. We were not created to spread ourselves thin, nor were we intended to be everything for everyone. We were made to worship Him and enjoy him forever. If this is missing then rest is missing and then peace is missing. Jesus is well aware of our humanness. Mothers are tired. But he tells us exactly where to find rest.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

A yoke is a piece of equipment that links two work animals together so that they can share the workload. Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. That means He will do all the heavy lifting—all you have to do is trust in Him and rest in Him. He invites us to release all the pressures of the world that burden us and trust Him with every bit of it. Once we surrender it all . . . I mean all, then we will be able to enter into rest with Him. Do not be surprised if it is followed by peace.

About the author

Kerry Tittle is a mother of nine children and a 20-year homeschool veteran. She was the owner of ReformationKidz with her husband Rob until a tornado destroyed their home and business in 2014, taking the lives of Rob and two of their daughters, Tori and Rebekah. Kerry is the founder of Refined Family, which is created to encourage others to find hope in the gospel in the midst of trials.

Learn about God and First Responders’ work through real calls! 12 units, including practical and spiritual questions, a family of God section and field trips. https://rookierescuer.com

Alexandria Letkeman

Rest: Spirit, Soul, and Body 

My family is constantly on the go, as most of us are, teaching, planning, and putting dinner on the table every night. It’s easy to wear ourselves out, so it’s important to find rest when we can. Rested parents can show up better for our kids, our spouses, and ourselves. Here are some simple ways to recharge each part of who you are.

Rest for the Spirit

Our spirit is our inmost being, where we commune with God our Father. Through the worries of daily life, our spirit can get tired. Exodus 33:14 says, “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” He is graciously calling out to us to turn to Him for rest, and promising that He will be with us. We can also be renewed by remembering our salvation through Christ Jesus! Psalm 51:12 reminds us to pray: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Friend, He is faithful to sustain you. Reach for Him today.

Rest for the Soul

Your soul holds your thoughts, emotions, and creativity. Resting it means feeding yourself with things that inspire you. It might be as simple as reading a good book, journaling your thoughts, or even doodling alongside your kids during a lesson. Let go of perfection. No one expects you to have it all together every day. Instead, focus on celebrating the little wins, whether it’s a breakthrough in math or just surviving a tough day with a smile.

Rest for the Body

We all know how easy it is to put our physical needs last, but your body needs care too! Try to get enough sleep (easier said than done, I know!), and sneak in some movement, maybe a walk with your kids or even a quick stretch between lessons. Don’t forget to nourish your body with good food and give yourself grace if you need a break. It’s okay to order takeout or ask for help when you need it.

When we care for our spirit, soul, and body, we’re able to pour more love and energy into our homeschool. You’ve got this—remember to take time for you too.

About the author

Alexandria Letkeman began homeschooling with her family in middle school and has recently graduated with honors in 2020. Together with her husband, she has developed a passion for financial literacy, classical writing, and the freedom that homeschooling provides. In pursuit of those passions, she and her husband aim to continue the legacy of The HomeScholar and continue helping homeschool parents homeschool with confidence. One day, Alex plans to start a homesteading farm in Texas featuring mini cows.

Learn to love the ancient language of Latin with JAMwithLatin.com an online classroom with a modern approach to learning an classical language.

Pillar of Future

Adam and Dianne Riveiro

Times for Quiet

I consider myself blessed for a thousand different reasons. One of those blessings? Having an office at the church where I can shut the door and enjoy peace and quiet (most of the time). There’s something so refreshing about taking a few moments to block out life’s noise—whether it’s to sip a cup of coffee, read a book, or drop to my knees in prayer without being interrupted.

What’s that sound, you ask? It’s several thousand homeschool mothers rolling their eyes at the same time!

I get it! A homeschool mom doesn’t have the luxury of what I just described. You’re thankful if you can drink your coffee without microwaving it three times, let alone find a few moments to rest your soul, spirit, and body. But here are a few suggestions that might help:

• Teach your children that Mom needs quiet time with God. Make it a part of your daily routine and let your kids know that during this time, you’re only available for life-threatening emergencies. Not only are you taking time to feed your own soul, but you’re also teaching your children the importance of a relationship with God.
• Train your children that Mom needs quiet time . . . sometime. Let me say this loud enough so everyone can hear: You’re not a bad mom for telling your kids you need some time for yourself! Communicate with your kids when you need a break during the day, and (here’s the key) don’t feel guilty about it.
• Talk with your husband. There are days when taking a break just isn’t an option for any number of reasons. On those days, convey your needs to your husband. And homeschool dads—listen to your wife! She’s not whiny or difficult for expressing her needs. Try keeping a homeschooling mom’s schedule yourself!

Burnout is real, and it doesn’t make you weak to admit that. Finding rest is a team effort, so work together to make sure everyone’s needs are met.

-Adam

About the author

Pastor Adam and Dianne Riveiro live in Easton, Massachusetts, where Adam leads Liberty Baptist Church. They’re the authors of several books, including Hope from Our Heart to Yours: A 30-Day Devotional Journey for Special Needs Families, available from their family’s publishing label at www.readyscribepublications.com. They have four children: Bethany, Kaylee, AJ, and Peyton. They’re passionate about helping their fellow special needs families find joy and contentment in Christ.

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Joy in the Morning is a Christian motherhood daily series designed to help women intentionally choose joy by focusing on Biblical promises, encouragement, and de-stressing tips. Each day offers something unique: a devotional to start the week, a relatable life story from Michelle Pohl, a practical de-stressing tip, and encouragement to finish the week strong. Through her storytelling, Michelle inspires readers to find joy in the midst of chaos, mistakes, and life’s challenges. Find this and more parenting help from SchoolhouseTeachers.com.