November 23, 2022 – A Moment of Gratitude

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Embrace the Day with Gratitude

Hey Mama,

We get caught up in the mundane and the chaos of life, or at least I do. Days run together. And it can seem like an eternity before evening comes when you can just lay these kiddos down (already!) and have a little free time before gearing up to start over again in the morning.

Maybe that’s why God says, “Mercies are new . . . every morning.” (Lamentations 3:23) Fresh start. New graces. He is right there as we wake up, hand still on our head from the night before. As we start our day, there He is, patiently watching. Kind of like how we stare at our sleeping infants—we could gaze forever at their precious faces, their chubby hands and cute fat feet. How much more, Mama, do you think your Heavenly Father gazes lovingly at your face? You are His daughter. Daughter of the King is your title, and you deserve to wear it because of Christ and His work. Only because of Him.

Remember from this eternal perspective that you are loved, just like those babies you have poured your life into. You are cherished, just like your children that you hold so close to you. How much more can the Perfect Parent deliver love itself? He is the Author of it.

Walk in confidence and grace, knowing that He is still on the throne, looking down on the royalty who will inherit the land. Loving you and waiting patiently for the day to come when our forever-life begins. Face to face, we can see and know Love like never before. To behold the face of God is hard to comprehend—are you worthy? Christ says you are if you are in Him. Again, ONLY because of Him. 

What overflowing gratitude we ought to have—that the King of kings says we are worthy of His unending love. Take time to remember this, to meditate on it, and to be truly grateful for Him.

If you still need some help embracing an attitude of gratitude, these articles at The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine might help.

Gifts of Gratitude by Kendra Fletcher
Growing Grateful Hearts by Sheila Campbell
Pie in the Sky: With God, All Things Are Possible by Karla Akins

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of homeschooling, look at your children, and know that God cares for them (and you) beyond measure. Rest in that assurance and lead your children to the One who has delivered you. Train them up because when they are old, they will not depart from it. Persevere under the pressure, the scandal, the unjustness of this world. For it’s just a test.

May we be found faithful in the end. Or is it in the beginning? The start of our forever-life. When the crowns are on display, ready for His children. When no more tears flow. When joy is all around us. When Life itself begins. When we are so overwhelmed with gratitude that we can’t help but fall to our knees and praise our Heavenly Father in worship. This day is coming, Mama. May we be found ever-faithful.

~gena

Help your kids participate in missions by choosing gifts from the ANM Gift Catalog. Every gift sends help and hope in Jesus’ name. advancingnativemissions.com/catalog

Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

I Am Thankful!

Let me just say how thankful I am to God for allowing my wife and me the freedom to homeschool our children. 

He has placed us in a country and a state in which homeschooling is accepted and allowed. I don’t have to worry (too much) about going to jail or having someone show up at my door. I AM THANKFUL.

I am so thankful to those who have paved the way, been thrown in jail, had people show up at their doors . . . and have persevered, so that we might have the right to educate our children at home. They suffered hardship so that we could enjoy the freedom. I AM THANKFUL, and I pray that I never take it for granted.

I am thankful for state homeschool organizations that keep a vigilant eye out for freedom-stopping words that can be inserted into bills and laws. I am thankful for homeschool advocates who do all the nitty-gritty dirty work while we obliviously homeschool our children. I am thankful and grateful to those of you who are reading this. Thank you for going before us or watching over us.

If you’d like to see how you might be part of your state’s organization, visit https://homeschoolfreedom.com, or check out the Smiling Homeschooler podcast as we talk to Tara Bentley from the Indiana Association of Home Educators.

Be Real,
Todd

About the author

Todd Wilson is a husband, dad, grandpa, writer, homeschool conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker all across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family. As founder of The Familyman and The Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind moms and dads of what’s most important through weekly emails, podcasts, seminars, and books that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool four of their eight children (the other four are homeschool graduates) in northern Indiana and travel America in the Familyman Mobile. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Adam and Dianne Riveiro

Pillar of Future
Adam Riveiro – Be Thankful Always

For fourteen days and nights, the Apostle Paul’s ship bobbed up and down in the Mediterranean Sea like a cork, completely at the mercy of the storm that surrounded it. For me, there’s not enough Dramamine in the world that could have possibly kept me sane!

Despite the harrowing circumstances, Paul gathered all 276 people aboard the ship and brought them a message of hope from the Lord. Then, he “. . . gave thanks to God in the presence of them all.” (Acts 27:35-KJV). In the midst of what felt like a hopeless situation, Paul made time to publicly give thanks to the Heavenly Father for His provision through the storm.

A grateful heart today makes for a joyful heart tomorrow. If you’ve found yourself discouraged or defeated lately, let me offer a quick roadmap to help adjust your attitude.

• Meditate on the good gifts given to you by the Father (James 1:17)
• Make time today to intentionally thank God through prayer for His blessings in your life.
• Model a spirit of thankfulness by contacting two people who have blessed your life over the years, and express your gratitude for their investment in your life.

-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.

What makes people different from one another? Are character and personality the same thing? The Learning about Character Traits course at SchoolhouseTeachers.com covers forty different traits, their positive and negative aspects, and how that trait is exhibited by various people or characters. Start today with a lesson on Gratitude and then dive into the readings, discussions, and written assignments of the other traits as children learn which ones are helpful and which traits have negative impacts.