Wanna Be a Steader!

Get Out of That Boat!

Isaiah 41:9 & 10 -- "I [God] took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.  I said, 'You are My servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

In his book "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat," John Orterg asks this question:  "Where is Jesus calling you to jump to Him with reckless abandon?"  Have you given that any thought lately?  Has God been nudging you to move a little farther out toward that water?  Is there something Christ is telling you to "experiment" with in that still, small voice of His?...A new curriculum?  A new way of structuring your homeschool day next year?  Writing you own unit study? You may even have "stumbled" onto this blog because you know the Lord is calling YOU to begin homeschooling and you need some encouragement to get started!

Where is Jesus calling you to jump to Him with reckless abandon?

Jesus calls us to walk in faith...faith in Him and how He will work in us through the call He put on our life.  What's holding you bck in your homeschool walk of faith?  Is it fear?  The reason most people don't jump is fear.  Of course, nothing as serious as a change in lifestyle, as homeschooling brings into one's home, should ever be attempted without much prayer.  But what if you have prayed and, even though you know the call is still on your heart, the fear is still there?  Then what do you do?  Well...during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Peter had to get out of that boat to walk to Jesus at some point.  Was he afraid?  Absolutely!

Fear can be either paralyzing or motivating.  Fear can make your imagination run away with you so you'll never do what you are called to do (Will I completely ruin my child's intellectual growth?  What if I make them social misfits?  What if they won't listen to me?  What will our parents think?)...or...fear can be healthy and keep us from danger or making wrong choices (Why should I send my children to a government school to be shaped by people I don't even know, in a system whose teachings are in conflict with Scripture and our family's values?).  No one loves your children more or knows them better than you.  Make no mistake, homeschooling is a calling.  One that needs Christ's guidance everyday.  So remember, Peter didn't start to sink until he took his eyes off of Jesus!  We need to learn from his mistake.

Where is Jesus calling you to jump to Him with reckless abandon?

What boat does Jesus want you to jump out of?  In the opening verse God, Himself, promises "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  Proverbs 16:3 declares, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."  Wow!  What incredible promises!  Why do I fail to take Him up on His promises?  If God has called me His servant, has told me that He has chosen me; has told me that He will strengthen me, help me and uphold me IF I commit my plans to Him...WHAT in the world am I afraid of?  What are you afraid of?  What are we waiting for...a push?  No, jumping requires action on our part.

Where is Jesus calling you to jump to Him with reckless abandon?

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><