Holistic God

So I've been thinking again. While making coffee and tea at the same time I often solve the worlds problems, and then sit down to enjoy my coffee and wonder who left the tea pot on...

Anyway, I've written about my experience at Onething this past January and the other day I remembered one more thing that clicked for me while I was there, although it didn't really occur to me until just the other day. Again proof that the Lord's Spirit will minister to us with out us being fully aware.

This is the thought that came to me. Our God is holistic in His dealings with us. Growing up in mostly conservative circles I heard the "Don't trust your emotions they will lead you astray!" message more then once. It was fully ingrained in my thinking. I lived in a constant battle trying to push away my emotions every time a felt I needed to hear from God or was seeking an answer from Him on an issue. My family is pretty good about being real with each other and having a good cry when we need to or saying that we are mad or frustrated. My parents have always know the value of venting to a safe person and letting their kids know they have the freedom to do that when they need to. When it came to my relationship with God some how I felt I needed to "be sure my emotions didn't get in the way". This came directly form many of the teachers I sat under. Looking back I can see it clearly. The unsaid thought behind this is... "We have seen the works of the Spirit abused, we've seen people all hyped up, we've seen pressure and guilt make people act weird and no good fruit comes of it. That can't be of God." "All these people who are charismatic are a bunch of loonies hyped on emotion. I don't under stand all this "Works of the Spirit" stuff as they say. I don't think God does that any more. I don't feel anything." Well I would agree that it has been abused. The next step in that line of thinking is however "my mind and rational is more trust worthy then my emotions or feelings" THAT IS THE EROR. We are fallen people our minds are just as messed up as our emotions. If we try to down play our emotions as if they are not as important, never addressing them in our walk with the Lord or thinking that He doesn't value them equally as our minds we are gravely mistaken. We are then left to assume that we must continue to feed out minds on the word but starve our emotions cause they don't really count and only get in the way. That's FALSE. Plain and simple that's a lie. Our God made every part of us. Our mind effects our body and our body effects our emotions and so on... He made us COMPLETE human beings. All three parts working together weather we see it or not. When He teaches us, heals us, refines us... He wants to do it to the whole of us. We don't have to hide or suppress any part of us with Him. He is God enough over the falleness of our minds, bodies and hearts. None of our junk is to much for Him, emotional, mental, spiritual or physical. Did we forget... He was the one who made us? He can handle us. Our King however will not abuse the human heart. We have to surrender our emotions, minds and bodies to Him before He will take the liberty to touch and change. He is the perfect Gentleman.
(and gosh do I love Him for it!)

Homeschool Dropouts

Originally posted to my Homeschool Alumni blog.



http://westernconservatory.com/products/homeschool-dropouts
I just ran across this trailer in the round table. I have a few things to say about it.


A large reason these people are seeing so many homeschool "dropout" is because the very same people that are saying we need to "take back the culture" (namely Vision forum and the like in the Trailer) Are also the same ones teaching the extreme version of isolationism, sheltering, and parental control. DUH! THE KIDS GREW UP AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO ENGAGE THE CULTURE!!!(sorry that was an out burst of anger) These kids know deep down inside that they are lacking in social skills, that they lack vision (because God forbid they have a different vision then their parents) and are unequipped to "engage the culture".

I want to make a point, that years ago the movement "leaders" (some of the same ones in the movie) kept saying that kids in the church were falling away from the faith because the parents were giving their children over to the state to raise. The example Of Eli in 1 Samuel was used all the time. "Eli was a great guy but stank at being a parent. Look at what happened to him!" "The responsibility rests with the parents!!" was the message shouted from the "leaders". Now according to the trailer these same people are blaming it on the kids, the "Dropouts". "They don't appreciate what their parents did for them!" "They don't have a homeschool vision!" and so on. You know what I think? If these "kids" (most are grown now) saw their parents repent of their over sheltering, controlling, superior, holier then thou attitudes many of these kids would come back. If they knew that THEY were more important to their parents than how they "made the family look" trust would begin to be rebuilt. If these parents would repent of their legalism and performance mentality and rightfully valued their relationships with their kids we wouldn't be having so many problem. The problem is not with the "dropouts" the problem is with the parents for blindly following the teachings of inexperienced "leaders", for not checking themselves against scripture for idolizing the family and fearing man rather then God. This is not a "homeschool" issue this is a spiritual issue.

Michael Pearl wrote on this in his "Jumping Ship" articles. I like his take better. Even though I don't agree with every thing he teaches I think he is right on on this one.

Let me at 'em!!

So I'm young right? 22 almost 23. I'm still learning allot about my self. I feel God keeps opening my understanding to how he weaved me together. I'm becoming more aware of my weakness and more confident in my strengths.
Lately I have been seeing the "fighter" in me come out more. I don't know if it has come out enough for others to see but I think it will soon. I have always been one who defaults to the extreme, I just do. That is not always a good thing and the Lord has been teaching me where that is unhealthy. Balance in many areas is necessary, I have been learning what those areas are, and still have much to learn I'm sure.

After the last few births I've attended I feel the Lord reaffirming me in my calling. "Yes Shannon this is what I made you to do. It's ok to walk in it." After years of waiting and watching doors close and God say "not yet" I very cautiously dipped my big toe in to midwifery looking to God expecting Him to say "not yet kid" and have to pull back yet again. This time though He said "yes" so I took one step still expecting Him to say "ok that's enough for now I'm closing the door again" but He didn't, He told me to take another step, and another, and another. I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to obey doing something I love!!! Waiting can be hard but it is so worth it!

Last night I (actually God) started connecting dots. I felt God saying "you know that, all or nothing, go big or go home, reach for the stars, fight and conquer, thing I put in you? This (birth) is what I made that part of you for. That part of you that burns with passion for life. The part of you that has the audacity to look death in the face and say "Back off! This one's MINE!" I made that for such a time as this."

It is true that our strength can also be our weakness. My default to the extreme is truly my greatest weakness at times, but that is what refinement is for. When God tells us He wants to make us more in to the image of His Son He doesn't have to start over. He made us with allot of raw material that He is just waiting for us to surrender and get out of the way so He can clean off and polish to a shine (that reflects our totally awesome King of course!!).

It is true that my King has said no to me many times and closed many doors but my heart rests in the knowledge that He is good, and always will be!