Eternal Perspective

 Eternal Perspective.  

This phrase is the best definition of my point of view in most of my conversations. And often, my opinions and views differ from others, but it isn't ignorance or denial as many people assume.  (There are times where my point of view is fallible...I'm human.)

My opinions often differ because I tend to view arguments and situations from an eternal perspective, from the ideals and desires of God that I have learned and absorbed through my time being in the Word and studying it.

There is no issue or cause that I do not take an eternal perspective to interpret.  You've seen me do it here before.  I will learn of something new and take time to mull it over and determine what stance I will take.  I can often see both sides of the issues presented, but there are more than just the two sides.  There is a bigger picture, an eternal and spiritual influence within every issue and decision we face.

While we as Christians are to fervently love one another, Jesus loved without authorizing sinners to continue sinning and He loved in spite of sin, knowing what a sinner could not understand without first coming to Him.

Having an eternal perspective means seeing sin for what it is, loving the sinner and sharing the Lord with them.  So, when someone brings up social justice, or some other controversial issue and argues a specific point, I don't see it as black and white.  I see the spiritual warfare happening to influence both sides.  And then I bring it to the Lord in prayer.

The Parable of the Minas

This past Sunday was Palm Sunday.  Most all of us know that story.  Our pastor taught on what happened just before Jesus' triumphal entry.  I hadn't heard a teaching on this passage before and I hadn't realized it was just before Jesus' triumphal entry.  Knowing that made a lot of points click for me.

Luke 19:11-27 is the parable of the minas.  It is similar to the parable of the talents, but different with a different meaning.  

Verse  12 says "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return." (NKJV)  The nobleman is Jesus.

Verse 13 he gives his servants ten minas and said to them "do business till I come" other translations say "occupy till I come".

Verses 15-20 is the servants telling the nobleman what they have done with the mina they were responsible for.  Each servant received the same exact thing: one mina.  There is ONE GOSPEL.  

Each time the servant shares what they did with the mina, the nobleman rewards them based on their responsibility.  Being faithful with little means they were entrusted with more responsibility.

Lesson:  Live the gospel & proclaim the gospel. Be good stewards of the gifts and abilities that God has given us.  Be a good steward of your finances, your time, and the resources God has given you.

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."  (reading this whole passage is good too if you want to delve further into it).

Minister to others with the gifts and abilities that God has given you.  

Homeschooling & Romans 5:2-5

Motherhood was always my easy-to-identify ambition.  Homeschooling in motherhood was never even part of my girlish imaginings!  This year I will graduate my firstborn.  God has enabled me to customize her education since she was a 5th grader.  It has been a blessing and an honor to be involved in her upbringing so intricately.  

Romans 5:2-5 "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." (NLT)

Paul is speaking of Salvation in this verse.  I feel it also fits our homeschooling journey as well.  We began homeschooling because of our faith/convictions -and purely out of faith that God would lead us because we didn't know what we were doing! 

Being a parent that homeschools adds an immense weight of responsibility and dedication to your plate.

As parents we are called to teach our children, and to some families, that includes outside help from the public/private school system.  Nothing wrong with that.  God's plan for each child and each family is specifically tailored to that child and family.

For our family, God very clearly brought us to homeschooling when our girls were still in elementary school.  It wasn't something we had planned on or even considered prior to God presenting it to us as our only viable option.

Homeschooling is an undeserved privilege in my mind.  It has afforded me the honor of being present in my children's lives with an inside look at what they deal with.  I know their strengths and weaknesses, I see their growth and maturity in their struggles, and it constantly brings me to my knees in prayer -begging the Lord for wisdom and discernment to know how best to handle each situation as it arises.  God has been faithful throughout the years, and He continues to be.

Rejoicing in problems and trials is never the easy, or even the first, reaction.  But as I watch my children face their challenges, I rejoice in them because I know how their endurance, character, and hope in Christ may be strengthened.  I am blessed to walk alongside them, to pray with them, and to see the Lord move.