(These are notes from the homeschool conference. The speaker was Susan Bradrick.)
Handling the Pressures of Your Homeschool Day
Homeschool is hard, but life is Hard!
No matter what your job is, each day is a juggling act. This is part if living in this world, not just a part of homeschooling.
How can we have a peaceful homeschool?
2 Peter 1:2-3: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 timothy 3:17: So that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Ephesians 5:15-17: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Emergency Procedures
Practice Preferring Pinciple Priorities
i
No is absolutely necessary!
Head for the Heart
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Trust the Lord
Priorities
List ALL possible activities…put in order of importance.
Put first things first. Identify by listing ALL possible activities : obvious-eat, sleep, work, church
not so obvious: perosnal hygiene, correspondence, etc.
Arrange in order of importance and highlight the ones that dominated your schedule…not how you want it to be.
Principle
Who’s to choose what the principle priorities are?
Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 10:42 But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.
What should dominate:
Study God’s Word
time in Prayer
Quiet Time with Spouse
Quiet Time with Children
Lords’ Day Meeting
2nd Priority
Eat
Sleep
Personal Hygiene
3rd
All else
Priority Levels
- Must Do’s- Essential for spiritual and physical health
- Should Do’s-Very Important
- Would Like to Do’s-Nice additions to life
- Could Do’s-options if and when there is time.
Assign each activity one of these levels. Divide each day into half hour increments.
Make the most of our time.
Preferring
Following what the heart wants.
Our choices prove what we really prefer.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Practice
Training your heart to prefer what God wants over what our flesh wants.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
- Training via repetition
- Study God’s Word
- Prayer for grace to obey
- Purposeful obedience
- confession, repentence
- REPEAT
Practice takes time. Make a family schedule that reflects God’s preference.
NO is absoutely necessary!
Be firm in your commitment to God’s preference over your life.
Be polite and respectful when saying ‘no’.
Be prepared for many objections and even hurt feelings.
Be prepared to have a hard time saying ‘no’.
Make family policies regarding: sleepovers, playdates, babysitters, etc. Have statements ready when opportunities come.
Head for the Heart! It’s essential!
- your relationship with God
- your relationship with your husband and children
- your children’s relationship with God
The Bradrick Family Verse:
Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
All sin= Selfishness -> Recognize -> take Responsibility -> Repent
It’s too easy to talk to your children’s heads; talk to their hearts.
It’s too easy to concentrate on what they are learning and miss what they are thinking…or should be thinking.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
24 Hour Disciple Chart
- Bible Study and Spiritual Growth
- Biblical Honor and Obedience
- Attentiveness and Listening Skills
- Essential Domestic Skills
- Essential Academic Skills
- Time Management and Organization
- Trianing in the Arts and Art Appreciation
- Practical Skills
- Financial Skills
- Health and Hygiene
- Marriage Prep
Love is the focus; building Godly relationships with in the home.
Prepare the child’s head for God’s work in their hearts.
Trust the Lord
AS YOU PLAN…
AS YOU BEGIN … …THE DAY
AS YOU LIVE OUT…
AS YOU END…
Plan
Believe that His word is true and best.
Believe that He loves your kids more than you do.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Don’t start relying on your own strength. Pray privately as a family.
Have quiet time in bed, first thing in the morning.
Commit each activity to God.
At the end of the day:
- ask for forgiveness for mistakes
- ask to obey more faithfully tomorrow
- forgive others for tehir mistakes
Psalm 37:5-6 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.