A new school year

I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

³ what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

⁴ We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

⁵ He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,

⁶ so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.

⁷ Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds

but would keep his commands. (Ps. 78 NIV)

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (I Cor. 11:1 NIV)

Last week we "officially" began to educate our children at home. Truthfully, we started teaching them about God's love, caring for other people, using "nice words," letters, numbers, and a whole host of other things long before last week. But, as the public and private students prepared to return to school this coming week, we began our journey with homeschooling. Our first week went really, really well and I'm anticipating another fun week, spending time with my kids exploring God's word and God's world.

Tonight I read three post from friends on Facebook who were bemoaning their sons' first days of kindergarten tomorrow - watching them get on the bus - feeling sorry they are going. I also read posts from teachers preparing to start a new year. And I read in the news about all the many struggles around public education today. There are no "perfect solutions" for our nation and the next generations. But, my mother's heart knows that we have made the right decision - I'd go so far to say we've answered God's call - to teach our children at home. The reasons are many, the road will not be easy, but we trust God for wisdom, strength, and provision.

I bring these things up today because I believe we need to pray for the education of our children. So....

God, we pray...

...that our children would know your salvation

...that they would have godly friendships and relationships

...that students would be physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe in their school environments

...that parents would seek to be spiritual leaders in their homes and teach their children the ways of the Lord

...that we would not allow busy-ness, indifference, laziness, poverty, or any "ism" to keep children from becoming the fullness of who God has created them to be

......that even as secular humanists try to insert godlessness into our public schools, a generation would rise up and proclaim Christ in the midst of the darkness

...that their teachers would be men and women after Your own heart who are following Your example so their students can follow them

...that our children would know the wondrous deeds of the Lord so they can proclaim them to the next generation, the next, and the next ...for the Glory of Christ we pray....Amen