Jackie Wellwood - One Hundred and One Devotions for Homeschool Moms

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DEVOTIONS

FOR HOMESCHOOL MOMS

CROSSWAY BOOKS BY JACKIE WELLWOOD

The Busy Moms Guide to Simple Living

One Hundred and One Devotions for Homeschool Moms

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE

Devotions for
Homeschool Moms

Jackie Wellwood

One Hundred and One Devotions for Homeschool Moms

Copyright 2000 by Jackie Wellwood

Published by Crossway Books
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Cindy Kiple

Cover illustration: Pierre Auguste Renoir/Super Stock

First printing, 2000

Printed in the United States of America

The Scripture passages are taken from the King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wellwood, Jackie, 1959
One Hundred and One devotions for homeschool moms / Jackie Wellwood.
p. cm.
ISBN 13: 978-1-58134-139-3 (trade pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN 10: 1-58134-139-3
1. Mothers Prayer-books and devotionsEnglish. 2. Home schooling
Prayer-books and devotionsEnglish. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred and
one devotions for homeschool moms. III. Title: One hundred and one
devotions for homeschool moms.
BV4847.W45 2000
242.6431dc21

99-42493

VP 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Just saying thank you hardly seems enough for my loving family who made it possible for me to write this book. We would not have eaten had it not been for the diligent efforts that Jamie made in the kitchen. The rest of the childrenJenny, Jimmy, Jonathan, Joanna, Josiah, and Julianneall played their roles to keep things running. My husband, Jim, made the biggest sacrifice as he lost his wife for a while. Its okay; Im back.

Thank you also to my friend Karen for her input and encouragement as I learned that I was moving from the neighborhood right in the middle of my writing.

Thank you to my pastor and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. S. M. Davis, who proofread the manuscript.

Thank you to Mrs. B who gave me much-needed wisdom and insight as I finished writing this book.

Thank you to my editor, Lila Bishop, for improving the manuscript with her helpful changes.

Thank you most of all to my heavenly Father who allowed challenging circumstances to heighten my depth of understanding as I was writing. In the midst of full days where I could hardly think, the words were there. Only God could have blessed me so richly.

It is not easy for a mother to find time to write a book. Nursing a baby, training a two-year-old, and suddenly moving to a farm all made writing nearly impossible at times. So it was during the writing of this devotional. I was in the process of recovering from my most difficult pregnancy and delivery. I wrote this book during the most stressful time I have ever experienced in my life.

God was good. He showed me my weak areas. I saw problems in my life I had not noticed before. I was saddened at the realization that I sin with my tongue often. I know what I should do, but I am not successfully doing it. If it is true that the way you behave under pressure is the way you really are, then I have so much more to learn about life. I have much to learn about peopleespecially those in my immediate family. I need to grow spiritually if I am to be the woman that God wants me to be.

Spiritual growth is the purpose of this devotional. I wrote it for me even though I believe it will help you, too. I wanted a book for my bedside table that would minister to the unique circumstances that I face as a homeschool mom. My problems are not unusual. The anecdotes may not be what you have experienced, but surely you can relate to the topics. The Lord has a plan for each of us. It is my desire that your walk with Jesus be strengthened through spending time at His feet so you can better understand His plan for you. These devotions are only a catalyst to draw you closer to the Master.

Allow yourself to become closevery close to Jesus. He will show you what you need to refine, just as He did for me. It is painful, but it is the only way to be the very best homeschool mom that you can be.

A MEEK AND QUIET SPIRIT

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1 PETER 3:4

I have been looking for a meek and quiet spirit ever since I found out about it. This spirit seems to be hard to find, and Im not sure that I have seen it much. I want one very badly. I am not by nature a meek person. If quiet is the opposite of loud, then I dont think I am quiet by nature either. Since I cant find a meek and quiet spirit, it looks like I will have to develop one. This could take some work.

My understanding of the word meek is that it is mild, not prone to being provoked, not easily irritated, and forbearing when mistreated. Quiet means still, peaceful, calm, and not troubled. I know I have evidenced these character qualities quite frequentlyin my sleep. When I am awake, I dont know where they go. But I do know why they go.

I respond to my circumstances. Most of us do. For a long time I thought that if I remained calm and kept my mouth shut when someone was aggravating me, I would have a meek and quiet spirit. I managed to do this a couple of times, but I felt unsettled because I was still rather charged up on the inside. Even though I did not say what I was thinking, my thoughts were still wrong. I did not feel peaceful because my insides were in turmoil. I still allowed myself to be provoked, even though nobody knew it. This isnt true meekness; its just faking it.

A meek and quiet spirit stays calm and peaceful on the inside as well as on the outside during a time of disturbance. Are we calm and even while injustices fly in our face, or are we just about to boil over? A meek and quiet spirit wont respond to the situation immediately. After the passion and fury of the moment subside, then a calm and collected response can be given. Our souls can remain quiet during times of provocation. Our mouths must remain still and our thoughts kept to ourselves. I told you this would take some work.

Do you desire a meek and quiet spirit? It is Gods best for us.

PRAYER

Father, You know I am a complete failure in this area. I need to be completelyoverhauled in this department. I understand how to stay calm on the outside eventhough I dont always do it. I do not understand how to stay unruffled on the inside.Only You can take me to this new height. I know this transformation will be life-changing.PLEASE help me to take these character qualities of Yours into my own