Do you dream of being used mightily for God? Maybe you want to reach a lot of men for the Lord? Maybe you would like to reach a nation for Christ?

God has just the right way to prepare you! Surrender to be fully used where He has you right now in your family. Reach those God has given you. Pour out your life into your family. They are your training ground for the future, and they are your credentials for being used of God. Then you will be ready for the next work.

“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly” (Titus 1:6).

Steve

Do you intend to feed and clothe your children for all of their lives? (I’m assuming the answer is obvious.) Then are we preparing them to excel in life?

Part of living in our society involves our performance and having our knowledge measured. We take a test to qualify for a driver’s license. There are exams for vocational credentials. Most jobs involve a yearly performance evaluation, and our pay typically increases in proportion to how well we performed. The ability to study, apply what we have learned, and then be measured is an important part of adult life.

One way we can help prepare homeschooled children for this aspect of life is by giving them tests, grades, and quarterly report cards. A necessary skill in life is being able to prepare and sit for exams calmly. Can your children study for tests, handle the pressure, and do well on them?

Are they able to receive constructive personal feedback? You might consider the benefits of giving them loving, gentle feedback on how they are doing in other areas regarding character and spiritual growth, too.

Life has many tests. Evaluations and grades are good. Do we do our homeschooled children a grave disservice by not having them take tests? I believe so.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Watch this.

Steve

Complacency is rampant today and is usually accompanied by false security. It is a little like Dad’s resting peacefully on the couch in his sock feet . . . while the house is on fire.

A question for each of us to answer is: “Am I hungry (okay, if not hungry, willing) to grow and improve in life, or am I comfortable with ‘who’ I am?” Don’t we all have room for improvement in some areas?

If you haven’t evaluated yourself and asked your wife to evaluate you since last week’s Seriously, here’s a simple form that will help. (Frankly, if you have not done this, that might be a pretty good indicator that you are complacent.)

Next, pick no more than three areas to begin to work on to get those numbers moving up. (I should have suggested just three last week, for if we have too many goals we will likely not achieve any of them.)

Nothing is going to happen or improve unless we start working, and we must start now. Mañana, mañana (tomorrow, tomorrow) seldom gets things done, and the fire trucks won’t arrive in time if we are content to lie around on the couch relaxing a little longer. There is such satisfaction when we are growing and making things happen. I delight when I am improving in needed areas (and so does Teri :)).

Having daily family Bible time should be at the top of the list if that isn’t happening. Then focus on two other areas that you and your wife agree are the most desired areas for improvement.

The process is simple: First, we get specific by choosing what to work on, and second, we begin. Commit to starting right now—today, immediately—because “tomorrow” usually doesn’t come.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)

Steve