Monthly Archives: March 2026

The Worst Idea

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It is common today for Christian men to want an accountability partner to help them improve in some area(s). They look for someone they trust and who will tell them “like it is.” Beyond improvement, some might want an accountability partner to help in conquering a sin that holds them in bondage. They see accountability as the key to killing a hidden sin. Given the right goals and people involved, accountability  can be a good thing, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).

However, I’m encouraging you to NEVER ask your wife to be an accountability partner. She is your helpmeet so that might make it seem like an accountability partner would be acting as a helpmeet. “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18.) But she is also to submit to you. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). In an accountability role, that person is to critically watch and evaluate you so as to confront and challenge you as needed. That is not submission. It is authority and control. Better to find a strong brother in Christ whom you are willing to put in that role in your life rather than turning biblical, god given roles upside down. 

The worst of the worst is when a dad struggling with lust and/or p**n asks his wife to hold him accountable. That information from husband to wife has got to be the supreme injury to a wife’s heart – a terrible burden for her to bear. It is almost guaranteed to put jealousy/distrust in her from then on. Dad must deal with it, but to heap that on his wife, is a tortuous shredding of her heart. Brothers, go to your pastor, elder, or someone like that, locally, who can get in your face. Be determined to have victory, but don’t go to your wife. That is a guaranteed train wreck.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

Excitement of the Hunt 

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Most official hunting seasons are over and fishing season hasn’t begun. This is, to the sadness of many guys since it means no more excitement for a bit. I know a couple men who appear to “live” for hunting and fishing. It is their joy and passion. Of course there are a few who need the meat to supplement feeding the family, but for most, it is simply the excitement/passion of the hunt. Hunting and fishing can be expensive and time consuming, but the gleam in their eyes and the smile on their face when they talk about it, shows it is worth it. Soon however, the thrill of the trophy animal hunt (or fishing) fades unless there is something dead, stuffed and mounted, hanging above the fireplace. So they are out, after it, again.

Consider for a moment channeling that passion, investment, and skill into hunting/fishing for men. These men would quickly find the earthly excitement of the “kill” pales compared to a heavenly joy that is beyond understanding of seeing new life in Christ. Oh brothers, if they could see their longed-for physical hunting trip is nothing compared to seeing a new believer experiencing the joy of the Lord.

Here is a personal example from a few minutes ago. We had to run to Walmart to pick up a few things. While walking in, I cast a couple of lures, but no bites. Then I saw two cult missionaries walking toward me. I greeted them, and we began talking. They were incredibly nice young men, committed to their cause. I am sure we each had a goal in mind for our conversation. They listened politely as I pleaded with them to get into God’s Word and seek Who Jesus is and what He says about salvation. My only goal/hope was to simply put a rock in their shoe of something they might give further consideration to. That is the my joy and passion. Why not give it a try?

My brothers, hunting-and-fishing-for-the-souls-of-men season is open year round. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). On top of that, your involvement pleases your Lord and Savior.

Embracing a Cactus

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I believe the general consensus of someone who would embrace a cactus could be summarized with the word “stupid.” That would make as much sense as building a campfire on one’s lap to stay warm. There are many things that a person with normal intelligence is smart enough not to do. Then why do so many men succumb to adulterous affairs that have such painful results? Obviously those are only the ones who get caught. How many “fly” under the radar. Yet, God misses nothing. 

Just because you are a homeschooling family that identifies with Jesus Christ, and hopefully involved in a church, doesn’t mean you are not hugging a cactus to some degree. Oh my brothers, are you playing with fire? 

“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 6:27-29).

How careful are you around women at work, at church, or when out and about? Are you cultivating lusts by what you watch or read or by your thoughts, thinking it’s harmless and everyone watches this stuff? The scariest words in Scripture to me are: “God gave them up/over.” Realize that at some point, God may say “Okay, if that is what you want, I’ll give you over to it.” (Romans 1:24, 26, 28) At that point, it is too late. If David, a man after God’s own heart can fall, anyone can fall if continuing in wrong choices. 

“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).

When Homeschooling Ends

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Homeschooling took up 30 years of my life, and now I have navigated 11 years since my last child graduated from homeschool high school. With the amount of time homeschooling consumes during those years, when that comes to an end, moms often feel lost, unsure of what they are to do next in life. During homeschooling those days are dreamed of, but when they arrive, they can be clouded with more questions than enjoyment. After all homeschooling moms have learned to be productive and efficient with their time. Now what?

As I approached the end of homeschooling, I asked the Lord to show me what He wanted for me with that time that would be freed up. I was concerned with having too much time and not enough to do! He didn’t give me a particular thing, but brought things into my life/path, bit by bit, that I knew I was to do. That seems to be typical of older “retired” homeschool moms I communicate with who. You don’t know – until God opens doors and directs you.

For me, the very first thing retirement from homeschooling meant was the reality of a dream of more early morning time in the Word. I went from 30 minutes each morning at the peek of homeschooling, to 45 minutes as our children got older, and now I have 1.5 hours, sometimes 2 if the weather is bad and I can’t walk. 

With my age, I have more health maintenance than I did in my younger years. Steve and I have walked together each morning before breakfast for many years, but now we have more time for the walks, enjoying our conversation time and prayer together. I need to do resistance training for bone density since I have osteoporosis. I also have back pain to manage so use a foam roller, inversion table, and do some other things for my back daily.

Many of you will be like me and have end of life care for one or both parents. That is more manageable when you don’t have hours of homeschooling to accomplish each day.

At one point after homeschooling, I was playing the piano for a small church we were in. I am not a very good pianist so needed to practice an hour a day. That was a a big time commitment that I couldn’t have done when I was homeschooling. We aren’t at that church anymore, but I usually play the piano a 1/2 hour a day now – just because I enjoy it – and I have the time – and I didn’t have time during my homeschooling years for any piano at all!

I have playtime/reading time each week with my local younger grandchildren and the ones who live a distance I have a FaceTime for an hour divided up to talk with each of them. That is a reasonable amount of time for a conversation. My playtimes and FaceTimes are scheduled for the same day and time each week. 

The Lord continues to give me opportunities to encourage moms through Titus2 and our local church in ways I couldn’t do during my homeschooling years. Many of you longed for a Titus2 woman in your life when you were homeschooling, but couldn’t find her in your church. Now you are that woman. Be involved in your church with younger women and women’s ministries so that you are available to them. 

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed”(Titus 2:3-5).

There is nothing earth shattering about my life and how God has me using my time. But at 70, I enjoy a pace of life that isn’t as pushed at it was during those 30 years of homeschooling and yet feels obedient to the Lord and therefore useful, making it fulfilling to me. 

I also want to encourage the younger homeschool moms to be careful not to make homeschooling your identity. When you do that, you are lost without homeschooling. When our identity is Jesus Christ, (“For to me to live is Christ . . .” Philippians 1:21a), homeschooling is a step of obedience to Him. Then when homeschooling ends, there are other things He brings to our lives that once again call us to obedience. Remember always – to live IS Christ!

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Posted in: Mom's Corner

How Is it Going

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It has been awhile since I encouraged you to develop your skills in expressing your love of others. The best way to love others is to love their souls and desire to see them come to a saving faith in Christ. Everyone who is saved is to be an ambassador for Christ. I hope you are making progress toward engaging men you don’t know for the ultimate purpose of introducing them to Jesus. Of course, for those you do know, the goal is developing those relationships deeper. As a way of meeting new men, I hope you are looking every man in the eye that approaches you, automatically smiling and nodding. 

As I encouraged earlier, as they approach, look for anything that is noteworthy. Maybe they have an incredibly well-groomed beard, a cute or well-behaved child with him, a cool hat, a t-shirt with the name of a place you have been or want to visit, or a school you went to or know someone who went there. Maybe they remind you of someone you know. It takes just a moment to notice something you can positively comment/compliment on. They must be sincere compliments. Often, I even comment on their smile. There are endless hints about a person that give a slight view into their life that might lead to a conversation. First is to notice. 

Next begin making positive comments. Examples of comments I make are: “Fantastic smile.” “I love Pikes Peak too. When did you go there?” “That’s the biggest cowboy hat I’ve ever seen.” “I’ll arm wrestle you for that truck.” (It is given as a sincere compliment of their truck and always received that way. BTW, nobody has ever taken me up on it.) Often a brief cordial conversation ensues. However, if there is nothing further in way of a conversation that is fine. 

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).