Applying Learning

The past year my oldest daughter and I have been studying sentence structures and diagramming. 

Fun, right? 

Actually, we rather enjoyed it and are looking forward to digging deeper next year, but I totally understand if you find such a study to be tedious, useless, or any other possible negative adjective. No matter your opinion on sentence diagramming, studying structure, style, and all that grammatical "stuff", follow with me as I share something God has revealed to me through it all.

We all know that language is the main way we communicate with other people. There are many different spoken languages, then add the written word, sign language, body language.... Language is important because proper communication makes a big difference in the way we understand others and are understood ourselves.

God's Word is given to us in such a beautiful way. The language used in the Bible is special. We are blessed with a translation in our own language, but also with access to the original languages and dictionaries.

I've been one to look into definitions for a while, mainly because often we misunderstand each other due to not truly knowing the meaning of words. For example, if you say the word "love" in English, many possible definitions come to mind - so if we want to understand the Biblical definition(s) of love, we must look at the original language and the context to truly understand. Because, let's be honest, the modern saying that "love is love" is simply not true. But I digress and will get back to my original thought.

With what I learned about conjunctions and sentence structures this year, I have begun to read scripture with a renewed interest. I have learned to apply my knowledge of the English language to deepen my understanding of the Word of God. Learning conjunctions that their purposes has helped me to see more in the epistles. Those introductions that used to just seem like *r e a l l y*   *l o n g* rambling sentences now come to life with meaning.

What a valuable lesson God has taught me in allowing me to teach my children!

What a valuable lesson to be able to pass on to my children, that the study of the English language isn't just so that we can sound intelligent and impressive, but is also that we can grow closer to the Lord our God.

 

What have you learned recently? Can you take that knowledge and use it to grow closer to God? If you have learned anything true, it can help you see God because God is truth. All truth points to Him and can draw us closer to Him.

I challenge you to use what you learn in teaching your children
to see God more clearly.

Nevertheless

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 26:39

 This is a prayer that is quite possibly one of the hardest prayers for us to pray.

It is also most likely one of the most needful.

 

 We struggle through hard times as women, as mothers. We feel the weight of all those around us. We naturally bear other's burdens. We want to nurture, heal, yet are often unable to truly produce the desired change.

Sometimes it's the health of a parent - we don't want our parent to suffer, get sick, or die, nevertheless, not our will but the Lord's. We have to walk through that valley and depend on His strength.

 Sometimes it's the health of a child. Children get sick all the time, but what about when the sickness is life-threatening? What if it's especially painful, or one of those things that drags out for along time with no known ending? We want the child healed! Nevertheless, not our will, but the Lord's. We have to lean on Him.

 Our health, or the health of a spouse. How can we provide for our children, financially, emotionally, spiritually, if we fear losing our life or the life of our spouse? 

A job, the house, there are so many situations where we find ourselves praying for relief, praying for escape. We know what we want and we don't want to have to suffer through potential loss.

 Our prayers are "Lord, don't make me go through this."

I don't say this to condemn. I also struggle.

But there is a peace when we can truly see that all our hope, all our peace, lies in Jesus Christ. His Spirit is what gives us life.

When we finally get to the point where we can truly say "nevertheless", there is a freedom. There is peace that can only come from the Lord.

Lord, I don't want to go through the pain I see coming my way. I don't want to deal with this, but I know Your Word is true. I don't feel confident, but I know You are true. I know You love me, You work all things for my good. I know nothing can separate me from Your love, that Your grace is sufficient. Please, take this cup from me, nevertheless, Thy will be done. If I must, please give me Your peace that passes understanding, Your joy that is not the world's joy, and help me to trust in You. Nevertheless, Thy will be done.

I prayed this prayer recently (admittedly, the words were probably not as clear, but the meaning the same) and I can not describe the peace that flowed over my heart when I said amen.

We can trust God.

💕    💕    💕

I'm going to leave you with a few songs that have helped me in the past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAmh3yvmzXs - Thy Will by Hillary Scott

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgFgOZOL9aA - Lay it Down by Jaci Velasquez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyG29JJoGk - Even If by Mercy Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyJuyJuJz-s -It Is Well