Your Mind Matters

I used to think that God did not care about my thoughts because I did not seem to make any real difference. I used to think that I was insignificant to God's "big plan." I used to feel that what I thought, did not make a difference. I remember my mother saying to me, "You are too young to think like that."

When you've been "beaten down," you don't understand the importance of expanding your mind, you don't even realize you can expand your mind. It's as if my mind was like an empty hard-drive. I was an empty shell, not knowing that all I had to do was "plug in my cord" by expanding my mind (with books, CD's, DVD's, anything I deemed educational regarding my subject of interest).

During my younger years, I learned that at school you could get good grades without learning anything. You could "cram," you could cheat, you could memorize -- there are many ways of passing on the "sly." but when it comes to the things of God, well, HE's smarter than that. There's no fooling God. He's the best teacher there is. He does not allow anyone to go to the next level by passing on the sly. Your mind must grow with God or HE will retain you at your current level and just as a kid in school does not like being held back, so an adult does not want to stay at the same level for very long.

I am now 47 years old and just beginning to learn how much my mind matters. I used to spend years yearning for words of knowledge and revelation. I thought that going to church would and should have given me what I needed to know or to become "successful" and so, that's the one thing I did religiously for many years. It turns out that just going to church does not expand the mind. After many years of attending church, I still did not know much about God, His Son or His Word, and what I did know turned out to be slanted. It should be criminal what I have been taught about God. It's not that I did not have a Bible and could not read it for myself. I had plenty of Bibles, my mother commented one time on my "collection" of Bibles! I surrounded myself with Bibles and books on God, even read a few of them, but, I guess I never opened myself up to the revelation of the Word. I depended on pastors to teach me without understanding that I must put forth the effort of studying for myself. I had to believe that God loved me and would even talk to me and tell me important things because I am important to HIM.

Years ago I told a friend that God had told me to "Get back. Get back to where I once belonged," like the old song says. But she told me, "No, God would not tell you to go backwards." I was very hurt and on the surface, figured she was probably right. But deep down I knew what I heard and I believed God was talking to me, but over time since I did not have any understanding of what HE was telling me, I forgot about it.

The things that God tells you might sound crazy to you, but if God tells you something you can know that it's true. God did tell me to "Get back. Get back to where I once belonged." He was telling me to get back to Him where I belonged.

Your mind matters. I heard those words in my mind: "Get back. Get back to where you once belonged." God was talking directly to me, through my mind. I realize now that at the time I heard those words, I had the "Mind of God," HE was talking to me through MIND. There's only one mind! We think, that as many people as there are, that--that's how many minds there are, but no, that's how many brains there are! The mind is divine. How else can you have "the mind of Christ"?

I thought that if you had a teacher (preacher/pastor) that you were suppose to learn what they wanted you to learn. Not so. You must "study to show yourself approved."

In the end, which was really the beginning, I had to allow God to strip me of my mind and my ways and restore me with HIS Mind and HIS Ways.

You must guard your mind from the things that go into it because your mind does matter. What you see and hear will brainwash you to believe only what the brainwashers want you to believe.

My life, my mind -- my imagination did not produce for me what I wanted it to produce for me. I was not satisfied with my life and it actually became too difficult to remain cheerful with the mind set I was living. I did not understand: If God is good, why isn't my life good? I am a christian, what's wrong with this picture?

I determined to change my belief system (my mind) to include "The Father and I are one" and "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." I am now on the road of "discovery and recovery."

Your life exists in your mind. Eventually, everything you think about, will produce itself. However, if there is nothing in your mind, there is nothing in your life. Fill your mind with God and your life will be filled with God. If your mind does not matter to you, then God does not matter to you. If your mind is expanded then God is expanded in you. How awesome is that?!

What you think about yourself (what you think about your mind) affects everyone around you. If you think you are dumb, (but you can't be, because that is not the truth of you) then you must think that your children are dumb (after all, they are you, pressed--labored-- out). you must think that your friends are dumb (your friends are a reflection of you), you must think that your pastor is dumb (your pastor is a reflection of who you are becoming) -- because dumb people hang around dumb people.

If you know you are smart, then you must know that your children are smart, you must know that your friends are smart, and you must know that your pastor is smart, because smart people hang around smart people.

Your thoughts matter, your mind matters. What's on your mind?

Homeschooling

Wow, when I think about how long we've been homeschooling...it's already been 15 years. Two sons are out of the house and doing well. One has recently returned from four years in the Navy and is currently enrolled in college and the other is just enrolling in college. My husband and I still have two younger boys at home. Homeschooling has so changed since I first started out. In the beginning, I went by all the teacher's manual, did everything they said to do and more, if I could! We did "school" from sun up to sun down. I remember one day we spent 8 hours on "spelling," trying to learn "the list". It was horrible. I'm sure it was a nightmare for my son. Who now as an adult will still call me on the phone and ask me how to spell a word (you know, privately -- because he just wants to make sure he is doing it right. -- A quick side note: I wonder why he doesn't call me on the really big issues??)

My youngest child who is 11.5, really wants to go to school. We live near what some neighbors call a "good school". We may let him go! Every child is different, if I haven't learned that by now, after raising the others, I never will. He can decide if public school is for him. But by the time it gets here, maybe he will go to a private school. I'm sure I would feel better about that. I will let you know.

Some readers may know me by my books: Shoelace Books. I have decided to try and help others by starting this "blogging thing." I know it's late in the game, but, better late than never. My guys are not currently using my materials as they feel they have "out grown mom's books."

One is an avid reader -- the other, gets by. I've always dreamed of having another "reader" in the family and finally, my last child -- he loves to read. Oh, way a minute -- my "Navy" son -- he reads now, too. He takes online classes that require much reading.

So don't despair, mothers, just do what you do and know that God handles the rest. My oldest son "hated" school and is now going to school and of course, wishes he had done so long ago.

Know that each child, each person, must choose his own path to walk so he can learn his own lessons. If you try to force which path they walk, -- when they leave your nest, they will go build their own and it won't look like yours.