Truth for Lies - part 2

Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe

Chapter 2

December 1, 2011

“Be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Contrast with:

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Lie # 1 “Everyone else’s kids are better than yours.”

We actually believe that our children will be better or more pleasing to God and others if they play an instrument or dress a certain way, (read certain books, do certain activities, etc.) p.30

...if you’re making (your children) do those things because you think that it will make you a better mom, stop it! You’ve bought into the LIE. p. 31

Truth #1 “Every family struggles. Every family has weaknesses. We all need the Lord.”

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18

The choices we make for our family, if they are made with wisdom, will produce the fruit listed above.


Lie #2 “Everyone’s house is cleaner than yours.”

...you must be a terrible mom to let your house get out of control and messy.

What is the burden we place on our family to appease the lie?

If you feel burdened to clean to perform for others, stop it.

Truth #2 “Every woman struggles (or works hard) to keep her house clean. The Law of Entropy...everything moves towards disorder. The way God made it.”

The example of Martha

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ‘For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’ “ Matthew 11:28-30

Lie #3 “Everyone fixes meals better than you.”

“They try changing their lifestyle and eating habits, but someone else is always out there to tell them they should be doing more. They go to bed feeling guilty, sure that they have failed their children, husband, and God. They believe the LIE.

If healthy, bread-making cooking isn’t your bent or makes your life more stressful, stop it. p. 35

Truth #3 “How you eat is not a trait of spirituality or a measure of godliness. You’re a busy homeschooling mom and you can’t do it all.” (discuss those who have to make food a priority versus those who choose it)

Romans 14:17ff
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.”

Lie #4 “Everyone is more disciplined than you and more spiritual.”

“You’re just positive that every other homeschool mom gets up early to have her quiet time with God, fixes her family a hot, healthy breakfast, and then basks in the joy of homeschooling, singing and laughing all the day long. (continue reading p. 37)

Truth #4 “Every woman struggles as you do sometimes. Even the woman who wrote the article. She may even feel worse knowing she wrote about something she herself struggles with.”

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” Romans 7:18-19

You are looking at things as they are outwardly . If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:7, 17-18

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:11

Discussion questions (from pages 38-39)

Mark which lies you most identify with.

Why do you think women in particular are prone to comparing their kids, their houses, and their spirituality against each other?

Do you usually feel encouraged or discouraged after reading a homeschool magazine or book? What does that mean?

Are you guilty of trying to portray that you have it all together? If yes, how can you stop doing this?

Prayer requests:

Our committment:
“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and tha tyou be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. “ Ephesians 4:20-25

What opportunties has the Lord given you this past month to live out this command?