A Dose of Encouragement

 

Greetings families! Our own Tim Roth will be sharing a series of articles titled Faithing Life to bring some much-needed encouragement to us all. Enjoy an introduction to this series from Tim below…

Happy New Year from our home to yours. My name is Tim Roth and my wife and I started homeschooling back around 1987. There were very few who were teaching their children at home back then, so when we had questions, it was difficult to find someone to give us answers. Actually, the thing we needed the most was encouragement: like-minded persons, going the same direction, carrying the same burden, and fellowshipping together. Now over 30 years later our 9 children are adults, and there are grandchildren being homeschooled. God has given us a desire to encourage the younger generation of home educators as they take up the baton and carry it forward. Ruth and I are on the Christian Heritage board of directors which has been a challenge and a blessing. Recently God seems to be nudging me to write short letters of encouragement to homeschool parents. As I prayed over this idea, I felt led to use the life of Abraham as a basis for these letters of encouragement. They will have a dual purpose. First, to challenge Christians, for we are to live all parts of our lives by faith in God; for without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). As a pastor for almost 50 years, I have observed much misunderstanding about what it means to live by faith. Second, to apply those same principles practically to teaching, training, and discipling our children at home. Why the life of Abraham? This is the man who God chose to show the world, throughout time and history, what it means to live a life by faith in God. Abraham’s life teaches us not only how to live, but also gives us an understanding of the process God took him through to learn to walk by faith in God. So, let’s take the faith journey together starting with Genesis 12. I would also consider it a privilege to be praying for you. If you have specific needs in your family, it would be my pleasure to pray for you. My email is tim.r@christianheritagewa.org. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Roth CH Board Member