Today at work, I had a student who tried to cheat on a quiz. I like to think I have a pretty good relationship with this student. We used to have a terrible relationship, but I prayed and prayed for God to build a bridge from his heart to mine and God answered. It was wonderful! What an awesome example of God's love and answers to prayer, right?
.... then today happened. He was obviously looking at another student's quiz. He readily admitted that he looked at her paper. I told him that while I couldn't let him finish that quiz, I would like to offer him a different version. He got angry and told me no, he looked at her paper, that's fine just give me the zero.
Tonight I thought back on today and realized how often I do that with God. God offers me forgiveness but I don't accept it because I know I sinned. I know the sin was wrong. Some of the sins I am most ashamed of are the ones that I don't want to release to God and accept forgiveness for.
Today was a bad day at work. Things didn't go according to plan. I had to work late. I wanted to be outside. But then some great things happened: my roommate told me I could eat her food so I wouldn't have to go to the grocery store (!) and I got to go on a run. On my run the sun was setting, the temperature was perfect, I got to wear my current favorite running t-shirt, the azaleas were blooming, the cicadas and crickets were chirping, and I ran into three friends, one of which I hadn't seen in about a year. I was running and running and grinning and praising God! What a great God that loves me so much to give me such a great end to the day. Our God is so good!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!!
...but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" He said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
- Luke 2:10-11, NLT
What a day and what a Savior, coming to take away all our burdens and sins. Preacher said today that he came to take every embarassment, every failure, every sin, and every other way you don't measure up. He loves me and he loves you! What more can I do than give him all of me? Isaiah 6:8 and a great song by downhere say it best: "here I am. Lord send me! All my life I make an offering..."
Merry Christmas!
- Luke 2:10-11, NLT
What a day and what a Savior, coming to take away all our burdens and sins. Preacher said today that he came to take every embarassment, every failure, every sin, and every other way you don't measure up. He loves me and he loves you! What more can I do than give him all of me? Isaiah 6:8 and a great song by downhere say it best: "here I am. Lord send me! All my life I make an offering..."
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Sow Hope- not despair..
I'm a teacher. A first year teacher. A first year teacher in a low income area public school teaching 100 13 year olds 8th grade math.
It is as difficult. It requires a great deal of prayer. In addition to praying, it requires a great deal of patience and remembering that God has a good reason for putting me where He has. It also takes a whole lot of remembering that all kids can learn and that they all are somebody's little boy or girl, and that they are just kids.
All that being said- every morning during the moment of silence, I pray for God to work through me to spread hope, not despair, and that He will be with me and guide me all day. That's what I want to do in my blog and all other parts of my life as well- spread hope.
Galatians 6:7 says "...whatever one sows, that will he also reap." So many verses talk about sowing and reaping. I want to sow hope. Not just for my benefit, but to bring glory to God and make everyone a little happier and a little better off.
What are you sowing?
It is as difficult. It requires a great deal of prayer. In addition to praying, it requires a great deal of patience and remembering that God has a good reason for putting me where He has. It also takes a whole lot of remembering that all kids can learn and that they all are somebody's little boy or girl, and that they are just kids.
All that being said- every morning during the moment of silence, I pray for God to work through me to spread hope, not despair, and that He will be with me and guide me all day. That's what I want to do in my blog and all other parts of my life as well- spread hope.
Galatians 6:7 says "...whatever one sows, that will he also reap." So many verses talk about sowing and reaping. I want to sow hope. Not just for my benefit, but to bring glory to God and make everyone a little happier and a little better off.
What are you sowing?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Answered Prayers
God has answered SO many of my prayers recently. A few months ago I won $600 after buying a $1 raffle ticket at the high school football game from one of my students. I had been stressed about making ends meet, and then look at that! I'm planning to give all the money I won to various charities over Christmas: a Christmas angel, a few orphanages. They need it so much more than I do, and I know God will continue to provide for me- especially if I follow his guidance on using this money correctly!
He also has answered a few small prayers- the most recent being at my grandparents house over Thanksgiving. The bed I sleep in (and the mattress I sleep on) when I'm there have got to be at least 25 years old. The mattress is not comfortable. Usually when we're there, I toss and turn and wake up with a sore back. This time I thought to pray for relief and guess what? Slept like a rock! No tossing, no turning, no sore back. God is listening!
I've also been reminded recently that God is always with us. Whenever I talk to one of my friends in particular, we seem to always get an answer directly from God. We'll talk about something and one of us will wake up the next morning or do a devotional that night that specifically deals with whatever we talked about. It even happened a few days ago with another friend- she texted me panicking over the future! I woke up that morning, texted her back, and checked my daily Bible verse. It was Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to fail you, plans to give you hope and a future.." Of course I told her immediately. How cool!
God is so good!
He also has answered a few small prayers- the most recent being at my grandparents house over Thanksgiving. The bed I sleep in (and the mattress I sleep on) when I'm there have got to be at least 25 years old. The mattress is not comfortable. Usually when we're there, I toss and turn and wake up with a sore back. This time I thought to pray for relief and guess what? Slept like a rock! No tossing, no turning, no sore back. God is listening!
I've also been reminded recently that God is always with us. Whenever I talk to one of my friends in particular, we seem to always get an answer directly from God. We'll talk about something and one of us will wake up the next morning or do a devotional that night that specifically deals with whatever we talked about. It even happened a few days ago with another friend- she texted me panicking over the future! I woke up that morning, texted her back, and checked my daily Bible verse. It was Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to fail you, plans to give you hope and a future.." Of course I told her immediately. How cool!
God is so good!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Good Deeds
"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-- especially those in the family of faith."
-Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
We aren't saved by works. We are saved by grace. But that does not excuse us from doing the good works. The grace, the faith, the love of the Lord should lead us to the good deeds. I think too many people get confused about the order of these things- making some think that they don't have to have the faith, so they just do the good deeds, and making others afraid to say that once you have the faith, you still have to do the good deeds. Good deeds can lead people to God- "Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words."
If we show others that we love them and God loves them because we're out there in the world helping them (feeding them, clothing them, teaching them, providing shelter..) how powerful is that? I've never experienced homelessness or hunger, but I imagine that all the words in the world wouldn't make you feel better in those situations. A new house from Habitat for Humanity or a solid meal- that is what makes an impact.
As Jesus told us- "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, NLT).
Loving our neighbors must include doing good things for them when we have the opportunity. Which brings us back to Galatians and helping those around us. We are all God's children, so we should help anyone and everyone we see. How can I make someone's life easier, happier, or better today?
-Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
We aren't saved by works. We are saved by grace. But that does not excuse us from doing the good works. The grace, the faith, the love of the Lord should lead us to the good deeds. I think too many people get confused about the order of these things- making some think that they don't have to have the faith, so they just do the good deeds, and making others afraid to say that once you have the faith, you still have to do the good deeds. Good deeds can lead people to God- "Preach the Gospel always; when necessary, use words."
If we show others that we love them and God loves them because we're out there in the world helping them (feeding them, clothing them, teaching them, providing shelter..) how powerful is that? I've never experienced homelessness or hunger, but I imagine that all the words in the world wouldn't make you feel better in those situations. A new house from Habitat for Humanity or a solid meal- that is what makes an impact.
As Jesus told us- "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, NLT).
Loving our neighbors must include doing good things for them when we have the opportunity. Which brings us back to Galatians and helping those around us. We are all God's children, so we should help anyone and everyone we see. How can I make someone's life easier, happier, or better today?
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