October is leaving... or is it leafing...
Oops. So it's been a really long time since I've blogged. I mean the plan was to blog more often, and for a little while I was doing well. Then October came...and now October is leaving.
To start you off and trap you into reading my blog, I will share a few of my highlights, even though I usually share them on Facebook.
Student gets out a banana and waves it around and then pretends to shoot something out the window with it. (Totally unaware that I am watching him)
" Please put away your banana and move your pin down. You are being a distraction." I won't lie, right after he did that I had to laugh.
Test Questions:
What is the theme of the Egyptian Cinderella?
The same as the regular Cinderella.
Compare and Contrast Joseph and Squanto:
- They were both explorers.
- They were both people.
- We talked about them both in class.
Nice try kids, Nice try.
One day, I turned around for a few seconds and I turn back to see a child (who turns everything into a toy) playing with a small pool of blue water and diving his eraser into it. I look closer and find one of the cheese and cracker containers has been filled with my blue chalk and water from his water bottle.
" How... why... what? How can you make anything into a toy?"
" I don't know, Miss. I just thought it seemed like a good idea."
This month has not been without its fair share of ups and downs, but I truly feel that God has come through and shown me a new way how much I need him.
It's no secret that this year hasn't been easy. Especially not if you talked to me this month, because what I've realized is I have regained a not so wonderful tendency to complain. The Lord has grace that is bigger than me and I am so grateful for that. He has lovingly corrected me into realizing that he has a plan throughout all of this. So here are some things that have encouraged me or that I've been learning or relearning. Sorry for the lesson, but I figure maybe just maybe some of you need the encouragement and to hear some of these things too.
1. God is bigger than my problems. There are things that I think are impossible. For this kid to behave. For another one to understand difficult concepts. For me to make it through a day without losing my patience. I am sure that God let out a chuckle or two at the thought that these things are impossible, thinking to himself, "Oh honey, don't you remember how I parted the red sea? or how I made the world? or how I....AND you haven't even grasped it all."
2. God answers prayers. I have been praying more than maybe ever before in my life these past weeks and months. And at first I wasn't seeing a lot going on. "Umm hello God, I am praying for patience, but I still am losing it." What I realized is that while I was praying for it, the rest of the time was spent either a. complaining or b. worrying. Well that's just silly. Once I took my eyes off of myself for one second to 1. realize how great God is (see paragraph 1) and 2. really look at my students, God has been showing up big time. I know that it doesn't mean things will go perfect, but I know he is working. One of the things that the preacher shared at church on Sunday was this: Faith will get you to the Lion's den, keep you in the Lion's den and get you out of the Lion's Den. So if you're feeling overwhelmed by the lions, you're probably in the right place.
3. God has been reminding me over and over again that my salvation, my redemption, his love for me have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with me. It is already completely finished. He has the victory. I need to serve him and obey his commands out of a heart of love, but not because it adds to my salvation in any way. Like the lyrics of a song that mean(t) a lot to me: "Incomparable, unchangeable, you see the depths of my heart yet you love me the same. You are amazing God."
I feel like I could go on and on... yet there is not enough time in the world, enough words in my mind, or enough battery left in my computer for me to tell of everything that God has done. I praise his name. While days will come when I am human and feel discouraged, I want to stand and praise Him. My verse and prayer for right now has been this:
Romans 12:12
"Be JOYFUL in hope, PATIENT in affliction, and FAITHFUL in prayer."
Amen.
To start you off and trap you into reading my blog, I will share a few of my highlights, even though I usually share them on Facebook.
Student gets out a banana and waves it around and then pretends to shoot something out the window with it. (Totally unaware that I am watching him)
" Please put away your banana and move your pin down. You are being a distraction." I won't lie, right after he did that I had to laugh.
Test Questions:
What is the theme of the Egyptian Cinderella?
The same as the regular Cinderella.
Compare and Contrast Joseph and Squanto:
- They were both explorers.
- They were both people.
- We talked about them both in class.
Nice try kids, Nice try.
One day, I turned around for a few seconds and I turn back to see a child (who turns everything into a toy) playing with a small pool of blue water and diving his eraser into it. I look closer and find one of the cheese and cracker containers has been filled with my blue chalk and water from his water bottle.
" How... why... what? How can you make anything into a toy?"
" I don't know, Miss. I just thought it seemed like a good idea."
This month has not been without its fair share of ups and downs, but I truly feel that God has come through and shown me a new way how much I need him.
It's no secret that this year hasn't been easy. Especially not if you talked to me this month, because what I've realized is I have regained a not so wonderful tendency to complain. The Lord has grace that is bigger than me and I am so grateful for that. He has lovingly corrected me into realizing that he has a plan throughout all of this. So here are some things that have encouraged me or that I've been learning or relearning. Sorry for the lesson, but I figure maybe just maybe some of you need the encouragement and to hear some of these things too.
1. God is bigger than my problems. There are things that I think are impossible. For this kid to behave. For another one to understand difficult concepts. For me to make it through a day without losing my patience. I am sure that God let out a chuckle or two at the thought that these things are impossible, thinking to himself, "Oh honey, don't you remember how I parted the red sea? or how I made the world? or how I....AND you haven't even grasped it all."
2. God answers prayers. I have been praying more than maybe ever before in my life these past weeks and months. And at first I wasn't seeing a lot going on. "Umm hello God, I am praying for patience, but I still am losing it." What I realized is that while I was praying for it, the rest of the time was spent either a. complaining or b. worrying. Well that's just silly. Once I took my eyes off of myself for one second to 1. realize how great God is (see paragraph 1) and 2. really look at my students, God has been showing up big time. I know that it doesn't mean things will go perfect, but I know he is working. One of the things that the preacher shared at church on Sunday was this: Faith will get you to the Lion's den, keep you in the Lion's den and get you out of the Lion's Den. So if you're feeling overwhelmed by the lions, you're probably in the right place.
3. God has been reminding me over and over again that my salvation, my redemption, his love for me have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with me. It is already completely finished. He has the victory. I need to serve him and obey his commands out of a heart of love, but not because it adds to my salvation in any way. Like the lyrics of a song that mean(t) a lot to me: "Incomparable, unchangeable, you see the depths of my heart yet you love me the same. You are amazing God."
I feel like I could go on and on... yet there is not enough time in the world, enough words in my mind, or enough battery left in my computer for me to tell of everything that God has done. I praise his name. While days will come when I am human and feel discouraged, I want to stand and praise Him. My verse and prayer for right now has been this:
Romans 12:12
"Be JOYFUL in hope, PATIENT in affliction, and FAITHFUL in prayer."
Amen.
Very we'll said, Jennifer, and so true! Keep up the good fight!
ReplyDeletewell said, sister. :) tonight i was reading about finding joy in the TRUTH, in God's Word. the author wrote about turning to the words of others (ie hymns) when we are in a place where we're not thinking well ourselves. ...i like that idea.
ReplyDeleteit's awesome that you turn to praising Him and to Scripture (ie Rom. 12:12) even when you don't feel like praising Him! i love you!