Beautiful

I was having a discussion with my youngest daughter about some things that people do on Facebook that we really don't like.  One of her biggest pet peeves was a "friend" who constantly posts negative comments about herself.  I have seen other people do this same thing on my own page.  We agreed that these people are just trying to get others to pay attention to them and post something nice about them.  I think all of us do this from time to time.  My husband calls it "fishing for a compliment".  We all like to hear good things about ourselves and I suppose a little "fishing" from time to time on Facebook or in real life is not that big of a deal but I wonder about those who do it so frequently. I am amazed sometimes about the things that people will "tweet", "post" or "text" to others. (Like I tell my oldest daughter-you don't have to write and send every thought in your head!  But that could be a whole other topic on which to blog!)  With all this stuff out there in public, though, I have started to see something that really breaks my heart.  There are a lot of people who really don't feel loved or see themselves as important.

There are many reasons we can feel this way.  The world has a way of making us bitter, angry, and hurtful towards others.  Many of us are guilty of lashing out, saying things we don't mean or becoming angry at situations that don't call for such emotion.  We erect walls and stop talking to family or friends.  Others are frustrated by the lot life has given them. We feel disappointed and negative.  All of this leads to people feeling unloved and unimportant.  But listen.  If you are relying on family, friends, job, etc., etc. to make you feel loved and important let me tell you something.  It will never happen.  There is only one who can make us complete and that is God-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Some of you may be rolling your eyes right now and saying "Whatever!" and I can tell you there was a time in my life that I would have been doing exactly the same thing.  I went to the pits of despair in my life with depression.  Counseling and medication helped me but there was still something missing.  It was God who filled that hole in me and made me feel truly loved and important.  There is no one who knows us better than he does. 

     For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them.  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand —when I awake, I am still with you.     Psalm 139:13-18

One of God's greatest acts of love was sending his son, Jesus, to die for us.  The story of Jesus is so amazing that sometimes it is hard for me to wrap my mind around.  But that is my human thinking trying to make sense of it.  Several weeks ago my pastor said something that has stuck in my mind.  The story of Jesus is simple.  As people we complicate everything.  We study his story.  We argue over small, insignificant matters.  We form different denominations.  We write books to argue that our opinion is correct.  But here is the simple statement about God's love for us in probably the most famous piece of scripture in the Bible.  

     For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.     John 3:16

He died for you.  If you believe that, you get to live forever with God. Simple. My friends, we are all treasured by Him.  He loves us more than anyone can ever love us.  No matter who we are and no matter what we have done, we are beautiful to him.

Check out these two great songs by Mercy Me and Big Daddy Weave and hear more about how you are loved.

Beautiful by Mercy Me:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6pS5HCkgPI

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSyLqbP8Z4I

    

Teach and Reteach

It was nearing the end of a second full day of school for the twenty-one kindergarten students when the teacher asked the kids to put their heads down on their table and to get quiet before recess.  That's when we heard it loud and clear.  The sound of a forehead bumping the table and a quick loud "OW!"  We both turned to see a few students laying their head down on their crossed over arms but lots of quizzical faces without their heads down and one poor little five year old rubbing her forehead.  Without missing a beat the teacher said, "Oh, putting your head down on your table means doing this!" Then she quickly modeled how to do it.  I was able to stifle my giggle but not my smile throughout this entire episode.

This year I have a new job.  I am not a regular classroom teacher but am a paraeducator who goes from class to class to help students.  This past week was my first real amount of time working in the primary grades for many years.  It all came back to me very quickly, though!  For all you non-teachers or school workers out there, I'll let you in on a little secret.  There has been and will be LOTS of time spent over the next month teaching students expectations, procedures, rules and consequences.  And I mean A LOT!  You would be amazed at the number of things that seem so simple and that you take for granted that have to be taught over and over again.  Things like: how to hold a pair of scissors, getting in a line without smashing your friends' toes, drinking out of the water fountain, how to sharpen a pencil, when you can talk and when you can't, and my favorite: the difference between a story and question!  Now, here's another bit of amazing information!  Each year the students come back you have to start all over again!  Usually you have to reteach and then there's all the new stuff to add.  Oh, and then there's all the real stuff you are supposed to teach them!  

So while all you non-educators out there are letting that sink in and all you educators are nodding your heads in agreement while chuckling, let me get on to the thought I had today about all this teaching and reteaching.  I wonder if God ever looks at us and thinks "Really?!  I have to teach you that lesson again?  Aren't we past that?  Do we have to go down that road again?"  Let's face it.  All of us have those issues that we need to work on, are working on and will probably still be learning about in the future.  One great thing is God is a patient teacher.  But just like in school you have to be willing to be an active learner.  The Bible is filled with stories of people that had struggles just like you and me.  When we read or hear those stories and think about them we are given examples of how we can handle situations better, overcome addictions, work through problems in relationships, and tackle many other problems that we all face in life.  But being an active learner means that you have to pick up the book and actually read it!  And don't tell me that you don't have time in your life.  I have used that excuse too many times in my life and have discovered that it is a lie.  Stop enrolling your kids in every activity, shut off the television reality show, forget Facebook, make sandwiches for dinner, stop Pinning every quotation that speaks to your heart and spend some time learning from the Savior.  It will make a huge difference in your life. If you are thirsting for help in the struggles of  life think about these words.
     "Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear you earth; the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants."     Deuteronomy 32:1-2

The other thing that is so great about our God is that he is willing to give us those second and beyond chances.  When we are learning, he is like the kindergarten teacher, who calmly modeled for the kids and allowed them to try again.  In dealing with the issues of life all of us fall short.  In our humanity we sin.  But our God is the God of Second Chances.  If we turn away from that sin he forgives us.  But we have to be willing to turn away.
     "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."   
1 John 1:8-9
         
The reason God is able to do this is because his love for us is special.  It is known as agape love.  This kind of love is unconditional or sacrificial in nature. The Psalms are filled with references to this type of love God has for us.  For example, read this description.
     The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above earth, so great is his love for those who fear him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."  Psalm 103:7-12     

God's love for us has no bounds!  Whatever mistakes we make and no matter how great they may seem to us, he will always be there.  He will not turn away from you as he chooses to teach and reteach you what you need to learn for your life.  Be an active learner and grasp on to what he is giving out.  You won't ever regret that you did!


   

Where Does the Time Go?

  Where does the time go?  This was one of those phrases that always seemed odd to me when I was younger.  It seems when you are young that time seems to stretch out in front of you with enormity.  Days drag as you wait for that moment to open Christmas or birthday presents.  Minutes seem like hours when you are sitting in your least favorite class.  Then there is that time when summer vacation seems as close as crossing the Mojave Desert!  But then something seems to happen as you get older.  Of course there are some of those days, now, when time seems to just stand still.  However, I find this phrase slipping out of my own mouth more often as I get older.  For example, my goal this summer was to try to write an entry for this blog at least once a week.  But today when I logged in I couldn't believe it!  My last entry was in June!  I wanted to meet a goal of writing here every week.  Just where did July go?  

  

  Fortunately, my month has been filled with some amazing things.  My family got to spend some time viewing God's handiwork in northern Minnesota and along the shore of Lake Superior.  There were moments of laughter and silliness along with a few moments of "I've been in this car much too long with you!" It was a much needed vacation and one that was thoroughly enjoyed! 

 Another wonderful thing I participated in was Vacation Bible School  at our church.  I am always amazed by the way God's word can be presented to children in such inventive ways.  It reminds me of the words in Isaiah.  "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return from me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. We may not always see the results of our work that week but the seeds have been sown.

Another change we have had at our house was the addition of our oldest daughter living with us again. It has been a time of change and adjustment for all of us but it also has been a precious time of good conversations!  I also love the fact that she is an excellent cook and I enjoy eating what she prepares!  I am reminded that God's plan is not always our plan but his plan is for the best!

  Last but not least God answered a prayer that I have had since last December.  The day I made my decision to resign my previous teaching position I stepped out in faith trusting that God would supply our needs with a job that was for this season of my life.  On July 31st I was offered a job as a para-educator in the local school system.  This job will allow me to work with students still but without the stress and work of a regular classroom teacher.  I will have time for my blog throughout the year but also have plans to start the book God has been encouraging me to write for the past two years.  Over these past months I have continually returned to these words. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)  God knows exactly what we need when we need it!!

  So in answer to the question, "Where does the time go?" I would say the answer is wrapped up in the millions of tiny details that God sees and is a part of.  We may not always stop and think about what they are or how they are carried out but he is there every step of the way!