"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge." 2 Peter 1:5
Teaching really makes you think about your words, actions, and values. What do I want my students to REALLY know? What's more important, that I teach them academically? or that I teach them how to be firm in their values, true to themselves and others, and model God's love for them? I believe the second one will far surpass the first. At the moment I'm a bit irritated because I have all my grades down on paper, but I have to put them into the computer and I'm confused on how the online gradebook works. Oh well...but anyway, my thoughts are spuratic right now, but my heart isn't. I really want my students to be able to SEE and FEEL God's love through me, and I feel like I'm finally, after two months of trial, exhaustion, and frustration, getting through to the students. Well, at least 95% of them. I'm getting hugs daily now, and they are working harder and harder for me. I believe that the more they trust me, the more they will be motivated to produce quality work.
What I'm trying to say is that by faith in Christ, I have been able to overcome huge obstacles. When I felt like giving up, God was there to encourage, support, and lift me up. He has shown me that there are so many more BIG reasons that I am teaching at Metolius. He told me to stop worrying about what they know or don't know academically. They will learn so much more about life if I model how to be a genuine Christ follower, and the academic piece will fall in place. So, I am letting go of trying to control my classroom.
But anyway, Ryan and I are doing well. We went to Portland a couple of weeks ago and had a blast. It was really good to get away for a bit and not have to worry about anything! We shopped, went out to eat, and walked around downtown A LOT :). It was so much fun. So we are now just relaxing at home, looking forward to our future plans...LOVE!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Today's devotion
Well, since I'm still recovering from the pig flu, and my beloved husband is STILL hunting...I've had a lot of time to think and spend in the Word.
There are so many times when I feel like I'm giving life my all, but I still fall so short of deserving God's love. It's hard to remember that that simply isn't true, but a lie that Satan likes to feed us so that we feel it's impossible to feel God's love. It says in Ephesians 3:17-19, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God." Wow. What a statement. Do you even understand how far the East is from the West? That's how far the Lord casts our sins! Thank you, Jesus for being such an amazing, wonderful, forgiving God! And for loving me, no matter how short I fall.
I also love Psalm 37:3-6. "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Awesome. I can put my troubles, worries, fears, doubts...you name it, I can put it all on the Lord and if I just trust that He will take care of it all, He will give me the desires of my heart! This is so comforting. I could worry about swine flu coming back and hitting me harder than before, or I could worry about not being a good enough teacher, wife, daughter, sister, friend...but instead how about I just pray for the needs of others, and relax knowing that God has my back. Amen. Thank you Lord.
Colossians 3 talks about how we as Christians need to step away from world thinking, and rest our eyes on what lie ahead...HEAVEN! THE KINGDOM! OUR PRIZE for trusting in the Lord! "...set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God...you also will appear with him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-4. I don't know about you, but I am so thankful I am not of this world. I have a hard time even watching TV anymore. It seems like every commercial has some half-naked woman on it! WHAT! I don't understand. But I don't have to understand because it's not my world. Can I get another AMEN!
There are just so many things on my heart that I am so thankful for. I am thankful that my husband and I both have amazing jobs in this tough economic time. I am thankful that although I don't have many friends, I have super supportive, loving, genuine friends. I am thankful that I have a husband who loves me more than anything on Earth, who prays for and nurtures me no matter what the circumstance. I am thankful that I have a comfy, warm house that I can now afford! I am SOOOOO incredibly thankful for my amazing family AND extended family, who not only love me for being me, but make me laugh and help me not feel so crazy...;) just kidding. But most of all, I am so thankful for the Lord above. He provides my every need and more, keeps me humble, answers my prayers both big and small, and continues guiding me daily to His will and purpose in my life.
There are so many times when I feel like I'm giving life my all, but I still fall so short of deserving God's love. It's hard to remember that that simply isn't true, but a lie that Satan likes to feed us so that we feel it's impossible to feel God's love. It says in Ephesians 3:17-19, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God." Wow. What a statement. Do you even understand how far the East is from the West? That's how far the Lord casts our sins! Thank you, Jesus for being such an amazing, wonderful, forgiving God! And for loving me, no matter how short I fall.
I also love Psalm 37:3-6. "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Awesome. I can put my troubles, worries, fears, doubts...you name it, I can put it all on the Lord and if I just trust that He will take care of it all, He will give me the desires of my heart! This is so comforting. I could worry about swine flu coming back and hitting me harder than before, or I could worry about not being a good enough teacher, wife, daughter, sister, friend...but instead how about I just pray for the needs of others, and relax knowing that God has my back. Amen. Thank you Lord.
Colossians 3 talks about how we as Christians need to step away from world thinking, and rest our eyes on what lie ahead...HEAVEN! THE KINGDOM! OUR PRIZE for trusting in the Lord! "...set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God...you also will appear with him in glory." -Colossians 3:1-4. I don't know about you, but I am so thankful I am not of this world. I have a hard time even watching TV anymore. It seems like every commercial has some half-naked woman on it! WHAT! I don't understand. But I don't have to understand because it's not my world. Can I get another AMEN!
There are just so many things on my heart that I am so thankful for. I am thankful that my husband and I both have amazing jobs in this tough economic time. I am thankful that although I don't have many friends, I have super supportive, loving, genuine friends. I am thankful that I have a husband who loves me more than anything on Earth, who prays for and nurtures me no matter what the circumstance. I am thankful that I have a comfy, warm house that I can now afford! I am SOOOOO incredibly thankful for my amazing family AND extended family, who not only love me for being me, but make me laugh and help me not feel so crazy...;) just kidding. But most of all, I am so thankful for the Lord above. He provides my every need and more, keeps me humble, answers my prayers both big and small, and continues guiding me daily to His will and purpose in my life.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Welcome!
Welcome to our blog! We got tired of debating whether to use Facebook or Myspace, or neither, and we decided this was the best way for our family and friends to keep in contact with us.
The past year has been a whirlwind! Despite the poor economic situation, we have both been incredibly blessed with wonderful careers. Ryan got a job as a meter reader at Pacific Power and is doing really well. I am so proud of him. He's made an incredible transition from being a self-employed contractor/landscape maintenance/firewood/ski bum ;) to working 40 hours a week. He's still not completely sold on working that much, but he's doing well!
I graduated from Grad. School this April with my teaching degree, and with the help of the Lord, landed a 4th grade teaching position in Metolius, Oregon...population 770. I absolutely love it. My students are so sweet, and they work so hard. I asked the Lord to place me where I would be most needed, and He definitely answered my prayer. These kids need stablity, consistency, and love so much. They need a light to follow, and I pray that I can be that for them. I have to pray every day...constantly. I couldn't do it any other way. It's so much work, but it is so worth every ounce of energy I put into it. I am so thankful Ryan is so understanding and supportive :).
Because Metolius is so far away, we did have to move to Redmond, and that's somewhat of a painful adjustment for us. We miss our trees! and land for Summit (our dog) to roam free. But, it is what it is, and we are so incredibly blessed to be in the position we are in.
I now know that I am not superwoman...I got what I believe is the "pig flu" a few days ago. I had a high fever for four days, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose...but I am so happy to say that I woke up without a fever today! WOO HOO! It's amazing how many different viruses the kids bring into the classroom. Regardless of how much time I spend wiping down their desks with Lysol wipes, and squirting their hands with sanitizer, the germs continue multiplying. Oh well, at least I got to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Ryan is hunting for the third weekend in a row right now...I'm praying they "catch"/shoot an elk this time! ;) I like to tease Ryan and tell him to chase 'em down for me. I like the image that brings to my mind, haha. Anyway, I think that's about all I have to write for now. Thanks for checking out our new blog!
The past year has been a whirlwind! Despite the poor economic situation, we have both been incredibly blessed with wonderful careers. Ryan got a job as a meter reader at Pacific Power and is doing really well. I am so proud of him. He's made an incredible transition from being a self-employed contractor/landscape maintenance/firewood/ski bum ;) to working 40 hours a week. He's still not completely sold on working that much, but he's doing well!
I graduated from Grad. School this April with my teaching degree, and with the help of the Lord, landed a 4th grade teaching position in Metolius, Oregon...population 770. I absolutely love it. My students are so sweet, and they work so hard. I asked the Lord to place me where I would be most needed, and He definitely answered my prayer. These kids need stablity, consistency, and love so much. They need a light to follow, and I pray that I can be that for them. I have to pray every day...constantly. I couldn't do it any other way. It's so much work, but it is so worth every ounce of energy I put into it. I am so thankful Ryan is so understanding and supportive :).
Because Metolius is so far away, we did have to move to Redmond, and that's somewhat of a painful adjustment for us. We miss our trees! and land for Summit (our dog) to roam free. But, it is what it is, and we are so incredibly blessed to be in the position we are in.
I now know that I am not superwoman...I got what I believe is the "pig flu" a few days ago. I had a high fever for four days, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose...but I am so happy to say that I woke up without a fever today! WOO HOO! It's amazing how many different viruses the kids bring into the classroom. Regardless of how much time I spend wiping down their desks with Lysol wipes, and squirting their hands with sanitizer, the germs continue multiplying. Oh well, at least I got to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
Ryan is hunting for the third weekend in a row right now...I'm praying they "catch"/shoot an elk this time! ;) I like to tease Ryan and tell him to chase 'em down for me. I like the image that brings to my mind, haha. Anyway, I think that's about all I have to write for now. Thanks for checking out our new blog!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
