Perspective

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Sarah

It’s my last evening of summer freedom; tomorrow begins the professional training for a new school year.

It’s amazing how God works, isn’t it? Sometimes He chooses to use perspective to change us. For example, my dream job was teaching 1st grade. I student-taught 1st grade and loved it. But then when it came to getting a real job, God stuck me in middle school! Middle school?!?! What was He thinking? That was 7 years ago, and today I can see that He was preparing me for the job He has chosen for me: teaching 5th grade. If I had gotten a 5th grade teaching job straight out of college, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it because my heart was set on 1st grade. But after teaching middle school for 2 years…I love 5th grade! Perspective. He used perspective in order to prepare me for where He wanted to place me, in order to teach me how to love and enjoy what He had chosen for me.

God has continued to use perspective to teach and grow me. I went through a bit of a slump over the past couple years–my initial excitement with teaching had worn off and I was getting stuck in a bit of a rut. Last year was an especially tough year. The kids were wonderful! …but I had 33 of them in my classroom. Every day felt like chaos. Every day I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and discouraged. It practically sucked the joy out of teaching for me. But I persevered and made it through. How? Because I learned to trust the Lord in a new way. I learned that His plans are higher than mine and that this situation was specifically designed for my good and His glory. I began to look for how the Lord might be using my daily challenges to make me more like Him–instead of being discouraged and dissatisfied with my circumstances.

And now I am excited for a new year. I won’t have 33 students this time around–only 18 on my list so far! But because I experienced a large class last year, this year does not seem as daunting. Before school was even out for the summer, I was already planning new strategies and procedures to implement with my new class. Off and on this summer I have been thinking about the quilting theme I chose for this year and activities to do with my students and how to decorate. I’ve been praying for my students by name. I feel renewed in my excitement to be a teacher. I want to spend my energy putting more into my classroom; I want to try new things and to grow in my teaching. Perspective. I’m on the other side of last year’s struggles, and I’m ready to start new. Of course, teaching always provides plenty of difficulties. I’m sure I will face many curve balls that I’m unaware of. But I know God will give me grace to handle them when they come. For now, I am thankful for this refreshing feeling that God has given me.

Categories: Perspective, Spiritual Growth, Teaching | 1 Comment

The Comfort of God’s Sovereignty

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Sarah
You’re always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You
The One who was, and is, and is to come
“God of our Yesterdays” by Chris McClarney
       Do you realize that God is involved and in control of every detail of your life–even the negative experiences? For quite some time, I have known that God is sovereign over all things, trials included. Just recently, however, I’ve realized that I didn’t quite believe that I could trust Him fully–because He does not prevent bad things from happening to me. It’s as if I was believing that He was not really in control of the bad things (that He is not truly sovereign). It seemed like He knew about and saw everything happening but was just allowing them–and then offering to help me in my weak struggle. I was making God very small. This doubt in my heart caused anxiety. How can I trust in His power if it means I will still face the difficulty of trials? Where can I turn to calm my fears, if not to God?
       I just finished reading the book, Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety, by Elyse Fitzpatrick. As well as being helpful in many practical ways, Elyse’s writing is steeped with her wholehearted confidence in God’s sovereign control of all things. She says, “If you are afraid that God will allow you to experience trials, recognize that He will allow only that which will change you for your own good, freedom, and joy, as well as for His own glory.” Wow! Is it really true that God allows only the trials and challenges that will be best for me and for His glory? That means that He is actually controlling–not just allowing–my every circumstance. That means He has a specific and good purpose. That means I can trust Him.
       To verify what Elyse had said in her book, I began to look up Scripture verses. If the Bible promises God’s complete control and sovereign purpose, then I can rest in this truth. If I know God is in control of my trials and that His purpose is for my good and His glory, then I can turn to Him and trust Him. God’s sovereignty can become the comfort for my fears.
  • Romans 8:28 gives us the promise that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
  • Ephesians 1:11-12 says that He is the God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.”
  • James 1:2-4 tells us to “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
  • 1 Peter 1:6-7 also tells us to rejoice in trials because of their purpose for our faith. “In this [our salvation and heavenly inheritance] you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.“
Categories: Character of God, Fear/Anxiety, Spiritual Growth | Leave a comment

Praying for my Students

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Sarah

student prayer 2The longer I have been a teacher, the more I have realized the importance of praying for my students. Unless God intervenes with His power and authority, I can do nothing to change their lives. Their greatest need is for a Savior. There are two major prayer routines that I have developed to help keep me faithful during the one year I am given to be their teacher.

1) My school is unique in that I get to meet my new class for the following school year before we get out for summer. There are always some changes–students moving in or out–but for the most part, I get an initial idea of the precious lives that will be in my care when the school year starts. I have decided to take advantage of this by printing out their pictures on a page to post on my fridge. All summer long, I put a name with a face–and begin praying for them.

2) student prayer 1Last summer I attended a Bible study on prayer. We were encouraged to keep a prayer journal, specifically structured to keep us faithful. I designated the last 35 pages to praying for my students. I numbered each page and wrote a different student’s name on each of the numbered pages. Since I began the year with 30 students, I decided that I would pray for a different student on the same day of each month. (With 20-some students next year, I will probably just rotate through the list instead of having a specific day for each student.) I have kept a record of my prayers for these students as I have journeyed with them through the school year.

Even though I am ending the year with 33 students–more students than I have ever had in my class and a size that has overwhelmed me much of the time–I feel a closer connection with these students than with any class I’ve had before. Prayer is powerful. Not only does it keep me dependent on the power that God alone has, but it develops in me a love for my students that goes deeper than the surface.

Categories: Prayer, Teaching, Visible Faith | Leave a comment

God has a Purpose

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Sarah
     I was dreading last week, but God was at work to turn it into something beautiful. I got another new student this past week. I was pretty upset and overwhelmed and even angry about the difficulty of having 33 students in my 5th grade class…until I went to counseling training Wednesday night.
     We are watching an example counseling session video for a woman who has fibromyalgia – something that she cannot control. The counselor’s focus point is that God has allowed her to have fibromyalgia for her good and His glory. In this week’s session, he focused on Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit. He had the counselee read the verses and then pick out a few that she felt God might be having her develop through this circumstance that she cannot control.
     “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
     When I got home, I did the same thing. I chose patience, kindness, and gentleness. When my classroom feels like chaos and every student needs something different, I’m not very patient or kind or gentle. I have my own agenda, and it’s hard to make time for “little” things – things that are important to my students. I prayed about it Thursday morning, and God has been working the fruit of the Spirit in me – and in my students!
     The new student I added to my classroom this week is autistic. He gets worked up about things and constantly needs reassurance – often at times when I don’t feel I can give it because we’re running late or we need to get going on the lesson. But I have taken the time anyway to patiently listen and to comfort and calm him with kindness and gentleness.
     For the past two days I have begun to notice my students treating my new student in the same way – gently, with kindness, and SO very helpful because it takes some of the responsibility off of me. The art teacher even commented that the kids have been so good with him! WOW. I’d say that’s worth having 33 students. God is working in more ways than I know!
Categories: Perspective, Spiritual Growth, Teaching | Leave a comment

True Security

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Sarah

This is my security!

Psalm 102:25-28
Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but You are the same, and Your years have no end. The children of Your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before You.

Categories: Fear/Anxiety, Spiritual Growth | Leave a comment

Will You Trust the Lord? (Part 2)

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Sarah

God has been teaching me what it looks like to trust Him in all my circumstances – instead of trying to control everything in my own strength. This week’s perspective was how I respond to stress.

5. I handle the stresses of life differently because I have Christ. As I stood outside at morning recess duty before school last week, I noticed tension in my neck and shoulders – tension that never seems to go away. Will my students do well on their TCAP test? Will they mess around and disrespect me today? How should I handle their misbehavior? Will the timing be right for the lessons I have prepared? Then a thought popped into my head: How would a nonChristian respond to the stresses of teaching? Fear, worry, anxiety, tension… This is how I often respond – but I am a Christian. Because I have Christ, I don’t have to respond this way; I can respond differently. I can relax and enjoy every moment of each day! I felt my tension wash away. In Christ, I can enjoy my students – what a blessing!

Categories: Fear/Anxiety, Peace/Contentment, Spiritual Growth | Leave a comment

The Nearness of God, My Refuge

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Sarah

I have a relationship with the majestic Creator God. Because He is God, I can trust Him in any and every circumstance. As I read and meditate on His Word, I learn more about who He is and I am reminded why I can trust Him. This week’s meditation took me on a journey of my God who is near and who gives me refuge and strength.

Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Psalm 73:28
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Categories: Character of God, Spiritual Growth | Leave a comment