Julie

This is my new friend Julie. Julie is five years old and has a younger sister, Sydney, who is eight months old. Julie is in Kindergarten and is a joy to be around. Julie loves to sing and help her mom by taking care of her sister. Her daddy is in Iraq and she prays daily for his safety. Julie recently got a pet gerbal and named her "Joey."

Last night, Julie and I went for a walk with a few other friends. I asked Julie if she would sing for me. She said she wanted to sing a new song that she learned at school, "The Star-Spangled Banner." I was AMAZED to hear her beautiful voice. Sung with clarity, good intonation and expression, Julie's rendition of the "The Star-Spangled Banner" moved me to near tears.

I thank God for Julie and for her mom, who has also been a wonderful new friend. Their life is a testimony of God's provision. "Be strong and courageous! Do not terrified, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -- Joshua 1:9

Picture posted with permission.

Our precious Jewel!

This week was hard. My tears have been my food. My Jesus has been my peace.

Yesterday, I thought I saw my husband. My heart sank and nearly rose to leap for joy when...I realized it was not him. I thought I was going to lose it. I prayed, "Lord, I need you." I waited. I cried. I searched. I waited... He answered my call. "My child, I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will supply your needs and I will comfort you...you need only ask."

A primary hindrance of prayer is that we do not ask in faith believing that God can do the impossible, that he can heal broken hearts and offer a life of peace and hope and that he will answer us in our time of darkness! It is normal to have doubts. As the chosen we are always under attack. Our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. There are so many things in this world that we do not understand. But we do not have the mind of God and we must believe in him by faith. Romans 11:33-34 says, "Oh the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counselor?" Then, Deuteronomy 4:29 exclaims, "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

As Christians we must guard our hearts from anything that would attempt to steer hearts from Jesus saving grace. Jesus is our precious Jewel, our faithful. A friend that sticks closer than a brother. He will care for you, protect you and carry you home. Hear his voice, "Come all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Confess all to Him and he will listen. Go to Him today. Tell him what's on your heart and let him remove your sin and doubt and heal you. He wants to listen; you must go to him in faith! He is our precious Jewel!

Birthdays!

Wow! April seems to be a hot month for birthdays!!! I thought I'd write an ode to you all!

My brother Jeff, April 15th: I hope your day was filled with fabulous things to eat!
My Dad Stephen, April 16th: I hope you enjoy an extra long motorcycle ride and hugs from your "neighborhood granddaughters," and your wife, of course;)
My cousin Jonathan King: April 16th, I hope you bask in the joy that comes from being anointed by the one true King, our Savior! You are a true example to us all!
My dear friend Kristen Rabler: April 17th, I hope your students do something extra special for you!
My "twin" cousin Christopher: April 18th, I hope you enjoy a day of non-stop physical energy!
My two sisters Julie and Jesse: April 23rd, I hope you enjoy a day of pure kindness from everyone who has the privilege of interacting with you! You are the best sisters in the world!
My dear friend Heidi Decker: April 24th, I hope you enjoy a smooth-sailing day at work and overwhelming love from all your friends!

(My precious kitty Miss Traminette: April 27th, I hope you are sleeping well at night. I miss the warmth you brought sleeping by my tummy;)


And to you all: I pray that you are seasoned with salt to speak the good news of Jesus, to shine like the sun, and to be a city set on a hill in the calling to which God has placed you. I love you! Joey

First week update

This first week back to work has been really wonderful. I have been doing a lot of listening and learning as I instruct during the day. The fifth grade students are so eager to be done with the year and with elementary school, but they are not ready to graduate and have many lessons to learn. I am implementing new procedures; they are slowly adapting. I look forward to every day! I am enjoying establishing relationships with my new collegues; many of whom are exhausted from a trying year and have welcomed me like a breath of fresh air.

Jesus is my best friend and He sticks with me closer than a brother. He carries me through each day. As I go with Him, trusting nearly every step of the way, I know that as I change, he changeth not. I must be queit enough to hear His whisper.

The little things

Today was a BIG day for me; I started a new, semi-permanent job! I'm a fifth grade co-teacher/assistant with another home-room teacher! We have a wonderful group of students (25 in all) and the school is a small and friendly, family-like, public elementary. With this new job, I'm just taking it a day at a time; the Lord's mercies are certainly new every day! I feel like I'm being pulled along, but hey, I guess that's better than being pushed!

Well, even though this is a big day, it is still the little things that held my attention. For starters, I loved teaching subject matter! Today I taught social studies; we talked about the stamp act and its effect on the people. Then, after school, I was waiting for the bell with a couple of my 5th graders. I noticed that their backpack straps were so lose that their bags hung down to their knees, so I asked them if their backpacks were comfortable or if they'd enjoy a better fit. I thought they would shove off my help and move on, but to my surprise they responded positively and asked me to teach them how to solve the issue! These kids are hungry; they're just longing for attention, for someone to care.

After school, I went to this event called "Running Club." It's a club for all elementary students that meets on Mondays. Students get together, stretch, talk about running and personal goals, then walk/run together. I went to represent "teachers" and to motivate the students. We have a running meet on Saturday that was the highlight of today's conversation. The club leader is the P.E. coach; I met him at the professional running group that I joined. It's amazing, he's run 150 marathon's in his lifetime! He's a role model to me through his inspiring students by organizing activities fit just for them. I find it providential that these people just happened in my life!

Then another, more personal situation stood out, this thing actually quite small. After running club I went out to do a quick errand before meeting a friend for an appointment. During the errand, I got held up. Instead of pushing time and all limits and ploughing through the errand to have it "be done" (while worrying the whole time as I'd be late for my appointment), I chose to do the right thing and gave up the errand to meet my friend on time. This is a breakthrough for me as I'm very good at pushing limits! The peace that came over me was amazing!

It's funny. Often when we reflect on our life, we measure change by the big events, yet in actuality we change by incriments, which makes change hard to see during the process. Little things really do matter...they can add up to form strength! One ant won't budge an elephant, but an army of ants is a different story!

I praise my God for his faithfulness in guiding my day. "And the God of second chance. picked me up and he made me dance!"

Tilling the land

These past few days, I helped a friend work in the yard to plant this seasons herbs and vegetables. It felt good to get my hands dirty, to till the earth, to rid it of weeds and dead roots and to plant new life. We talked as we worked.

As I shared of my hurt and pain, he said to me, "I know you don't want for this right now, but regardless, this is your life. Now. Today. Whatever you're going through, you were meant to endure. So live. The question is: Are you who you want to be?"

I haven't been able to get those words out of my head: This is your life, are you who you want to be.

Today, as I was working in the dirt, I realized that Jesus is my gardener. He has to work on me to rid me of impurities (weeds, rottenness, things that dirty my vision of him), then he waters me and makes me grow. I guess this season is just part of the process. The problem is that plants don't grow over night. I must wait to see what I'll become.

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him" Psalm 37:7a.

Cup of tea

The past few days have been very difficult. My emotions are as fragile as a piece of blown glass. I wake up in the early hours of the morning, broken; it takes all the energy I posses to make myself a cup of tea and crawl to the chair where my Bible sits eagerly awaiting our morning reunion. Sometimes I cry as I read knowing that God's love is going to see me through this day.

I'm thankful that my appetite has returned. There's comfort in food. It gives me energy to do the things I love: run, teach, sing, help others, and visit with friends.

But what about my expectations, my dreams, my future? Daily comforts could never fulfill these longings.

My world has been turned upside down. Everything I have ever wanted has been put on hold. My expectations to live at peace with my husband and eventually have children. My dream of sharing Jesus with others through the testimony of a godly home. My future with the husband of my youth. All of my expectations are tossed into a sea of confusion as a greater and new desire sprouts and blossoms. I desire to give my life entirely to Jesus. I submit my life and everything I ever wanted and walk in faith!

I have peace living for my Lord. I wake up every day, not knowing what will be accomplished or how my mood will interfere or affect circumstances, then I give the day to God. It's seems simple, I guess, but it's a daily battle. It's been amazing to see what the Lord brings my way. God is good. I don't deserve His love, yet He is so gracious. I submit, Lord, my life is yours. This is my cup of tea.