REDEEMED BY HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19, NIV One year, I had a particularly […]
SHIFTING MY FOCUS TO PRAYER
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV Confession time: I used to wake up every morning feeling like I was staring up at Mount Everest. Except instead of snow and […]
GOD’S TIMING
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10, NIV A friend once shared with me that each of us encounters at least one pivotal moment or season—a definitive point in life that reveals our character and shapes who we become. For every […]
PRAY OVER YOUR CLASSROOM EVERY DAY
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24, NIV As a middle school librarian, my schedule was always flexible. Each day brought a different mix of students and teachers into the library. And unless the visiting teacher had excellent classroom […]
THE GIFTS THAT LAST
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22–23, NIV December is a month filled with gift-giving. Students buzz about what they hope to receive, stores overflow with options, and many of us feel the pressure to choose “the perfect gift.” Some gifts will be […]
TASTING
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8, NIV As we approach Thanksgiving, this verse feels especially fitting. The Hebrew word for “taste” is ta’am (taw-am’), meaning “to perceive,” and the word for “see” is ra’ah (raw-aw’), meaning “to behold” or “enjoy.” This verse […]
REJOICE IN YOUR THANKFULNESS
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV In good times and in bad—this is a vow many of us have spoken in marriage, and it’s also a reflection of God’s eternal vow to us. He has promised never to leave or forsake us, […]
CELEBRATE
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14, NIV One school day, I walked into a fourth-grade classroom to check on someone and found the class eating Oreos. They all seemed happy and chatty. I asked the teacher what the occasion was, […]
WHEN GOD SLOWS YOU DOWN
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways. Psalm 37:7, NIV On my way to a recent book signing, I was filled with excitement about connecting with fellow Christian educators—people who understand both the joy and the weight of being called to serve children. […]
PROTECTOR
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10, NIV Educators are protectors. We would never allow evil to harm our students—whether it comes through bullying, neglect, or outside threats. To the best of our ability, […]