HE MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26, NIV It’s March. The school year is halfway over. The state testing grind has begun, and numerous other requirements are starting to pile up. All of this is happening in addition to your regular teaching […]
GOD SEES YOU
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV Piles of grading. Irate parents. Disrespectful, disinterested students. Constant testing and unreasonable requirements. These, and many more things, can demoralize teachers. They can bring us […]
MAELSTROMS AND MATURITY
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4, NIV A friend of mine is a reading facilitator at a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon, primarily Hispanic, inner-city school. Her days are filled with co-teaching in several primary grades and serving dyslexic and struggling readers individually and […]
MOLD ME
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9, ESV Several years ago, my church brought in a special guest speaker: Potter’s Field Ministries with Mike and Pam Rozell. It was one of the most unique and powerful sermons I’ve ever experienced. On the stage was a clay potter’s […]
ALL THINGS GOOD
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28, NIV I recently attended a funeral for the mother of one of my students, who had lost her battle with cancer. She was a beautiful woman with a […]
AUTHENTIC GENEROSITY
Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and […]
REFRESHED
“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14, NLT Not long ago, I was working outdoors in an extremely hot, dry place. I was so focused on the project in front of me that I didn’t […]
SIMPLE GIFTS
How many are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You made them all…When You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things. Psalm 104:24, 28, NIV Out they came, mouths open, tongues out, excitement showing on every face. I was doing my daily end-of-the-day bus duty. As though playing from some script, the children […]
WHEN WORDS FALL SHORT
In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the […]
TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF TEACHING
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always […]