God's Presence

This blog was going to originally going to be called Iowa 2. I would have told you how I was getting fresh produce for my cooking from the garden and how I was enjoying time to read and helping the boys with their project. Change of plans. I had prayed for the safety of this project and all the people involved. Even though I had peace that my prayer was heard I found myself praying again as I held the ladder for my husband. We were almost finished when the ladder slid down with my husband on it. My husband landed safely but somehow the ladder had cut two of my fingers pretty bad. I cried out and my husband was quickly by my side taking charge of getting me to the hospital with the help of my dad. I remember wondering how I would handle the pain and the next few hours. It was like I heard God say my child I am with you. God was with me. He was there as my husband held my hand and prayed for me. He was there as my dad drove us safely through rain and lightning. He was there by allowing my sister to be at the hospital. He was even there in that my hand doctor was not only a Christian but familiar with our ministry.

The day after the accident I read the following quote in a book by Zan Tyler. This quote follows a list of nine verses in both the old and new testament where God remind his people that he will be with them. "These nine verses are reminders that God always gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. Sometimes we want things; sometimes we want relief from pain or stress; sometimes we want easier assignments and circumstances in life. God often answers with His presence instead of granting our specific request." When I prayed that day for our project I expected that the answer would be that all would go well. God answered with himself and an outpouring of love from family and friends both old and new.

So now I am enjoying the extra time with family that God has given me. I also am reminded of the need to pray daily for friends, family, and other requests that come my way. God is with us each step of the way.

Dear God. Thank you that you promise to be right beside us. Thank you for your presence and your grace. Help me to be satifsfied with just You. May we never cease to bring any request no matter how small or big to you. Amen.

Iowa

I am in Iowa and am reminded that at heart I am an Iowa girl. I like the smell of freshly cut hay and the feel of soft grass beneath my feet. I like being in the town where I grew up which has changed but not so much that I still know how to get places and still know a lot of peoples names at least. It is also fun to sleep with the windows open and wake up to the sound of birds singing.

My children are at camp with Grandma. The camp I went to growing up. I am sure they will have fun. My DH and I are with my dad keeping him out of trouble and trying to keep up with him. We have been bike riding to Fizzies and working on projects. Actually my DH and dad have been working on projects and I am in charge of keeping them fed and the house in order. Their big project is a green house. Fun and work mixed. It should hopefully be a fun week.

Dear God, Be with my children this week. May their hearts be open to your words. Be with mom and give her strength and wisdom as she works with the kids. Be with me and N as we help Dad. Give us safety on the projects and help us to enjoy this peaceful time. Thank you for this time of rest. Amen

Teacher Tuesday

Okay I know it is summer but I have been thinking through what I want to do in the Fall. With the help of my dear sister I think I have it figured out. I am amazed at the many good options out there to use in homeschooling. It is actually overwhelming. I am going to use my sister's curriculum from last year on Countries and Cultures from My Father's world. I thought it fit our family since it has a strong emphasis on missions and it might help for all of us to have a better sense of our world before heading out into it. My sister also helped me out with some grammar stuff which was nice and then I am going to use Singapore Math again. It worked well before and I decided to stick with what I know.

One of the challenges for next year is to really find out where my kids are at in each subject mostly math. For my daughter, I don't want to overwhelm her with something too hard so I am reminded of the phrase slow and steady. I would say that is one of the hardest things as a teacher. If a student thinks a subject is too hard or that they won't get it, he or she will often shut down. In the public school classroom, I would see this time and again. Sometimes it was too hard for them and sometimes it was all in their head. Either way no learning was taking place. There is the other side I faced at the same time, it was too easy for other students and they were bored and uninterested. Then when a challenge did come up, they didn't quite know how to handle it since learning had been easy so far. The nice thing about homeschooling is that you can better gauge how much to challenge your student without discouraging them.

Dear God, Thank you for your provision of school materials for my kids next year. Guide us as we plan for a new year. Give me wisdom on how best to deal with each of my children in their learning and most of all let our learning glorify you. Amen

Changes

I am writing this as we begin a new day and new adventure. This summer will be full of change for our family but it will be full of change for many others also. Some of our friends are in the process of adding a new one to their family through adoptions. Others are adjusting to living in a new culture- America. One has a newborn only a month old. In addition to these, change is inevitable. Your child suddenly becomes a teenager. Your baby begins to walk. Then there is always the change that God is making in us as he tries to make us more like His Son. But in the midst of all this change, one thing stays the same. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We can hold on to that no matter what.

Dear God, Thank you that you are a rock that is immovable that you do not change with the public opinion. You are God and there is no other. Amen

Good bye to Buddy

Because of our upcoming adventures, we knew that Buddy would need a new home. On Wed. he was placed with his new family and even has a brother Brittany to play with. We are thankful that God found a home for Buddy and that he will be loved. Even though Buddy could aggravate me at times, especially when it would wake me up early in the morning, it feels like a part of our family is missing. It helps to know that he is in a good home. I will miss my walking partner. I will also miss seeing him watch us through the window. I will miss his unconditional love.

Firmly Planted

According to Jeremiah, I have a choice. I can trust God or not trust God. One choice brings blessing while the other brings a curse. I don't know of anyone who would not want to be a tree firmly planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream. Someone who is not anxious but fully trusts in God. We often go straight to Jeremiah 17: 7-8 where these thoughts are found and skip over verses 5-6. Sometimes understanding a concept helps if we have some nonexamples. For example, trusting God is not trusting in mankind. Trusting in God is not what I can do by myself. Trusting God is not a heart that is turned away. Instead trusting God is just that trusting in God alone. In Jeremiah 17:7, it says "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord." God, you are my trust. This summer I want to fully trust as never before. I want my leaves to be green even when the heat comes and to not be anxious. For this to happen, it will have to be a God thing but that is what it is suppose to be anyway.

Dear God, Thank you for blessing us when we trust you. Help me to keep my heart turned toward you and you alone. May my roots grow deep in You and may I not fear when the heat comes. Amen

Teacher Tuesday

Today I resigned my teaching job. We are ready to start a new season with Mission Aviation Fellowship and at least for this year I will be back to homeschooling my kids. Being a public school teacher in an urban district is one of the hardest jobs I have ever done. It is challenging, frustrating and yet in many ways rewarding. My hats go off to many of my fellow teachers who have been there for many years and will be there for many more. They preservere through changes in curriculum, changes in administration and even changes in the student population. Each of them makes their own mark in big and small ways.

Personally I have mixed feelings. I am excited about being able to spend more time with my children. Yet I will miss those teenagers that have driven me crazy all year. They have tested me. Some days I failed. Some days I succeeded. Some days (more than I would like to admit) I raised my voice. Other days I rejoiced to see students excited about learning. God called me to those teenagers for those two years. I don't know if I accomplished what God had for me to do but I know I will never be the same. It was a mission field in and of itself.

Dear God, Thank you for all those teachers who work year after year giving a part of themselves and you to the students that they teach. Give them patience and endurance in the task. Most of all give them rest this summer as they are renewed for the next year. Amen

Defining the Real Enemy

My daughter has been studying and memorizing Ephesians 6 so she can be a part of her Grandma's church's quiz team at camp. Therefore I have the opportunity to be reminded of a lesson God is teaching me. Who is the enemy? In Ephesians 6:12 Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness. What I encounter is apathy, selfishness and rebellion and top of that I take things way too personal which is not a good thing when you work with teenagers daily. I have realized though that it isn't really about me and them. It is something more then that. If I would remember this, I think my reactions would be much better. I need to go against the sin not the sinner. I do see some improvement but there is still a long ways to go.

Who is the enemy? Not my students but the apathy and other junk they bring into my classroom. In order to be better prepared I need to have the full armor of God. I need truth. I need faith and much more. But most of all I need to pray at all times in the Spirit. I need to remember that it is not about me but about what God can do through me.

God, In this last week of school be with me each step of the way. Let my words be full of truth and love. Let me love my students even when it is hard. May my answers be gentle. May I stand strong for what is right. May your Spirit be with me. Amen