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Why I am Rethinking my Hallmark Christmas Movie Addiction
I’ll admit, I am not exactly a fan of the catch phrase trend which includes “Keep Christ in Christmas” and other such sayings, but I am prayerfully asking myself what my responsibilities are during this sacred time of year. Lord, turn my heart towards you alone during this time of year. Please grant me the wisdom to speak about and value your birth and the gospel instead of promoting a faceless spirit or empty consumerism. May I continually respond as the shepherds did saying, “Let’s go the Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened . . . “ (Luke 2:15).
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Why I’m Not Leaving Education to Become a Blogger
I see it all the time. Ad after ad advertising blogging as an escape from the chain of the 9 to 5 job. It is amazing to me how many of these ads refer to teaching as the job they wanted to flee. How could they teach when they really didn’t enjoy it? It is hard for me to imagine. Now, I have been writing since I was a young girl. Stacks of journals holding my deepest secrets are proof it is truly a passion of mine, but one thing I have never wanted to escape is teaching. The days spent learning with teenagers is not a hindrance but an…
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I Came Across This Quote Today
Elisabeth Elliot famously said, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances” (Keep a Quiet Heart, 20).
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The Cure for “Facebook Envy”: Be Thankful
If I admit it, I’ve always been this way-the coveting type. I envy others’ sense of style, popularity, fun personality, job, or life in general. You’d think I’d have outgrown this ridiculous habit. It’s not like I don’t know that there isn’t a single person who hasn’t been touched by this fallen world. Time and time again, I have idolized a person's life just to learn of a heart break they’ve endured, usually something much more tragic than I’ve never even come close to experiencing. Broken relationships, wayward children, contentious relationships, debt, discontentment-dysfunction is rampant, even in the lives of those who have the most convincing Facebook photos.
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Breathe of Life
The term “one of those days” doesn’t fit really. It hasn’t fit for 18 months now. In any case, I was more stressed than I’ve ever been, in ways I couldn’t quite identify. Our school district had announced that this school year would be “mask optional” only to reverse the decision 48 hours before opening day. Some people were angry, some happy, but a general feeling of discomfort was pervasive. It was as if we were waiting for the next last minute change to drop. Sure. As teachers, we were ready for whatever came, ready to engage young minds despite the subpar morale, but that didn’t change the fact that…
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A Small Act of Faithfulness
While I don’t know what legacy I’ll leave behind, I can be certain of this: God will use me to exalt his great name. He will use even my small acts of faithfulness for his kingdom purposes. I don’t want to miss out on the moments God has given me to be a small encouragement to those I encounter, whether it be for a lifetime, a season, or one brief moment. https://t.co/yVVv7J11BU?amp=1
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Everything for my Ever-Changing Life (and Godliness)
As a teacher, my emotions ebb and flow with my ever-changing schedule. Actually, the seasonal changes resemble the gravity-defying roller coasters I loved to ride in my youth. At the beginning of every year, I grieve that my own children are getting so old-they go to high school and middle school this year-and frantically prepare my room and curriculum, reminding myself find time to pray for my students, the most important part. I relish in the enthusiasm of my students in the fall, brace for the winds of change as soon as the holidays are in view, and bolster every ounce of enthusiasm I have to combat the lethargy and…
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Reflections on an #Unproductive #Garden: Facing #disappointment in our everyday lives
Now, Lord willing, I will have a thriving pumpkin plant soon (they always surprise me), but I hate waiting. I want immediate satisfaction, no snags (or slugs), immediate success. I don’t know about you, but I feel the same extreme impatience in many areas of my life. I want immediate results in my relationship with my husband, my prayers for my children, my mentoring relationships, and my educational and professional goals. I know, I know, we live in a fallen world ruled by God’s purposes, not mine. But when I pray, I want an answer, when I make an effort in a relationship, I want results, when I make a…
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Celebrating #Father’sDay in a Fallen World
It’s true. Despite the many wonderful fathers I’ve had the privilege to know, a discussion of fathers quickly reminds us that we live in a fallen world. What’s funny? We all still want fathers, even those who’ve had the worst of experiences. If I could count the hours I’ve spent listening to kids talk about their fathers, especially those who didn’t have contact with them anymore because of abandonment, incarceration, severe addiction, etc. . . . Good, bad, or indifferent, fathers are important. Period.
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Embracing Diversity in the Body of Christ
Just like doing an activity in a new environment, confronting the issue of diversity in the body of Christ can be an uncomfortable activity. Different buildings (or none at all), music, worship styles, prayers, congregants, school choices, and political leanings are just a few of the challenges that can make us feel uneasy. While diversity is a “hot button” issue in secular society, it is not one we, as believers are at liberty to ignore. https://www.facebook.com/groups/connect.pca.women/permalink/4007672919315970/