My Prayer

Father I thank you for my job. I thank you for the provision that you have given my family and also for the fact that you placed me there to praise you and serve you.

I lift up to you the 12o students that walk into my room each day. Lord Jesus I pray that you will bless them, encourage them and speak to each one of them. Whisper your words of love to them all, Lord Jesus, especially to those who can not hear your voice.

Lord, I pray that my room will be one of peace, of safety, and of love. Lord use me to give them your peace, your safety and your love. I pray for the love of you to wash over me, so that I may in turn immerse them in it.

Lord, I pray for patience. Give me strength and patience when all of them are talking at once, when half of them didn't complete the homework that today's lessons depends on, and when one of them decides to talk back. Lord, in these times, give me an over abundance of love to see them all as you see them. May your love and joy and peace infiltrate even the smallest of activities we do in class. May they feel your presence as we practice quote integration and re-writing misplaced modifiers!!!

Lord Jesus, may they meet you this year, in my class, in the sanctuary of their houses, in the recesses of their hearts.

Lord, reign in my classroom.

Amenf

Words in my Heart

I've walked this path with You before

     many years ago

the stream retells the Words 

     You spoke to me

Those weren't my imaginings 

     no shades of doubt 

I stand remembering and see 

    Your faithfulness 

Words that are true

 touching my heart 

       so deep

Words that are sure

 freeing my heart 

     changed me

So I turn my face to Yours

 and listen again 

 for You speak

A Personal Psalm

How long, O Lord, how long?

Weariness makes my heart heavy,
even in the midst of laughter.
Your joy is my strength, hope is my song,
your love my sustenance.

Your right hand does valiantly.
Your purpose will stand.
Your goodness I know.
I rejoice that I am yours.
I belong to God.
In that my heart rests, embraced.

Even so,
I long for your return,
your second saving,
my last rescuing.

How long, O Lord, til justice reigns eternal,
til love and grace make the rules,
til hearts are turned,
the glory of Jesus known and desired in the earth?

This I know, that God is for me.
Through the steadfast love of the Most High
I will wait and not be moved.

As for me and my house...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend this has been. I have thought of so many blessings the Lord has bestowed on our family over this past year.

Often in life, we do not realize the blessing until we actually see it in a different light later. And other times, it is so obvious that God has handed us a special gift... put it right in the palms of our hands and our hearts are filled with joy!

Within this year, God has given us two very special gifts. One being a new son-in-law and the other being a new grandson. Our family is growing and we are so delighted.

As we grow as a family, my desire is to see God weave his perfect will into our lives. I desire to grow stronger and deeper and more intimate in my relationship with the Lord and that is the desire I have for my family.

Thanksgiving blessings to each of you as you seek to follow the Lord, faithfully serve Him and seek to know His heart.

Confessions of a Grandmother

Last Friday, October 1st, was a big day in the life of our family. It marked six months since our grandson Jonnic was still-born. 

That day I held his precious body and loved him. 

And I knew that God is good.

Friday, October 1st, was also the day that our grandson Jack was born - a very much alive, healthy 9 lb. 7 oz. baby boy.

I held this precious one and loved him. 

And I knew that God is good. 

God was good April 1st, and God was good October 1st.  Both days God held us and loved us... as He always does and always will.  Thank you Father, for your faithfulness.  

I will praise the Lord all my life; 

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 146:2

Shout Out

Thank you Lord for your peace...for your grace and for your mercy.  Thank you Lord for having compassion on us, for loving us like no one else can and for sharing your own dear Spirit with us.

Thank you for never asking us to get our act together before we can come to you.  You come to us and meet us where we are at.  Your arms are always open...strong enough to carry any burden yet gentle enough to tend the wounds of my broken heart.

You are holy and righteous...more than my mind can even grasp...there is nothing I can do to be worthy of your love...and yet...you call me out as your precious daughter!

Oh is there no end to your goodness?  You provide everything I need and soooo much more.  My heart trusts in you and I am content in your arms.

Blessed be your name.

The House Echoes

For those of you who don't know, my family has had five foster kids living in our house for almost the past year. It's been a crazy ride with a lot of highs and lows. There's definitely been some challenges and times when I've seen my ugly side, but also some really fun moments. Just this Thursday, the kids left to live with their half-brother who moved from across the country. It's been an interesting change. I've gotten so used to noise, clutter, banging, loud singing, spills, and messes that now the house seems almost deserted. It's so quiet, and so much has already been cleaned up or organized. When I say something loud, it almost echoes. But I'm kind of enjoying it. It's nice to have some space and be able to be in my room past 8pm without waking sleeping children :)

(Empty bunks)

But something my parents said the other day made me think.
They said, "Just because we're getting our house back to ourselves, doesn't mean we can go back to living selfishly."

Bam. Oh boy. When I thought about them leaving, all I'd think about was how much I'd like having MY room, and MY space, and MY life back. But it's not about me. It's about God's glory.
And I forget that a lot of the time. I want to make an effort to live sacrificially, and not always think about myself.