FOOTBALL SEASON IS BACK!

FOOTBALL SEASON
IS BACK!
GUESS WHO'S
EXCITED!

Paul or Demas?

“Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. “     
 2 Timothy 4:9

Why would someone spend a large majority of their life serving and then all of a sudden desert the mission they had been on? 

Upon reading this verse I began to think about this question.  Why did Demas desert Paul in his final days?  Was it  for money, popularity, public opinions, or fear of life?  Overtime, Jesus had no place in Demas's life.  Compare Paul's life at this moment...he's in his final days and serving the kingdom still.  Demas, though, he has decided to chase after the pleasures of this world instead.  Paul mentions Demas in his finals days because he know the work isn't done.  He knows that someone has given up and that there is more kingdom work to be done.  So, I began to think about my own life.

In reading this, my practical application for my life was:  What am I (we) running away from?  Or what am I (we) running to in life? 

Paul and Demas had choices on how they chose to live their life.  We all have choices on how we are to spend our days.  I love how when you read on in Paul's remarks he says this in 2 Timothy 4:16-17:

"At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.  But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed..."


Man, how awesome is that?!?!  I may have gone through hard things in the past and still will go through hard things now and in my future....BUT I'm reminded in this verse to NEVER desert Christ or walk out.  Christ has never left my side.  He has given me strength everyday to proclaim truth and goodness to this world. 


So in reading this passage I think to myself...how do I want to live my life....do I want to chose to love this world and all that the world tells me I need to do or love?  OR do I chose to be like Paul and choose Christ who (vs. 18) "will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom?"


It's my prayer that in my life I choose to love less of the world and more of Christ. 

2014 Summer Adventures

This summer I had a great time just traveling and visiting people.  I was able to really find rest and invest in people.  This video sums up all of my adventures! :)


http://animoto.com/play/I4z0T0f2xV54rs84rKdX6A

Perfect Peace

It's 9:30pm and I'm sitting at my desk at school.  It's dark, borderline creepy, and not a single teacher is at the school this time of night.  I didn't come here to work, I came here to pray.  Tomorrow, 23 boys and girls will enter into my classroom.  These empty seats will not only hold students tomorrow, but they will hold stories.  Each student comes with a past.  It will be my job this year to learn their stories and build upon those stories.  There will be good days and bad days.  Days where I question why I do what I do.  Days when I want to quit.  But Lord, during those days, will you please shower me with your love so that I can in return have the energy to love these kiddos in return.  Tonight, I pray for each child by name.  I pray that I can not only teach them, but that I can love them with all I have. 


But, Lord, I don't just pray for them tonight.  I pray for myself.  I pray that I can know how to balance my professional and personal life.  I desire to meet new people and develop relationships, but sometimes, I just put too much time into school because it's something that I have to invest into.  If it's your desire for me to meet someone or something this year, I pray that I can commit to it with a full heart.  Please take care of me Lord when I feel inadequate in my job.  I pray Lord that my job doesn't become my identify.  That when I look at other teacher's classroom and become jealous of all their cute stuff, or when I am evaluated, or when I look at my classroom's test scores, that I don't allow those things to define me.  I'm more than that Lord.  I know it, but sometimes, I just forget.  I forget that you died for me for more than those things.  Allow me to trust you....trust that you are working things out for good.   Those things in my life that I may not have answer to now, remind me that you have gone before me and have fought my battles already. I don't pray that you take the storms away, but I do ask that you give me peace within the storms. 


This classroom has a sense of peace about it right now.....that peace is perfect.  As I shut the lights out on this place tonight Lord, it's my prayer that I learn the stories of these students, provide them with what they need, guide my heart to not seek my identify in the things of this word, and that Lord, when I need it.....provide my heart with this peace I have now. 


I trust your goodness.....for you alone are faithful.....you alone provide me with perfect peace. 


My Song of Peace For This Year