I am back from my blog hiatus. I have managed to have the most challenging experiences occur in the past three months, but God has found ways to bless me through all of it. Praise the Lord! :)
I have officially completed my second year of teaching. Kindergarten is a rewarding grade to teach. The students learn so much in a year, and this year, I had the "transition class," which was made up of students repeating Kindergarten for a second year. These kids were reading like champs by May! I was thrilled with the progress they made from last year to the end of this year. While the year was successful, I am moving back to teaching regular Kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year. Orientation is NEXT week for my new students, and I cannot wait to meet them! :) Eighteen precious children will be marching in for five days to "experience" school for a half-day.
I am attending a new church with my boyfriend Alex and his family. It is a Southern Baptist church, but it is much more contemporary than any of the churches I grew up attending. I wear blue jeans to church sometimes... which still blows my mind! :) The praise music is VERY similar to the music we would sing in youth group, at Super Summer, or what I listen to on my iPod. The setting is casual, and everyone is so passionate and focused on worship. I love it!
Really, the only other NEW blessing in my life I have not yet mentioned is Alex. Alex is an amazing boyfriend who has such a heart for Christ and his family. He voices moving prayers, COOKS, and is going back to school to one day be a school administrator. We have so much fun together, and we can talk about anything. He is much more athletic than I am, but I balance that out with being musical... so there are differences in our hobbies to make us unique to the other. :)
Little brother, Andrew, is being deployed to Afghanistan this month. I am loving his visit home for the next few weeks. He will be gone several months, and although my family experienced this twice before with older brother, Don, this is new having ANDREW abroad fighting for our country. He is so ready though... which is amazing. :) God is in control and is taking care of Andrew, but prayers are much needed this year!!
"Peace & blessings... peace & blessings." (Have you seen the youtube video -- push-up?)
LOVE.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
I'll Pray for You
I am learning how to pray.
It's kind of silly to think this is a lesson I'm learning eleven years after giving my life to Christ, after praying many prayers while driving in my car or knelt beside my bed, with Sunday School classes, in big church, with my accountability group, before tests and throughout the school day, with many disciple now groups, and with children. But here I sit, asking God to teach me how to pray.
Praise Him. Speak out the struggles & sin that "so easily entagles." Thank him. Speak scriptures. Listen.
That's my new challenge.... to turn my prayers from a never-ending to-do list of "Please, give these people peace & guidance" to opportunities to praise his Holy name.
If there was ever a time our world needs prayer.. it is now. We can look at the world on Google Earth.... as it is and zoom... into continents, countries, cities, workplaces & churches, neighborhoods, and homes. We would see all of the chaos and spiritual warfare that is going on all over our planet, and it would be so clear that God's grace and truth is so desperately needed.
"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (PRAISE!!), your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Repent). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:7-13
"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
It's kind of silly to think this is a lesson I'm learning eleven years after giving my life to Christ, after praying many prayers while driving in my car or knelt beside my bed, with Sunday School classes, in big church, with my accountability group, before tests and throughout the school day, with many disciple now groups, and with children. But here I sit, asking God to teach me how to pray.
Praise Him. Speak out the struggles & sin that "so easily entagles." Thank him. Speak scriptures. Listen.
That's my new challenge.... to turn my prayers from a never-ending to-do list of "Please, give these people peace & guidance" to opportunities to praise his Holy name.
If there was ever a time our world needs prayer.. it is now. We can look at the world on Google Earth.... as it is and zoom... into continents, countries, cities, workplaces & churches, neighborhoods, and homes. We would see all of the chaos and spiritual warfare that is going on all over our planet, and it would be so clear that God's grace and truth is so desperately needed.
"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (PRAISE!!), your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Repent). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:7-13
"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
run to first! run to first!
Kickball is so much fun with 42 Kindergarteners.
No really..... it is.
And then make those 42 Kindergarteners run three laps around the gym.
Best. indoor recess. ever.
Happy February! :)
No really..... it is.
And then make those 42 Kindergarteners run three laps around the gym.
Best. indoor recess. ever.
Happy February! :)
Monday, January 10, 2011
word to twenty-eleven
One week after starting back to school after Christmas holiday, and we get two snow days! Miss Hurst couldn't be any happier because my house was a mess, my lesson plans were a mess, and well... I was a mess.
Now, I'm rested, my house is clean(er), and tomorrow, my lesson plans will be nicer.
I love snow days.
This year is going to be big. I can tell. In Sunday School, this month's verse is...
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."-Philippians 13B-14
And my verses for the beginning of January that I'm memorizing are...
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19
It's amazing how God brings you the word you need to hear the most.
I guess I'm needing to "forget the past." :)
My word for 2011 is forward.
I am moving forward in life. I am not living in the past. I am going to live for the present and then move forward. I am memorizing scriptures for the future. I am going to not dwell on things out of my control. I am living for a greater good. This is my temporary home, and my purpose here is not to live in anxiety and fear. It's to be an example of His holiness. I am not a product of my career, just as I wasn't a product of my AP classes/busy schedule in high school. I am a product of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Forward, march!
Now, I'm rested, my house is clean(er), and tomorrow, my lesson plans will be nicer.
I love snow days.
This year is going to be big. I can tell. In Sunday School, this month's verse is...
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."-Philippians 13B-14
And my verses for the beginning of January that I'm memorizing are...
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19
It's amazing how God brings you the word you need to hear the most.
I guess I'm needing to "forget the past." :)
My word for 2011 is forward.
I am moving forward in life. I am not living in the past. I am going to live for the present and then move forward. I am memorizing scriptures for the future. I am going to not dwell on things out of my control. I am living for a greater good. This is my temporary home, and my purpose here is not to live in anxiety and fear. It's to be an example of His holiness. I am not a product of my career, just as I wasn't a product of my AP classes/busy schedule in high school. I am a product of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Forward, march!
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