My Prayer Warriors...

Ok, so I started student teaching last Monday.  I am in a fifth grade class and I am loving it!  My teacher is great, and the kids are pretty good too.  It’s looking like a pretty fun seven weeks.  I’ve also been challenged already this week, and that’s what I want to share. 

            Being in this class has really challenged me about prayer.  My kids are prayer warriors and every day I look forward to hearing them pray.  Each morning we start the day with a devotional, and then the teacher prays and in the middle of her prayer she says something like “Lord, these 5^th graders have some things they’d like to pray about…” and then the kids start popcorn praying.  They each pray for their own requests.  It is so cool!  It saves time on taking prayer requests and it is so cool to hear it.  There’s at least ten if not more requests that they pray about every day.  They have such tender hearts and it is such a challenge to me.  I don’t pray nearly as much as I should, and I really struggle with praying consistently for certain requests.  I can get discouraged or I feel like a broken record praying the same thing over and over again.   I know that I should continue to pray but I struggle with making it a reality.

            I also was challenged with prayer by watching my teacher.  On Friday one of the girls came into class after recess and was worried about her brother who had gotten hurt earlier that day.  The first thing my teacher said was “Well, lets pray for him then we’ll call your mom and see how he’s doing.”  There were a couple of kids around us to the few of us sat there and prayed for a min.  It was such a challenge to me that not only was her first response to pray, but she was teaching here students in that moment to go to prayer first in tough situations. 

            Those were the things that hit me last week, and I am sure there is more to come.  I thank God for the great class and teacher that he has blessed me with!

Rahab the Prostitute...

January 12, 2011

Joshua 2

            Rahab was the second woman mentioned in the genealogy of Christ.  Her story begins in Joshua chapter 2.  This is the story where she hides the spies and lies to the men who are looking for them, etc.  Then she asks for herself and her family to be spared.  I find it interesting though to read through everything she says to the spies.  This is what I’m focusing on today. 

            Rahab understands the power that the Israelites have because of the Lord.  She starts off with “I know that the Lord has given you the land.”  She knew that in the end her people would lose because the Lord had given the land to Israel.  Rahab then goes on to back up her point by listing all the victories they had heard about and how her people were afraid of what would happen to them. 

            As I thought about this, God brought back to mind something He taught me a few weeks ago.  He reminded me of when I was studying Mary and came across the story of Simon and Anna.  Through Anna’s testimony, God really challenged me to look for ways that he is working in my life daily.  The monologue that Rahab gave here, is another good example of God getting the credit for what He’s done.  Now, in Rahab’s story the things He did are pretty big, but I think that the basic concept is the same.  

God is at work all around me.  Am I looking for Him?  Or am I just thinking about myself as I go through each day?  I want to be someone who is able to see God at work in my life daily.  So what has He done for me today? I’m glad you asked!  He kept Jan and I safe as we headed to school this morning through terrible traffic and snow.  He has placed me in a great school with plenty of learning opportunities for student teaching (today was very interesting!)  He gave me a wonderful fiancé and some time to get to talk to him for a little bit.  I also got one last night to relax!  God is good.  And when I take time to stop and think about it, He really has blessed me.  I am glad He is in control of my life.  

*I don't have internet at home right now, so I am posting this a little late.  The next couple weeks will probably be the same way. At least I got it done! :)

Tamar...

      Ok, so as I studied Mary, the first thing I looked at was the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1.  I noticed that in the geneology there were 5 women mentioned.  Now I want to take some time to study each of them.  They must have some significance if they were all mentioned in the genealogy.

      

      The first woman is Tamar.  She seems like an interesting character… I vaguely remember reading some of this story, but not much.  She is found in Genesis 38.  I’ve been reading her story and thinking a lot about her all week, and I’ve kind of been stuck.  I’m not sure what to think of this story.  She isn’t exactly a role model I would like to follow.  The only thing I can think as I read this story is what an amazing God we serve.  He loves us all, despite our faults.  I am a sinner. I do wrong, and yet, God still loves me and still chose to save me.  I couldn’t ask for any more than that.  I don’t deserve his grace and forgiveness, and yet he still gives it to me.  

      My God is amazing!

The Cross...

      Well, in my search of Mary, the next place I found her is at the cross, so that is where I am today.  It makes sense to me when I think about it, that Mary would not be mentioned in other places because Jesus is grown up and not living with Mom and Dad anymore.  What a great example for us right?  Now, I know there are some valid reasons for people still living with their parents after they are adults, but I think that if you can work and live on your own then do it.  With that being said here is Mary at the cross...


John 19:25-27
      This passage is not very long, so I read some of the proceeding verses to get a good idea of what John had to say about the crucifixion.  What a painful and terrible thing it was.   I cannot imagine standing by to watch.  As a kid, we would often watch the "Jesus" movie (kids version) at Easter time.  I couldn't even watch the crucifixion scene in the movie.  I can't imagine what it would have been like to see it in person.  Then to think He did it for me.
       Then I think about Mary.  I am not a mother, so I do not claim to know exactly how Mary would have felt.  I think I can come close and as I think of some of the children I have babysat for and grown to love.  I would do anything to protect them.  I can't imagine watching one of them die and I'm not even their mother.  We don't hear anything from Mary, in this passage, but we do see the last words that Jesus said to her.  It was basically Jesus making sure that someone would take care of her after He was gone.  He said to Mary "woman behold your son" and to John "behold your mother."  And there Jesus goes again, setting an example for us.  I think that it is important that children make sure that their parents are taken care of and cared for as they get older.  My parents have been taking care of me for the last 21 years, and it continues to be that way until I get married in May.  Yes, I make most of my own decisions and basically live on my own, but they still check in on me and make sure I am cared for.  I think it is the least I can do to return the favor and care for them when they get older.
      I think too, that this was another way Jesus could show that he loved her.  When was the last time you told your parents you loved them? or maybe a better question is, Do you love your parents?  I know I do, and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.


I love you mom and dad! :)

A wedding, some wine, and a woman...

      Today I read the story of the wedding at Cana where Jesus turns water into wine. Sorry, to anyone who doesn't know the end of the story, I just spoiled it for you. :)  The wedding thing may not exactly go along with Christmas, but it is pretty appropriate for this point in my life! (Note to self: have enough to drink at the reception.) So here it is...


John 2:1-11
    
      The passage begins by telling us that there is a wedding in Cana and Mary is there.  Then the next verse says Jesus and his disciples are invited as well.  Then they ran out of wine. So what does Mary do?  The first thing she does is go tell Jesus.
      I think it is interesting that she doesn't exactly request anything, but just drops a subtle hint.  Isn't that such a woman thing to do?!?!  I laugh just thinking about it. But seriously, that is EXACTLY what we do.  Well, I know I do it.  Instead of "would you mind taking out the trash?",  we say it as a statement like, "The trash is full."  Other things I'm sure I've said are "the laundry is done", "Ice cream sounds really good", "My van really needs to be washed" or "My van needs gas."  The list goes on and on.  Jerrod tells me all the time that he doesn't get subtle hints, I should just tell him what I want him to do, but I just think it is part of being a woman.  I would rather hint than come right out and say it sometimes, maybe because I don't want to seem like I'm nagging or something.  I don't think it is a sin, necessarily, to subtly hint at things, but I know I do need to be careful of what my motives are behind the request
      If I want help, why don't I just ask for help?  Is it a pride thing? Do I want people to think I am a "big girl" and I can do it all by myself?  I think sometimes that is it.  In those cases I need to admit that I can't do it on my own and humbly ask for help.  The truth is that if I am trying to do little things by myself that means I am going to try to do big things by myself too.  Then I have a problem on my hands, because I am forgetting then, that I need God.  No matter how big or small a problem is, or if life is going great.  I still need Him.  The other motive I sometimes have is laziness.  I might be just plain tired and don't feel like doing it myself.  I think that this kind of attitude is wrong.  There is a difference between someone seeing how tired I am or whatever and offering to help, as opposed to me wanting to get out of work and asking someone else to do it for me. Now, sometimes I really am too tired (more like exhausted) to be able to do much, or too sore or in pain, but most of the time, I just don't feel like doing it.  I think that motive can be wrong.  Now there may be other motives that other people may see in their lives for this subtle hint thing, but these are what I see in my life.  Ok, back to the story...
      So Mary does her little subtle hint thing.  She doesn't ask Jesus to do anything, just states a fact as us, women like to do.   Jesus basically responds by asking what it has to do with him, and telling her that it is not time yet.  I think it's neat that Mary doesn't argue with Jesus, but she is not about to give up.  So she gives a warning to the servants.  I can just imagine the motherly look I'm sure she gave them that said they better listen to her or else.  Then she told the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do.  Call it womanly intuition or whatever you like, but I think that Mary had a feeling that Jesus would not just let the party go without wine.  He was going to have to do a miracle.  And He did.  He turned the water to wine, which I'm sure is a pretty easy thing for God to do.  This was Jesus' first miracle.
      Well, what can I learn from all this? First of all, I am going to try to watch what my motives are behind my subtle hinting.  What can I learn from the rest of the story.  One thing that hit me is that Mary didn't argue.  She didn't put up a fuss when Jesus didn't exactly give her the answer she was probably expecting.  Would I do the same thing? Do I?  Not always, I'm sure, but I would like to be able to say that I don't try to argue with God.  If I really think about it, He is going to win anyway, so why do I try to fight it?  I know His plan is best, but sometimes it is hard to really grasp that concept and let go of control.  But I know I need to do it.  That is definitely something I can work on.  The last thing I noticed is that it said in the last verse that the disciples believed in Him.  Do I believe in Him?  Ok, yes, I am saved and I believe in Jesus and what He did for me and all that, but do I really make that belief a reality in my life daily.  Do I live differently as a result of what I believe.  If I truly believe what I say I do, I think my life should change and be different.  So is it?








P.S. For those of you reading this, I hope it makes sense.  It is just my thoughts put down, and I know sometimes it seems like I am all over the place.  I think that when I go back and read it too!  Hopefully some of it makes sense.  :)  Merry Christmas! Remember: Don't leave the baby in the manger...