Keep Moving Forward!

What’s your decision?

A Teacher’s Prayer

This prayer made by James Melcalf is one of the prayers I like the most. Teaching is NOT merely giving information and rote memorization, rather we teach students real life experiences -how to face and cope with the reality. We teach them the truth, what is right or wrong and that God is always there for them whenever they need Him. I admit, teaching others is not as easy as it seems, there’ll be ups and downs, happiness and frustrations, but knowing God is always with me makes the burden lighter. As long as you love what you do, with patience and understanding you’ll get through it. I love it when my students say they love me, thank me, practice what they’ve learned and show improvements. In the end I say, it’s always very FULFILLING to teach and impart your knowledge to others.

A Teacher’s Prayer

I want to teach my students how–
To live this life on earth,
To face its struggles and its strife
And to improve their worth.

Not just the lesson in a book,
Or how the rivers flow,
But to choose the proper path,
Wherever they may go.

To understand eternal truth,
And know right from wrong,
And gather all the beauty of
A flower and a song,

For if I help the world to grow
In wisdom and grace,
Then I feel that I have won
And I have filled my place.

And so I ask your guidance, God
That I may do my part,
For character and confidence
And happiness of heart.

Lessons from Sparrows

Read Matthew 10:26-33

When Jesus talked about God’s care for the birds, He chose the humble sparrows as His illustration. That’s an interesting choice, for sparrows are one of the most common birds on earth. Some people even consider them pests. Sparrows live almost exclusively among people. According to one study, wherever the number of household increases, the sparrow population increases proportionately. Sparrows build their nests under the eaves of houses, inside shutter boxes, in holes in a wall, or in places such as parks, close to where people live.

From ancient times, sparrows have appeared in folklore, fairy tales, and proverbs. Because sparrows are so common, Jesus knew that through the centuries people would read His words and relate. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29, 31). It’s significant that Jesus would take not of their death since the sparrow lives only a few years.

Jesus added, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? So do not worry. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:26-33, excerpted).

He cares for the little sparrow; imagine how much more He cares for you. 

 

Taken from: Refreshing Words for Busy Women by Darlene Sala

Wherever You Go, There You are

“Wherever YOU GO, there you are.”  What a silly saying, I thought. Of course, wherever you go, there you are. Where else would you be? But then I thought of how people try to escape from themselves and their troubles. They move to another place, thinking everything will be different there. Before long, they find the same old problems – alcohol addiction, marital troubles, busyness. That’s because when they moved, they brought themselves with them. It’s true – wherever  you go, there you are.

There’s the ultimate attempt to escape – suicide, but that only brings you face-to-face with the other Person you cannot escape from – GOD. David said in Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

There’s only one way out of this dilemma: Come to God just as you are. Confess your shortcomings and failures; for He paid for your sins on the cross, and He offers forgiveness. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Peace with God brings peace with yourself too. You can stop running away.

Taken from: Refreshing Words for Busy Women by Darlene Sala

Refreshing Words from Psalms

      O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Taken from: Refreshing Words for BUSY women by Darlene Sala