Family Goals
1. Purpose to be home more in 2008.
2. Love one another, prefer one another, be kind and tender-hearted to one another.
(Family Verse for 2008, Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."ESV)
Personal Goals
(Revised from last year)
1. Read my Bible and pray every day possible.
(Growing in grace to do what I know I am called to do, pursue holiness.)
2. Seek out tangible ways to encourage others as often as possible.
3. Purpose and pray to eat only when I am hungry, stopping when I am full, not stuffed!
The way to Heaven is ascending;
we must be content to travel uphill,
though it be hard and tiresome,
and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.
Jonathan Edwards
Mar. 30, 2008~ Testimony ~
I am sure that I will not do justice to my Lord with the words I am about to write. And I am also sure to ramble. There is just so much to say. Let me start with a little background.
Last Tuesday night, my sweet husband got a call asking him to fill in for the current first grade Sunday School teacher at our home church, the one we left for 8 months. When we went back to the church a month ago, my husband had said he would be happy to help out if needed since we ran the first grade last year and he had all the lessons already prepared. As it turns out, It seems that the current leader is having to work every other Sunday now and so needs help. Plus, there are other helpers who are not able to finish the year due to various obstacles like moving, babies or jobs.
This last fact did not hit home until this morning when we were the only ones to show up to open up the classroom, not knowing a thing about how the class had been managed and not knowing any of the children, too. Thankfully, and but for the grace of the Lord, I was calm and really not afraid. (Or just plain stupid?) Somehow, I knew we could do it, even if it was just my husband, myself and the 50 first graders! (lol) Thankfully, we did end up having a mother stay to help and then 2 workers show up, so we were only down 3 after all.
That is all the background. What I want to tell you is how good the Lord is. He did not give up on us when we ran away and left this class 8 months ago. I now know that He called us to run this program. We ran, and the people who ended up with the job were not the right people. We are! I knew this the instant I opened the classroom's closet. Would you believe that nothing had been touched for 8 months? The materials from last year's class were still in the buckets with this year's class materials. The totes were a mess. It was obvious that the person in charge had not put their heart into this job like we did. I am not saying this to be prideful. I am not. I know this person has tried, but when it is not your calling to fulfill a job, it is not going to work out. I know this because I have been in that person's shoes before, trying to do a job I was not called to do.
What is so exciting is that I finally know! I've always thought that I was a faithful worker bee and did not have the gift to run a large classroom. "It's not my gift", I told someone just this past week. Perhaps, I knew, but did not like the gift I was given because it was not comfortable. I am stretched when I am in charge. It is sometimes painful even. And I had been fretting all week about the possibility of going back to first grade next year, as they had asked us to pray about leading again next year and my husband was thinking it was a good idea! So I went to prayer about this situation. I don't usually get such clear answers and so quickly. Well, let me tell you, today was the answer to my prayer. Who else but us? We love the children. We love the Lord. We love the body of Christ we are to serve. And we can do the job well! But I was so afraid to make this commitment again. It's a year long one with 8 weeks off in the summer. It is a job that no one can do without the power of Jesus. I was feeling so weak when they asked us. I was afraid. I was wanting to be comfortable. Oh, I can't tell you how scared it made me to think about next year!
So why was I so unconcerned about today? I cannot explain it except for it being a gift of grace from the Lord. Perhaps I saw how much we were needed and I just knew we could do it with Jesus' blessing. And there is no mistake we had His blessing because the morning went so smoothly and seemed so normal. Because we came in the name of the Lord with His power and grace! So the end of the story is this. We are going to take over this class and pray mighty things will come of our submission to the Lord. And I could not be more excited!
Thank You Jesus for changing my heart and for showing me so clearly Your will.Use us, the most unlikely of people, to bring glory to Yourself, dear Jesus!
Hi Jenn,
Something tells me you're a natural for this! I enjoyed reading your post. Funny how it is God ended up showing you. You're much braver than I am. I'll be an assistant, or Aide, where all I have to do is show up! No extra curriculum planning for this gal! Isn't that unspiritual of me? Decades ago, I knew I could never be a teacher, as I couldn't imagine all the curriculum and lesson planning. Weird how I'm still like that. It shows up in my homeschooling style, too!
bethanyrae
What a beautiful testimony. It is so great to hear as Paul and I are in the process of praying about possible opportunities to serve in our church. I pray that it is as clear for us. I can't wait to hear of all the great things that the Lord shows you through this next year. :)
JoAnn
Oh Jenn that was said perfectly. You know I think when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit they are suppose to feel unnatural. If it comes to us naturally where is the need for God and how would He get the glory? I believe what we run from the hardest is God's truest of callings in our lives. Well done, embrace yours and move froward. You have been struggling for so long. Praising God for your peace.
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
A big WOW~! Good for you :) I have been sort of against SSchool but my son has been so welcomed into the 1st grade here, AND he really is learning good things, that I really believe with the "right helpers" it can be a good thing.
God bless you in your work for the Lord!
love
Denise
Leviticus 20:26 says, "You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." This blog is my place to remember this journey I am on and God's goodness to me. I am glad you are here. Welcome to my blog.
