Tragedy in Mumbai

     I planned on leaving my house to take Danielle to Tulsa to get some things. But by the time that we left I felt insecure. I didn't feel safe leaving my own home because of things happening on the other side of the world. Earlier in our day I found out about a tragedy that was happening in Mumbai, India. Many are dead, even more are seriously injured, and there are supposedly hostages in 2 hotels. My heart sank when I heard this news. (as I'm sure anyone's did with an ounce of compassion) But there was also a great feeling of how blessed I am. My mom got back from Mumbai this past Sunday. Granted most of this is happening in Southern part of the city and my mom was mainly in the Northern part. But in my head it's all the same city. Thankfully all of her people over there were okay. 

     While I am blessed to have my mom home my heart is still heavy. As I lift up my fellow man to the only One who can heal I am taken aback. It is now daylight over there and the damage is being seen. I can't help but wonder what these people are going through! I can't sympathize with them. I can't help them. All I can do is get on my knees and pray to my God who is not the God of that nation. While that city has the largest Christian population in the country it is no where near the majority.

     Please join with me in praying for these innocent people. Pray for the government of India as they make decisions. Pray for the other governments that will get involved. Pray for the families of the hostages that are said to be those with American and British passports. 

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

Luke 6:27-31

MMM...The Smell of Pie

It is that time of year again...Starbucks is using their red Christmas cups, lights are popping up on houses, shopping is now serenated with Christmas carols, breaks from school, the smell of pumpkin pie and cinnamon fills homes everywhere. I have been trying really hard not to get into the Christmas air that is floating around. This is a battle in my head every year. We as a society tend to skip over Thanksgiving!

In my fight for Thanksgiving being a special time of thankfulness, here are a few things that I am thankful for:

1. My Savior dying on a cross while taking on all of my sin before he even knew me.

2. That I was born into a free prosperous country (contrary to where the economy is today)

3. The family that I was born into. We all have our quirks yet family is close to the only ones that have never given up on me.

4. My church family. Especially one particular family that is as close to an extension of my own family as I will ever get. (You know who you are)

5. The privelege to go to a public school and not be told how to think but encouraged to think on my own.

6. My friends. They get me through some of my toughest times even though some are hundreds of miles away.

7. My job, and my coworkers.

8. My freedom of religion. I can believe what I want to believe without fearing for that my life may be taken by the government.

9. My testimony. I didn't have to turn to drugs, sex, alcohol, etc to find my Savior.

10. My future. That I have one and that it is not in my hands but the hands of my Father.

I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it will please the LORD better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs.

Psalm 69:30-31

I LOVE MY 6TH GRADERS!

I love my 6th graders! They make all of my preparation to see them on Sunday morning totally worth every second. Teaching them is nowhere near my forte yet they make this season of my ministry enjoyable.

However, this last Sunday was bad to say the least. A couple of kids sort of ruined it for the whole class. They were very disrespectful to myself and the other 2 teachers as well as each other. These 2 particular students test me every time that they are there but I have been able to deal with them every other time. I left the classroom at 10:35 feeling entirely defeated. I had let down the other 4 students that were there to pay attention and hear what the Father was saying to them. I had let the other teachers down by not setting a good example. I had let my Heavenly Father down because I didn't feel that I got anything across to them. I talked to my dad and the youth pastor about it and got some great suggestions. Yet I went to church tonight sort of wishing that I wouldn't see either of these particular students. (how could I think that?)

After the service one of the parents (whose son wasn't actually in Sunday School last Sunday) caught me in the hall and told me that she doesn't know what I've done to her son but he absolutely loves me! She told me how he is always talking about myself and the male teacher that is also in there. He is apparently always asking his parents if he can say "hi" to me and just last night at a basketball game he brought me a cookie! Simply out of the goodness of his heart. (he walked by again and threw away my trash too!) Ahhh...this kid is why I do what I do. I am not a failure. He shows me that I do make a difference. Even more than that Christ is making a difference in this students life through me. I truly believe that God is getting through to all of my students in ways that only He can. It is not by our (the teachers) power that stories like this happen. It is only by us yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit and letting Him speak through us every Sunday.

This is not the first time that I have been shown this. I have one girl that hugs me and sticks by my side every time I see her. Another parent told me a few weeks ago that her daughter actually enjoys Sunday School again. I can do nothing but stand in amazement of the work that my Father is doing through me. I am so blessed to be in this season of ministry that I fell into after covering one Sunday morning. I know that I am not the best and like I said 6th graders are not my forte but nevertheless God is great and He can and most definitely will use our weakness to bring glory to Himself.