The old is gone

Philippians 3:12-14--"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORWARD TO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE AHEAD, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (NKJV)

On Friday, as I walked the halls of school, I began to ponder what last year would have looked like had I already had this fresh revelation of the cross. This verse "popped" into my head almost immediately. It does not matter what has occured in the past, but that Christ Jesus died for me, and I have been immersed into Him; His death, burial and resurrection. As a Christian, I often hear the "testimony" of a person who Christ has rescued from alcohol, drugs, "fill in your 'big' sin here." What I rarely hear is what Christ is doing in that person's life NOW. Those things which we have done in the past NO LONGER MATTER to God, and therefore, should no longer matter to us. I must not dwell on what "might have been," and rather focus on what IS and what WILL BE. HALLELUJAH!! I don't have to be a slave to sin any longer, past, present or future. Christ has redeemed me. He has rescued me. He has renewed me. He is my life and my salvation. He is the rock whom I trust. HE is all that matters.

BTW--I had to take a minute to compose myself before entering the next classroom. I don't think the teacher would have appreciated my prayer language as much as I do. Who says prayer is gone from public schools?

Thank Him for the little things

Okay, so it's been a few days since I've found the time (and energy) to post. Not that anything has changed recently. I lead a pretty dull life. I started my new job this week. Right now, we are super busy with testing all the first graders twice--two different tests. Next week, we will help in the 2/3rd grade building for two days, then I think we will compile and compare results. I don't really know the full scope of what is going to be happening, but I guess we'll take it as it comes. I do know this: all Illinois schools should have air conditioning installed and used during the months of May and August/September. And, the K/1st building is WAY too small for all that goes on there. Example: K had recess in the HALLWAY this afternoon because it was raining and the PE classes were in the gym. So much for exercise. 100 5 year olds in a hallway is NOT a pretty picture. Anyhow, that is all the "news" from here.
Praise God that He is continually faithful. Praise Him, even in the little things. I tested a former student of mine today--one that could be a great student, but that brings a lot of baggage to school. I prayed for him last year, even after he moved. He did wonderful on the testing today, and I immediately thanked God. I thanked Him for the little boys and girls that brought smiles. I thank Him for changing my heart and giving me the peace and grace that I need everyday to give smiles and words of encouragement. I thank Him for a job that is rewarding. What are you thankful for today?

Lessons from a sunflower

Last night, after Bible Study went until 11 (again!), I had a lot to think about. So, I took the "long" way home and drove through the country. As I entered town across the bridge by my apartment, I spotted a lone sunflower that had poked its way through a crack in the pavement by the side of the road. Two thoughts entered my mind. First, like that sunflower, God can create beauty out of the hardness of our hearts--if we allow Him to find that crack. Secondly, the most difficult times in our lives can create beauty. I believe God allows us to face difficulty so He can be glorified in our lives. When we were flooded out of our apartment this winter, and I moved from place to place for a while, I was dealing with the cancer of a friend's husband and the inability to be with them, and also faced some growing pains in my walk with God. But through it all, I consistently received comments that I was "handling the situation well." People just looked at me when I said it wasn't by any of my means that I faced the day. I told them that it was God's grace that put the smile on my face. I'm facing obstacles even today--an old and cherished friendship on the rocks, newer friendships in troubled waters, another friend facing cancer, no prospects for a job--but through it all one thing remains certain: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my hope, my grace that pulls me out of bed each day and allows me to rest at night. I can therefore praise Him at all times. One of my favorite songs is by Chris Tomlin--How Can I Keep From Singing. This song contains the following lyrics.

I can sing in troubled times.

I can sing when I win.

I can sing when I lose my step,

And fall down again.

I can sing 'cause you pick me up.

Sing 'cause you're there.

I can sing 'cause you hear me, Lord,

When I call to you in prayer.

I can sing with my last breath,

Sing 'cause I know,

That I'll sing with the angels

And the saints around the throne.

No Striving

I listened to a teaching, well, an interview, today by Pastor Mark from Champions Church (see link for his radio/tv show). He interviewed a TWELVE year old boy from his church who has captured the message of the cross. This message is so simple, yet so timeless, that a young child can understand it. I can do NOTHING, as was made evident yesterday as I stumbled and fell. Yet, when I awoke this morning, I accepted the mercies of God and sat at the cross. I listened to Him, enjoyed His presence throughout the day. There is no guilt, no shame; just the knowledge that Christ forgave me at the cross--my sins are washed away and I can come before Him clothed in white robes of righteousness. I have an understanding of the message that needs to be delivered to a lost world--even within the church. I have a fire in my bones to preach this message to those in similar bondages that I have experienced. I don't have to be perfect--I can't be perfect this side of glory--but I have to daily dwell in the grace and mercy that Christ offers at the cross. One of my favorite songs contains the following verse: What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease; my comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand (In Christ Alone, Newsboys). I cannot, but HE can and does. My striving will get me nowhere but tired, frustrated, and depressed. When I sit at the foot of the cross, relying on His grace and mercy, I am refreshed, renewed, and uplifted.

Unending Grace

Well, reality hit today. After four days of intense teachings on the cross, we must come down the mountain and face reality. The Word tells us that when we clean house, when we confess and repent, when we are faced with the fullness of the cross, the enemy strikes seven-fold. And he does. I sinned today in ways I haven't in years. And I felt the sting of guilt and shame once again. And I felt the peace of God and the goodness of His grace once again. How awesome His love for us--sinners, dirty and unworthy of His acceptance. Driving the nails and thrusting the spear as we satisfy the sin nature in us. Yet, He pours out His grace. A good friend reminded me of that tonight after I confessed to her. She reminded me that our experience at the cross is not a one time deal, but that it continues every day. She reminded me that Christ struggled in the wilderness for forty days. I had thought that my struggles were gone now that I had experienced the fullness of the cross. Then, after my fall, I felt the familiar and unwelcome twinges of guilt and shame. But, she turned me back to the cross, where I fell into the river of blood that washes all that away. I have a long road to overcome, with promises of stronger attacks, but I also know that God's grace covers all. I may stumble, I may fall, but I must fall into the river that cleanses.

The season of our discontent

I spent the 4th with a college friend, her husband, and several people from their church. I wish I could have spent more than 24 hours with them, but it has been over six months, and we probably won't see each other again until Thanksgiving, so I took the opportunity when it arose. I asked them a question, one we here in Watseka ask each other pretty often: What is going showing you? I don't think either of them were prepared for a deep question like that, so it went unanswered. However, my friend's husband did say that he is unsatisfied with the state of the church in America, and that he would like to go overseas where "people will listen." I agree that the state of the church in our country is not one that glorifies Christ. However, the purpose of the church is not to satisfy its members. On the contrary, the purpose of the church is to reveal dissatisfaction within its members--dissatisfaction with our present state of being, dissatisfaction in our walks with Christ, with our relationships with others, with our sinful nature and the sins that come from that. Unfortunately, the church in American has sold out to the "me first" attitude that permeates our culture. We preach self-help sermons--how to improve our families, how to increase our wealth, how to do just about anything. We create programs for all ages to make us FEEL like we are doing something for the Kingdom, without really accomplishing much. Am I saying all programs are bad? No, not if the hearts of the coordinators are seeking God, and His will, alone. I look at the "mega" churches, full of "seekers"--the light shows, publishing companies, movies, curriculum that come out of them. I see programs that please the masses but do little to draw people to God. This is part of the reason I wasn't surprised at all when a mega church recently discovered that their programs were leading people to the cross, then leaving them there. I could have saved that church millions of dollars and hundreds of man hours in research and polls. But nobody listens to a small town girl in the middle of Illinois. I also wonder about the spiritual lives of the leaders of successful programs. My friend is a children's minister at a fairly large church. She loves God, wants to do His will, but I wonder how much time she has to spend getting to know the God she loves, discovering His will for HER life, not just the life of the ministry she leads.
I've rambled enough for tonight, but want to leave my handful of readers with this: What is my (your) purpose? Am I continually seeking God's will in MY life, not just in my ministry?