Life As a Substitute Teacher

   Surprisingly, being a substitute teacher isn't as bad as I had envisioned. You know the phrase, "Never say never."? This is one of those moments. I never thought I would become a substitute teacher, but out of necessity, one will do what one needs to. I am not saying, I would want to make a career out of it. Besides, I couldn't afford it! 
    At first, I felt like I had come down several rungs of the ladder. But, I have actually found myself enjoying subbing (for the most part). I get to teach all different grade levels of children. I go into the classroom, teach for the day, then leave. I don't have to take any of the work home with me, worry about testing results, or parents getting upset, or any of the other stuff I used to have to deal with. I grade papers only if I choose. It's not required. The best part is I am getting a chance to see if I really want to go back into the classroom at some point.
   No, it's not easy all the time. Even for this veteran teacher, I find it difficult to teach for another teacher and not want to change the way the class is set up, redo the discipline management, rewrite the lessons, etc. I have walked in several times with very little to go with according to what little is on the lesson plan. Fortunately, that is one of my strong points. I can "think on my feet" so to speak and get through the day.

And just a note to all my teacher friends: GET YOUR SUB-FOLDERS IN GOOD SHAPE NOW! Also, leave your sub with good lesson plans. Even seasoned vets have a better day with a good set of plans.

Breaking the Ice

   During Sunday School, we had been working through a study that focused on "lostology," or the study of lostness. We talked about sharing our own stories, sharing the precious gift of salvation with others, and living our lives as examples. As we came to the close of this study, I began to think about ways to begin a conversation with a stranger. Personally, I'm not a "door knocker" who knocks on every door in the neighborhood. I don't like "in your face" evangelism. I don't think it's truly all that effective.
   Breaking the ice can be the hardest part when beginning a conversation. I usually meet people when I am walking my dog. I call her the "Diva Dog." It's really not an insult, her attitude fits the title. Her real name is Bella. She was a rescue about 10 years ago. She came with the name and I left it because it fits. She is beautiful, which is what Bella means in other languages. (I am telling you this for a reason.)
   Bella is very social. She believes that people come outside to see her, they get out of their cars to speak to her, etc. But, she's great for meeting people! She truly helps me break the ice. She begins the conversation for me. I don't have to do much. She puts on her own show. If nothing more, it gets a laugh.
   Bella also travels with me. So, I meet people from all over. She even flew home with me this past Christmas. (I'm not sure we'll repeat that adventure...) She's a great traveler and people notice these things. They make comments and it's easy to begin a conversation from that.
Please don't misunderstand. I'm not suggesting that everyone go out and get a dog for ministry purposes. Not every dog is a Diva Dog. And not every person is a dog nut like me.
   But, think about it. There are things in your life that can help you break the ice. If you have children, I am guessing you share time with parents of other children. ICE BREAKER! If you are involved in a sport, or certain hobbies and activities...ICE BREAKERS!
   For me, it's my little diva. She dances her way into a lot of conversations. For you, it may be cars, kids, or snow skiing.
   God gives us creative minds and all kinds of gifts and abilities. How wonderful it would be for us to use at least one of those for His purpose and His glory. So, tell me. What is your ice breaker?

Going to the Psalms

I don't know about you, but sometimes, I just need comfort from the Scriptures. That's when I turn to to the Book of Psalms.

I am continually humbled how God knows what we need BEFORE we even know to ask. 

I encourage you to read the Book of Psalms at anytime. One in particular that recently spoke to me was Psalm 103. I will give you a few of the verses, then encourage you to read the rest on your own. You won't be disappointed.

Psalm 103 (Taken from "The Message")

O my soul, bless God.

From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!

²O my soul, bless God,

don’t forget a single blessing!

³He forgives your sins—every one.

He heals your diseases—every one.

⁴He redeems you from hell—saves your life!

He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.

⁵He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.

He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

Life

In recent days, I have noticed a lot about life. Please indulge me as I share some of my observations with with you.

1. Life continues even when you want to stop for a while.
Have you ever noticed that even when you need a break, take a vacation, or just "check out" for a little bit that life around you has continued. It did not take a break when you did.

2. Life is not all about you.
Although we get so involved in our own little world and our own surroundings, life effects more than our little "spot" in the world. Sometimes it's hard to see beyond our own hedge line, but there is more beyond.

3. God gave us life.
Sometimes we take our lives for granted. We never should. Each of our lives are a gift from God. If you have children, they are a gift as well. While, we don't always act as a gift, we are.
God created each of us unique. Not one of us is alike. Each of us was hand-crafted by our Creator. That should be enough to look at life from a different perspective.

4. When "life" gets to be more than we think we can handle, we have the Life-Giver, Who is always there for us.
This is the part I often forget. Not that I forget that God is there. I just get so involved with me that I forget HE wants me to let Him take care of "life." It makes sense, doesn't it? God created life therefore, He is more than capable of taking care of life.
Who is taking care of your "life" today?

Looking Up

This has been the worst year and the best year of my life. I have faced more in my personal life this year than I ever thought I would.

However, I must be honest. All of this is an answer to prayer. Yes. I prayed to face the "monsters hiding under the bed and in the closet." I knew I had to and I knew it was time.

Within two days, the answers started coming. And when they started coming, they didn't stop!

Many of the answers have brought a relief. Some, not so much. Am I healed? Is it all over? No. The healing process continues. Each day I continue to learn and be taught more and more. 

   The greatest part of this whole year is how God has shown me that He Who He says He is and I no longer have any doubt in Him.
1. He is my Creator. He crafted me with His hands. And to Him, I am beautiful. My Creator made me out of love and sees me as a beautiful creation. 

2. Even though He didn't have to, He's proven Himself over and over to me. When I think I can't go another step, God has placed someone there to walk with me. A physical person. He has placed Christian doctors in my life to work with me. These are doctors were ones I had to choose from the list from my insurance provider. I didn't know anything about them.

3. I have truly felt His presence with me. That's a fabulous feeling. Therefore, I am no longer shy about telling people Who my God is. He has made His presence so clear to me that there is no denying my Heavenly Father. I praise Him daily with every fiber of my being for His love, His grace, and His mercy. 

4. I have had to learn to lean on God and am continuing to learn to ask for help from others. That's not been easy for me. I've always been a "do it myself" kind of girl. 

My prayer for you is to know our Creator (who is the same as mine) as I have learned to know Him this year. I hope you don't have to go down the same path to get there. I pray you recognize you are beautiful to Him. He even knows your name. Isn't that a wonderful thing?

Asking For Help

The other night at dinner with friends, we got into a conversation about asking for help. As usual, I continued to ponder this idea for a while.
For most of us, it is very easy to help others. When someone mentions a need, most people I know are right there asking how they can help, offering monetary assistance, or whatever.
However, when it comes to asking for help for ourselves, we don't. I'm just as guilty as the next person about not asking for assistance. I find some way to do it myself, whether that means injuring myself in the process or not. And this begs the question--why?

As I am sure you have guessed, I have come up with some reasons:
Pride: I am sure this is probably highest on the scale of not asking. We feel that it makes us look weak or needy or something if we ask. Actually, it makes us HUMAN.

Independence: I believe this is really close to pride. I, myself, have quite the independent streak running through me. I don't "need" anyone to help me. But, that's not how God created us. When He created Adam, He saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so He created a helper for him. Note the word helper. Not lover, not girlfriend or wife. The word is helper.

Not wanting to be a burden: Hmmm...I know this is a problem, but I also know that many people out there love to help, thus canceling out the whole burden idea. Someone once told me not to rob someone of the blessing of helping others. I never thought of it that way.

Just because we are single does not mean we are alone. We have many connections for people to help. When we ask for help, we are allowing those connections to grow stronger. We are allowing others to become just a little more a part of our lives. We are becoming more of a community.

So, let me encourage all of us to be open to asking for help. Whether you need something moved, a shoulder to lean on, or some paint on your walls. You can always pay that help forward. Others can be blessed through helping you and you can be blessed as well.
Patty

Looking for Answers

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you just needed God to speak loud a clearly to you? You know, that very loud, audible voice? I imagine it to be a very deep, booming voice. I'm not sure why, exactly, but that's the way I hear it.
Scripture teaches that God doesn't always answer in the way we think He should. Many times, it is through a small still voice that we are yelling too loud to hear.

The prophet, Elijah had just experienced God in His fullest. God had shown Himself to His people and to those who did not believe. When all was said and done, a woman named Jezebel decided she would have him killed. Elijah ran for his life!
He ran into the wilderness alone and prayed that he might die. He said that he had had enough. Elijah was exhausted, completely drained, and still feeling very much alone. I've been there. OK-so not exactly. But, I have been to the point where I was done. No more. I couldn't take another day. I can understand. All this miraculous stuff has just happened, and he is still out there alone (in his eyes).

There is no record that God said anything to Elijah at this point. Finally, Elijah falls asleep. God
did send an angel to care for Elijah. This angel woke him up and made him eat and drink so Elijah would not die and would regain his strength. Then the angel lead Elijah to Mount Horeb (the mountain of God).

At Mt Horeb is the first time God speaks with Elijah. He asks Elijah what he's doing there. Now, I have a picture in my mind of Elijah's face at this point... and true to form (as any of us would) Elijah let's loose with all his frustration. Again, he tells God to let him die.
God tells Elijah to step outside of the cave in His presence. Now, as you think about this next part, as I understand it, God was there the whole time all of this was going on.
First a mighty wind blew, then an earthquake happened, and fire came after the earthquake. God was in none of these. Where was God? He was there. Just in none of the three big things you would think He'd be in. After the fire, came a voice, a soft whisper. That was God's presence. He was in the whisper. Wow. Think about how powerful a whisper can actually be.

Sometimes we are looking for God in the wind and the fire, or even the earthquake. More than not, God is in the soft whisper. We just have to stop talking (whining, crying, complaining...) and listen. Soft voices are often difficult to hear, especially when we are talking over them.

Building the Team

What does it take to build a team?
• It takes at least one person to be a leader.
• It also takes other members to participate.

So, here's my next question. Do the members of the team sit and watch the leader or leaders do the work or "lead." That answer would be "no." A team cannot function with merely leaders or facilitators. A team must have active members, members who are involved. Yes, I said "that word."

I see a church as a team. One big team, really. A team of believers, working together to bring others to Christ, as we have been called to do.
We have leaders who help to guide us, but each member must do his or her part. If you read the description of the church in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, you will see that it is compared to one body with different parts. A body works best when all its parts are functioning.

Maybe we still get confused with the idea of the church as a building. Clearly, it is not. It is the people, therefore, very easily a body. Think about it, when Christ returns for His church, I do not believe He is coming back for a building, do you?

As Christians, we are called to be active team members. So, what part of the team are you? Are you a player? Are you sitting on the bench? Or are you a member of the team yet?

Making Memorials

With the idea of Memorial Day in mind, I was thinking of the many ways and reasons we make memorials for people. Most of our memorials are in honor of a person or group of people for a particular reason. Some are honored for bravery, some for their sacrifice, while still others are honored for their influence and/or dedication to a particular cause.

As you read through the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, you will see that many of the faithful made memorials or monuments to God. In fact, many times, God instructed the Israelites to do so for the reason of telling their children and grandchildren why the memorial was there.

Follow the Israelites through the desert. Note the memorials, celebrations, dedications, and so forth that Jewish people celebrate still today. They know why they celebrate it as well. 

Don't you think it would be wise for us to follow in their footsteps? How many times have you asked yourself why God hasn't responded to a particular prayer or helped you with a particular issue? Maybe you have doubted God's ability to assist in a particular setting. 

I tend to laugh at myself when I think of how absurd the thought of me being able to handle a situation better than my own CREATOR. And yet, I continue to do it. I know, I need those reminders. I need to remember that God always keeps His promises. I also need to remember that it's more than just believing IN God...it's believing that God can and will do what He says He will do.

So, shouldn't we be about the business of making memorials that honor God for the things He has done for us?  What are your memorials? What ones can you set for God? 

Spinning the Plate

The laundry is stacked to the ceiling, the bills are due, the milk expired three weeks ago. You are behind on your work deadlines, the dog needs groomed (again), you have calls to return if you can find those sticky notes...
The house-well, let's just say you are praying no one drops by unexpectedly. And we won't mention the last time you balanced your checkbook. That's why they have online banking, right?

Does this sound familiar? Welcome to my world! I find that life as a single woman can become extremely overwhelming. Living alone and being responsible for everything at home and work is a lot to juggle! I've always wanted children, but I'm not sure where they would fit in (probably somewhere under the pile of laundry!).

Sometimes I feel that I am one of those people who are spinning plates on sticks. You know the ones. The plate spinner starts the first stick with it's plate spinning. He continues to add a stick/plate until there are several going all at once. The audience is amazed. But, in my world, the audience isn't amazed. I'm expected to keep all the plates spinning. They don't really care how many I'm spinning as long as their's is still spinning.

Needless to say the stress level can get quite high while all your plates are spinning. The irony of it is that people think since you are single, you don't have much to do. You should have plenty of time to do extra stuff.
What they don't understand is that you are often doing the work that two or more share in a different type of home.

Sometimes I begin to feel very sorry for myself and forget that I'm not really on my own with everything. God loves me so very much. He gently reminds me that some of the plates I'm spinning aren't near as important as I think. I can actually take down a plate or two.

If you are trying to spin too many plates by yourself, make sure you check with your heavenly Father. See what He has to say about the priorities on which you have placed on your plates. Some of them may not be as important as you think. Evaluate your priorities. Don't let your plates get in the way of your time with God.

Go inventory your plates!

Patty