Sister

Good morning, afternoon, evening...feel free to choose once based on your geographic location.

Today I humbly ask for your prayers for a person who is very important to me, my sister. She has jumped into a pool of trust as she follows God's present calling as a worker in youth ministry
My words alone could not capture all that has inspired her to follow this calling, so if you would like to know more please read her story here:
http://yd.org/about/staff/kyla_de_wit

If you would like to follow her personal reflections about her experiences, take a ganger at this link:
http://kdewitministry.wordpress.com/

Again I ask, please pray for her.

Please pray that she continues to trust God as she goes through the process of fundraising.
Please pray that, even in times of discouragement, she continues to be encouraged.
Please be with both her and Ross and they go through this process together. Help them to learn from not only each other, but most importantly, God.

Yet with all the prayers to be had, there is much to praise God for in this experience as well.
Praise God for the fact that she has been given this opprotunity.
Praise God for the fact that she is being obedient.
Praise God for everything He has provided (and will provide) in her experience.
Praise God for the fact that she has a supportive husband (and family) who will be there to help her every step of the way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight."

-Proverbs 3:5-6

Patience

If you've been following this blog for long enough you will know by now that I am a teacher. I also teach a class of students who are a bit out of the ordinary.

Their backgrounds are what say it all. Some come from parents who give them whatever they want, others from abuse, and others still from broken families.

There are times where I'm tested to my limits with them. My voice grows hoarse and I can feel my nostrils flair. Things seemed to be especially tough this week (some may argue it's because of the full moon, I'm still skeptical of such ideas though). All forms of listening went out the window and my worst behaved students just about drove me up the wall.

A few blogs ago I wrote about how, when we find ourselves in difficult situations, we need to ask ourselves, "How is this the best thing God is doing for me?" or "How is He shaping me?" I found myself asking that multiple times. So I would ask him what he's trying to show me. His reply?

Be patient, I'm not done yet.

The other day Principal took the whole staff outside after our morning meeting before school. He had us look out into the ocean, up into the sky, and around the sandy playground. He told us that we wouldn't be here if God didn't have a reason for us to be here. He (God) knows what he's doing. I looked up and saw Principal's crows feet framed eyes look right at me as he said those words.

God provided me with this opprotunity. A job that I don't deserve but he just about handed me on a silver platter. With kids tough enough for me to handle. Now, instead of focusing on the negatives, I need to bless my students. Just like God has showered His blessings on me.

"Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants."
-Deuteronomy 32:2

Only through God can a teacher achieve such a desire.