morning devotions

5:30 am wake up calls, is allowing me to get out of bed at 6am! (yes, it take me 30 minutes to actually get up).
7am coffee and devotions.

Thanks to some great friends during my college years, i found a devotional book, that is bringing back memories, and helping me grow my faith stronger, when I have been feeling so weak.

So today, as I sit still in the Presence of God, I am reminded of how strong His love is. I need His love, to love others, but I also am needing to be accountable to God's Word. He requires Obedience. Lord, make me a clean vessel today. I have been constantly tempted to forsake God. He wants to rob me of any glory He can.
May your unfailing love be my comfort! Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--who forgives all your sins...and satisfies your desires with good things.."Psalm 119:77a,103:1-5

Sara Groves performs "Eyes On The Prize"

Favorite quotes of the year

I may have a challenging class, but these sayings are funny...

"Lucky duck, you get to be surrounded by all those books" (staff meeting in the Library)

"I can't believe someone can't hang their bookbag so it stays on right"

"(in a whisper)...."I cheated"

" Don't tell anyone, it's embarrasing"

"You don't even want to go outside, it is freezing"

"Can you be a little bit quieter, I'm trying to concentrate here",

"crying crying"

"somebody help me, my bike broke down" (at Bicycle Safety)

"I'm the King of responsible" (Library time, talking about taking care of books)

(who is Barack Obama?"Michele Obama's husband"

Fantasy is unreality

"Rejoice in your Love-relationship with Christ" (sarah young) This is the secret to contentment in all circumstances.

Psalm 77
¹ I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.

³ I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.^[b]
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
⁵ I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
⁶ I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

⁷ “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

¹³ Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
¹⁷ The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
¹⁹ Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron

--God you are faithful. Trials and struggles have haunted me in the last several weeks, and I have been drowning in believing my own lies or the devils lies to me. I am learning that God has never left me, and I am not walking alone. Though in the trial of depression, I thought I was walking alone. Thanking my friends this weekend who took time to talk, cry with me, pray for me, and talk me through some important issues of the past, and lead me to a newness in Christ.

Top of the Mountain

I wish I could say that I am at the top of the mountain, yet I think I am at the bottom trying to climb up. I've been challenged to take a step back and look at it as a process. It will take little steps at a time to reach the top. I am 3 weeks in to my student teaching, and already seeing God's hand in my mentor teacher. Praying it continues to go well, as my supervisor will be in to evaluate soon. My class is challenging to say the least. I have students who cry every morning, or get in trouble on the bus, and whine, and baby talk, those who are really needy and want my every help. And others who struggle with letter sound and recognition. Then the other half of the class, who listen and work hard, and seem to get work done before I'm done handing out papers. This week's goal::Seek Him first. Morning devotions have been more than a blessing, even with having to get up really early. It has brightened my morning. A full day's schedule will begin this week, and the year is getting off to a crazy, wild start. Learning the curriculum has been challenging, but I think teaching all day on a full schedule will help settle my mind.