H.G.I.E. His Grace is Enough!

Ps. 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I do not have to be perfected-a willing and open heart to do God's work. Will I be flawless enough to obey---Only by His grace will I have the strength and wisdom to follow His leading.
GRACE
My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.
I see the things You do through me as great things I have done. And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me and hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.


The end is around the corner. It's been a tough, long, hard road. I am seeking your face for daily grace in my life. I am seeking your face for strength. Fill me with your courage to continue and take away the discouragement that I daily feel with this trial of schoolwork. Keep my heart centered on you, and keep picking me up when my faith falls short of your glory.

Verses

Here are verses from a special friend, that I will be focusing on this week!

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 1:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Ephesians 3:10-12

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹ according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ¹³ I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

The journey began March 2010

This will be a continuation of posts until December! Please know that I've been relaxing this holiday break, and re-visiting blogs of the past. The journey has been long, gruesome, tiring, emotional, but fulfilling as I have watched God work in my life to pass each class, and work through some emotional ties that filled my life from school.


The Start of the Journey began on March 12th, 2010.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

This is fun

These 3 little words are going to haunt my life forever...Want to know the story, ask my friend Jill. I think I just about had to call an ambulance to go to her house before she choked to death over my words "this is fun" on the phone.

Update:
My Master's program is going well. I have had 3 full weeks and almost at the halfway mark of this class. It has been great getting to know classmates from other states, and I think one lives in Hawaii. But they have been encouraging as they comment on my discussion posts, and our Prof. makes us laugh with her dyslexia. And her comments to our posts are encouraging as well as funny. She plays the devils advocate quite often but makes solid, encouraging comments to help us succeed.

I guess I can say that I believe those words that it will be easier as an adult. I know more, and write well. Though, I have to say that this first APA style paper could have gone either way and then I would have proven my point on my writing skills. But God knows the bigger picture and He's always faithful.

Thankfulness

So-- It was when I said the word OK--but I never thought I'd be blessed.

While asked to spend some time with a girl, I just said Ok, to say Ok. Yeah, it really was a blessing. I needed some time to not spend by myself- and an 8 yr. old did that. Baked a pie together. Thanks Amanda for sharing your daughter with me today.

8 days

The journey has been long and grueling. I will not lie. I've complained tons, and cried more than I ever have in a year. I've dreamt weird teaching dreams of how to teach. I've woken up at 4am thinking of how to make the day satisfying to my students. I think I've consumed more coffee than I ever want to know. If you've been there for me during one of these times, I am soo thanking God for the blessing you have been in my life. The time you've taken out of your life to talk, and pray for me will never be forgotten in a trial of my life. You never once gave up on me, and always encouraged me to move forward. Thank you God for your everlasting love. The journey has been exciting, and without regrets, I know this has been your plan for my life. It wasn't lived with always a positive attitude and there were times, my faith was so weak, I thought I'd never get myself out of the pit. Though I've learned much about 'His Grace Is Enough' in all circumstances. I'm living on the mountain these last 8 days! My mentor teacher has been wonderful. What a praise it was to be placed in a school where my mentor teacher cared about my teaching. I was blessed with such calmness, and mercy in mistakes. Though my class proved to be more than a challenge,I have learned many valuable lessons to teaching. The future holds a whole new journey, and one that I hope that I will live out with greater faith. There are no permanent plans for a teaching job. The APT test will be taken in Feb. and that will tell what the future holds. I'll move when the Spirit leads, and have no expectations of where this goal of a teaching certificate will lead.

Laughter

My students have found laughing a way of getting out of work...They have distracted the teacher enough to waste more time with heads down on the desks. The battle of laughter has been won. Every time they think something is funny, I'll remember to live each moment without regrets. But, really--I'm annoyed at laughter.

Bad Day

When the world feels like it is caving in, and the crunch time to teach the entire day for the next 4 weeks seems like an impossibility. The day was chaotic, and out of hand, and teaching content felt like an eternity they would never understand even and odd numbers. Days when the repeat button doesn't shut off, and your brain is forever fried.

I search the email for a plea of desperation, begging for encouragement. But no such luck. Emails are far and few between. Just about to delete the junk mail, and took a quick peak and found one from my University field specialist, whom I never have contact with.(she is my reference for questions). My mentor teacher apparently sent her an email, and this is what I received.

I wanted to let you know that Mrs. Zeiters has informed me that you are doing a great job in the classroom. She told me that she has thoroughly been enjoying having you in the classroom and will miss having you there after student teaching has ended. I just wanted to pass along this compliment. Keep up the great work! Have a great day


I prayed today for God to be my stronghold, then after school I prayed for encouragement. Thank you God for blessing me in those times where my faith is little.

Congratulations to my DAD who has written a book about the Island of Aruba. Published in January (2012) in the airports and shops of Aruba. I'm gonna have a heavy suitcase he said--look at what was on my front porch today!

IF you were a rat, wher'd you be?

This was the topic of a Halloween Monday!
I wish I had a picture to describe this uncharacteristic Monday morning chaos.
Lily and Tulip escaped Saturday!
Monday morning, they were somewhere in our room.
Picture the Janitor, Sp. Ed teacher, Student teacher, a sub, and I looking for these rats.
I should have paid more attention to the shout from down the hall that I may not want to enter the room. Yikes! I am sure they had a hay day with our Halloween chips, brownies, tea, and whatever else they found that I didn't clean up. (yes, I had to explain hay day when I used the term to my students).

Lily was found behind the filing cabinets, and Tulip was in the closet, in which we looked 2x in the closet.