Graduation Ceremony

Last night I was able to attend the graduation ceremony for Trinity. As I sat there waiting for things to get started I was hoping for a speaker that would capture my attention. Funny thing I leaned over to the person sitting next to me and said it would be great if Tony Nolan was speaking tonight (that thought only came after I saw his father-in-law sitting in the audience). Yeah, it was Tony speaking, I knew it was going to be good.I wish I had a pen and paper last night to take notes. It was better than good. Tony gave a message to the students that every young person needs to hear and be challenged with. He told them three things they need to know; Say no to the devil, say yes to God and do your best. One of the statements that he made which is so true because I have experienced it and seen it first hand and that is after a few months of newly graduating students attend church for a short period of time and then they decide this isnt for me, you cnat make me go any more, or they get so caught up in the college life they forget about God. He gave a story about a convient store clerk and how she was being robbed and the robber had a gun under his shirt and when he asked for the money the girl say no, he continued to ask and she continued to say no. The robber got angry and took his arm out and pushed everything on the counter onto the floor and the girl realized that he did not have a gun so the girl began to beat him up. We need not allow the devil to threaten us because he has been disarmed and we have victory because of who God is and what he did for us. I was so encouraged last night by Tony, I walked out going what else can I do to help assist a younger generation stand firm and say no to the devil and yes to God.

My prayer and challenge for myself.
God help me to not stop the relationships that I have developed with so many of the seniors. Help me to be an encouragement to them that they would continue in church and would seek your guidance and be in your will. Put people in their lives that will encourage, hold them accountable, and challenge them to live a life obedient to you.

Tony if you ever read this I just want to say thank you so much for who you are and for who God is in you. God has blessed you with the ability to preach his word in a way that causes every one that hears to respond. Thank you for all you do.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Ok, so I started reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, which by the way is eye opening. I am not much of a reader but I cant put it down. The second chapter was about life being so short and what we are doing with our lives during the short period. I am reminded of several different stories about death and how my heart breaks when I hear about someone dying. Why is death so hard for us (me to deal with)? I guess I understand death and that there are two places you go when you die, thank you God that you loved me enough to send your son so that I could spend eternity with you, are you going to heaven or hell? Such a simple question but yet there are such distorted answers as to where there destination lies and why. I know I am going to heaven because I put my faith and trust in God, the God who created this world, the God you allowed His Son to die a painful, horrific death so that I can be with Him in eternity. Just that last statement sends chills up my spine.What a great example of love. With the stories that I have heard about death I have wondered what God was up to. There are three no four stories of parents loosing a child, I have either read it through someones blog or on the news. I first read a blog about Todd and Angie of which I have never met but my heart broke when I read the story of their daughter dying after spending a very short few hours with them. The next was of Steven Curtis Chapman and his family dealing with the death of their adopted daughter after a tragic accident, a member of my brothers church finally getting to take their premature baby home after weeks of being in the hospital and the baby dieing of SIDS, and now another member of Todd and Angie's family loose their infant. A very close family friend dealing with the lose of both grandparents dieing on the same day. God I dont understand but I trust that you are in control of every situation. I think about Angie and Todd and baby Audrey and how her life and story are touching the lives of others, God is in control, I am amazed at how God would use death to bring salvation.

Yes, I know I started this blog out by talking about a book I am reading and now I am talking about death. Here is the point to this. Our life here on earth is so short like the dash between dates on a tomb. I have to ask myself what kind of legacy will I leave behind. Will people attend my funeral (morbid thought I know) and say wow, she really lived her life for God or will they say nothing. I want my life to count for Christ. May my life leave a lasting impression on the people that knew me. Are you making your life count and for what is it counting for?

For those you reading this that are mourning the lose of a loved one. Please know that I am praying for God peace to be with and may his outstretched arms give you comfort. God is in control of every situation both good and bad and he has a perfect plan that is being played out every second of everyday.

Making People Think Before They Speak

Here is a funny story but yet someone serious. As I was walking back to my class after lunch I walked into another teacher's room and as usual we were picking on each other. I guess I some what hit a nerve with one comment and he says "I almost forgot you have christian ears and I almost said something really bad." I was caught off guard. People at work are thinking before they say things around me, wow God is even working in the lives of my co-workers. I have had conversations with some of my co-workers about church and ministry but never did I think it would result in them watching what they say to me or around me. I have their respect, which is hard at time for me to understand. I have asked myself many times if people I come in contact with see Christ in me, am I representing who God is, what am I doing to leave a lasting impression on the people I work with and the students I teach? I guess this was an answer to one of the questions. I dont know what I did or even said to make him not say what he wanted to say but thank God he didnt. I hear the language every day from my students which drives me crazy, which now when they say something they apologize for what they said. So here is a challenge for you. What impression are you leaving on the people you come in contact with? Can they tell you are different, a christian by what you say and your actions? The next time you hear a bad word, or some one uses God's name in vain I challenge you in a polite way to say some thing to them. I have multiple times made comments to students as well as adults about the language they use and I guess today it paid off because this teacher refrained from saying what he thought because I have christian ears.

What I think I am worth vs. What He thinks I am worth

I just read this blog that made me think about how much God loves me and my worth to him. I can't even begin to comprehend that God loves and values me so much that he allowed the ultimate sacrifice of His Son so that I would be able to live with Him forever. This goes with part of a song that I have heard. " I am worth something to the King." Don't ever let someone tell you, you are worthless. Reminder yourself ever day that you are worth some thing to the King.



Matt 10:29-31 (nlt)

29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin[? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Romans 5:7-8 (TM)

We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Breeze On My Face

As I sit here writing the blog before this one there was a nice breeze that was blowing and I couldnt help but to the think and acknowledge that God is right here with me reading my blog over my shoulder. I am so grateful to serve a God that says He will never leave me now forsake me. Praise God that he is in control of every situation whether good or bad. Thank God for this day.

I pray for the men and women who are serving our country whether they are here in the United Sates or some where over seas. Thank you all you do. I pray that God will keep you safe and bring you home to your family. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am to you that serve for defending this country and our (my) freedom. God bless and may he keep you safe.

Distraught Teacher

As most of you who read this know that I teacher high school students and then go to an after school program at an elementary school where I have second grade. Well, Friday after a while of being outside playing on the playground we decided to go inside and watch a movie. Not long after we had been inside my sister (who is the after school director also 5th grade teacher) came and pulled me into the teacher's lounge and this is what was said to me. "The cops are here as well as DCF doing an investigation on one of your second graders, she made a comment to her teacher that her Dad had beat her and so she called DCF this moring and now they are here." At that point I started to cry and my heart sunk for this child. I dont understand any of this. The next thing I know is that I was pulled into the office and questioned on things that I had noticed with the child which wasnt much. When I first walked down there I thought I cant do this, then I ask God to control the tears and emotions that I was feeling because if this was true action needed to be taken and quickly. As I was talking to the cop before I ever answered I think he could tell that I was a little upset about the situation; he says to be "I am not here to intimadate you or put words into your mouth we just want to know if you have noticed anything out of the ordinary." I felt better at that point. I know that every once in a while children do things to where they need to be punished but I saw a different side to punishiment this past week. I have heard about how children get beat and never really thought twice about it. As a teacher I never thought I would have to have dealt with this first hand either. I am the type of person that likes to fix things when they are broken or when some thing is wrong but there was nothing that I could do. My heart broke for this child once I heard later all the details. I pray that God will intervine and take care of this child. I dont know what else to say except please pray for this child and the family. There are two other children and pray as well that the mother will get things straight and not let the man back in the house that beat the child.

God help me to have compassion for the children that I come in contact with everyday. Give me the will to have a love for them the way you love them.
"Great thing have yet to come and great things are still to be done in this city" For some reason this song has been on my mind since this took place. I also pray that maybe God would help to reach out the this women and encourage her to go to church or at least share the love of God with her. Thank you for reading.

Getting out Of My Comfort Zone

Last night Kevin taught on our Fuel for God and that this type of fuel is getting out of the comfort zone. Man, am I a person that really likes my comfort zone. When Kevin made the comment about remaining in our comfort zone is us being selfish, I was really convicted. I know at times I can be very selfish, but I dont want to be that way any more. God really showed me last night that He has more for my life than just this. I have to allow him to remove me from my comfort zone and do his will. It is more evident that God wants me to share the message with females about how much God loves them and that we need not focus on the physical or relationshups but rather focus on Him. As I have shared before about the vision God has given me I am now seeing that doors are slowly opening. I was talking to a friend just the other day about this and asking them to pray for me and I realized that I needed to seek more prayer and really ask God to open doors. I do feel that God is taking me out of my comfort zone and moving me to an area of ministry that is so not who I think I am. But isnt ministry doing what we never thought we could do. I have been challenged to allow God to take me out of my comfortzone. I challenge those that read this ask God to remove or take you out of your comfort zone. In the end it will be a Blessing.

Frustration/Strange Feeling

On Sunday Steve Whitcomb preached on circumstances and the fact that God is in control and can change our circumstances instantly. I was reminded about a situation one of our members was in not too long ago. Back around Easter a friend was in the hospital sick (very sick) but one day God gave him a miracle and changed his circumstances. As I sat and listened to Mr. Steve I thought about Sean and how God brought him out of that, and I was so encouraged. So, this brings me to write this in my blog.

The last few days have some what been frustrating to me, I didnt understand why until now. My quiet time just wasnt what I thought or wanted it to be. I feel like I havent really focused on the word or gotten anything out of it. (I thought maybe I am just stressed with it being the end of the year and so much is going on.) Nope that is not it. Yesterday I got an email from a co-worker (speech guy) and he said he had a cd for if he remembered to bring it. Well, he is only here at Ed White for three days Wednesday - Friday. Today is Tuesday and I see him coming out of his office. He stated that he had stopped by to bring me the CD. It hit me then that my frustrations are nothing but myself. I am in awe again at how God works and knows just what I need. I very much a music person and I am so encouraged by his thoughtfulness. So, as I sit here typing this blog I am reminded of how God will put people in our paths to encourage, to challenge, to minister and so many other things. I am reminded of the vision that God gave me a while back and had to ask myself what am I doing to seek after this vision. I feel like my frustration and complacency is because I have stopped seeking God's vision and pursuing what he wants for me. Please pray with me a for me that I will continue to seek God's will and his vision for my life. I hope I am not alone is this feeling and that everyone every once in a while go through the same things.

God I ask that you show me your will in my life, help me to seek the vision that you have given me. I want my life to be a reflection of you. I hope that you allow me to be to some one what Sam was to me today, and encouragement and friend. Thank you for sending Christians into my life and path every day. I also pray for the young man that asked me for money on Saturday, allow him to continue to cross Christians and that if he is not saved show him your Grace and Mercy. Amen.

My kids are growing up.LOL :-(

In our small groups Wednesday after the message Kaley and I were talking about how tings are quickly closing for the seniors. Wow, I cant believe they are grown. It seems like just yesterday that they entered into the youth. This is the first group that I saw come into the youth and are now graduating. I feel special to have been a part of this and to see each of you grow in so many different ways. (Ok the tears are starting to well up in my eyes) I cant begin to tell you how proud I am of each of you in so many different areas. I have seen excitement in your lives and I have seen disappointment as well but it doesnt end here. You have a life time ahead of you. Continue to allow God to be the focus of your life as well as allow him to guide your decisions. Here is a little something for each of you to read.

Thoughts about each of you:

Trey - Even though you think I dont like (which that is not true) I want you to know that you are such an encouraging person. I have seen you really grow over the last few years and I want you to know how proud I am of you. Keep living for God!

Micah - I have so many memories of you that all I can do is laugh at you. My first encounter with you was my first year at children's camp out in the hot tub and what you said to me. I still laugh to this day. You are very talented with your artistic ability, maybe one day I can tell people I personally know the artist of that picture. I was in awe at the pictures you painted for the easter production. You are so level headed and very laid back; you never let things bother you.

Chelsey - I dont think I have enough space for all that I could say about you. You are very talented with your drama and singing. Keep allowing God to use the gifts he has given you. You have a personality that will allow you to make friends easily where ever you are. Dont ever let someone tell you, you need to change. If there was one thing I could give you for graduation it would be a navigation system so that you wouldnt get lost any more. Oh yeah, I almost forgot the trip to Beal's Outlet. Love Ya!

Kaley - I am so proud of all that you have done and all that you have become. You are such an encouragement to me and you have kept me on my toes. I have enjoyed all these years of you being in my group. I look back and have so many memories of long talks, you and others telling me to move over because the gang is coming in (camp nights). Going to the refrigerator and telling me I have nothing for you to eat and then laughing at Chelsey because she is eating fruit instead of junk. Taking pictures of random things or you trying on clothes and getting me to take the picture. Telling me what I should wear for church. Making fun of me because I take multiple showers a day. I am truly blessed for having you in my group.

Justin - What a genius, I feel sometimes intimidated by you and your intelligence. I know that God has great things planned for you. I see you one day being a pastor, you are gifted with that. You have great ideas for drama and I hope to see them played out one day. Dont let anything or anyone keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

Hannah - You are such an inspiration. I am amazed at the memorization of scripture that you have. I wish I could memorize like that. You are such a wonderful person and you always have a good attitude about yourself and always carry a smile. I wish all the best in your future.

kelsey - Wow, what a beautiful young lady you have become. I remember your first night in the youth, you sat next to Jeff and didnt say a word. You are a very talented and inspiring young lady keep working hard for all that you want in life. A memory that I have of you is you being so gassy,,,,That was probably my second experience with you. You are such a dare devil always willing to try anything. Continue to be courageous. I will miss you!

I love you all as if you were my own. I will pray for you all. I wish you all the best of luck and pray that God will continue to bless each and every one of you. Please know that just because you are going into college and career that I have stopped being there for you, I will always be here for what ever you need. Congratulations.

Love you,
Jenny

Amazing Grace

Monday evening I had gotten a phone call from my mom regarding some bad news. I was really taken back; I didn't know what to say. When I hung up the phone my heart broke. Jana (Bubba's girl friend) and Lindsay (Jana's sister) had gotten news earlier in the day that both of their grandparents had passed away. Knowing that the grandmother had been dealing with cancer I couldn't believe what I was told. What is murder suicide? I couldn't bring myself to call either one of them because I know how I am and I didn't want to make things worse for them. So, I sent a text and told them that I was here for what ever they needed and that I loved them. The next morning when I got to work I check the news from yesterday to see exactly what happened. I don't want to go into detail about it but it was a murder suicide. My heart sunk, what do you say, how to you comfort. Well, I know that I just needed to show them that I was there for whatever they needed and let them know how much I care for them. Tommy Mallard did the service and it was awesome. God gave him just the right words to say. I believe that if Dennis and Sandy were believers in God then they are in heaven. I can only trust in what God words says.

I don't do well at funerals especially when they play Amazing Grace. Yes, it was played and the only thing that I could think of was Mama (my grandmother) being there to welcome them when they got to heaven. I cried for Jana and Lindsay and the fact that they are dealing with this. I pray that God would give them comfort and peace through all of this. God's grace is amazing and sufficient. I remember what helped me get through the passing of my grandmother and that is "To be absent from the body it to be present with the Lord" I do pray that Jana, Lindsay and their family can find comfort in those words.

Lesson Learned Emotional Banking

On Wednesday I had workshop that I attended off school campus. During the training one of the instructors asked if we had ever heard of the emotional banking system. Ok, I must say I found this a little odd until she explained what it was. Here is the explanation of emotional banking.

Like in a real banking situation you are making deposits and withdraws but in a different way and definitely not using money. This is dealing with students (people). Before you can ever make a withdraw you have to invest in the student or person. Be encouraging, be kind, share kind words, and be a positive influence f or them. THe withdraw is explaining life lessons or maybe you don't agree with some thing they did or just letting them know they are wrong. Once I realized what she was talking about I understood and it all made sense to me. This is how I want to be with my students at work as well as at church. I want to make investments in their lives so that when some things develops (and it will) I have the relationship that will allow me to be real with the students. I want my students to know that I care about them and want to see them succeed in what ever they are doing. ( as long as it is legal)

How are you investing in the lives of those around you? I challenge those reading this to practice this emotional banking system and let me know how it works. You will have a different relationship with the people you come in contact with whether it be from teaching, pastoring, parenting, marriage, dating, and all other friendships developed. I look forward to hearing how you have experienced emotional banking.

Teacher appreciation week!

Ok, so this week is teacher appreciation week in which administration and students do things for teachers to say thanks. I was a little bummed on Wednesday because I had training off school grounds and this was the day the school provided lunch for hte teachers. I was feeling a little left out and unappreciated. :-( I had a little pitty party for myself. This morning when I went to my teacher mailbox to get the things I needed for the day I had a letter from a student. Here is what is read: "Dear Ms. Smith I am just writing this letter to say thank you for being my teacher this year. I know that you pushed us hard becasue you cared about us. You taught me that life was not going to be easy. Plus that you have to work hard to get far in this world. So I am just writing you to say thank you for all your help." After I read that I thought how stupid of me to have felt the way that I felt. I was so appreciative of this student. It made my day. I know that teaching is my calling in life and I love my students even when they drive me to think I need counseling. (Those that know what and who I teacher will understand that comment.)I thank God everyday that he has giving me the ability to teach and care for students the way I do. Without Him I never would have done this. I pray for my students all the time because I know that most of them have a rough home life. I know I have students that are lost and dont believe or believe but dont have a relationship with God. I hope that I am an example to them of the love the God has for them. So

So to all the teachers out in the world, thank you for what you do. One day we will see the lives that we touch and encourage every day.

Unequally Yoked

How do you explain to some one that a believer should not date a non-believer? I have tried to explain that I am not willing to compromise what God has planned for me or wants for me just so I can have a boyfriend or the title of being some ones girlfriend. Because of who I am in Christ that person who is an unbeliever does not have the right to call me his girlfriend. (I will explain that later.) The word states in 2Corinthians6:14 Do not be yoked together with the unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wiskedness have in common? Or wha fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said; "I will live with them and walk among them, and iwill be their God, and they will be my people." 17 " Therefore come out from them and be seperate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (NIV) Now this does not mean that we cant be friends with them and tell them about God and show them love. It does however mean that we should not date/marry a person that is not saved. There are a lot of people in this world that are good people but without God as their savior their thought process is and should be different from what I or any other Christian thinks. I go back to the lesson we just finished on Wednesday about the Venti Life and how to live the Venti Life and that is to be OBEDIENT. I by no means perfect my for the time I am here on this earth I will through Christ do the best that I can to live an obedient life. I want to experience the VENTI LIFE. John 10:10 I have come that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly. In the end I pray that we all see what God is saying and why God is saying that we should not be with some one that is not yoked with an unbeliever.

Kids!Students!

So most you know that I am a teacher at Ed White High school and there are over 2,000 students that attend the school. I must say that this is a dark place. Today during third period all of my student were out on a field trip so I really didnt have a class during this time. I ended up having two students in my room that I dont even know one of which was just asking for a band aid and I figured that they would go back to class. They began to talk to me and tell about their friends here at school. I found out that they are friends with one of the students of PLBC and then a bother of another one of our students. I began to ask them why they didnt go to church. The brother stated that he had been to PLBC before a few weeks ago and began to name some of the students that attend.(I didn't believe him at first) They started telling me that they dont go to church because one time they went a supposedly got arrested while they were there. Wonder what they were up to? Well, I continued to talk to them trying to figure out a few things about them and then I told them that they needed to go to church to get their life right. Maybe that wasnt the best comment to make but it was and is true. I do hope that they will go to church maybe even PLBC. Just the few minutes that they spent in my room I heard a lot of bad stories about what they have done.(Blows my mnd to know that kids really do that stuff, pretty bad) They are friends with one student that I have been praying for since the beginning of the school year. So, now I add these two boys to my prayer list. Of course I pray for the entire school but I do have specifics that I pray for. So tonight as we meet up at starbucks I now have two more people to pray for. It is wierd that the year is almost over and these two boys came into my room, God is up to something and I cant wait to see what it is. There is nothing accidental or coincidental about God. I pray that God will continue to use me in every area whether it be as a teacher, a friend, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a grandchild, a niece or any other title that I take on; give me the ability to let your light shine so that people may see you Jesus in me.