Saturday's List: Funny Five

Here are FIVE funny videos from YouTube this week.  Enjoy!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Fill 'Em Up, Fill 'Em Up!

If you have read my blog this month, then you will know that my church is in the middle of a series on Elisha, an amazing prophet of God with some ridiculous faith.  Yesterday, Pastor Craig taught from the encounter had with a widow.   She was in debt and her creditors were going to come and take her sons.  All she had her in her house was a small amount of olive oil.  Elisha helps her by calling on God. He gives her specific instructions on what to do.  She takes her family behind closed doors. The woman and her sons gather empty jars and she begins to fill one jar with the olive oil.  The oil multiplies and fills all the jars she gathered.  Then the woman is able to sell the oil, pay her husband's debt and keep her sons.  Definitely a moment where God did more than she asked or imagined.

I have to just SHOUT with praise right now to God!  I laugh about it because I am so amazed!  To quote Margaret Feinberg, I am WONDERSTUCK with God's goodness right now.  You see, I was really impressed about ten days ago when I actually sold two times on my TeachersPayTeachers store.  I thought that was a pretty good start considering the the thousands upon thousands of lesson plans.  BUT GOD (remember those favorite words of mine?)  has done an EPHESIANS 3:20 moment in my store.  I still cannot believe it!  Those small beginnings have now turned an amount so great I would not have guess that it could happen in less than a month of having my store open.  Let's just say it covers my student loan payment....which makes me give up a huge HALLELUJAH!!  I seriously have tasted some of God's goodness.  I feel I can totally relate to the widow Elisha helped.  I took my little bit, and God has multiplied it to fill some empty jars in my life.  All I did was take the small gifts He has blessed me with, and in return He  has multiplied it more than I could have expected.  It has encouraged me to continue on this journey with the Lord because I know any blessing that comes out of this comes from His Hand and not my own.  God is truly FAITHFUL!

Now this excitement of God's faithfulness in this area has spilled over into other areas of my life.  It has increased my faith to where I am finally at peace about some places God has called me to be obedient.  One example is an area I touched on back in February in this post.  I talked about how last August, right around this time actually, I knew God had called me to stop "looking" at potential husband material and to rest and focus on Him.  I was back and forth on the fence, depending on my feelings.  Because seriously, who imagines themselves single at 30?  And waiting on God always makes me think that His timing is even longer than I would want it to be.  Could I wait on God for a year?  Could I wait on God for another ten years?  Twenty years? God continued to encourage me in following Him by renewing my hope.  However, those pesky feelings still got in the way until a moment I've dubbed "Whole Foods Sunday."  In the Godincidence, I felt God truly calling me to surrender and wait on Him.  It has been hard at times to rely on God, especially when no one else around feels the same conviction. The devil has seen this calling as place to just move on in and muck things up in my mind.   I've wanted affirmation from other people that what I experienced was truly God, but God has shown me, that just like my journey with my TeachersPayTeachers site, His way of guiding me is unique to me.  His voice trumps all others.  I only have to take my faith and offer it up expectantly to the Lord, knowing that in His right time He will do more than I could ask or imagine.  I just need to give Him my small amount of faith and my heart in FULL obedience and surrender.  He will not lead me in a negative way.  It may be painful at times, but it is not for my destruction, because my Father gives good and perfect gifts.   The blessing will happen, just like it did with my TeachersPayTeachers site, but it is going to be in HIS time and way, not my own.

Thank You Lord, for blessing my TeachersPayTeachers site beyond what I could have asked or imagined you would do.  Thank you for the small beginnings that you plant in our hearts.  Help me to offer those beginnings up in faith.  Give me the patience to wait because I want to be obedient to Your call.  I trust that you will take my dream jars for my life and overflow them with oil in Your way and Your time according to the plan that will bring You the most Glory.    In Jesus' Name, Amen.

More Small Beginnings...

Last week I posted about finally conquering fear and beginning my Teachers Pay Teacher store. In the post, I wrote about how God had given me a verse from Zechariah 4:10- "Do not despise the small beginnings.". Again the phrase of small beginnings came up as I read my devotion plan this morning over the life of Elisha. 

In this part of his life retold in 2 Kings 3:1-27, we see a huge conflict facing three kings. Their enemy Moab is rearing ahead to defeat them. The King of Israel is in a panic state. The King of Judah remains calm and asks the King of of Israel if there is a prophet, which invites God back into their situation. The King of Israel sends for Elisha, who tells the leaders that God wants them to dig ditches and then in the morning, it will be filled with water. All of that seems very small in perspective of the battle. God being the awesome and faithful God He is, sends water to full those ditches. Meanwhile, the Moabites see the water in the ditches and because the sun reflecting off the water, they think it is blood. They come to the conclusion the three kings fought and killed each other, so they head into Israel in a relaxed state, ready to plunder. Instead, when they get to Israel, the armies are waiting and they drive the Moabites out of Israel. Then the Israelites go into Moab and find victory there as well. 

A large, mind boggling victory came to the people of God after they started small. God told Elisha to tell the people His directions. The people followed, even though it may not have made sense. A victory happened in a way they could not have planned. 

I know that in my life right now I have acted more like the King of Israel than the King of Judah. I've looked at all the things I have to do to have my classroom ready. From reorganizing to lesson planning, my mind hardly slows down these days. I have a thousand ideas for my Teacher Pay Teacher store and not enough time to do it all. In my personal life, I feel like all I can see is defeat up ahead. I know I have been called to do some things specifically, and I've started to dig the ditches, but I won't lie, when I look with my eyes of flesh and not faith, I have no idea how that ditch will be filled with water.  Instead of hitting the panic mode, I need to be more like the King of Judah and invite God back into my situation. I need to stop feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. I need to be still and start small while listening to God's guidance in my situations. He will honor my small starts by coming into my life and "doing more than I could ever ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20)

I leave you all with this challenge. What Moab type forces are you facing? Write it down, give it a name. Pray about it and then be still. Invite God back into the situation.  Listen to the small start, the ditch digging guidance He is giving you. Go forward in that, and watch as God brings the victory into your life. 

No Backing Up

Yesterday at church we started a new series about Elisha. You can check it out at www.lifechurch.tv for an online experience. Here were the verses we focused on which tells about Elisha's calling:

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. (1 Kings 19:19-21 NIV)

Wow. This is crazy! Elisha receives a word from God through Elijah and IMMEDIATELY obeys! He believes it so deeply he gets rid of a 'plan B' with the oxen and the plow. No doubt in his mind at all.

Sometimes I can see that kind of faith in myself. However, most of the time, I get too easily side tracked by the flesh or what surrounds me. In this way, I see my heart more like Peter than Elisha. I answer the Lord's calling, but then the waves get bigger around me and I take my eyes off God. I doubt and try to find the alternate route, the back-up plan. It never works and I end up starting to drown. Then I find myself crying out, like Peter, "Lord, save me!"

May this story of Elisha become so ingrained into my soul that when I hear the Lord calling me, I too can immediately obey, discard any 'back-up' plans and walk forward in faith.

Don't Let Small Beginnings Stop You...

I'll admit, I am a creative person.  It is one of the things I enjoy about teaching.  I love creating new forms and ways for students to learn about something.  I remember that was one of the things when I worked as a teaching assistant that one of the teacher commented on.  In fact, I always got her art projects because of it.  When I was in grad school and working at the university preschool, I created a whole lesson and activity around "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."  My roommate again commented on how creative it looked!  Once I started teaching back in 2007, I would always create things for my students to do.  A few years ago, the website, Teachers Pay Teachers started.   I remember looking at things and seeing, "Hey, I probably could do that."  I even had other teacher say, "Hey, you could probably do that."  But I was always afraid.  Afraid it wouldn't be good enough.  Afraid of failure.

There comes a time though, the time to stop being afraid.   There comes a time to take a leap of faith and just do what you know you can do.  I can use my creative abilities and trust that God will do the rest with my Teachers Pay Teachers store items.  I was trying to be too perfect, cover too much material, and basically start off with the million dollar product.  Instead, God gave me this verse a few weeks ago:  "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..."(Zechariah 4:10 NLT).  I felt that was a kick in the pants.  Start small, it is ok.  God just wants me to start.  So with that in mind, today I finally uploaded a Back-To-School math theme for my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  I've promoted it the best ways I know- through social media of Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.  It really is something small compared to most sellers, but you know what?  It is a start.  The store is open now.  I'm now looking at the next small step, and that is to complete the rest of the Back-to-School theme with a reading component by the end of this week.

It feels great to do something with the gifts God has given me.  It also feels really great to punch fear in the face and obey.  I'm excited to see what He does with these small beginnings, knowing that He will be faithful.

Soulful Sunday: The Greatness of Our God

When I need to recalibrate my heart back to The Lord and reclaim space I've let the enemy fill with worry, defeat, or hopeless feelings, I listen to this song. It is such a beautiful song about how great God is and a reminder of the peace we can when we focus on the great mystery of God. Here is the link: http://youtu.be/htO_MXS4Ems

Happy Sunday y'all!!

Saturday's List: Where I've Been for a Month!

1. First big news from the past month: THE NURSE GOT MARRIED! It was an amazing day! All the planning and stressing came together and a beautiful, God-filled day happened. You see, as much as they wanted a smooth wedding day, things kept coming up to derail their joy. First the church had to be changed because of some flooding. Then the organist got pneumonia. It seemed like it was one thing after another. However, on the actual day, God was there, piecing it all together. I couldn't get the Nurse's sash tied, and was to the point of watching a YouTube video on it, when the flower girl's mom came in and saved the day. Then we were trying to call in a delivery lunch, which said we were out of delivery radius, when the flower girl's grandpa offered to pick it up. Over and over God whispered and showed up. And over and over I was reminded of Psalm 45:11. It was a great day! Here's the link to the pictures: http://amandagracephotography.zenfolio.com/p687638377 .

2. I've been busy tutoring all summer. It has been fun at times, while other times the fun level dips to a negative level. It's the first time I've encounter some kids that I really have to ask God to give me the eyes to see them the way He sees them. I've really had to learn to rely on Him to be patient and kind when I see those kids walk through the door and have a seat.

3. I've been quite the local theatre supporter, going to see 9to5, and Hairspray this month. Both are really fun shows and I may or may not have quietly sung along to both. :-)

4. Last weekend, I went to visit Miss A and her family. They were very gracious to host me despite Miss A being pregnant with Little PBJ, getting ready to move, and "Mulan"'s six birthday. I played Barbies, helped pack (which Miss A informed I've done before), and watched some good 90s Nickelodeon shows. I'm so blessed by their friendship!

5. God and I are having an in-the-desert wrestling match over who is in control. I'll be honest, I have a lot of anxiety over school starting in two weeks. I grew to love my class in a deep way last year, and I know it won't be the same. I'm afraid of the unknown with the new class. Not to mention there has been some moving around with different staff positions, so I feel like everything is all different. Miss T, one of my team members sent me this guest post from Ann Voskamp's blog: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/07/when-your-spirit-hungers-how-to-be-done-with-worry/. I read it and realized that most of my prayers lately were worry and fear messages to God. If I believe He is who He says He is, then why am I worried? God goes before me, beside me, and after me. He doesn't leave or fore sake me. I need to look to Him and TRUST.

6. The last thing I've been wrestling with God is what I like to call Digging Ditches. You see, the past seven months, God has done and will continue to do a work to change my heart. He has removed trash, helped me conquer fears, and restored hope. I know that I am a completely different person and that has bled over into all my outlooks on life, ideas about parenting, finances, and even marriage. As I've finished my very personal journey with Jesus, He placed a phrase "digging ditches," on my heart. I didn't understand until I prayed more, and now I'm currently reading Wild at Heart and For Women Only. Both are excellent about how to view men from a Godly, Christ-like perspective. It truly is helping to break down stereotypes and affirm truthful things I've encountered about men. I went back and listened to a 2011 Steven Furtick message called "Digging Ditches" because I've been very intrigued by this phrase God gave me. I thought I hadn't heard it, but as I listened, it was a good reminder that in order to receive God's blessings we have to follow the Holy Spirit and do prep work sometimes. Initially when I thought about all this ditch digging, I thought, well that means God is finally bringing my two into my life. I mean if I was in control of my life, that's what I'd say is happening.  After praying and being still, and surrendering control back over to God, I'm just resting in the mystery of the ditch digging. I've learned that sometimes God asks us to do something or shows us something and because His ways are higher, we misinterpret them with our feeble minds. Yes, I feel like I'm "ditch digging". Yes, it has to do with changing my perspective on men. Do I know what the outcome is? Nope. But I can trust that God will fill that ditch with what He choses. Maybe it will be a spouse. Maybe I'm going to have a rugged boy-filled classroom this year. Whatever way the ditch is filled, I need to stop trying to grasp control from God and surrender to the mystery.

7. Finally, I've unleashed my inner decorator and redid my bedroom! Pictures below: