Acts 3 - By Faith In The Name of Jesus

As of 10 minutes ago I officially became a middle school teacher.

After years of saying I would never teach middle school.

After years of saying I would never teach resource.

But by faith in the name of Jesus Christ, I will give him full authority to use me in mighty ways. I will not allow my insecurities to block my blessings. 

Thank you to those who have prayed for me. Just in this school year God has transformed me even more than my mind could ever imagine. 

Have Faith. Pray. Believe. Submit. God knows what we need. Allow him to work. Don't block his blessings.

Acts 2 Part 2 - Holy Spirit At Work In Me

These past 24 hours have been a whirlwind of emotion. I was offered a position at another school in the district.

I have seen God move in this situation. I had several colleagues immediately tell me that I would be so great for the kids. They almost said the exact same words to communicate that to me. Even though I am doubting certain aspects of my ability (which another friend tells me is Satan whispering in my ear), One friend even offered to tutor me in math since I have been in the PreK world for so long.

What I do now is good. I do good works for him in my class and school. It is comfortable.

The Holy Spirit has been busy. One sweet friend reminded me of some of the things I had written in the blog. That was the Holy Spirit at work.

Peter denied Christ 3 times. I had turned down 3 job interviews. I am reading John 18. Am I denying him by not trusting in him? Listen to this...

Last week, after saying out loud that I would go on the next interview if he ever sent me one, I got that email at nearly the exact moment about this position and interview.

They offered me the job without even meeting me based on my reputation with the district, autism community and at Columbia College. Even after I had spent the entire phone interview trying to convince them that I wasn't' qualified.

Holy. Spirit.

I feel nervous, afraid and uncomfortable.

What I know is that God will provide what I need. Going from 3 year olds to middle school will be a huge adjustment. I am certain that I will see where God wants me when I go and observe today. I will need to let them know by Friday.

I appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement. This really is a minor problem in the grand scheme of life. I know God worked in my life through Abby and brought me this job helping students and parents during what was a difficult time in my life. My experience has helped many parents.

I just can't wait to see how he is going to use me through this new opportunity.

Acts 2 - His Love Poured Out On Us

As I am in the kitchen at 4 am cooking fajita meet for dinner, I am amazed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I love how in this chapter those who didn't understand tried to explain it away. They were just drunk on wine (v.13). Don't we do this? And we are believers.

I know that God has done some big things in my life. Even though I don't dare speak it out loud, I wonder if it really can be from him or if it is just a coincidence. That is really difficult to type. But if I am going to be real in my faith (or lack of sometimes) I have to be honest.

Some really big and wonderful things have happened in my life just in these past 9 months. None of which are a coincidence. Since going from only being in his word in the church building to being in his word EVERYDAY, God has done so much.

He has opened my eyes to his goodness and greatness.
He has poured our his love into my heart.
He has convicted me.
He has made me harder on myself.
He has guaranteed my eternity through my belief.
He has used me in mighty ways.
He has provided in unimaginable ways.

My life is far from perfect or easy. These last few weeks have been a struggle to motivate myself to get out of bed and go to work. I just want to stay home, sit on the deck and listen to the birds sing. I don't want to deal with problems at work, I don't want to deal with grumpy pre-teens. I just want to take it easy.

God doesn't call me to take it easy.

He wants me to feel alive, energized, drunk on Him. I need to call upon the Holy Spirit to work in me. Energize me. Fill me up. I need that strong wind. fire, and the words that come from him that others don't understand.

Most gracious Heavenly Father, I thank you for the Holy Spirit. I welcome it in. May it move in me, energize me, give me authority to speak your truth to others...Lord I pray that you continue to move in a way that is so clear that it could only be from you. I want others to be confused by your miraculous power so I can be your witness to them. Father, sometimes we need you to move in big, larger than life ways that are clear. Lord thank you for doing that for me these past 9 months. Thank you for the trials and for the blessings. Help me to go out in the world that wants to make excuses about who you are and let my life be a witness to your greatness. -Amen

Acts 1 - By His Authority

In reading this chapter this morning verse 7 jumps off the page.

"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."

But I want to know. I want to write the important dates down in my cute planner. I want to create a Google calendar entry and set a reminder on my phone.

Jeffrey and I often talk about our careers. For the most part, other than the occasional barfing or explosive poop from my students, I know what my days generally look like. He never knows what he days bring. Sometimes it's pretty predictable. He covers news at the state house or is acting news editor. Other days he is rushing to Charleston in the middle of the night for a mass shooting, rushing to Alabama to cover tornado outbreaks or leaving the house on Christmas morning to cover the death of a famous musician. 

I could never do his job and he could probably never do mine. I need organization and predictability. He does not.

But no matter what we face we are promised this

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." Acts 1:8

I used to think that this verse speaks directly to the witness to others, telling people about him. As I mature in my faith, I know this goes far beyond the limits I place on him.

The Holy Spirit gives me power and works in me when:

In meetings 

Teaching 

Loving others

Uplifting others

Witnessing to others

Making decisions

Doing stuff that is hard

Laying hands on and praying for others

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever." John 14:16

My prayer today is that the Holy Spirit will pour over me today in all that I say and do. When is the last time you felt the Holy Spirit? I think it is safe to say that we can use that as a gauge on our relationship with Him. Call upon Him today to fill you with the Holy Spirit. 

Let's be renewed, excited, recharged for Christ!

Wrap Up - Leviticus 27 & Hebrews 13

These past few days have been crazy to say the least. On Wednesday morning I was almost in tears from some various frustrations in my career. Around 10 a.m. I looked at my co-worker and told her that I have had 3 requests from different schools to go on job interviews and have turned them down. I specifically said that if God sent me another interview, I would go. No joke, at 10:08 I received an email for an interview.

God moment.

Yesterday I had the interview. There was a lot of going back and forth int he 24 hours prior. I have never worked in this setting, am not confident about my abilities and certain that I am probably not qualified

The interview went so much better than I expected. I told them several times that I didn't feel qualified and didn't want to be a horrible teacher. I didn't want kids to suffer because I didn't know what the heck I was doing.  It would be a huge adjustment going from PreK special ed to middle school resource.

Even after 40 minutes on the phone interview trying to convince them that I was not who they wanted, they asked me to come in next week and observe the teachers.

I am going to go. I don't feel confident in my abilities. What I do feel confident in is that God knows where I need to be. Prayer for this opportunity will be at the top of my list.

In a matter of days my world could change dramatically.

What I do know is certain is that God is in control. He knows what my abilities are. He is the one that qualifies me.

And you know what? I even talked about him during my phone interview. How great was that? Who knows? That may be the entire reason for this. To speak his name to 4 people I have never met. I don't know their faith background. I just gave all the glory to God for using me to reach and connect with parents of young children with disabilities through my own personal experiences.

Father thank you for the opportunity to speak your name and not be afraid. Thank you for being such a natural part of my life and conversations. God I pray that you will be with so many of my friends who are looking to make big changes in their lives. It is scary. It is the unknown. But I know that you work for my good. You protect. You lead. You guide. Lord give me discernment and a clear word on where you are calling me to be. Where you lead me, I will follow. Lord I praise you today for the works you will use me for tomorrow. Amen


I have really enjoyed Leviticus and Hebrews. I am so excited to see what God can teach me through Acts.

Hebrews 11 & 12 - He knows.

Heavenly Father, thank you. 

You know I am waking up tired this morning. My body aches from my workout, I am hangry and want to eat all the carbs that I possibly can, and I want to just lay here and not spend time in your word but rather close my eyes for another 45 minutes.

Thank you for knowing just what I needed this morning. Thank you for honoring my half-hearted attempt to be with you right now. Thank you for loving me so much that you give me my daily bread here that is so much more satisfying that any carb in this house.

This morning I draw my strength from you Lord. I pray that you will renew my energy and help me to face today. Help me to do your will first and everything else that follows. Guide me today. Help me to be:

kind, not cranky

refreshed, not exhausted

grateful, not selfish

calm, not stressed

content, not jealous

happy, not angry

in all that I do today.

Lord thank you for this message today that is just for me. Thank you for reminding me that my strength comes from you. 

Amen and Amen. 

Leviticus 26 - Obedience

Some of you know the struggles we are having with our youngest. It is a storm we are currently in. It is stressful, tiring and effecting our entire family system. Most of the time I feel like I have failed as a mother.

I have been in prayer about this and God really spoke to me this morning in this passage.

Laura and I have been keeping a journal that we share back and forth. The hope was that we could get our thoughts down on paper and not yell so much. It has been frustrating to read her responses. She has a sense of entitlement. She thinks that at 10 she knows what is best and appropriate for her. She argues with me when I give her direction. She is disobedient.

On Friday I wrote giving her praise for a job well done on a project her class presented. I told her that I was being disobedient to God when I yelled at her, lost my temper and sometimes cussed. (Yes, cussed. It is not pretty over here.) I explained to her that I was no longer going to let her get me so out of sorts that I was disobedient to God. I also told her that I would meet her in the middle. When I get angry I am not rational with punishments. Even when she is doing okay I still want her to pay for making me feel this way. (Even though I know I am in control on my own weather.)

Today I see that we are to be obedient to him through following his commandments. It is willful. We are making choices to either follow his commands or go our own way.

By choosing to remain in control, pray, be thankful in the storm and keep my cool, I am sending the message to Laura that obedience to God is my top priority despite how this tired, worn out mom reacts in times of stress and anger.

How can I expect her to follow me when I am clearly not following his commands?

Conviction stings. I know God is going to honor my obedience to him with Laura. In those tense moments I am going to train myself to go straight to him and give thanks for her and the blessings that will come.

Thanks to my sweet friends, some of who are praying for this situation as I type this. I am so thankful for you and for your encouragement here each day.