I almost decided not to post this week. This past week has been incredibly draining emotionally as we said goodbye to dear friend who lived an incredibly beautiful life and went to see his Maker what seems like much too soon for those of us still here. I will admit that this past week my mind was not focused on school or my students like it normally is and my heart was going out to my dear friends and seemed to stay there and ache a while. For the past two hours I've been sitting on my couch looking over students' writing that for the most part is far less than perfect and wondering quietly what it is I'm doing here. I'm frustrated that my kids still don't seem to know where to put a period or a capital letter and are in 7th grade. I'm out of ways to teach them how to put a comma in a compound sentence. I don't understand why putting quotations around what someone says out loud is so hard. I'm frustrated. I'm worn out.
I decided I needed a break from looking at their work and should go ahead and write the dare. (Even though, honestly, my heart doesn't feel like loving them right now. Hopefully you don't think I'm awful for saying that--just trying to be real here.) The next dare on the list is "Love is Satisfied with God." The theme verse comes from Isaiah 58:11, "The Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire." (Ironically the printed text put a comma in that sentence- which would make it an incorrectly punctuated compound sentence, haha.)
The book says, "He alone can satisify, even when all else fails you."
Thank you, God.
I feel like my students are failing me and my frustration with them makes me feel like I'm failing them. But GOD SATISFIES. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
Does that mean that I don't feel frustrated with my kids anymore? No. But it does mean that thirty minutes ago I was feeling like a complete failure as a teacher and then God lead me here.
"In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled... I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13).
There are needs in your life that only God can fully satisfy. "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
The needs of love, peace, and adequacy are real. Thank you, Jesus that you fill those needs.
When we are seeking Him first, loving Him first, making our relationship with Him top priority, He promises to supply us with what we really need--which, actually, is all it really takes to satisfy us.
God is your everyday supply. Of everything you need.
My heart still hurts. And I'm still frustrated. BUT God is good. He's good all the time. And He is my adequacy and He will lead me.
And ironically, a dear teacher friend just sent me a text of encouragement about my students.
I hope you are filled to the brim with HIS love and HIS peace. Let him satisfy your needs.
<3
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Dare 16: Love is Jesus Christ
I hope most of you were able to enjoy a three day weekend! I know I've definitely soaked up today :)
This week's dare is another one that I will take mostly from the book, as it says what needs to be said perfectly, and I would only add my wordiness.
Dare 16: Love is Jesus Christ
While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodlyy. --Romans 5:6
"The previous [week] and dare lead to no other conclusion than this. Thankfully, it's a conclusion you can live with--today, tomorrow, and forever.
Jesus has come "to seek and to save" you (Luke 19:10). Everything you've failed at and haven't been able to do, every minute you've wasted trying to fix things your own way--all of it can me forgiven and made right by putting your life into the hands of the One who first gave it to you.
Maybe you've never done this. Then today is your day. "Now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Maybe you did it years ago, but you've wandered far from your spiritual roots. Then "repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). Even if you have already made Christ your way of life and have never stopped walking in fellowship with Him, the follow Scriptures will be a grateful reminder of all He's done for you.
The Bible says we are sinful from birth, from the moment we arrive. "Behold, i was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isaiah 64:6). It's not as though God sends innocent people to hell.
We deserve it. We simply can't be good enough to live with a pure and holy God.
However, "God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). "/although He existed in the form of God, [He] did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant...He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His woulds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). By His death, He made invalid the very idea that you are unloved and devalued. If you ever feel that way, you're not looking at the cross. He proved His love for you there.
Love like this cannot be fully understood. "One will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare to even die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8).
Nor can love like this be earned. "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of words, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But it must be received. "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).
And when you have received this new life and love as your own, you are free to love in ways you've never been capable before.
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down hie life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers... This is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" (1 John 3:16, 23 niv). "The one who does not love, does not know God, for God is love" (1John 4:8).
He was willing to love you even though you didn't deserve it, even when you didn't love back. He was able to see all your flaws and imperfections and still choose to love you. His love made the greatest sacrifice to meet your greatest need. As a result, you are able (by His grace) to walk in the fullness and blessing of His love. Now and Forever.
This means you now share this same live with your [students]. You can love even when you're not loved in return. You can see all their flaws and imperfections and still choose to love. And though you can't meet their needs the way God can, you can become His instrument to meet the needs of your [students]. As a result, they can walk in the fullness and blessing of your love. "
I love you all and pray that you know the fullness and blessings of God's love. Now, go show that same love to your students. Have a blessed week.
<3
This week's dare is another one that I will take mostly from the book, as it says what needs to be said perfectly, and I would only add my wordiness.
Dare 16: Love is Jesus Christ
While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodlyy. --Romans 5:6
"The previous [week] and dare lead to no other conclusion than this. Thankfully, it's a conclusion you can live with--today, tomorrow, and forever.
Jesus has come "to seek and to save" you (Luke 19:10). Everything you've failed at and haven't been able to do, every minute you've wasted trying to fix things your own way--all of it can me forgiven and made right by putting your life into the hands of the One who first gave it to you.
Maybe you've never done this. Then today is your day. "Now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Maybe you did it years ago, but you've wandered far from your spiritual roots. Then "repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). Even if you have already made Christ your way of life and have never stopped walking in fellowship with Him, the follow Scriptures will be a grateful reminder of all He's done for you.
The Bible says we are sinful from birth, from the moment we arrive. "Behold, i was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isaiah 64:6). It's not as though God sends innocent people to hell.
We deserve it. We simply can't be good enough to live with a pure and holy God.
However, "God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). "/although He existed in the form of God, [He] did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant...He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His woulds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). By His death, He made invalid the very idea that you are unloved and devalued. If you ever feel that way, you're not looking at the cross. He proved His love for you there.
Love like this cannot be fully understood. "One will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare to even die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8).
Nor can love like this be earned. "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of words, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But it must be received. "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).
And when you have received this new life and love as your own, you are free to love in ways you've never been capable before.
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down hie life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers... This is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" (1 John 3:16, 23 niv). "The one who does not love, does not know God, for God is love" (1John 4:8).
He was willing to love you even though you didn't deserve it, even when you didn't love back. He was able to see all your flaws and imperfections and still choose to love you. His love made the greatest sacrifice to meet your greatest need. As a result, you are able (by His grace) to walk in the fullness and blessing of His love. Now and Forever.
This means you now share this same live with your [students]. You can love even when you're not loved in return. You can see all their flaws and imperfections and still choose to love. And though you can't meet their needs the way God can, you can become His instrument to meet the needs of your [students]. As a result, they can walk in the fullness and blessing of your love. "
I love you all and pray that you know the fullness and blessings of God's love. Now, go show that same love to your students. Have a blessed week.
<3
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Dare 15: Love is Impossible
It almost feels strange to be thinking about school right now. Over the past 10 school days, 8 of them have been snow days!! Hence why there was no dare last week... I had no school last week, and it really wasn't on my mind!
So this week's dare is "Love is Impossible" ... I am definitely skipping around in the book now... because I'm pretty sure the "Love Leads to Intimacy" one doesn't apply here.
"Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
"The Love Dare starts with a secret. And though it's been an unspoken element throughout each day, you've likely grown more and more suspicious of it all the time. Now that you're this far, it's a secret you're discovering for yourself, even if you haven't exactly know how to put it into words.
The secret is this: you cannot manufacture unconditional love (or agape love) out of your own heart. It's impossible. It's beyond your capabilities. It's beyond ALL our capabilities.
You may have demonstrated kindness and unselfishness in some form, and you may have learned to be more thoughtful and considerate. But sincerely loving someone [or in our case, a bunch of someones] unselfishly and unconditionally is another matter altogether.
So how can you do it? Like it or not, agape love isn't something you can do. It's something only God can do. But because of his great love for you--and His love for your [students]--He chooses to express His love through you.
Still you may not believe that. You may be convinced that with enough hard work and commitment, you can muster up unconditional, long-term, sacrificial love from your own heart. You want to believe it's in you.
But how many times has your love failed to keep you from lying, ...overreacting, and thinking evil of... [ your students ] ...?
It's this failure that exposes mankind's sinful condition. We've all fallen short of God's commands (Romans 3:23). We've all demonstrated selfishness, hatred, and pride. And unless something is done to cleanse us of these ungodly attributes, we will stand before God guilty as charged (Romans 6:23). That's why if you're not right with God, you can't truly love your [students] (or anyone else for that matter) because He is the Source of that love.
you can't give what you don't have. You can't call up inner reserves and resources that aren't there to be summoned. In the same way that you can't give away a million dollars if you don't have it to start with, you cannot pay out love in greater measure than you own. you can try, but it will fail.
So the hard news its this: love that is able to withstand every pressure is out of your reach, as long as you're only looking within yourself to find it. You need someone who can give you that kind of love.
'Love is from God' (1John 4:7). And only those who have allowed Him into their heart through faith in His Son, Jesus--only those who have received the Spirit of Christ through beliefe in His death and resurrection--are able to tap into love's real power. 'Apart from me,' Jesus said, 'you can do nothing' 9John 15:5)
But He also said, 'If you abide in Me, and MY words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you' (John 15:7). god has promised through Christ to dwell in your heart through faith so that you can 'know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the likeness of God' (Ephesians 3:19).
When you surrender yourself to Christ, His ppower can work through you. Even at your very best, you are not able to live up to God's standards. But He 'is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us' (Ephesians 3:20) (my favorite verse!) That's how you love [your spouse, your students, people...]
So this unseettling secret--as defeating as it may feel--has a happy ending for those who will stop resisting and will receive the love God has for them. This means that the love He has 'poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us' (Romans 5:5) is always available, everytime we choose to submit to it.
You simply won't be able to do it without Him.
Perhaps you've never given your heart to Christ, but you sense Him drawing you today. You may be realizing for the first time that you, too, have broken God's commands, and that yuor guilt will keep you from knowing Him. But Scripture says that if you repent by turning from your sin and turning to God, He is willing to forgive you because of the sacrifice His Son made on the cross. He is pursuing you, not to enslave you, but to free you, so you can receive His love and forgiveness. Then you can share it with the one(s) you've been called most specifically to love.
...
The truth is, you can't live without Him and you can't love without Him. But there is no telling what He could do in your [life] if you put your trust in Him. "
So, all of that is taken mostly word for word from The Love Dare (Kenndrick). It wasn't my intention to just copy what they said, but it was all very real and phrased much more precise than I could try to make it on here. If you have any questions about any of it, please let me know. And your dare for the week will be to really examine where you are at with the Lord and to call upon His strength and His love to give you the strength to love your kiddos.
Have a blessed week.
So this week's dare is "Love is Impossible" ... I am definitely skipping around in the book now... because I'm pretty sure the "Love Leads to Intimacy" one doesn't apply here.
"Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7
"The Love Dare starts with a secret. And though it's been an unspoken element throughout each day, you've likely grown more and more suspicious of it all the time. Now that you're this far, it's a secret you're discovering for yourself, even if you haven't exactly know how to put it into words.
The secret is this: you cannot manufacture unconditional love (or agape love) out of your own heart. It's impossible. It's beyond your capabilities. It's beyond ALL our capabilities.
You may have demonstrated kindness and unselfishness in some form, and you may have learned to be more thoughtful and considerate. But sincerely loving someone [or in our case, a bunch of someones] unselfishly and unconditionally is another matter altogether.
So how can you do it? Like it or not, agape love isn't something you can do. It's something only God can do. But because of his great love for you--and His love for your [students]--He chooses to express His love through you.
Still you may not believe that. You may be convinced that with enough hard work and commitment, you can muster up unconditional, long-term, sacrificial love from your own heart. You want to believe it's in you.
But how many times has your love failed to keep you from lying, ...overreacting, and thinking evil of... [ your students ] ...?
It's this failure that exposes mankind's sinful condition. We've all fallen short of God's commands (Romans 3:23). We've all demonstrated selfishness, hatred, and pride. And unless something is done to cleanse us of these ungodly attributes, we will stand before God guilty as charged (Romans 6:23). That's why if you're not right with God, you can't truly love your [students] (or anyone else for that matter) because He is the Source of that love.
you can't give what you don't have. You can't call up inner reserves and resources that aren't there to be summoned. In the same way that you can't give away a million dollars if you don't have it to start with, you cannot pay out love in greater measure than you own. you can try, but it will fail.
So the hard news its this: love that is able to withstand every pressure is out of your reach, as long as you're only looking within yourself to find it. You need someone who can give you that kind of love.
'Love is from God' (1John 4:7). And only those who have allowed Him into their heart through faith in His Son, Jesus--only those who have received the Spirit of Christ through beliefe in His death and resurrection--are able to tap into love's real power. 'Apart from me,' Jesus said, 'you can do nothing' 9John 15:5)
But He also said, 'If you abide in Me, and MY words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you' (John 15:7). god has promised through Christ to dwell in your heart through faith so that you can 'know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the likeness of God' (Ephesians 3:19).
When you surrender yourself to Christ, His ppower can work through you. Even at your very best, you are not able to live up to God's standards. But He 'is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us' (Ephesians 3:20) (my favorite verse!) That's how you love [your spouse, your students, people...]
So this unseettling secret--as defeating as it may feel--has a happy ending for those who will stop resisting and will receive the love God has for them. This means that the love He has 'poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us' (Romans 5:5) is always available, everytime we choose to submit to it.
You simply won't be able to do it without Him.
Perhaps you've never given your heart to Christ, but you sense Him drawing you today. You may be realizing for the first time that you, too, have broken God's commands, and that yuor guilt will keep you from knowing Him. But Scripture says that if you repent by turning from your sin and turning to God, He is willing to forgive you because of the sacrifice His Son made on the cross. He is pursuing you, not to enslave you, but to free you, so you can receive His love and forgiveness. Then you can share it with the one(s) you've been called most specifically to love.
...
The truth is, you can't live without Him and you can't love without Him. But there is no telling what He could do in your [life] if you put your trust in Him. "
So, all of that is taken mostly word for word from The Love Dare (Kenndrick). It wasn't my intention to just copy what they said, but it was all very real and phrased much more precise than I could try to make it on here. If you have any questions about any of it, please let me know. And your dare for the week will be to really examine where you are at with the Lord and to call upon His strength and His love to give you the strength to love your kiddos.
Have a blessed week.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Dare 14: Love Intercedes
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2
Dare 14: Love Intercedes
"You cannot change your [students]. As much as you may want to, you cannot play God and reach into their heart and mold them into what you want them to be....
Insanity has been described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But isn't that what happens when you try to change your [students]? It's frustration at the highest level. At some point you have to accept that it's not something you can do. But here's something you can do. You can become a 'wise farmer.' A farmer cannot make a seed grow into a fruitful crop. He cannot argue, manipulate, or demand it to bear fruit. But he can plant the seed into fertile soil, give it water and nutrients, protect it from weeds, and then turn it over to God. Millions of farmers have made a livelihood from this process over the centuries. They know that not every seed sprouts. But most will grow when planted in proper soil and given what they need."
Just like not all the seeds will sprout, not every student will be changed by your attempts to love. But the reason for going through the love dare with your students is not so each of them will change. The reason you are going through the love dare is to stretch yourself to love as God has called us to love. Even if you don't see a change in one student this year, hopefully you'll see a change in your heart. And chances are, if you are truly trying to carry out each dare, your students will be affected. You may not see the change in them now, and you may never know just how much your love for them touched their hearts... but it will happen. "But you won't be able to do this alone. You will need something that is more powerful than anything else you have. And that is effective prayer."
And boy, do our kids need prayers. Not a day goes by that my heartstrings aren't pulled by a glimpse of a students' home life. This won't surprise you, but I tend to be a forgetful person, and unfortunately, often times I simply forget to utter up a prayer for them. It is my prayer that God hears my deep concerns for each of them as prayer.
It is my desire, and I know it is God's desire, to pray more fervently for my students. I truly believe it is one of the most loving things we can do for them.
So this week, take time to pray for your students' hearts. Pray that God would work in their lives and that you might be given opportunities to speak to their hearts.
love you all. praying for you as well.
Dare 14: Love Intercedes
"You cannot change your [students]. As much as you may want to, you cannot play God and reach into their heart and mold them into what you want them to be....
Insanity has been described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But isn't that what happens when you try to change your [students]? It's frustration at the highest level. At some point you have to accept that it's not something you can do. But here's something you can do. You can become a 'wise farmer.' A farmer cannot make a seed grow into a fruitful crop. He cannot argue, manipulate, or demand it to bear fruit. But he can plant the seed into fertile soil, give it water and nutrients, protect it from weeds, and then turn it over to God. Millions of farmers have made a livelihood from this process over the centuries. They know that not every seed sprouts. But most will grow when planted in proper soil and given what they need."
Just like not all the seeds will sprout, not every student will be changed by your attempts to love. But the reason for going through the love dare with your students is not so each of them will change. The reason you are going through the love dare is to stretch yourself to love as God has called us to love. Even if you don't see a change in one student this year, hopefully you'll see a change in your heart. And chances are, if you are truly trying to carry out each dare, your students will be affected. You may not see the change in them now, and you may never know just how much your love for them touched their hearts... but it will happen. "But you won't be able to do this alone. You will need something that is more powerful than anything else you have. And that is effective prayer."
And boy, do our kids need prayers. Not a day goes by that my heartstrings aren't pulled by a glimpse of a students' home life. This won't surprise you, but I tend to be a forgetful person, and unfortunately, often times I simply forget to utter up a prayer for them. It is my prayer that God hears my deep concerns for each of them as prayer.
It is my desire, and I know it is God's desire, to pray more fervently for my students. I truly believe it is one of the most loving things we can do for them.
So this week, take time to pray for your students' hearts. Pray that God would work in their lives and that you might be given opportunities to speak to their hearts.
love you all. praying for you as well.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
woa.
No one deemed it necessary to tell me that the weekend came and went and now suddenly it is Tuesday and apparently I had no idea.
YIKES!
Grace it is, my friends, grace it is.
God bless. Have a good week. Don't give up on me :)
YIKES!
Grace it is, my friends, grace it is.
God bless. Have a good week. Don't give up on me :)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
And again...
I don't know about the rest of you, but I only had two days with students this past week due to snow days... I know its going to take me a while to be conscious of practicing grace, so here we go again...
Praying for all of you.
Praying for all of you.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Dare 13: Love Offers Grace
I realize that offering grace and letting them start fresh is very similar, but I've really been challenged lately with what it looks like to offer our students grace.
We are in the middle of a series at church over Galations 2:20.... "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Today we discussed the balancing act that is freedom and legalism. It is easy to live in either of these extremes and extremely difficult to find the right place on the pendulum. We either judge ourselves against others making us seem okay or we live a life that is spent entirely on ourselves and our "rights." Romans 6:23 says the "wages of sin is death..." and all throughout the gospels we're told of how Jesus came for us to die for us. Without Jesus, we have no rights. We don't have the "right" to be treated better by people... we actually deserve to be treated worse, because we have treated God worse... BUT GOD (probably my favorite two words together) still offers us GRACE... over and over and over and over and over... you get the picture.
And Galations 2:20 says that I no longer live, but Christ lives in me ... well, then I am called to be offering the same grace God has offered to me. So, if i really understand God, I will ALWAYS respond out of grace, NO MATTER WHAT you've done to me, I will give you grace because I've done worse to God and he still gives me grace.
Do I do that? Big negative. Was I guilty of not doing that 5 seconds after I left church this morning? Unfortunately, yes.
And I just can't seem to wrap my mind around what it looks like to offer this grace to my students?? How can I offer them grace over and over and over again and still expect them to respect me and the guidelines of the classroom and school?
I understand that there is such a thing as tough love and that God loves that way too... It is just really hard for me to know what it looks like to apply all of this in a way that is pleasing to God and works in the classroom. Not that I don't offer grace to my students ever... but let's be realistic in saying that I definitely don't offer them grace after X amount of offenses...
So my dare for the week is to really focus on what it means to offer your students grace. Pray that God would provide ways for you to offer them grace and that He would open your eyes to His grace in your own life.
I know that there's a good amount of you that read this, I get the stats on here. Most of you never comment, which is fine, but I'm asking that you would share with us all how you have learned to offer grace in your classroom or in your daily lives...
Praying you have a wonderful week and that God would bless your socks off! :)
We are in the middle of a series at church over Galations 2:20.... "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Today we discussed the balancing act that is freedom and legalism. It is easy to live in either of these extremes and extremely difficult to find the right place on the pendulum. We either judge ourselves against others making us seem okay or we live a life that is spent entirely on ourselves and our "rights." Romans 6:23 says the "wages of sin is death..." and all throughout the gospels we're told of how Jesus came for us to die for us. Without Jesus, we have no rights. We don't have the "right" to be treated better by people... we actually deserve to be treated worse, because we have treated God worse... BUT GOD (probably my favorite two words together) still offers us GRACE... over and over and over and over and over... you get the picture.
And Galations 2:20 says that I no longer live, but Christ lives in me ... well, then I am called to be offering the same grace God has offered to me. So, if i really understand God, I will ALWAYS respond out of grace, NO MATTER WHAT you've done to me, I will give you grace because I've done worse to God and he still gives me grace.
Do I do that? Big negative. Was I guilty of not doing that 5 seconds after I left church this morning? Unfortunately, yes.
And I just can't seem to wrap my mind around what it looks like to offer this grace to my students?? How can I offer them grace over and over and over again and still expect them to respect me and the guidelines of the classroom and school?
I understand that there is such a thing as tough love and that God loves that way too... It is just really hard for me to know what it looks like to apply all of this in a way that is pleasing to God and works in the classroom. Not that I don't offer grace to my students ever... but let's be realistic in saying that I definitely don't offer them grace after X amount of offenses...
So my dare for the week is to really focus on what it means to offer your students grace. Pray that God would provide ways for you to offer them grace and that He would open your eyes to His grace in your own life.
I know that there's a good amount of you that read this, I get the stats on here. Most of you never comment, which is fine, but I'm asking that you would share with us all how you have learned to offer grace in your classroom or in your daily lives...
Praying you have a wonderful week and that God would bless your socks off! :)
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