Even if . . .

Well, it has been a while since my last post.

Not sure how well acquainted all of you are with Klove ( a listener supported Christian radio station), but I like to listen to it. During times of struggle, hope and joy, the DJs seem to play the songs that I need to hear the most.

Lately, my theme seems to be “Even if . . .” “Don’t Try so Hard” and “Blessing”. All of those titles may seem like it is a very reflective time for me. It hasn’t been, it has been a long season. However, this time I am going to praise him, because I realized this time that God loves me even though I have many scars, physical, mental and on my heart, and I just need to live in his grace, daily.

As the song says: Even if by Kutless

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Don’t Try So Hard by Amy Grant

Don’t try so hard
God gives you grace and you can’t earn it
Don’t think that you’re not worth it
Because you are
He gave you His love and He’s not leaving
Gave you His Son so you’d believe it
You’re lovely even with your scars
Don’t try so hard

and

Blessing by Laura Story

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

So my friends, when you think that a season of hurt and pain should come to an end and it doesn’t . . .look at it from another angle. What would you have learned if you had not had this season? Who would you not have met? Where would you be?

Just look up and even if you aren’t where you thought your would be, you are exactly where you should be . . . even if

Uninstall: Habitually Seeking God first!

Today I spent a lot of time uninstalling programs in this computer; It had become exceedingly frustrating to wait forever (2-5 minutes) for the computer to open.  Another few minutes trying to get to the site that I needed, while a bunch of spam, advertisements and a picture of someone all appeared on the screen.  When I finally arrived at the site I needed it would: 1) crash, 2) shut the site down and/or 3) freeze. Not the best way to try and take attendance on the computer. 

So . .  I uninstalled several programs and restarted the computer. I should also mention that I have been inserting the internet cord so that I did not have to worry about the internet not working .  In my classroom, the wireless internet works in half of the room and will shut down in the other half on occasion.

The way the computer has been handling since the uninstallation of the programs and the use of the internet cord has made me happy.  The cursor is not jumping around the screen, the programs are coming up nicely and the spam, advertisements and other irritants have not been popping up at random.  Really good!!

This brings up the title of this blog (at least in my mind it does). When a person uninstalls a program there are a series of consistent steps have to be followed in order for the program to be removed.  The user opens the computer to the desktop and clicks on the control panel.  On the control panel, the user clicks on the uninstall program outlet and waits for the control panel to load.  Next,the user can either search for the programs or click on date installed and have the programs load the consectively.  (I highly reccommend this process because the user can locate the programs quicker.) Click on the program, right click, click unistall, wait while it unistalls (DON’T DO ANYTHING ELSE WHILE THE PROGRAM UNINSTALLS BECAUSE THE PROCESS WILL HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN.)  Sometimes the program is attached to another program and the user is asked about this and/or the  user will note that another program has been affected or uninstalled.  The computer has to be either restarted or completely shut down the computer for a few minutes.  The computer is restarted and the process of uninstallation begins again .

The same process is used to begin a new habit.  The new habit will trigger other habits or affect other habits, good or bad.  I have noticed that, while I am trying to establish this new habit, I have to uninstall more than one bad habit. The reason is that these other habits (good or bad) affect the develop of this new one. 

Many people will say that it is the enemy causing me to stop this habit.  I don’t disagree. However, those of you who have read my earlier posts will note that STEWARDSHIP is my word for the year.  I spent two months reflecting on this word, researching it’s use in the Bible, research internet, and reference materials. I realized I needed to spend more time reading and reflecting what  the Bible says and says to me. As I read the book Leading Your Family Like Jesus, I realized that I need to seek God each morning. Now I need to uninstall some programs in the same manner I uninstalled those programs that affected my computer.

It isn’t an easy process!! Nor is it for the weak and scared!!

A New Person

Today I listened to a prospective candidate for the position of principal at our school. She is very well qualified and it sounds like our school would be something that would be enriched by her leadership skills.

However, she would be the FOURTH principal I will have work for at our school. Our school has been open for two years. She would be the seventh principal I will have worked for in as many years. Each principal has had their own good and bad points.

This is not really the biggest issue. I would like our school to be known as a good school. A school that is in the green and people want to come and enroll their children.

beginning Prayers

Image

beginning Prayers

Here is to Purposeful Beginnings

beginning Prayer
John Killinger
Upper Room Nashville (c) 2012

Synopsis
A great reminder on the different approached to prayer on a daily basis. Each chapter provides a prayer technique, an example of how to use that prayer and reflection by the author.

Reflection:

In the beginning of this book, Mr. Killinger made the suggestion that a mature Christina may not need this book. I would suggest that everyone regardless of their stage of Christian development would find this book helpful.

Some of the suggestion I found helpful (I am not a mature Christian):
– find a quiet place
-ask God questions
-listen to God as he asks you questions
-have a ritual in place
-think or reflect on a dream
-reflect on blessings
-reflect on good memories of a person or time

There are more, but those are the suggestions that i found particularly helpful. I, particularly thought the suggestion to reflect on good memories of a person who hurt or critiqued you. I have been trying to forgive some individual who were particularly hurtful. They weren’t hurtful once but over a long period of time and deliberately so towards me. One in particular hurt me during a very tough time in my life. I have prayed for the strength to forgive them, but every so often a memory triggers how hurtful they were and I go over the whole thing in my mind again.
I used this suggestion and a small knot lessen inside of me. It will take more time, but the fact that this lessen it a bit suggests it will work.

Read this book, regardless of where you are in your journey and I think you will find it helpful.

Stronger Temptations

I was told a long time ago that the devil won’t bother you if you aren’t bothering him. I realized that I have not been bothering him enough and I am sorry about that and it needs to stop. Habitually following God, keeping my appoinment with him in the morning in the evening and the morning is so much more than just getting up 15 minutes early or sharing something at night.

Unfortuntaely, something happen tonight that made me forgot all about this new habit. Making this new habit. But I will make this new habit. Thank you God for showing me how!!!

Anticipation Sunday

market plan

 

 Market/Weekly Play

Sunday:  Wrap Up!

*15 minutes of writing

*Completion of the weekly assignments for EDUC 8848

*Quarter Plan for the EDUC 9100

                                **Course in Ph.D. in Education with a specialization of Education**

*Writing Group requirement/responsibilities

 Monday:

*15 minutes of writing

*Complete the CoAlt for my remaining third grade students.

*Complete paperwork for IEPs I case manage:  all third grade students

*Book Reviews concerning four books

*Read Four articles for proposal and introduction

*EDUC 8848 assignment review

*Pick books up from the library

*submit chapters

Tuesday:

*15 minutes of writing

*Complete paperwork for IEPs I case manage:  all third grade students

*Book Reviews concerning four books

*Read Four articles for proposal and introduction

*EDUC 8848 assignment review

*Grocery Shopping

*Pick up Sally

Wednesday:

*15 minutes of writing

*EDUC 8848 assignment review

*Complete paperwork for IEPs I case manage:  all third grade students

*Book Reviews concerning four books

*Read Four articles for proposal and introduction

*Faculty meeting

*check on 12×12

Thursday

*15 minutes of writing

*EDUC 8848 assignment review

*Complete paperwork for IEPs I case manage:  all third grade students

*Book Reviews concerning four books

*Read Four articles for proposal and introduction

*critiques

Friday

*15 minutes of writing

*EDUC 8848 assignment review

*Complete paperwork for IEPs I case manage:  all third grade students

*Book Reviews concerning four books

*Read Four articles for proposal and introduction

Saturday

*15 minutes of writing

Wrap up assignments and books for the week

Pinterest: A Visual BLog

ImageI am posting this information on both of my blogs:
 
 
Pinterest has interested me for long time because it is a visual representation of what I will post on my two blogs.  The boards I currently have on Pinterest are:
-Lead your Family LIke Jesus
-PhD in Education/specialization in Educational Technology
-My Career as a Writer
-Book Reviews
-Dr. Seuss’ Books
-My Classroom
-Ideas for Classroom

 
As I stated in the title, Pinterest is a visual Blog!  As I looked through the various boards that have been posted I saw many great pictures.  As with my Twitter account I receive emails stating that so and so is following me and most of the time I have no clue who that person is, so I decided that I would make connections with friends on my Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs.  In addition, I want people to see my journey within the life that God has provided for me. 
 
If anyone is interested my Pinterest site is:  http://pinterest.com/shell4th
 
CHECK IT ALL OUT!!!