Am I thinking before I speak?

I have had the privelage of talking to my jr. high girls about our speech. What is your speech like? How do you talk to others? Are you building up people? Does your speech tear people down? Do the things you say bring glory to the Lord?

Proverbs 31:26

" She openeth her mouth with wisdom: and in her tongue is the law of kindness." The Proverbs 31 woman thinks before she speaks. She doesn't just blurt out the first thing that comes to her mind. Even when people are unkind to us, we need to be kind to them. Are you being kind with the things you say?

Ephesians 4:32

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Are you being kind one to another? Are you treated them as Christ would? Are we quick to forgive those who are unkind?

Psalm 19:14

"Let the words of my mouth.... be acceptable in thy sight..." Are you words, the things you say to others, are they acceptable to the Lord? Do they bring glory to His name?

Before you Speak:

THINK!

T- Is is true?

H- Is it helpful?

I- Is is inspiring?

N-Is it necessary?

K-Is it kind?

I know, it has been a really long time since I have posted. A lot has happened since I last posted. Things are going great and God is so good! I am no longer teaching at the school in northern Michigan. I enjoyed my two years there and all the relationships that were made. I loved my church family too. I am very thankful for all of the things I was able to learn from my time there.

However, I felt the Lord had something else for me. In June I resigned from that teaching position. I prayed about going to another school in Southwestern Michigan. The Lord made it very clear to me, that that was where He wanted me to go. I moved in the end of July. I have had a great year! I teach kindergarten all day on Mon., Wed., and Fri. I have a wonderful class...4 girls and 1 boy. The Lord is so good! This school is an ACE school. (Accelerated Christian Education) So, on the days that I am not teaching kindergarten, I help in the learning center. I also have the privilege of teaching the junior high girls devotions class. That is every Tuesday and Thursday. It has been a blessing! I am thankful for each one that the Lord has blessed me with!

I am going to try my best :) to blog at least once a week. There is so much that the Lord does for me daily!! I want to be a blessing to you, so I will try to share weekly.

It's Through The Blood

I heard this song recently, on a CD and is a new favorite. It has amazing words! I hope it encourages you like it did me!

It's Through The Blood

When I think of heaven and all the sights I'll see:

The walls of jasper, gates of pearl, the clear and golden street.

Why should I be present?

Why should I enter in?

After all the sinful living, and the wicked one I've been.

In the presence of Jehovah, as I stand before the throne.

The accuser of the brethren, starts to read the things I've done.

As I hear the awful charges, the question fills my mind.

Why should I not be put in hell to suffer for all time?

It's through the blood, that's all I have to plea.

It's through the blood, that Jesus shed for me.

Not by works of my own righteousness, for filthy rags are they.

But because of that old rugged tree, hanging on dark Calvary.

That is my only plea, is through the blood.

When I am walking through a valley and I feel there's no way out.

When the winds of sorrow threaten me and turn my world around.

That is when I look to Jesus and the price He paid of me.

I can lift my hands in praise to Him and shout the victory.

It's through the blood, that's all I have to plea.

It's through the blood, that Jesus shed for me.

Not by works of my own righteousness, for filthy rags are they.

But because of that old rugged tree, hanging on dark Calvary.

That is my only plea, is through the blood.

FRIEND DAY!!!!!!

Stay tuned....Tomorrow is our church's 16th annual friend day! The theme this year is Lumberjack. We have decorated the church and gym...it is transformed! It looks pretty neat if I must say so myself...and I must!!! We will be a blob of flannel wearing peeps! I will post pictures tomorrow night!!! I have my camera packed and ready to go!

New School Year!!!

Glad to be back teaching again! This year I teach 4th and 5th grade. Also, while another teacher is teaching my kids Bible I am teaching 3rd grade math. So...I am very busy!! I have learned a lot and am glad I got to come in the beginning of the year instead of at the end or 2nd semester. Before we started teaching this year our Pastor challanged the staff with this:

A "Baker's Dozen" of Diamonds For Christian Teachers

(What We Are As Christian Teachers)

Dr. David Hansen

1. Christians- Romans 8:9

2. Servants- Matthew 23:11

3. Leaders- Genesis 22:14

4. Teachers- Leviticus 10:11

5. Helpers-Romans 16:9

6. Listeners-Proverbs 9:8

7. Example- 1 Timothy 4:12

8. Friends- Proverbs18:24

9. Co-Laborers- 1 Corinthians 3:9

10. Learners-Proverbs 9:9

11. Burden-Bearers- Galations 6:2

12. Difference-Makers Jude 22

13. Problem -Solvers-Proverbs 16:20

~Obedience is key-Deuteronomy 26-28

~Teachability is vital-Ephesians 4:21

~ Personal Holiness is "resonable service" Romans 12:1-2

Summer!!!!!!!

I know it has been a long time....where to start?
School finished well, I enjoyed my class a lot! I am looking forward to the new school year! As for the summer I am babysitting, cleaning a house...doing whatever I am asked. It is amazing to watch the Lord provide! He promised He would- Phil. 4:19.

May 27-June 5 I went and visited my home church in Dowagiac Mi. It was a blessing to be with them again! I had a nice time visiting with everyone. I learned how to make very cool folded cards from Candy...(I will post pics later) I also had the opp. to see some of my family. Continue to pray for their salvation. On Friday the couple from my church up north came down stayed the night and we went to Shipshewana on Saturday. It was so much fun...despite the rain. I got an amazing black and white picture for my house with a verse on it (pics to come). It was a great trip.

June 7-11 I had the opp. to babysit the whole week. Our youth pastor Jon and his wife Jami and Lil Joel took our teens to camp. They have a sweet Lil girl who is 2 and I had the privilege of watching Jalyn for the whole week. It was so much fun!!! I made a lot of memories with her and laughed a lot! I did not remember to bring my camera...so I only have pics on my phone....so no pics of that week.

At the moment I am in the wonderful state of Louisiana! I arrived yesterday early in the am. It is so nice and warm here...I love it! I am visiting my friend Clarissa from camp. (and yes I remembered my camera) I am here for a week. My flight here was horrible but the Lord protected and kept me safe. There was a lot of severe thunderstorms in Atlanta so my flight from Flint to Atlanta was delayed. I was suppose to fly out at 5:30pm...didn't leave till around 9. My next flight only had a 30 min layover...which meant I had already missed the next one. However to my surprise...it was delayed too! My flight from Atlanta to Dallas FINALLY started boarding at 12:30am....I arrived in Dallas at 2:30am. I was very tired. So happy to see Clarissa and her mom!!! Then we had 3 hrs from there to get to her house in Louisiana. Drum roll please....I arrived at 5:30am....what a night!! Guess what I did???? Went to sleep! I will post pics later!!

God Gives His Grace

Psalm 30:5

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

"The pain that you feel seems will never end. That this is the will of God seems so hard to comprehend. But God has chosen you to suffer in this way. So that he gets the glory as you go fom day to day.

He may not send the healing now but He will give you the grace. Suffiecient to stand the trial that you will face. You may weep all night long but joy comes in its place. While you wait for His healing, God gives you His grace.

There are so many lives you've inspired on your way. Now their watching you to see just how you'll live from day to day. Will you serve God for not they'll see as they look you in the face. Will they see the light in your eyes revealing God's amazing grace?

He may not send the healing now but He will give you the grace. Sufficient to stand the trial that you will face. You may weep all night long but joy comes in its place. While you wait for His healing, God gives you His grace."

11 Corinthians 12:9

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therfore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasur in infirmites, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."