Jesse and I went to the high school baccalaureate service tonight at church. We sang How Great Thou Art, which--I don't believe--I've sung since attending a Lutheran church.
I love this song! I still remember the page it's on in the beloved Trinity Hymnal that I sang from all of my growing up years, and the way the voices of the church members blended together with the piano's melody. Jesse's always surprised when I know a song by heart. I don't just memorize them. I feel them in my very being. I love this one! Singing it tonight just made me want to share it with you.
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Missing Preschool
I typed this during my lunch break on Friday, but didn't get a chance to post it...
I subbed for my first time as a preschool TEACHER yesterday. I've spent a lot of time substituting at preschool in recent months, but have never actually been given the opportunity to sub as a classroom teacher. Usually, I'm the one who has to run around and make sure all of the teachers have had breaks, help out with taking kids to the bathroom, and done errands for the teachers. I enjoy getting to meet all of the kids and teachers that way, but it's also a little bit of a let down after having been a classroom preschool teacher for so long!
I absolutely loved yesterday. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
I opened the morning with Circle time, having the kids sit "criss-cross apple sauce" on the carpet with me and started out by singing "Open, Shut Them," which was the song Dalia and I opened every morning with at Turtle Rock Preschool. As I was singing the song, I realized that it was May 21st, and I hadn't sung that song since my last day at the preschool, May 2nd, last year. I got all choked up realizing that it had been so long, and was amazed that I still remembered every word and finger play. Flashbacks of my little ones in Room 3 flooded back to me, and I could see their little faces scrunching up as they sang "creepy, crawly, creepy, crawly, right up to your chin, chin, chin," and the pudgy little fingers that crept up their bodies to their mouths and then dashed away to hide behind their backs as they sang "open up your little mouth but do not let them in, in, in!"
I loved revisiting my favorite songs from my Room 3 days. Preschool songs are so much fun! The expressions you have to make, the way they fumble their hands trying to imitate your finger plays, little mouths learning new words.
Yesterday made me remember how completely happy I would be to teach preschool again. And how easy it would be to get a position again! The preschool I was at yesterday has a position open right now and is looking for a teacher. It's so tempting to want to just give up on this discouraging search for an elementary teaching position, and jump back into preschool. But I need to know that everything that I've done for the last five years is worth something. I need to know that I didn't just sacrifice a year of my life (a year I could have been helping Jesse support us financially!) to chase after something that won't happen.
I could be happy being a preschool teacher. But doing that right now means that I'd be giving away the opportunity to clear my CA teaching credential. I don't know how much you know about CA teaching credentials and the whole process you have to go through, but to "clear" mine (make it valid) I have to teach full time for 2 years within the next 5. If I don't, everything I've worked for counts for nothing to the state. That's a scary prospect in these times! And discouraging, since teachers without tenure are the first to go.
It's a struggle! The main thing is, Jesse and I are looking forward to beginning our family (or extending, I guess--since we ARE a family!) in 3 or 4 years. I need to be able to work until then so that we can afford for me to be able to stay home with our little ones like I dearly want to. But working full time at a preschool for 3 years pays better (especially with what the preschool director offered me yesterday because of my high education!) than subbing intermittently and waiting for a job to open up.
The way things are right now is that Jesse and I have agreed that if I'm not able to find a full time position for Fall '10, that I will then seek a job as a preschool teacher. If I worked at a private school later in life, it wouldn't matter anyway if I didn't have a clear credential. A credential at all is better than none! Still, you can see what we are praying so hard for!
That's something I'm really thankful for: Jesse includes that in nearly every prayer when we are together. It's wonderful to have someone who not only shares your burdens, but truly cares about them, too. Speaking of which, what a friend we have in Jesus!
I subbed for my first time as a preschool TEACHER yesterday. I've spent a lot of time substituting at preschool in recent months, but have never actually been given the opportunity to sub as a classroom teacher. Usually, I'm the one who has to run around and make sure all of the teachers have had breaks, help out with taking kids to the bathroom, and done errands for the teachers. I enjoy getting to meet all of the kids and teachers that way, but it's also a little bit of a let down after having been a classroom preschool teacher for so long!
I absolutely loved yesterday. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
I opened the morning with Circle time, having the kids sit "criss-cross apple sauce" on the carpet with me and started out by singing "Open, Shut Them," which was the song Dalia and I opened every morning with at Turtle Rock Preschool. As I was singing the song, I realized that it was May 21st, and I hadn't sung that song since my last day at the preschool, May 2nd, last year. I got all choked up realizing that it had been so long, and was amazed that I still remembered every word and finger play. Flashbacks of my little ones in Room 3 flooded back to me, and I could see their little faces scrunching up as they sang "creepy, crawly, creepy, crawly, right up to your chin, chin, chin," and the pudgy little fingers that crept up their bodies to their mouths and then dashed away to hide behind their backs as they sang "open up your little mouth but do not let them in, in, in!"
I loved revisiting my favorite songs from my Room 3 days. Preschool songs are so much fun! The expressions you have to make, the way they fumble their hands trying to imitate your finger plays, little mouths learning new words.
Yesterday made me remember how completely happy I would be to teach preschool again. And how easy it would be to get a position again! The preschool I was at yesterday has a position open right now and is looking for a teacher. It's so tempting to want to just give up on this discouraging search for an elementary teaching position, and jump back into preschool. But I need to know that everything that I've done for the last five years is worth something. I need to know that I didn't just sacrifice a year of my life (a year I could have been helping Jesse support us financially!) to chase after something that won't happen.
I could be happy being a preschool teacher. But doing that right now means that I'd be giving away the opportunity to clear my CA teaching credential. I don't know how much you know about CA teaching credentials and the whole process you have to go through, but to "clear" mine (make it valid) I have to teach full time for 2 years within the next 5. If I don't, everything I've worked for counts for nothing to the state. That's a scary prospect in these times! And discouraging, since teachers without tenure are the first to go.
It's a struggle! The main thing is, Jesse and I are looking forward to beginning our family (or extending, I guess--since we ARE a family!) in 3 or 4 years. I need to be able to work until then so that we can afford for me to be able to stay home with our little ones like I dearly want to. But working full time at a preschool for 3 years pays better (especially with what the preschool director offered me yesterday because of my high education!) than subbing intermittently and waiting for a job to open up.
The way things are right now is that Jesse and I have agreed that if I'm not able to find a full time position for Fall '10, that I will then seek a job as a preschool teacher. If I worked at a private school later in life, it wouldn't matter anyway if I didn't have a clear credential. A credential at all is better than none! Still, you can see what we are praying so hard for!
That's something I'm really thankful for: Jesse includes that in nearly every prayer when we are together. It's wonderful to have someone who not only shares your burdens, but truly cares about them, too. Speaking of which, what a friend we have in Jesus!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Another One
I subbed for 8th grade yesterday, and this is one of the student conversations that nearly put me on the floor:
(Two students working on homework together)
Bryan: So you combine the percentages and find the average--
Aliyah: Wait! Speak Aliyah language for me. I don't get this.
Bryan(pointing to the worksheet): Ok...add this number, and this number, and this number, and divide it by three, and you get eighty-five and a half percent.
Aliyah: Shoot. I still get 85.5. What am I doing wroooooooooooooong???
(Two students working on homework together)
Bryan: So you combine the percentages and find the average--
Aliyah: Wait! Speak Aliyah language for me. I don't get this.
Bryan(pointing to the worksheet): Ok...add this number, and this number, and this number, and divide it by three, and you get eighty-five and a half percent.
Aliyah: Shoot. I still get 85.5. What am I doing wroooooooooooooong???
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Funny Sub Story
I completely forgot to share this story with you last week!
Last Wednesday, I subbed for Hope (our church school). While I was out watching K-4 during recess, Mandy, one of the 4th graders came up to me.
"Hi Mrs. Brubaker," she said. She played with a water bottle in her hands as she peered up at me. "Do you know Jesse?
Thinking she had forgotten, I decided to tease her. I bit my lip and asked "no, who's that?"
"Oh..." Mandy's gaze dropped to the woodchips she was kicking with her shoe. "Well, he's the DCE here, and his last name is Brubaker too! I thought he might be your son." And with that, she trotted off across the playground.
Last Wednesday, I subbed for Hope (our church school). While I was out watching K-4 during recess, Mandy, one of the 4th graders came up to me.
"Hi Mrs. Brubaker," she said. She played with a water bottle in her hands as she peered up at me. "Do you know Jesse?
Thinking she had forgotten, I decided to tease her. I bit my lip and asked "no, who's that?"
"Oh..." Mandy's gaze dropped to the woodchips she was kicking with her shoe. "Well, he's the DCE here, and his last name is Brubaker too! I thought he might be your son." And with that, she trotted off across the playground.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A New Leaf
I've been putting off blogging for a while because I have so many pictures I want to share, and many of them are on Jesse's computer! But I can blab all I want and post pictures later :)
In the last two weeks, I've reawakened my green thumb and enjoyed potting lots of new flowers as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries. There's no area for me to put a flower bed or vegetable garden, so pots on the patio will have to do for now! But they are very pretty, and I'm finding true joy in tending to them.
It's hard to believe that summer is nearly here. I feel like I needed more time to thaw out from the chilly winter here before getting hit with 90* weather! Of course, if you know me, you know I'm never ready for 90* weather...even 80* in fact... :)
I've dusted off my harp and gotten back to playing. Since we moved here, I really haven't spent the time I should have with the one thing I used to devote the majority of my time to! I guess I get frustrated by the difference in my playing post-college as opposed to what I used to be able to do in high school. In high school, I was good. I played for about 2 hours every day--not just because I was supposed to, but because I loved it. My name was out there, and I would get called for weddings, dinner parties, funerals, fun gigs...I miss those days. Then I hit college, a full-time job, and a boyfriend, and all I had time for was the music that I played with the orchestra. Since college, things just haven't been the same! But this week, I put aside the feelings of discouragement and stopped getting frustrated at what is instead of what was. (If that makes sense.) I pulled out my hymns and Celtic pieces (always my favorites!) and surprised myself with how easily things came back. Maybe it's all about attitude, and knowing that I just have to work really hard again to get rid of all this rust. I want to get back out there and start playing gigs again. I talked with my beloved harp teacher on Sunday (called my "second mom" on Mother's Day)and she inspired my to contact all of the churches in the area to offer my services for weddings and funerals and other events. I've got to do that!
But before I do that, I need to work even harder to find a teaching position. I realized that I haven't been doing as much as I should because I'm scared. Not scared that I'll get a job, scared that I won't. Rejection is hard, almost as bad as failure. I just need to put ALL my trust in God that He will help me find one. Substituting is a great opportunity to see how different classes are run, but it's also a discouraging job. Not being able to create relationships with the new children I see each day, not understanding their backgrounds or knowing their learning styles is frustrating. Sometimes at the end of the day, I feel like a horrible teacher because of the way the day went. I don't want that! I want to have a class that I can know and love, inspire and understand. I miss having that relationship with my preschoolers and their families. I was so happy there! It's been a year now since I left Turtle Rock Preschool.
I just can't wait till the time I walk into a classroom of the precious faces that make every day brighter. It will be that way again.
Circle time with my little ones
Laughing with Kylie on the playground
Art project in Room 3
Playing the harp for the preschool for Saint Patrick's Day last year :)
In the last two weeks, I've reawakened my green thumb and enjoyed potting lots of new flowers as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries. There's no area for me to put a flower bed or vegetable garden, so pots on the patio will have to do for now! But they are very pretty, and I'm finding true joy in tending to them.
It's hard to believe that summer is nearly here. I feel like I needed more time to thaw out from the chilly winter here before getting hit with 90* weather! Of course, if you know me, you know I'm never ready for 90* weather...even 80* in fact... :)
I've dusted off my harp and gotten back to playing. Since we moved here, I really haven't spent the time I should have with the one thing I used to devote the majority of my time to! I guess I get frustrated by the difference in my playing post-college as opposed to what I used to be able to do in high school. In high school, I was good. I played for about 2 hours every day--not just because I was supposed to, but because I loved it. My name was out there, and I would get called for weddings, dinner parties, funerals, fun gigs...I miss those days. Then I hit college, a full-time job, and a boyfriend, and all I had time for was the music that I played with the orchestra. Since college, things just haven't been the same! But this week, I put aside the feelings of discouragement and stopped getting frustrated at what is instead of what was. (If that makes sense.) I pulled out my hymns and Celtic pieces (always my favorites!) and surprised myself with how easily things came back. Maybe it's all about attitude, and knowing that I just have to work really hard again to get rid of all this rust. I want to get back out there and start playing gigs again. I talked with my beloved harp teacher on Sunday (called my "second mom" on Mother's Day)and she inspired my to contact all of the churches in the area to offer my services for weddings and funerals and other events. I've got to do that!
But before I do that, I need to work even harder to find a teaching position. I realized that I haven't been doing as much as I should because I'm scared. Not scared that I'll get a job, scared that I won't. Rejection is hard, almost as bad as failure. I just need to put ALL my trust in God that He will help me find one. Substituting is a great opportunity to see how different classes are run, but it's also a discouraging job. Not being able to create relationships with the new children I see each day, not understanding their backgrounds or knowing their learning styles is frustrating. Sometimes at the end of the day, I feel like a horrible teacher because of the way the day went. I don't want that! I want to have a class that I can know and love, inspire and understand. I miss having that relationship with my preschoolers and their families. I was so happy there! It's been a year now since I left Turtle Rock Preschool.
I just can't wait till the time I walk into a classroom of the precious faces that make every day brighter. It will be that way again.
Circle time with my little ones
Laughing with Kylie on the playground
Art project in Room 3
Playing the harp for the preschool for Saint Patrick's Day last year :)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Joy in Hard Times
I led the Bible study for our college and career group at church last night, and thought I'd flesh it out here for you (I didn't write anything down other than quick notes for myself, but here's the gist of what I said). In these times, everyone needs a little reflection and encouragement!
While I'm not a fan of using The Message as one's sole version of Scripture, I found it helpful to quote for you here so that you wouldn't be side-tracked by words that you are probably overly familiar with. Read the words below and see if you can recognize who wrote them, when, and for what purpose.
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
If you can cypher through all of the modern-day language (surely the Apostle did not say that his friends "stuck with him"), you will recognize the words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians ("I thank my God every time I remember you." Is that a little more familiar?)
Here's the whole section from the NIV:
I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-8
Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while he was in prison for preaching God's word. Knowing this, there are some key words and thoughts in the first few verses that stick out to me.
Right from the beginning, Paul says that he prays with joy. How is someone who is in prison able to pray with joy? The first emotions I think I would be praying with would be sorrow or desperation that the Lord would deliver me. But Paul finds joy in praying for others--not even himself. Later on in Philippians, Paul tells his friends "but I want you to know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." Philippians 1:12
The way that Paul can find true joy in the midst of such difficult circumstances is a demonstration of his Christ-founded peace.
Oh, that I had that peace!
Everywhere you turn today, someone is talking about the economy. It makes headlines in the news every day, you hear people mention the hard times as you pass by, and as the recession continues, it's not something you just hear about--it's affecting everyone.
Jobs, sales, morale, so many things are hurting. In the midst of it all, with no prospective immediate rebound, where do we find joy?
The Bible is full of examples of people who trusted in God yet still saw great suffering. There's your classic Job figure, but let's go past him and think of others whose sufferings are more like our own.
There was Daniel, who was punished for obeying God's authority instead of the government. He was thrown into a den of lions, and when his friend, King Darius returned to the den in the morning, he found Daniel on his knees praising the Lord.
There was Hannah, the beloved wife of Elkanah, who was unable to have children. She prayed to the Lord and promised that if He would give her a son, she would return him to God when he was of age. She raised him and took him to the temple when he was old enough and put him in the care of Eli, the priest, where he continued to serve God.
Joseph suffered for many years after being betrayed by his brothers, but he didn't turn any of it to evil. He befriended one of the Pharoah's officials, became his right-hand man, and soon held one of the most influential positions in Egypt. When a great famine hit the Canaan, Joseph's brothers came to the city to buy food. Joseph recognized them, and instead of punishing them as he had the power to do, he forgave them and invited the whole family to move to Egypt to escape the famine.
Then there was David. Although at first I could only think of the suffering he had as direct result of disobeying God, I was reminded of his suffering while he was in Saul's pursuit. Many of the Psalms depict the true turmoil that David was in, yet he trusted in God to protect him from his enemies.
I won't type it all out here, but these are the verses I had the group turn to to get a better picture of putting our joy and hope in the Lord in the midst of strife:
Psalm 16 (The hope of the faithful)
Psalm 34 (Happiness of those who trust)
Psalm 40 (Faith persevering in trial)
Psalm 71 (God is my hope)
John 15:9-17 (Love and joy perfected)
Philippians 1:12 (Suffering -->furtherance of the Gospel)
1 Peter 3:13-17 (Joy and suffering for righteousness' sake-->model godly behavior)
Lastly, I want to share with you an excerpt from "Devotions for Renewal and Joy" by Warren W. Wiersbe:
The world talks about happiness, but God talks about joy. There is a difference, and when you learn what that difference is, your life will be different.
Happiness depends on happenings, what goes on around you. When your plans work out right, when you feel good, when problems are at a minimum, then you're happy. But
when you wake up with a headache or the boss rearranges your schedule or somebody
you love is hurting, then that happiness fades, and you’re left feeling discouraged and defeated. You feel like quitting.
But life doesn’t have to be that way. You can substitute joy for happiness and experience a whole new kind of life.
Joy doesn’t depend on what goes on around you. It depends on what goes on within you.
It is the result of a right relationship with God, a right attitude toward life, and a right faith in the power of Christ. Happiness says, “I am the captain of my fate!” and courts disaster. Joys says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Php 4:13) and marches to victory.
Paul didn’t write the epistle to the Philippians from a comfortable library or an ivory tower. When he wrote it, he was a prisoner in Rome and in danger of being executed any day. Yet this letter is saturated with joy and rejoicing. Why? Because Paul was a man who knew Christ; he was a single-minded man with a mission to fulfill and a God to serve.
Outlook helps to determine outcome, and in this letter, Paul tells you how to have the kind of outlook that produces joy. He shares the “open secret” of having joy in spite of circumstances, people, things or situations. He explains the basic principles of Christian experience that can turn your life into a daily celebration of the joy of the Lord.
Yes, you will still have problems and battles and burdens, but you will find yourself overcoming instead of being overcome.
You will find yourself joyfully saying with Paul, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
While I'm not a fan of using The Message as one's sole version of Scripture, I found it helpful to quote for you here so that you wouldn't be side-tracked by words that you are probably overly familiar with. Read the words below and see if you can recognize who wrote them, when, and for what purpose.
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
If you can cypher through all of the modern-day language (surely the Apostle did not say that his friends "stuck with him"), you will recognize the words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians ("I thank my God every time I remember you." Is that a little more familiar?)
Here's the whole section from the NIV:
I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-8
Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while he was in prison for preaching God's word. Knowing this, there are some key words and thoughts in the first few verses that stick out to me.
Right from the beginning, Paul says that he prays with joy. How is someone who is in prison able to pray with joy? The first emotions I think I would be praying with would be sorrow or desperation that the Lord would deliver me. But Paul finds joy in praying for others--not even himself. Later on in Philippians, Paul tells his friends "but I want you to know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." Philippians 1:12
The way that Paul can find true joy in the midst of such difficult circumstances is a demonstration of his Christ-founded peace.
Oh, that I had that peace!
Everywhere you turn today, someone is talking about the economy. It makes headlines in the news every day, you hear people mention the hard times as you pass by, and as the recession continues, it's not something you just hear about--it's affecting everyone.
Jobs, sales, morale, so many things are hurting. In the midst of it all, with no prospective immediate rebound, where do we find joy?
The Bible is full of examples of people who trusted in God yet still saw great suffering. There's your classic Job figure, but let's go past him and think of others whose sufferings are more like our own.
There was Daniel, who was punished for obeying God's authority instead of the government. He was thrown into a den of lions, and when his friend, King Darius returned to the den in the morning, he found Daniel on his knees praising the Lord.
There was Hannah, the beloved wife of Elkanah, who was unable to have children. She prayed to the Lord and promised that if He would give her a son, she would return him to God when he was of age. She raised him and took him to the temple when he was old enough and put him in the care of Eli, the priest, where he continued to serve God.
Joseph suffered for many years after being betrayed by his brothers, but he didn't turn any of it to evil. He befriended one of the Pharoah's officials, became his right-hand man, and soon held one of the most influential positions in Egypt. When a great famine hit the Canaan, Joseph's brothers came to the city to buy food. Joseph recognized them, and instead of punishing them as he had the power to do, he forgave them and invited the whole family to move to Egypt to escape the famine.
Then there was David. Although at first I could only think of the suffering he had as direct result of disobeying God, I was reminded of his suffering while he was in Saul's pursuit. Many of the Psalms depict the true turmoil that David was in, yet he trusted in God to protect him from his enemies.
I won't type it all out here, but these are the verses I had the group turn to to get a better picture of putting our joy and hope in the Lord in the midst of strife:
Psalm 16 (The hope of the faithful)
Psalm 34 (Happiness of those who trust)
Psalm 40 (Faith persevering in trial)
Psalm 71 (God is my hope)
John 15:9-17 (Love and joy perfected)
Philippians 1:12 (Suffering -->furtherance of the Gospel)
1 Peter 3:13-17 (Joy and suffering for righteousness' sake-->model godly behavior)
Lastly, I want to share with you an excerpt from "Devotions for Renewal and Joy" by Warren W. Wiersbe:
The world talks about happiness, but God talks about joy. There is a difference, and when you learn what that difference is, your life will be different.
Happiness depends on happenings, what goes on around you. When your plans work out right, when you feel good, when problems are at a minimum, then you're happy. But
when you wake up with a headache or the boss rearranges your schedule or somebody
you love is hurting, then that happiness fades, and you’re left feeling discouraged and defeated. You feel like quitting.
But life doesn’t have to be that way. You can substitute joy for happiness and experience a whole new kind of life.
Joy doesn’t depend on what goes on around you. It depends on what goes on within you.
It is the result of a right relationship with God, a right attitude toward life, and a right faith in the power of Christ. Happiness says, “I am the captain of my fate!” and courts disaster. Joys says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Php 4:13) and marches to victory.
Paul didn’t write the epistle to the Philippians from a comfortable library or an ivory tower. When he wrote it, he was a prisoner in Rome and in danger of being executed any day. Yet this letter is saturated with joy and rejoicing. Why? Because Paul was a man who knew Christ; he was a single-minded man with a mission to fulfill and a God to serve.
Outlook helps to determine outcome, and in this letter, Paul tells you how to have the kind of outlook that produces joy. He shares the “open secret” of having joy in spite of circumstances, people, things or situations. He explains the basic principles of Christian experience that can turn your life into a daily celebration of the joy of the Lord.
Yes, you will still have problems and battles and burdens, but you will find yourself overcoming instead of being overcome.
You will find yourself joyfully saying with Paul, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Happy Earth Day
This is My Father's World (click)
This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world,
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world
The birds their carols raise.
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world,
O let me ne'er forget:
That thought the wrong seems oft' so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,
The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And the earth and heaven be one.
Earth Day in so many cases is overrated. Yes, we want to be green, earth-friendly, and eco-conscious, but as christians, we need to take it one step further. Let's not forget to celebrate Who put this earth here and gave us the duty of caring for it! Praise the Lord for the beauty of the earth!
This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world,
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world
The birds their carols raise.
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world,
O let me ne'er forget:
That thought the wrong seems oft' so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,
The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And the earth and heaven be one.
Earth Day in so many cases is overrated. Yes, we want to be green, earth-friendly, and eco-conscious, but as christians, we need to take it one step further. Let's not forget to celebrate Who put this earth here and gave us the duty of caring for it! Praise the Lord for the beauty of the earth!
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