Lent brings Prayer and Felowship

Grading day.  That dreaded 8 hours of grinding away, grading, thinking, deciding, deciphering, trying to be fair and just.  And this grading day, to my surprise, I was almost done grading by 8:00 AM on Friday morning.  So I was sitting in my classroom organizing and planning when the Kinder teacher poked her head into my room and said, "Can I borrow you for a few minutes?"

I followed her out of my room and into another, wondering what she needed.  Then I saw it.  A group of about four other women, all in a circle, hands held, ready to pray.  "We were thinking of all the believers we knew at our school that we could invite.  I knew you are a believer.  Would you pray with us?"  I immediately said yes, and then I teared up.

"You don't understand what this means to me... I have felt so alone!  This is an answer to my prayers I have been praying since September!"

We prayed for the students, for their rebellious hearts - the anger and pain, the bullying and the problems that have manifested in our classrooms.  We prayed for ourselves, that we would be just and fair.  That others would see Christ's light in us.  We prayed for other teachers, that they would not be afraid of us, but curious and joyful and come to Christ.

In the end, I cried tears of joy knowing that once again, I am right where I need to be.

Thank you Jesus.

From the Top Down. And by Top... I mean Christ.

I teach in a Title 1 School.  I teach in a Focus Title 1 School.  The demographics of my school are difficult and often sad.  Title 1 refers to a school that is high poverty.  Focus schools are high poverty schools that rank in the bottom 15%.  You can go to this awesome pdf file to read about it if you want more information!
http://www.ode.state.or.us/wma/superintendent/release/priority-focus-and-model-faq.pdf

I have not taught anywhere else, but I certainly did not attend a Title 1 Focus school as a child.  Regardless, I love my job.  I wake up in the morning and struggle inside myself, asking questions like "Am I pushing them too hard?"  "Am I compassionate enough?"  I recently was told to be careful with my language when referring to my class. I had an epiphany about their behavior and realized they were defiantly choosing to be lazy and not work hard.  So I began battling their work ethic skills, rather than their academics.  It is frustrating to see them understand what to do, and then defiantly choose to fidget, play, fiddle, distract and otherwise not try to do anything at all.

I started thinking, these kids are too young an age group for me.  Second grade is too young.  I'm too sarcastic.  I'm too hard on them.  And then I met with my principal.  She said something that changed my heart.  As we were discussing her plan for next year she revealed that she wants to keep me on staff for next year, if I like teaching here.  I assured her that I do love it, that this is where I am meant to be.  She laughed and said that although sometimes she wonders why, she knows that God put her here at our school for three reasons.  Her daughter.  Her son.  And our School.

I realized... this woman just said God.  She just said that God has a purpose for her being here.  Last spring, I prayed and prayed to be placed in the right place, the right school, the right job, with the right principal!  And His blessings just keep raining down!

It's true.  I am right where I need to be.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mathew 25:40

Sometimes... it takes a Southern Baptist

Now, I am not a Southern Baptist.  I have some Baptist cousins, one of which is a dear friend and a very good wise counselor to me.  I lived in Texas, I have heard that thick drawl, and I have felt the hospitality of a good Southern Baptist, but that is not what I expected to have walk into my classroom on a Friday morning.

There she was.  A tall, thick accented, beautiful woman in modest dress... ready to meet my classroom with a smile.  So before I left for my training, I warned her.  "This is a wild class... they will take advantage... only expect the best..." and the list went on.

Finally she looked at me and said, "Are you a praying woman? Maybe we should pray!"  I laughed and was so relieved!!!  Yes I am a praying woman!  I pray for these kids every morning!  My IA is a praying woman.  My kids are surviving because this classroom is a Godly classroom!

Let me tell you... for the first time, I walked out of that room confident that they would have a great day.  All 32 kids.  All 21 boys.  All of them.  And do you know what?  THEY DID!

Lord, your blessings never cease to amaze me.  In your love you have shown me that humbleness and kindness will lead us straight.  You help me balance strict consequences with kind and playful friendship.  And you give us hope that we will each become as you would have us be.  Thank you for your daughter, our substitute.  A breath of fresh Christian air in a secular worldly place.  Bless her for kindness and understanding.

Amen

Ask and you shall receive!

Feeling isolated and alone in a public school, I pray Ephesians 6 every day before  work.  One morning, I prayed, "Lord, I know there are other Christians in this school.  Reveal them to me, so I can have fellowship and kindness, even here where we are hidden."

A few days later, while sitting in the lunch room, the kindergarten teacher, a bright fun, loving, happy woman, was telling a story.  She ended her story with a statement, "Well I am a Christian!  I understand!"

My ears perked up, and for a moment I just looked at her.  All I had to do was say thank you, lift up my thanks to the Lord, and know that I am not alone.

My sin bears hostility

It is now clear that another teacher at my school hates Christ.  It is also clear that she also dislikes me, partly by my own sinful fault.  I allowed my feelings to bleed out of my mouth on a few occasions, in frustration over my differences with this teacher.  Quickly, she heard that I had talked about her.  Although what she had heard was not entirely true, I did not fault her anger.  I had sinned through gossip, which quickly destroyed all hope of friendship between us.

This teacher has twice now reproached Christ in my presence.  Both times stinging my heart.  So instead of allowing anger into my heart, I asked that Christ place an angel in front of my mouth, to keep my words from falling out.

Christ promised us that "all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."  (2 Timothy 3:11.)  Although I don't feel persecuted, I feel the hostile place that is our public school.  I feel the hate towards my God. I fear speaking out for Christ.  Christ promised also that "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they gather around themselves teachers, having itching ears;" (2 Timothy 4:3).  I will not be one of their teachers, who teach their wicked ways to others and gather around justifying the evil.

So today, my simple prayer is this:

Christ, my Savior,
Be with me today and bless me as I teach your children.  Guard my mouth and my words.  Set an angel to guard them, so I won't sin against you with my words.  Let me be a beacon of love.  Let me reach out to those who dislike me.  Bless the teacher who reproaches you.  Awaken her soul that has become numb to Your glory.  You have placed me in a place of teaching and learning.  Help the other Christians in our school be known to me, so I can find fellowship.  And if there are none, help me to be strong and courageous.
Amen

Today is the first official day of my contracted school year.  No kiddos today, just Staff Development, or PD.  But as I prepare for the school year, I come across so many things that stand in direct opposition to the teachings of God.  I am a Christian teacher in a secular classroom.  I cannot pray in class, I cannot openly share my Christian faith, and most of my colleagues are either atheist, or believe something else, often only on Sunday, (or whatever day is convenient).  How am I supposed to work in a secular classroom and school and remain true to God's teaching and word?  My wise cousin reminded me about Ephesians.  This isn't a new issue.  Christians for centuries have been battling "the world" to remain true to God.  So I post this and read it before heading to work today, knowing that Christ as my Savior will protect me, and keep me quietly doing His work, in a very needy place... my classroom. 

Ephesians 6:11-20

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.