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My island life...enjoying the sun! 5/17/2009 The End is NEAR... How is that for an encouraging title? :o) I just realized that my last post was five months ago exactly...I am pretty pathetic at this whole thing, or I am just so busy that I don't have time to think about it...I'll let you decide! It is amazing that my last post was about winning the soccer championship, which of course, on Guam is a HUGE thing. Well, we have done other things, some just as big, others on their way to bigness... The Lord has really blessed this year with giving victory in sports. Our tennis teams came out 1 and 2 on island, the middle school guys and girls won first, and the girls soccer team won second. We all know that first is a more "braggable", but when you come from an almost winless season to winning second place, there really is nothing to complain about. And just last night, our guys volleyball team won second place...if you would have told me last year that they would be able to accomplish that, I would have laughed at you, really! I just sat through our Baccalaureate service...my fourth as a teacher. This year, however, means so much more. This year I get to watch "my kids" walk down the isle and get their diplomas. The same kids who sat as scrawny, immature little freshman my first year are now not scrawny (for the most part), somewhat more mature, almost adults. I have seen them grow up, make right choices, learn from bad ones... I have seen them grow as a class...grow in their abilities and talents in music, sports, academics...and just in life in general. I am in no way admitting that they are portraits of perfection, but recipients of grace, most definitely. It is often easy to get irritated or frustrated with consistent bad choices. But I have had to learn that just as I am, Lord willing, becoming more like Him everyday, learning from my mistakes, growing through trials, so are they. I am so thankful for the opportunities that the Lord gives to be involved in ministry, whether full-time or not. I am thankful for opportunities to invest in people, to see them change, to see them grow, to see them become more like Christ, or even just to be more open to the the Gospel. I have been reminded that it is not my job to convince them to be saved, to grow, to change, but to be an example to them. It is my job to be obedient to God, to be transparent and to let them see that I need God as much as I tell them that they do. I am leaving here in less than three weeks, and as I do, I hope that I leave something behind. I hope that when my students think of me, that they think of someone who cared for them, who loved them enough to show them Christ. I am not foolish enough to think that everyone of the seniors that will walk across the stage and receive a diploma has also received Christ as his Savior...but I would like to think that maybe I planted or maybe even watered a seed that will someday spring up into a heart that realizes its need for a Savior. 12/17/2008 Victory is sure! The title is a borrowed line from the cantata that we sang on Sunday. It was incredible, and there were so many visitors. It is always such a blessing to be able to be part of worshiping God and sharing the awesome wonder of what He did for us! The cantata, however, is not the reason for my post. I have had that line running through my head for the last several days as we have seen our high school guys soccer team finish an undefeated regular season (9-0-1). AMAZING!!! They have done such a great job. We could give the credit to a hard working new head coach, or to the guys who have worked together since they were in middle school, or to the incredible (if I may say so) fans that supported them at all the games. The credit could go to each of the players that did so well at working together as a team this season, and who wanted the championship almost more than anything else. But just like everything else in this life, what does it matter if it is not done for the glory and praise of God? Yesterday we had a pep rally in the middle of the day to cheer on the team. It was great to see the school spirit, and how excited all of the students were. They understood the significance of this accomplishment. Only one other time has the Harvest soccer team made it to the finals and that was back in 2004 when we made it by pure "luck" and were then slaughtered by the other team. This year, however, the guys pulled their talent together and played their hearts out. They played against a high school that is ten times the size of ours; a school, who, for the last several years has held the number one spot many times. It was as our principal described it, "a David and Goliath match". Nobody expected Harvest, a small Christian school, who has had in the past, well let's just say a less-than-perfect record, to defeat the reigning all-island soccer champs.... But like I said before, why does it REALLY matter? Let's just go back to the the pep rally for a minute, or better yet, to the first day of practice with the guys. Coach Thompson had them think through what their goals for the season should be. Why would they be playing 10 plus games? Was it to have fun? Sure. Was it to improve the skills that they had already been building? Probably. But it was a little deeper than that too. The two goals that they came up with back in the early fall were the two goals that got them to the championship game, won them a 1st place trophy, and will earn them the first-ever championship banner to hang in our brand new gym. Goal #1: Play right! That means play well, play your best, play for God. No jeering the other team, not talking back to the refs, no blaming your teammates when something goes wrong.Goal #2: Win the Championship! (I don't think that needs any explanation....) 12/9/2008 It's almost here... Wow, I feel like I was just writing my first post of the new school year, and here it is just 9.5 days away from Christmas break! I can't believe it! This semester has flown by. Part of me is happy about it...the other part of me is sad. That means that in just over five months, I will be saying goodbye to my tropical home and will be heading back to the humid summer of the Midwest. I know, five months sounds like a long time...that is because you have never taught at HCA, and you don't realize that no matter how fast first semester goes, second semester flies about fifty times faster. I am not wishing my time away, but I know that in what seems like a matter of weeks, I will be wondering where this school year has gone. I can't help but think how strange it will seem to live in my small town once again, how weird it will be to drive down the once familiar streets and visit places that were common for most of my life. It just seems so unusual to me how we can become so familiar with one place, and then it is gone! I am 100% happy, yet 100% dreading the change that will come at the end of May. I have come to love this place as if I have lived here my whole life. My kids are so much part of my life that I don't know what I am going to do once I don't have 150 plus people to be responsible for. That just may be a relief...or I may be bored out of my mind! I am very thankful for how the Lord leads and the different opportunities that the He gives. I don't think that I will ever enjoy leaving people, I am however, thankful for the many people that He has used to encourage me, challenge me, and grow me...and for the many opportunities that He has given me to minister while I have been here. I know that over the next several months, He will continue to do so, and I am excited for that. I am also excited for the time that I will have as I prepare to go to Spain. I know that the Lord will use that time just as He has here, to grow me and make me more like Him. And for that, I am thankful! 11/8/2008 Election WoesI guess that it is pretty easy to be depressed about the outcome of the election. I also guess that I am free to say that I didn't really want either candidate to become the 44th president of my United States of America. I think that I may have been a little happier had McCain won. But, I would have also been happier had I not stained my favorite sweater today, spilled my coffee, or had to teach a classroom full of energy-filled, disobedient students.
Please don't think that I am belittling the privilege or responsibility that we as American citizens have to vote, or that I am comparing the importance of my country's leadership to that of a piece of clothing. I was, however, reminded today that my happiness can change so easily. Of course I am not happy when I drop a $3.50 cup of coffee down the stairs. But does that mean that the Lord is not in control of my life, of the universe? Does that mean that I cannot be joyful that MY GOD sent His Son to die for me, to take the punishment for my sins?
I understand that as a Christian, I should want a commander-in-cheif that trusts the Lord, that relies on strength and wisdom from God. I did my part. I prayed. I voted. And now, I will continue to do my part. I will pray. I will trust God and His sovereignty. I will not, however, complain about the man that God has ordained to be the leader of our free country. I may not always agree with his beliefs or take a stand with him, and I may wish that something had been done differently. But I will do my best to remind myself of the promises and commands in God's Word.
Psalm 115:3- "But our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."
Psalm 118:9- "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes."
I Peter 2: 17- "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
I Timothy 2:1-2a- "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority."
On a side note...the following article is worth reading. It is very thought provoking.
9/4/2008 Committed to ChristOnce again, here I am after a long drought in my blogging. It is funny that I would think to resume the sharing of my life and thoughts at the busiest time of the year. It must be that I once again have a schedule and I don't have to wonder if anyone else is waiting to use the computer. I have much to share about the summer, and how the Lord has been working and directing in my life, which is exciting. But, for now, the beginning of school is on my mind.
We always have Spirit Week the four days after Labor Day, which is always the highlight of first semester. We have been praying and preparing for this week for the past several weeks...and the Lord has once again shown Himself faithful to answer prayers.
Just a brief outline of Spirit Week for any of you who might be wondering what it is. Nothing at Harvest just happens...if we are going to do something, it is going to be BIG!! And none of this dress up like we live in a different decade silliness. Instead, we just cancel classes for the week, have chaotic and dangerously exciting games while roasting in the tropical sun, enjoy academic challenges, and most importantly, have chapel sessions in the morning and afternoon. We get to enjoy a week of camp-like activities (without the sleeping in a cabin) and see the Lord change many lives.
I was so challenged by my students this year. I am amazed at their love for and desire to serve the Lord. Every morning before school there is a group of about 10-12 of them who have gathered to pray for their classmates. Each of these kids attended camp this summer, and made great decisions for the Lord. They now have a desire to see their peers accept Christ, grow closer to Him, and gain a desire to serve Him.
It humbles me to see these 9th-12th graders on their knees, tears in their eyes, and true love and concern in their voices, pleading God to work in the lives of the students here at Harvest. They want to see revival here. They want to be used by God. They want to know Him more. They want to stand up for what is right. And they are...
Jeremy Frazor is our speaker for the week. Yesterday he gave two very clear messages on salvation. I watched as several kids raised their hands admitting their need of Christ...and I watched as they stood stone still during the invitation. I also watched, as those same kids that have been praying, went one by one to a friend, a classmate, just someone sitting near them and said "Hey, why don't I go with you so you can talk to someone about getting saved.", "I know it is scary, but I would love to help you come to know Christ.", "I have been praying for you, can I go with you to talk to a teacher?"
Talk about being put to shame! This is my job...and sometimes that is all that it seems to be to me. Sometimes I get so busy doing what I am supposed to do as a Christian school teacher that I don't do what I am supposed to do as a Christian. I have prayed for Spirit Week. I have asked the Lord to save kids, change them, and show them that He can use them. But, they did it EVERY day. They did it with such faith. They did it so sacrificially. And now, they are seeing results. They are being used by God to lead their classmates to make godly choices.
I am their teacher. I am here to help them learn. But, I think that this year, the Lord is using my students to teach me something. They aren't getting paid for it, they didn't go to college and get a degree for it...they just want to serve God because they have met with Him, they know who He is. They have seen how real He is and how good He is. And nothing is going to stop them from being used by Him.
Can I say that? Do I seek Him and serve Him like I should? Or do I let business get in my way of living for Christ? That we would all be as bold as my kids!! I love them, and I thank God that He can use them to challenge and encourage me in my walk with Him.
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