I am white, middle class, college educated. I always have money in the bank and food in my fridge. I have never been physically harmed, mentally abused, unloved. It seems that I have a fairly average life, and I assume that most reading this can identify. But God has dropped me inside of an urban elementary school in New Orleans, where average includes nothing that I am or have.
My student's stories break my heart. Each and every student has so much going on in their lives. I am writing this blog so that you too can be burdened with them, pray for them, and be moved to transform this city. For the sake of each student's privacy, I will only use the first letter of their name to tell their story.
J. is mischievous and angry. When asked to quiet down or sit in his seat (simple requests), he throws around his skinny, eight year old body- arms flailing-on to the ground or into the corner. This week has been especially difficult. He tells me he is stupid. He tells me he hates himself. We just found out that his father's hospice has moved him into the next, more severe, status. He's too sick for J. to come and visit anymore. J.'s mother is out of the picture due to drugs, and so he lives with his grandmother. Please pray for J. He needs to know the peace of Jesus Christ in his life.
W. is incredibly intelligent. He is usually well behaved but over the past month, has just not been himself. We contacted his mother to see if something at home has changed. She let us know his father is in jail again. Please pray for W.
H. is the class clown. And he is legitimately funny! I have a hard time not laughing, but try my best to not encourage the inappropriate timing of his jokes. H.'s father passed away unexpectedly on Mardi Gras day this year. He has 2 sisters both elementary age as well. He just hasn't been the same since his father died. Today some kids made fun of a poem he wrote for his mom, and he was just so angry. I have never seen a child with so much anger about something so simple. Please pray for H.
A. is a difficult little girl to get along with. I feel bad saying it, but it's true. Her mother has told her teacher that she cannot stand to look at her daughter, because she looks so much like her father. The teacher has told me that because of her mother's disgust for her own daughter, A.'s siblings have essentially been taking care of her. A. is very mean to the other children, but it is all just a repeating of what she is told at home. Please pray for A.
Ar. has asked me to be her mother. Ar. told me that her mother wants to put her up for adoption, and that I could be her white step mom. I told her that I couldn't be her step mom, but I could be her friend and I could be her teacher. She told me that she knew I would say that, but that she would love me like a mom anyways. Please pray for Ar.
Please pray for all my students, but these especially. Pray for New Orleans and the brokenness that is here.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thoughts on Wholeness and Holiness
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (NIV)
The weight of this truth rests heavily on my heart. God has promised me that sanctification is not only possible, but that He will do it (v. 24)! My Lord does not make trivial or sentimental promises. My Mighty King's word is truth!. If God desires that I should be blameless upon Christ's return, then I shall. How do I function today, believing in this promise of sanctification and blamelessness? How does a person who has yet to be completely sanctified (become holy in spirit, soul, body) not grow weary in the hopes of this promise?
As I wrestle with these questions, I read the beginning of verse 23, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you...". Amen! God himself is responsible for the process of sanctification. I cannot make myself holy. I cannot set myself apart. I cannot be made blameless, except through God himself. I also take notice to which of God's names is used when it states WHO is doing the sanctification. The God of Peace. God makes me blameless and sanctifies me in peace. I so often fear that sanctification can never happen because of the pull of my sin winning against the process of sanctification. God will not create a battle inside of me and hope that righteousness comes out the victor! The God of Peace sanctifies me. This is why God must sanctify spirit, soul, and body (v.23). Sanctification cannot be achieved peacefully without all three parts of myself being wholly blameless.
So, what is my role in this whole promise? In verse 24, it says "The one who calls you...", so I suppose my first order of business is to respond to the call. Which I did. Accepting Christ and choosing to follow Him, upon His calling of me, was step one. Upon doing so, He has already begun the process of sanctification, as the Holy Spirit indwell ed me from that moment forward. And step two? I must believe in His promise. He is faithful. He will do it. And I have already seen the fruit of that truth in my life as He has begun to sanctify me in soul and body. To not grow weary in waiting for the promise to be fulfilled is the most difficult part of this process for me. I continually ask God to show me the fruit of this process of sanctification in my life, and I am blown away with how quickly and peacefully this process has taken place in all three parts, but I always desire for it to happen faster. But I rest in believing this promise for myself and I have finally, fully believed that this promise is for me.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (NIV)
The weight of this truth rests heavily on my heart. God has promised me that sanctification is not only possible, but that He will do it (v. 24)! My Lord does not make trivial or sentimental promises. My Mighty King's word is truth!. If God desires that I should be blameless upon Christ's return, then I shall. How do I function today, believing in this promise of sanctification and blamelessness? How does a person who has yet to be completely sanctified (become holy in spirit, soul, body) not grow weary in the hopes of this promise?
As I wrestle with these questions, I read the beginning of verse 23, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you...". Amen! God himself is responsible for the process of sanctification. I cannot make myself holy. I cannot set myself apart. I cannot be made blameless, except through God himself. I also take notice to which of God's names is used when it states WHO is doing the sanctification. The God of Peace. God makes me blameless and sanctifies me in peace. I so often fear that sanctification can never happen because of the pull of my sin winning against the process of sanctification. God will not create a battle inside of me and hope that righteousness comes out the victor! The God of Peace sanctifies me. This is why God must sanctify spirit, soul, and body (v.23). Sanctification cannot be achieved peacefully without all three parts of myself being wholly blameless.
So, what is my role in this whole promise? In verse 24, it says "The one who calls you...", so I suppose my first order of business is to respond to the call. Which I did. Accepting Christ and choosing to follow Him, upon His calling of me, was step one. Upon doing so, He has already begun the process of sanctification, as the Holy Spirit indwell ed me from that moment forward. And step two? I must believe in His promise. He is faithful. He will do it. And I have already seen the fruit of that truth in my life as He has begun to sanctify me in soul and body. To not grow weary in waiting for the promise to be fulfilled is the most difficult part of this process for me. I continually ask God to show me the fruit of this process of sanctification in my life, and I am blown away with how quickly and peacefully this process has taken place in all three parts, but I always desire for it to happen faster. But I rest in believing this promise for myself and I have finally, fully believed that this promise is for me.
Friday, April 10, 2009
A good husband
My husband is a good husband. Scratch that. My husband is a great husband. I consider myself immeasurably blessed when I ponder the person whom God has given me the priveledge to be married to. Erik continues to captivate and pursue me. He romances me not with gifts, but with words and patience, as a strong leader and a refuge. And while it is obviously counter-cultural and questionably politically incorrect, I delight that he is the head of my household, my spiritual leader. I live to be his armor bearer and helper. Erik makes decisions out of love and I know and trust that this man listens to the Holy Spirit for guidance. His humor is refreshing. His strength, my weakness. He speaks words of wisdom and truth into my life, he prays for me. He will be an amazing father. He has illustrated Christ to me and others; he has made me happy. He uncomplicates and makes my life simple. He rejoices in my achievements and builds me up when I fail. He calls me out when I've screwed up. He seeks the best for me. I love my husband, continue to fall in love with him, and am committed to loving him.
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