Category Archives: Christianity

Simple Teaching

Christianity, Grace, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, , , , , , ,

Simple Teaching                                 jesus

Now, before you get all excited, I know that teaching is never SIMPLE!  I have taught and really get that.  But there was a time in my life when I thought I knew it all!  Imagine that.  Funny thing, the older I get, the less I realize I really know.

When I was in college, I studied and gathered all the information I could about great teachers and philosophers.  There were many theories on learning and child psychology.  I was going to be an incredible educator.  After all, I had two teaching certificates, a college diploma and knowledge galore.

Ahem, then I entered the classroom.  I had a classroom full of junior high and senior high boys.  Somehow all that knowledge did not help.  I needed to love these kids.  My professors never told me that part.

Jesus.  Now there was our role model for teaching.  The professors never mentioned him either.  He taught in the temple when he was 12. He taught the disciples in parables…stories that they could relate to.  And how, because of the love of God.  I had to surrender to that love with those boys.

All teachers have a goal, a plan, a reason for teaching.  Jesus was indeed the Master Teacher.  His goal was salvation and the love of God for believers.  He met people right smack dab where they were in the middle of their life!

Matthew 7:9-12 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  

I can just see the face of that mother giving her little boy a bite of fish….thinking, “of course I would never give him a snake, are you kidding?”

Jesus was never patronizing, he always taught with love, compassion and tenderness. ( Although I sometimes wonder if when he was teaching the disciples he got a little tired of repeating!  Peter was probably one of those kids….)  Yet, He loved them passionately.

The ultimate teacher, Jesus.  He was our example.  We are all teachers of the love of God.  He met them where they were…He loved them unconditionally.

If we rest and abide in Him, we will give us the words, peace and love when we need it.  Being led by the Holy Spirit dwelling within!! Teacher or nurse, stay at home or bus driver…we are all teachers in one way or another. It is simple really…love.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV*

Simple Math

Christianity, Grace, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, , , , , , , ,

 

Simple Math                  stock-photo-math-simple-equation-on-chalk-board-111802352

I am not talking about Common Core!  I am talking about the equation below:

RULES-RELATIONSHIP=REBELLION

We are surrounded by rules.  We see them posted, we tell them to our children.  The ten commandments are those that Christians consider rules….we all try to abide by them. The Pharisees had them during Jesus’ day, and they are still abounding in the church today.

Minus RELATIONSHIP…we can follow every rule, do all the right things and still not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Do we follow the rules because we Have to or we Get to?

Equals REBELLION…when we do not have that intimate relationship and try to follow the rules, we cannot keep them.  We will fail. We even have a tendency to do what we are not to do.  Paul said it.  And think about it…the sign says “don’t touch the glass”, what do we do?

If we have a intimate, real relationship with the Savior we can live a surrendered life.  We will want to do what is right.  And when we stumble, we go on.

His rules were not written to cause us pain and grief.  He knows the best for us…and the consequences to any mistakes we make.  We don’t live an abundant life by following rules…we live an abundant life by surrendering our heart to Jesus Christ!

I have found a better equation:

RULES+RELATIONSHIP=RELIANCE

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not be works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

See..I told you it wasn’t Common Core!  It is far better…..

Be blessed

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

 

*google image, NIV*

Simple Clouds

Christianity, Grace, mom, motherhood, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Image

Simple Clouds

One summer day we arrived at the amusement park.  It was very warm, one of those hot and sticky days.  The blacktop road had absorbed the heat from the previous day and just radiated.  Rain was forecasted, and we were none to happy about the forecast.

We rode a couple of rides with sweat rolling down our heads, backs and other areas!  We were miserable.  We are fans of the warm weather, but this was not good.  By the time we were on the fourth ride we noticed a markable difference.  What had happened?

The rain clouds had rolled in.  They lasted throughout the day and yet the rain seemed to stay away.  The rain clouds turned out to be an incredible covering for us.  The hovered over the park, keeping the temperatures almost pleasant.  They were indeed welcomed.

In the Old Testament, God dwelled among his people.  He chose the tabernacle and the Holy of Holies to be the place of His presence.  The cloud hovered over the ark. (Read Exodus 25-30).

Exodus 40 tells us of the tabernacle and how it was set up.  “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not left from above the tabernacle, they would not set out until the day it lifted.” vs. 34-37

Cool huh?  Three things I noticed.  First, our precious Father has always wanted to dwell among his people.  Remember how He walked with Adam in the cool of the garden in Genesis? The sin took place.  God cannot look upon sin.  He is a Holy God.  And yet, He is again providing a way to dwell among his people.  Then I noticed the cloud.  How appropriate that the cloud would somehow represent the glory of the Lord!  Clouds protect, carry rain to nourish the land, are beautiful to behold.  Lastly, notice that the Israelites did not move until the cloud had lifted.  My if we could only move when God called us to!  Some many times I set out in my own timing and not His!

So many times we think of the clouds as a bad thing…..I wonder if those simple clouds can teach us more than we can ever begin to understand?  And next time we are at an amusement park on a hot, humid day….I hope the clouds show up!!

Be Blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV