A Teacher's Prayer List

One week from today I will be standing in my classroom ready to start another year of teaching. If the Lord brings me to your mind once in awhile, here's what you can pray for:

Physical health and strength. I need it.
I am continuing to meditate upon a question I encountered in my reading: "What is the soul meaning of education?" Important question to consider, don't you think? As the Spirit teaches me what is required to "educate" the souls of my students, pray that He will empower me to do so even if/even when it conflicts with education as we practice it today.
As always, pray that whenever a student thinks, "I have Mr. Iten's class next," that they will feel that there, in that place, they will be safe academically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. (Even if they haven't done their work. =))
That each day He will make me sensitive to the needs of each student.
That each day I will rely on the Spirit's power and insights and not my own. That my agenda will never interfere with His.

Thanks

Seeds

In the soil of a sorrowing heart two things can grow: joy or bitterness. The fruit of joy is spiritual strength and perseverance, a sensitive heart to the sorrow of others, faithful discipleship. The fruit of bitterness is tears with no comfort, a contagious discontent, a loss of the sense of His presence. The water that brings forth bitterness is self-pity, a denial of God's goodness. Bitterness produces a sorrow that brings forth death. The water that brings forth joy is a heart of submission to His will, a confidence in His goodness, a focus on the needs of others. Your choice.

Do

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." What if we actually lived that admonition? Me. You. Enemies. Political leaders. Governments? Immigrants? Widows? Orphans?Those of a different political persuasion? When I reacted to my students? When I tipped my waitress? When someone I know needs help? Comfort? What would my day be like then--if? What would our nation be like? What would the world be like? I can't make my neighbor, my friends, my family, my enemies live that way. But I can choose to live so.

Complacency

The best way to battle spiritual complacency--to not "forget" how much He did for me--is to remember. How often do you read the gospel story of His sacrifice on your behalf? How often do you wander through the crowd as they shout "Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!" How often do you mingle with those who mock Him as He hangs on the cross? You were there. I was there. Remember. Daily. For you, He died. "For me, to live is Christ."

Communion

Every moment of every day He is with you--you are in His presence. It's not that He's watching you, but with you! His very Spirit lives within you. You are the clay pot filled with His glory. How many of those moments then are holy? Sacred? Shouldn't each day of our lives--each moment--be a sabbath day of worship, a feast day, a day of celebration? Shouldn't the joy of His presence be seen in my every action, every reaction, every encounter with others, every richly mundane task we do together? Whatever He has called me to do, is it not a sacred, holy calling? The Christian life is a daily walk with Him. The Christian life is a daily dance with Him. "There is nothing more extraordinary then the ordinary." Live lives of Holy purpose, Holy joy, holy celebration. Live a life of communion with Him

Despair

Someone has said that "despair is the greatest sin." Despair denies the love of God, the faithfulness of God, the promise of God--"I am at work doing good, doing good for you, even in the evil." We must plead with God each day to give us a sense of His presence. Then, like Joseph, in a pit, as a slave, apparently forgotten in a prison, we can continue to live a faithful life. "God means it for good" will be our constant testimony--the focus of our prayers and thoughts. And we will be heart-broken when those perpetrators of evil don't understand that He desires to do good in their lives as well. Joseph's brothers and their families were delivered from the famine because God used their evil to save them all. Such a realization should have produced a thankful joy not fear--a broken-heart of repentance. God died for us. God loves us because He wants to not because He has to--we are precious to Him. The storm is not a reason to despair. The storm is the catalyst for the beauty of the rainbows He spreads across our life over and over and over again.

"We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations brings about patient endurance, and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Reflections from July 2018

The longer I live the one truth that amazes me more and more--the truth that stirs my heart and takes my breath away--is this: He died for me. For me. He didn't have to--He chose to.
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Remember!  Never forget!  You are His child.  He delights in you.
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Plead with Him to give you the vision to see all the people you encounter each day as He sees them.  Then, you can respond to each of them each day as He would respond.
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The focus of our prayers must always be that the answer to our prayers bring glory to Him alone.
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Remembering His past faithfulness with thankful praise strengthens me in the midst of today's warfare.
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Being obedient while waiting on God is the evidence to the watching world of my faith in His loyal love, wisdom, and goodness.
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"Young man--
Young man--
Your arm's too short to box with God."  (James Weldon Johnson)
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"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus."  In His will today?
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His return is one day nearer,  Faithfully serve Him, urgently seek the lost, use your calling to reflect His love, kindness, and goodness.  Live lives of expectancy.
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A soldier doesn't put on his armor in the midst of the battle.  He puts it on before the battle begins.  Do you begin each day armored up--on your knees?
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Remember the Christian life:  you are either in a storm or one's coming.  Your only hope to withstand the storm is daily obedience.
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Spiritual prosperity begins with a humble heart.  "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
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He's coming again.  And no one will doubt His arrival.
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Remember His words:  "Without Me, you can do nothing."  Nothing.
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Start each day at the foot of the cross so that you can live each day in the power and the promise of the empty tomb.
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The peace of God can be accessed in only one way. "Be anxious for nothing, but my prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which is beyond human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." There is a direct correlation between God's peace in our lives day by day, moment by moment, and our obedience to the command, "Pray without ceasing."
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Each and every day I must surrender my life to Him--each moment must be His, each interaction with others must be His, each choice must be His. "Moment by moment I'm kept in His love." Moment by moment I must lavish that love on others. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice."