The Lord is at work.

"The Lord is my shepherd..."
 I was a sinful, doomed, human being. The Lord loved me enough to send His Only Son to live in flesh on the earth and then to die an excruciating death on a cross. To conquer death, He triumphed over the grave and rose on the third day. Through His blood, and only through His blood, I was and am redeemed. I serve a marvelous Savior, Who is gracious and faithful daily. He never forgets me and always provides, even in ways I do not understand or expect.


 "...I shall not want..."
God was so good to me during my internship and my schooling. Probably the most obvious way He provided for me was providing finances. Through the generous hearts of friends and family, my tuition was paid for and some spending money was available. I never had to do without. Another way that He provided was through granting me wonderful people to teach and instruct me during my schooling and internship. Also, He has provided me with a job! Praise the Lord! Through the guidance of a professor, I came in contact with Montgomery Christian School, a small school (K-4th) lead by Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, AL. I am officially the 1st grade teacher to ten sweet children. I am so thankful for the Lord providing this job! It is such an answer to prayer! I start teaching in January, so feel free to pray for me. As a new teacher, I feel very unprepared to guide these children, and I just hope that I have been trained enough to be able to teach them what they need to know.

"...He maketh me to lie down in green pasters: he leadeth me beside still waters..."
Thankfully, I have been blessed with a roof over my head, a car to get me from A to B, food, a paycheck, family, and so many other wonderful things that many people have to do without. Even though it seems like little sometimes, it truly is enough.

excerpts from Psalms 23

But since this is Christmas time, I can not allow myself to forget to mention the reason we celebrate. Christ, the Savior of the World, came and was born in a stable. Through His life and death, we can be saved!

Isaiah 9:6
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

in light of the eternal...

This is part of an application I had to turn in for a school...Christian school, to be exact. I thought you might want to know a little about what I think about the Christian walk.

1. Describe your relationship with Jesus Christ.

My life would be nothing without Christ. He is the only reason I have any hope. Without Him, my life would be in shambles and I would be a miserable mess. As restated from His promise to Israel in Hebrews 13:5, He has promised that “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” I know that He walks beside me in every part of my life, guiding me with His sovereign hand. He knows what my future holds, even when I do not, and I confidently put my trust in Him and His purpose for me on this earth. Like any relationship, my relationship with Christ takes effort. I know that I grow in Him when I read my Bible and when I pray. I also know that He continues molding and teaching me as I interact with other believers and non-believers. Many times the things of the world distract me from spending time in the Word, but I am constantly brought back to it when I realize what my life is like without it.

2. On what basis do you believe a person gains eternal life?

Scripture says it the best. Romans 3:23 tells us that “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” No man can ever achieve eternal on his own, because we are all born sinners and die sinners until some perfect gift takes our condemned place. In John 3:16 it tells us that “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, all people have the option to be made whole. We have to make that choice though, by admitting our sin, believing in Christ, and allowing Him to be in control of our life. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

3. Have you reached that point in your life where you know that if you were to die today that you have eternal life?

Praise the Lord that I have made that decision and He has saved me. I am continually being sanctified through everything that happens in my life. I will never be perfect, this side of heaven, but I am continuing to grow stronger in my walk with the Lord. I realized my need for His saving grace in my life when I was 5 years old. I was blessed to have godly parents who raised me to know and follow the Lord. I was never lacking for opportunities to grow and serve the Lord. In college, I realized that I had not fully given over parts of my heart and life in complete surrender to the Lord. I re-dedicated my life to Him in 2007.

1. Describe your family experience (and marriage). What relationship do you have with your parents (and spouse)? What would your family (spouse) think if you were offered a position in this school?

As mentioned previously, I have been blessed with godly parents who pushed and prayed for me to live a holy life that was acceptable to the Lord. After my salvation, I was always told that I represented Jesus Christ first and foremost, and then that I represented my family. My parents were quick to correct me when I was wrong, but they were also quick to recognize growth and successes in my life. My parents have supported and prayed for me in each step of my life. One of my greatest fears would be disappoint them or to let them down. I was homeschooled through a godly curriculum, so I know that my parents would be thrilled for me to teach in this school, where Biblical views are embraced and taught.

2. While recognizing that each of us develops spiritually over our lifetime, describe your spiritual development, particularly regarding your Bible study, prayer life, and church activities, and any specific ways this maturity is shown in your life?

I have always known that prayer, reading your Bible, and church involvement were vital to a believer’s life. Through the use of my talents, I have served in the church body since my teenage years. Overseas, my sister and I lead music and also provided childcare during our small Sunday services. Sometimes I was taking care of children my own age or just a little bit younger. In college, I was able to get involved with the youth, leading small discipleship groups, going to youth services, and leading groups for discipleship weekend events. I was so thankful for this opportunity, because, not only did they challenge me to live a holier life, I was also able to challenge them on their world view. Most of these girls have lived easy, American lives and know very little of sacrifice and need. I was able to slowly open their eyes to the urgency of the gospel. I have also been able to see many of these girls that I worked with while they were in 8^th grade begin their first semester at Auburn this year! What a blessing to be able to worship alongside these wonderful young women of God!

I was also blessed to study under an incredible college pastor, who constantly turned our attention back to the gospel and Jesus Christ. He was an incredible leader that challenged us and encouraged us to die to self and constantly look for opportunities to tell others about the great love of God! One thing that I still distinctly remember about his teachings was that, no matter the topic or the book of the Bible, he could always show us the scarlet thread of the story of Jesus throughout Scripture. It taught me to look at the Bible in a different way, seeking to find how Jesus was tied into that part of Scripture. Another very important thing that has stuck with me was that he constantly reminded us that life was not about us. Life is about serving and honoring Christ. In order to properly do this, we must allow our sinful, selfish nature to die – giving up much worldly “happiness” for the joy of living in Christ. This is something I still struggle with in daily life, but I am striving to become more like Christ. I must die to self.

My prayer life is something that is almost constant. One thing I love is communicating, and I can not imagine not being able to communicate with Christ. That is one thing I have loved about commuting to and from AUM. When I have those longs drives, most of the time I use it to think and prayer. It is quiet and I am not distracted by the commotion of the world. I do, however, have to remind myself not just to ask for things. God loves to talk to His children, but much of our conversations should be praise and gratefulness. It is very easy to lean too much on the supplication and neglect praising God for who He is and what He has done. I am a firm believer in praying about things, though. If someone comes to me with a concern or problem that is weighing on them, my words can only help a little. God is much more powerful, so one of the first things I do is to pray and ask God to comfort and guide during this crisis. I also do not make big decisions without seeking God’s approval. I believe that decisions will become clear many times in reading Scripture, which reflects us asking God to show us what path to choose.

3. Describe the ways in which you are training your family in spiritual growth before Christ. Your church involvement is important, but please elaborate on other ways in addition to this.

Since I do not have a family of my own yet, I try to help my brother, sister, and parents grow in Christ, just like they help me. I pray a lot for the Lord to guide my family members as they make decisions and just as they go through life. I will not hesitate to praise them when I see the Lord being glorified through something they have done. I also have an alarm set on my watch to take a brief moment each day to pray for the man that the Lord has for me to marry. I pray that God will be glorified in his every action, word, and thought. I pray that God will give him a servant leader’s heart that will bless those around him. I pray for his relationship with his family, especially his parents. I pray that God will protect his mind and heart from evil. Sometimes it varies from day to day, but I always try to focus on how he can serve God instead of asking why I haven’t found him yet.

5. Describe two of your most important objectives in life and the way(s) in which your plans are designed to help you reach those objectives. Naturally you want to “be a good teacher,” please be more specific.

One of the things that I believe the Lord has laid on my heart is to be a teacher. I love being able to help children learn. It thrills my heart to see them grasp a concept finally and watch their little face light up with joy and confidence! I also believe that there are many children in the world being lead astray because of a lack of loving authority in their lives. Even if I do not make much of a difference to many kids, if there are just one or two, I would count my life and hard work as a success. I want to provide an environment where, not only do children get the chance to learn, but they also reap the benefits of learning the differences in right and wrong, according to Scripture. Everything reverts back to Scripture. I want children to be able to see the consequences for actions and see the importance of responsibility. I want to give many children who do not have this kind of guidance at home an opportunity to learn how to be good, even if they are sinners. While trying to teach them what is right and wrong, my prayer would be for them to realize their need for a Savior and be able to put their faith in Him.

Another thing that I see as a life goal is to be a wife and mother. Since this has not happened yet, I can only train and prepare myself to fulfill those roles when they come along. I want to be able to respect and honor my husband, which my relationship with my father has trained me in that area. I also want to be able to care for him, and my relationship with my mother (and the many college boys who have crowded my humble home for home-cooked meals) has trained me in that area. Through my work in churches alongside wives and mothers, I am also learning how to raise a godly family, under the authority and co-support of a husband. I pray that I am able to be half as good a wife and mother as my own mother is.

6. Cite three experiences that you have had in your lifetime that you believe had a dramatic and/or long-lasting effect upon you. Please explain how Christ has used these to change, develop and mature you.

The first experience that has really changed my life was the decisions my family made to move overseas to serve God. This not only physically changed our family, but we were different emotionally and spiritually. Emotionally, I learned empathy. Most of the people around us were hurting and poor. I was able to use my skills and talents to help ease their pain. Once, for 6 months, I went every week to this elderly lady’s home who we think had Parkinson’s disease. I sat on the steps of her front door as she lay in her old bed in her one-room, dirt floor home and read the Bible to her. It was a huge sacrifice because she smelled and cried a lot. But I was able to minister to her aching heart by reading her something better than medicine. I did this purely from the fact that I felt sorry for her because no one but her husband cared about her. Spiritually, I grew as I learned to place my faith for everyday things in the hands of God. I saw Him meet so many needs that I could not help but believe Him and praise Him. I learned to give and give and give of myself until I had nothing left to give, only to be filled back up to give some more. Every experience molded me into who I am today.

The second huge event that shaped my life was when we adopted my brother. He was abandoned on the hospital steps of the town I lived in. He was 3 days old. After months and months of struggling with paperwork and authorities (14 months, to be exact), he was finally ours. The emotional battle for him was so difficult. We would be ready to pick him up, only to be denied because of lacking a phony paper. At one point, we had to return for stateside assignment without him. Seven months of frustration. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalms 68:19) First there was good news then there was more bad news. However, on May 24^th, my 16^th birthday, 2004, he officially became a Hocutt. He is a blessing (sometimes in disguise). I cannot imagine my life without him. One verse that the Lord gave to me a few months after we finally got him was Proverbs 13:19a, which says “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…” He is truly sweet to my soul.

A third time when I truly saw the Lord working in my life was in 2010 when I took my first job after graduation in Atlanta, GA. It was the most difficult 10 months of my life. I was incredibly lonely and depressed. My job was very physically taxing and I never seemed to get over the exhaustion. I was not happy where I was and I was not happy with what I was doing. I could not find a church that felt like a match. I was very self-centered and angry with God that I was having to struggle while doing something I hated. The Lord was with me every step of the way. I have never felt so close to the Lord. I began to realize that I was there because He wanted me there. He was teaching me to live completely through Him. I had no one. I had nothing. I had only Him – and that was enough. He gave me several scriptures that taught me to trust in Him. Psalms 37:4 says “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” I was learning that the desires I had I my heart were human, not heavenly. He may not have been meeting the desires I had as a fallen human. Instead, God wanted my heart to grow in Him, drawing closer to Him each day. When that happens, our hearts are changed to be more like His. Then, He grants us the desires that our hearts learned by being near to His heart. Another treasure that he gave me in May of 2010 was 2 Corinthians 12:9, which says “And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Again, as I type this, my heart wells with love for the One who inspired this. A third verse that always reminds me of the deep love of Christ for his young beloved is Romans 8:37-39. This is one of my all-time favorite verses in Scripture. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If that doesn’t give you hope, then I do not know what will!

1. Please explain your thoughts and practices in the area of such spiritual gifts as speaking in tongues, healing, the interpretation of prophecy, etc.

I had never seen anyone speak in tongues, be miraculously healed, or prophecy, but just because I have never experienced it does not mean I do not believe it. As far as speaking in tongues goes, if the person or persons are doing it to attract attention to themselves then it is wicked. However, if it is from the Lord, there will be someone present who can and will be able to translate (1 Corinthians 14, especially verse 5). If the prophecy is from the Lord, then it will come true. I believe that the Lord is in control of all things. If He wants someone healed, whether through medicine or miracle, it will happen. He is the Great Physician and nothing is too powerful for Him. I just think that most people today overlook the many miracles of God to the point that nothing seems like a miracle. I know personal friends who are missionaries to Africa who have experienced all three of the above spiritual practices.

4. What are you beliefs regarding premarital sex, homosexuality, and abortion?

I believe what the Bible states. Marriage is to be between a man and a woman, separated only by death. Marriage is made for us to have an earthly representation of the relationship between Christ and His church. No where in the Bible does it say “Thou shalt not have sex before marriage”, but it does imply that anyone who had sex with someone before marriage (or outside of marriage) was a disgrace. In most circumstances, those people were put to death because of their disobedience. I have personally made a commitment to abstain from sex until my wedding, and, God-willing, I will be able to hold true to that commitment.

Murder is a sin, even if it is an unborn child. One of the Ten Commandments states “Thou shalt not kill”. It can not be more clear than this. Psalms 139:13-16 says “For thou has possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are they works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in they book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

This is only part of the application...yeah, it is quite lengthy. But, now you have a glimpse into the mind of a woman who is trying to honor God.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Circle of life

I will never understand time...where it begins nor why it runs out. 

Some of my sweet friends lost a Godly mother today and another friend was celebrating the birth of a baby. The Lord is faithful, and I pray that each life that begins would have the opportunity for greatness in the eyes of the Lord. That is the measure of true success.

photos courtesy of:

clock tower

Arlington cemetery

newborn babe

Lamentations 3:21-24

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

blessed times two

The Lord continues to remind me of His faithfulness! Praise the Lord!
This morning our pastor preached about showing the Gospel to others through our lives and actions and words. He encouraged us to live as Jesus did, showing love and compassion. In my heart, I knew that I needed to begin living the Gospel everyday to the people I live with and work with. However, the Lord surprised me. I was blessed twice today by Christian brothers and sisters. First, one bought my lunch, as a blessing. Second, another gave me a check, saying that the Lord put me on her heart. The Lord continues to surprise me and bless me, even (and especially) when I do not deserve it. How faithful He is to provide for His children!! Praise the Lord!

humbly horrified

This week has been a very, very trying week. This is my first (of four) weeks to be teaching completely on my own - all day long. All. Day. Long.
If you are not a teacher, you do not realize how big a task this is. It means that you have to be prepared to jump from one thing to the next (a minimum of ten or fifteen subjects and assignments), non-stop, all day long - all the while maintaining order in a classroom of 25 students, juggling lunch, classroom switching, PE, constant potty breaks, unwanted interruptions (like a group of administrators here for a meeting stepping in to observe you, unannounced - oh, while your teacher is gone for the day), broken pencils, hissy fits, tattling, homework, a non-functioning Promethean board (fixed in a few days, huh?), postponed lesson plans, lunch money, studying for my looming comprehensive exams, and manage to keep yourself together - all day long. 
That about sums up my day today. Throw in a few shed tears after the students left and it sounds perfect, right?
I admit, this week is the first time I have ever looked at my tear-streaked face in a mirror before and said, "Why in the world would you want to be a teacher?!"
The gravity of what I have signed up for hit me full force this week - do I really, I mean really, have what it takes to be a teacher? If I were to judge my preparedness to teach using this week, the answer would be a siren screaming, flashing red light, yelling at the top of my lungs NO!!!!

The Lord doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called.

I don't usually like quotes that simply reverse the order of words (personally, I think they're cheap and silly), but that was what was ringing in my head at the end of today.
I know I have a lot to learn, but do I really have what it takes to be the kind of teacher that makes a difference? How can I make a difference when I can't even teach decimals and rounding? Helping kids lives will be of no value if they flunk fourth grade. If God has plans for me to teach, which I strongly believe He does (or else I wouldn't be putting myself through this), He will have to do mighty things to help me feel qualified. The last thing that I want to do is to waste children's time and lives because of my in-adequateness.
So, if you find this and feel like praying, say a small prayer that God will (somehow) help me be the kind of teacher these kids need!

I dislike ending this post so negatively. So, on a positive note:
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:19-20

starting with me.

" God be merciful unto us, and bless us;
and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
That they way may be known upon the earth,
thy saving health among the nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the 
people praise thee.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for
thou shalt judge the people righteously,
and govern the nations upon the earth. Selah.
Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the
people praise thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase; and
God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth
shall fear him."
Psalms 67

Bless the Lord, oh my soul....oh my soul.

These words echo in my head. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We bless the Lord. That should be our response to everything in life.
Not everything is going perfectly in my life right now. There are days that are definitely easier than others. My heart is not always happy, no, joyful. Happiness is not what I search for. Joy is what my heart needs. Joy comes from the Lord, and continues when happiness has given up hope.
My heart has days that it dreads the loneliness it faces. And many days my heart forgets that it is not lonely at all. There is one who loves me more than life itself. He gave His life so that I could be returned from my separation from Him. That is true love. And it is always at my fingertips.
On days when, like yesterday, my heart sees only the negative in life, on days like that, I forget about Jesus. I end up weakening my heart and allowing it to be ripe for the attacks of the enemy. Recently, when dealing with this problem, my whole being felt weighted down by the enemy. Then, my mind is clouded with bitterness, dis-contentedness, and depression. Praise the Lord that He remains faithful even when I do not.
On this particular day, I ended up having lunch with some friends who spoke of the great spiritual bondage they are facing while serving as missionaries. As we talked, I felt the pressure and angst of my heart lifting. I had been under spiritual attack. Thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness and the faithful brothers and sisters You brought to me in my time of need.
Following that very emotionally difficult and draining day came an equally difficult and draining day in the classroom. I was exhausted and my students in the afternoon ran all over me. I did not know what to correct first, since I didn't feel like I could fight any battles. The Lord saw me through and helped me keep my cool during the rest of class. I was able to take a short nap before eating dinner.
As I sat and read my Bible, I came across the verses above. It reminded me that even though the last few days were stressful and tiring, the Lord is still worthy of my praise. He will be made known in all the world and all will bless Him - starting with me. During my good days and my weak days - every days is the day the Lord has made.
"This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

always learning (just like my students)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord..."

I know He has been thinking of me. He is good.

• The Lord provided me with so much experience in the classroom. My mentor teacher and co-teachers have opened so many opportunities to me to teach. I don't always get it all right, but they let me try - experience that will be valuable to me some day.
• The Lord laid on the hearts of some church members at my parents' church to donate some money to me. What a blessing! He truly does open the floodgates when we trust in Him!
• My computer is my lifeline for graduate school. Without it, I can't complete work that is needed. I have been having trouble with my cord and have not been able to get power to my computer. I don't know exactly what the problem is, but it has caused major anxiety and frustration on my part (on several occasions). The Lord chose to let one of those occasions be yesterday and last night. Usually I try and try again and it will finally work. Sometimes I pray desperately, give it a minute, try one more time and it works. Yesterday, nothing worked. I was frustrated and went outside to talk to my dad on the phone (he is so encouraging and always willing to listen!). After a while, I figured I would go try one more time. I went inside, tried to plug the cord in, to no avail. No charge. I prayed, one last desperate prayer, plugged it in, and the light came on. Lord, forgive my doubt. Thank you for providing in my hour of need!!
• Today was my first day teaching the whole day. My teacher was gone for the afternoon, due to an appointment. I was in charge - completely. No pressure! I was nervous, but the Lord gave me a calmness and helped me get through the day without any major mishaps! I also managed to teach everything in time. Today marked the first time I have ever taught on 9/11. I wish I had gotten to teach for the first time NOT on 9/11. Because many of these students have no understanding of 9/11 (they were born after it!), we decided to watch a 20 minutes Nickelodeon News video about 9/11. It was very well done and insightful. After the students watched it, we had a little discussion (which was also good). It kept me on my toes. Because of this unexpected "interruption" (I'm glad we chose to watch the video - it was good for them to see), our schedule for the whole day was thrown off. On top of that, my homeroom had to go to the library this morning, which threw off our schedule even more. Thankfully, this gave me an opportunity to cope and be flexible. Thank you, Lord.
• Please continue to pray that the Lord will use me at the school and that I will learn so much.
• Please continue to pray for my health and that I would be protected from migraines (the Lord has granted me relief thus far).
• Please pray that I would be able to stay on top of my assignments, while still supporting my students and their learning.
• Please pray for me as I prepare for my comprehensive exams (the dreaded comps!) on October 5th.

I know this was longer than normal. I just wanted to tell you what I have seen the Lord doing in my life.
He never ceases to show himself to me, including the sunset I watched tonight as I talked to my dad on the phone. True beauty.

"...thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

Climb on...you are loved.

As I sit hear listening to "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus, so much of it soothes my weary being. It is a “you’ll make it” and a “pick yourself back up and shake it off” kind of song. Some of the lyrics really get me: "Every step I'm taking, every move I'm making feels lost with no direction, my faith is shaking, but I've got to keep trying, I've got to keep my head held high. There's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move, Always gonna be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there...it's the climb." 

 There will always be things that come up in life that make it hard, but, as I said this to a friend this evening, that’s what makes life life. We can’t expect our life to be without mountains, troublesome days, or difficulty. Even if you hear that voice saying “you’ll never make it”, that voice has been overcome! Rejoice, dear one! The Lord has overcome! He has overcome sin, our sinful nature, and Satan. You will make it, and it is all about what is waiting on the other side – just keep pushing on!

The Lord knew what songs I needed to hear tonight. Josh Groban’s "You are loved" came on within a few minutes of “The Climb”. “Don’t give up,” it says…“because you are loved.” Indeed, precious child, you are greatly loved; loved so much that a sinless Savior left glory above to walk in a sinful, difficult world, to die for those who rebelled against Him. Is that actually what the song says? No. But that is how the Lord spoke to me through that song. Read John 3:16 

That, dear one, is the reason we should never give up – that is love.

On a less serious note, this cartoon always makes me laugh :) You're welcome.

with wings like eagles

I now have several class days under my belt (that is one cliche that I will not forget, but that is another story entirely). The Lord has been gracious in providing me so many things:

• great mentor teacher and fabulous co-teachers who continue to encourage me and challenge me.
• a little bit of extra finances - trust, for He will provide! (read this in Psalms 50 the other day: "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.") God does not lack resources!
• a place to lay my head at night that is only 15 minutes from school (instead of 47 minutes)!
• more confidence in the classroom - as I continue to learn and grow, the Lord is blessing me with more confidence about teaching. There is still much to learn and many ways to grow, so please keep praying for me.
• time to work on my plethora (good word choice!) of assignments for my internship and my graduate class. But, it the load only gets heavier from here! Pray that the Lord would strengthen me as I continue to pursue this passion He has given me! Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favorite verses, but a few verses before is also just as moving: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength...But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint." On the following page, in Isaiah 41:10, the Lord follows with another promise: "Fear though not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am they God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." My, how well the Lord knows grad school - even thousands of years ago! 

Thank you for your prayers! I covet them and can feel the Lord using them. Please keep praying for me!
Saved by Him alone.

it has begun.

Friday was my first day in the classroom for my internship. Thanks to all you who have prayed and encouraged me as I begin this difficult yet beneficial semester. I will basically be co-teaching with the lead teacher throughout the fall. She has encouraged me to take as much responsibility as I can. She also has several years under her belt, so the ability to work with someone with that much experience is a huge blessing. Our first day with students, aka the first day of school, is MONDAY! AH! It's so soon and I (and my teacher) feel like we have so much to do between now and then! My teacher asked me to teach a get-to-know-you lesson that day, and also to write a welcome letter to the parents (which will be added to their first set of information that will be sent home with the students). For my getting-to-know-you activity, I will have the students take a test - yay, just what everyone wants to do on the first day of school! :) However, this test will be different: the students will have to answer some questions about....me. Ha - good luck, kids! The next activity will help the students get to know each other and help us as teachers get to know the students. They will complete a 3.2.1 index card: 3 things about your self, 2 things you want to do someday, and 1 thing you think no one knows about you. Then they will partner up, talk about what's on their cards, and then I will ask students what their partner said (helps them retain the information).
If you would like to pray for me, I would greatly covet your prayers. Pray that:

• I would continue to trust the Lord as I still feel nervous about leading a classroom. Pray that I would remain above reproach ("Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Romans 12:17b).
• the Lord would show Himself to me as I trust Him with my living situation (hoping to find somewhere to live so I do not have to commute 45 minutes one way). He has begun to teach me to pray that His Will would be done, rather than my piddly suggestions. 
• my finances would be stretched, like the oil and flour of the widow (I Kings 17). PRAISE THE LORD for the blessings of scholarships!
• I will be able to manage my time well, juggling assignments and work for my internship and my last class at AUM.
• the Lord would protect me and keep me from getting sick. Also pray that He would supernaturally keep me from having many migraines while I am in the classroom.
• I would be filled with God's love for each child in my classroom.
• the Lord would begin to pave the way for a job. With graduation quickly approaching, the idea of finding a job is daunting. Pray that the Lord will open doors, as only He can. And pray that I will trust.

Thank y'all for supporting and praying for me. I am looking forward to what the Lord will teach me during these next few months!

"Grad School Barbie"

Ran across this link today and found it very humorous, as I, too, am in Grad School. I feel "Grad School Barbie's" pain - poor thing!

Futuristic gizmos - Assign 8

In my computer class, I have to post different assignments I complete here on this website. This is an assignment where I had to write about some technology that will be obsolete in the next 50 years (like the dial telephone).

The technology that I think will be obsolete in the future is texting. I think so much of our technology will be “hands-free” and quick in the future. Even though texting today is the “future”, I think something will come along to replace it. I think voice-texting will be created and common. Instead of typing in letters or words with the fingers, all someone has to do is to speak the words and the cell phone will recognize it and quickly show it on the screen. I know some phones today can do that, but not many. Also, the phones that do that today do not always type the correct words or meanings. I think that in the future, the programs that do this will be able to interpret meanings of words rather than just the exact word. What is said into the phone will be taken in context of the sentence and quickly typed up on the screen. I also think that cell phones will either be incredibly small or almost invisible. This could result in holographic images instead of a screen. In this case, the texting might be displayed in the air in front of a person instead of on a tiny phone screen. If this is the case, it might also be possible to allow the holographic screen to be touch screen. Then, you could just type or rearrange letters and words in the air in front of you. And everything will be voice activated and voice controlled, adding to the “hands-free” idea of texting. Then, the hassle of pulling out a phone, opening the phone, typing things on the screen, and holding a phone in your hand will seem old-fashioned. The cell phone itself may become old-fashioned. Because of how advanced I think technology is now, it is hard for me to think that these things will be obsolete in the not-too-distant-future and that they will be replaced by “new and improved” futuristic technology.

Assignment 7

I had to do an assignment to define Facebook, Twitter, texting, and Blogs. Then I had to answer some questions about them. Here are two of my questions and answers.

Some schools do not allow students or teachers to access sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Explain why they are correct and give reasons/examples. Facebook and Twitter can be very distracting. It is easy to not pay attention or do the assigned task when you can be on Facebook or Twitter. It would also be very unfair if a teacher was on Facebook or Twitter while at school if the students are not allowed to be. This also shows that the teacher is not interested in the students, and it shows that she is not paying attention to them. It also wastes time. If a computer lab had access to these accounts, students could easily sit through lab time and do nothing for school. Facebook and Twitter are also easy ways to bully. Without immediate access to Facebook or Twitter at school, bullying can be lessened slightly.

Some schools do not allow students or teachers to access sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Explain why they are wrong and give reasons/examples. A person of interest who is on Facebook could be helpful when studying specific things. If a certain farmer’s market is on Facebook (while students are learning about farmer’s markets), the students could see what is happening at the farmer’s market. It could also be a good tool to teach about advertising. Allowing Facebook is also a way to monitor what kids are on Facebook during class. Twitter could also be useful if you are learning about certain people (ex: Tim Tebow), and you wanted to see what they were “tweeting” recently. It could also be an interesting way to supplement what you are teaching (ex: stock markets on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DTNStockMarket).

Do you have an answer to these questions?

The Future of the Past

For an assignment, I'm writing a paper on some educational theorists of the early years of America. This was the beginning of public school systems. The chapters that I am reading in order to write the paper have exposed the fact that our Country was founded on solid principles, mainly based on faith in God and the Bible. It made me wonder. What greatness has been attributed to our Nation because of this wonderful heritage and foundation? How might our whole destiny have been changed if the Founding Fathers had not strongly believed that God should be involved in the establishment of our Nation? Where would we be now? Without God, how far would we have made it?
Just a thought.

Thanks, Founding Fathers, for seeing the need to rely wholly on God.

Music to my ears

I was presented with an interesting thought today. While talking with a sweet friend, we discussed music and how it has helped her migraines lessen. So, I thought to myself, "Self, I wonder how music stimulation helps reduce pain or increase thinking?" I recalled doing high school science experiments on tomato plants with regard to music. Tomato plants grew towards the CD player when classical music was played. Does such a powerful technique truly exist? Can learning be enhanced or pain be reduced through the use of classical music? I know it is soothing, but why? One of my friend's doctors recommended listening to classical music mixed with ocean waves - why is that special?
Here is a website that discusses the psychology of music. Very helpful.
Also, if you want a list of "Happy Songs", you should check out the link here.

Hello World!

Well, it's official. I now have a blog. Hello, World!