Encouragement, love God

Sorry, it's been a quick minute since I've blogged. Lots of things going on, trying to help friends with weddings (racking my brain about flowers and such, :), hehe), taking care of kids, lots of sitting in front of a computer, finally reading Wicked (very weird book, I must say--not what I was expecting), etc.

At the beginning of this week, I felt so discouraged. No time to rest, no time to be alone, all of my times with God involved me crying out to Him for encouragement and strength from above. . .it was hard to get up and ride off to the schoolhouse knowing I'd be there for such a long time.

I know some other very special people were praying for me in addition to my crying out, and I thank those wonderful people for doing that. Your prayers brought some wonderful encouragement this week.

We had a great week in my classroom. Lots of drama, but definite reassurance that I will never be able to leave my kids. Even though it's hard to press on, it's emotionally and physically draining, I know that for some students, I may be a part of the "safe haven" that they need.

This week, I had one of the most emotionally draining weeks of the job yet. I had to report things to DFACS, worry about one of my sweet treasures, and pray to God that she would not be harmed by the evil around her. This usually ecstatic child started coming to school weepy and not on the ball, which was very unusual. The case is active, the Lord is working. I trust that when I cannot protect her, He will. 

I think about one of my favorite songs, "Faithful," when I look back on the week that has passed me by. 

"Faithful, You are faithful

I have found nothing but good in Your heart.

Loving, You are loving,

I am in love with the way that You are.

Thankful, I am thankful,

I had been running away on my own,

And then You found me,

Oh, how You loved me,

I know You'll never, 

Leave me alone."

When I was discouraged this week, God really brought me encouragement. He spurred me on when I had grown weary of doing good. I wrote on my mirror "You are my JOY" to remind myself that when my joy feels sapped by work, it is not really gone. Not gone at all. 

God gave me encouragement through co-workers, through my students, through friends praying for me, and for my special friend (hehe) bringing me coffee to help me get through the day (more than once). 

I had a sub one day this week and it was all the encouragement I needed to hear her say how mch the kids had grown and matured over the past three months. Almost my entire class was able to label all the southeastern states AND the six parts of Georgia on the first try with no help. . .and to think that at the beginning of the year they could not name our state. I am so proud of them. They are learning so much and really growing up. I am praying daily to put my trust in God that He will provide for them when they leave my school and move on. Watching those kids do great things gave me back my joy. 

My sweet treasure brought me the first apple I've ever actually received as a teacher on Friday. It was so cute. Those are the things that God brought me to show me that I can't give up, that I must press onward, that I have to stay under His wing and stay strong. God will care for the apple of His eye.

Lord, thank You for this wonderful thing that you've given me. Thank You. 

James 1:22-27:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."