Offering Grace

What started out as offering to help a particular senior complete his graduation credits has turned into several weekends of my life working with 10 to 20 seniors in danger of not graduating. Now, this weekend was unique because I had a teacher who offered to come and spend his afternoon with them so I wouldn't have to. How cool is that! I didn't ask - he just offered.

It's been a real unique experience for me. I haven't had four year to get to know these students. Nor have I been here long enough to build a relationship with them; however, they trust me to be there when they need me. They are checking in with me daily to tell me how far along they are. Last night, was prom and they made a point to give me a hug or shake my hand and thank me for being there for them.

I could have been mad because they didn't do what they were supposed to do in class and had to do an alternative course of study to get finished. I could have been judgmental and told them there were no other option except coming to summer school since they messed up their regular semester grades. Instead, I offered grace and an opportunity to do it on the weekends so they could get their regular work done during the week.

Ephesians 4:32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

How many times a day do you get the opportunity to choose a different reaction to a situation?

Your children may be fighting with each other and you yell for them to stop (like I do at times). What if you simply distract them with another option and not get upset or mention the fighting.

Your husband failed to call to tell you he was running late and you get upset that he is not available to help get the kids to their after school activities. What if you simply took care of the kids and let him catch his breath after a busy day.

I know it's not easy to make these choices. I fail to do them as much as I could. But I have seen how much of an impact it has had on these seniors. If we are trying to be Christlike, then we also have to offer grace.

Little Things

I have a administrative assistant, who goes above and beyond to help me get my job done and help with my children when needed. She takes David to baseball practice after school, when I am still knee deep in work. She picks up lunch for me, when I can't take a break to go and get it myself. She is also going through a lot of personal trauma with a messy divorce that had her leaving her children behind in order to save her life. Now, as she tries to get time with her children, there are lots of days that the world seems to be crashing down around her. Her vehicle as been out of commission with an alternator problem so some days she doesn't get a ride home until after 5 p.m. and she clocks out at 3:30 p.m. I have taken the time to give her rides, to take her with me to watch David's ballgames and to give little gifts to make her day.

I know those of you who read this blog will keep her in your prayers. She needs to be lifted up. She needs to know she does a good job. She needs to know there is hope. She needs to know that someone will do little things for her when needed.

Do you have someone in your life, that seems to be dealing with personal crisis? This would be a perfect opportunity for you to do little things that would make a difference in their lives. What can you do tomorrow to make someones day? Remember - Little things can make a big difference especially if someone is living without hope.

Getting Personal with Proverbs 2

Yesterday, I left off at verse eight of Proverbs. I have not made much progress, but that is okay. I have a bad habit of reading the bible for quanitity, rather than quality. You know, you feel real spiritual when you have read 2 chapters in the bible right. My goal is to not get in a hurry with the Word right now.

As I read today, my spirit stops at verse eleven. Wise choices will watch over you, understanding will keep you safe. Starting today, I tried to reenergize my efforts to get healthy. I tried to start out manageable. No sodas and no carbs after 5:00. So far so good, I do need to spend some time on the treadmill this evening. It has really been a struggle to exercise lately. Did that say, wise choices will watch over you!

Now the second part, understanding will keep you safe. As I was watching the CBS news this evening I saw a disturbing report on Psychics and how that in the turmoil of the recent economy, business is booming. People are scared and they are searching for understanding of what is happening around them. Our society has gotten so far away from church and its Christian roots that people are turning to Psychics. They showed the psychics working with tarrot cards and posters of the Hindu gods in the background. Be careful where you consult for truths. Remember the Egyptian magicians had a form of power and could do works, but had no answers when God turned up the heat and showed them the power of the one true God. When I watch the news and listen to reports of doom and gloom it is tough to remain optimistic and I can feel fear trying to take root. But if I have the understanding that prosperity is found only in Jesus and regardless of what happens here on Earth, It is up to me to be still and know that He is God. Understanding will keep you safe.

My service needs to be to my wife for awhile. I need to fireproof my marriage.

Just food for thought.

God Bless and Good Night

Mark

More Proverbs 2

First, happy Easter and He is risen indeed. The world is actually okay with the cross, it’s the resurrection that haunts them. See if the cross was the end, then the world succeeded in discrediting him, they could finally shut him up. But that resurrection thing just want go away. From the moment it happened the world has circulated stories about how the story is not true. But the testimony of the new church itself begs to differ. Yes it is true and yes He is risen indeed.

Now back to Proverbs Chapter Two. Starting in verse two, God says tune your ears, concentrate on understanding, cry out, and ask for, search for them, and seek them. All of these are verbs. See God starts by telling us this takes effort on our part. The modern Christian, spends a lot of time waiting on God or praying for God to intervene, instead of stepping out in Faith and letting God match our action. God gave the Israelites Canaan, but they had to GO and take it. If we are going to find wisdom, if we are going to live a better life, then we have to GO and find it and then apply it to our lives. Father, help us to seek your wisdom and then give us the follow through to apply it to our lives, In Jesus Name we pray Amen.

God goes on to say that if you will do, you will find. First, you will find out what it means to fear the Lord. Then you will gain the knowledge of God. For God tells us he will grant wisdom and from the mouth of those who seek God will come knowledge and understanding. Verse 7, is nothing short of awesome, God grants the treasure of common sense to the honest, He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. Awesome right, there is more, He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Why is all that so awesome, because I believe the Word of God. I believe the promises of God are yes and amen. See if we will seek wisdom, and more specifically Godly wisdom from the Word of God, it can and will change our lives.

 I don't know about you, but I have been on a roller coaster lately, doing some things well and going through periods where I do well, and then periods where I get lazy, just survive, and make poor choices, particularly when it comes to my health. I pray that as spring arrives and turns into summer that I make better choices, and that I seek after and then apply the wisdom that God has laid out for me here in His Word. I pray theses things for me and you in the name of Jesus!

God Bless,

 

Coach J

Proverbs Two

My child listen to what I say and treasure my commands. I am not sure I can get past this first verse tonight. First our father calls us his child, or more correctly in Hebrew my son. So the maker of the universe wants an intimate relationship with us. Did that sink in or did you just read it and move on. God almighty, the maker of the universe, who brought Egypt the greatest civilization on the planet to her knees to free His people. The God who flattened the walls of Jericho so that his people could walk in and conquer them. The God who has made the Bible the best selling book of all time and the most documented ancient manuscript in the world. Yes that God, wants a relationship with you and not just a distant one, but an intimate one. The Father wants us to listen to what he says. Now that's where I fail on a daily basis. Maybe you don't, but I must admit, I do. How do I do that? I do it by getting so wrapped up in my daily routine, that I do not stop to listen. I go and go and go. I do and do and do. And I became more and more self centered. Father God, forgive me for being self absorbed and to do list bound. Help me to learn to listen and be spirit bound because maybe your plans for me are different than what is on my to do list. You are a good and holy God. In Jesus Name I pray Amen. God desires that we treasure His commands. Simply, is the Word of God important in our lives. Do we take time to spend in His Word? Do we heed His Word and make decisions based on His Word? Proverbs are important because they contain His commands. True treasure, true wealth, and true knowledge are found in his word. We need to not only comprehend that, but act like it. God Bless and have a blessed night. Coach J

Wrapping Up Proverbs One

Wisdom shouts in the streets. God is calling out and His ways are higher than our ways. We live in an age of knowledge and information. The Gospel is more readily available than at any time in the history of the world. Christian television, the internet, Christian Radio, books and the list goes on makes the knowledge of Christ, the Truth available to anyone who wants to hear it. How irritated must God be with us. Thank God, He is a God of patience and grace. But hear the irritation here in Proverbs, "How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? Then hear the heartbeat of God right after that. "Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise." Unsure times, crazy world, and yet the WORD is still there, has not changed and is ever powerful. It's a choice. A choice between living a life of self fulfillment or life as a bond servant of Christ. See that's the problem in America is everybody is searching for self fulfillment and always fall short and live in a state of frustration because nothing fulfills the desires of the flesh. The desires of the flesh are never ending and seek to constantly consume. The other choice sounds crazy to the world. A bond servant of Christ. See the motivation changes, you are no longer motivated by feeding your flesh and seeking your own glory. You motivation becomes to glorify Christ. It no longer becomes about me, it becomes about Christ, because you are his servant, you are bonded to Him. Anything you do, you do that he may be glorified. It is a paradigm shift. God ends Proverbs Chapter 1 with these words: "Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. For simpletons turn away from me -- to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. BUT all who listen to me will live in peace. Untroubled by fear of harm" Pretty clear isn't He? God is like that, He speaks His mind, gives clear alternatives and then lets us choose. Proverbs Two will be here soon. God Bless, Coach J

Offering to Help

There comes a time in any student's life when the world around them is so enticing that they lose sight of reality and get caught up in what could be. We have several seniors that have basically lost their way and may not be able to finish their credits before the deadline of May 2nd. I've listened to their sad stories of how they got a job and didn't have time to do their school work. Others simply struggle to understand the concepts of certain courses and need to find a way to understand the minimum objectives to get a passing grade. With that being said, I knew I had to step in and offer some of my "free" time to help these guys get back on track. I have several students, who have taken me up on the offer, and are beginning to work on what we call "credit recovery" with me being there to supervise and offer assistance whenever they get stuck. These guys typically don't know me as I haven't been an administrator in the district very long. It's hard for them to understand someone giving up their time to come and help them, when that person doesn't know them. I have tried to put myself out there as someone willing to go to any length to help.

It's part of the Love God, Love Others and Serve the World theme of this whole project and has become a part of our family's world and day-to-day existence.

I challenge those of you, who read this blog, to do the same. Find ways to serve others. Make it a part of your life. You will be changed from the inside out.