Raise Your Hand to Walk or Talk

As a first grade teacher, I feel like I spend most of the day repeating directions. I am constantly saying, 'stay in your seat' and 'raise your hand.' The rules of the classroom are 'raise your hand to walk or talk.' Seems like after 100 or more days of school, one would think the students would start to get into the routine. But, at the ages of 6 and 7, some children are not quite ready to accept this responsibility. Most kids point the finger and get 'someone else' in trouble instead of dealing with themselves. It is a daily, more like hourly, battle to follow instructions and listen to the teacher. This results in disciplinary action, with the hope that students learn to follow the rules.

The more I ponder this quandary regarding the first graders, the more I think of the spiritual illustration in this scenario. For a teacher, the goal is to help students learn and grow to become independent responsible reading, writing, mathematical individuals. I can only imagine the frustration of a Holy God. At times, we behave like an irresponsible, intolerant, self-centered 6 year old! This can be expected from young children, they have to be taught. As a new Christian, I was similar to an infant learning to drink milk from a bottle and crawl. But, as an adult, we should be learning and growing by praying, reading God's Word, and becoming involved in a Bible study. As we mature in our relationship with God, we are learning to drink from a cup, eat with a fork and walk, so to speak. Eventually, with maturity comes serving, teaching and discipling others to grow in their relationship with God as well.

As you can imagine, students raise their hand and wave it in the air, trying not to make any noise, but letting out squeals and anxious noises, still trying their best to get the attention of the teacher any way they can. Impatiently, they wait and wiggle.

Can you see it? We do the same. We moan and groan, crying out to God, begging for His attention. What results, if we do not wait for Him, can be messy consequences.

God, the Teacher, has the ultimate patience with us. Raise your hand to walk or talk seems obvious to me now. We should be raising our hands and asking for Him to be in our every move. He is the One who knows what the future holds, the ultimate keeper of the classroom of life.

Even though it seems as though your hand has been in the air forever and you're tired of holding it up; even propping it up by the elbow with your other hand, the Teacher sees you. You will have to exercise patience, but He will not leave your request unanswered.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NAS
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.


Keep reaching for the Teacher and be encouraged, His ways are good!
m

You are Worth It!

I read a story in a magazine that made me so sad. It told of a celebrity and how her downward spiral with drugs and a scarcely thin body had landed her in the hospital. One of her close friends reported that the thing that scared this celebrity the most as she aged was fear of not being worth loving. My heart grieves.

On the flip side, this week, I overheard 2 volunteers at school talking as they worked in the workroom. One was telling the other about her son and his academic achievements. She was proud to share about her son! She wasn't being overly braggadocios, simply telling how well he had done for the purpose of encouraging the other mom to hang in there. I thought to myself, everyone should have someone who is that proud of them. If only we all had a cheerleader, or a proud parent to lift us up and tell others about our talents, we would all be more confident and have more self-worth.

Good news!! God is the One. He is so proud of His children, that He stretched out His arms to show us how much. No matter what your human upbringing, whether churched or unchurched, Christlike family or not, lovingly adored or just tolerated as a kid, God loves you. No place is too far for you to be out of His reach. You may have had wonderfully godly parents who filled you with value and confidence. Maybe you struggle daily with valuing yourself because you did not receive that affirmation during your growing up years.

I am telling you today, no matter the road you have come, God sent His One and only Son to die on a cross for you. You are worth it! Your life has meaning and purpose. If you had been the only one on earth, Jesus would have come and died for you. Don't let those negative words or lack of affirmations be the fuel for a downward spiral. Be filled with God's love and find your worth in HIM! He wants to be the Heavenly Father saying, 'I'm so proud of you! You are worth it!'

Love the words of the song...'Someone Worth Dying For' by Mikeschair

'You might be the wife, waiting up at night
You might be the man, struggling to provide feeling like it's hopeless
Maybe you're the son who chose a broken road
Maybe you're the girl thinking you'll end up alone
Praying God can you hear me? Oh, God are you listening?
Am I more than flesh and bone?
Am I really something beautiful?
Yeah, I want to believe, I want to believe that
I'm not just some wandering soul
That you don't see and you don't know
Yeah, I want to believe, Jesus help me believe
That I am someone worth dying for

I know you've heard the truth that God has set you free
But you think you're the one that grace could never reach
So you just keep asking, Oh, what everybody's asking
You're worth it, you can't earn it
Yeah, the cross has proven,
That you're sacred and blameless.
Your life has purpose'

The Message 'This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His One and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him , anyone can have a whole and lasting life.'

Amen.
Be encouraged, you are loved.

m

Interrupted!

Wednesday, race home from school, getting ready to go to church for a rehearsal, and the doorbell rings.
This has happened to you, I'm sure.
Solicitor, an interruption!
I'm thinking, 'Oh, good grief, I do not have time for this.'
As I open the door the very polite, well-dressed young man begins his spiel. In a split second, I stop him and ask what he is selling. In his best salesman's voice, he assures me this is not some kind of gimmick. He proceeds to tell me about his family in Detroit, Michigan and how the book and magazines sales help him support them.
Well, now I feel like a jerk.
So I start asking a few questions and listening to him.
Again, politely I say no thank you to what he is selling, only this time I ask his name. He introduces himself as Patrick and I ask if I can pray for him. He steps forward and his whole demeanor changes. He asks if I am a Christian. When I acknowledged that I was, he was very excited to tell me he was a Christian too. I prayed for Patrick, offered to fill his cup with a cold drink and he went on his way, thanking me and asking for continued prayer.

It's not really earth shattering. I didn't make him a bunch of money that day, but I offered encouragement and hope to a weary young man who is just trying to make a living. In the midst of my busy day, the interruption was worth it.

Anyone can be curt and rude. In a split second, a kind word can change that. It can happen for you, in the grocery store, bank drive-thru, restaurant or at your front door. Offer an encouraging word or even a prayer. Everyone needs a positive, hopeful word.

Choose kind words. An interruption to you, may turn someone else's day around.

m

Proverbs 15:1-4 MSG
A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense. God doesn’t miss a thing—He's alert to good and evil alike.
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.

Yep. Resolution.

Usually around this time of year, we are making resolutions.....lose weight, make smart food choices and exercise are probably at the top of most of our lists. Commercials blare and everyone is a buzz about weight loss. But I would like to challenge you to make a different kind of resolution this year. Now before you stop reading, just give me a chance to explain.

A resolution is defined as the act of resolving or determining a course of action. Resolving to do healthy things and take care of yourself are admirable things. I'm not saying don't take care of yourself! I would like to challenge you to consider an eternal resolution.

Make the decision, be determined to deepen your walk with God. Prioritize reading your Bible and praying, just as you would making a healthy grocery list or menu. Taking in spiritual food has eternal value. Going to church and being involved in a community of believers is essential to your walk with God. But let me admonish you....you will one day stand before God the Father and answer for your life....you, yourself, on your own. There will not be an opportunity to blame anyone else for your choices in life. SO, with that said, I am encouraging you to put knowing God at the top of your resolution list. He is the One who sent His Son, the Reason for the Season we celebrate and all those wonderful sayings that we have for Christmas....now let's get real. Do you know Him?

If you don't know Him, it is as simple as admitting that you are a sinner, we all are; believing that He came to die for your sins and rose from the dead....He did!! Confess that you need Jesus to be the Lord of your life.

Tell someone in your life that you have accepted Jesus....they should rejoice and help you find someone to disciple you.

Here are a few things you can do to strengthen your walk with God:
1. Read the Bible, start with the Gospels...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
2. Pray and journal...sometimes I write a lot, sometimes a little
3. Have at least 1 friend you can be accountable to about your faith, and when they ask you tough questions, don't balk...answer honestly because you give them permission!
4. Get involved in a church! Yes, churches are full of imperfect people, every one a sinner saved by grace. Do NOT expect perfection. You will be disappointed.

I believe if we would be as resolved or determined to really know and share Him as we are to lose a few pounds, that eternal influence will increase the line to stand before Him and receive eternal life.

m

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NRSV
To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas as you celebrate our Savior's birth.  The Bible tells us that the wise men followed the star to the place where Jesus had been born.  When they found Him, Matthew 2 says they were overjoyed.  One version says they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy and they bowed and worshipped Him, because they recognized He was the Messiah, the Christ-child, the One who was prophesied.  Then, when the wise men left, they had been warned in a dream not to return the same way they came.  There is a lesson here for us as well, when we find the One who saves us from our sins, we can never turn back down the road we once traveled.

He was born to us, He lived....God loved us so much, He sent Jesus, to be one of us.  He's the One who died for all.

Rejoice, worship Him, and walk a different road.

Merry Christmas with His love.

Missi, Brian, Katie-Beth and Peyton Schmelzenbach

Check Your Mirrors

Have you ever considered driving your car around in reverse? Imagine using your rearview mirror and navigating backward down the road! I know it sounds crazy, but some of us get stuck on this course going through life.

Think about the windshield. Of course, the windshield is wide and probably the most important piece of glass in your car. If your windshield is dirty or your view is blocked, you have no vision! You cannot go forward without being able to see where you are going. There is no way to maneuver a vehicle properly without looking through the windshield.

Consider, also, the rear view mirror. It is small and placed in just the right position to see behind you. The side view mirrors are similarly placed, just in the right position for you to scan for obstacles. These mirrors are for reflection, using them helps your peripheral vision, but you don't use them as your primary source.

Sometimes we get stuck looking behind us. We revel in the past or wallow in decisions made that are history. We cannot change these things. We need to check the mirrors for reflection and be grateful for our past. We can celebrate victories, learn from our mistakes and be willing to move forward.

As we move into the holiday season, be encouraged. The future is as wide open as your windshield! Check your mirrors and move forward.


Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

m

Ggrrr!

Sigh.
It's one of those days that I need to heed my own advice. I have heard myself complaining and grumbling. As a Pastor's wife, I cannot even tell you how many times I have said any number of these 'wise' words in attempt to encourage and lift wounded spirits, including my own!

Love God, love others.
We are saved to serve, not saved to sit.
We worship an audience of One, it doesn't matter what 'everyone' else is doing.
I know it seems like only a few do the work of many, but we still do it for Jesus!
Don't let someone else's poor attitude take you down too!
You can only be responsible to speak and live truth, you cannot be responsible for another's choice.
Think about the intentions of the person, I'm sure they didn't mean any harm.
Sometimes the best response is none at all.


In the Old Testament book of Exodus, Moses was leading the people of Israel out of slavery from Egypt. During that time of wandering in the desert, the Lord provided for every need of His people. Yet, they still grumbled and complained. The Hebrew word used for 'grumble' actually means to lodge, stop over, pass the night, to abide. Wow...so grumbling stops the action of moving forward. When we grumble or complain, we cease being effective in our walk with God.

We are all guilty. But we can start fresh! We can stop grumbling and start praising God for His provision. It's almost time for Thanksgiving....make a list. Be grateful.

I'm speaking to myself today, but maybe you need to hear this word too.
I have grumbled long enough. I wonder what I will become if I pray and praise instead of grumble and complain.

God provides. Be willing to receive and praise Him.

m