Click Here For a Refill

The thing I was reminded most of in church on Sunday is that I have to praise God no matter what.  In fact, it will be in my darkest hour of need and question that my praises to God will do their greatest work. 

(Click here to read about the chain breaking praise of  Paul and Silas while they were in prison)  

You see, my verbal praise to God declares my allegiance to the one I call Savior.  His name is Jesus!   Moreover, my declarations of adoration lets the devil know that I am aware of and believe in the omnipotence, omniscient and omnipresent power of God and that frankly, he (the devil) "ain't got no power".  

So I am here today to help fill up your arsenal of praise by reminding you of four things.  

1.  Praise Him because He's God!

Click here for a reason to praise

2. Praise Him because He's good!

Click here for a reason to praise

3. Praise Him because He is giving!

Click here for a reason to praise

And last, but certainly not least,

4.  Praise Him because He is gracious!

It is my prayer that you and I both exalt God more than we exalt our situations.  Let us boldly proclaim God in all of His goodness and gracious giving.  I promise you, someone needs to hear it.

Any day this week that you come across what seems to be a debilitating situation, come back here for 

                                     

Have a great week.  

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Please enjoy this video as you prepare to educate His children this week.

Get Up!

OK! OK!  I know I've written a post before on Isaiah 60:1, but this verse was so on time this week that I had to explore it with you...again.

Some of the greatest singers of our times have sung song after song about taking action in the form of standing up.  In a call to dance, we've been told to not only "get up, get down and get on out of our seat", but to "get up, get down, get funky, and get loose".  On the opposite end of the spectrum, in a call to political action, we've been called to, "Get up. Stand up. Stand up for our rights." 
None, however, has written such a call as the the prophet Isaiah speaking to the children of Israel in Isaiah 60:1 when he said: 

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

 Think over your school year so far.  Have you been in a place of darkness about anything?  If so, it's time to get up!  It may be that school is just as fine as frog's hair split three ways, but your relationships, finances, or health need His light. The command is still the same, "Get up!" 

 How does getting up make everything better? Sound too easy?  Well, our obedience to God's command to stand positions us to see the arrival of His blessings so that we'll know without a shadow of a doubt that it was our Savior, Jesus who has performed the marvelous deeds in our lives.   Thus, I choose to hit the button and get up!  (Here's a great bible story to read this week on courage and obedience to do what God has destined for your life.)

When one looks at the translations of the words "arise, shine, light and glory" they truly can see influx of their covenental blessings.

Arise [ stand and be established in the word of God, be immovable, and steadfast in your mind and thus become powerful in Christ], shine [ be illuminated with His Spirit, let His word be a lamp to your feet and a delight to your soul], for your light [light of Life, God's instruction, His face towards you and the prosperity which comes from being a recipient of His love, Jesus in you, through you and for you] has come, and the glory [riches, splendour, dignity, reputation and weight of His honour] has risen upon you.

As we start this work week, let's do so full of His inspiration to go out and make a difference.  Our Savior is with us through it all. Take full advantage of what it means to be called of God.  He has predestined, individual assignments for each and every one of us and He will either provide the seed or the fruit  (or maybe even both) for us to glorify His name.  

Remember, it's our job to get up and go get it done! 


The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni



Oh, please enjoy this inspirational video.  It's sure to get you revved up for this week!

Images retrieved from: http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Get-on-Up#tab=summary

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060807005512/en/Staples-Brand-Icon-Noise---Staples-Sells

Go With the Flow and Ride the Wind

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to visit the Virginia Beach Oceanfront area with my family.  Since we didn't get a chance to spend any extended time at the beach this summer, I told myself that to make up for that, I would have to spend at least one morning on the beach greeting the Lord and His sunrise. 

Unfortunately, our first morning was cool, misty, overcast and the ocean was extremely rough. So instead of going down on the beach, I hung out on our balcony.  While  drinking my coffee, I saw a seagull hovering around our ninth story balcony. 

Truth be told, when they are not trying to take your Cheetos or chase you across a parking lot to get your ice cream cone ( childhood flashback...shudder), seagulls are actually inspirational to watch.  So I sipped and watched, sipped and watched, and noticed the most wonderful things.  

On that windy, wet day, the gulls did not fight the wind, but rode it with grace and agility.  If their goal was to go forward against the wind, they just hovered until the current was conducive for their progression. They would rise higher or descend with a few flaps of their wings.  Their hovering seemed effortless although the wind blew tirelessly in their faces.  

Then, as I tilted my coffee cup back to finish it off, something zoomed off to the right!  A seagull shot past me and went on his merry way.  "Wow", I thought, that gull is going faster in that direction.  

Our lives are just like that. When we make God our rear guard (Isaiah 58:8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth; Your righteousness will go before you [leading you to peace and prosperity], The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. success is eminent.  It is for us to let God push us forward as we shoot from faith to faith and glory to glory.

Educators, God never intended us to struggle in our own strength. Our struggle for things that are already promised to us and under His covenant are just a ridiculous as ...

When you study the Word of God, make note of His promises to YOU. As you learn these promises, your "blessed assurance" will strengthen your wings.

So, here's a promise to get you started for this week:

   Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11: 28-30 NLT

Whether you're having a wind in your face or wind in your back school year, God wants you to allow Him to lead and guide you. Trust Him with EVERYTHING.  There is nothing too insignificant or hard for Him.  Just go with the flow and ride the wind. 

The Lord is with you and you are love,

Toni

Please enjoy this song.  God is sovereign and nothing is too hard for Him.  Go with the flow and trust Him.

Images retrieved from:
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/backstage/343326-seagull-tries-save-friend-seagull-vs-eagle-2.html
http://xquatrox.deviantart.com/art/Seagull-in-the-sky-303943395

Back To the Future...in Your Bible

The bible is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best book ever written! What book do you know that can teach and guide you concerning your present, predict the future while telling a story from the past,...and is totally true?  

While you can't find the answer to evvvvvery question in the bible, (It won't tell you when your administrator is coming to observe you...but it does tell you to "watch ye therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape these things that shall come to pass...) you will find out how to access the One who gives wisdom for your questions and patience and peace to wait for the answers.  

It is vital to our very existence to be an avid reader of the Bible. What we read in the Bible is described as living, breathing, active and inspired by God. It's capable of cutting away all of life's unnecessary excess baggage, revealing truths and exposing lies. The Word of God is the air that we breathe. It is our spiritual food and drink.  It is Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  

So before school starts this week, we're going to do a little time travel in this great book. Ready?  Let's go..................................

Thankfully while reading the bible, you do not have to charge your "flux capacitor" with the 1.21 gigawatts necessary to replicate the nuclear reaction needed to transport you through time. A simple turning of the page will do.  So, let's travel to these three verses: Isaiah 11:2, 1 Corinthians 1:4,5,8, and Proverbs 1:7 for this week's inspiration.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on  Him (me) [emphasis mine] - because of His grace given me in Christ Jesus.  For in Him I have been enriched in every way,- the Spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord- in all my speaking and in all my knowledge. He will keep me strong to the end - , and I will delight in the fear (awe) of the Lord. - for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Having taken previous trips to books in the New Testament, I am aware that I am supposed to live as Jesus lived (1John 2:6) and that His Spirit lives within me. (1 Corinthians 3:16) Knowing these things allows me to confidently beleive that with God in my life, all things are possible.  I suggest that you read these verses to gain a better understanding of the responsibility and blessing you already possess as a believer and follower of Jesus.

Now, let's take a look at the week ahead and put those three verses in to perspective.  Because of God' grace and His Spirit resting on you, understand that you are enriched in every way.  As you teach and interact with your students, do so by following the Spirit of wisdom, getting understanding and being obedient to His counsel.  Remember God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.  Believe that the Spirit of knowledge will guide you in becoming a better educator.  You'll even speak better this week using His language of love.  Don't start this week with a dejected mind because God has promised to keep you strong to the end.  Delight in His omnipotence and holiness, for when you do, you will no longer just follow wisdom, it will dwell within you.

Have a blessed work week!

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni 

Images retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11198865/Time-travel-and-teleporting-a-reality-for-todays-children.html