A Set Apart School Year -Pt.2

My mom is a very adventurous cook. She loves finding and creating new spices, sauces, and flavor combinations.  I gladly accept the position of taste tester awaiting a new taste bud sensation. Sometimes she shoves a spoon in my mouth or a jar in my hand and says, "Taste this." Sometimes, however, she gives me something and says, "Taste this and tell me what's missing". The bible says, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!"  I definitely got a good taste yesterday as He dropped that word about it being a set apart school year (read that blog here).  But I also got the feeling that the message wasn't fully complete...

tell me what's missing... tugged at me as I typed.

Experiencing a set apart school year is an awesome thing, one that I personally experienced last year after several years of teaching trauma that nearly pushed me mentally, spiritually, and physically out of the ministry of teaching.  Yes, what we do is a ministry as we co-labor with Christ to advance His Kingdom into the field of education (see 1Corinthians 3:9).  Broken hearts, broken homes, and our broken educational system needs men and women who operate in the power and authority Jesus gave to us.  But how does one get to that kind of school year in the midst of the current state of education? What's missing? 

For one to experience a set apart year, there must first exists something in which God want you to be or experience a marked difference from. Do you remember how God told Pharaoh that the Children of Israel wouldn't have to deal with the upcoming plague and from that point on, He would set their land apart from Egypt? (Exodus 8: 22)  As Pharaoh looked over the plague situation, I can only image him saying, "Plague, shmague.  If they can deal with it, so can I. This is just a series of unfortunate events, it's not the work of their God. They have to endure the stench, thirst, deafening sound of croaking, personal space invasion, and the irritating itching from the lice just like everybody else!"  

As the Apostle Paul explains to Timothy, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" and "You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2: 1, 3 NKJV)  Another translation, The Voice, says it this way, "be empowered by the grace that is in Jesus, the Anointed One" and "As a good soldier of Jesus the Anointed, be ready to suffer with me."    The truth of having to suffer sometimes gets left out of messages because in all reality, who wants to hear that? But in this truth, God does sometimes call us to suffer (He's allowed to because He is the Potter and we are the clay) to showcase His glory to those who are otherwise blind to it. 

Educators all over this country are crying out.  While we should cry out to those who are supposed to help us i.e. school boards, unions, and local and state governments, our loudest and most direct cries
should be to only One who can deliver and shift the situation for the better.  Because if God promises you that He's got you, then He's got you. Periodt! 

However, this past year for me started out verifying just why I wanted to leave the profession. I had been crying out for years! It seemed to be just as with The Children of Israel, things kept getting worse although the truth of being set apart and delivered was woven in and throughout His word to me. 

I learned that God's purpose in setting us apart can be likened to an adventurous journey. He maps it with beautiful winding pathways of His grace and mercy. While at other times, straight roads lay before us in which  progression is conditional on our obedience to His word. 

As the school year began to move beyond those first three months, things began to shift. I was moved from a tiny classroom with no windows to a larger one with eight windows! Disruptions in instruction due to student behavior decreased dramatically.  Then He answered my hearts desire...He restored my joy in teaching!  Thank You Lord!  You see, the situations that cause frustration were still there.  The stresses of teaching were still there, but it didn't touch me like it was touching others because He was my shield, my protecting wall, my covering.  He had drawn a line in the sand!

So as you begin this school year, believe God for a set apart year so that He may get the glory.  Pray to Him that your attitude, your responses, your love, and even your blessings may cause others to marvel at the God you serve and thus seek to serve Him as well.  Endure what He ordains for you and wait for the line to be drawn! Pray that He would also set apart your students, your families, your school, and the surrounding community. Pray that He would set apart your city, your state, and our nation.

Here are some scriptures to meditate on if you're desiring to be set apart.

Set apart peace?  Read Philippians 4: 6-7

Set apart patience?  Read James 1: 2-4

Set apart placement? Read Psalm 16: 5-8

Set part promotion?  Read 1 Peter 5: 6-7

Have a blessed year!!!! 

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Photo credits: 

https://www.stocksy.com/2268425/woman-tasting-sauce-with-spoon

https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/periodt/

https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/2-timothy-2-7

A Set Apart School Year Pt.1

Many of you know the events surrounding the ten plagues of Egypt as God prepared to deliver His people from bondage.  The early part of the book of Exodus lays out this turbulent and uncertain time for the Children of Israel as they await their deliverance with hesitancy in Moses as their deliverer, an increased workload from Pharaoh, and to make matter worse bloody water, frogs everywhere, and lice!  

In the field of education, things haven't looked too different in the past few years as we grappled with the pandemic and its many after effects. There was much hesitancy with following the new virtual trends, policies, and shifts in curriculum. The workload and demands on educators and administrators have increased and Covid has infiltrated every aspect of our daily lives. 

Did you notice is that I only mentioned three of the ten plagues?  In the book of Exodus chapter eight verses 22-23 God speaks to Moses and says,  "And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people.  Tomorrow this sign shall be".  Verse twenty-four verifies it with, "And the Lord did so."  After the third plague, God drew a line in the sand and made a distinct show of protection over His chosen people. From then on, until the tenth plague, whatever occurred would have not have the ability to touch them.  

So it is my prayer this school year that Jesus draws a double line for you so that YOUR school, YOUR faculty and staff, YOUR students, YOUR parents, YOUR neighborhoods, YOUR bus drivers, YOUR programs, YOUR families, YOUR health, and YOUR finances will experience a set apart school year overflowing with the heavenly outpouring of love, peace, joy, transformation, protection, favor, wisdom, patience, success, creativity, healing, and unity!  No matter what else is going on negatively in education, make this declaration your own and stand on His promises concerning you. 

Declare that YOUR school and everything attached to it will experience God's favor this year.  Have a blessed school year! 

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Part 2 blog post

Photo credit: https://iamtraffic.org/engineering/crossing-double-yellow-line/

A Prayer for our Superintendents

 Dear Heavenly Father,

You are our omnipotent ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Your love is perfect, Your wisdom is perfect because You are perfect in all Your ways. Thank You for Holy Spirit for being our Counselor,  Comforter,and the One who leads and guides us in all truth. Your word said that "prayers, petitions, intercession and thanksgiving should be made for all people- for kings and those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness".  So I lift up to You the superintendents of region two here in Virginia: 

Dr. John Gordon III - Suffolk
Dr. Elie Bracy - Portsmouth

Dr. Jared Cotton - Chesapeake

Dr. Aaron Spence - Virginia Beach

Dr. Sharon Byrdsong - Norfolk

Dr. Tamara Sterling - Franklin

Dr. Jeffry Smith - Hampton

Dr. James Thorton - Isle of Wight County

Dr. George Parker - Newport News

Mr. Arty Tillet - Poquoson

Dr. Gwendolyn Shannon  - Southampton County

Dr. Olwen Herron - Williamsburg/James City County

Dr. Victor Shandor - York County

Mr. Charles Lawrence - Northampton County

Mr. Chris Holland - Accomack County

As I lift them up by name, Jesus have mercy on them because the weight of their job has greatly increased and they need Your help.  First Lord, may they learn to or continue to seek You first in all things understandng that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  In all of their getting, may they get understanding because wisdom, that heavenly wisdom from above, is the principal thing. May they ask You for wisdom and believe that You will give it to them. Open the eyes of their understanding and their ears that they may see each situation through Your eyes and clearly hear Your voice through every decision proceess. Silence the lips of the enemy, the naysayers, and those who critize without full knowledge of the truth.  Bless them with the fruit of Your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Now Lord, please protect their health in these times.  Ease their burdens so they can rest, physically and mentally.  I rebuke stress induced heart attacks, strokes, anxiety, and depression from not only them, but those who work directly with them.  May the healing blood of Jesus protect and keep every system of their body and bless them with the strength they need for each day.  Shift their workload so that taking a sabbath rest every week does not seem unrealist to them.  Shift their workload so that they can spend quality time with their family without feeling like they have to choose between getting work done and being a good father, mother, wife, or husband.  Strengthen their families Jesus and send  peace, understanding, and joy from above to their households. 

Finally, Jesus, I ask that You would cover and surround the cities and county where they work. May your angels stand guard around every school and every household of each employee and student. Bless their cities and counties with love in the homes, patience and compassion between teachers, parents, and students, and fervent unified prayer from the people of God. "May they seek the peace and prosperity of their city or county and pray to You for it, because if it prospers, they will propser."  Surround each superintendent with those who will stand in prayer for them and with them. Surround them with people who will hold them to high standards of virtue and integrity.  Surround them with Godly mentors and friends.  More importantly, surround them with Your presence. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen

image retreived from: https://blessedsacramentonline.org/ministries/prayer-ministryprayer-request/

A Five Piece Nugget from the Lord

It amazes me now how a Friday at home use to mean an extended weekend due to a special occasion of some sort for myself or the family.  A Friday at school was always our work hard, play hard day (Yay Fun Friday).  But now, Friday has lost its oomph and pull as the most popular day of the workweek since many of us don’t have a normal work week anymore.

COVID-19 pandemic has turned the field of education on a topsy-turvy spin like no other.  Shut down districts have been thrust into distant-learning teaching and learning practices.  This shift has had a varied effect on educators and schools as it pertains to, meeting student's physical and social needs and of course the availability of technological learning opportunities in rural, urban and suburban communities.

To be honest, some teachers are working harder than before as they strain to make sure their students are still progressing. My husband, who teaches on both the high school and college-level puts in a full day holding Zoom meetings, sending emails, making calls, grading papers, and creating and uploading assignments.   On the flip side, some teachers, myself included,  can only do so much as they are limited by a lack of internet access for all of their students.  

To be even more transparent, some educators needed this time away.  For them, it truly has been a rough year and they wished every day were the last day.  One thing we all had in common prior to this, however, was that our workloads only increased and the sacrifices of time and money to make a difference was the expected norm.  

But that the time we sacrificed often came at a price, especially if you had a family at home. It is difficult to give your all to your family, your job, and yourself.  Our days would start early and end late as we sped out the house, put on the six million hats we're required to wear at work, then head off to practice, church, civic group, a second job, or to help our kids with homework, prepare dinner, finish up school work, and then get ready to start it all over again for the next day.  Burning the candle at both ends never has a happy ending.  Somebody or something always pays the price.

When I look back over the twenty-three years I've been in the classroom, I can see those years where my marriage suffered, my parenting suffered, I suffered, and my teaching suffered because I had too much on my plate or just didn't have my priorities in check. Therefore, right now, I am so thankful for this time I have at home.

I did not always feel this way. Due to some heath issues earlier this school year, I was “sheltered in place" and unemployed.  It was no one's fault. It was unexpected and I had no idea what the future held for me. I had boo coo time on my hands and the house pretty much to myself until my family returned at the end of the day.  I couldn't really go anywhere because my health would not allow it.  I didn’t like the uncertainty and helplessness I felt.  

 Now, with this pandemic, the only thing that's different is that my family and I are together.  It's yet another unexpected shut down for me that is no one’s fault.  I still can't really do much of anything (because everything is closed), and I again have a share fair of spare time on our hands.  I feel like I'm in some sort of perpetual Spring Break Groundhog's Day kinda life.  Oh, I’m not complaining.  I’m just keenly aware that sometimes I need more time and a do-over to get things right.  Sometimes these do-overs are just for me, and sometimes God takes me through things twice so that I can confidently walk with others pointing out the potholes and paths for them NOT to take.

Last night, after seeing a “fend for yourself” look in my eyes, my middle kid asked if she could pop the rest of some nuggets in the oven for dinner.  I gave her a quick yes not because it meant less work for me, but because I couldn’t wait to pop one of those delicious morsels into my mouth.  PSA…If you like Chick-Fil-a nuggets (and I do), then you will looove the Southern Style Chicken Bites from Sam’s Club. I came across them for the first time about a week or two ago. You can now have that Chick-Fil-A satisfaction on a Sunday from the comforts of your own home although, you may have to improve your kitchen customer service and your assortment of sauces to get the full effect.

Today, God gave me some nuggets of wisdom to share with you since I ate up the chicken kind.   You see, God’s in the business of giving things to us that we know nothing about.   He knows that our end result will be fullness in Him and expects us to share our experiences with others.  The time He gave me, you now have.  The lessons I learned and are still evolving in, you now have the opportunity to grow in them too.

Now I don’t want you to think I’m making lite of the effects of this pandemic on anyone.  It is stressful to not know how bills are going to be paid or how groceries are going to be bought. I understand.  It's a kick to your pride when you have to tell your kids no to things you've always said yes to. Been there. Calls have to be made to cancel subscriptions and future plans are scratched as you now eyeball things to see if you could get one more use from what was easily wasted before. Did that.  I understand educators who may feel like the field is changing too fast for them to keep up and they feel outdated and just plain tired and unsure about going back to work when this is all over.   I know.  But I held His hand and came out...better.

It's all because God gave me these nuggets:

Questioning

Reflecting

Crying 

Repenting

Repeating     

I also do not want to assume that this pandemic is stressing you out.  As I said before, some educators welcome this time. They are having the time of their life. My health issue led me out of what I know was going to be the most challenging school year of my life.  My first time at home sitting at home was not all full of despair. Even with all of its uncertainties, it was a blessing.  I am a better person for it. My family is better for it.  

And yet even in those days of peace, God still wanted me to partake of these nuggets:

Questioning

Reflecting

Crying

Repenting

and Repeating

As a Christian, our first and foremost devotion is to God and let's face it, sometimes we put everything else in front of Him because...well, He's not going anywhere.  He'll be there and He'll forgive us.  While that may be true, living our lives without our Sovereign God at the helm has its consequences!  Everything about us will be less than what He desired and designed.  So no matter how you feel about being home right now, God has a plan for you to be a better person, a better spouse, a better parent, a better teacher, a better member of your congregation, a better whatever He needs you to be when this is all over. 

Don’t forget to click on the hyperlinks.  That’s where I hid the dipping sauce.

Nugget #1:  Question

In prayer, ask Him questions.  

Does my life please You?  Does my marriage please you?  Does my parenting please you? Why did my school year go the way it did?  Does my attitude please You?   Do my thoughts please You?  Am I attending church for the right reason?  What's going to happen next?  Why is all this happening?  What's Your part in all of this?  What's my part in all of this? 

Then be prepared to receive answers as you slowly digest another nugget.

Nugget #2: Reflection

In meditation, read the bible and listen for His voice.  You have the time, now make it a point to read His word every day.  Need a starting point? Choose a good bible app, I use YouVersion.  Start one of their daily plans. They have tons of them (with reminders!) that can guide you through the Word of God for any area of life.  There are also many websites that provide bible studies with videos and study guides.  Check out Biblestudytools.com and utilize Right Now Media’s  free COVID-19 sign up period.  As you read, listen for God's voice. He is always speaking to us in one way or another even when we feel like He’s silent. 

Nugget #3 Cry

I put this in here because it is necessary.  We are human and we feel emotions.  I cried a lot during my time of reflection and meditation.  I cried a lot afterward.  I cried angry tears and scared tears.  I cried apologetic tears and thankful tears.  When truths began to be unearthed, whether they are good or bad, your emotions may just spill over into your eyes. Tears are refreshing and help to remove layers so that God can get to work.

Nugget #4: Repent

 Jesus spoke with His disciples prior to His crucifixion about the coming of His Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is available to teach us, comfort us and counsel us. [John 14: 16-18, 25-27 and 16:5-15] and God’s word, when it is read with the purpose of understanding His ways, will do just what it promises as it instructs, convict, corrects and trains us. Self-reflection through God’s word should always lead us to an acknowledgment that our ways, actions, thoughts, and words are not up to God’s standards. The Holy Spirit will point this out to us. 
True repentance not only acknowledges your faults, but apologizes for them and does an “about-face” turn. The Holy Spirit helps us to make that turn because we can't truly change without God's divine assistance. True repentance also realizes that forgiveness is necessary, only comes from a loving and holy God and is complete.  Jesus removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. His forgiveness is final. Hallelujah!

Nugget #5 Repeat

Well, you prayed, learned something about yourself, cried about it, repented and probably cried some more.  It just starts over, like a never-ending bowl of pasta.  Oh wow, what if Chick-Fil-A had never-ending nugget bowls?!   I digress…

Our walk with God is a never-ending progression towards becoming more like Jesus.  There is always room for improvement and God is always working on us, in us and through us.

As you take your nugget bowl up for another five-piece refill, ask another question. Reflect on your life through His word as you look for the answer. Be honest with yourself as God pulls back areas of your life that expose a need to improve or a reason to rejoice and cry out to Him. Repent of doing things your way and repeat the process all over again.

The Apostle Paul said it best in Philippians 3:12 _AMP , “ Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.”

When this season is over, there will arise a group of people who are refined and ready. It will be because they took advantage of this time to actively press towards God. They will look different.  They will sound different.  They will live different.  Will you be one of them?

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Image nuggets of wisdom source: http://www.savedhealed.com/nuggets.htm

The Good Book and a Few Others

Repost from April 2015

When have you ever seen a group of educators sit around for a few hours and not start talking about a book they are reading?  Even more, Believers are always sharing their latest eye-opening book with each other.
So what do you get when you put Believers who are educators together, with food and an agenda for prayer?  You'll get a book list!

I would like to share with you the book path which led me to being involved with prayer in my school, hosting a prayer breakfast and even writing my own book.  These books caused me to acknowledge God as my Sovereign Creator who designed and destined me for more than what I ever thought possible.

Great Books For You To Read If You Want To Truly Make A Difference:


It's the best book ever! Need I say more?!

These next three books come from a series called The Breakthrough Series.  I seriously encourage you to read these books and complete the study guides that come with them.  Each book is a journey of self reflection that should, like a favorite vacation spot, be revisited  every year.

Stormie Omartian and Cindy Trimm are amazing God fearing women who will lead you deeper into your relationship with God through engaging and productive conversations with our Heavenly Father that we simply call "prayer".  Your prayer language will definitely change and you will learn to apply the Word of God in assurance with conviction and power during your prayers,

 The following books were key in opening my eyes to the truth about my destiny.  These authors speak directly to the question of "Why am I here?"  They give testimony to the creative love in which God designed your very being down to the workings of your brain.  They teach on how we are to expand the Kingdom of God.  You will truly understand that God has given you the world to impact.

This is the order in which I read these next four books.  The body of Christ has given so much power over to satan and he has taken it and ran.  These books expose the tactics of the enemy to trick you into thinking your good works at church are enough.  If you truly want to change the world with the gifts of God placed inside of you, read these books!

 I haven't read these yet. So if you get to them first, please share what you think.

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Dear Virginia Educator...It's not over. You can still make a difference.

Dear Virginia Educator,

Today our governor announced that schools in Virginia are to remain closed for the remainder of the school year.  This has begun a ripple effect of questions and varied emotions that span across our Commonwealth.

Many educators are devastated because not only will they not have a chance of seeing their students again, but because they know that many of their students will no longer have the much-needed respite of stability and safety that school brings to their lives.  

While it is still too early to know how each individual school system will respond to this and how this will affect our students in a short term and long term sense,  the best thing for those of us who are not involved in the decision-making process is to pray for those who are.

But before I submit a prayer for us to pray together, I ask you to determine to pray independently as James 5:16 says, "effectually and fervently".  That means to pray continually so that you "successfully produce a desired or intended result".  James also states that this prayer is successful not only because it is prayed fervently but because it is prayed by a righteous person.  The time is now for us to examine ourselves by God's standards.  Why is this important? Well, if it's the key to having our prayers answered, then it is very important.  

There are many things that are being closed... things that have been deemed "over". Every hat that we have worn is now stripped away. While it can be very liberating for some, it can also evoke feelings of powerlessness and helplessness.  For many of us, we now will only have a responsibility to God, ourselves and our immediate family.  We want our prayers heard, not only for our students but for our own families. Take this time to delve into God like never before!  In Him will be the answers to how you can still make an impact on your students. In Him will be specific prayers for each of your students that will bless their lives.  Take this time to delve into God like never before!  In Him will be the answers to how to make up for lost time with your spouse, children, or attend to some self-care.

Determine, not only for yourself but for your family and your students, to draw closer to God.  Because if you do, WHEN you return to the classroom, you will be all the better for it. If you do, the atmosphere of your home will change and your entire family will be the better for it.  You love your students?  You love your family?   Pray effectually, fervently, and from a righteous heart. 


Father God in the name of Jesus,

We come before you now acknowledging You as our sovereign and benevolent God.  You know our end from our beginning and You have every aspect of this pandemic under Your control.  
We lift up before you every educator whose heart is breaking for their students right now. You know every home life situation of those we teach and nurture.  You know the physical, emotional, mental, and academic needs of every child in this state.  You know the limitations of parents and guardians, school systems, and local governments to meet those needs right now. Jesus, we pray a hedge of protection around those students who face abuse, food for those who face hunger, affection for those who face neglect, comfort, and stability for those who face uncertainty, and courage for those who are thrust in the role of caretaker for the younger siblings.
Refresh each and every educator in Your word and Holy Spirit. Teach us how to pray.  Help our unbelief.  Strengthen, protect, and heal our families, our marriages, our kids.  Be our present help in this time of need. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen


Please consider listening to this song entitled, " Be Still and Know" by Julie True.  There are no lyrics.  Just find a quiet place, listen, and breathe...

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

The Truth About the New Year (part 4 in the revival series)

The New Year for some is a time to press the reset button.  Diets are started, resolutions made, work-out clothes and equipment purchased, and exercise classes started.  For others, the first of January is just another day since their “year” revolves around something entirely different such as a school calendar or even a financial calendar.  

Self-help folks and even those behind the pulpit look to the numerical imagery of our new year 2020, and equate it with the year to have 20/20 vision; changing your outlook, seeing things, or even yourself clearly, grasping a vision and focusing more on self, family, and God. 

But let’s look at the New Year through God’s word.  In all actually, His calendar new year and when the push of our “reset button” are two totally different times from when the Gregorian calendar designates our new beginning!  

Sidebar lesson:  - Exodus 12: 2 shows God’s introduction of His calendar to the Children of Israel. This calendar revolves around the cycle of the moon instead of the sun.  It also has specially designated days for collective worship called holy days (Leviticus 23),. The last three holy days which occur in the fall, Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) have an amazing spiritual and historical significance. It is at the start of Rosh Hashanah, also dubbed “the head of the year”, that our spiritual reset button should actually be pressed.  The three fall observances are marked by collective worship, reflection and repentance, and great celebration which occurs over a course of about three weeks.  God too, also numbers His years. Since each letter of the Hebraic alphabet has a numeric value and meaning of their own, with each year comes a new spiritual meaning.  (Seriously, when you have time study this for yourself. It’s awesome!)

So, back in October, God’s new year actually started!  This year is numbered 5780. It too is also the start of a new decade. However, the focus is not on our eyes and seeing, but on our mouths and speaking (80 signifies the mouth either open or shut, voice, speaking)!  In all actuality, the seeing decade was the last decade. It not that God has moved on and left that behind, but that He’s calling us to pay more attention to what He is saying (His voice) and learning when, where, and how to be His mouthpiece. 

So, are we just supposed to throw the whole 20/20 stuff out of the window? No! It is still important.  We always need to stop and take an account of how we’re doing, make changes and move on, so let’s break this thing down. 

God’s calendar says to focus on what is coming out of His mouth and ours.

Man’s calendar says to focus on seeing things clearly and perfectly.

God’s calendar says to listen for His voice and speak boldly about Him.

Man’s calendar says look intently and see things for what they really are. 

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

John 10:27

You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Matthew 5:14, 16

(Did you get the play on colors?  Blue and red make purple...)

If we start with hearing His voice, strengthening our relationship with Jesus through prayer (which is a two-way communication) and then follow obediently after Him, we will shine brightly as His light.  Aaaaaannnndd if we are shining brightly as His light, then those who do not follow Him can see the benefits of living for Jesus.

You see, it’s not really about us getting 20/20 vision.  This time, this new year, this new decade is about God’s people being able to be seen and recognized for being a set-apart people for God. 

What helps people see in the darkness of night?  The reflection of the sun off of a full moon.  That’s what we’re supposed to do.  We’re not the greater light. We’re not God. But we are, however,  supposed to shine in the darkness of this world reflecting His light. 

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.   

Ephesians 5:8

As this revival series (part1, part 2, part 3) comes to a close, I urge you to read through this collection of scriptures I got from my Sunday school book, and any others you can find, on how we can help those who cannot see Jesus clearly perfect their vision just looking through the lenses of our lives. How will the world know we’re not just good people, but that we are God’s people?

• By our fruits (lasting effective, seed-bearing work we do for God)     Matthew 7: 15-20      
• By our character                                                          Colossians 3:10-17
• By our confession of Jesus                                          1 John 4: 1-21
• By the Fruit of the Spirit in us                                    Galatians 5:22-25
• By following after Jesus (being obedient)                   John 10: 1-16, 27

Revival is the reset button of our hearts.
Press it.

Peace comes when we are the light of peace.
Unity comes when we are the light of unity.
Love comes when we are the light of love. 
Ask God to speak to you concerning you.
Ask Him to speak to you concerning how to pray for things that need to be changed around you.
 Listen for His voice.

Do what He says if you really want things to change.

Happy New You!!

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni