Afraid...Yet Filled with Joy

He is not here; He has risen, just as He said... He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee...So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them.

Matthew 28: 6-9

Whelp!!! We are nearing the end of our school year is some shape, form, or fashion.  Some of us are heading back after a puff of smoke Spring Break, some are falling into their much needed Spring Break and others are pushing headlong into statewide testing.  Because a plethora of emotions run throughout school systems at this time, I just wanted to give you an encouraging word today.

The women who followed Jesus so diligently throughout His time here on earth are found here in Matthew 28 verses six through nine as meeting God's angel and hearing the astonishing news that Jesus has risen from the dead.  Following the angel's directions, they ran away from the empty tomb, "afraid...yet filled with joy". 

Afraid...yet filled with joy...

This is a combination of emotions familiar to those of us in the teaching profession.  Many of you are feeling this right now as you are apprehensive of the strenuous testing season that we're entering, yet you're keeping a countdown calendar of the days until summer break arrives at home, at work, in the car, tacked on the garage wall, and layering the bottom of each one of your dresser drawers! 

If you set yourself to follow directions like those women and go tell His disciples the marvelous news that He is risen, you too will be blessed with the opportunity to be met by Jesus and worship Him.  How?  God ALWAYS has a remnant.  You are not the only Christian in your school.  Seek out others and encourage each other with His word.  Remind each other that you serve a risen King who has all power in His hands.  Remind each other that your King has given you authority to speak those things which are not as though they were.  Remind each other that your King has blessed you to set the declare an atmosphere of peace and understanding in your school and classroom.  Remind each other that your King has placed His Spirit in you to declare His authority over any rebellion, stupor, dissension, and defiance that arises.  Your King is all powerful, has all wisdom, and more importantly, He loves us with an everlasting love. 

Chin up, shoulders back, eyes to the heavenly throne, and heart fixed on King Jesus!

Go run and tell that!

The Lord is with you and you are loved!

Toni

A Poem: The 'U' in JesUs

I found this poem while doing some Saturday morning cleaning and decided to share it with you. AS you read this poem, contemplate your assignment as an edUcator for the Lord.  U and I have been given a great task.

The U in JesUs

Before U were thought of or time had begun,

God even stuck U in the name of His Son

And each time U pray, you'll see it's true

You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.

You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, 

For U, He was born; that's why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died.

It even take U to spell crUcified.

Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand

He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,

and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,

He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

"Go into the world and tell them it's true

That I love them all- Just like I love U."

So many great people are spelled with a U,

Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?

It all depends now on what U will do,

He'd like them to know,

But it all starts with U.

- Laketa

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love...

-Psalm 143:8

Good morning fellow educator and those of you who are praying for the educational system in your country!

I don't have a lot of time because I have to get my kids (especially my slow-poke teenager) on the bus in a few minutes.  I just wanted to let you know something really quick...

Jesus loves you. 

Proof?

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.
4 “Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt..."  - Jeremiah 31:3,4

“The Lord your God is in your midst,

A Warrior who saves.

He will rejoice over you with joy;

He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins],

He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. - Zephaniah 3: 17 AMP

I really need you to get this one....

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life."  - John 3: 16 AMP

These words are sincerely... 

 "from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.  He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen"  - Revelation 1: 5,6 NLT


Have a great day and know that Jesus loves you.  Talk to Him today.  Let Him lead you and guide you in all truth.  Trust Him for EVERYTHING.  Look for His favor.  Listen for His voice.  Remember His words to you and share His love with someone else.


The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Day 20

Section 4: You Have Power

Join with us today and pray our prepared prayer on page 38 from the FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EDUCATION free eBook or pray independently from our focus scripture, 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 AMP and enjoy the accompanying song entitled, "Power in the Blood" by Amy Grant.

As you continue in prayer, let the Holy Spirit lead you to scripture concerning the power of God that has been released to you through His blood, His word and His name. Write these scriptures down and commit them to memory. As you face trials and obstacles this year, recall His Word to mind and rest assured that our God is faithful and is mighty to save and deliver. 

ACTIVATE THE POWER WITHIN

though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.  The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-4 AMP

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for arming us with strength through the power of Your Holy Spirit and the promise of Your Word. Thank You for training our hands for battle. Thank You for being our Shield and Rock. 

Today we pray that we will activate Your power within us. Lord, as we plug into You as our power source, may we be willing to release miracles into the lives of our students. 

Increase our boldness and belief to declare and decree freedom for our students. 

Lead us into battle as we face students who are being attacked and overcome by sickness and spirits such as ADHD, defiance, rebellion, poverty, chemical imbalances in their brains and physical ailments in their bodies.

We will shout aloud, "With God we will gain the victory and He will trample down our enemies." May we never underestimate Your power and Your willingness to use us to show that power.

In Jesus' name,

-Amen

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Section 4 Intro

Section Four:   YOU HAVE POWER

Educators  who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose have no reason to stay in a state of hopelessness or helplessness. You have POWER! Join Educator Dominion in the next six days of prayer knowing "You Have Power"! 
Download the free prayer eBook at www.educatordominion.com 

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Day 12

Section 2: Refocus and Refresh

Join with us today and pray our prepared prayer on page 25 from the FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EDUCATION free ebook or pray independently from our focus scripture, Colossians 3:14 ESV and enjoy the accompanying song entitled, "Jesus at the Center" by Israel & New Breed .

Afterwards, silently reflect on Jesus' love for you. Since there is no greater love, fix your heart on accepting, investing and planting that same love in others this school year. 

GIVE LOVE, GIVE JESUS

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

– Colossians 3:14 ESV 

Dear Precious Father, Savior and Comforter,

 Today we pray that educators across this land reflect the love that You showed the world...

 You gave us Jesus.

 You gave us Light.

 You gave us Hope.

 You gave us Comfort. 

We declare that as You turn and revive the heart of educators towards You, that we will boldly and effectively reflect the love, compassion, light, hope and comfort of Jesus. May we willingly accept the cost of Your love and invest in the cost of Your love by planting the seeds of Your love in our students, their families and our coworkers. 

Above all the good things that we as educators do for our students, may we first put on true love, Jesus the Christ, who binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

In Jesus' name, 

-Amen