Not by Might, Not by Power

 Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6 NIV

As you know from a previous blog (Data Analysis Meeting with God...and Others), I am going through a major personal overhaul!  It's not easy and I see great areas of concern every day, but the Master Builder and Heaven's CEO is working on me with loving hands so I won't complain.

Sooooo, I received this Memo on my spiritual desk not too long ago giving me directives to read and meditate on a few scriptures.  

Although Pride and Entitle- ment were given the boot and ordered not to return during my last spiritual data analysis meeting, apparently they were emailing the remaining members trying to justify themselves!  Well, one thing led to another and Knowledge started to believe what Pride was saying. Hence the memo. 

It's a dangerous thing when pride couples up with your knowledge.  You can shift your gaze inward rather than upward. 

Roman 12: 3 says, "For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service]."

My memo directions were to read,  prayerfully meditate on, and share that scripture as well as Zechariah 4:6  " Not by might, nor by power, but by MY Spirit says the Lord Almighty." with you!

This blog is more so to the "seasoned" educator or administrator with years of experience and those with stacks of professional development points, several degrees, certifications, and all of the latest jargon and techniques tucked firmly in their belts.  

God wants us to realize this...

It's not by the might that twenty years of teaching has accrued,
Not by the  might of using the good manners and workplace etiquette taught to us by our advisers and mentors,
Not by the might of what's in our college text books,
Not by the power of being an "old school" "no-nonsense" teacher,
Not by the power of who we know because of our connections made over the years,
But it is by the Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit, working with the effectual wisdom of God ("integrity, creativity and excellence" -Bill Johnson Dreaming with God) that TRUE Kingdom activation in our schools will occur.  
                       * What do you think that looks like? 

I always say that our goal should be to be a "God" teacher, not just a "good" teacher. The difference is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in and through the Believer versus the hard-work of the non-believer.  Good things will happen in your classroom and schools.  Great things will even happen, BUT Godly things will be manifested, activated and transformed only by His Spirit!

Think on what's doing well in your classroom and school.  How much greater could it be if God was increasing it because it came directly from Him? Now think about what's just not working.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a strategy to fix it? God wants us to shift our thinking so that we understand how much He desires to be a part of every aspect of our lives...even in our classrooms!  He wants to teach us how to let Him use us to be the answer to the things that perplex our school systems. 
It all happens as a result of the indwelling of His Spirit. Won't you let Him in?

Holy Spirit,

Manifest yourself today in our thoughts, hearts,  mouths, bodies, actions and assignments.  May we give You all the glory and honor for every success we have. Make our vision clear, our hearing keen, our hands directed and strong, our feet beautiful, our repentance deep and sincere and our love pure.

Amen

A Teacher With Unclean Lips? Yep! I Need a BRITA Mouth!

There is something that God is showing me...again....and again.

 I have to watch my mouth!

No, I don't have what some call a "potty mouth".  Curse words don't roll off my tongue.  They do, sometimes,  get caught in my throat. I have sarcastic humor which artistically veils my displeasure and disgust. So while I teetered on my soap box,  proud that I don't curse like some of those around me,  God poked me and said, "YOU need a BRITA mouth!"

             Gasp!

I couldn't believe.... Ok, I didn't want to believe it.  But trust me when I tell you that when God tells you something about yourself, you're not really surprised.  You knew about your issue for some time because He's been telling you about your issue for some time.  You're just now actually acknowledging the truth! 

Back to topic at hand ...my dirty mouth.

There was a prophet in the bible by the name of Isaiah.  Isaiah had a vision in which he was in the heavenly Temple of God before the Lord Himself who sat on the throne.  Isaiah was so overcome by his sinfulness in the midst of the purity and holiness of God that he cried out, "I have filthy lips!" At once, a Seraphim flew over to him with a burning coal from the altar, touched his lips, and assured him that his guilt was removed and sins forgiven.

Why was Isaiah so concerned about his mouth?  He knew that as a prophet, He was chosen by God to be a holy mouthpiece. He lamented that his lips were filthy because although he could recite back the words of God to others, he knew that where those words flowed from (his heart) made his lips filthy.  Yet, in the spirit of a true intercessor, Isaiah was not only concerned about his own mouth but also for the mouths of those around him.  He exclaimed that he lived among people (people who were handpicked by God to be a an example to the world) whose lips were filthy as well. Filthy in that the words from their mouths projected the true depiction of their hearts which had strayed from God. They spoke just like those around them in a bitter, jealous, petty, rebellious, idolatrous, hateful, lying, boastful, and judging language. 

What are we speaking today?

Christian educators who are true disciples of Jesus have to realize the totality of our assignment in our school divisions. We are God's mouthpiece, for we are to speak as Jesus would speak, in love.  We are handpicked by God to be an example those who are around us,  "you will know them for their love for one another".  

So (finger pointing back at myself) when I speak sarcastically to and about students (no matter how much it makes my coworkers laugh), when I throw up my hands and throw up negative words of despair about my student's ability to improve, I diminish the power of God working through me for healing brains, making families whole, and anything else God wants to do for those He has assigned me to. I no longer look/act/talk any different from those around me and cease to be a light for Jesus. I 'm just a "church go-er" and can not be told apart from a "good person" who doesn't know even know who the true nature and power of Jesus. 

Sidebar: Drawing is not my ministry, but this is the picture God gave me concerning my language in my classroom.  I need to keep "coal" in my mouth as a filter to clean the living waters  He has already placed in me.  The living water will always be clean because its source is pure.  It's the pipes (my heart and mouth), however, in which the living water flows through, that causes the contamination.  Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard the heart for it is the wellspring of life."   So what I really believe in my heart will flow out of my mouth at some point.  The purposes of our hearts are described as "deep waters" (Prov 20:5).  These deep waters flow from an eternal spring of living water that Jesus said is placed within us because of our belief in Him.  This eternal water spiritually connects to the River of Life that flows from the eternal throne of God.  It provides healing and is life giving. 

  "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4: 29 NIV    

Therefore,  as I move into  the heart of the month of February, I  have to keep into account what was discussed at My Data Meeting with God and the Others (see agenda topic #5) and keep my mouth in alignment with His word! 

Although I know what it looks like,  although I know what the assessment data portrays and I know the kind of answers my students submit on their test and how they reply in the class.... aaauuugggh! 

 if I want to prove that the manifested works of Jesus is 

actual, 

active, 

effective, and 

life giving.... 

I have to clean my mouth!!

Data Analysis Meeting with God...and the Others: Getting Ready for a New Life

Here we are well under halfway into the first month of the year.      Well, how are you doing?  

Did you make any resolutions or determinations for 2017? 

 I did.... 

 "Make some permanent changes"

 I know it sounds a bit broad to you, but trust me, I already had my initial data analysis meeting (s) with God  (mostly private sessions except for when He would try that whole group thing during the sermons at church) before January 1st.  He designed a very intricate, strategic plan for progression for me which I'd like to share with you.


Following our meeting, the Lord instructed me to sit down with all parties involved in the highs and lows of 2016 including those who had been retained due to lack of mastery in 2014 and '15 (regardless of how I felt about them).

So there I sat with Time (I have to watch that one.... it's a "runner"),  Sight  (sits near the front... keeps forgetting glasses, loses focus easily) ,  Hearing (had to move away from Obedience and Sight...very distracting to the others), Feelings (not the touchy one, but the emotional one... consistent retention candidate), Obedience (defiant at times), the twins Entitlement and Pride (some days I wish they would just get sick and be absent), Health (missed a lot of days...),  the triplets Faith, Hope, and Trust (good breeding... wish I had more like them),  Worship (group leader...future looks bright), Mouth (sometimes, I just don't know about this one... quiet when it needs to talk and talkative when it needs to be quiet) and Love (teacher's pet) to review what Jesus and I had determined were my strengths and weaknesses of the past year.

After the muffins (thanks mom), juice and coffee had been consumed and all documents distributed, I dimmed the lights and

directed everyone's attention to the Promethean Board to see my YouTube  "Year in Review" video (directed and produced by God Himself). There were some laughs, tears, awkward silence of shame, under the table kicks and quite a few cheers as we neared the end.

When the lights came back on, I spanned my gaze slowly around the room pausing to lock eyes, retina to retina, with each of them.  You see, we hadn't met like this, all of us in one room, since the Great Fiasco of 2006.  I shudder just thinking about it.  It must of crossed their minds too because if they weren't playing eye magnets with me, they were giving each other the wide-eyed look. 

"Well, as you can see,"  I started,  "There is great room for improvement.  We all know our ultimate goal is to be like Jesus, sharing His love and truth with those He has placed in our path, right? Jesus has laid out a great plan for us soooo,  I'd like to direct your attention to page 3 in your packet."

"With this in mind, we will be following God's instructions this year, starting with some immediate changes and announcements.

1) It's my pleasure to announce the immediate transfer of the twins Pride and Entitlement (Reference pages 5-6) You are to be replaced with Service and Family.  Actually, you don't have to stay for the rest of the meeting.  HR (Heaven's Resources) has already taken care of the paperwork and has your belongings at the front door.

2) Worship and Love while I simply adore you and appreciate how you would take over a bad situation and turn it around, I'd like for you to participate in more collaborative work with Time, Family, Service, and Obedience.

3) Obedience,  take a look at page 19. I need you to have daily Think, Pair, Share sessions with the triplets
Faith, Hope and Trust.  You won't be so easily swayed by the influences of Feelings, Sight and Hearing.  Oh, and  Worship and Love will be mentoring you on how to be a leader.  We want you to rise to what you were ordained for. 

4) Well, this brings me to my next announcement.  We are also permanently welcoming another member to our team; Discernment. Discernment works directly with the Holy Spirit and has visited us occasionally before.  However, in light of our assessment results, we permanently placed Discernment's name on the roster and have scheduled daily one on one sessions with Worship, Mouth, Sight and Hearing.  The order doesn't matter. Just as long as Worship is first.   You four will take what you learn and teach the others.  Teamwork makes the dream work!

I glanced upwards and gave a whoosh of air through pursed lips.

5) Mouth, I need you  to memorize pages 24 and 25 and make them your own.  Hearing, you need to memorize both as well.  Once you get those down pat, I will have more for you to internalize.  Don't take all year on this.  You two have a long way to go.

6) Health, I saved you for last because I wanted to commend you for your committed desire for change.  Prayerfully, as Sight and Feelings improve, they won't be a hindrance to you as much. I know it may seem like a lot, but we need you to collaborate with everyone as much as possible.  As we looked over the data from 2014 until now, research proves that if you're not on your A-game we all suffer.  Therefore we are assigning you directly to the one of the top level gurus - The Blood of Jesus and his partner Communion.  Study them closely and trust that they know what they're talking about.

7) Lastly, as we bring this meeting to a close...for now... just know that I will be in direct contact with Jesus concerning all of you and will be meeting with you from time to time (no pun intended Time) so that this goes down as our best year in the history of me.  I have been informed, as you can see from page 33 that we will continue to grow our membership and outreach programs this year as well as carry out some further inspections to make sure we do not have any unauthorized out of district members in
our group.

Our meeting is hereby adjourned. 

May the Lord bless us and protect us.  May the Lord make His face shine on us and be gracious to us.  May the Lord look with favor on us and give us peace. 

In Jesus' name, Amen.  

Please take any extra muffins home with you... umm,...not you Health...sorry."

In the spirit of having a good mid-week laugh, I posted this left field " I wonder what it would be like if..." train of thought I was having.  Seriously though, the process of progression must start at the realization that there is always a greater way and greater level in God.  He is determined to take us from glory to glory as we believe, follow and serve Him wholeheartedly.  New Year's resolutions are well and good, but we need to make New Life resolutions.  It will take staying in constant communication with God and asking Him to walk you through the earthly manifestations of the spiritual transformation that was given to you when you first received Him. Jesus loves you and wants the best for you, not just as an educator, but as His son or daughter.  Prove to the world that He exists and is REAL.  Be ye transformed...

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Day 24

Section 4: You Have Power

Join with us today and pray our prepared prayer on page 42 from the FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EDUCATION free eBook or pray independently from our focus scripture, Proverbs 3:7-8 AMP and enjoy the accompanying song entitled, "Finish Strong" by Jonathan Nelson.

While in prayer, entreat upon the Lord to reveal to you His desire for you to attain wholeness in your mind, body and spirit. As He makes His desires known, speak life in agreement and declare the workings of His power, energy, time and resources to maintain your "temple" this school year. 

HEALTHY MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.  It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] and refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

Proverbs 3: 7-8 AMP

Blessings, Glory and Honor are due to You our Great God,

We are ever so grateful for You being our Creator, Healer, Sustainer, Peace, Comfort, Joy and our All in All. Thank You Lord for the intricacies of the human body, the workings of our minds and the complexities of our spirit.

Today Lord, we lift up the health, mental well-being and Spirit-led life of every educator in this country. It is so easy for us to attend to others before we take care of ourselves. Father, we will often refuse days of rest and healing because we feel its just easier to come to work than to prepare to be absent. With rushed lunches, deadlines and daily stress, we often do not take care of our bodies, which is Your temple. Lord, forgive us.

Help us to "regain renewed health and vitality". Reduce our stress and bless us with wisdom to use our time wisely and to give our burdens to You so that we may have rest for our souls and put our minds at ease.

As we meditate on Your word, help us to exercise Your principles of living for the well being of our spirit.

Finally Lord, please bless us with the resources and desire to strengthen our bodies through exercise and healthy eating.

May we show the world Your glory and reflect Your image of love and total health.

In Jesus' name,

-Amen

Forty Days of Prayer for Education: Day 10

Section 2: Refocus and Refresh

Join with us today and pray our prepared prayer on pages 21 and 22 from the FORTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EDUCATION free ebook or pray independently from our focus scripture, Ephesians 4: 21-24 NLT and enjoy the accompanying song entitled, " Renew Me" by Martha Munizzi.

Afterwards, listen for the Spirit of the Lord to reveal to you specific areas of your "educator nature" that need to be "put off". Write them down and refer to them throughout this school year. 

PUT OFF THE OLD MAN

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

 – Ephesians 4: 21-24 NLT

Our Loving Lord and Savior, 

Thank You for being a God of new beginnings. Brand new mercies and Your grace greet us every day. More and more people are beginning a new life with You every day as they accept You as their Lord and Savior. Thank You for being the source of our refreshing and renewal. 

Holy Spirit, we pray today that You would lead and guide us in putting off our old selves. Help us to put off our old teaching strategies that are ineffective. Let us put on Your creativity and innovations. 

Help us to put off our old attitudes that are inconsistent depending on who we encounter. Let us put on the fruit of Your Spirit and show these virtues to everyone that we meet, not just those we believe are deserving of our best. 

Help us to put off our old frustrations. May we put on confidence that He who begun a good work in us shall see it to the end.

 Help us to put off the hopeless mindset of "it is what it is". May we put on the knowledge that You are able and willing to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we could ask for or imagine according to the power of Your Holy Spirit that is working in us. 

May we put on the new educator and show Your glory in our lives. 

In Jesus' name, 

-Amen