Oh My!

Day 11/45

I have to admit that I cheated a little.
I have logged in a couple of times in the last few days.
This is my confession. I am asking for forgiveness.

In other news...
There is a cute new match in the inbox of my online matchmaker. He is tall, dark, handsome, and left-handed!
Maybe. Just maybe.
But thinking about it now, and playing in my head, will only serve to fuel my disappointment when nothing happens. Or worse, rejection!

J- say a prayer, I would really like him to contact me!!!!!

I love my friends! :)

I Gave Facebook Up For Lent

Day 1/45

I have never formally celebrated Lent. In my family, it was commonly held as a legalistic ritual that did not fit with our 'religion.' But there is something about this tradition that calls to me. There is something about a willing sacrifice that offers hope of new perspectives, new ideas and new opportunities.

And there is a freedom that comes with the recognition that I have allowed something to so consume my thoughts, my time, my life that little else mattered.

Facebook has been my idol. Not facebook, only. But certain individuals on whom I depended for validation, reassurance, value, and significance. These things consumed me. Consume me, still. Motivate my decisions. And rip me apart on the inside.

I realize it is because I have taken my focus off 'heavenly things' and placed my heart in the hands of others. Hands that cared not. Hands that knew not how to handle the already-broken mess. Hands that held their own already-broken mess.

It is time to take back possession of my heart. And willingly place it in the Hands of Jesus. For Healing. Validation. Reassurance. Value. And Significance. Part of that process is removing myself from that which has only served to add to the chaos and confusion of my heart and mind.

Giving up facebook for Lent. Gaining Freedom, Peace, Security in Christ!!

God shows Himself mighty.
Every day.
With us.
Without us.
His Word tells us that He chooses "the simple things to shame the wise" and "the weak to shame the strong."

And God has chosen to use students just beginning their lives to speak to me, one who has struggled for most of her life to believe His truths.

No thing can be more humbling than that.

Save one.

I have known for most of my life that my calling in life was 'teacher.'

Most of my childhood, I would return from school only to retreat to my room and play 'school,' teaching any and all stuffed animals that would sit and listen. Somehow I ended up with teacher editions of old textbooks, which only served to enhance the game! I loved it!!!

I started out teaching social studies to high school students. I had lofty dreams of making a difference changing the world, if only the world of one child! I loved the thought of teaching older students and knew without a doubt that I was fulfilling my purpose. That was, until, I entered the high school classroom. What ensued was a year of hard lessons followed by an uphill journey to find 'my real purpose.' I knew, absolutely, at that point that teaching was not for me. I ran from teaching. I ran from God. And I ended up in a place that God was all I had. As it turns out, He was all I needed.

I walked through door after God-opened door and in this process was restored, redirected, and reassured that teaching was, in fact, my calling.
I began teaching elementary, starting in First Grade and moving to Kindergarten.
More processes.
More doors.
More lessons learned (and learning).

God has been faithful in these processes; through these doors; and in these lessons. God is concerned about me; He wants my best; and He will go to great lengths to bring about my growth!

I have been given opportunities to speak the Truth. I have seized those opportunities to share with these little ones, and in doing so have heard my voice speaking His Truth!

God shows Himself mighty.

In me.

Through me.

God has chosen to use my voice to speak to my soul.

Few things are more amazing than that!