Garment of Praise.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired...BUT I will put on a garment of praise and thankfulness...

"A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4)"

-"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan

Matthew 6:33

Verse to be memorized...

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

Lord, let this reign true in my heart, that I would always, always, always seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, striving to bring glory to Your sweet Name in everything I do.

Amen.

Excitement.

This morning I woke up excited to spend time with the Lord. Lately, I've been really tired in the mornings and focused on having my lessons completely ready for the day, rather than focusing on the honor and privilege it is to spend intimate time with the God of the universe.

Today was different. I woke up expectant. I woke up feeling honored that the God of the universe can't wait to spend that "quiet time" with me. The God of the UNIVERSE can't wait to spend time with me? Lord, thank you for wanting to be with me, for calling me Your beloved and never ceasing to fail. I love you with my whole heart. How can I love You more? I want to love You more. Lord I pray to trade my selfish desires for a heart that relies completely on being led by Your Holy Spirit.

Let it be.

The Choices You Make.

"Life's about the choices you make" - This quote reigns in my classroom and our students know it by heart.

My choice, my portion, is in the Lord. I choose to cast out feelings of defeat, I choose to praise, I choose to be thankful, I CHOOSE to delight in weakness. I will delight in weakness. Lord, I am crying out to You, Father. Thank you for making me weak, for pruning me into the teacher and lady You desire. Lord, I will choose to delight in weakness.

Today I left school feeling defeated. I am a very soft spoken person and until this semester it has never occurred to me that it would become somewhat of a frustration. I have lost my voice at least three times over the past two semesters. No big deal, right? However, it's an extreme weakness when you teach all day and kids are loud and can't hear you, and when you go on a field trip and kids are acting a fool and you try to call their name and they don't even know you are talking. Lord, I choose to be thankful. I choose to delight in weakness. These feelings of defeat left me wandering why I am choosing the teaching profession when my voice is so soft. Why? Lord, I cast out these feelings of defeat. You have already won, You've got the victory. You have called me to teach. You have called me to teach. You have called me to teach. You love me. I am Your beloved. You delight in who I am and the teacher I am learning to be. I am a continual learner. On my own I am nothing. With You, I am all You have called me to be. I am called to teach.

I choose to delight in weakness. It is my choice and I choose to be thankful.

Amen.

Beloved

You're My Beloved
You're My Bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me My love

You're Beautiful to Me
So beautiful to Me

Under My mercy
Come and wait
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you
My child

You're Beautiful to Me
So Beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace
Cast all your cares down at My feet
Come and find your rest in Me

I'll breathe My life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of My strength
I'll take you to My quiet waters
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in Me and be made whole

You're My beloved
You're My Bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

"My Beloved" - Kari Jobe

Lord, that my students, friends, family...would know and believe they are called Your beloved.

Amen.

Dreams.

My dream is to start my own school. It's a big dream. Lord if you want to use me in this process, go for it. I am Yours. I want to be used solely for Your purpose. My dream for this school would be that it would double as an orphanage. That children would be able to live, learn, dream, be encouraged, and be filled by Your Presence.

This dream started when I realized so many children are living in dysfunctional families, have been left by their parents, are living in poverty, and have been stripped of encouragement and purpose. Many students in my classroom now fit these categories and it absolutely breaks my heart and brings me to tears I can't control. Even if it has been a hard day at school, I still want to take them home with me. They are precious in God's eyes, so precious and pure. Why are they having to suffer from circumstances they have no control over, at such a young age? Why was I blessed to grow up in a functional, loving home? Why was I not in their shoes when I was 8 years old? I don't know the answers to these questions, nor do I want to know the answers, but I do know many Truths. I know God has called me to love these children, I know God is faithful, I know God is huge and can work miracles, I know God is present in that classroom. I feel His Presence every second of the day. I know He is for those sweet children. I know He is.

Lord, use the heck out of me. Please Lord. I am asking You to use me, no matter the circumstances, no matter how hard it may be. My purpose is to spread Your kingdom and I know You will provide all the steps and guidance in order to fulfill this purpose. I know You will. I just know it.

"Embrace Your Place"

Embrace: to receive gladly or eagerly, accept willingly

This morning I listened to another sermon from Elevation Church in Charlotte. I was encouraged. He is the most Loving being on the planet, and He loves me, Lauren Elizabeth Teddy, with an everlasting, graceful love. I am not deserving, yet He continues to love me and pour out His fragrant blessing over my life. Lord, THANK YOU!! You are so sweet to me. I love YOU.

Back to the sermon. The sermon is titled, "Embrace Your Place." Christine Caine spoke at Elevation all the way from Hillsong church in Australia. She explained the power in embracing your place - while your place may be dry, arid, hard, exciting, fruitful, joyous, etc - embrace every bit of it. Receive gladly and eagerly, accept willingly the place the Lord has ordained. She talked about the importance of staying in this place, to keep turning up for God because He is a preparer. It's more than what you see at the moment, it's about who HE is and what HE wants to do on the Earth, I am but a puppet in His sweet puppet show. He is preparing me for what He has ALREADY prepared. Crazy. Lord thank you for preparation, for daily building me up in Your Spirit, for teaching me new things each day, for loving me, for waiting for me every morning, for taking delight in my being still, while I am bowed down at Your feet waiting to hear Your whisper. Lord I want to hear more of Your whispers, more of Your Voice. Lord that Your voice would be so loud above my own. Father lead me, Father send me. Not my will, but YOUR will be done. In Jesus' name.

"When you embrace your place, you are irreplaceable."

Be encouraged.

We also had our first girls campaigners today for YoungLife. While no one came, it was the absolute sweetest time of surrender. My beautiful friends and I prayed the entire time we would have had campaigners, praying for surrender and belief over the girls we love. Lord use us to love these girls to Your kingdom. Father, send us. I love prayer. I am most content bowing my head, speaking with the God of the universe. Lord, thank you. After prayer we blasted a whole lotta praise music. We danced and jumped around. We were both giddy and giggly. Lord thank you. The whole time we were dancing around I kept thinking of our Father's desire for childlike faith. Dancing around, giddy and giggly is just a glimpse of childlike faith. Lord teach us more about childlike faith. Father, please teach us more.

You are good, SO GOOD!

Amen.

"Dig Some Ditches"

What up snow day! I am beyond thankful for a day of rest. Last night I prayed my heart out for snow to fall, Lord willing. THANK YOU JESUS!! You are so sweet. I woke up this morning blown away at the fact that school was canceled. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for rest, for the blessing of a snow day, just when You know I need it :)

I am all caught up on school work, ready for the rest of the week! Since I had time to spare today I listened to a sermon from Elevation Church in Charlotte. Pastor Furtick's theme for this sermon was "Get back, Dig Some Ditches." He talked about spiritual momentum and utilizing natural means to kick-start supernatural results. He based his sermon on 2Kings3 where the Lord told Elisha to, "make this valley full of ditches." After Elisha dug a few ditches, the Lord filled them with water and blessed those ditches, but FIRST Elisha had to dig. Pastor Furtick left his listeners with a thought, "What ditches is the Lord calling you to dig? This is Jesus we're talking about, dig deeper, He wants to bless you in a huge way!" While digging these ditches will be hard work, they will be blessed in a huge way, so the world could see who He is, so His Kingdom would be spread.

Lord reveal the ditches you are calling me to dig. I kept thinking about both YoungLife and my future as I listened to this sermon. Digging ditches in YoungLife would mean being where our high schoolers are, making Campaigners consistent, loving them to the Kingdom, being present in their lives. Digging ditches toward my teaching career could mean meeting with the principal at my school, getting to know him well and being willing to apply to any K-6 teaching position in North Carolina. Lord, continue to reveal the ditches needing to be dug. Lord I want to see you work in huge ways. I believe You are working in huge ways. Father use me, Lord send me to wherever you like. I am willing, Lord please send me. Lord that I would be a temple for You, that Your Holy Spirit would radiate, that my desire for You would increase. Lord that I would "let go and let You." Father I am willing, please send me. Reveal Your path. If it's a narrow path, let it be, but I pray I would follow. I let loose my own desires and ask You would fill my heart with Yours. Father that You would use me in spreading Your Kingdom, that Your Kingdom would be the main motivation of my heart. Father strip me of selfishness. Lord, you're so sweet. I love you so much. Thank You for filling my heart with joy and painting a smile on my face. I love you, Lord. I want more of You, Father.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Lord let the truth of Your Word reign in my heart...

I really am at a lost for words today. Hard things are happening at school. It breaks my heart, absolutely breaks my heart to hear some of the things my students have to deal with. Lord, use me. Please use me to love my students, to lean in and recognize them as beautifully and wonderfully made. Father cover my 4th grade classroom with Your Presence. Lord, let it be rich. Let it be thick. Let it be noticeably different. Father surround my students with a love and peace that transcends all.

Lord I ask for strength. Lord use me to love all I come in contact with. I can't do it on my own, I don't have the strength. Lord, I will access Your strength.