This has been a summer of shattered expectations.
And the last week of program at Inwood was no exception.
But in those shattered expectations is new life
new discoveries.
so much joy
and so much love.
I would be empty, but for the one who fills me up
with living water.
I find fullness in Christ.
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| Kindergarten Love<3 |
Monday morning during the tutor devotional time, while listening to worship music
and basking in the presence of the Lord, I looked up to see Manny's face inches away from mine.
and basking in the presence of the Lord, I looked up to see Manny's face inches away from mine.
“Do you want to do the devotional?”
In my confusion, I somehow managed to agree.
I had nothing prepared and in less than a minute, the song was over.
I had nothing prepared and in less than a minute, the song was over.
I sat there for a moment, horrified,
wondering if I should run to the office to print off the devotional I had planned for last Wednesday
when I accidentally came late and missed it.
wondering if I should run to the office to print off the devotional I had planned for last Wednesday
when I accidentally came late and missed it.
I just sat there, feeling very unprepared, but then
I pulled out my Bible and flipped to 1 John,
where my heart has been meditating for some time.
The Spirit is working through this book
and testifies to the love of God and the love in his people.
I began to read and then I spoke about it for a little bit.
I wanted to share what I saw and felt during our worship time,
but I didn't have the words at the time. I’m no speaker, after all.
But what I had seen was this: Jesus hugging me.
and testifies to the love of God and the love in his people.
I began to read and then I spoke about it for a little bit.
I wanted to share what I saw and felt during our worship time,
but I didn't have the words at the time. I’m no speaker, after all.
But what I had seen was this: Jesus hugging me.
I felt a real, warm hug, like him saying “I love you so much.”
And I knew he really meant it.
I was confident in this love because of his sacrifice for me.
He was thinking of the Father and his people.
Who do I think of most of the time?
How can I selflessly give my thoughts away to be totally the Lord’s?
I was overwhelmed by his LOVE and I began to weep quietly. His love is so unfathomable.
So beautiful.
So beautiful.
He MEANS it.
He will never let us down or change his mind.
His mind has already been made up.
I had many come-to-Jesus moments this week, but he taught me so much.
So did my kids. They honestly taught me more than I taught them.
And so I am incredibly grateful to them.
We reviewed telling time this week and read a lot, as usual. We learned about symmetry and practiced sight words.
They continued to wow me with their creativity and insights!
The Lord revealed himself through them and used their mouths to speak truth into my life.
So did my kids. They honestly taught me more than I taught them.
And so I am incredibly grateful to them.
We reviewed telling time this week and read a lot, as usual. We learned about symmetry and practiced sight words.
They continued to wow me with their creativity and insights!
The Lord revealed himself through them and used their mouths to speak truth into my life.
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| Even though they aren't supposed to write on the board, sometimes it's okay:) |
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| Sweet Jose |
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| Thank you cards for volunteers....uhhh? |
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| We wear them out! |
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| Oh Roman & Jose...thank you for letting me entertain myself by doing your hair |
Wednesday was most likely the hardest day of program all summer,
but thankfully I was still able to leave with a smile.
but thankfully I was still able to leave with a smile.
It began with promise - a trip day, so no need to plan for instructional time,
and it was going to be the biggest trip of the summer - Medieval times.
We got to Exodus on time and headed upstairs for one of the last tutor meetings.
and it was going to be the biggest trip of the summer - Medieval times.
We got to Exodus on time and headed upstairs for one of the last tutor meetings.
After a short assembly, we headed upstairs for a little reading before we were going to leave for the trip.
We arrived at the designated time of departure in the chapel.
We waited a few minutes. And a few more minutes.
The time grew longer. And longer. And the kids grew more and more ansy.
Finally, we had to do something. Manny made all of Exodus gather in a big circle and praising Jesus began.
I will alway appreciate Manny’s zeal for worshiping the Lord.
He thinks every time is a good time to praise Jesus - and it is!
So, after some great dancing and singing, it was already after 11:00AM.
I knew there was no hope for our trip today.
The buses hadn’t showed up yet, and no one knew what was going on. The kids were starting to go crazy.
Finally, the decision was made and thankfully, it was good news.
The trip was rescheduled for Friday.
So it was disappointing, but it wasn't cancelled.
My kids took it pretty well, so we marched to lunch and to the park like a normal day.
I will spare you the details of the rest of the day, but let's just say
I was reminded that working with kids isn't all sunshine and flowers.
We arrived at the designated time of departure in the chapel.
We waited a few minutes. And a few more minutes.
The time grew longer. And longer. And the kids grew more and more ansy.
Finally, we had to do something. Manny made all of Exodus gather in a big circle and praising Jesus began.
I will alway appreciate Manny’s zeal for worshiping the Lord.
He thinks every time is a good time to praise Jesus - and it is!
So, after some great dancing and singing, it was already after 11:00AM.
I knew there was no hope for our trip today.
The buses hadn’t showed up yet, and no one knew what was going on. The kids were starting to go crazy.
Finally, the decision was made and thankfully, it was good news.
The trip was rescheduled for Friday.
So it was disappointing, but it wasn't cancelled.
My kids took it pretty well, so we marched to lunch and to the park like a normal day.
I will spare you the details of the rest of the day, but let's just say
I was reminded that working with kids isn't all sunshine and flowers.
Our last morning tutor meeting on Friday we all went around
and shared one thing God taught us through Exodus this summer.
I learned so much, but one thing in particular was this: I learned how to show grace like God does.
Some of my come-to-Jesus moments involved getting really fed up with certain kids.
But instead of going off and trying to yell them into submission, the Spirit prodded my heart.
He told me to talk to them. To love them. To listen to them. So, I did.
And I found such grace in those moments, much like when the Father extends grace to us.
He is just and righteous and has every right to punish us when we do wrong.
The times when we are sad, lonely and frustrated could be
prime opportunities for him to make us feel guilty and bad for how much we mess up.
Instead, he wraps us in his arms and says,
"What's wrong? Let's talk about this. I love you and I care about you.
Let's figure this out." That is one of many things I learned from my kids.
The Lord has been gripping my heart using Paul's words to the Colossians.
Read this passage out loud and listen to the POWER of the cross.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and you have been given fullness in Christ,
who is the head over every power and authority.
In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,
not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,
having been buried with him in baptism
and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,
God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations,
that was against us and that stood opposed to us;
he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities,
he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:9-15
I have a final wrap-up post coming, even though we are already in Georgia for MTW's debrief.
May the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior FILL you up.
and shared one thing God taught us through Exodus this summer.
I learned so much, but one thing in particular was this: I learned how to show grace like God does.
Some of my come-to-Jesus moments involved getting really fed up with certain kids.
But instead of going off and trying to yell them into submission, the Spirit prodded my heart.
He told me to talk to them. To love them. To listen to them. So, I did.
And I found such grace in those moments, much like when the Father extends grace to us.
He is just and righteous and has every right to punish us when we do wrong.
The times when we are sad, lonely and frustrated could be
prime opportunities for him to make us feel guilty and bad for how much we mess up.
Instead, he wraps us in his arms and says,
"What's wrong? Let's talk about this. I love you and I care about you.
Let's figure this out." That is one of many things I learned from my kids.
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| We FINALLY made it Medieval Times! The kids loved it! |
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| Alina's long-awaited birthday celebration |
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| Strategizing |
Read this passage out loud and listen to the POWER of the cross.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and you have been given fullness in Christ,
who is the head over every power and authority.
In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,
not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,
having been buried with him in baptism
and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,
God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations,
that was against us and that stood opposed to us;
he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities,
he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:9-15
I have a final wrap-up post coming, even though we are already in Georgia for MTW's debrief.
May the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior FILL you up.
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