Waiting

This morning as I was driving to watch one of my student's basketball games, I began thinking about our life in Noblesville over the last few months. In many ways, it seems we've been doing a lot of waiting, a lot of wishing, and a lot of praying and still don't have any answers.

Joe has recorded in Nashville, but we have yet to hear any MP3s from the recording or to work on the album further. It's difficult for Joe to market himself and to move forward with his musical passions without his new music. It's easy to get discouraged and to question God's timing and plan, but right now he is simply calling us to wait on Him. Our lease in our apartment is up at the end of August. Do we stay in Indy or do we move? Does Joe continue to pay the bills as an accountant, or is this our chance to take a leap of faith and pursue his music career?

Thankfully, I don't have to know the answers, because a God who has known me before I was born has a plan for us and will take care of us. While it might feel like we are in the wilderness waiting right now, God is faithful and will answer us in His timing. We will learn patience and actively WAIT in the process...

““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”" Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

PS--busy season lasts for 45 more days which in my mind is 48 days too long.

School

Well, I'm about 2/3 of the way through teaching my 1st year of 1st grade. Today was just one of those days. While I LOVE my students, having 13 boys and 4 girls can get exhausting...and today just felt like I was spinning in circles!

My students LOVE going to music and have really gotten to know the music teacher well this year. He is very funny and the students love getting tootsie rolls from him. Today, three of my kiddos decided to take tootsie rolls off of his music stand because getting one just wasn't enough.

Upon learning this information, I was SO disappointed. While I realize children have their own sin and sin nature, this made me feel like a terrible teacher. MY students were stealing tootsie rolls from the music teacher. After music we skipped writing. I had them all sit on the carpet and we talked about when we take things that don't belong to us, this is stealing. We talked about Adam and Eve and about how blaming others doesn't make us less guilty. We prayed together and asked God to help us be self-controlled and not to take things that don't belong to us.

While it was a tough day and much of it was spent emailing parents, I was so reminded of myself and my sin. How often do I make poor choices and throw the blame on someone else or something else? How often do I take what isn't mine or lack a servant's heart? How often am I so wrapped up in my own world that I fail to see into anyone else's?

Father, I pray for change. Change in my heart and my life. Change in my classroom. I pray for 17 six (or 7) year old hearts completely sold out for you and ready to follow you. Help me to show them your love. Help us all to come clean with our sin and accept your forgiveness.

PS--While there are many frustrating, teachable moments, there are also many entertaining ones. For example, when they believe that I am 42. Or when they ask what happens to your brain when it falls asleep. Or just when they come in your room after school to tell you about their bloody nose. I LOVE them.