I was given a simple reminder today and I just want to share it with you.
I am a school teacher now and I found out the first week of school that there can be just 1 or 2 students that are able to literally ruin your whole attitude about a particular class or even the whole day.
Last week I battled this problem. I decided I wasn't going to let this week be the same way.
My mentor and old hs coach told me last week the best way to help my students is to pray for them by name. I shared the name of one particular student with a few of my prayer partners and asked them to join me in praying for her specifically.
My mentor and pastor's wife had given me the piece of advice to ask the Lord and find a scripture in the Word that is a verse that can be a rock for me. A solid ground to stand on that I can quote and refer back to. So as soon as I got to the school this morning I asked the Holy Spirit to give me a few verses that I needed to stand on to help me while at school.
I typed up 8 verses and posted them on my wall right next to my desk. I prayed for that student at the beginning of the day and before her class.
Today was the best day i've had as a teacher/coach. Throughout the day I was reminded that this is my mission field and I prayed for students, I quoted bible verses to myself, and I was able to stand in joy all day. The particular student that has given me problems was great today and caused me no problems.
The simple reminder is this... Never underestimate the power of prayer and of the Word of God. Surround yourself with the Word, quote the Word, speak the Word, think the Word, become so familiar with the Word that you are constantly being reminded of the Word. Finally prayer is powerful. Be in prayer continually, in fact pray the Word, nothing is off limits, ask for what you have need of. God hears.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
You're beautiful DAY 1 of 40
Humans are set up in a way where we desire affirmation and acceptance.
Boy, girl, man, woman... we desire to hear how we are wanted, needed, beautiful, handsome, loved.
Women seem to try to find ways to fish for compliments, men (while usually denying the fact they need them) will try to find ways to earn them.
Everyone is looking for those words... i like you, i love you, i want you...
I've been told these things a few times as most of us ladies have. Baby I love you, you're beautiful, etc. and of course these are the words that cause our heart to flutter, those butterflies we get in our stomach, and those emotions we desire so much.
I know at this point you probably think this whole blog is me writing about relationships, but it's not.
I was in the shower tonight praying (as I usually do in the shower) and I heard these words...
"You're beautiful"
To be honest I first thought they were verbal... I thought perhaps my brother's girlfriend was over or Paul was talking loudly to his wife next door!!! lol... or perhaps i'd lost my mind.
I stopped praying, I got quiet, and I sat down on the seat in my shower (I love that i have a seat in my shower!) and I listened again to see what it was. Then I felt that familiar tug in my Spirit and I knew that the Lord was speaking to me and He spoke again.
"Daughter you're beautiful. I love you. I enjoy you. I want all of you."
I began to cry. This moment reminded me of something that we all need to remember. If at any point in life you're craving affirmation or acceptance there is always one sure place you can go; directly to the Father. He is ready and waiting to tell you how much you're loved, how you were bought with the precious blood of Jesus, how you are wanted.
Like most women I look forward to the day of being married and having one man that I want to spend the rest of my life, one man that I desire love and acceptance from, but I hope I never forget who is always waiting for me to listen just so He can tell me He loves me. The God who formed me, bought me, loved me before the foundation of the earth. The God that no matter how many times He tells me He loves me it always brings me to tears.
All I need is you Lord. I love you too.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Boy, girl, man, woman... we desire to hear how we are wanted, needed, beautiful, handsome, loved.
Women seem to try to find ways to fish for compliments, men (while usually denying the fact they need them) will try to find ways to earn them.
Everyone is looking for those words... i like you, i love you, i want you...
I've been told these things a few times as most of us ladies have. Baby I love you, you're beautiful, etc. and of course these are the words that cause our heart to flutter, those butterflies we get in our stomach, and those emotions we desire so much.
I know at this point you probably think this whole blog is me writing about relationships, but it's not.
I was in the shower tonight praying (as I usually do in the shower) and I heard these words...
"You're beautiful"
To be honest I first thought they were verbal... I thought perhaps my brother's girlfriend was over or Paul was talking loudly to his wife next door!!! lol... or perhaps i'd lost my mind.
I stopped praying, I got quiet, and I sat down on the seat in my shower (I love that i have a seat in my shower!) and I listened again to see what it was. Then I felt that familiar tug in my Spirit and I knew that the Lord was speaking to me and He spoke again.
"Daughter you're beautiful. I love you. I enjoy you. I want all of you."
I began to cry. This moment reminded me of something that we all need to remember. If at any point in life you're craving affirmation or acceptance there is always one sure place you can go; directly to the Father. He is ready and waiting to tell you how much you're loved, how you were bought with the precious blood of Jesus, how you are wanted.
Like most women I look forward to the day of being married and having one man that I want to spend the rest of my life, one man that I desire love and acceptance from, but I hope I never forget who is always waiting for me to listen just so He can tell me He loves me. The God who formed me, bought me, loved me before the foundation of the earth. The God that no matter how many times He tells me He loves me it always brings me to tears.
All I need is you Lord. I love you too.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Sweet Redemption
As I've started my new job there have been so many mixed emotions from being in all too familiar places. I can't really seem to walk down the halls of my old h.s, coach volleyball in my old gym, see faces everyday of people i was close with in high school, without reflection and memories.
I never thought I'd be back in Liberty, Tx and I'll admit it wasn't my "choice" place to move to!! But, over these past few weeks I see how God is using these familiarities to heal me in areas I didn't know needed healing.
College was a tremendous blessing to me because I was able to leave an area in my life behind where mistakes had been made, regrets that i had, and move on to be more of the person God had always planned for me to be, closer to the person that I wanted to be.
Coming back to Liberty... everyday i'm reminded not just of who i wish i would of been, but who i wasn't. Philippians 3 makes that thought process hard to live w/ "forgetting what is behind and pressing on..." Check out these lyrics to a song we sang in church the other night.
I'm not going back
I'm moving ahead
I'm here to declare to You
my past is over
In You old things are made new
Surrendered my life to Christ and
I'm moving moving forward
What a moment
You have brought me to
Such a freedom
I have found in You
What a Healer
You make all things new
Yeah Yeah Yeah
You have risen
With all power in Your Hands
You have given me
A second Chance
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Could it not be more on task with what I was feeling? At 15 years old I decided to change, i surrendered my life to Christ and became a new creation, but even after this decision I wasn't the witness I should have been or wanted to be.
This job has been a second chance. Being back in Liberty I'm seeing God redeem areas of my life I hadn't let go of regret in. He is redeeming the hallways of my school, redeeming the gym that I played sports in, redeeming the athletic program, giving me a second chance to be a witness to old friends, This is redemption. I'm living in sweet redemption.
Just in the past few wks, I've been able to pray with several of my volleyball players, meet with several missionaries to explore options for taking youth on a mission trip, make contacts for personal mission trips, teach in youth group, discuss life and hug crying youth, and love coaching volleyball and inspiring students. This is sweet redemption. This is the God I serve.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
I never thought I'd be back in Liberty, Tx and I'll admit it wasn't my "choice" place to move to!! But, over these past few weeks I see how God is using these familiarities to heal me in areas I didn't know needed healing.
College was a tremendous blessing to me because I was able to leave an area in my life behind where mistakes had been made, regrets that i had, and move on to be more of the person God had always planned for me to be, closer to the person that I wanted to be.
Coming back to Liberty... everyday i'm reminded not just of who i wish i would of been, but who i wasn't. Philippians 3 makes that thought process hard to live w/ "forgetting what is behind and pressing on..." Check out these lyrics to a song we sang in church the other night.
I'm not going back
I'm moving ahead
I'm here to declare to You
my past is over
In You old things are made new
Surrendered my life to Christ and
I'm moving moving forward
What a moment
You have brought me to
Such a freedom
I have found in You
What a Healer
You make all things new
Yeah Yeah Yeah
You have risen
With all power in Your Hands
You have given me
A second Chance
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Could it not be more on task with what I was feeling? At 15 years old I decided to change, i surrendered my life to Christ and became a new creation, but even after this decision I wasn't the witness I should have been or wanted to be.
This job has been a second chance. Being back in Liberty I'm seeing God redeem areas of my life I hadn't let go of regret in. He is redeeming the hallways of my school, redeeming the gym that I played sports in, redeeming the athletic program, giving me a second chance to be a witness to old friends, This is redemption. I'm living in sweet redemption.
Just in the past few wks, I've been able to pray with several of my volleyball players, meet with several missionaries to explore options for taking youth on a mission trip, make contacts for personal mission trips, teach in youth group, discuss life and hug crying youth, and love coaching volleyball and inspiring students. This is sweet redemption. This is the God I serve.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
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