Today I meet with the parents of my form. I've had a tough year at the hands of these kids and felt like quitting teaching on a few occassions due to their attitude. The thing which has kept me going is the knowledge that I am a good teacher. Being a form tutor is not so easy for me.
So this morning I have woken and determined to say positive things about my form to their parents. I will struggle with only one child to find the positive, but with God's help I hope to manage something.
I know each member of my class is expecting me to criticise and condemn their behaviour and attitude. Yet how much more effective and strenthening it will be if I can speak positives into their lives? We live in a world of condemnation, criticism, insecurities and failure. Everyday these children come to school knowing they will fail! Education is tough! We all get wrong answers, yet to some of these children, it appears that ALL they get is wrong answers. Nothing is right, they are total failures.
I know that every one (please help me with Joe!!) has achieved something this year. (yeah!!! Just remembered he was moved up a group in Maths! - a positive!!) These children need to hear of their successes more than their failures. Focussing totally on success is not the answer though, they also need to know their areas of weakness. This needs to be done with gentleness and a desire to see them grow and develop to reach their potential as people.
I know my weakness. I am negative! I see only my faults and often fail to see the good things and the strengths I have been given.
Father, as I speak positive into the lives of these children today, help me also to speak positive into my own life. You love me totally, not for what I am but for who I am.... Your child, your creation. When I criticise myself, I criticise your creation. Yet I stand in awe of you. Of the wonder of your creation and that includes me! By your Holy Spirit, let my life today be filled with your love. Let me see these children as you see them and help me also to see myself as you see me!
Amen.
I was dreading today, until I woke and read part of Psalm 119 and pondered on the thoughts that the psalmist delights to live by God's law. For me, that is to Love Him with all my heart and soul, and to love others as myself. Thinking of this has caused me to see that I need to love these children as God loves them. Today is to be my positive day!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
This morning I was woken by our dog singing (or is it whineing? - singing is easier to spell!) at 4.0 am! I waited for 20 minutes for him to quiet down before eventually going downstairs, getting a glass of water and sitting down with Psalm 119.
The first thing that hit me today was verse 55
In the night I remember your name, O LORD,
and I will keep your law.
I love to listen to praise music and do so at every opportunity. In the car, whilst on the pc (I listen to Cross Rythms Radio on the net and would recommend it to everyone!) and now with modern technology, I listen in the classroom when I am alone. Without realising it, I am putting words of praise into my mind. When I wake, either in the night or in the morning, my head is singing songs I have listened to during the day.
I worry about the words our children are listening to on the radio. Songs about violence, hatred and anger fill their world. I can only encourage my growing children to change their listening habits, but what about all the other children in the world who are having their minds inhabited with such angry and harmful words?
The first thing that hit me today was verse 55
In the night I remember your name, O LORD,
and I will keep your law.
I love to listen to praise music and do so at every opportunity. In the car, whilst on the pc (I listen to Cross Rythms Radio on the net and would recommend it to everyone!) and now with modern technology, I listen in the classroom when I am alone. Without realising it, I am putting words of praise into my mind. When I wake, either in the night or in the morning, my head is singing songs I have listened to during the day.
I worry about the words our children are listening to on the radio. Songs about violence, hatred and anger fill their world. I can only encourage my growing children to change their listening habits, but what about all the other children in the world who are having their minds inhabited with such angry and harmful words?
Remembering who God is and keeping a right perspective of His holiness will help us to keep His law. Keeping the right words in our minds will help us show God's love as we live our lives.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
One of the greatest things...
...is God's living word.
A couple of months ago a friend asked me to do something for her. She asked if I would like to read, make notes and share some bible readings with her. In our own time we would read a small bible section on a regular (irregular) basis and then get together a few weeks later to share our thoughts.
We chose to study a selection psalms and got together during half term to share our thoughts. If something really hit us, we would phone each other excitedly and share what God had said that day. We both went through a period of a few days when we just didn't find the time to read a psalm. Eventually I emailed Jacqueline and admitted I was getting behind. She said she was in the same position and that it didn't matter.
The discipline of being accountable to one another spurred us both on to picking up our bible and notebooks again and get back to God's word. Without each other, we may just have given up. By doing this with a friend, there was no condemnation for missing a few days. By half term we had both read MOST of the initial psalms we had selected.
God's word contains many words, but the amazing thing is that you can read the same passage several times and each time it speaks differently to you. Read a novel and you may notice new things each time you read it, but those things were there before. Eventually you will pick up everything in the book. This is NOT true of God's word. The bible is God's living word to us. Each time we open it and ask God to speak to us through it, He answers that prayer with revelation about Himself. Two people reading the same verses can often pick up very different things from God. This is because He is dealing with us individually and has different areas of our lives He wants to deal with, or because He has different aspects of Himself He is revealing to us.
Right now, I'm asking myself... Why do I not read His word more often? Why, if it is so important and exciting to me, do I not read it with more hunger?
Sharing with a friend, without any condemnation, is a good discipline for me. I'd recommend it to others. I joked with an old friend over half term that I was glad we hadn't chosen Psalm 119! When I told Jacqueline, she suggested we read that one next as it breaks down into 8 verse sections. So Psalm 119 it is!
So, today, find the time to pick up God's word, read a short section and just spend a few minutes thinking about what He's saying to you. God is always wanting to speak to us and share His love for us. Will you take the time to listen today?
A couple of months ago a friend asked me to do something for her. She asked if I would like to read, make notes and share some bible readings with her. In our own time we would read a small bible section on a regular (irregular) basis and then get together a few weeks later to share our thoughts.
We chose to study a selection psalms and got together during half term to share our thoughts. If something really hit us, we would phone each other excitedly and share what God had said that day. We both went through a period of a few days when we just didn't find the time to read a psalm. Eventually I emailed Jacqueline and admitted I was getting behind. She said she was in the same position and that it didn't matter.
The discipline of being accountable to one another spurred us both on to picking up our bible and notebooks again and get back to God's word. Without each other, we may just have given up. By doing this with a friend, there was no condemnation for missing a few days. By half term we had both read MOST of the initial psalms we had selected.
God's word contains many words, but the amazing thing is that you can read the same passage several times and each time it speaks differently to you. Read a novel and you may notice new things each time you read it, but those things were there before. Eventually you will pick up everything in the book. This is NOT true of God's word. The bible is God's living word to us. Each time we open it and ask God to speak to us through it, He answers that prayer with revelation about Himself. Two people reading the same verses can often pick up very different things from God. This is because He is dealing with us individually and has different areas of our lives He wants to deal with, or because He has different aspects of Himself He is revealing to us.
Right now, I'm asking myself... Why do I not read His word more often? Why, if it is so important and exciting to me, do I not read it with more hunger?
Sharing with a friend, without any condemnation, is a good discipline for me. I'd recommend it to others. I joked with an old friend over half term that I was glad we hadn't chosen Psalm 119! When I told Jacqueline, she suggested we read that one next as it breaks down into 8 verse sections. So Psalm 119 it is!
So, today, find the time to pick up God's word, read a short section and just spend a few minutes thinking about what He's saying to you. God is always wanting to speak to us and share His love for us. Will you take the time to listen today?
Monday, June 27, 2005
Today is the beginning
This is quite scary! I'm opening the world to my thoughts! For the time being I just want somewhere to put down my own thoughts and to try to be more positive about myself and the events in my life.
So let's change the opening sentences!
This is EXCITING!!! Wow what an opportunity to share my life and the good things God is doing with anyone in the world who is interested!
Suddenly I feel so much brighter! It's great to be positive. If having my own blog helps me to improve my personal positiveness then I'm glad I've got the opportunity to do so!
Roll on my next blog!!
So let's change the opening sentences!
This is EXCITING!!! Wow what an opportunity to share my life and the good things God is doing with anyone in the world who is interested!
Suddenly I feel so much brighter! It's great to be positive. If having my own blog helps me to improve my personal positiveness then I'm glad I've got the opportunity to do so!
Roll on my next blog!!
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