Author: Emilydvsn

faith

Being a Grace Giver

Emilydvsn

If you’re anything like me, giving grace isn’t always on your radar. I’m a grudge holder. I point out others’ faults, and I am normally the last to extend grace. But this isn’t how Jesus wants us to live.

Matthew 6:15 says, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
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That verse always stops me. I want to be forgiven, so I know I must extend grace to others. I must be a grace giver like Jesus. I have to extend grace to those around me.

I normally can justify all the reasons why I don’t extend grace starting with, they don’t deserve it.

Neither did I. When Jesus went to the cross for my sins, He knew how badly I would mess up and need forgiveness. And guess what? He knew about you too. But He went anyway. He extended undeserved grace to you and me.

Now it’s our turn. We get to be grace givers to those around us. We get to extend grace so that others can see the light of Jesus.

We are grace givers not only to those outside our homes, but also to those inside. That’s when it becomes the hardest. We see all of their faults. Trust me, I am quick to point out all the mistakes made by others.

But today I challenge you to be a grace giver. Inside and outside of our homes, let’s extend undeserved grace to those around us. We can extend this grace because Jesus has extended it to us.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’ve never received His grace, you can do that today.

Just follow the ABCs:

A – First, admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

B – Second, believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

C – Last, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

If you want to pray to receive Jesus today, pray this prayer below:

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross to save me. I confess You as my Lord and Savior and ask you to be Lord of my life. Amen.

If you accepted Jesus today or you just want to talk, I’d love to hear from you. Click the link below.

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Choose His Forgiveness

Emilydvsn

This morning I had an ah-ha moment as I was reading Priscilla Shirer’s book The Resolution for Women. This book is broken up into twelve resolutions and then individual chapters. I am now on the resolution about forgiveness.

This whole section has spoken to me quite a bit because forgiveness is something I struggle with at times. Today, though, stood out to me more than any other.

She tells the story of a girl asking how you forgive yourself. It’s a question I’ve asked and wandered myself more times than I can count. How do I get ride of the shame? Her answer hit me to my core.

She told the girl simply, you can’t.

You can’t forgive yourself.

Only Jesus can.

And if we have accepted His gift of salvation, then He has forgiven us. Romans 8:1 says,“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
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That guilt and shame you and I feel is from the devil. If you are a child of God, you have been forgiven. Jesus took it all upon Him when He died on the cross for us. You are not responsible for forgiving yourself.

Psalms 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” We must choose to accept His forgiveness and live in freedom with Him.
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If you’re looking for a great book for women, I recommend the one above!

If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I’d love to talk to you.

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Choosing to Give it to the Lord

Emilydvsn

Today begins a new school year. Although I won’t meet most of my students until Friday, today is the official start. Every year I’m excited and nervous and sometimes even dreadful of what the new year might bring. However, I’ve felt mostly excitement this year. So what’s different?

I’ve decided to give this school year to the Lord. Psalms 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” Some versions use the word righteous instead of good. But this doesn’t just happen. We must choose to give it to God.

It’s so easy to begin grumbling and complaining about everything. Even after trying to hype my husband, who is also a teacher, up about this school year, I found myself complaining about certain aspects of our professional development. However I’m reminded of Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

So this year I’m choosing to give it all to God. Im choosing to be content in my circumstances. Im thanking God for the little lives I get to impact everyday. Im thanking God for the people I get to work with and for.

Im excited for this year, and I’m hopeful for where God is going to use me.

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faith

Finding Joy in the Pain

Emilydvsn

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Our church has been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I can remember reading this book early in my Christian walk and not fully understanding or grasping everything he was saying. As I read through it a second time, I’m blown away at the times God speaks to me.

Today, I read the chapter “Transformed by Trouble”. This chapter really hit home with me. I feel like when live in a culture today where we measure other people’s godliness by how much stuff they have equating that to God’s blessings. But that is such a distorted view of God’s Word.

Joni Eareckson Tada said, “When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only in suffering will we know Jesus.” If everything is always good, why would we need a Savior? It in the pain and suffering that grow.

Rick Warren uses an example of a jeweler to illustrate how His use’s circumstances to hammer away at our impurities. Now, I’ve never been hit with a hammer, but it can’t feel too great. The Bible uses the term “refiner’s fire” to show how God makes us like Him. This is another example of how pain forms and molds us.

We can’t rely on prosperity gospel in our Christian walk. When we think of the people in the Bible who were highly favored, they were nobody in the world’s eyes. There’s even a prostitute in the lineage of Jesus! God will use our past, our sins, our hurts, and our regrets to transform us if we will let Him.

James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” So, today I’m going to look at my circumstances differently. I’m going to trust God’s plan and purpose for my life. I know He is working all things out.

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For God’s Purpose

Emilydvsn

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Romans 11:36

This school year has been difficult to say the least. I’ve questioned everything I know, and I’ve spent more hours at home trying to help students understand the material. I have students this year that just don’t care. These aren’t students who can’t do. They just don’t want to do.

I’ve done everything I know to do from taking away recess to giving lunch detention and calling home. I’ve reached out to administration to no avail. I feel lost. And yet if these students don’t do the work, they don’t learn. Then that is reflected in state testing.

I’ve cried more and been more frustrated than I have in a long time. Then I began reading the book, The Purpose Driven Life. As I came to Day 7: The Purpose of Everything, this verse was at the top. As I read through the chapter, I couldn’t help but think about my students.

We are all here for a purpose, God’s purpose. No matter how frustrated or upset I get, I must remember that God created them for His purpose. In the moment, this can be so hard, but there are ways to remember they are God’s workmanship.

1. Pray for your students.

This is something I have started todo each and every day. I pray before I come to school. I pray during our moment of silence, and sometimes I even pray throughout the day when things get hard.

2. Take a deep breath.

Sometimes when I’m so frustrated, I need to walk away from the situation. This helps me remind myself to give grace to my kiddos. Even on the hard and trying days, I give grace because Jesus gave me grace.

3. Know your students personally.

One thing I began last year was circle up time. We make a big circle and pass a bear around. When you have the bear, you share something you did the night before or over the weekend. This opens the lines of communication, and if I ever forget, they remind me. I’ve also started going to my students’ ball games. They love when I show up to support them.

All of these things help me remember they are created for God’s purpose and so am I. I am asking God to see others as He sees them. I am striving to live my life surrendered to Him.

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faith

The Miracle in the Storm

Emilydvsn

Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. Nehemiah 9:21

I have been reading through my Bible again this year. I’ve done it several times, and every time, the Lord reveals something to me I haven’t noticed before. Part of my reading each day is the Old Testament while the other is in the New. Right now, I’m reading through Numbers. If you’ve never read Numbers, it’s not exactly the most exciting book of the Bible.

But today I could hear God speaking. I could hear him tell me that there are miracles in the storms. If you haven’t studied much about the Israelite people, let me just tell you that they didn’t always have things easy. After God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, they then spent the next 40 years wandering the desert before they could enter the Promised Land.

However, even in that waiting, even in what seemed like a storm, God sustained them and loved them. He showed them His goodness and mercy. He gave them manna from heaven to eat and their clothes never wore out.

God still does the same for us. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Our God doesn’t change. We serve a good God and a big God. He will see us through whatever we are facing.

Right now, my family is under attack. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This is a spiritual attack, although it looks carnal if we focus on it. I know this has to be fought on our knees, and I know the Lord will see us through.

Genesis 50:20 says, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” This is what Joseph says after he was thrown in prison for being falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife. God took that situation and moved him to an even higher position as second in command to pharaoh. God performed a miracle in that storm.

So many times we look at our bad situations and think we’re being punished or that God must not love us, but that simply does not line up with Scripture. James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” So many faithful men and women in the Bible endured things we find unfathomable. However, God’s glory shined every time.

You, too, maybe walking through a storm like us. Sometimes God will calm that storm and it’s over quickly. Other times, that storm seems to rock your whole world. However, you have to keep your feet grounded in Christ. He will keep you and sustain you. Instead of asking God, “Why?” start asking, “What?” What is God doing in this situation? How will He use this for His glory?

I believe we will see miracles through our situation. I believe we will see God work in a mighty way. I believe His glory will shine. We serve a big, big God who loves us. He can do big things if we allow Him to. I’m ready to receive His miracles through this storm.

If you’re going through something in your life right now, I’d be glad to pray with you. Let me know in the comments below.

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Are You Shining?

Emilydvsn

I’ve committed this year to read through my Bible again. I’ve done this for several years, and I love how new things pop out every time I read. Some days I feel like I’ve heard everything in the Bible a million times over, and then something hits me like I’ve seen it for the very first time. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” How true that is!

This morning as I was reading in Exodus, a passage really stuck out to me. Read Exodus 34:29-35 below.

“Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭29‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When I read those verses, I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me. Does your face shine after you’ve been with the Lord? Now, I don’t think we’re going to walk around with literal glowing faces everywhere. I felt the Lord convicting me of the question, Do people know you have been with the Lord? We’re not going to walk around with luminescent faces, but people should know we have spent time with the Lord of lords and King of kings.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It some versions it says, “peculiar people”. We are different and should be different than the world, not by spewing hate but emanating Jesus.

I want people to know I’ve been with the Lord. I want people to look at me and see Jesus. I want to show His live to those around me. I want my face to shine with His glory.

Are you shining for Jesus today? As little kids we sang, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” We sang the words not really understanding what they meant. Now, as we’ve matured we should know that means showing the love of Jesus to those around us. We have to choose each day to let our lights shine.

Lord, help me to shine Your light in this world. May others know I’ve been in your presence. Amen.

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faith, school, teaching

Fighting the Good Fight in the Classroom

Emilydvsn

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

When I went into teaching in 2007, I was going to change the world. I was really going to make a difference. That first year, though, was awful. I had no clue what I was doing, and no idea really how to improve. Long story short, health issues with my little girl kept me home for the next several years.

When I went back into the classroom in 2011, I met a teacher who took me under her wing and I slowly started becoming the teacher I wanted to be. At year eleven and back at my original school, I’m still no where near perfect. I try. I try hard. And I fail, miserably on some days.

Yesterday, I received a phone call from a parent that in all honesty made me feel like a total failure. In that moment I wanted to curl up and cry and frankly just throw in the towel. But I didn’t. I began to reflect on my interactions with this child. I began to think of the things I was doing to push him during times I’m not even required to.

We all have a kid like that don’t we? Or even multiple. Sometimes it’s your whole classroom. You do all you can. Most of the times, however, you don’t get that phone call.

It was hateful, and she had already decided I was the enemy. If you’ve taught any amount of time, you’ve experienced one of those. We’ve all been there. And even when we know the words spewing from the mouth are untrue, how do we get past that?

First, I believe we need to pray. No matter what is going on, prayer will see you through. Prayer is when you get to talk with your Savior. I promise he will give you peace no matter what.

Secondly, you have to continue to love the child. No matter what they may have gone home and said or you think they’ve said, you have to love anyway. I Peter 4:8 says, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” It’s amazing what happens when we love anyway.

Thirdly, we have to keep fighting the fight. Teaching school is hard, and lawmakers make it harder. Most people have no clue what it’s like to battle all of the things we do with such little payout. Students who could barely sit still at the beginning of the year are showing tremendous growth in behavior and social interactions, but they are measured by a single test score. However, they can’t thrive until those things are taken care of first. No one sees those things or wants to measure that growth.

So, we keep fighting. We take our own time to plan and pull. We spend nights with family grading papers and struggling to help those behind. We do so many things no one sees. We try and then we try harder. At the end of the day, we just have to keep fighting.

Keep your head up high. Say a prayer for peace when it gets to be too much. Love anyway and just keep fighting. You are amazing!

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The Other Brother

Emilydvsn

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:25-32

If you don’t recognize that passage, it comes from the Prodigal Son. Normally we focus on the love of the father or the repentant prodigal son, but I want to take some time to talk about the faithful son, the one that stayed behind.

I’ve been thinking a lot about him lately. I think most Christians, if we’re truly honest, can identify with him. We’ve all been there. Or at least I know I have. I’ve been reading Comparison Girl by Shannon Popkin. In this book she delves into all of the comparisons we make with Christians and sinners alike and points out that our disgust is even a comparison.

I began to think about the other brother in this story. He was disgusted that his brother first, would have the audacity to go and blow all of his father’s money on harlots and secondly, that his father would celebrate the son’s return. It was what Shannon Popkin calls the “upside down Kingdom”. God doesn’t measure us based on measuring lines like we do to others.

As I scroll through Facebook and search my own heart, I know we are measuring the world with disgust. We are looking on from the side thinking they aren’t worthy to sit in our church or even thinking to ourselves, “Did they really get saved?” Yikes! We have become judge where God never called us to be the judge.

So, today as we encounter others that sin differently than us, may we always lead them to the Father with outstretched arms. Let them come broken and dirty and destitute. It’s not our job to change them. May we let the Holy Spirit convict their hearts and ours. I pray that I can see others through the Father’s eyes today and not through the eyes of the other brother.

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Shutting the Mouths of Lions

Emilydvsn

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:25-27

Today, I read the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. It’s a story I’ve heard and read many times through the years. I assume if you’re reading this, you probably have too, but this morning, I read it with fresh eyes.

The first thing I noticed is how we take this story for granted. We’re like, “Oh, yeah, Daniel survived some lions. Cool.” I’m pretty sure that’s more than cool. The average weight of a male lion is anywhere from 330 pounds to 570 pounds according to http://www.pbs.org. Can you even imagine? The scripture says, “no injury found on him, because he believed in his God.”(verse 23) I think we take the miracles in the Bible for granted. We forget that God can shut the mouths of lions or we don’t even understand or grasp the magnitude of what He did. We also think that only happened in the Bible. But Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” God is still shutting the mouths of lions. God is still working in mighty ways. We just have to get out of the way and let Him.

The second thing I noticed is how Daniel stood for his beliefs without becoming a political zealot. When King Darius made a decree that went against God, Daniel didn’t march up to the palace and demand that people who didn’t believe in God to change. Daniel continued to worship God and honor Him no matter the consequences. Today, I see Christians expecting nonbelievers to behave like Christians while not honoring God themselves. We have to be true to the Word of God. We have to stop trying to push our beliefs on others and introduce them to our Savior. Do you know why King Darius responded the way he did to Daniel’s encounter? Because he saw firsthand how awesome our God is. When is the last time we tried to show someone the awesomeness of God and how mighty He is?

We need a fresh encounter with God where we realize how awesome and mighty He is. If we don’t understand how big of a God we serve, we can’t share Him with others. We get so caught up in rules and regulations and checklists and thinking everyone needs to follow those. But the nonbelievers of this world want nothing to do with a set of rules to follow especially when they see we don’t always uphold them either. We need to fall in love with Jesus again. We need to surrender to His power and let Him work in us.

Trust me, He’s a big enough God to shut the mouths of lions, whatever your lions may look like. He can take care of it. We just have to submit to Him and trust Him.

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