It's almost time for spring cleaning...here's a start.

So much has happened since last spring--and it is time for an update, some cleaning, and a clear focus for 2012. In the last year, I moved back into my parents house in Florida, landed my first job as a teacher, and was even honored with the nominated Rookie Teacher of the Year for my school. With all of that being said, this year has been one full of blurring transitions.

If I had to name the thing in this world that makes me the most uneasy and turns me into a basket-case--it is change. When there is a change between jobs, change in relationships(romantic or platonic), or even a sudden change of plans--I completely FREAK OUT. I know we are always encourage to leap at opportunities and embrace change, but when you are a control freak like me--the only thing we will be embrace is a pillow in fetal position when there is a change in your world(Yes, I know I have a problem--I'm working on it).

Moving back home was the hardest struggle I think I have had to do so far this year. Leaving my friends and everything that was familiar to me is still difficult. Unfortunately, in this economy the first job you are offered right out of school you leap at. I have been blessed to be welcomed back into a loving home, and I know this change is only temporary and is according to His plan.

The stress of starting a new job right out of school was another big challenge of my life. I half expected this part to be the hardest--but thanks to the good people at USA and the 60K I dished out for my quality education--my first-year of teaching has not been too stressful. Even though my college education is helping, nothing quite prepares you for the day-to-day grind of working full time because that is a change.

I'm am slowly learning to release these grips--the ones I think have on my life--back to the God. I know He will--and always has--had a plan for my life. My problem is letting go of all of my worry long enough to allow myself to trust Him completely. So the struggle continues and so does the clock...

Make A Difference

Over the last semester of college, I have learned new skills to make myself a better teacher. After all of the lesson plans, grading papers, making PowerPoint presentations, and ultimately cutting down a small forest I've made it to the end of my semester.

Two nights ago my boyfriend Elipio left for a trip to India having no idea what kind of impact one small gesture had on me spiritually. He said that while cleaning up his room in preparation for his trip he found a key chain he bought for me over two years ago. The key chain said "TEACHERS Make a Difference."
*The funny thing is he put in on my keys and I didn't read the key chain until after he left.

At first the key chain made me think of my favorite teacher Mr. Summers, who has no idea the impact he had on my life. It also reminded me of my 101 English professor who taught me to love writing. When I really started to contemplate this statement, I couldn't help but wonder what difference Christ's teachings have made in my own life.

Do I let His messages flow through me like they should?

Ephesians 4:1-3 tells us:
...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Paul tells us in Acts 20:24
I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

The fact is that Christ's grace should make a difference in our lives daily. I think these little moments that wake us up from the insignificance of our own lives is what part of being a Christian is about. Learning from our mistakes,thanking God for unfailing love and grace, and living HIS word 24-7.

Procrastination doesn't work with God...

This semester has been the MOST DIFFICULT for me so far in college (and I've taken Physics and Biology in the same term--twice), and according to my dad, life is apparently not going to get any easier. Not that I thought life would get easier...

With this heavy semester came a multitude of educational-based projects, plenty of response essays, and a ton of time-consuming, sometimes seemingly pointless work. Like a true college student, I tend to procrastinate, actually I'm really good at it--for example my 20 source annotated bibliography for the rhetoric theory class--due in less than a week, it was assigned in August, I started during Thanksgiving..

Back to what I was saying about procrastination, apparently God isn't a fan of our procrastinating.
He says in Luke 9:59-62

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The Lord doesn't want to be second or put off for anything, and He shouldn't. We should avidly seek him, and prioritize our other concerns. Christ has really been revealing this to me in my own life--some priorities need to change and I need to try and focus on Christ more than I have been. The world so easily wants all of our attention, making us put Christ on the back burner. With relationships, school, and work sometimes it is easy to compartmentalize, but sooner or later this is a recipe for disaster.

Just some closing quotes to think about--used like a true English major:

Living with integrity means: not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe." - Barbara De Angelis

We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity.
Barbara de Angelis

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Recently, my life can be described as turmoil. The fall semester is in full swing which means applications are due, testing, assignments, papers, lesson plans, etc...I've been secluded from my friends and family due to my hectic schedule and haven't been seeking the Lord like I should be. This has resulted with a pretty poor attitude and me turning into Debbie Downer for the last few weeks.

As I was grading papers today for my placement teacher, this verse appeared right in front of me on her desk. The crumbled up paper taped to a pencil cup had the three phrases underlined. The image was like one of those heavenly moments where the perfectly on-pitch choir nails a beautiful chord and birds churp in the background. Although my moment of clarity was interrupted with a student grabbing the hall pass; the verse stayed with me all day.

Love this song.

"When God is your reason to live, you will never have a reason to quit."

Like Butter

Today was my first day of classes and I must say it was rather grueling. After a long day of standing in lines at both the bookstore and the parking tag line and sitting through two classes I finally made it home. As I began eating dinner I started searching for something to watch on TV. My choice(after searching my 300 something channels) ended up being a selection from my free movies portion of the Comcast menu--Julie and Julia. Of course as I watched the movie, the leftover casserole I was scarfing down became less and less appealing.

While drooling through the movie and contemplating my leftovers, one line that really stuck with me was something Julia Childs (Meryl Streep) says about the flavor of butter in her recipes: "You can never have too much butter."

Just like butter, Christ wants us to share our own flavor with the world...

He says in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Have you ever really thought about the purposes of salt? It not only adds flavor, but it preserves and heals. (Sorry Julia..salt triumphs over salt in this flavor contest!) Our purpose as Christians on earth is to share our salt with the world, but in order for us to do this we must not loose our saltiness. We must keep our 'zest for Christ' or we are useless to the cause.

In the book I'm reading: "Stop Acting Like a Christian" Caine writes: "...Salt was never designed to remain in the shaker, the Church was never created to remain insular. We are called to live from the inside out both personally and corporately."

So as I watch Julie finds herself through cooking her way through Julia Childs cookbook (with tons of butter), the Lord encourages me through His Word to keep pressing on.