His Strength in the Classroom

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Lynn

17e097e19138388888cfef039226a0eeI’ve been in the classroom all of four weeks and I’ve been sick most of that time.  It is a fact of life for teachers that they must build up an immunity to their kids.  Sounds harsh, but oh so true!  There’s only so much “sick time” a teacher can spend away from class so I’ve been trying to tough it out.  I know all the teachers out there understand what I mean.

Teachers spend a good part of their time trying to dodge all the “kid viruses” that seem to spread like wildfire throughout a school.  Hard as I try to make sure I’ve got a good supply of hand-sanitizer, tissues and the like, I cringe whenever I hear a sneeze or a well-aimed cough come in my direction.  I try not to touch doorknobs or handles at school and I don’t touch hand rails on stairs anywhere.  I have this technique of pulling down my sleeve to cover my hand so my skin does not touch those surfaces.  My sweaters always look a little stretched in the sleeves!  Still, no matter what I try, those obnoxious bugs seem to invade my defenses and I can’t escape them!  Unfortunately, I am also the one out of those million who is allergic to the flu shot!  It is frustrating!

So, I’ve been coughing and sniffling through the first month of school after Christmas and realizing why they call this month, “Blue January”.  It’s hard to muster energy in the classroom and attend to all the things I need to accomplish when I’m feeling so run-down.  Report cards are on the horizon and I’m feeling overwhelmed.

I like to pray as I drive to school in the mornings.  I pray for my family, I pray journey mercies as I travel (especially that the Lord will keep animals off the country roads I travel down to school…saw a moose the other day…and thanked God He kept the animal “at bay” until I passed.)  Then I pray for wisdom in the classroom.  I try to pray for my students, by name, each morning.  Yes, I spend a little more time praying for the more challenging ones, but I suppose that’s not too unusual.

The other morning as I drove in, I was physically and emotionally exhausted.  I had been up most of the night coughing and nursing this virus that had hit me hard.  I was tired, a little bedraggled and wondered how I would survive the day.  So I prayed.

I prayed for strength.  I prayed for energy.  I prayed Jesus would stand beside me in the class and “hold me up” if need be so I could get through the day.  In my mind’s eye, I actually pictured Jesus standing with me at the white board with one arm draped over my shoulder so I could lean on Him for support.  It was such a vivid image, I felt His Presence in the classroom all day.

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”  Psalm 5:3

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New Year – New Worries?

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Lynn

You will have noticed that I have been silent the last few weeks (at least from a writing viewpoint).  I am once again teaching full-time butslide_20 this time it’s a very different assignment than in years past.  I am teaching a group of very bright, very enthusiastic Grade Six students and this time I have an arch-nemesis to deal with that I haven’t had to battle for eons…MATH!

My high school Math teachers would have a real chuckle about this, as would most of my high school friends, that by some strange fate, Mathematics and I have been paired together to learn from one another yet again.  Yes, it’s true I sent one of my Math teachers “over the edge” as he tried to teach me the finer nuances of trigonometry and algebra…(sorry Mr. Ruxton).  Yes, it is also true that I have tried to avoid the subject area almost all my adult life, either in teaching it, or doing it.  I can balance my cheque book…and Mr. Ruxton is probably surprised by that!  Knowing my mathematical weakness, God gave me a husband who is a genius with numbers and I help him with spelling and grammar.  We’ve made a good team for close to thirty-eight years.  However, I cannot bring him into my Grade Six classroom everyday, so I must face my nemesis on my own.  It’s a steep learning curve to be sure.

Thankfully, I work with a great team colleagues, who don’t point and laugh at me, like some of my classmates did when I went to high school, but are eager to help me if I should find the battle too hard for me to handle on my own.  I am also blessed with some pretty savvy math minds in my Grade Six classroom who are learning in spite of me!

Still, this challenge is a new “worry” for me, as the enemy points out my limitations and heaps condemnation on me, pointing out my inadequacies along the way.  It’s easy to say, “do not be anxious…” (Philippians 4:6-7) but the reality is: I AM ANXIOUS!

I just put away all our Christmas decorations.  It was a season spent with all my children gathered under one roof with their families and significant others.  After a rather tumultuous year, filled with challenges and personal ups and downs for each of my children, this past Christmas was filled with healing and miracles.  Laughter filled our home.  It was the BEST Christmas ever…in my opinion at least.  So, it was not unusual as I packed away the tree ornaments and nativity scene that I started to become emotional.  We don’t know where we will be spending Christmas next year.  Change is on the horizon, and after over twenty years of Christmases spent in this home, we may be in a new home, perhaps a new province next Christmas.  It’s the unknowns in our future that have me uneasy.

It’s easy to say, “do not be anxious…” (Philippians 4:6-7) but the reality is: I AM ANXIOUS!

It’s hard not to fret about the economic downturn we have seen here in Alberta, falling oil prices that effect our livelihood here in this province and in Canada in general.  Political unrest, terrorist threats, humanitarian disasters, global tyrants who threaten our peace,…the list compounds until I feel so overwhelmed that complaining about my lack of mathematical ability is infinitesimally trivial!

It’s easy to say, “do not be anxious…” (Philippians 4:6-7) but the reality is: I AM ANXIOUS!

I’m sure there are others who feel as I do, entering the first few weeks of 2016, more trepidatious than excited.  Apparently the beginning of a New Year according to statistics brings on more stress and depression than at any other time of the year.  Some call it the “January Blues“.  The festive Christmas season turns to a big psychological downer when bills come due, work resumes and things go back to normal reality.

It’s easy to say, “do not be anxious…” (Philippians 4:6-7) but the reality is: people ARE ANXIOUS!

I was reminded today that casting my cares once more upon the strong shoulders of my Saviour is a choice.  It’s not easy to let go of my anxiety.  At times I wear it like a security blanket.  I become more comfortable in my stress than letting go of it.  Weird but true.

I want to let go of my anxiety.  It’s a daily struggle.  I truly want that “peace that transcends understanding”.  There is no easy method for letting go of anxiety, but there’s a proven, tried-and-true equation to follow: I am presenting my petitions to God through prayer yet again.  Ceaseless, daily prayer going before the Father for wisdom and guidance.  I know He is able.  I know He is “my help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).  I may not be a math genius, but that at least is a good formula to work on every single day.

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A Social Network Christmas Story

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Lynn

As an educator and teacher, and a writer of young adult fiction, I discovered quickly if I wanted to relate and converse with my students09a3ee54ea02bccdd1161454107fbb8c and my readers on a regular basis I would have to join social media sites.  Facebook is the social networking site of choice for nearly all the people I know, although many youth are now turning more towards Instagram and SnapChat, probably because all their parents are now using Facebook :).  Initially when I started using Facebook I was hooked on the time-wasting applications and games, but mostly I interacted with friends and family regularly checking their statuses etc.  Through the years, Facebook has helped me promote my writing as well as continue to interact with people around the world who do not feel comfortable talking face-face about spiritual things but have no qualms about Facebooking me if they have questions.  I have discovered that Facebook is a rather unique tool that can be used to disciple and minister and even evangelize with.

With over a billion users, Facebook is the largest social networking site world-wide.  Most of the users are youth – young adult age, although Baby Boomers and Seniors are well represented who use Facebook as well.

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t add a disclaimer here.  As with any kind of online activity, parents MUST be diligent in ensuring children’s safety on Facebook.  There is questionable material, apps, advertising etc., that is not appropriate for  teens (let alone adults).  Privacy settings must be updated regularly.  Parents, talk with your teens about using Facebook and monitor their activity there.  Remember, “the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, waiting to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)  Facebook has its share of “lions”.  Be on your guard!

That said, Facebook, if utilized correctly by Christians, has the potential to reach millions and millions of people with the Gospel.  I have noticed, especially around Christmas, that status updates, postings and the like flood Facebook with the message of hope and peace that is only found in the person of Jesus Christ.

This video was sent to me recently on Facebook and I found it to be so creative and original I felt I had to share it with my readers.  Please feel free to pass along the link to my blog to all of your Facebook friends and let’s flood Facebook this Christmas and throughout the year with the life-giving message of “Peace on earth, good will to men!”

Merry Christmas!

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