Tag Archives: encouragement

Go Ahead and Name It… But Don’t Stop There!

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Have you ever felt just… off? Like there’s something wrong, but you just can’t pinpoint what it is? That nagging feeling won’t leave you alone and you rack your mind to identify it. Sometimes the source is as simple as a bill needing paid but at other times it’s a more complex emotional issue that will eventually need to be addressed.

When that “Aha” moment comes and you settle on the source of your angst… there’s a bit of relief from naming it: anxiety, grief, anger, attention deficit, clinical depression, discontent, compulsive behavior, fear, exhaustion, addiction, loneliness, frustration… or something else just as discouraging. But once you’ve slapped a label on it, in the words of Journey, “Where do we go from here?”

This is where I found myself… not so long ago. I felt frustrated and misunderstood. My feelings were raw, my heart sensitive, and yet, not much around me had changed. Because I couldn’t identify the source of my emotions, I didn’t really know how to talk to anyone about it. I stayed trapped in that place of edginess until I decided to stop wondering about it and went to the One who made me! I’m so thankful for the truth deep in my spirit that God loves me and knows exactly what is going on in my heart!

After some prayer and heart-searching, I realized that an old foe had come back for a visit… its name: rejection. From childhood, this has been a source of pain and through the years, layers have been added. I also feel like layers have been removed through healing and a deeper understanding of who I am in Christ. But life happens and we get knocked back onto our proverbial backsides at times.

But THIS is what I want you to hear… when you and I have come to the place where we are able to name our struggle, that is not the end! It is just the beginning of our journey (no pun intended )!  

Too often we settle for simply naming our issue and then we allow it to manage us:

  • I deal with anxiety, so I can’t …
  • The grief is too much, I guess I’ll always feel this way.
  • Yes, I have ADHD, that’s why I …
  • No one gets me, so I don’t even try
  • I have anger issues, that’s just who I am.
  • I wish I could travel, but I’m too nervous to go anywhere

Just because you and I name our struggle does not give us an excuse to not address it! Where do we go from here? We go from naming our challenge to dealing with it and then overcoming it!

These struggles are REAL issues and often can be traced back to painful experiences. However, no matter how valid your pain and discomfort, do not allow it to hold you captive! Do not allow it to limit who you are or what you can do! Grab ahold of the label, look it in the eye, call it by name, and get ready to live your life well… in spite of it!

Here are some weapons that helped me effectively subdue my “label.”

  • Talk to someone you trust and ask for their support. Bringing feelings, circumstances, concerns, and fears into light brings a measure of freedom in and of itself.
  • Do an online search for practical strategies relating to your label. There are tried and true ways to manage executive dysfunction, grief, addiction, and just about anything you can label!
  • Therapy… Patient, objective support and input from a therapist is valuable. Some employers even offer free sessions as part of a healthcare package.
  • Research natural healing: magnesium for stress, exercise for attention deficit, essential oils for anxiety, etc. (Be sure to check with your physician if you are taking medications.)
  • Speak positive declarations over yourself! Refuse to make your struggle your identity! You are created amazing! Declare truths over yourself out loud on a daily basis. If you are unsure of your value or identity, check out these blog posts: Stolen Identity and Worth by Birth.

Do what you can in the natural and then ask God to put His SUPER on the natural!

  • Understand that the Name of Jesus is above EVERY name! Jesus above every label, diagnosis, emotion, and trauma! The promises of God are true and sure. If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us? He is greater in us than any label on us. Check out: Ephesians 1:18-23, Philippians 2:9, Romans 8:31-35, I John 4:4. Let this song be your declaration: I Speak Jesus.
  • Hide the Word of God in your heart, place it on your fridge, play it in your car… The Truth of God’s Word will help you deal and defeat what life has sent your way.

Is overcoming a life-challenge easy? Of course not! Rarely is anything worthwhile accomplished without effort. But is it worth it? YES! Not only will you grow in strength and wisdom, but your successful journey will serve to inspire others. Go ahead and name your challenge and then tell it to shut-up and sit down! You are an Overcomer!

Live Loved

PS: If this blog post encouraged or challenged you, please share on social media! Blessings!

What Type of Culture are You Facilitating?

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Culture… It can be defined as the customs, beliefs, values, and celebrations of a particular group of people. While we typically associate culture with a country’s people group, there is a myriad of other cultures.

Family cultures vary in birthday celebrations, entertainment choices, discipline styles, faith commitments, and vacation destinations.  Churches, restaurants, towns, and workplaces also have their own versions of culture.

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, a teacher, a waiter, a welder, a consumer, or a football fan, you are contributing to some culture, most likely several cultures! So, what are you adding to the cultures in your realm of influence as you go through your day?

I ask this because cultural contributions are a topic close to my heart. Each part of our day gives us an opportunity to choose between positive and negative contributions. As we drive to work each morning, we can positively or negatively impact the traffic culture. (Let that sink in… is your horn a tool or a tactic? Do you wave someone on or wag a finger at them?)

In the busy coffee shop, we can stir up discontent or exemplify patience. Yes, even that seemingly small choice will make a difference in the atmosphere while we wait. Cultural contributions are evident in our facial expressions, our words, our actions, and our attitudes. (When stressful moments come, what we carry in our heart is what comes pouring out… but that’s a topic for another blog!)

While your daily contributions do impact the culture around you, facilitating a culture takes our responsibility further. If you’ve read this far, don’t stop now! 😊 Think of the top 2 or 3 places you spend most of your time. These are the places where you have a role in culture facilitation.

I’ve worked jobs that felt like I was working with family. There was laughter, encouragement, and a boatload of inside jokes. I’ve also worked at jobs that felt like eggshells were scattered all over the floor and stepping on even one would lead to disaster. You had to be careful of what you said, who you said it to, and what tone you used. Similar contrasts can be seen in every culture that we engage in. A negative culture will multiply stress, decrease fulfillment, and increase a sense of aloneness.

My current school has been my work home for over 14 years. We’ve had our ups and downs and the student population we serve comes with more challenges than many. And yet, I have no desire to go to a more affluent school, higher paying district, or one with more accolades. Why? Because I am part of a staff that has worked to develop and maintain a positive culture even through administration changes. Is everyone 100% all in? No… rarely does that happen. Is everyone trustworthy or positive or culture-focused? Nope! BUT, the majority–from admin to cafeteria staff to custodians to teachers–are committed to giving their best day to day. And… don’t miss this… there is an attitude of togetherness, support, and “I’ve got your back” that sets our school culture up for continued success even when the changes, the data, the challenges, can feel smothering and disheartening. This positive culture was not built by one, but by many. It didn’t happen overnight, it happened when individuals chose to show up, give their best, and seek the good of the whole consistently.

Is this type of work or school culture feel foreign or unattainable to you? Do you want to help facilitate a positive culture but you’re thinking: “You have NO idea what my workplace, home, or school is like!” Let me encourage you… YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Maybe the macro level is out of your realm of influence, but the micro level is not! You can facilitate a positive culture in your home, your office, your workshop, your classroom, your worship center, or on your team!

The starting point is this: Treat others the way you’d like to be treated (not the way you’ve been treated)!1

How did Cindy Lou Who get through to the Grinch? By showing kindness that he did not expect or deserve!2

In addition to kindness in the face of crudeness, consider these commitments needed to facilitate a positive culture:

  • Be humble-We all make mistakes, don’t be afraid to own up to yours!
  • Be generous-It will come back to you!
  • Be honest-Lies and half-truths will eventually bite you in the behind and ruin your reputation!
  • Be respectful-The CEO and the janitor deserve the same level of respect, manners are important!
  • Be nonjudgmental-Rarely do we know what others are walking through!
  • Be cautious with your words-Talking about others negatively reflects more on you than on them!
  • Be encouraging-Celebrate the successes of others, big or small!
  • Be compassionate-Life can be challenging for all of us even on a good day!
  • Be teachable-No one knows it all or likes a know it all!
  • Be integrous-Doing the right thing will help you sleep well at night and make you the type of person that others trust and appreciate!

Be the change! Choose 1 thing you can do today or tomorrow that will bring a positive vibe to your realm of influence. You won’t regret stepping up your game when it comes to facilitating a positive culture at home, school, work, or on the field. When you lay the groundwork, others will join you. You truly can make a difference!

My students say a chant with me every day. It starts with: “I am one of a kind! I bring something to this world that no one else can.” We declare some other things over ourselves and then end the chant like this: “I am a world changer!” So are you!

You are amazing!

1Jesus (Luke 6:31)

2The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

An Anchor for Your Soul

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Welcome to 2022! It’s a fresh page in the newest chapter of your life! The Lord has preloaded experiences, events, and encounters into each day of this new year (Ephesians 2:10).  He designed each day specifically for you and with your best interests in mind (Psalm 139:13-170)! It’s important to have faith in His plans and purposes because not all of those experiences, events, and encounters will be easy.

As you embark on Day 1 of whatever year this is in your journey, can I encourage you to grab ahold? Grab ahold of a promise of God that speaks to your heart and will sustain you through the difficult times! It doesn’t have to be the same promise all year; in fact, God wants to give us “fresh bread” a.k.a. “fresh Truth” each day. You see, when the river of life begins to churn and feel more like white water rapids than a docile stream, we NEED to have an anchor to cling to! That anchor is found in the Truth of God’s Word and in the Truth of His character.

Let me connect two verses for you that I hope will encourage you to dig afresh into God’s promises for you!

In Jeremiah 1:12, the Lord tells the prophet “for I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled” (NIV). When the Lord makes a declaration, He is committed to follow through on His Word! That’s exciting!

Now check out II Corinthians 1:20: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (NIV). Imagine a child that has an earnest desire and climbs up on daddy’s lap to make her request knowing that the answer is already a “yes.” That child has no fear or trepidation, only confidence in what is to come!

With the heart of that child, we participate in the process by identifying God’s promises and then affirming them with an “Amen” in our lives! Sure, God can do things on His own, but He wants to partner with us in this journey! He wants to build our confidence in His faithfulness (Hebrews 1:21).

Each new year, I pray for a word to help me embrace what the Lord has planned for me. This year, He gave me the word “hope” with Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NIV). I don’t know what experiences, events, and encounters even today holds, but I know Who holds me every step of the way and my hope is in His faithfulness!

Reach out for a Word from your Daddy, a promise1 from His heart, and know that He is faithful to bring it to pass! He is not sending you into 2022 with a handshake and pat on the back, He walks with you every step of the way. Grab ahold of a promise, grab ahold of some Truth, grab ahold of HIM each moment of every day and watch Him fulfill His promises to you!

Live loved,

1 There are many, many promises God has given us in His word. If you are unsure where to start, here are some resources for you. When you read one that causes your spirit to jump, that’s a great starting point!

“The Missing Ones” Book Launch

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Dear Readers,

I am so very blessed and excited to announce that my first book has been published and is now available on Amazon! The Missing Ones: A Journey of Hope and Healing for Families of Prodigals is a faith based manual to provide help and encouragement for families dealing with hurt caused by:

  • abandonment
  • addiction
  • grief
  • loss
  • dysfunction
  • damaged relationships
  • estrangement
  • unfaithfulness
  • and more

The Lord stirred this work in me several years ago and I believe that the truths and tools He gave me in the process are needed by so many families! Each chapter includes Scripture-based truths as well as prayers over the reader, recommendations for application, and declarations the reader can make in faith. Would you join me in getting the word out to as many people as possible so that hurting hearts and families can find the words of encouragement and healing inside?

The Missing Ones can serve as a personal devotional, a resource for helping others, or a book study for life groups or Bible studies.

My goal is to also create an audio version for my prefer-not-to-read friends or those who use books as company during commutes. Please pray with me as I journey through that step.

If you have read the book and found it to be a blessing and encouragement, please leave me a review here in the comments. If you purchased on Amazon, I’d greatly appreciate your review there when done. (Any other reviews are welcome on Amazon; however, due to Amazon’s algorithms, if you are not a purchaser through Amazon, they automatically downgrade your review 🙁 ). I’d also appreciate if you’d share your thoughts on my book on your social media accounts including a link to it if possible.

One more thing… would you please pray with me? Pray that this book reaches the many hurting families around us. Pray that estranged relationships are healed. Pray that hope rises in the hearts of those who have been wounded. Pray that prodigals will find their way back into the arms of the Father who loves them deeply! Thank you!

Loving God and Loving others brings such blessing!

Living the Light,

To the Point Tuesday: Are You Ready…?

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After several weeks of digging into Ephesians, we’ve arrived at chapter 6! The Armor of God is probably the most well-known and often-taught portion of Ephesians.

Now I ask: Are you ready… truly ready… for today? I’m sure you got dressed or will soon, grabbed a bite to eat, and sipped some coffee or tea. But are you spiritually ready for today?

We are reminded in Ephesians 6:11-12 that we have an enemy, one that has already designed a set of plans to bring us down! The devil has nothing but time on his hands and he chooses to use it to destroy all he can. When we think about the struggles we face in our lives, we tend to focus on what we are aware of in the natural: our bank account, our health, our relationships, our dilemmas. But we are not called to deal with those things in the natural; we are told (yes, it is a command!) to put on His armor and to battle spiritually!

With that thought in mind, I’d like to share a prayer of preparedness with you. As you get dressed in the morning and prepare for the events of the day, add this prayer to your routine. When we stand as commanded in verse 13, literally wearing HIM, we can trust that the Lord will put His “super” on our “natural” and know that He has the power to back it up!

“Lord, I believe that Your Word is true and that You are faithful to do what You have promised!1 Today, I put on the whole Armor of God according to Your Word. I put on the Belt of Truth, committing myself to walk in Your Truth, speak the truth, and discern truth. I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness knowing that by the blood of Jesus, I am in right-standing with You! I commit to make choices that reflect Your heart and ask You to fill my heart with Your love.

On my feet, I put the Shoes of Peace, standing firm and ready to reflect and share the Shalom-complete peace-found in Jesus. Over all of these pieces, I cover myself with the wrap-around Shield of Faith, that I know can and will extinguish every flaming dart the enemy shoots at me. Thank You, Lord, that Your glory is behind me as my rear guard.2

On my head I place the Helmet of Salvation to protect my mind from lies of the enemy3 and as a reminder that in Christ I am a beloved child and co-heir with Jesus.4 I firmly grasp the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God on which I base my life. I commit myself to constant conversation (prayer) with You throughout my day.5 Help me to discuss the ups and downs of my day with You as well as listen to and respond to Your Holy Spirit.

I go forward today as a prince/princess warrior doing the will of my Father. And You will crush Satan under my feet!6 I love You, Father! Thank You for going before me and with me through this day!

Adapted by Joy Morey

Praise God for His armor! We sure wouldn’t go into our day physically naked. So, let’s not go out spiritually naked either! If you don’t have time to read the above prayer, be sure you’ve committed the pieces of God’s Armor to memory so that you can “strap” them on whenever the Holy Spirit reminds you. I encourage you to add physical motions to your words as you put on His Armor. There’s something about action that engages our mind and activates our faith.

There’s a song trending on the radio about putting on His Armor. As a teacher, I assure you that singing something helps solidify it in your thoughts, so check it out: E6 by Evvie McKinney

Live Victoriously!

1Hebrews 10:23

2Isaiah 52:12

3John 8:44

4Romans 8:17

5Ephesians 6:10-18

6Romans 16:20a

To the Point Tuesday: Are You Reflecting…?

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Ephesians 4 challenged us to take a hard look at our ourselves… are we making choices that demonstrate maturity in Christ. In Ephesians 5, Paul doesn’t hold back! He gives clear instruction to help us know HOW to demonstrate the maturity of the previous chapter.

And so I ask, Are you reflecting…?

The quick answer is, “Yes!” We are all reflecting something or someone. So, the better question is: What or whom are you (and I) reflecting?

We reflect the actions and beliefs of the things and people that we spend the most time focused on.

Let that sink in…

Who or what does your life revolve around? Politics? Social media? A hobby? An addiction? A person? A job? An idea? A dream? A disappointment?  Whatever dominates our thinking, our feelings, and our time will impact our life choices.

Ephesians 5:1 instructs: Imitate God as beloved children in everything you do… So simple and yet complex. It makes me think of a child following mom or dad around and mimicking the actions they see. To imitate someone well, you need to watch and learn. To imitate God, we will need to spend a lot of time with Him and focus our attention on Him and what He values.

Paul lets us know what not to imitate too… he specifically speaks to areas that we are prone to struggle with: passion, pleasure, power, and people. If you feel inclined, you can write down the list of behaviors addressed in Ephesians 5 and pin it on your fridge as a reminder of what not to do.

But, might I suggest a better strategy? Instead of focusing on the edge of the cliff… you know, the area just before the “sin drop-off”… we can focus on moving closer to our Daddy King! The closer we draw to Him, the more we learn of His ways, and the deeper we connect to His heart, the farther we will move away from the “danger zone” of sinful ways.

Of course, we all miss the mark at times. But Paul is addressing a lifestyle of sin that will prevent us from having any inheritance in the Kingdom of God (verse 5)! I sure don’t want any part of that! I want to walk as one who is wise, not wasting time, but rather living in the light with Him! When we live that way, we will see our desires align themselves with the Father’s heart. Our relationships will reflect His ways. Our priorities will fall in place with His!

Are you reflecting your Heavenly Dad?

There’s so much more in this chapter, go check it out!

Live Loved,

On the Other Side of the Storm

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Storms, like most natural phenomena, carry their fair share of beauty… the dancing breezes, showers of raindrops, brilliant displays of flashing light, and commanding rumbles of thunder.  In Florida, our summers are known for daily doses of thunderstorms.  Most of the time, it’s a manageable inconvenience that we weather our way through (pun intended!) knowing the sunshine will chase away the remnants of the storm soon enough.  But sometimes those storms are not inconsequential and are not quickly followed by the sunshine.  

If you have lived more than a decade or two, you are well aware that life carries storms much like the Florida skies.  Some storms are intense yet brief and are quickly followed by smooth sailing. Other storms leave us feeling marooned on an island of pain and confusion, wondering if we will ever feel soul-healing sunshine again. 

As I look back on my journey, there are several distinct times that I remember feeling very storm-ravaged by life’s circumstances.  During those times, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me and I was flat on my back wondering where it had all gone wrong.  If that’s where you are today, I want to encourage you!  There is a clear horizon on the other side of the storm!  Keep moving forward, moment by moment, day by day, knowing that you WILL come through this storm and you will have a story to tell!

In Mark 4, we read the account of Jesus and His disciples taking a boat trip.  When they were in the middle of the lake a violent storm whipped the boat around and the disciples were sure that death was upon them so they ran to wake Jesus.  “Teacher, Teacher, wake up! Don’t you care that we are going to die?”  Jesus brought perfect calm in the midst of the storm,  then turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?”1 They were awe-struck!

In the midst of this storm, the disciples got a revelation!  They encountered the truth that this Jesus was no ordinary man. He wielded power over the wind and waves!  When they crossed over to the other side, their minds were eager to see more evidence of who this amazing Teacher was.  AND they had a story to tell!  Two chapters later, we see Jesus sending them out to preach and to demonstrate the power that they had seen in action.

What does this storm story bring to your stormy situation?  Be encouraged!  Your storm isn’t worthless.  God can take any difficult situation, even ones caused by our own choices, and bring good out of it!  Here are some proven “Storm Tips:”

Rest: Jesus, the son of man slept; but Jesus, the Son of God, never sleeps!  He is always available to you!  While He may not change your circumstances, He will calm the raging seas of confusion and doubt in your heart.  He will bring supernatural peace in the midst of chaos allowing you to rest in Him.  He is trustworthy!

Revelation: In the storm, Jesus revealed His power to the disciples up close and personal!  Storms are perfect places to encounter Jesus!  He will reveal Himself to you in new and tangible ways during the difficult times.  The best thing is, no one can take that revelation away from you!  Your new understanding of who He is becomes part of your firm foundation enabling you to stand in the midst of any storm owning your faith.

Readiness:  No storm lasts forever!  Your skies will clear and you will get to the other side of this situation.  As you embrace the process of dealing with the debris your storm has left behind (healing, forgiving, rebuilding), you will find yourself ready to go to another level of understanding and victory.  You will have a story to tell about the Storm-Stabilizer!   

Remember I mentioned those times that I had felt very storm-ravaged by life’s circumstances?  As I allowed my mind to look back and mull over those difficult times, I realized a few things that are encouraging:

  • My pain has faded as a result of forgiveness, time, and healing.
  • My understanding of the Lord as Father, Healer, Friend, and Lover of my soul is so much deeper.
  • Experience and increased faith allow me to encourage others in their storms.
  • I have stories to tell!  He has seen me through every storm to the other side!  Let’s meet for coffee some time and I’ll share one!

There is no wasted pain when we submit it to the Father!  There’s beauty… even in the midst of the storm… when you realize you’re with the Storm-Stabilizer!

On the other side of the storm, someone needs to hear your story.  Be alert and ready to be used by the Lord to help someone else weather their storm!

Live Loved,

P.S. Please comment and share if this encouraged you! Blessings!

1Mark 4:40 The Passion Translation

Be the Gold!

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Recently, I wrote a blog called “Nuggets of Gold.” It was an encouragement to each of us to search for rays of hope in our life and situations that will help us keep pressing on!

Yesterday, after another rough day in 5th grade world, my husband reminded me of this Japanese art philosophy: kintsukuroi. He said, “You’ve said the public school system is broken and you’re right! But you are the gold that fills in the broken cracks! Keep doing what you’re doing because you make the difference!” What a blessing his encouragement was to me!

This morning, as I sat in a meeting, he shot me a text reminding me that I’m the gold! His timing was impeccable as I sat across from a teary-eyed colleague whose struggle of self-doubt and discouragement mirrored my own. I was able to share the value of what we do and who we are to our students! Truly, we are the gold in a broken system.

As I determine to be a treasure-hunter, looking for gold in the dark and hurting places, I don’t want to forget to be the gold too. Join me in this: don’t just look for the gold in your difficult circumstances and challenging obstacles. BE the gold in whatever hurting system you are in! Brokenness can be made beautiful when it brings opportunities for problem-solving, healing, and growth!

Live Loved and Golden!

Nuggets of Hope

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When I decided I wanted to be a teacher, I had grandiose thoughts of inspiring the next generation to thrive in their learning!  I expected classrooms full of shining faces anxious to hear all I had to share with them.  I just knew that I could help them love reading, embrace math, and become flourishing writers!  Years later, I must confess that those dreams are quite tarnished and reality has firmly ground out the spark of this naïve educator’s lofty goals.

Please don’t judge me harshly. I’m sure there are some who’ve had much better experiences than myself.  But the reality is that today’s public schools are filled with students who accurately reflect the failing family structures in our communities.  As the family units continue to disintegrate, the impact on the school system as a whole and the educators who daily pour into those students is intense.  Most teachers I know are exhausted, frustrated, and downright discouraged.  Yet, we come back each morning with a renewed hope that today will be a better day!  In all honesty, it’s hard to keep that upbeat attitude in the midst of it all. Yes, the struggle is very real!

This week, my near-breaking point arrived as I was looking over a stack of essays.  I’d spent a significant amount of time meeting one-on-one with nearly 50 students to discuss areas of success and growth potential prior to this new writing.  As I skimmed through the stack, the lack of progress and even regression was utterly disheartening!  I felt the dark stain of hopelessness oozing over my heart.  “Why bother?  I’m not making a difference! The need is so great, I don’t know where to even begin!”

If you know me, you know that this attitude is generally unlike me.  I’d like to say that I’m able to always rise above it all, but that’d be less than honest.  Those who walk in shoes like mine well know the feelings I was experiencing! 

Such hopelessness is compounded by the sense of fighting a battle alone. This is why we need each other!1 

We need to have others in our life that are there to prop us up when we are ready to tumble!  And we need to be there for others who find themselves slipping down the slope of discouragement.2  For me, it was one of my co-workers who is well aware of all we face.  She listened to me lament and then encouraged me to stop looking at the vast needs and focus instead on the points of success.  She reminded me to be willing to accept and encourage the steps forward instead of demanding the leaps… of myself and of my students. 

Her simple admonishment was just what I needed to hear.  I long to be the miracle worker my students need, but honestly, the weight of such expectations will keep me tethered to frustration on a daily basis.  So, I again settle in my heart that I just can’t fix it all. BUT I can be the beacon of hope my students need in the midst of their reality… no matter how they perform, which choices they make, or what emotions we encounter in our day.  I need to be the one to search for and find those rays of hope. Those steps of success, no matter how small, are worth celebrating as progress!

It’s like mining for gold!  Each student, each co-worker, each day… harbors nuggets of gold, virtual treasures waiting to be discovered!3  These gold nuggets are reasons to hope, reasons to be thankful, reasons to press on.  That is the hope I need to remember and cling to when a breaking point looms on the horizon!  “Gold mining” is an attitude I can and need to share with others who feel suffocated by the overwhelming reality of our chosen profession.

But it’s not educators alone, is it?!  You may find yourself drowning under the flood of life’s demands… physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, or financially.  Don’t give up hope!  And don’t go it alone!  There are hope-carriers around you that will remind you to look for the gold nuggets in the dark and suffocating places.  You may have to search a little harder on some days than others, but they are there! The world needs you!  Don’t jump ship!  Find a beacon of hope on the dark days. Be a beacon of hope whenever the need arises.4 Together we can search for gold… reasons to hope and celebrate!

I’m not just a teacher, I’m a treasure hunter!  How about you? You’re not just a _____________, you are a treasure hunter too!

Live Loved,

1Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. NLT

2Galatians 6:2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. NLT3II Corinthians 13:11 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. NLT

3Psalm 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. NLT

4II Corinthians 13:11 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. NLT

A Teachable Heart

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Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.  In fact, some of the wisest people you’ll encounter may have little to no formal schooling while some knowledgeable people lack the understanding to know when it’s time to listen rather than talk!  So, what’s the dividing line between smart and wise?  It’s certainly not gray hair!

So, at what point do we stand and say, “I’ve arrived!  I now wear the crown of wisdom and no longer need to learn!”?  Is it when you’ve earned your doctorate?  When you’ve raised successful children?  When you’ve achieved x number of milestones in your career?  When you’ve written a best-selling manual?

I would say that no such point exists! 

One who is thought of as wise would be characterized as being willing to learn, considerate of the thinking of others, and humble enough to realize that they really don’t know it all!  Interestingly, as I read the word of God, I see wisdom repeatedly linked to willingness to learn!

When I first started working in the public school system, I came with 16 years of experience working with children and teens.  During that first semester, I shared a classroom with a teacher that was fresh out of college.  How easily I could have placed myself in the mentor role, relegating the fresh-faced graduate to being my mentee.  But wisdom wouldn’t allow me to dismiss all that she brought to the table!  Her updated understanding of pedagogy, combined with her knowledge of current educational resources, were just what I needed to navigate my first year as a public school teacher.  In turn, this new teacher was also open to my ideas and suggestions learned through years of experience.  We made a great team then, and I still learn from her today! 

Wisdom is so much more than knowing stuff!  Being able to spout off tidbits of knowledge or information will cause us to do more talking than listening!  This “rolodex syndrome” can keep us focused on hearing our own voice instead of valuing the art of listening and learning from others.

“The heart of the wise will easily accept instruction. But those who do all the talking are too busy to listen and learn.”  Proverbs 10:8a TPT

Worse than the “rolodex syndrome” is the “I know better delusion.”  This is the idea that we know ourselves so well, or we have so much experience, or we are plenty intelligent (or old) enough to not need input, direction, or correction from anyone else.  This lack of humility breeds disdain for the ideas of others, even those who should have the opportunity to speak into our lives.*

Knowledge is having information.  Wisdom is knowing when and how to apply that information effectively!  Sometimes that means tapping into others and learning from their experience and understanding.  Sometimes that means delaying action based on the Lord’s direction or the counsel of a wise friend.  Sometimes that means taking our plans to the Father and simply leaving them at His feet. Always, wisdom requires that we humble ourselves and value input that comes from outside of us!  What we do with that input is dependent on the Lord’s direction.  But being willing to receive that input is the mark of wisdom. 

It grieves my heart when I encounter someone who is unteachable.  I’m sure you’ve met a few people like this too.  They are not interested in growing as a person and see no need to glean wisdom from others.  This heart posture waves off instruction and misses the opportunity for deep understanding.  No one offers them input that is valued as higher than their own.  Honor is only their expectation, not their gift for another. 

Conversely, being teachable is a beautiful attitude of the heart!  One who is teachable glows with expectation and appreciates time invested in them.  A teachable heart and mind is equally delightful in the old as well as the young. When I encounter teachability in another, it makes me want to reflect that character trait even more!  Proverbs 21:11 in the Passion Translation says that the wise are teachable.  I want to jump up and down and say, “That’s me! That’s me!”

Wisdom is so valued by the Lord, that He had Solomon write repeatedly about its value.  James reminds us that if we feel that we lack wisdom, to ask for it!  But in asking for wisdom, you and I must humble our hearts to receive that wisdom, even if it doesn’t come from where we’d expect it.  The ultimate source of wisdom is the Holy Spirit!  James 3 tells us that wisdom from above is always pure, considerate, willing to yield, and teachable.  It is filled with love, peace, and mercy.  When you receive input, correction, or direction from others, the Holy Spirit will enable you to know if, how, and when to apply that knowledge.

Teachable heart check:

  • Do I think I’m always right?
  • Am I willing to receive ideas from others of any age, any ethnicity, any gender?
  • Is the goal of my communication to convince others to believe the way I do?
  • Am I open to conversations with those of a different religious persuasion?
  • Do I honor my peers or only those in authority?
  • Am I willing to hear the thoughts of someone whose opinion is different than mine?
  • Do I value political agreement more than relational connection?
  • Am I a respectful listener, regardless of who is speaking?
  • Do I believe that I know more than most of those around me?
  • Am I authentically engaged or am I rolling my eyes on the inside?

Amen or oh my? I’m challenged to purposefully choose to be teachable in heart and spirit!

As we enter into a new year, we have a new opportunity to choose to be teachable again! 

Dear Father, I choose a heart posture that honors You and allows the Holy Spirit to have His way in me!  May my teachable heart and spirit enable me to grow in every area and receive the blessings found in honoring others that You place in my life! Make me more like you, Daddy! Amen!

Live Loved,

P.S. If this blog challenged and encouraged you, please share on social media! I welcome your input as well, so please comment. 🙂

*Caveat: Not everyone should have the authority to speak into your life.  But hopefully, you’ve cultivated honorable relationships that allow others to speak truth, challenge, and encouragement to you!