Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4

This past week/weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving. Of course I'm thankful foremost for my salvation in Christ. I'm thankful for my family, my church, my home, cars, pets....but this year, I am so thankful for my job.  I started teaching art at the high school this fall and I absolutely love it.  There have been very challenging times, but overall, my work is very enjoyable and rewarding. 

When people say, "it's about time you got an art job," I smile and say it's perfect timing.  I know God's timing is always perfect. I struggled with this myself, but as I have gone through almost a whole semester here at the high school, I realize that I needed the years I had in other areas.  For one, special education.  I work with several students with special needs and am able to do it well because of my past work.  Also, with technology.  Students here at the high school are now 1:1 with a device (Chromebooks).   My three years as a computer teacher definitely prepared me for integrating digital portfolios into my curriculum. 

I pray that God uses me here with my students, and am so thankful for this opportunity. 

Romans 6:16 - "Obedience"

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16

I have been wanting to write this post since December.  Over the years, I’ve drilled into my children the need to read the Bible and pray every day.  This past fall, September through December, our ladies Bible study went through Carol Ruvolo’s book, A Believer’s Guide to Spiritual Fitness.  She made me aware of a third element.  Not only are we to read the Bible and pray every day, but we are to also be obedient to God’s Word.  Obedience.  Knowing and then “doing” need to go hand in hand.  If we are not obeying God, then we are, in actuality, obeying Satan. 

The hymn “Trust and Obey” is going through my head….trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.  No, singing this won’t make me more obedient, but it reminds me of what I need to do when circumstances tempt me to sin…that I need to be obedient to God.

So to keep with the theme of the month of February, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” John 14:15

 

This painting is by Ivan Guaderrama 

(Take a look at his website and you will see a wonderful testimony of God in his life).