First days of school with students

We made it through the first three days with students! Those first days of school came so fast! Don’t you love the first days when the students show up? They bring the joy and excitement into the preparations and the stress of getting everything ready for the year. It reminds me why I chose this profession.

Of course the summer doesn’t seem long enough and I don’t ever feel quite ready when the teachers start… But when the students actually walk on campus, God uses their joy (and even sometimes their sadness about being back) to remind me that He has called me to this.

Some days it doesn’t feel like a calling. Some days it feels overwhelming and hard. Some days it feels like I don’t have what it takes, and I question my abilities.

Then He reminds me that HE is all I need and that He has called me to whatever is in front of me today. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says “The One who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (NIV) I don’t need to do this on my own.

John 15:16 says “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (NIV) How are you bearing fruit today- fruit that will last? In whatever situation God has called you to today, how are you showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control? (Galatians 5:22) Pick one of those today to focus on.

Earlier on in John 15, it reminds us that the only way we can bear fruit is to abide in the vine (in Jesus). It’s so easy to try to do all of this on our own, but let’s start the year by abiding in Him!

Do you have a regular routine to spend time in God’s Word and in prayer each week? If not, think about some options from below. Are you a morning person, afternoon person or night person? Pick a time each day to set aside some time to spend time with the Vine! Let’s start this year abiding in Him.

• Read a Psalm every day.
• Read a proverbs every day.
• Search your house for a devotional that you haven’t used yet.
• Choose a book of the Bible to read through. Commit to read one chapter each day or set a timer for 10 minutes each day to read.
• Find a chronological Bible to read through.
• Start at Genesis and read a chapter a day.
• Find a yearly Bible reading plan (a google search will get you many)
• Choose a verse to read every day for a month and journal about the truths that God shows you.
• Ask a friend to do a Bible study with you.
• Pray and ask God to show you Himself each morning.

As we head back into the school year, know that God will lead and guide. This year is still far from “normal.” It’s far from what we had hoped it would be, but He hasn’t left the throne and He called you to bear fruit in the midst of this broken world.