a needed alert

"For I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Ping, ping, ping...

Do you get alerts on your phone?  You got a message, a call, a text, or other ... it can be helpful as well as annoying.

When at school, i silence my phone to avoid the noise.  But busy and running late one morning, i failed to activate it.  When the ping sang, i quickly grabbed my phone to silence it.  But what i saw was a startling message from my car, "vehicle has been running for 15 minutes unattended."

I activated the auto off mode with my phone app, but i didn't trust it would work. So, i ran out to the car to make sure the message was received.  Kind of ironic, don't you think?  It worked in letting me know what i forgot, but i didn't trust it to finish the task i forgot. 

Besides my phone, God pings me constantly with lessons and reminders.  Through prayer, song, His Word and his angel messengers on earth, He sends me alerts when i am off course.  Instead of jumping in to fix the problem, there are times i just need to stop and acknowledge my error.  Then the hardest part...  I need to lean on Him and trust His ability to work and create in me wiser ways in my future actions.  

Father, break me of weak ways and break the silencer on my connection with You.  I never, never, never want to miss an alert from You.

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live, love and do like we believe it,
veneal

keep your staff close

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." Jeremiah 3:15

As a teacher and a leader, every day matters to those put in your care.  The flock knows their shepherd, and it is you.  While we are not perfect, as long as our staff is the cross, we can trust our pure devotion will help guide our flock in where and how they did to go.  

Just love them, as you lead them...  that is the most important gift you share.

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live, love and do like we believe it,

veneal

put your fears here

"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, Fear not, I am the one who helps you." Isaiah 41:13

She wanted to feed the goats, but their big, knurly teeth frighten her.  So hand-in-hand, with help and guidance from her Papa, the fear slipped away and she discovered the sweet JOY of feeding the goats safely.

 

Are you facing some dark, knurly teeth or circumstances? You are not alone.  God has promised to hold our hand through our uncertainties.  Whatever it is, He is fully aware and capable of restoring our strength. 

Don't just believe in God, believe God.  He feeds our faith, not our fear.

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live, love and do like we believe Him,

veneal

is it true? are you?

"For You, God, formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:13-14

Have you read this book? 

If not, you should, or if it's been a while, take time to reread it. With the end of a school year, a project, a report or other obligation approaching, it's easy to get ruffled and feel you are not accomplishing what needs to be done.  Whether from your heart or from the mouth of another, doubts can surface on our ability and worth.

We might find ourselves asking, "are we enough?"  Can we finish the task at hand confidently to the satisfaction of others?  I pray we take a deep look in ourselves and who we are, and then change the question to "can i finish the task at hand to the delight of our Father as i exert to the best of my ability, time and effort?"  Can you feel the weight of the stress roll your shoulders as you rephrase this question?

As we shine, grow, push, pull, learn, teach and pray, may we embrace the truth of who God says we are, His treasure and beloved one.  

So, i ask you again... are you enough? Surely, our Father answers emphatically, "Yes," with a smile and heart overflowing with love.

i am, you are, He is

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live, love, do and believe like we believe it,

veneal

in our hands

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You." Isaiah 26:3

The key to peace lies in our hands.

When we trust and follow Jesus, we unlock the door to living as God intends. His peace then becomes our blessing.  

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live like we believe it,

veneal

checkup woes

"For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For the past 6 months, i've been frustrated with my health checkups.  With weight gain on each visit, i was determined to stop it by changing my diet.  Feeling healthier, i was excited about my doctor's visit.  But it was not what I expected.

With a 3-pound increase, i was NOT pleased.  The nurse tried to assure me it was fine...

"You know, when you wear pants, it adds about 3 pounds."

"Well, I wear pants every time i come here."

"And exercising causes you to firm up and muscle weight is heavier."

"I am not exercising."

"Our scales are about 3-4 pounds more than most."

"I only weigh here... on your scales."

I kinda felt sorry for her; she struggled to find an answer for me, but the scales didn't lie. There was no hiding it, and i had one choice.  Accept the growing change, forget trying to reduce my weight and go grab an ice cream sundae afterwards to embrace my newfound freedom in eating.  Evidently, i was destined to gain weight no matter what i ate.

Many changes in life do not come easily or with smiles.  As the Bible reminds us, there is a season for all things... sometimes the change comes with JOY and sometimes with woe, sometimes with a sweet surprise and sometimes with a heavy heart.  Whatever the case, may we find peace in the fact, we are right where, and how, we should be.

Here's to a triple scoop of ice cream and a shout out to God for loving and guiding us in all seasons.

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live, love and do like we believe it,

veneal

.lost and found

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

How do you know it's Spring?

blooming flowers?  lush green lawns?  song birds?  warm, sunny days?  pollen covered porches?

All these are definitely signs of Spring.  But at school we have one more unique, profound reminder.... the heavily, overflowing lost and found area.

The chilly mornings and warm afternoons, make the shedding of sweaters and coats necessary.... and the forgetting to take them home a fact.  After many notices, attempts, and pleading to get them back to the rightful owner, all items will be donated to a children's center soon, to a new forever home.

While time is limited at school to reunite lost items with the rightful owner, i am thankful God does not operate under the same time frame.  Jesus's parable of the shepherd and lost sheep mirrors His seeking of the lost...

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.

We are of tremendous value to God, He will do nothing short of bringing us home to Him one day.  We who belong to Him, will not be lost, forgotten or given away. Thank you, Father, for your relentless pursuit of me, no matter where i roam.  Our forever home is and will always be with You.

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live, love and do like we believe it,

veneal