On Monday I shared the song "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." I'd like to write further on that hymn today.
I've recently begun a study on Ruth, and the theme of that devotional is Trusting in God's Provision. The line in the hymn, "All I have needed thy hand hath provided" speaks to me on this exact topic. Everything I have ever needed, God has provided for me. And, like a good parent, God doesn't give me everything I want; rather, He gives me everything I need.
You don't have to be a parent to know that it's wise to give your kids a sandwich for lunch instead of a gallon of ice cream. Even if the child wants the ice cream, you do what's in the child's best interest and give them the sandwich.
To a greater extent, throughout my whole life God has given me what I needed. He has not always given me what I've prayed for, nor has He answered my prayers in the ways I thought He would, but He has always given me everything I needed. He has been faithful in meeting my every need, and when it comes down to it, I would rather have that than a heavenly father who gives me everything I think I want.
The funny thing about God's provision, though, is how easily I forget His goodness. When I'm walking through tough times, it's hard for me to believe He's looking out for me. It's only when I look back and recognize His provision in my life time and time again that my heart finds peace in the present, and I have hope for the future knowing He's looking out for my every need.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Our adoption wait is difficult, but the level of difficulty depends on the month/week/day/hour.
Recently I was hit with a particularly difficult spell. Today as I prayed for our adoption, I prayed that I would wait well, that God would be taking good care of our child(ren), wherever he/she/they are, and that I would be patient.
About 15 minutes later, or maybe even half an hour later, I realized that I was singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" in my head. I need to tell you that I did not make a conscious decision to start singing that hymn, it just somehow got in my head. It is one that is in my head often these last few months. At least once a week I realize that I'm singing it in my head.
In case it's been awhile since you've heard this one, I've posted the lyrics below.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
amen.
Recently I was hit with a particularly difficult spell. Today as I prayed for our adoption, I prayed that I would wait well, that God would be taking good care of our child(ren), wherever he/she/they are, and that I would be patient.
About 15 minutes later, or maybe even half an hour later, I realized that I was singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" in my head. I need to tell you that I did not make a conscious decision to start singing that hymn, it just somehow got in my head. It is one that is in my head often these last few months. At least once a week I realize that I'm singing it in my head.
In case it's been awhile since you've heard this one, I've posted the lyrics below.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
amen.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Report Card - First Week of School
Name: Amber Harder
Substitute Teaching - Media Center - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Preparation: A
Each day Amber worked with 4-5 classes of students in the Media Center. She made sure to carefully explain the rules and directions, and always had her materials prepped ahead of time. She taught the same lesson 18 times and is quite the professional now.
Social Skills: A
Amber did her best to interact with fellow teachers at the school where she was subbing. She frequently offered to help those around her. She was a big hit with the secretaries, and was even asked for her number on the last day so she could be called back again.
Physical Education: N/A
Amber walked to and from school everyday, so she was excused from participating in P.E.
Friendship: A
Students easily warmed up to "Mrs. Harder," and she was frequently greeted - by name - in the hallway as students were passing. On the last day, she received a hug from a student as the student was leaving the building.
Amber was also told, "You are the nicest teacher ever." It is curious, however, that this compliment was in response to the question she posed to the class, "How can we show respect?" All parties involved are still trying to understand how the question and response correlate.
Cooking: C-
While there were not a lot of food options available to use in preparing lunches, Amber neither went to the store nor got very creative with the food at hand during the entire week.
Needs improvement.
Spiritual Disciplines: A+
Amber remembered to pray for each of her students every day. What a way to start out the year!
Relaxation: B
While the beginning of the week started off hectic and full, Amber did take time to visit with two close friends during the evening hours, and she even managed to sit and read a book in the hammock on Friday. Keep up the good work!
Substitute Teaching - Media Center - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Preparation: A
Each day Amber worked with 4-5 classes of students in the Media Center. She made sure to carefully explain the rules and directions, and always had her materials prepped ahead of time. She taught the same lesson 18 times and is quite the professional now.
Social Skills: A
Amber did her best to interact with fellow teachers at the school where she was subbing. She frequently offered to help those around her. She was a big hit with the secretaries, and was even asked for her number on the last day so she could be called back again.
Physical Education: N/A
Amber walked to and from school everyday, so she was excused from participating in P.E.
Friendship: A
Students easily warmed up to "Mrs. Harder," and she was frequently greeted - by name - in the hallway as students were passing. On the last day, she received a hug from a student as the student was leaving the building.
Amber was also told, "You are the nicest teacher ever." It is curious, however, that this compliment was in response to the question she posed to the class, "How can we show respect?" All parties involved are still trying to understand how the question and response correlate.
Cooking: C-
While there were not a lot of food options available to use in preparing lunches, Amber neither went to the store nor got very creative with the food at hand during the entire week.
Needs improvement.
Spiritual Disciplines: A+
Amber remembered to pray for each of her students every day. What a way to start out the year!
Relaxation: B
While the beginning of the week started off hectic and full, Amber did take time to visit with two close friends during the evening hours, and she even managed to sit and read a book in the hammock on Friday. Keep up the good work!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Swamped or Blessed?
Sometimes I feel so swamped! There is so much STUFF in my schedule and I don't know how I'm going to get it all done. The tasks clank around like empty tin cans on a wedding car and all I hear is noise noise noise!
I was pondering this as I dropped off another chipmunk last night. (This is chipmunk number 6, in case you were wondering. Call me Snow White with how I attract small woodland creatures.) I get myself all worked up about feeling swamped and I turn into a major crabbypants. Particularly overwhelming this week is my work schedule. I said yes to a substitute teaching job as a librarian this week, but I also needed to put in hours at my other job. This resulted in me having to work 3-4 hours after school each day to get it all in.
I felt like screaming,
But wait a minute.
I have way more opportunities for work than there are hours in a day.
I have work.
I have more work than I need.
I have opportunities to put in as many hours as I want and make as much money for my family as I need.
Not everyone can say that.
I am blessed.
I started to think of other "problems" in my life, and see them for what they really are - blessings.
What are your hidden blessings today? What are you crabbing about that you should instead be praising about?
I was pondering this as I dropped off another chipmunk last night. (This is chipmunk number 6, in case you were wondering. Call me Snow White with how I attract small woodland creatures.) I get myself all worked up about feeling swamped and I turn into a major crabbypants. Particularly overwhelming this week is my work schedule. I said yes to a substitute teaching job as a librarian this week, but I also needed to put in hours at my other job. This resulted in me having to work 3-4 hours after school each day to get it all in.
I felt like screaming,
"Where's is my free time? Where is my house cleaning time? Where is my rest?
I have way more opportunities for work than there are hours in a day! How can I get it all done?"
But wait a minute.
I have way more opportunities for work than there are hours in a day.
I have work.
I have more work than I need.
I have opportunities to put in as many hours as I want and make as much money for my family as I need.
Not everyone can say that.
I am blessed.
I started to think of other "problems" in my life, and see them for what they really are - blessings.
What are your hidden blessings today? What are you crabbing about that you should instead be praising about?
Monday, September 5, 2011
Last Week and Next Week
Today is my transition day. Our house is transitioning and I am transitioning too.
Last week was a full week; two families, each with two small children, visited us and stayed in our home. One family stayed from Wednesday through Friday, and the other came on Friday and left just this morning.
Our house is transitioning from their visit. The booster chairs are making their way back downstairs, the kids books and toys are moving out of the living room and back into the basement, and the cheerios are being scooped up off the floor and put into the trash can. The sounds in our house have transitioned from little running footsteps, giggles, and squeals to the quiet hum of the refrigerator, birds chirping outside, and the wind blowing the leaves of the trees. I liked their visit, and I will miss their presence in our home. We are transitioning from being a household of 4 adults and 2 kids to a household of 2 adults.
I am also transitioning mentally today as I gear up for the 2011-2012 school year. Tomorrow morning we'll be seeing those yellow buses on the road again as schools open their doors to the excited students. Families across the state will be breathing a sigh of relief that finally the teachers have to keep their children occupied again. :)
I have been blessed with a substitute teaching job for the whole first week of school. I will be filling in as a Media Specialist at the school our future children will attend. I can't wait to check out the school and meet some of the teachers. I feel honored that I will get to kick off the school year with the students there. What a blessing.
So, today I transition. I take stock of the last week and the summer before it, and I look ahead to tomorrow and the days and months to come. Amidst all the reflecting, I enjoy the quiet moments of today.
Last week was a full week; two families, each with two small children, visited us and stayed in our home. One family stayed from Wednesday through Friday, and the other came on Friday and left just this morning.
Our house is transitioning from their visit. The booster chairs are making their way back downstairs, the kids books and toys are moving out of the living room and back into the basement, and the cheerios are being scooped up off the floor and put into the trash can. The sounds in our house have transitioned from little running footsteps, giggles, and squeals to the quiet hum of the refrigerator, birds chirping outside, and the wind blowing the leaves of the trees. I liked their visit, and I will miss their presence in our home. We are transitioning from being a household of 4 adults and 2 kids to a household of 2 adults.
I am also transitioning mentally today as I gear up for the 2011-2012 school year. Tomorrow morning we'll be seeing those yellow buses on the road again as schools open their doors to the excited students. Families across the state will be breathing a sigh of relief that finally the teachers have to keep their children occupied again. :)
I have been blessed with a substitute teaching job for the whole first week of school. I will be filling in as a Media Specialist at the school our future children will attend. I can't wait to check out the school and meet some of the teachers. I feel honored that I will get to kick off the school year with the students there. What a blessing.
So, today I transition. I take stock of the last week and the summer before it, and I look ahead to tomorrow and the days and months to come. Amidst all the reflecting, I enjoy the quiet moments of today.
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