Years ago I arrived early in the morning to work with a group of elementary educators.  The office was bustling as usual when two young girls entered. They appeared to be sisters and were apparently well-known to the office staff. Neither said a word; they just sat their small bodies in the big adult chairs as if this was routine.  I felt myself drawn to them, and so I turned and smiled.   Instead of bright eyes and reciprocal grins, I was met with blank faces and sad looks.

As a Christian educator, I am often led to think I am here to serve Christ by making a difference for everyone I meet. I hear stories of how a fellow Christian or pastor leads hundreds to Christ, serving in faraway places to spread the Gospel. Even though we cannot overtly preach the Gospel in schools, I feel we can impact countless students in education. Most of our students come into our classrooms willing to trust our guidance and follow almost everything we tell them. We

Several months ago, she was having a conversation with someone regarding her experiences at work. She listened intently, asking questions, truly curious about this person’s situation. She treasured the opportunity to be brought into her friend’s confidence. As she walked away from the encounter, she sensed the Holy Spirit saying, “ Do you realize how far you’ve come? You could have interjected your thoughts and experiences into the conversation, but you didn’t. Not only did y

They say hindsight is 2020. I’m not sure I necessarily agree, at least not all the time. Sometimes when I look back on my life, God’s activity and purposes are clear to me; at other times, not so much.  One thing I do know is that God wastes nothing (one of my all-time favorite sayings). God has taught me many lessons and continues to make Himself known as I walk this life with Him. I’ve been thinking recently about how beneficial it would be if believers took the time to sha

The field of education thrives on dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction is what makes us better, right? Setting goals, implementing strategies, collecting data, and evaluating progress fuels the continuous improvement model woven into our school culture.  It’s how we work. Engrained in every serious educator is a desire to improve, whether it be in lesson planning or student performance. To say we are satisfied might lead to complacency, and no one wants that! In a sense, dissatis

But now, this is what the Lord says—     he who created you, Jacob,     he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;     I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters,     I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,     they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God,  the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give