1/30/12

Word of the day:

hope/hōp/ n.

A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

God knows the plans he has in store for me. He has planned out my days. God plans for me to live in hope. "a hope and a future...good and not harm." Jer. 29:11. He is soo good, and why do I think I know what I need. The Lord is showing me more and more about letting Him be my rock. I am so reliant on His grace. He may be letting me hang in the air, or be tied to the tracks, but it is because He knows exactly how to rescue me. A rock is steady, firm, stable. I need to really just keep my feet planted on the rock. One day I'll think that this job is completely for me, the next moment I'm down in despair. AHH!! 


School today was soo sweet! The kids were really receptive to the cupcakes. I don't want them to think I am bribing them, but I want them to know that I will put time and energy into helping them and serving them. I see these kids and I see soo much more than just a 7th grader. I hope they know that. I want them to know that I love them so deeply. 


Lesson planning is actually fun! I remember when last semester in the senior class, I hated planning the lessons because I didn't enjoy what I was teaching. I seriously LOVE what I'm doing.  It's not really because I'm getting a lot of glory or that I feel good doing it, I guess it's just the sense that this was what I was made to do. That God has put specific things in my life just for this. I have the opportunity to be excited about things to get the kids excited about them. Nothing great has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm! 


I pray I keep the enthusiasm. I am so thankful right now...
I'm in a beautiful school
I have a wonderful cooperating teacher
I have challenges
I have joy
I have peace
I enjoy what I'm doing
I have strength
I THINK my headaches are subsiding?
I have sweet friendships

1/27/12

Word of the day: 
rev·e·la·tion/ˌrevəˈlāSHən/ n.

A surprising and previously unknown fact, esp. one made in a dramatic way.

Last night I applied for the PCS job online, and I became overwhelmed at the kind of questions they were asking me. I immediately switched into "I have to be perfect" mode and then the Lord used that man to show me that character shines brighter than a piece of paper. If this man can see my passion and love for the kids, then the people at PCS can see that too, and especially the students. Today we don't have school because of a water main break. I was sort-of bummed about not having school because I really wanted to be with the kids. That's really silly I'm sure, but  it's the truth. HOWEVER. God revealed so much to me today! Last night in my talk with the man, he was telling me that when we think of God's will, sometimes we think it should be hard, and we won't get our desires because God gives what He knows is best for us. But what if his best for us is what we want?! Woah! 


I asked God a serious question- Who are you?! The job at PCS just seems "too good," "too loving," and "too perfect." But He is all of those things! 


I was humbled at how I was viewing God in such a way that is not who He is at all. I have neglected to see God as FIRST a Father, and then good, just, loving, kind, etc. If he is not my Father, I turn toward myself for salvation, I seek to strip away what I want and desire because that's what God wants from me. NO!!! Beloved, do not get into this trap! 


I broke down and cried this morning because I was reading in Psalm 103:
¹³ As a father has compassion on his children, 
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him
and in Deuteronomy 32:
 ¹⁰ In a desert land he found him, 
   in a barren and howling waste. 
He shielded him and cared for him; 
   he guarded him as the apple of his eye, 


I am the child who sprinted down the hall with tears in her eyes into the open arms of the One who had been waiting for me with tears in His eyes. It feels so good to be home again. 

1/23-1/25

joy [joi] n.

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.

Moment of joy for the day that kept me going: Little Thomas in response to the similie "He was quiet as a_____?" "Baby... bull...frog???  I loved it so much!

It's been awhile since I've updated. I've tried to have a life after school and be with people, while going to 7th grade boys basketball games. I'm just pooped today!

Last night he went to the game with me, and it was so much fun just having someone to chat with and laugh with, then he said he owed me a coffee, we got salted caramel hot chocolates at starbucks (he even paid for my way into the basketball game... who does that?!). It was a sweet night, and they even had to kick us out of the starbucks. Every time we hang out I still think 'I just don't know what I think about this guy as a potential husband' I just want to be with him again. That's all I know for now about that.

I realized just now, that I can choose to have fun with the kids or to be a pain to the kids the whole time. How do I get them to be quiet?! Today they were working on cards for another teacher, and I wanted them to be quiet and so I was playing some music, I told them that they could listen to Lecrae if they proved it to me that they could be quiet. They succeeded. It was really sweet.
I just don't want them to "like" me. I want them to see me as their teacher. I'm praying already for Monday's class where I can really convey that I love them and I've been praying for them since last year when I applied to student teach here at PCS.

Also, I'm going to ask the principal if he would do a mock interview for me. I'm getting all of my things ready to apply. We'll see what God has in store.

He knows the plans for me, they aren't plans to fail, but I have a hope and a future with Him.

I will strive BY His grace that so powerfully works in me.

Christ IS my life. He is my joy. He has given me this portion today, and I want to recieve it with great joy, because HE IS MY PORTION!!!

1/20-1/22

Trust [truhst] n. 

1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

2. confident expectation of something; hope.

I've realized the sin in my heart has been lack of trust. I know who God is- He is a God who provides grace in time of need. 

Colossians 1:28-29 ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

He has given me the grace that gives me a purpose- He is my life- Colossians 3:1-3- Set my mind on Him because HE IS MY LIFE, and I will appear in glory with him one day.

Why do I worry? Matthew 7 says that it would be ridiculous for a father to give his child a stone when she asked for a piece of bread, or to give a snake when she asked for a fish. 

God I ask you for that job as an 8th grade teacher at PCS. If that is not the good gift you have designed for me, then I don't want it. I trust you.

Proverbs 21 ¹ The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; 

   he turns it wherever he will. 

I envision all of the streams of water that you have made in my life so far, and it is crazy to see how you have moved those streams to put me in the middle of Peoria with a beautiful community of believers and so many opportunities to share you with those around me. How great you are, Lord. I trust you and your grace! I am a part of your Romance story!!

I just want to have your energy, to strive by your grace, and to live on your love this week! I'm excited to see what you are going to continue teaching me. Here I am, Lord!! 

1/19/12

e·quip  (-kwp)

tr.v. e·quipped, e·quip·ping, e·quips

  1. To supply with necessities such as tools or provisions
  2. To furnish with the qualities necessary for performance:

English teacher, mentor, follower, teacher of the word, lover, encourage-r, trainer, leader, director...
I do not feel equipped for any of these, and I am supposed to be all of them. This Saturday is our retreat "2:22 on 1/21" and I am doing a portion of a talk on modesty: Doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. I'm really excited, but for some odd reason I also signed up to talk to the boys about questions they may have about girls. I have the questions they asked and I think "I don't even know why I do this, but I do!?" I have no idea how to answer them, and I'm supposed to "prepare scriptural evidence" for my answers. I do not feel equipped.


The man who asked me to coffee/dinner/lunch has been texting me more and more lately about random silly things. I absolutely love it, but hate it at the same time. Michele said that I am trying to control it and to try to make this man come on my terms: which would be not now. I want to know what his intentions are, why is he doing this, what Michele calls a "DTR" talk (Determine the Relationship for those who have not attended a christian school at ANY point in time). 
She's right. I'm really being silly about all of this, but I can't help it. I don't want to invest time and then later on think "I could have invested it better." but then Michele said that's regrets and God always allows us to learn through them. 
I guess I want to walk in wisdom in this friendship. yeah, that's right... FRIENDSHIP. I have already taken it to the next level without getting to know him that much. So much in my head, but this man is definitely in my head. 


Here's what I do know:
He knows and loves the Lord and His word.
He has a biblical perspective on God's will.
He is a leader in the church.
He is a teacher of the word.
He is quiet, but strong in what he does say.
He can make me laugh at the drop of a hat. 
He is not manly in the sense that he works out, is a super good handyman, could fix a car, or make steak.
He wants to get to know me.


There it is. That's it. I think there is a lot more that I need to know before I can clearly see what God is trying to do here.


Lord, I want to trust you. I want to be led by you. I want you to lead that man however You have it planned. I want to obey you and trust you. Give me patience, give me strength.


Psalm 121:5
The LORD watches over you --
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;


Psalm 61:2c
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.


Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; 
   you will protect me from trouble 
   and surround me with songs of deliverance.


Oh LORD, you are such a shelter! Christ is in me, He is the one who is equipped, not I.

Guide my steps according to your word. I am humbled at your feet. I want to pour out all my best on your beautiful, worthy feet.

1/18/12

I started this blog NOT because...
I'm one of those artsy people
I love having people read about my life
I think I have something worth saying.


Just the opposite, in fact. The title of this blog comes from the end of John, when John says "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (21:25). It just came to me today as I locked my car up tonight to return to my cozy bed and ponder on this new journey ahead for God and me. I was wondering, what if John had the internet?! Well, I do. And even though Jesus is sitting at the right hand of our Father, I have His anointing Spirit upon me and I am experiencing those "other things" that Jesus is doing today. 

Every day I want to reflect on my days of student teaching. That is why I chose the medium of blog, so that I can easily type out my ramblings. 

So. To begin.

Word of the day: shack·le  (shkl) n.

1. A metal fastening, usually one of a pair, for encircling and confining the ankle or wrist of a prisoner or captive; a fetter or manacle.

4. A restraint or check to action or progress.

Carl Cannon came and spoke to the kids on my first day of student teaching during chapel. He said that the difference between those in his life and the people in the students' lives were the shackles. Teachers are not shackled to the desks, we are not forced to be here. I want to remember this for the rest of my life: I am not shackled to the desk! I want to be here!! I want to help these students know what hope is. I want them to know who God is. I want them to know that I respect and love them, and they can give respect in return.

"Do not mistake affection for respect"

Second word (or I guess you could say

Ms. (mz) n. pl. Henrichs

1. Used as a courtesy title before the surname or full name of a woman or girl:

Ms. Henrichs is...

A woman who cares

A teacher who respects

NOT someone who needs more middle school friends, but is the leader these middle schoolers are looking for.

A woman who has strength powered by the Holy Spirit to have great endurance and patience, who joyfully gives thanks because she is part of the inheritance in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:11-12)!!

I refuse to say that I will be tired all the time. I have the power of Christ with me. He is the one who gives life! HE IS LIFE!

One thing I want to do tomorrow that I didn't do today was to focus on God being with me in the classroom. It is so easy to remember because we pray before every class, but I want to make it a personal thing between God and me... He is by my side.

Amazed by the One who IS Life,

Ms. Henrichs