Sunday School Leason Applied

Today in Sunday School, Shep taught on Gideon out of Judges chapter 6. One thing that Shep pointed out from the beginning of Chapter 6, is something that I struggle with all of the time.

Then the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." (Judges 6:11-12 NASB)

At this time it is a little ironic that the angel of the Lord called Gideon a "valiant warrior" when he was hiding in the wine press. As Shep asked us to think about why this was the main thing that pointed out was the difference between how God sees us and how we see ourselves. For us it is easy to see why the angel called Gideon a valiant warrior, we can finish reading the account and get the full understanding. I find myself struggling though with what I know that I am called to do and why God is asking me to do this. I keep hearing the voice of someone who was suppose to be a mentor telling me that I would never be successful and for me that is so easy to believe. I don't totally understand why, but it is much easier to believe the bad stuff people say about me than the good stuff and unfortunately I seem to adopt the bad stuff that people say as the way I seem myself as well. The TRUTH that is that I'm a child of God, and even though I'm not good in myself, that though HIM I can do anything that HE calls me to.

I'm back on the plan

Ten years ago I felt lead into the world of education, specifically business technology education. Due to a very bad experience in a middle school in Florida during my internship, eight years ago when I graduated from the University of South Florida and stated that I would NEVER go into education. I changed MY plans and went to work for a friend doing technical support for her small company. When she could no longer to keep me on full-time I went to work for Xerox for the next six years. After being laid off from work I slid down the slippery slope of depression, especially when I couldn't find a job. What I didn't want to hear, was that it was time for me to get back to what I was suppose to be doing and get back into teaching. That was truly the last thing that I WANTED to hear. Not surprisingly when I started to explore opportunities in education doors started to open. There have been some tough moments, but there have also been some amazing moments as I have gotten to work with students who just need encouragement and someone to care. Right now, even as a substitute, God has been so kind to show me that this is where HE wants me and HE has a work for me to do in the classroom. In May I start school to get my certification, I'm back on the plan.

Steph