Saturday, May 23, 2009

Leading by Example

Growing up in a christian home has allowed me to hear the phrase "lead by example" for many years - to the point where I just think, "Yeah, yeah be a good example." I don't know if everyone is aware of my roommate situation. My relationship with my newest roommate (the one I share a bathroom with) has slowly deteriorated throughout this last year. This has led to her decision to move out for the next year, which is really an answer to prayer. We are still very cordial, we just weren't agreeing on some of the activities she was choosing to participate in. She was going home for the weekend and I was leaving to come home to Dallas; we didn't say bye, but when she got home she sent me this text message "'On Christ the solid rock I stand' song just came on in the car and I thought of you!" Reading this text made me realize maybe I was just supposed to be an example to her all year long. She obviously recognized my music and so who knows what else she learned from me. I guess this was the first time that I realized without knowing it I was leading by example.

All of this prompted me to find this verse: Psalm 71:7 "My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection."

So as cliche as it sounds this is a simple little reminder to myself to lead by example, because people are watching you whether you're conscious of it or not.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Kind-of the Beginning

I guess you could say I've been wanting one of these for a while now. I feel like I spend enough time on this piece of technology and that I could keep up with my thoughts better if I just type them out! I also can type a whole lot faster than I can write. I'm writing this first post before I even know how to invite people, that's how eager I am just to write.

My junior year of college is finished. I cannot believe it. I guess it just proves what I love to say - "Time flys when you're having fun!" Although, this year was definitely way different than my first two years. Beginning with, Hannah was in Waco!! This has been amazing. I cannot explain how much closer the two of us have gotten since I originally left for Baylor. She is definitely one of my best friends and someone I rely on massively. The biggest change in my junior year has been the amount of responsibility I now take on. I am responsible for an entire classroom. When I think about this I want to be like, "Hi, I'm 20 years old. You are giving me 21 thirteen and fourteen year olds to be completely in charge of?" The best part of my junior year has been the realization that I am made for this. People always say, "Wow, you are so brave" or "I could not do that!" I guess my realization has been that I could not sit in an office all day, every day. I love what I do, I'm good at what I do, and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else! My 8th graders took the math TAKS on April 7th. I was SO stressed this particular week just because I want my students to succeed and I want them to strive to succeed. I got the results back today and 65% of my class passed the test! I was originally aiming for 70%, but for a Waco ISD school where 95% of the students are on free/reduced lunch, 65% is an incredible number. For this reason, I was very pleased and excited for my first ever results of TAKS for my classroom!!

Spiritually, I have found that since the new year my spiritual life has been moving rather slowly. I often find that I am trying to be the strongest person around and, in turn, there is no one stronger than me to push me spritually. My accountability partner and I have been working closely together in middle school this year and I think we got so carried away in our school work we dropped the ball on holding each other accountable. I'm hoping this blog will allow me to talk through spiritual concepts I find fascinating. All I need is a song or two to whip me into shape and quickly remind me how blessed I am. Since freshman year of college I always start the day off the same way, a one line prayer that a chapel speaker told us - "God give me courage to be a Christian." Courage is a word that has followed me around lately (maybe more to follow on this in a later post), but right now I'm on the 3rd book of the Mitford Series and this is a quote that I'll end with:
"Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower."