His Word Sunday

Why do we doubt?

This morning I read a very familiar passage from my One Year Bible.

One that typically I would just skim over as, "Oh, I already know this story - nothing new to see here."  But the Lord wanted me to be reminded of a simple yet profound truth.

He's right here with me - and there's no reason to doubt.

Picture just for a moment, what your life would look like if you got to take walks with the Lord Himself!  As the day's drama arose, you could just look over at Him... and He would give you that reassuring look that spoke volumes to you -  that everything would be okay and not to worry.

Sounds comforting doesn't it?!  Peter and the boys got to experience that very thing - and yet they still let the day's drama affect them.

Check this out...

Matthew 14:28-33 (ESV)

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  

He said, "Come."  So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  

But when he saw the wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

He's still right here with me - as He was with Peter.  Maybe not where I can touch Him - but human touch certainly does not limit my God from saving me from the wind and waves that I experience.

Oh that my faith with increase and my doubt would decrease.  This is my prayer today!

Carry me

Here I am again.... Friday.  It seems that my precious blog and I have been rather distant lately.  You'll understand why here in a bit.

My days and weeks have just been absolutely crazy!  I'm working on 3 major certification tests:

1.  PPR - I don't really know what this is.  What I do know is that I must take a content test and a regular school and class management test.  This is the second part to achieving my full certification.

2.  ESL - English as a Second Language

3.  GT - Gifted and Talented

The PPR exam is next Tuesday - Yikes!  The ESL is in February and the GT, I'm taking in 5 parts - one part every month until May.

In addition to this... we've had the Academic Decathlon, official observations for my certification, a bible conference at church, and a youth retreat where I was a leader.

Oh yeah... not to mention just being a regular Mom to my very patient and forgiving kiddos.

Whew!  The only way all of this is even humanly possible is if Jesus carries me every day through all this good and tiring stuff.

That's why when I heard this song on the radio, I quickly hit Shazam on my phone!  It totally describes how I live every day - all because Jesus carries me!  Have an awesome Friday!

His Word Sunday

Wow!  What a weekend!  Starting on Thursday night, with a kickoff concert, I've been a leader for a Youth Retreat called Disciple Now (D-Now) at my church.

My group was 8th grade girls.  I love them all so much!  We started Thursday with me trying to remember their names... and now I'm hugging them and telling them I love them!

I read a verse this morning - a prayer really - spoken by Jacob that voiced my heart this morning.

Genesis 55:9-10 (ESV)

And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham 

and God my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, 

'Return to your country and to your kindred, 

that I may do you good,' 

I am not worthy of the least of all the 

deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness 

that You have shown to Your servant." 

Lord, I am so honored and blessed to be a part of such a wonderful weekend!  Thanks God for letting me be in Your service!

All that I've been up to now...

No, I have not abandoned my blog - I'm a leader at a Youth Retreat this weekend.  Every available moment, I've been prepping for this awesome event!

This has been a super eventful week.  I've felt like I had several things going at one time.  I love them all and want to succeed and make God proud of all He's brought my way.

I heard this song in the quietness of my classroom and couldn't wait to share it with you!

Some of my favorite lines involve heaven!  One day I'll get to enter His chamber and I'll be able to dance at His feet!  What a day that will be!

I also really love this line, "All that I've been up to now belongs to You."

"Lord, I give You all that I've been, all that I'm planning for tomorrow - I give You today!  It all belongs to You.  I pray that Your hand be upon it all.  I love You!" - Your servant, Penny

Blessed

A day to work in my classroom - a chance to work with my Science team - Friday... what a wonderful combination!

I'm really looking forward to today!  My Mom is providing lunch for my team at school and I'm preparing for 4 new classes that will start on Monday.

All week as I've been grading finals and cleaning out the past semester I've been listening to Pandora in my classroom.  I like to have it on softer music so I can really concentrate.

This song came on and I almost did a double take - wondering somehow did God put John on my Pandora - just for me.  As I looked to see who the artist was - I found that I was not going crazy.  (always good)  It was Third Day.  Many folks used to tell John he had a very similar sound to them.

The song is super familiar - but I hope you can take time to sit back and let God remind you of how great He is.

In addition to that - as I started my One Year Bible this January... God showed me that He wants to me see just how many verses begin with, "Blessed..." - so I'm keeping a track of them, while I read them.

We truly are a blessed people to be able to have a relationship with our Creator!  It is the most important thing in my life!  And THIS is my story - and THIS is my song!

Enjoy your Friday!

His Word Sunday

Today in my Sunday School class I'm teaching about the gift that we're all about to unwrap... the gift of living in 2012.  Yes, LIFE truly is a gift.

Some gifts come with instruction manuals.  Most of which none of want to read - we just want to get to the goods of the gift!!!

However, I'll be using this verse as one of my instructions for this new year.

Proverbs 1:5

Let the wise hear and increase in learning 

and the one who understands obtain guidance.

From my own journal this morning...

1.  Hear - Lord give me ears to hear your instructions for every step You want me to take this new year.

2.  Increase in Learning - Lord I want to read more this new year and not waste time in front of the TV.

3.  Understanding & Guidance - Lord, first I want to gain understanding for the things You want me to understand and then seek Your guidance instead of doing things my way.

Have a great Sunday unwrapping your new 2012 gift!

Didn't I just blink?

"It feels like it was yesterday" - isn't this what they all say when it seems like time has passed all too quickly?

Or what about this one... "It seems as if I just blinked"?

I said this to a dear friend just this week and he said, "No, you've had quite a few blinks since that day."

He's so right!  I could spend this blog writing about the things that have happened since December 30, 2010 - but you would get bored reading it all.  Because in true John Franklin form he would want to hear about each and every haircut.  He would want to know the details about how I felt when I took my certification test.

He would want to know the facial expression on everyone's face for every big and small event that has transpired.  So what do I write about?

How do I honor a man that meant the world to me?  How do I celebrate the one who was the best at celebrating... without him?

You'll find 3 things in this blog post.  Feel free to skip around and only read or watch the things you want.  Here you will find:

1.  The things I love most about John

2.  The verses that have gotten me through this first year

3.  A video that was shown at his "Special Service" 

where you can hear him sing and the kids laugh and talk with their Daddy.

Here are some things that I love most about my hero - John Franklin

1.  Friday night date night - he never missed it!  Even if it meant hot wings at home with a movie we'd seen before - we put the kids to bed, and pretended our living room was a romantic place set just for us.

2.  Friday mornings with the family.  His day off from the office was Friday.  During the summer we would all load up for a fun family day - which usually meant Chick-fil-A for breakfast, then driving around New Orleans exploring!

3.  His amazing active love for his kiddos.  Every day he loved for his kids to use him as a human jungle gym.

4.  Everything was special to John.  He saved every little note not only from me but even pieces of paper that had scratches on it from his children.

But most of all I loved this about him...

5.  His intimate relationship and love for Jesus Christ!  Nothing was more important to him than seeing people come to know Jesus as he knew Him.  This was the glue for every relationship he had!!

Now what?  These are some pretty amazing things.  How do I put one foot in front of the other without these in my everyday life.

The verses that gave gotten me through this first year

since his move to Heaven (basically a walk through my journal):

1.  Isaiah 57:1-2 - "The righteous man perishes and no man takes it to heart; and devout men are taken away, while no one understands.  For the righteous man is taken away from evil, he enters into peace"

2.  Psalm 40:17 - "As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought of me.  You are my Help, and my Deliverer, do not delay, O my God!"

3.  Psalm 40:3 - "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

4.  Psalm 31:24 - "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait on the Lord!"

5.  Psalm 18:6 - "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.  From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ear."

6.  Proverbs 4:12-13 - "When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.  Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life."

I could go on and on here - this was just from about 3 pages from my journal.  The message here is God's Word - daily, and your prayers - daily, have held me up!  I will continue to live like this no matter what comes my way.

Now, instead of a regular Friday song and video - 

I give you a very brief glimpse of the life of John Franklin...