Prop me up!

The Final Stretch!!

I can't believe my first year of teaching is in the final stretch!  What a year this has been!  There are only 9 more weeks of school left.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I only have 2 more G/T online classes and an ESL Certification test remaining and this excites me!

However, even though I'm excited, I still want to finish strong.  It's not over yet - so much can happen in 9 weeks.  I've had some recent days where I think all I can do is just survive until May.  I want to do more than just survive.

When Jordan first started preschool - she and I both were a little nervous.  I was sad not to see her all day and she was scared about going to a new place with new people.  So I gave her a kiss and told her to put it in her pocket.  If she got to a point in her day where she missed me - just take out that "kiss" and put it on her face and it would be like I was right there with her.

Somehow this worked for her!  Today I read a verse in Psalms that I'm going to treat like this "kiss" I gave Jordan so many years ago.  I'm going to tuck it away in my pocket and when I feel I can't finish strong - I'm going to pull it out and remember that the Lord is right here beside me.

Ready for the verse?  Me too!

Psalm 68:19 (ESV)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; 

God is our salvation.

With His daily bearing up I can conquer these next 9 weeks!

Have a great day everyone!

His Word Sunday

Yesterday I went to Kilgore for the very last Saturday training session!  Victory!

I started this program in April 2011 and now I only have 3 more online classes and an ESL test remaining and in June I will have my Standard Certificate.

When it's all said and done I will be be certified in every Science 8-12th grade, ESL & G/T.

What a journey!  I could not have done this without the prayers of friends and family and of course the Lord.

I read this verse this morning and had to say "Amen" while reading....

Psalm 54:4 (ESV)

Behold, God is my helper;

the Lord is the upholder of my life.

The upholder of my life!  There are so many names of God.  We see them throughout scripture - Healer, Prince of Peace, Provider... etc.  I love them all.

But I think I just found a new favorite - the Upholder of my life.

This picture here represents the Upholder of my life.
(notice at the bottom right my total hours!)

I could not have completed all of this right after John's move to Heaven if the Lord had not been holding up my life!

Thank you God!

Live Like That

What a full week it's been!  I administered a TAKS test, a Chemistry Final, went to New Orleans and tomorrow I'm traveling to Kilgore for my VERY LAST Saturday training!!!  I'm so excited for that part of my new journey to come to a close!

On Friday mornings, during my prayer time, I typically reflect back on the week.  I'm often confessing that I could have done things better.  I could have been more compassionate.  I could have not gotten upset so quickly.  I should have shown more of Him & less of me.

I know, whether I realize it at the time or not, that I'm leaving my fingerprint every place I go.   I want it to be a positive one.  One that points to Jesus.

While in New Orleans I spoke about our current assignment from the Lord.  One of the things we talked about was "how will we be graded on this assignment".  Isn't this what every kid wants to know from their teacher?

With God it's pretty simple.  My life - the way I live it - will reflect what kind of grade I'm getting.  Does my life reflect the person of Jesus?  Does it show more of Him and less of me?

In my heart - this is the kind of life that I want to live.  I know I've got a long way to go.  I'm so grateful that He gives me grace upon grace to get it right!

I heard this song last week and have been so encouraged by it - I hope you enjoy your Friday!

Steady my heart

You know what one of my most favorite things about a sunrise is?  It symbolizes a brand new day!  You get to start all over!  It gives you an opportunity to take a deep breath and have a "do-over."

However, I'm realizing more and more at school, I have to pretend or rather treat each new class period as if it were a brand new day.  I can't carry over to 4th period what happened in 3rd period - that's not very fair to them.  Just so you know... this is SUPER HARD!

I have to consciously take a deep breath and somehow steady my heart from the drama that just happened and present a "whole new day, a whole new Mrs. Franklin" to the kids that are seeing me for the first time since yesterday.

I heard this song this week and fell in love with it!  It's all about how God is with us, even on those really hard days... and the process, He steadies our heart!

I hope you have a fantastic Friday!

His Word Sunday

Remember

Many times in scripture - actually throughout the entire Word of God - we are reminded to "REMEMBER".

As I get older, remembering things that happened in the past gets harder and harder.  Like, where did I leave my keys, did I sign Jordan's homework, what did I do with (fill in the blank)?

But often times we also forget the good that the Lord has done for us - especially in those dark days He allows us to walk.

This morning in my One Year Bible the Psalmist said over and over to "remember".  I haven't provided the entire Psalm 42 - but just a portion that calls us all to remember the Lord in our hard days.

Psalm 42:5-6 (ESV)

Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,

 my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan 

and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

When you are feeling low... remember the Lord.  Recall all the places He has delivered you, met with you, and taught you.

He will bring you hope - and you will again praise Him.

His Word Sunday

Remember

Many times in scripture - actually throughout the entire Word of God - we are reminded to "REMEMBER".

As I get older, remembering things that happened in the past gets harder and harder.  Like, where did I leave my keys, did I sign Jordan's homework, what did I do with (fill in the blank)?

But often times we also forget the good that the Lord has done for us - especially in those dark days He allows us to walk.

This morning in my One Year Bible the Psalmist said over and over to "remember".  I haven't provided the entire Psalm 42 - but just a portion that calls us all to remember the Lord in our hard days.

Psalm 42:5-6 (ESV)

Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,

 my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan 

and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

When you are feeling low... remember the Lord.  Recall all the places He has delivered you, met with you, and taught you.

He will bring you hope - and you will again praise Him.

Long Way Home

Earlier in the week I posted on Facebook my Certification status.  Just in case you missed it... I have 1 more trip to Kilgore, 3 online classes, an ESL class, an ESL exam and I'll be done!!!

What a long trip this has been!!!  This part of the journey began in February 2011.  And now, a year later, I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I've learned things that I never thought I would, I've encountered challenges that have indeed surprised me, and I've definitely grown as a person, and as a servant of the Lord.

One of the things that has definitely stood out in such a big way since this all started is just how much "this place" is not my home.  No, I'm not talking about Lufkin, Texas.... I'm talking about planet Earth.  As a believer, we're all heading to a REAL place, our REAL HOME!

Some of us however, get to take a shortcut - and some of us God has allowed us to take the long way.  Sometimes short cuts are AWESOME!  And some times, it's nice to take the long way.  Apparently God thinks the longer path is what's best for me.  So I'm going to do my best to find joy in the long way home!

Enjoy today's song about the long way home.