"O Thou of Little Faith"

When I was interning last semester often I would find myself afraid to teach. I would ask myself what if I mess up and teach them wrong? What if I don't understand the topic I'm teaching and can't help my students? Am I really supposed to teach? I never had problem if I knew the materials but I was always afraid of having to teach a subject I was not good at. I was a little nervous when I received a letter telling me I would start my student teaching at Middle School. Once again fear came over me because, well.... lets just say the emotional ups and downs and attitudes just doesn't go over well with me. But once I started student teaching I noticed the fear I once had was gone. I reported to my teacher and she told me for the first two periods I would be teaching 8th grade math. And let me say... math is my weak subject. But when she told me for one I didn't panic, instead it was like God gave me boldness and the next thing I knew I was finding myself asking for lesson plans. Later as I began planning my lessons I felt fear starting to rise up within me, but I looked down and read what was on my ring,

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Phil. 4:13.

I CAN, yes thats right even though math has never been my best subject if I turn to God he can give me the guidance I need to teach these students. Something that God really spoke to me about was in Matthew 14 when Jesus is walking on the water and peter cries out

"Lord if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." (14:28)

When Jesus said "Come" Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus but when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he became afraid and began to sink.

"he cried, saying Lord save me. And immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hands and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (14:30-31).

Just like Peter, when I took my focus off of God I began to doubt and sink into fear like before but once I put my trust in Him and my Focus on Him a peace came over me and my strength was restored. God has not given us a reason for us to not trust in Him or for us to take our focus off of Him. He has promised us many times in the bible if we just look unto Him and trust in Him He will help us and give us strength that we need to do what He has called us to do.

All Things Are Possible

Yesterday was a crazy day! But I realized I love those types of days it just seems to make time go faster. I had Student Teaching Orientation at SFASU and was excited about everything but the Mastery Exam they were going to have us take at the end of the Orientation. It wouldn't have been so bad for me or the others if it wasn't for the fact that we weren't told until last week about the test. At first I was really upset because I had just put up with this all last semester and well let just say last semester was filled with stress, anxiety, and depression and I did not want to go back down that road. So even though I was very frustrated about finding out a week ahead of time I knew that I could pass that test.... With God's help. I knew this since it was Him that helped me pass my certification test and if He could do it then, then He could do it now.

I went in to take the test and I was finding myself getting very distracted by every little thing going on in the room. Papers being turned, shoes tapping, doors opening, etc. I was having to read the questions sometimes 5 times before I understood what it was asking. Right when I was beginning to feel a panic attack coming on it was like God tapped my shoulder and said "I'm Here." A peace came over me and I was able to finish the test. As I was driving back home I was thinking about the test and said to myself "its in God's hands and if I don't pass it I'll keep taking it until I do." It was then that I looked up and there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky. I just couldn't help but smile. I just Love God's Promises!

God's Power and Glory

The past few days it has rained and while we need the rain after a very dry summer I was beginning to feel down. Rainy days can either make you feel peaceful, sleepy, or depressed (well at least for me it does). And the first few days of it I enjoyed falling a sleep to the rain hitting the roof but by yesterday it was just foggy and misty. It somewhat brought me down and made me not want to do anything. I was praying for the sun to come out today so that I would be able to do a photo shoot but also because there is something about having a sunny day right after days and days of rain. And when I woke up this morning the sun was shining bright and it was absolutely beautiful and of course this brought a huge smile to my face! I was so excited that God had answered my prayers and I must say the weather was gorgeous! I could not have asked for a better day.

Before going out for the photo shoot I was reading in Psalm 63 and verse 2 just described everything that I was thinking about the morning

"To see thy power and thy glory..."

This morning was a perfect example of God's power and glory. We don't realize it but we see God's power and glory every where we go but we don't take the time just to take it in and enjoy what God has blessed us with everyday!

The New Year

I was reading an article in one of the past Set Apart Girl Magazines about finding Joy in the Lord. I had been bouncing the idea back and forth whether or not to start a online journal and choosing one word to go by for the year. I've heard many others starting this and was amazed by it. I know we are ten days into the new year but I felt God tugging on my heart to focus on finding Joy in Him this year. Last year ended pretty rough and I was really looking forward to starting 2012 for many reasons. My life will be changing in many ways this year first by graduating from college in May which will mean I will need to be looking for a teaching job. Second, I will be getting married to my wonderful Fiance in June and will be moving three hours away from my family. I know not everyday will be perfect but there is always something about the beginning of a new year that I just love and that is starting something new. I feel that God is leading me to start this blog to not only help me find Joy in Him in my everyday life through the ups and downs but to also maybe encourage someone along the way that might need some Joy in their own life. :) So here is to a New Year and finding Joy in the Lord!

Many Blessings,
Jessica