Substitute Teacher

Photo credit (cropped by me): http://text2cloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Constitution.jpg

 

For He made Him

 who knew no sin

 to be sin for us,

 that we might become

 the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJ

Happy Presidents' Day, Girlfriends!

Today's holiday means a day off school and, for some, also work. For others, this Monday is like any other day on the job. For me, I have a day off both school and work because the schoolhouse has become my "workplace" once again. I recently began substitute teaching in Loudoun County Public Schools. And I now remember why I love these assignments!


First and foremost in my heart are the students I am blessed to meet. Hearing their stories, sharing their journey, and leading them through a lesson brings me joy and hopefully provides them with a renewed respect and appreciation of substitute teachers. I demand good behavior, recognizing the interruption I bring to their ordered day while also acknowledging the break I provide to the monotony of their repetitious schedule. 

I also enjoy the variety as my week can go from Physics to Sculpture to Symphonic Band or from AP US History to Advanced Weight Lifting to Special Education Algebra I. Embracing the obstacles when entering a classroom without a lesson plan or the spontaneity and flexibility required when the movie will not load or the projector breaks, I arrive prepared with an open mind and a bag full of tricks and engaging alternative activities. 

Substitute teaching is challenging to be certain. Kids in middle and high school love substitute teachers. "YES" is the word most often heard when a student enters the classroom and sees my face, followed by the obviously rhetorical question, "Do we have a sub today?" Smiles, jabs, and high fives inevitably freely flow about the room. In their young minds, a substitute means a free day, a break, a reprieve. In my mind, I am present as a stand-in for the real teacher, not a replica, but an attempt to maintain the flow and continuity of the educational process.

According to thesaurus.com, "substitution" is synonymous with replacement, exchange, swap, and trade. While I can replace an educator for a day, a week, or few months, I can never be that teacher exactly and identically. My words are not his/her words. My thoughts and ideas are not his/her thoughts and ideas. While possibly quite similar, my methods, insights, and actions will never be indistinguishable from the permanent teacher. And while I can encourage the students to behave orderly, work quietly, and follow directions, I cannot exempt them from punishment for their poor choices. Justice and fairness demands consequences for  disruptive behavior.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:33 ESV

Girlfriends, thankfully, for all humanity, the Perfect Substitute does exist. This Teacher's words and actions are interchangeable with the One who "hired" him: God, the Father. His name is Jesus Christ, and He works in the classroom of human existence. We can all fist pump and holler, "YES" when we discover His Presence in our day. His job is not only to educate us but more importantly to redeem our souls. He actually comes to disrupt our schedule and show us a new way, a better way, the ONLY way to eternal life. Jesus wants a relationship with you, desires to hear your story, and longs to lead you through life's journey in a way no earthly soul can guide. He is fully equipped, trained, and perfectly prepared to carry you through any situation. He holds the precise and flawless lesson plan for life.

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. John 14:10-11

An interesting twist to this situation is that this Teacher is also a Substitute, for you--for me--for each and every disobedient, wayward, sinful student who deserves detention and even expulsion. Every human pupil should face harsh discipline for failure to comply and attain the perfection of God. None, not even the honor student, is exempt. "...For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23

Ladies, Jesus is my all-time favorite Substitute Teacher and can be yours too. No other leads me like He does while also taking my just and due punishment, wiping my record clean. I know my errors. I confess them to Him daily and ask His forgiveness. I am accountable to Him and to the Father for my ways. I seek to follow His directions, complete my assignments and assist my classmates along the way.  I know I will enter Heaven with a perfect 4.0 gpa and zero punishable infractions on my transcript because I believe in Him and acknowledge His redemptive blood shed for me on a cross. My prayer for you is to ask Jesus into your life, into your heart, that we may stand shoulder to shoulder on that graduation day and walk through the gates together and into the arms of our loving, patient, forgiving Teacher!

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. Romans 12:1-2 GNT

Girlfriends, while this analogy I have written today is not perfect for relating God's redemptive work, I pray you will ask God to reveal Himself to you in a way that you can understand so that you too may believe and be saved!

My love to all!

Trekking with Teens

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 127:3 ESV 

Happy Monday, Girlfriends!

I am refreshed after a weekend get-away with teenagers at a retreat center in northern Virginia. "Recuperating" was actually my first choice of wording but I went with "refreshed" after considering, "To which part of myself am I referring?" If my spirit is the subject, then ladies, refreshed is definitely an understatement. If my physical self is the topic, then recuperating is also an understatement! 

I love engaging with young people for the very reason why I am both in need of a nap at 10:30 am on Monday morning while, at the same time, full of joy and excitement for the week ahead. Teens are abundantly full of energy, endurance, and emotion. Keeping up with them as we explored the forest and creek behind the retreat center required climbing hills and rocks, hanging from fallen tree trunks, dodging barbed wire fences, and hopping stone to stone across the flowing water. I loved it. They loved it. And we have the wacky photos to prove it! Yet beyond the physical stamina, this weekend also necessitated spiritual and mental fortitude. The bodily energy of teens is nothing compared to the intensity with which they think, feel, and desire answers to all of life's questions, none of which allow for pat answers. I am honored that the Lord, through Gateway Church and its leadership, provided me opportunity to nurture this group of teens for a few days, despite my own short-comings and parental insecurities. 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

I have read and heard Proverbs 22:6 more times than I can count, relying upon God's directions to me as I train my own children in the way to go. I pray fervently that the Lord will empower and enlighten me as I implement His instructional plan. I submit to His will, knowing that my parenting knowledge is feeble and my skills minimal in comparison to His ability to be our Father. Nonetheless, as I rely upon Him, I know I must give the effort He requires of me and to the best of my ability, educate, discipline, and support my children in their overall growth. Easy, it is not. My knees hit the floor, tears streaming from my eyes and worry pouring from my lips, days and nights beyond count. And while I know the Lord hears every plea and acknowledges every bent knee, my insecurity has driven me to reach out to my fellow sisters in Christ, begging for prayer and asking for suggestions and feedback.

Girlfriends, you know what I mean. Many of you have been the very women to take my trembling hands into your own, soothe my aching heart, and place me at the feet of the Jesus, petitioning Him for discernment, insight, and peace on my behalf. Ladies, God is calling us to support and sustain one another in every aspect of life, including parenting and preparing the next generation, so that we may have eternal life together?

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

On the way home from this weekend's retreat, our caravan stopped at a fast food restaurant.  While eating, I noticed an elderly woman, wearing a beautiful pink blouse with an embroidered grey sweater vest, purposely choosing to sit at a table among our lively group. The kids were giggling and swapping stories from the weekend while the lady in pink silently observed. As we prepared to leave, this woman stopped me with a question. She asked if we were a school group. When I informed her that we actually are a church youth group returning from a retreat, her face lit up. For the next few minutes, she excitedly relayed to me how her husband had worked with teens all of his life and that she absolutely adored their laughter. Listening to our kids just now had flooded her mind with memories. With joy in her voice, this spirited woman informed me that although she may look old on the outside, she is actually very young inside--so young that while recently speaking at a church, the pastor had asked her if she was available to work for their youth ministry. She giggled, explaining that she will always have the heart of a child. I nodded my head in agreement, knowing exactly what she was feeling. Then she looked softly at me and said, "God bless you for ministering to these kids." I smiled, thanked her for the kind words, and headed home with an added warmth and knowledge in my heart: No one, especially not this eighty-something year old woman, is too old to be used by God to build His kingdom and serve his children.

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming,“The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Psalm 92:14-15

My dear Girlfriends, God calls upon us as a community of believers to raise up generation after generation of Christian disciples, whether we feel equipped or not. Parents and grandparents cannot solely carry the burden. Youth pastors cannot operate alone.  Public school teachers cannot mention His name let alone share the the message of salvation. We who love Christ must be involved in the shepherding of our young, impressionable people. The Lord understands that not everyone wants to climb trees or sleep in freezing cold cabins or even stay up until the wee morning hours. He is not requiring the same service of you as He is of others. But God is calling your name today. Will you obey?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NIV (emphasis mine)

 

Ladies, my prayer is that those who have given their hearts to Jesus will carve out time to mentor someone younger, whether they are a teen, a young adult, a middle-ager, or even retired/elderly. God desires that all of His children return to Him and that requires that all believers respond to His call and commands. If we are to go and make disciples, we must take that first step forward. Girlfriends, you can do it! As a parent, I thank you. As someone who was personally mentored by a host of believers, I thank you. As a youth worker, I thank you. As a citizen, I thank you. Peace and the grace of our Lord be with you as you step out in faith.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 ESV