Miss G. Farted! First year Teaching and Lessons on Humility....

Last night, I was scrolling through my phone, and I saw a picture of my “official” first year class. My tummy literally did a flip. I realize that I haven’t thought about them much because it’s almost easier on the heart. I STINKIN’ love them. I would adopt any one of them in a heartbeat.  It’s so bizarre to spend almost seven hours a day with a group of kiddos and then to go over a month without seeing them. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE summer. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the time off. BUT I feel like a part of my heart was carried off into 17 different directions at the same time.

I got to thinking… what did I learn from this class? Without a moment of hesitation I realized it was this: HUMILITY!  Let’s be real, as a first year teacher, I really had NO idea what I was doing. There were moments when I found myself wasting so much time only thinking about how I could make a project or activity make ME look like a super star teacher.  It’s like I was shouting to my fellow teachers: “I promise I’m not drowning over here, homies!” Cutesy, creative, rigorous, under control, perfection… what could I do to make it the BEST!? Other moments, I was just trying my best not to snap and drop kick a child. I was gonna be the kindest and sweetest teacher you ever did see….

“ YES 2 PLUS 2 is 4!!!! NOT 5, Sweet LOVE! Remember we talked about this yesterday? And the day before yesterday? And the day before that?!”

“ IF YOU RUN AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL WE HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE!”

What the heck? I was arguing with a kid about why he shouldn’t run away from school? What was my world coming to? OH NO I’m GETTING THE WORST TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD!

But now that it’s summer and I sit here in the sunshine enjoying some cookies n’ cream icecream, I realize that a lot of the time I was just being plain old selfish. I was forgetting the point. This whole school year wasn’t about putting some spotlight on Miss G. for being the most patient or creative teacher. I was here for THEM.  The main goal was that they would know the potential and strength that they each held. That they would know they are loved and valued. Some days I would fall flat on my face. Literally…. One day  I got a little TOO excited and  into the dancing brain break…and well I’m sure you can just picture the rest. Those days would be the perfect reminder…this isn’t about making ME look great . How can I go low and serve this group of kiddos that are so deserving of love?  They are the up and coming generation in this nation, and how beautiful would it be to see them rise up as confident leaders? The times that I realized it wasn’t really about ME, were the best days of all.

Here’s a prime example.  It’s a picturesque moment, right? I’m sitting in my grandma’s old rocking chair and the kids are gathered around oh so quietly as I read them a thrilling story. It’s one of those moments I was HOPING the principal would come and  visit my class. Then, the unthinkable happens. I FART.  I have absolutely no idea it was coming. And this definitely isn’t one I can just hide. Guys, sorry if it’s TMI but it was LOUD.  A roller coaster of emotion rushes across my students’ faces. First terror, then confusion, and then I watch their bodies shake and lips quiver as they do their best to hold in the earthquakes of laughter and giggles that is about to erupt. A kid shouts: “ MISS G FARTED!!!!” The earthquake is unleashed and we are all laughing for an amount of time that is most definitely taking away from any “academic rigor.”

That moment changed my life. My kids saw my imperfection loud and clear. There for sure was no hiding it. I was just another human like they are. We talked about how it happens to everyone. Then, we pressed on with our day and learned some fascinating things together. Despite probably blushing for the rest of the day out of horrified embarrassment, I’m glad my first “official” class could remind me I’m just a human. It’s not about me. But I’m sure happy to do what I can to be a blessing in their lives. The pressure is off.

Be You're (Your) Self. And honey, there may be a few spelling errors.

 I'm a first year teacher.

There is so much advice.

It feels like there is so little time.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

The clock dances on.

 Sometimes looking at Pinterest makes me feel convinced  that I’m  about to vomit. I don’t even want to look at all this cutesy stuff. I’m just happy to make it to 4:05 most days and to have accomplished MOST of the things written in my plans.

And apparently these 17 little minds are growing?

You should be more strict. Have higher expectations. Have more fun.  You should be more gentle. PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.  Learning Objectives should be called learning targets. Scratch that—they should be called learning goals.  Higher expectations. We need to focus more on science. Those math drills need work.   Rewards. Consequences. More RIGOR.  Make sure they’re up and moving. Incorporate more technology. More eyes on text.  Keep them ENGAGED ALL DAY. Comprehension skills. Team building.  Move those scores UP UP UP.  Data walls. Make PLANS with details.   Write MORE. Read longer. Higher level thinking skills. How are they doing emotionally?  Get trained in new reading programs. They need more choices. Meetings. Making more changes. Did you grade those math tests yet? Report cards.  New seating. Change the bulletin boards.

Sometimes my mind is spinning with the simple tasks of running a classroom. In the midst of that, it tries to keep up with the day-to-day 2^nd grade “dramas.”

 “Miss G, they are making fun of me for picking my nose!”

 “Sweetheart, maybe it’s best not to pick your nose. Go get some hand sanitzer and a Kleenex.”

“Miss G! I spilled my breakfast ALL OVER MY LIBRARY BOOK!”

“Miss G! I’m pretty sure I’m gonna throw up! “

“Miss G! Did you know it’s MARCH AND IT”S MY BIRTHDAY IN MARCH!”

·  After hearing this for the FOURTEENTH time in one day I try to use  my most forced patient voice:  “YES dear, I’m so excited!”

“Miss G! I lost my homework again! “

“MISS G! I’m booooaaaaard”

“NO sir, we don’t use that word in this room.”

“Miss G! I don’t GET it! “

“Ok, let’s try again!” ( IN my mind I’m thinking I DON”T KNOW HOW ELSE TO EXPLAIN! I wish I could just DUMP IT into your mind.”

“Miss G, nobody likes me. “

“You know that isn’t true, beautiful girl. You are so loved HERE.”

“Miss G, HE CUT ME IN LINE! “

“MISS G! Are you even wearing makeup today? Are you tired?”

“Miss G! Your dress makes you look pregnant. I don’t like it.”

Miss G, Miss G, Miss G, Miss G. FOR THE Love of everything that starts with G, if I hear my name ONE MORE TIME…….. phew. Breath in, breath out. Love is patient. Love is kind.

And there are moments where I just laugh at the things I hear myself saying because they are so ridiculous!  There are many  things  that teacher’s college ( Bless them, LORD)  doesn’t prepare you for.

“ Don’t you even think about running out of that fire door, SIR!”

“ I’m going to need you to write an apology note for calling her a ghost. You can see that her feelings are hurt.”

“Sweetheart, 5 minus 1 is NOT 7, let’s try that again.”

“ DO NOT put that math game piece in your mouth!”

“If you lock yourself in the bathroom again, I’m going to be calling your mama.”

“ No sweetheart, Donald Trump is not George Washington’s son."

 “Some friends make sad choices, like throwing things at Miss G, or ruining things in our classroom.   We do not need to copy that example. YOU can choose to be a leader and make great choices. Do we all understand?” 

"Honey, please stop trying to untie my shoe when you are sitting on the carpet."

There are many days when I think: “I CAN”T BELIEVE I GET PAID TO DO THIS ! WHAT A DREAM!”

There are other days when I can’t  WAIT run down that BEASTLY set of stairs to the parking lot fast enough. All I want to do  is  jump into the blissful silence that is in my vehicle and get away from that building PRONTO!

Through it all, one theme that seems to ring true this year is the constant reminder that God made me to be ME.

One day, I was feeling pressure. MEGA PRESSURE. Lies swirled in my head: “ You aren’t enough, you’re failing them, you’re wasting everyone’s time. They would be so much better off with somebody other than you. You need to change your teaching style. ” Tears streamed down my face as I sorted through pile after pile of unorganized paper chaos on my kidney table over plan time.  I USED TO BE WAY MORE ORGANIZED THAN THIS!  I decided to totally changed my style for the day. I decided to be STRICT, INTENSE, and tried my best not to laugh. We were here to LEARN  and GET THINGS DONE. 2^nd grade is very serious business, after all. ;)  Friends, it was awkward. Completely and totally awkward. I HATED it. I’m pretty sure my kids weren’t much of a fan of it either. Don’t get me wrong, I totally see and value the  principle of being disciplined and having high expectations.  It is SO important. Like, crazy important. But… for crying out loud, my name means JOYFUL JOY … it’s just totally unnatural for me to try to take things too seriously.

That very next day, a girl walked in with a picture for me that simply said:

“Be you’re self!”

Yes, yes, I know I probably need to do a lesson on the difference between “you’re” and “your.”  But, the little flaw in that poster seemed to make it an even more powerful little wink from Heaven. Be yourself. And honey, it’s not gonna be perfect.

I felt the Lord told me from the beginning of the year: “ I have hand picked the kids I am placing in your room because they need something that YOU and only you can offer to them in this little year of their lives.” The same is true of every teacher, and I am SO convinced of it.

We all carry something special. Something unique.  Gifts that God has given us to share with others.  It’s a sad day when we try to bury  those gifts because we start comparing them to others’ gifts and strengths.

If the main thing my 2^nd graders learn this year is JOY and THANKFULNESS, something I really feel the Lord has asked me to cultivate in my life, then that’s ok! I can trust that the reading, math, and writing skills will also all thrive as they learn to truly appreciate life to the FULLEST!

This week though, it happened again. I was tempted to try to be someone I wasn’t. A student was pushing my buttons.. She was hiding under her desk saying: “ I CAN’T DO IT. MY BRAIN FEELS BORED. I just don’t FEEL like doing my work, Miss G.”

I could feel my blood boiling over with frustration. I looked over at the sign “ BE YOU'RE SELF”

I felt tempted to lose it. To “set her straight” with big expectations and bossy commands.  But, that’s just not the  Miss G. way of approaching things ususally. 

  I paused and just asked God for love. He always delivers. It's like the words just flowed out: "Come here, princess! Let me sing you a song! I hugged her and sang over her. I looked like a total fool dancing around and snapping my fingers singing “ HUSTLE AND HEART will set you APART!  Random inpiration from a cheesy instagram post. Store those things in your memory...you never know when they can be used as inspirational songs. ;)   I asked her “ What do you want to be when you grow up, beauty?!” ohhh a POLICE OFFICER?! OH MY GOSH I CAN'T WAIT! You’re gonna be SO INCREDIBLE! “ Her eyes lit up. She started dancing with me. “Hustle and HEART will set me apart.”

Next thing I knew, she was eagerly filling out her phonics game paper she had just told me she couldn’t do.  She just needed to be reminded of that spunk and zest for life down in that little heart.

It’s almost like I could hear God laughing: “There’s MY Miss G!”

There are definitely days I have lost it. Days I have had to apologize to students for the snappy way I answered them. Days I let the frustration get the best of me.

But, I’m here to tell you, the most FRUSTRATING thing in the world is trying to be someone you are NOT. The world NEEDS YOU and your unique perspective and giftings. You’re loved and created with a breath-taking purpose.

So go BE YOU’RE ( YOUR) SELF! Cause there’s a God who made you and He’s stinkin' proud of how He formed you and how you reflect Him in a way that nobody else can!   ;) And can I tell you another little secret? You are most FULLY you, when you are completely totally surrendered to and LOST in the beautiful love of Jesus. He's so worth it. When you look at Him, nothing else matters anyway. I HIGHLY and COMPLETELY recommend getting to know Him.

Pslam 139:17-22 ( Message)

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

^17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!

Confessions of a Coffee Drive-Thru Addict. { How the belly laughers AND Mr. Grumpy Pants have been changing my life.}

Lately, I really enjoy iced coffee. TOO MUCH.

I mean, it’s just a tad bit SCORCHING OUTSIDE.

So as I drive, and my entire body feels like it is melting in to my black leather car seat, (P.S, JESUS, Thank you, thank you, thank you for a functioning air conditioner in my sweet lil car. If I could write thank you in the cutest bubble letters and fly them on a banner above my car for you, I would. Well, I guess I COULD. But for now, I’m just blowing kisses up to Heaven. I’m so thankful) I can often feel all of the Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Scooters, Cranes, and McDonalds, just calling out my name.

I USUALLY give in to the call.

Sometimes I’m strong and I #justsayno.

But here’s something that just got me thinking the other day…..

DO I EVEN LIKE THE ICED COFFEE THAT MUCH?! I’m pretty sure this stuff is dehydrating me. I don’t think this is necessarily helping me to beat the heat. This is probably making me feel worse. This is probably actually causing me to melt into my sizzling seat (shout out to the LORD once again for air conditioning…but it’s still HOT ya’ll) at an even faster pace.

Then it dawns on me….

I think I’m actually just addicted to the whole drive-thru EXPERIENCE.  And let’s be real, I’m just ordering the iced coffee because…..  Who wants a ginormous and greasy big mac or a pastry just hanging out in their stomach on days that are already insanely greasy and hot already?  

  I think I have traced my love for the drive-thru back to one spring day when I was going to school in Lincoln. Guess what I was getting? Surprise! A medium iced coffee with sugar free vanilla sweetener. McDonald’s.  I don’t exactly remember the details, but this sweet older lady took my order. When I got to the window, I was actually surprised by the enthusiasm that came out of me. I think I just practically screamed “ THANK YOU SO MUCH!” She was doubly surprised.  We just sat there and laughed and laughed and laughed. She was absolutely tickled.  I remember my ENTIRE DAY was totally brightened. Driving away, I was thinking that my life suddenly felt like a real-life McDonald’s commercial, or the beginning of a cheesy movie. I just needed some cheerful and inspirational background music to be playing out loud, possibly some cute puppies to come skipping by, or some jolly kids to whiz by on roller blades or something like that….

I was just so happy because I kept thinking: “ That lady probably really feels like her job is super important.” It is.

I remember having a similar experience with my dad once, too. We drove through, and for some reason, this guy just thought we were hysterical.  I think it was one of those instances where we were accidentally  overly enthusiastic again. We could still hear him laughing when we drove away.  And he had one of those CONTAGIOUS belly laughs. The absolute best! Too funny!

Ok, so obviously I’m not always THAT enthusiastic when I get my coffee. BUT, I still feel the anticipation as I go to order. I feel like I’m going to meet a new friend. The worker takes my order, and I can hear their voice. I feel like they kind of know me…. they know I’m just one of those girls “addicted to iced coffee.” But then the big reveal happens at the window. You never know what you’re gonna get. Sometimes it’s Mr. Grumpy Pants. Sometimes it’s someone who seems bored out of his or her mind.  There have been times when I think OH this person is so sad. There is the YELLER. Like, not the mean yeller but more the, “I’m trying to act excited to see you, but also trying to push you through this line,” yeller. Then there’s your sweet, calm, reassuring people. 

Regardless of who is at the window at the “big reveal,” something I have tried to be intentional about is to genuinely smile at the person and really look them in the eyes. I learned this one from my mama. She’s so great!

AND Guess what? It’s such a hoot. Like, you can see people’s countenances change instantly just from a simple smile and from taking the time to look them in the eyes. Sometimes, especially if it happens to be a Mr. Grumpy Pants, even their tone of voice will change. 

It makes me want to weep just thinking about it.  I can’t get over how impacted some people have seemed from something so simple.  One smile.

Here’s the reality. People want to feel noticed. They want to feel like what they are doing matters.

Here’s the thing about Jesus. He notices. He notices SO MUCH. He notices every detail. His eyes just burn with love for every human walking this planet. If one little smile can just play an itsy- bitsy part in communicating that, count me in.

SO for me, I guess drive-thrus are one way that I feel connected to Jesus’ “noticing” heart. I know I’m not some “drive thru hero” for doing this. For crying out loud, I live in the Midwest! People are SO kind and polite here.

I want us all to be encouraged that our smiles, eye contact, "thank you", and “noticing” really matter.

What if your smile gives somebody the hope that they need to keep pressing forward?

You just never know.

Plus, there’s that added bonus of a “supposedly refreshing but probably dehydrating” iced coffee.

So drive- thru on my friends……

And may you be met by some contagious belly laughter while you’re at it.

Room 118

February 22^nd.

Life really really changed for me.

I inherited a little family.

I mean, I knew I was just a long-term sub.

BUT you know the breath of God is over something when you randomly start thinking of a class you subbed for earlier in the month. And you start crying. And praying. And it’s like you can feel the rhythm of God’s heartbeat for a particular group of kids.  And then ten minutes later, this is NOT A JOKE, you get a call asking if you would be willing to take over that classroom until the end of the year.

Like, hello? WHAT?

So I showed up on my first day… Full of enthusiasm, freshly sharpened pencils, butterflies in my tummy, and some bubble gum bribery goods.

A few minutes in and….. CRASH! Stuff fell out of a cupboard onto my head. Uh-oh. Um… little fact about me… I just love organized things. I started feeling a bit nervous.

I kept on teaching, and a little girl raised her hand with a totally straight face and simply said: “ I’m bored.” And just like that, the enthusiasm started to sway like a little kid who can’t balance on a bike without training wheels. “Uhhhhh….NO! My name is Alyssa JOY for cryin out loud!  Fun is practically my middle name. And this classroom is going to be a FUN PLACE! Bored?!?! “( Disclaimer:Thankfully, these thoughts did not actually come out of my mouth.)

Kids poked at any button they could find.

They poked at my feet when I would read stories to them on the carpet. Like, seriously? Just stop.

 Expecting straight quiet lines in the hallway seemed like trying to teach Mandarin.

 Some days, chairs went flying and attitudes were raging. Playground dramas were brewing. Eyes were rolling. Kickers were kickin.   Miss G was a yellin( Something I swore I NEVER would do. Yell at kids? NO! pahahah I’m SO above that. #humilitytraining)  My blood pressure was rising. My tear ducts were flooding.  

“o, oo, uff, off, aw, ow”  I will forever hear the sounds of the phonogram “ough.”  It was the classes’ favorite phonogram to shout out with enthusiasm in our daily oral phonogram review. It gave me a chance in my head to scream what I was really feeling deep inside: “ o my word!” “oooooooo I have no idea what I’m doing!” “ ufff, I’m starting to get irritated.” “offfff…just please kids, for once, keep your hands off of my stuff.” “awwwww….I don’t know if I am gonna make it! “ “owwwww, my voice just hurts from trying to be heard up here, ya’ll”

“Sweet Lord Sustain me.  You carry me sweet Lord, you carry me on the wings of Love. Holy, Light of my face, You are welcome in this place.” A song we used to sing at Harvest School in Mozmabique seemed to be on repeat in my head.

“Just keep showing up, just keep showing up, just keep showing up, just keep showing up.” I would tell myself this on the hard mornings when I could barely peel myself out of bed.

And you know what I discovered? Showing up matters.

Little by little the kids started trusting me. They would say to me: “Sing to us, Miss G.  Can you sing to us?”

So for the kids who were feeling angry I would just sing: “ You’ve got joy joy joy deep in that heart! You’ve got joy joy joy deep in that heart.” Pretty soon the whole class was joining in singing to their classmates and cheering them on.

On the anxious days we would just sing about peace like a river. On days when we were feeling defeated I would sing “ You’re never gonna let, you’re never gonna let me down.”

Sometimes we are singing an anthem for others, but God is singing it right back into our own hearts to fuel us and keep us going. Funny how He does that.  

“Sometimes you just  gotta sing your way into the truth.” –Laura Hackett

 And you know what? Holding onto truth also matters. Because, joy started coming.

One day I fell off of my stool from laughing about a poem that the kids and I found to be absolutely hysterical.

Laughing fits  would randomly come because I would get overwhelmed by how PRECIOUS they were.

Kids would start saying the most hilarious and witty things at random moments when I really needed it.

One boy, with the most perfectly adorable and intense facial expressions I have ever encountered, stood up one day when I started laughing while telling them a story.

“ OK YOU ALL ! WE ALLLLLLL know what’s gonna happen. Miss G is gonna start laughing because she thinks we are funny. And she loves us. And she is gonna laugh SO HARD that her face turns RED!”

HA! He had it figured out.

The kids started realizing that they are funny. Funny in a good way.  That matters.

I started realizing that I’m funny. Like, ya’ll, I can make up a LEGIT rap about why it’s important to be quiet…. on the spot. We will make up a dance to anything, and  find ANY reason at all to speak in British or southern accents.

Life was meant to be full of finding the funny. Don’t you think? And especially in 2^nd grade. You only get your childhood once. And laughter should come as naturally as breathing.

Even with all of the breakthrough, there was one day that I still tried to quit. Sometimes I needed to call in for help so I could just go for a walk down the hallway and let the tears sneak out. Praise the LORD for awesome staff around me who are SO supportive. Seriously, some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. Amazing, amazing, selfless people.  That’s another thing, just keep showing up, and you will start to see the “amazing” in people.

So tomorrow,  I will show up one last day with these 2^nd graders. I’m sure I will cry all the tears and hug all the big bear hugs.  I will laugh as I hear kids say “ I see the gold in you.” “You’re a world changer.”  I will feel proud when they cheer for a classmate who wins a prize rather than pouting when they aren’t a winner because we are “better together.,”It’s like all of those little “family meetings” where we talked about kindness actually soaked into their little brains and heart? WHAT?!

So tonight, I’m thankful that God gave me the grace to keep showing up.

Because…He shows up for me every day.

It's the least I could do. Really. 

Red Dirt Swirling and Ribs Popping. Run, baby, Run!

                     

           I would label myself as a pretty sentimental person. As a kid, watching home videos or looking through old photos was my idea of a fun afternoon activity. In high school, when dance recitals would end I was usually squinting  as the curtain closed for the last time, forcing the tears to stay in my eyeballs. Don't even get me started about driving home from my last days at teaching practicums. The people driving next to me were likely concerned for my well-being. THE MEMORIES! The joy of that certain dance that we worked on for hours on end. The smiles of those naughty little kids who still managed to steal a part of my heart. Something in my soul just wants to hold on forever.
      The past week, I have been feeling extremely sentimental about Harvest School. I will have a flashback of a beautiful memory in Pemba, start to thank Jesus for sending me there, and it literally suddenly feels like I can smell the Indian Ocean breeze, feel the hands of ten little girls all trying to braid my hair at once, and hear the sound of feet kicking up dirt as they dance to endless drum beats in worship.
     I really thought that I would be going back this summer, but as I tried to work it out, I kept hearing the Lord tell me, " Not right now!"  I often feel  " out of my comfort zone," that I will be in America in the month of June. I know I was only in Mozambique  for two summers, but it's amazing how two little summers can do some major overhauls on the heart. It became my new "normal."  SO today I am thinking about what it means to not just "relive" memories. What does it mean to really "embrace" a memory?
      One of the most magical times of the day on the Iris base in Pemba is when the kids come streaming down a big hill in a whirlwind of dirt with little bowls in their hands to get to the cafeteria and eat. There is no speed limit. The giggle factor is off the charts. The cuteness level can't even be ranked. I remember one particular day, I was feeling very sluggish, homesick, and "blah" as I walked up that hill under the bright sun to get to a staff meeting. Suddenly, the mania was unleashed. A group of adorable kiddos came rushing down in my direction. I don't know what came over me but I remember thinking: " Someday, I'm going to miss this so much. I need to get over myself and embrace this moment." I took off running full force toward the kids in the same wild and abandoned way that they were running down the hill. As I started running,  they looked  shocked, but the hysterical laughter started brewing. I was met by hugs and my skirt and hair being pulled in twenty different directions. I remember thinking :" This joy is so insane right now, I need to hold myself back from just rolling down this hill like a maniac." This was just a small little moment, and a very typical scene that would often occur on base. Mission school students could always be seen running and twirling with kids. But something in that moment felt like Jesus tattooed thankfulness into my heart. It was an "aha" moment.
   In every changing season, it is a choice to embrace where the Lord has placed us, regardless of what we "feel." Right now, I am missing Mozambique. BUT I am also realizing that  these are moments where I can really walk and live out all of the gifts that were placed in me while living in Moz, and all of the things that the Father taught me as I was there. I wouldn't want to miss the joys and lessons he has for me on this path  he has me walking on now in America,  because I am too busy missing the path He has me walking on last summer.   Sometimes transitions might feel like running up hill under a ferocious sun. We might need a little  "kickstart"  to get us going. But once we get going... ....oh my my my.....imagining how He will meet us is exhilarating! I am confident in God's character. The hungry are always fed. He will always meet His children with joy. SO, let's ask God what red dirt hills  he has in front of us in this season. I'm sure He has many surprises waiting. Many moments of rib popping laughter. He's good. He's kind. He's brilliant. He's faithful.

" You're full of life now. You're full of passion. It's how He made you. Just let it happen. And He calls each on of us by our names to come away. And whispers to your heart to let it go, and to be alive. " -- United Pursuit Band

Rice and Spice.

“When you walk into the room
Everything changes
Darkness starts to tremble
At the light that you bring
And when you walk into the room
Every heart starts burning
And nothing matters more
Than just to sit here at your feet
And worship you
We worship you” – Brian and Katie Torwalt

Rice and Spice /Lots of rice with lots of spice/A little rice with a lot of spice/ a lot of rice with a little spice/ maybe some rice with some beans/ beans/ beans and rice/ beans and rice and spice.

As you all know, these past two summers I have had the honor of living in Mozambique. Let me tell you, I have had my fair share of the above combinations of food. Good thing I love rice and beans.

But one particular instance of eating one of these fabulous African cuisines has forever changed my life and forever changed my view of beautiful Jesus.

One of my gorgeous house daughters from this summer had been a missionary in a rural mountainous area of Africa. She lived a simple life among shepherds serving Him in a little corner of the world that most would not know about. Isn’t that just lovely to think about? Ya! I think so too. I got to live with this woman for three months. Jesus loves me. ;)

Well, this magnificent lady became very ill on the mission field with no medical explanation as to what had happened to her. Eventually she had to leave that beloved place and come back to the US. In the midst of being in the States, the Lord told her to come to Harvest School. She obeyed, even in the midst of feeling very ill and weak. Walking and sometimes even eating felt like a chore for her due to the fact that her body had no strength.

While at Harvest School, she felt very weak and ill and would have to spend most of the day in bed. As a house we cried out for her healing and for Jesus to restore her. Time ticked on, and at times it seemed as though nothing would ever change.

Then on week seven of this ten week long school, our whole house was up in the base cafeteria eating some cabbage and rice. We were having a relaxed conversation about what kind of spice we like to put on our rice.  Obviously, this was not much of a “spiritual” conversation.  Well, this lovely house daughter was started to suddenly laugh hysterically. The Presence of God could suddenly be felt very tangibly in the cafeteria. We brought her home, and she continued to laugh for the entire night. It was obvious that Jesus was touching her in a very special way. The next day, it was clear that she had been HEALED! She was glowing! Her eyes were so bright, as if she had stared right into the face of Jesus! We were all stunned and overcome with joy. Her body was full of strength and there was no more pain.  It was like Jesus just walked right into that cafeteria, gave our precious friend a beautiful hug filled with joy, love, and healing, and changed her life forever. We weren’t sitting there and praying intensely praying for her, or begging God to do something. He just showed up. Right there in the middle of the mundane. We have fondly named this moment a “rice and spice” moment. When Jesus walks into the room, suddenly life gets a lot of spice.

I saw another “rice and spice” moment in the bush as me and two other girls sat with a widow in front of her home. We felt that we should hug her, and suddenly she started laughing. She told us how she had been tormented by bad dreams. We asked her if she was practicing witchcraft and she said yes. We told her how Jesus was jealous for her affections and he could protect her from fear in the night. She immediately ripped of her witchcraft bracelet and decided to trust Jesus. How beautiful is that? We proceeded to have a joyful and worshipful celebration of dancing and singing around her house. Rice and Spice. Just like that, Jesus showed up!

What if we lived our life everyday, expecting Jesus to just walk into the room? I mean, let’s face it. Weather we believe it or not, He is always with us. But what if we EXPECTED Him to just show up in power and love. Just one touch is all that it takes. Just one moment and everything can change. The beautiful thing is that it has nothing to do with our efforts to see things happen. However, he invites us into the journey and the joy of how He heals, saves and delivers.  He allows us to take part. For my house daughter, we had prayed and contended for seven whole weeks for her healing.  Had we become discouraged? Sure! Were we disappointed at times? Of course! But we chose to say: “ Jesus, YOU are still King! “ We chose to look at what He WAS doing rather than focusing on what wasn’t happening.  I don’t know why He decided to heal my friend when He did. But I know our trust and love for Him was built in the process. And like they say, when it rains, it pours. When He marched in, He withheld nothing. What a good, good Father!

So friends, I am forever changed. I always want to focus on what HE is doing not on what isn’t happening in ways that I think they should be happening. I want to always know that He WILL have his way.  I have now seen Him march right into a little humble cafeteria in Mozambique and touch a woman who has been hurting for over a year.  I have also seen Him ouch a widowed mama who has been haunted by nightmares through a simple hug.  He can do anything! He is Holy, yet He invites us to partner with Him in all of His beautiful ways. May we never forget how near He really is.

“ I don’t want to talk about you, like you’re not in the room. I want to look right at you. I want to sing right to you.”  Misty Edwards.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He WILL draw near to you.