Just a personal note

Today is Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His death, burial and resurrection there is no Life. Praise be to God for His incredible plan of salvation for all people who believe. Thank you so much for participating in the 40 Days of Intentional Goodness at whatever level you were involved. May I take just one more moment of your time to explain how it came about.

First of all, I want to make a confession. When I began the 40 Days of Intentional Goodness in the Classroom on the first day of Lent, I had no idea what I was going to write about. I was prayerwalking the previous morning and was struck with the concept, yet no content. When I pray, I always mention the Fruits of the Spirit as God's attributes that I yearn to have in my walk and when I got to goodness, I asked God to help me with encouraging, equipping and empowering teachers in the classroom. Before I write anything, I pray first. Alistair Begg and Dr. Barry Black love to use the old Anglican prayer: "I want to think myself empty, write myself clear and pray myself hot," as they ask for God's guidance in their sermons and other writings and I use their example previous to any writing about Him. As soon as I was done with the prayer, I went to the Word.  I sought verses with "good" in them and the way Jesus treated others. The Word has EVERYTHING we need in life and was the total basis each day for one of the 40 Days of Intentional Goodness. It was the first thing I did each morning (with the except of one day when my grand babies slept over!) I never had any of the days pre-prepared and was truly prayerfully dependent on His Spirit of inspiration.

I want to thank God for His living and active Word.  It truly is the greatest book ever written. I'm not sure who said it but I love this quote, "I've read many books in my life, but the Bible is the only book that has read me." Be sure to be in the Word each day to transform your classroom into an intentional garden of goodness.  God bless you and your school setting. 

Prayerfully yours,

K

Day 1

(I love reading the Word each day.)

 

Day 1 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

We have reached the last of our 40-day Intentional Goodness to Easter Sunday.  Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I am humbled by the whole experience and thank the Lord for His Word that guided each idea. I will end today with a commitment to His Word as an ultimate act of goodness in the classroom. As Christian educators in the public school, we are of this world, but not in the world. What unites us is our love for the Lord, prayer, and His Holy Word.  May His guidelines and principles create your classroom of intentional goodness all year long.

A verse to ponder

1st Cor. 1:22-25

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

An intentional blessing for the classroom (weekend)  

Do you have a Bible on your desk at school and at home? Are you in the Word daily? Mining the Bible for intentional acts of goodness has been enlightening. To continue adding goodness to your classroom or school setting throughout the year, go to the Word. Learn life lessons, model goodness and fill your mind with the Lord’s principles through His Word daily. As the final act of intentional goodness for Lent, read the story of the Passover through the Resurrection. It’s our lifeblood.

A focus of reflection

Is it legal to have a Bible on your desk at school? Of course! Is it legal for students to read their Bible during silent reading? Yes. Look in the Media Center – it’s in the 220 sections! The only time we are unable to read the Word in school is when we are serving in our official capacity as educator. The Word as the foundation of our day and inspiration of our words is priceless. Stay grounded, inspired and uplifted by His goodness throughout the Bible. May God bless you and your family this Easter season and beyond.

Nothing can for sin atone, nothing but the blood of Jesus; naught of good that I have done – nothing but the blood of Jesus! (“Nothing But the Blood.” Words and music : Robert Lowry 1876.)

Day 2

(Pray for your school community daily.)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

Day 2 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

The name Good Friday has always been a mystery. What could be good about such a terrible day for our Savior? How did it come to be called good? I research a little about its origins and ironically, no one is really sure historically. However, theologically it is the ultimate act of intentional goodness ever done.  Jesus gave himself for all of us that we may live. Unreal.

A verse to ponder

John 10:14-15

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."

An intentional blessing for the classroom  

Today is a very personal act of intentional goodness for you as an educator. On this solemn day of remembrance, find time to be in prayer specifically for your students, your teammates, your fellow workers, your administrators and your school community. Ask God to protect them and to give them a sense of their high calling also. Praying on their behalf may be the best intentional act of goodness you can give.

A focus of reflection

Have you seen your high calling as an educator? Have you grasp the importance of your impact? God has placed you in this year’s particularly setting to be His hands, ears, eyes and mouth. Your every word and deed are noticed. Seek His help in prayer each day to do His will and to be a blessing to the students and colleagues you touch. May God bless you with His saving love this Good Friday.

Ephesians 4:1

…a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Day 3

(Mother Teresa's poem - Do It Anyway)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

Day 3 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

When something seems unfair we are often quick to condemn. It’s not our job to judge, but the ability to criticize comes too quickly at times. We don’t know the whole story and it’s God’s job anyway.  One of the greatest gifts I’ve been able to give students when I do the Pay It Forward presentation is Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway” poem.  She has a gift for helping us take what is wrong and to turn it around for good.

A verse to ponder

Prov. 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

An intentional blessing for the classroom  

Encourage your students to always give their best no matter what. One of the best poems in the world for this act of goodness is Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway.” I’ve attached a portion of my presentation for you if you care to read it to your students. It’s powerful when read aloud.

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true friends.

Be successful anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world your best anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.

A focus of reflection

Is it legal to read Mother Teresa’s poem in classroom? Of course, if you are reading the poem in the context of character development or as part of the history of what she did as a missionary. It is also quit timely as a part of Women’s History month! Our goal is always to promote goodness to our students and among our students. Her poem releases almost all settings of human injustices that can be forgiven. Thank God we have such a great Savior.

Day 4

(Good manners begin with the word please in any language.)

Made with Tagxedo

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

Day 4 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

On Holy Wednesday, we are drawn to the way Jesus treats others. If there was ever anyone who could teach us good manners or how to interact with others, Jesus led the way. Do your students have good manners? Is it our place to teach them how to interact with others?  Manners needs to be taught at home, but as we are increasingly noticing the lack of respect, it a necessity to be a model of good manners ourselves to impact our students. They may not remember everything we have taught them, but they will remember how we treated them.

A verse to ponder

Ps. 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

An intentional blessing for the classroom  

How can you teach good manners in the classroom? Be a model! Go out of your way to address your students by their name, listen carefully to what they have to say and don’t interrupt them when they are speaking. Use lots of please and thank yous everyday and and let them go first when entering or exiting the classroom. An emphasis on good manners by doing is a far greater lesson than talking about manners. May our good manners be a reflection for our students.

A focus of reflection

Is it legal to teach good manners? Of course! None of us are hired to teach manners, but all of us are hired to understand professional ethics. Doing the right thing all the time and treating others as we would like to be treated is an expectation of all teachers. How are your manners? Do they promote a sense of intentional goodness in your classroom? We can always use a little brush-up course. May God give you the wisdom and ability to treat your students with dignity.

Day 5

(What kind of Bright Ideas will your students come up with?)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org