1:16 PM Prayer Network

Prayer is our reverent communication tool to the Creator of the universe. That’s profound. To imagine that the Creator of all things is interested in us is almost unfathomable. Yet, God has given us direct access to Him through prayer and has promised that whatever we ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24). Prayer is a gift to us and as educators in the public schools, it is free speech when done gracefully and legally.

            We would like to introduce you to an opportunity to pray with thousands of other like-minded Christians in the public schools across the nation. Become a member of the 1:16 PM Prayer Network. This call to pray is simple

Calling all Christians in the public schools!

• Set a quiet alarm for 1:16 PM on school days
• Say a silent prayer.

 Based on the Spanish word for network, “La Red,” remember these three things:

·      R – Be reverent

·      E – Prayer is for everyone.

·      D – Be discreet.

As this school year winds down, help spread the word to your colleagues on campus. There is power in prayer. As we begin the 2013 – 2014 school year, CEAI, Christian Educators Association International, will be supplying 180 prayer prompts for each school day if you need them.  For now, please try setting your alarm. 1:16PM will always be an most inconvenient time, but just turn from what you are doing and pray discreetly for something related to your classroom or on your campus. The prayer will be short, but a powerful reminder that we are prayerfully dependent upon Him for all things. Can you imagine what it would be like if thousands, upon thousands of Chrisitians in the public schools of America prayed each day at the same time?

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.  

Honor the Graduates

On Monday evening twelve graduates from the six St. Johns County high schools were honored for their consistent walk of faith through high school. Now that's a high honor! Can you imagine how difficult it is to stand up to the crowd, to swim upstream or walk the walk in today's high schools? These twelve humble students were given the opportunity to give a small testimony and a look into their future plans. Many of them gave us scripture to ponder, life verses that inspire, stories of overcoming and humble thanks. Some had served as missionaries in Haiti and their lives were changed forever. One of the young men read from a C.S. Lewis Bible commentary that opened his eyes to seeing people as fearfully and wonderfully made. He now looks at every person he meets as a child of God. People matter. 

One of the young ladies has brought many of her softball teammates to the Lord and looks forward to the opportunity to continue that privilege on her college softball team. Two young men played football throughout high school and shared prayer time and common faith with their teammates. Although Dillon did elaborate on being side-lined from football because of brain surgery, he has been forever inspired to help students with disabilities. 

The testimonies of these young people touched the families and friends that filled the Joshua Caleb Ministries Center at Switzerland Community Church. The program is sponsored by Christian Educators (CEAI) of St. Johns County and all nominations are student-led from their FCA, Young Life or other Christian organizations on campus. This is the 18th annual ceremony and was dedicated to Lou Greco, one of the founders, who is retiring this year. 

The students received a certificate, a medallion to wear at graduation, a $100 scholarship and a CD of contemporary Christian music from 2013. For more information on how you can honor your graduates in your community, please contact Karen C. Seddon.

Honored Graduates

Bartam Trail High School

Riley Yuro

Adam Cotton

Creekside High School

Rachel Pence

Jordan Walker

Pedro Menendez High School

Matt Burkholder

Margo King

Nease High School

Dillon Green

Logan Mishoe-Rivers

Ponte Vedra High School

Karly Donovan

Anna WU

St. Augustine High School

Jared Fox

Dakota Miller

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.  

Friday - Teacher Appreciation Week

This is the last day of Teacher Appreciation Week, but certainly not the last time we want to thank teachers for all they do. May God continue to bless you throughout your career with a focus of excellence. We count it a joy to be able to remind teachers and the ones who love them to celebrate this great profession. Each day this week, we have posted a blessing a day the includes:

• a video to encourage you
• a verse to equip you
• a prayer to empower you

Encourage

Thank you teachers for a job well done. Thank you teachers for coming to school when you didn't even feel like getting out of bed. Thank you teachers for praising students and encouraging them to go beyond just ok. Thank you teachers for making the day-to-day doldrum of routine more interesting. Thank you teachers for loving students even when you didn't feel like it. Thank you teachers for consistency, confidence, comfort and counseling. Thank you teachers for safety, security and stability. Thank you teachers for your time and trusting students. You are loved. Today's video is below.

StoryCorps - Thank A Teacher

Equip

Don't you just love the Word of God? It's truly a gift of instruction, correction, encouragement and much more. I've read many books in my life, but the Bible is the only book that reads me!

Romans 12:10 -  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Empower

Dear Lord,

Thank You for creating us to be teachers. You are the Potter and we are the clay. Mold us into teachers of vision who see a glimpse of what You intend us to be each day. Help us, Lord to be teachers on a mission to be like You in the classroom displaying love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control and peace. Obviously we can not do it alone. Thank You for being in our classrooms even when we forget. Your mercy and grace fill us with the inspiration to flourish in this difficult position. Lord, we are grateful to You for giving us this high calling of teacher. Blessed be Your Name. Amen.

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.  

Thursday - Teacher Appreciation Week

As Teacher Appreciation draws to the end of the week, be blessed and be a blessing. We count it a joy to be able to remind teachers and the ones who love them to celebrate this great profession. Each day this week, we will post a blessing a day the includes:

• a video to encourage you
• a verse to equip you
• a prayer to empower you

Encourage

Have you looked at the creative side of those around you? Have you encouraged any of your colleagues or students to invest more time in their creative abilities? It's easy to say, "I'm not creative," but that's just not true. Everyone of God's children were born to be creative. It's in our DNA. We encourage you to be mindful of creativity today. Look for creative ideas and nudge them to take it to a higher level. Praise the students for a job well done on assignments and display as much of their creative work as possible. If you have never taken advantage of a Donor's Choose grant, today is the day to try for one. (Check out today's video tribute.)

Thank a Teacher from Donor's Choose

Equip

Today is a day for encouragement all throughout God's word. What a blessing to be a blessing. Pass it on.

1st Thess. 5:11 -  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Empower

Dear Father,

Lord, You are beautiful and more creative than we can wrap our minds around. Thank You for giving us creative abilities. We are Your children and so are all the students and staff at our school. Lord, help us to tap into our creative abilities to honor You. Show us how to give You the glory and credit for all our creative projects, ideas, and creations. Lord, we want to honor You, the greatest of all Teachers. Thank You for teaching us through Your Words and Your Ways. We love You more each day. Amen.

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.  

Wednesday - Teacher Appreciation Week

In the middle of Teacher Appreciation Week, please know that you are loved all year long. We count it a gift to be able to remind teachers and the ones who love them to celebrate this great profession. Each day this week, we will post a blessing day the includes:

• a video to encourage you
• a verse to equip you
• a prayer to empower you

Encourage

You are a blessing to so many children of all ages, all races, all beliefs, all shapes and sizes. It's incredible how many lives we really touch. If you actually try to count the children whose lives have been impacted by you by the end of your teaching career, it's impossible. It's so touching when a previous student meets you at a store or restaurant and tells you how much they loved your class. Isn't it amazing how many names are forgotten? They remember how we treated them more than they remember what we taught them. Be a blessing to the children today.

LIttle girl song

Equip

Going to God's word each day reminds us of what is important and how much help we need as teachers to be an educator of excellence. 

Ps. 143:10 - Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground

Empower

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You dear Father for the children You have placed in our care. Help them to be listeners today and to yearn for new knowledge. Help them to be open to new ideas and to be curious. Thank You for creating each and everyone of the children who come to our rooms today. It's a miracle how You made each and every one of them unique. Lord, help us to see them as You see them and to treasure these last few weeks with them. Erase any negative influence we may have had on them and forgive us for our failure to always be good to them. Show us how to finish strong and be a teacher of excellence inYour way with Your power. We love you. Amen.

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.  

Tuesday - Teacher Appreciation Week

Today is officially Teacher Appreciation Day during this Teacher Appreciation Week. Our mission at CEAI is to encourage, equip and empower you according to Biblical principles.  Each day this week, we will post a blessing day the includes:

• a video to encourage you
• a verse to equip you
• a prayer to empower you

Encourage

We have heard many great quotes about what an inspirational teacher can be for a child. But one of the ones that encapsulates them all is "Thank A Teacher Today." Today's video made me very grateful to my own teachers and for being a teacher.  Even though this video ends up being a plug for an ed-tech product, its message is great. 

Link to the video

Equip

Equip yourself with the sword of the Spirit today as you walk the halls of your school.

Col. 4:5-6 - Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Empower

Dear Lord,

You are the Teacher of teachers. Thank You for calling us to teach. Lord, we know that we have a captive audience each day and that we need to guard the words that proceed out of our mouths. Let the words we speak today be a blessing, a soothing ointment that one student needs today. Lord, we realize that we will never know the true impact of everything we say and do to each child that comes under our charge over the years, but please help us act like every word and every moment does count for eternity. Thank You Lord for this Teacher Appreciation Day. May we be a blessing to our paraprofessionals on our campus today.  Thank You for the gift of teaching. Amen.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

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.  

Monday - Teacher Appreciation Week

Teachers, we just want to bless you. Thank you for your high calling. This week we would like to present you with three little things each day:

• a video to encourage you
• a verse to equip you
• and a prayer to empower you

Encourage

Taylor Mali, poet and teacher, wrote a powerful poem, "What Do Teachers Make?" put to video after encouraging 1000 people to become a teacher. Hope you pass it on to other teachers who need a little encouragement. He's made his poem available on this website for you also.

Equip

Roll this verse around in your mind all day. Read it, say it, meditate on it and act on it.

Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works....

Empower

Dear Lord,

Please bless the teachers today. Give them the wisdom and strength to be excellent. Help them Lord to look at their students as fearfully and wonderfully made particularly when that student is not so lovable. Lord, can you help them to encourage their administrators today no matter what relationship they may have with them. Show them your love and help all teachers to be givers, not just receivers during this Teacher Appreciation Week.  Please help our teachers to understanding their high calling. We love you, Lord and thank You for making us teachers! Amen.

Have a great Monday!

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Floridakseddon@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.  

The National Day of Prayer

Yesterday with the National Day of Prayer. We tried to hold a prayer walk in front of North Miami High School but got rained out. I did go anyway and walked on behalf of all the teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and the school community of Miami-Dade. What a privilege. 

The Presidential Proclamation for the National Day of Prayer

I heard of many flag pole prayers in the morning and some teacher prayer groups before and after school, but the most important thing we want to be known for as Christian educators is our continual prayers. We understand that we are prayerfully dependent upon our God for everything that happens in our schools. May I encourage you to be in daily prayer, private or with colleagues, and ask for favor, grace and peace. 

Thank you to all the organizers of the National Day of Prayer because you remind us how important prayer is on a national basis and how much our nation has been framed and bless because of the prayers of His people.

Matt. 8:20 - Where two or more are gathered in My name, there am I with them.

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida

kseddon@ceai.org

Test Prayers is a 10-day series for educators in a high-stakes testing environment.

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.