Monday, May 9, 2016

Honor the Grads 2016 - Osceola County


The 1st annual Honor the Grads ceremony was held at Cornerstone Church in St. Cloud on Monday evening, May 9th. This prestigious award was created and sponsored by the St. Johns County Christian Educators network in 1998. After visiting their impactful program for the last few years, my daughter wondered why we didn't have such an event in Osceola County. Now we do! 

The purpose of this program is to honor two seniors from each high school for outstanding demonstration of living out his/her faith during his/her high school years and being an excellent role model for his/her fellow Christian students.  The incredible part of the award is that they were recognized and selected by their peers!




11 of the 12 award winners were present to share their favorite verse, their plans for the future and a testimony of how God is working in their lives. The graduates are listed from six of our high schools below. (Six high schools were chosen because the have an active Christian club on their campus - FCA). Each grads received a beautiful medallion, a certificate and a $100 scholarship.


Favorite verses shared by the students included:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Phil 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Matt. 6:34-35Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Phil 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

John 3:16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The graduates future plans ranged from going in to the Navy as a Master Sergeant, attending Southeastern University, Valencia and Samford University, accomplishing things on the bucket list and starting a church! Others are going on mission trips and even hoping to be a 4 star general by the age of 40.

Listening to their testimonies invigorated the adults who came to support them. Some shared how influential their coaches and teachers have been and aspire to become an educator and/or administrator to help students understand the importance of having good grades and taking school seriously. Others were quite surprised to received the award while others shared that they had been bullied most of their life, but showed how knowing the Word and God pulled them through. One of the grads shared that when he was bullied, he learned to pray for his enemies and he was able to come through depression and anxiety. One of the grads was close to suicide, but heard God's voice to stop. Although it took a few weeks to really see what God meant, he was miraculously saved.

Some of the advice that the grads gave was:
  • Make God your first priority. 
  • Don't ever doubt what God can do.
  • Without God, there is no real success.
  • Each one, teach one.
  • Love those who hate you.
  • Sports teaches us life.
  • The more we trust Him, the more we can do.
  • Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before you can see God.
One of the grads came late because he was feeding the homeless and another couldn't come because she was teaching swim lessons and couldn't let her kids down. That's the kind of integrity that gives us all hope in the next generation. 

Special thanks to the Cornerstone team for the great worship music and the awesome tech and facilities. Thank you Eddie Cortes for your energy as MC and love for the students. Thank you parents for your fine job with these exceptional students and to all the FCA students that came out to support the grads.

This event was sponsored by the Christian Educators network of Osceola County. #honorthegrads


















As always, I am
Prayerfully yours,
K



PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement and Around the Word in 180 Days:
      Go to www.one16pray.com  and www.aw180days.com for more information.
      Visit,  "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page and the Around the World in 180 days Facebook page.
      Sign up for text message prayer prompts from Remind


May God bless you with success His way this 2015-2016 school year.

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

Christian Educators Association International 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, May 6, 2016

Teacher Appreciation Week - Friday, May 6, 2016





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 different blessing each day that includes:

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.

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 yours,
K



PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement and Around the Word in 180 Days:
      Go to www.one16pray.com  and www.aw180days.com for more information.
      Visit,  "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page and the Around the World in 180 days Facebook page.
      Sign up for text message prayer prompts from Remind


May God bless you with success His way this 2015-2016 school year.

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

Christian Educators Association International 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, May 5, 2016

Teacher Appreciation Week - Thursday May 5, 2016




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:

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.


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 Word and Your Ways. We love You more each day. Amen.


As always, I am
Prayerfully yours,
K



PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement and Around the Word in 180 Days:
      Go to www.one16pray.com  and www.aw180days.com for more information.
      Visit,  "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page and the Around the World in 180 days Facebook page.
      Sign up for text message prayer prompts from Remind 



May God bless you with success His way this 2015-2016 school year.

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

Christian Educators Association International 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, May 4, 2016

Teacher Appreciation Week - Wednesday, May 4, 2016





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:

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.


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 yours,
K



PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement and Around the Word in 180 Days:
      Go to www.one16pray.com  and www.aw180days.com for more information.
      Visit,  "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page and the Around the World in 180 days Facebook page.
      Sign up for text message prayer prompts from Remind 



May God bless you with success His way this 2015-2016 school year.

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

Christian Educators Association International 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, May 3, 2016

Teacher Appreciation Day - May 3, 2016







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 that 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. 


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.



As always, I am
Prayerfully yours,

K



PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement and Around the Word in 180 Days:
      Go to www.one16pray.com  and www.aw180days.weebly.com for more information.
      Visit,  "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page and the Around the World in 180 days Facebook page.
      Sign up for text message prayer prompts from Remind 
      Follow us on Twitter for the prayer prompts @one16pray


May God bless you with success His way this 2015-2016 school year.

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

Christian Educators Association International 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.