16-9: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Day 40 - Intentional Blessings in the Classroom

Day 40

This is posted one day early to help you prepare for tomorrow, March 1st Ash Wednesday.

As we begin our 40-day Lenten journey to Easter, let's be intentional about doing something "good" each day. These suggestions are personal and my heartfelt desire to implement with you. Please do not hesitate to send ideas as we grow in His goodness this Resurrection season.

A verse to ponder

Let's begin in the Beatitudes:

Matt. 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Do you have a student (or colleague) who has seemed down lately? Be intentional in your search today for someone who seems sad, down on their luck or poor in spirit.

Grab a sticky note and write a quick encouraging comment. Be intentional about making his/her day.

A focus of reflection

Am I able to bless my students with a sticky note of encouragement? Is it legal? Of course! What's more important is that is an act of blessings from your heart. Jesus loved the unlovable. It's not easy to do, but just a sweet little note to a student that has been a problem may just turn things around.

As always, I am prayerfully yours,

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

Join the Movement!

http://www.one16pray.com

www.aw180days.com

Download the CEAI app

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 2016-2017 school year.

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.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Thinking About Lent

It's always important to reflect, my friends and what better time to examine ourselves than during Lent? In our busyness, we forget to take those quiet moments with the Lord. Let's intentionally seek His love for the 40 days of Lent. Pray about it, ask for wisdom and grace and consider joining us in a season of giving: giving up and giving to.

Lent is the season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) which begins on Ash Wednesday (3/1/17) and ends on Easter Eve (4/15/17). Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means spring. The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. (from the United Methodist Book of Worship)

This year, beginning on March1st, I will be hosting a proactive view of living an educators' life during Lent. Although, I will be "giving up" one of my favorite yummies, my neighbor inspired me a few years ago to purposely and intentionally do something good each day during Lent. Would you like to join me in this 40 days of intentional blessings? It will be a short and sweet daily message in this pattern:

A verse to ponder
A suggestion of intentional blessing in the classroom
A focus of reflection

As I considered whether to participate in the Lenten season or not, I looked up how other people celebrate the season. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These are a few websites of interest:

60 Random Acts of Kindess for kids

Ideas for Lent

I even found a The Messiah Mystery Lenten kit that I ordered to do with my grand babies, who knew?

No matter what you "give up" or what you "give to" we exercise this period of self-reflection in pursuit of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Praise be to our Lord and King who is risen from the dead. At the end of the 40 days we will celebrate His resurrection!