16-9: May 2019

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Honor the Grads - Osceola 2019

The Osceola Honor the Grads picture album

The 4th annual Honor The Grads ceremony in Osceola County, FL was held Thursday evening, May 9, 2019. This prestigious award, sponsored by the Christian Educators Association, Int. in Osceola County, has become one of the most important events of the year in the lives of these students. Can you imagine being chosen by your peers as an example of integrity and living out your faith throughout high school?

For the first time, the Honor the Grads celebration was livestream on Facebook by Iglesia Nueva Church. You can watch it on their Facebook page.

The format of the Honor the Grads program is beautifully simple. The family and friends of the award winners were led in a few praise songs by a the youth group from Iglesia Nueva Church who graciously hosted Honor the Grads this year. After the praise time, the graduates were given the opportunity to share a favorite verse, tell about their future plans and give a testimony. It never ceases to amaze us how the students can so boldly and passionately share their love of the Lord and their desire to serve and give thanks to those who helped them along the way.

The graduates shared their testimonies and most share words of encouragement such as the ones below:

God gave me a second chance.
God loves you.
God cares about me.
I knew God, but I didn't KNOW God until now.
FCA youth groups as schools save lives.
I went from a goodie-goodie wanting to please everyone to a pleaser of God.
Be intentional.
Keep moving.
I really need God. I fall into His arms.
God is always there.
What can I do for a revival in me?
Are you willing to be different for the sake of the gospel?
We spark an interest.

Future plans include:

Warner College
Valencia State College (3)
Southeastern University to become a pastor
Valencia for electrical engineering
University of Florida or Hillsong College in Australia
Clemson University for engineering
SUM, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Valencia > FIU for pediatric physician assistant
Valencia's Honor program with a full scholarship
Johnson University for preaching and church leadership
Bridges program at Valencia for health science > Lee University for chiropractic studies
University of Florida for pre-medicine

After the student testimonies, the families and supporters gather around for a time of prayer. All were then invited for a time of fellowship and snacks.

The 2019 Honor the Grads awardees are:

Celebration High School

Darian Huston

Matt Enyon

Gateway High School

Emily Garcia

Emily Jimenez

Harmony High School

Allison Hicks

Vanessa Bolen

Liberty High School

Ephraim Murphy

Monica Castaño

Osceola High School

Joanna Mounts

Hernan Espinal

St. Cloud High School

Emanuel Caraballo

Hannah Mittan

Poinciana HS and Tohopekaliga HS did not have seniors in their Christian clubs this year.

Congratulations to all the graduates and their families.

Visit our main page for more information about the three Honor the Grads events in Florida.

https://tinyurl.com/HonortheGrads2019

As always, I am

Prayerfully yours,

http://www.one16pray.com

www.aw180days.com

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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 101

• Follow us on Twitter for the prayer prompts @one16pray

May God bless you with success His way this 2018-2019 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 8, 2019

Teachers Who Pray Conference

The 6th annual Teachers Who Pray conference was held May 3-4 in the University Center in Chicago. On Friday evening, Marilyn Rhames, Founder and CEO of Teachers Who Pray, kicked off the conference with the introduction of her new book, The Master Teacher. The powerful book is a must read for any educator who has the call of God to teach. She masterfully organized the art of teaching around 12 spiritual lessons that can transform schools and revolutionize public education. These 12 principles follow how Jesus taught. Why not model our teaching after the Master Teacher?

The Master Teacher is presently available at Amazon in Kindle format and on Marilyn's website at The Master Teacher Book. Marilyn Rhames is an author, educator, blogger, TEDx speaker, faith and thought leader who has blessed the educational community with this gift of The Master Teacher. You can follow her on Twitter@MarilynRhames or on her website/blog - Marilyn Rhames. On Friday evening, we enjoyed awesome praise and worship and time to fellowship and share a meal.

On Saturday, May 4th, the conference included breakfast, fellowship, praise and worship and learning. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Caroline Leaf who stunned us with her expertise in the mind-brain connection. Her topic was called Mental Health Learning - Think, Feel, Choose. She admonished us to realize that we are NOT our brains! Today's science dehumanizes us by only looking at our brains without looking at the image of God in each of us. Dr. Leaf's research over 30 years has focused on self-determination. The mind is NOT the brain. The brain is your physical part (about 1% of us) while our mind controls 99% of us. She is the author of many books including:

Think & Eat Yourself Smart
The Perfect You
Switch on the Brain Every Day
Think Learn Succeed

Our free will typically gets in the way of optimum thinking. Everything is related to thinking, feeling and choosing. We can control our reactions! We are not victims. Our children are over drugged. They are not medicines - they are addictive drugs, anesthetizing your brain. They have been numbed. Psychotrophic drugs are destroying our children. It is child abuse.

MAD in America - physicians who do not medicate. https://www.madinamerica.com

Psychology drugs patients for the brain 1%, but applied to the 99% - spiritual. What we see in the brain, is a response to the mind.

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Dr. Leaf has a TED Talk and a new app coming out soon called SWITCH. She proposes that to maximize the brain, activate the mind. Have deliberated, disciplined, practice NOT mindless repetition. Challenge just beyond the comfort zone.

The afternoon was complimented with breakout sessions: Daughters of the King (Mama Linda), I Must Take Care of the Temple (Erica Harris) and Social Emotional Learning in Sports: Awakening the Giant Within (Dr. Daniel Buggs). We close the conference in prayer and thanks.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Teacher Appreciation Day 2019

On Teacher Appreciation Day, please know that you are loved all year long. At Christian Educators (CEAI), we count it a gift to be able to remind teachers and the ones who love them to celebrate this great profession. We offer these encouragements as a lift and act of love.

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.

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 in Your Power and be a teacher of excellence inYour way with Your power. We love you. Amen.

As always, I am prayerfully yours,