“No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks,” is
the refrain most remember from Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out For Summer,” because through the eyes of a student
that doesn’t love school there’s great reality. However, don’t we all hope they
are still learning throughout the summer. Many students are blessed to have
parents who travel and take them places while other students vegetate in front
of the TV. What about teachers? What do
they do when the school door closes for the school year? For me, I always needed
those first few days to do nothing. It was if the hammer that was clanging on
my head the whole year suddenly stopped. After that I typically had some type
of professional development to attend, a conference or two and plans for next
years. Fortunately, there is much more time for family and what a gift.
As you enjoy these summer
days and typically have a slower pace, please let me encourage you to spend
more time with the Lord. Develop holy habits that could be continued in the
school year (perhaps on an abbreviated scale) that will cultivate your
relationship with the Lord. It’s easy to cry out to Him in our desperations and
exasperations, but too often we forget Him in less stressful times. I would like to offer just a few suggestions
for spending time with Him:
- Invest in the habit of prayerwalking.
- Be in the Word everyday.
- Give thanks.
- Practice 1:16 PM
- Find an accountability partner.
Investing in prayerwalking
has been a life saver for me. One of our pastors suggested it and I have found
it to be my most engaging time in prayer. You definitely cannot fall asleep. If
you’ve never tried it, the first time it’s a little awkward to pray and walk at
the same time. Depending on where you are, the words can be audible or silent
but the beauty that He has created around you is a testimony to His love. I
have been prayerwalking everyday for 23 years and look forward to any time I
can get to the water’s edge to prayerwalk at sunrise.
Being in the Word everyday
is critical to our success as educators. I realize how hard that is early in
the morning, but it doesn’t have to be long and involved, but He’s our coach.
We need to drink in His plans and promises to be effective. A simple holy habit
that I love is “flopping” in the Word. I randomly “flop” open my Bible each day
and search for His message. 90% of the time I’m jazzed by what He reveals to me
and I write a quick note back to Him with grateful thanks and an attempt to
understand the verse in my present situation. The great app available for
devotionals and tons of Bible translations is simply called Holy Bible. It’s
been a life saver to have the word on my devices and available everywhere and
anywhere I go.
We are asking you to
practice 1:16PM this summer because for the 2013-2014 school year, we are
asking every Christian in the public schools to stop and pray at 1:16PM. Based
on 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, we believe that this movement can be in
every public school in America. The key is reverence and discretion. For more information,
visit www.one16pray.com. Help us spread
the word to your sphere of influence.
Finally,
seek an accountability partner or small group who will hold you accountable to
your desires to please Him. There is no better summer investment of your time
than to grow more in love with our Lord. He will guide you, provide for you,
look over you and give you peace. May this be your most refreshing summer ever.
Prayerfully dependent,
K
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.
