16-9

For a reading of this Scripture

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• Go to www.one16pray.com and www.aw180days.com for more information.

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Merry Christmas!

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.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Day 1 of the 12 Days Until Christmas in Sacred Word and Song

Getting ready for Christmas includes getting ready spiritually. Each day one Scripture will be given. Here are some ways to enhance your experience.

Read the scripture from your Bible.

Listen to the verse by clicking the play bar under the picture

Read the words of the selected song for that reading.

Listen to part of the song. (Only 30 sec. of the song are included to honor copyrights and intellectual properties of the artists).

View it the CEAI app under the Media tab or Home tab > 16-9 Movement

Most of all, give thanks for what God has done through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

December 13, 2015

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Day 1 Song excerpt

(only a 30 second portion is played due to copyrights and intellectual properties)

What Child is This?

What Child is this, who laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping.

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Good Christian, fear:

For sinners here,

The silent Word is pleading;

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,

The Cross be borne, for me, for you:

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,

Come peasant king to own HIm,

The King of Kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone HIm.

Raise, raise the song on high,

The Virigin sings her lullaby;

Joy, joy, for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sings:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Sung by Cheri Keaggy, from God With Us, A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics

Words: William C. Dix, The Manger Throne, 1865

Music: Greensleeves, 16th century English melody

As always I am,

Prayerfully dependent on Him,

K
http://www.one16pray.com

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

Merry Christmas!

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

Friday, December 11, 2015

The 12 Days Until Christmas in Sacred Word and Song begins Sunday!

The Christmas season, a time of great joy, has somehow become very busy. With much anticipation, there is often accompanying anxiety. The best antidote for apprehension this season is to be in the Word of God. This site is dedicated to the peace that surpasses all understanding that comes from God. May He bless you as you read His story and enjoy the words of some of the sacred songs of the season.

I will release one Scripture and one excerpt from a Christmas song each day until Christmas. I hope you enjoy the 12 Days Until Christmas in Song and Word and that He receives all the glory.

With Christian love,

As always I am

Prayerfully dependent on Him,

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

Merry Christmas!

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

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

What is Peace in the classroom?

It’s easier to speak about peace during the summer months than now, but I’m wondering how you display peace in the classroom. Isa. 48:18 – “Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;” I love to be at the water’s edge to prayerwalk, but most often I go to the ocean when possible. This picture above is from Deerfield Beach, Florida, which to me represents peace. To have peace like a river is to be smooth and inviting. Others are attracted to that kind of peace and often wonder how they can have it to. It’s supernatural. it’s not man-made. On that particular day I took this picture , I remember how delightful it was to take in the exquisite colors in the sky and the overwhelming sense of peace of the new day where morning by morning new mercies I see.

Peace in the classroom is a supernatural state. How do we display the fruit of peace and be smooth and inviting to our students and colleagues? The answer truly is a gift from God. In John 14:27 – Peace I leave you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. When Jesus left the earth, He gave us the Holy Spirit to be our peace. As a Christian in the public schools, there is no door or barrier that excludes the Holy Spirit. He is with you in every moment and in every place you go. We must learn to ask God for that peace that surpasses all understanding. Since peace is not a natural component of the everyday classroom, how can we seek peace as a gift to those we are in contact each day?

The first and most important step is to begin the day peacefully. If your habit is to jump into the shower or dash to the computer or device as soon as you get up, consider reading the Word FIRST. If it seems impossible because you start far too early, purposely waking up 15 minutes earlier (and going to bed 15 min. earlier) for the express purpose of adding 15 minutes of being in the Word will begin to place purposeful improvement into any hectic life. Second, try to memorize just a few scripture relating to peace so that when you find yourself in the craziness of the day, repeating the Word in your head is a blessing of peace to a weary soul. Third, practice saying nice things to others. Go out of your way to greet people. Make every effort to ask others how their day is going. Look for ways to compliment (especially when you don’t feel like it.) God has designed us to be givers. It is not just a monetary act. We can be givers of our time, our talents, our energies, our word and be a gift of peace.

Finally, others notice when you are in a peaceful state amidst a chaotic setting. It is often the opportunity to share Jesus’s love with our colleagues when they ask why we are so calm. Just like a river so smooth and inviting is a Christian educator in a classroom of peace. It’s not by our efforts only that we can be peaceful, but by the enabling of God’s power through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peace on earth, good will towards men. Have a merry and peaceful Christmas.

Prayerfully yours,

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

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

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.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

What is Joy in the Classroom?

This image is from my prayerwalk on the beach collection that helps remind me that joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5) Each day is a new day in the Lord. In this 16-9 blog, the “9” in the 16-9 Movement is learning to display the Fruit of the Spirit in a public school classroom while honoring the laws of our great nation. Have you ever noticed that the 9 fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” are really the fruit of the Spirit (singular). When we truly live out our faith, all 9 fruit are exuded as one. I don’t know about you, but, displaying all the fruit at once, just doesn’t happen for me. However, I know that it is God’s will for us to display His fruit, His way, by depending on His Holy Spirit to enable us. As we seek to display all fruit collectively, I would like to take the classroom-eye view of what it looks like to have JOY in the classroom.

Joy is defined as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; elation and a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated. When applied to our classrooms, it actually defines part of our high calling. We take great delight or experience happiness when something good or satisfying occurs. There is keen pleasure for our students and classes when learning takes place and students are achieving. The whole reason we become a teacher is to make a difference and when we do, that’s joy! Perhaps one of the greatest reasons teachers don’t see their high calling or get discouraged is because the joy of impact is not always apparent. Students don’t necessarily tell us that they understand. Many times we don’t even know if they “get it” until they are tested and too often we don’t even realize how much we meant to them until years later. Isadora Duncan said, “I do not teach children. I give them joy.” Being joyful and giving joy are symbiotic. How can we as Christian educators be purposeful about giving joy?

Rather than a state of mind, I would like to have us consider joy as a gift to give. Walking in our classrooms each day, taking time to pray for joy and asking God’s help to give joy on purpose is an awesome way to begin the school year and each and every day throughout. These are a few simple questions we can start with as we arrive in our classrooms: How can I give joy today to my students? How can I display the fruit of joy in my life? How can I spread joy to my colleagues and administration? Being joyful is contagious and often brings a sense of curiosity to others. Their wonderment of how you can be so happy in difficult times as well as good times can only be answered by being Jesus with skin on. I think of the thousands that Jesus purposely touched with joy and how they were better for their encounter with Him. Are our students better because of their encounter with us? Do we display the joy of the Lord in our lives? Only with the power of His Spirit, of course. When we do, we display the fruit of joy, against which there is no law!

As I looked up joy in the Word, I was delighted to see hundreds of times this powerful word was used, but was most impressed with the shouts of joy given by God’s people for what He had done for them. Let us be teachers of the Book and have shouts of joy in our hearts for His incredible gift of becoming a teacher. Be encouraged to purposefully plan how you can give joy throughout the school year and displaying this powerful fruit in your life. These are a few of my favorite verses of joy.

Psalm 16:11 - You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

John 15:11 - I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Romans 12:12  - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 30:5 - For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

How have you experienced joy in your classroom? What advice would you give others?

Prayerfully yours,

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

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

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.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

What is Love in the classroom?

The “9” in the 16-9 Movement is learning to display the Fruit of the Spirit in a public school classroom while honoring the laws of our great nation. Have you ever noticed that the 9 fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” are really the fruit of the Spirit (singular). When we truly live out our faith, all 9 fruit are exuded as one. Wow, that’s a huge charge. Teachers who are living out their faith know that there are just too many of those days when we don’t feel so joyful or peaceful or even under self-control. However, as Christians we are forgiven for our sins and convicted quickly to repent. When we don’t display these fruit, we must acknowledge before God and with His Spirit be transformed. It’s no easy process and will certainly take us a lifetime, but for this discussion, I would like to take the classroom-eye view of what it looks like to LOVE in the classroom.

Love is powerful. It covers all sin. That student that gives us the most difficult time is loved also. Loving the unlovable is God’s way. To be Jesus people, we look to Him. Who did He touch? – the untouchable. Who did He seek? – the lost. Who did He love? – the outcast. Our classrooms of America are filled with students who have never had a kind word, a touch without strings attached and a life of difficulty. It’s not easy to love the unlovable, but that’s what we are called to do as Christian educators. What does love look like in the classroom? When we love our students, we serve them. We seek ways to enter into a personal relationship with them to truly get to know their needs in order to meet them. We all know how hard that is to do with classrooms that are too huge or full of issues, but love always covers. Loving our students means setting boundaries that are clear and consistent. Students always want to know the limits and will push them until the boundary is defined.

Loving our students can also be a simple task of greeting them at the door as they come in. This small but powerful move, sets the stage of caring. One of my favorite teachers of all time greets his students at the door every day, every class period with a fist pump and the words, “Welcome home.” His students feel loved and know they can trust him. Love is always displayed in unexpected ways. No one has a right to love, that is why it is such an elusive commodity. We all hunger for it, yet are often afraid to love. Be bold. Love your students with kind words, random acts of kindness, Pay It Forward initiatives and smiling. Jesus loved the little children and we may be the only touch of Jesus on some of the lives of these children. John 13:34  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Please let us know other ways to display love in the classroom in the comment area. You are loved!

Prayerfully yours,

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

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

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.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Just Be

"Just Be" in your classroom

The Name of God that summarizes all His Names is “I Am.” What a name! I’m sure that there are theological scholarly studies that can help with a thorough and beautiful understanding of this powerful name, but I met a teacher in Charlotte that applied its power to us as teachers. Karen Barber said that all she needs to remember when she walks in the classroom is to “just be.” Isn’t “am” one of the conjugations of the verb “to be?” When we are in our classrooms, we don’t need to necessarily say we are Christians, we need to “just be” Christians. What does that look like? How would you know? Can it be learned? Why would you want to “just be?” How can our actions reflect the Great I AM? The simplest things are not the easiest things and on our own it is impossible, but we are Jesus with skin on in our classrooms and without a word spoken about it, we can “just be.” You know you are there when people ask, “Why are you always so happy?” “Why do you always smile?” or “What makes you so nice?” and/or any combination thereof. That is our opportunity to tell them about “I AM.”

I would like to suggest 5 Baby Steps for Christian educators in the public school:

1. Know Jesus
2. Frame your worldview
3. Practice the Fruit of the Spirit
4. Learn the law
5. Be in communion

Baby Step #1 – Know Jesus. Read about Jesus. Sing about Jesus. Listen to audio/video about Jesus. Immerse yourself in Jesus. He’s so amazing. Who wouldn’t want to be more like Him? Begin to apply his questioning skills, embrace everyone who is needy, laugh with the downtrodden and love the unlovable. These are quite the shoes to fill, but when you can recall stories about Jesus, you can place yourself in His shoes (or at least try to!)

Baby Step #2 – Frame your worldview. This is what makes us different that. We look at everything through the lens of the Bible. We frame our thinking around life and love and what God has done for us. We are in humble adoration of the great I AM and know where we have come from and where we are going. That quiet confidence can be a cornerstone to “just be.”

Baby Step #3 – Practice the Fruit of the Spirit. Memorize them. Can you “be” love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control and faithfulness? (Gal. 5:22-23) I am looking for teachers to help me describe what each of these fruit looks like on daily basis in the classroom. Do you have a story or example to share? Theory is great, but teachers want practice. Please let me know what you do and consider being a guest blogger for the 16-9 movement!

Baby Step #4 – Learn the law. As government employees, public school teachers must know what they can and cannot say and do in the classroom. We have been incredibly misinformed over the past 3-4 decades about separation of church and state and at times do not even realize just how much we can do under the First Amendment. It is imperative that all teachers and administrators come to know and understand, at least the first 16 words of the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ………”

Baby Step #5 – Be in communion. Our God is in constant communion with Himself and us. He created us to be in communion with Him and others. As a Christian educator, you are not alone. There are thousands upon thousands of us who share this high calling. Unfortunately, we can be in a school for years without even realizing that some of our colleagues are Christian also. We need to seek prayer partners and friends on campus who want to learn how to “just be” so that we may transform our schools through God's Love and Truth. Being in an organization like CEAI, is a huge start in uniting Christians across our nation. Won’t you consider joining us to build this communion between Christians in our schools, districts, states and nation?

As always, I am

Prayerfully yours,