Day 3 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.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

December 15, 2105

Listen here:

For a reading of this Scripture

Day 3 Song excerpt

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high 

Sweetly singing ore the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem an see

Christ whose birth the angels sing

Come adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord the newborn King

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo

See Him in a manger laid

Whom the choirs of angels praise

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid

While our hearts in love we raise

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Unknown, translated by James Chawick 1862

Sung by Avalon, God With Us - A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics

Merry Christmas!

With Christian love,

K

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

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 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.

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. 

Day 2 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 14, 2014

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive an give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.

For a reading of this Scripture

Day 2 Song excerpt

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Sung by Stephen Curtis Chapman, from God With Us, A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics

Words:  Written in Latin text in the 12th Century - author unknown, translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.

With Christian love,

K

As always I am

Prayerfully dependent on Him,

K

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 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.

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. 

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.

For a reading of this Scripture

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

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 101 

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. 

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,

K

As always I am

Prayerfully dependent on Him,

K

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 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.

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. 

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,

K

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

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 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.

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. 

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,

K

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

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 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.

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.