Day 36 - Intentional Blessings for the Classroom

Day 36

This is posted one day early to help you prepare for March 6th.

A verse to ponder

1^st Tim. 2:1-3 -  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

An intentional blessing for the classroom 

Let’s make someone feel presidential today! Choose a student as “President for the Day” and play “Hail to the Chief” for the class after you choose your president. It does not matter what subject you teach, mentioning a bit of rich history behind the presidency is just American. As the “President for the Day,” give them a chance to think about what they would do if they were really the President and let them address the class at some point or write their dreams on paper for you and then award them the Presidential Seal.  For a colleague, think of someone who would make a great President and tell them why. Just try to make their day!

A focus of reflection

Our Founding Fathers laid a foundation for our nation on Biblical principles. One of the best books I’ve ever received is, “From the Oval Office, Prayers of the Presidents,” edited by Dr. Larry Keefauver. One of the quotes, I would like to reflect upon is from Thomas Jefferson, “I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands… the Bible makes the best people in the world.”  Are you in the Word everyday? If not, why not? If so, drink deeply.

Day 37

(Had the privilege to host my daughter's special meal for her basketball team with Frito pies and yummy sandwiches.)

As always, I am prayerfully yours,

K

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. 

Day 37 - Intentional Blessings for the Classroom

Day 37

This is posted one day early to help you prepare for the weekend, March 4-5th.

On the weekend during Lent, there is only one suggestion of an intentional blessing and it will always focus us towards our families. Educators’ lives are so different than other jobs because our work often follows us home. This weekend, let’s make an effort to be intentional about our goodness at home where it is most important.

A verse to ponder

Psalm 136: 24-26 - He remembered us in our low estate. 
His love endures forever and freed us from our enemies.
 His love endures forever. He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven.
 His love endures forever.

An intentional blessing for the classroom (family)

Please rest and love on your family. This weekend go out of your way to prepare a special meal that is a family favorite. Consider a meal that could be shared. While you have them gathered around the table, give thanks to the God Whose love endures forever and provides all things.

A focus of reflection

How good are you at turning off all the demands of busyness in your life? Have you ever tried to just rest in Him on the weekend? He has built that need in us in the commandments as He has hallowed the Sabbath for a day of rest. Consider your weekends and think about the blessings of rest and worship. What can we do to increase our time with Him and decrease our time on things that don’t really matter in eternity?

Day 38

(Jack, my husband, was the first person I saw, so I gave him a gift card for the movies. Don't be too impressed, it was a card I already had, but making it just his was pretty cool.)

As always, I am prayerfully yours,

K

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. 

Day 38 - Intentional Blessings in the Classroom

Day 38

This is posted one day early to help you prepare for tomorrow, March 3rd.

As we consider the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk to our students about goodness at home with a random act of kindness.

A verse to ponder

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Let’s face it. Some of our students’ home lives are not the greatest. Take a few minutes at the end of the day and put out a challenge for your students.  Ask them to do one random act of kindness this weekend and report back to you on Monday. Ask them to do it “just because” and see what the ripple effect may be.  If you have no students, throw the idea out to a colleague “just because.”  And of course, do a “random act of kindness” for the first person you see today. Be creative. (If you can’t do the act right away, make note of who you see first this morning and make a plan of a random act of kindness for them.)

A focus of reflection

Can you do random acts of kindness in the classroom? Is it legal? Of course! I love the verse for today because it stirs us up to do good works, but not in isolation. Spreading the word about goodness to others is just as important as doing good for others sometimes. How much do you get a chance to “gather” with others who love the Lord at school? Be on the lookout for opportunities to give Him thanks with others who love Him too.

from Day 39

(I gave two roses to one of my teachers.)

As always, I am prayerfully yours,

K

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. 

Day 39 - Intentional Blessings in the Classroom

Day 39

This is posted one day early to help you prepare for tomorrow, March 2nd.

A verse to ponder

1^st Corinthians 13 - If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Be on special alert today. Look around for a student or a colleague who needs encouragement. If you choose a student, make a phone call to his/her parents just to tell them how much you love having them in class just to bless them. If you choose a colleague, intentionally tell them what you love about them. Be specific and be a blessing to them.

A focus of reflection

How can I express love in the classroom? Is that legal? Of course! Love is the kindness you show to your students. Love is the patience you show when there’s no patience left. Love is the greatest gift you can give your students and colleagues.

 from Day 40 - sticky

(Please send pictures of your "blessings" adventure and I'll post them)

As always, I am prayerfully yours,

K

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. 

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,

K

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. 

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:

United Methodist

Catholic 

Crosswalk

Lent for Kids

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!

As always, I am prayerfully yours,

K

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.

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.