These past few weeks

"Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory forever. Amen."

Romans 11:33-36

Over the last week, there have been many a time that I was inspired to write on my blog, but did not have much time.  Tonite however, I am tired and not really "feelin it", but I would like to put some kind of update on what's been going on for me lately. 

My job sure is keepin me on my toes! With new jobs, it always takes time to learn and get accustomed to the way things flow.  It has been fairly smooth for me so far.  The biggest challenges have been knowing how to discipline and change bad behavior.  The lead teacher I am with likes to give candy as a reward for good behavior.  The center actually prohibits the use of food to reward or discipline - but somehow it is "ok" for us to do it.  Hmm...any thoughts on that?  In my Biblical counseling class, we've been discussing what people have to do to really change.  We first notice a "problem/issue" in someone by their behavior- by the way they are responding to things in their life.  It makes alot of sense to want to change the behavior to fix the problem, but it often is not really fixed.  The Bible is full of truths about our hearts and that our hearts are where the real issues lie.  Mark 7 "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."  Verses 14-23 talks about how it is not the things that we eat or put in our bodies that defile us, but what comes out of us that defile us.  "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."  

So maybe I'm seeing that I shouldn't be so concerned about their behavior, but start working on how they understand and think about things.  Just getting a child to do things the right way should not be my goal and focus.  As a Christian, I see that true change comes from the heart (their thinking, desires, etc).  I really desire to be an example of Jesus to these young, impressionable, vulnerable children.  But, we have to realize that these children are not just vulnerable to hurt and harm and influence from other people. They are vulnerable to their own heart's deceit!  Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"  We've been talking about parenting in class too, and looking at what God's Word says about children. "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him."  Proverbs 22:15 

Children NEED discipline and instruction.  This is the side of working with children that I struggle with, so I really appreciate knowing what God's Word says about it. And that His ways of working with them are best. 

Another struggle with work for me has been teaching .  ;)  Ha!  That is what my job is, and yet, that's what I feel so inadequate at doing.  My experience with children before this job was as an assistant teacher, but with younger infants and toddlers.  And with smaller groups.  It is very challenging to try to get the attention of 20 3 yr. olds to give them instruction for activities.  I am quickly learning methods of song and such.

In the last month, I've been thinking through the idea of church membership - why do we need it? What is it supposed to look like? Is it Biblical?  How? Why do some churches stress it larger than others?  So, to help answer some of my questions, I decided to take the "Intro to Faith (Baptist)" class offered on Wed. nites.  It is for people interested in membership at Faith Baptist to have opportunities to ask questions and look at what the Bible says about "the Church".  This last week was the first of 4 sessions.  Pastor Steve Viars taught the first class.

On Friday at school, we celebrated Halloween by doing a parade with all the classes.  I dressed up as Belle from Beauty and the Beast.  :)  I fit in pretty well with all the other little princesses running around!  And they really were running around!  Sugar running out of their ears!  One precious child had it coming out of his mouth by the end of the day, but that's another story...! The Career class held a "Harvest Party" later that nite.  My top three choices for a costume: 1. Dorothy 2. Lee M. 3. Sarah Palin.   I somehow ended up as Belle again, but this time as a "Southern Belle".