Overflowing

Right now my mind and heart are overflowing with love, thoughts, compassion, and excitement.

Well, I can start with the fact that yesterday (Sunday) was an amazing day. I went to church and to be honest I figured it would be just another regular Sunday. I often forget that we go to give praise and honor to God and not always to get for ourselves. The sermons lately have not really been reaching to my heart no matter how much I have been praying and trying to apply them to my life. Honestly, I've been kinda discouraged. Like I said...I was in the "what can I get out of this" mode. Well, Sunday was different. Our pastor spoke on suffering and evil...and how Christians need to respond to this. I needed this. It was a sermon that reignited my spark. I have such a deep passion for social justice and the world. Sometimes I can forget this in the mix of everyday life. Also, sometimes the fact that I know that God has called me to do something about it can really scare me because I'm not sure what they may look like...I mean after all...I'm in West Virginia right now! Days like yesterday remove that fear and bring nothing but excitement that this is what God created me for. It is what makes me alive inside. As I was praying and just talking to the Lord, the song that was playing was "I have decided to follow Jesus." I was thinking about the often sung words. It is somewhat easy for me to say that I will follow Jesus. The hard part for me is the "though none go with me, still I will follow." I am not a person who likes to do things alone. Especially new or scary things. God spoke so strongly to me and reminded me that HE will be the one with me and that I must follow HIM and not others. It was a great reminder and a moment of surrender again in my life. I left church in tears thinking about how much God must love me. So much that He wants to speak to me directly and continue to break my insecurities a little bit at a time.

Sorry...that was a long story. Anyways, I wanted to share a little about what God is doing and think that yesterday was a part of that. Well, last night I was just telling my roommate that I really am praying that I can get to know a family (preferably one of my students' families) and truly invest into their life. With the lack of parent involvement...this has been so difficult. And I feel like this is how I truly can develop a relationship. The realization that the year is half over now made me think about this even more last night. Well...tonight I call a parent that I have been meaning to talk with. She is very concerned about her son's performance in math since this is his second year in 2nd grade. Through the conversation she went on and on about their current family situation. Heart breaking. She then shared about what she is doing at home with him each night and how she wants to see him succeed in life. She said "he has dreams." This hit me so hard. This is my prayer for my kids...that they would have dreams and know that they can achieve them. And this mom is one that actually believes in him and wants to help him! I hung up after a thirty minute conversation SO excited. I think that God has brought me the family that I have been praying for! I will keep you up to date. But please pray that I can be that teacher that will reach out to this family in need. Pray that a relationship could develop out of this and that I could encourage this mom and family in the Lord. I'm so excited!! God is so good! :)