Study with Sara-Be Courageous

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Ephesian 6:17

One of my sons wanted to take classes in fencing. My first thought was, WHY?
I quickly learned a little about fencing, and that being, a very little about this sport. I comprehended even less. I did understand somewhat that in the broadest possible sense, fencing is the art of armed combat involving certain weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot, or thrown. A number of weapons are used including the sword. I also learned that it is an Olympic sport.
The ‘sword’ of course interest me because of my study of God’s Word. For the Word instructs God’s people to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesian 6 opened to me in a very picturesque way as I watched with fear my son participate in this sport.

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Harry Potter, my classroom Iguana

During church Sunday, Sara asked those of us that work in the public school system to relate a highlight/success of their first week of school. Here is one that I was excited to share. It is a teaching strategy idea that she gave to me that really worked in my high school classroom!

As background, I had attended a teacher workshop prior to the beginning of school provided by our school system. It was about learning and employing teaching strategies and we were asked to implement them using our course specific content. The idea was to engage students and improve achievement. Sara likes for us to share with her what we, teachers, learn at these sessions each year and she interacts with us how we will practically utilize them. So, after sharing my content idea (something about comparing apple varieties) for teaching comparisons (similarities and differences) she offered one that she felt would excite the students even more, and it did. It was to use the class iguana, Harry Potter (see his picture…Sara named him), and have the students compare him to an alligator.

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Study with Sara-Moments of Introspection

Dear God, When I read ‘Your Word’ fear ensues. It seems so hard, in the light of living.

Yet, it’s in the Light of Living, one must live ‘The Word.’ It takes real guts to want to obtain the faith of ‘Your Word.”

Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.”

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Back to School We Go!

For most children in the United States, school is about to start or has already started. Children get excited about buying new clothes and school supplies in preparation for the big day – the first day of school. Children are excited about catching up with what happened over the summer with other students they know. They are curious as to what this next school year will hold. All of us have memories of our first days of school and most of us had a favorite teacher who impacted our life. Did you have a favorite teacher you wish to tell us about?

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Study with Sara-Seasons of Life

Are you grieving over the end of Summer?
Are you missing the joy of planning for Autumn?
Does the thought of Winter give you dread?
Does the Beauty of Spring make you sneeze?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

I love the month of July offering us the feeling of summer, the smells of the watermelons, cantaloupes, and the taste of fresh vegetables. The beaches are in full bloom for sun and fun.

It is so easy to relax and forget that I must stay steady with the planting of seeds for Autumn. For ‘due season’ will come and I want to see the pumpkins and the corn and other colorful and bountiful beauty that will even put a spring garden to shame.

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My Prayer

Dearest Heavenly Father,
I want to come close to you, once again. Speak to me, once more that I may hear Your voice of Wisdom, of guidance, of exhortation; Your sweet counsel, warning and admonition.

Who cares for me like You do? Who is concerned for my welfare like You are? Who plans and directs for my good like You do? Who has resources and supplies in abundance like You do? Who has creative, futuristic ideas as forward-looking as You do? Who has healing in His wings and beams?

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Perception verses Perspective

I keep thinking about the recent retreat we just had on relationship, friendship, and fellowship. We learned that we must “throw our light forward”, so God’s message can be known, and relationships, friendships, and fellowships can be a success.

“Throwing our lights forward” can be done many different ways. One way is the use of “WORDS”. The question is…does the listening person, perceive (understand) what is being said? I have reviewed some scriptures and would like your input/comments, on perception and perspective. Here are the following scriptures…(Is.6:8-13, Matt.13:14-17, Mark 4:11-12, Acts 28:25-28, and Ps. 139)