Learning Contentment

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Assistant Principal

Are your kids like mine?  Do you constantly fight the "Mom, can I have..." battle?  I have been pondering the value of contentment lately.  We live in a fiercely discontent world; everyone is looking for bigger, better, and newer.   Our children are caught in the midst of this battle and so many times they are swept away in the whirlwind of covetousness.

I've been taken aback by the Scriptures' warning on such issues.  Take for example I Timothy 6:6-10:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.  It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (ESV). 

Which of us wants our children to fall into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires, into ruin and destruction, to wander away from the faith or to pierce themselves with many pangs?  So my big question recently has been:  How do I assist my children in fighting this discontent?

I Timothy 6:11 continues: "But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness."  Instead of pursuing material things, we are to run after the things God.  I've been looking for opportunities for my children to pursue the things of God - to change their focus from the material goods they long to have.  So what are some tangible ways of going about that?  Here are some ideas I have discovered:

Work as a Team
Sometimes our children pick up discontent from us, as their parents.  What are we discussing in front of them?  Are we longing for things we can't have?  What our children see displayed in us will be echoed in their own hearts and lives.  I find that I make so much more headway with my boys when I go to them, admit my error, and commit to doing things God's way.  Is this an area that the whole family can work on together?

Put Up Some Help
Type out and frame some of the great verses that deal with this issue.  Put them on display for the whole family to see.  One of my more recent favorites is Hebrews 13:5. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'" (NIV).   I remember verses that were hanging in my childhood home; it's a great, quiet way to allow your children to store God's word in their heart.  Maybe some of your older children can help with this project. 

Shop Differently
My children love to wander through the toy section of any store.  Of course, this naturally leads to the "I want.." and "Can I have..." moments.  Instead, I ask them who else would like to have that?  I also ask, "If you could pick out one toy for _____ what would it be and why?"  They get to look at the toys, but the focus changes from themselves to others. 

Earn It
Sometimes the value of the dollar is lost on children.  So when my older two began to ask for big ticket items, I encouraged them to begin to save their money.  Then I looked for ways to let them earn some.  I offer paid chores every weekend.  It may take them awhile to earn enough, but when they do so, they value that toy so much more.

Be Grateful
Living a life with gratitude has helped my attitude, and I think it would help my children as well.  I have bought them each a blank hard back book and am going to ask them to make a "Thankfulness Book."  You could use scrapbooking supplies to accomplish this.  Since they created it themselves, it may take a more prominent place in their room and remind them of all the ways God has already blessed them.

Paul says in Philippians that he has learned the secret of being content.  It is something that is learned - not something we naturally have or crave.   I certainly haven't learned enough.  If you have more ideas for assisting in godly contentment with children, please share in the comments below.  You know what Paul's secret is?  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13, ESV).  We can do it, but we certainly need the Lord to be at work in the hearts and lives of the children he has entrusted to us.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

A member of our elementary staff at the school recently got married. As a wedding gift, I decided to create a book about “What students think about marriage”. I asked all of our elementary students to answer 3 questions about marriage, knowing that their answers would mostly likely prove entertaining. The students did not disappoint.  Some of their answers were priceless and will hopefully provide the teacher and her husband with some giggles and laughs for years to come.

Those of us with kids know that they can say the funniest things at times (and yes, sometimes the WRONG times). The pages of Facebook are filled with moms who just have to share the latest quote.  As an educator and mom, I am surrounded by children daily, and I know I can always count on a funny remark or question just when I need it the most. Am I the only one who vows to start writing them down and can never find the time? Thankfully, some people HAVE written them down for us to enjoy.  

Join me in a good laugh and read some of the stories I came across today on http://www.parentsconnect.com/parents/humor/kids-say-darndest-things.html

 

• I am pregnant with baby number three right now, and my 3-year-old asked if I ate the baby that is growing in my belly.

•  ·         When I was preparing my 4-year-old nephew’s bath once, he said “So you bought this bubble bath for me?” I replied, “Yes, just for you!” and he said, “Thank you! I'm gonna have to buy you some bubble shower!”

• “Jesus, please let me have some more ice cream. Amen."

• My daughter said she was done with school and that she knew everything she needed to know. So I asked her what the capital of Kentucky was. She thought for a minute and then she said the capital of Kentucky is a K.

•  I was opening up a new trash bag when I saw my 4-year-old daughter trying to pick a fight with her brother. I walked over to them (with the garbage bag still in my hand) and my daughter gasped and said, "You're going to throw me away?!?"

• While talking to my husband, my 3-year-old interrupted and starting talking, too. I asked her to wait since I could only listen to one person at a time. She said, "but mommy, you have 2 ears!

• My son was sitting on my lap and pointed to my chin and said: "1, 2, 3, 4." I said: "What are you doing?" He said: "Oh, just counting your chins. You have four."

• My 3-year-old told the doctor, “Will you please stop talking? I can't hear my game.”

• My daughter opened up a pair of shoes that were given to her for her birthday, sniffed them, and said: "They smell like they came from Payless."

• My 7-year-old excitedly shared a plan to come up with money for a trip to Disney: "You and Dad can work harder and get more money!"

What a blessing children are in our lives! I am so grateful to God for the simple joy these stories bring.  If you have some of your own funny stories to share, feel free to comment here!

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Psalm 127:3-5 NIV
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 8:2 NIV
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

by Dick Buckingham
Administrator

We recently had our Spring Fine Arts program at the school and all of our bands had the opportunity to show what they had been working on this year and the progress they have made.  What an enjoyable evening it was!

I don’t know about you, but I have always been a little partial to the incredible music that can be made by a group of people in concert with one another.  The incredible melding of sounds and blends and movements of each person doing their part to produce a sound that expresses emotion and beauty is something that moves me deeply. 

None of that could happen without the presence of the conductor.  When you think about it, it may not seem like the conductor plays a very important role.  They don’t even play an instrument in the band that contributes to the sound.  They stand in front, waving their arms in the air, which upon examination, seems a bit futile to produce any productive sound.  Yet a conductor is critically necessary to a band.  While performing without a conductor may work for a small ensemble,  even a moderate size band would not be able to have the precision necessary to stay together through the various movements of a piece of music without a leader.

The conductor does more than just start, keep, and end the band together.  With each sway of the wand the conductor is able to draw out of the individual players, and the band as a whole,  the finer nuances that make instrumental music so dramatic.  Even one musician not in tempo with the rest can spoil a beautiful piece.   The conductor knows the piece and how it should sound.  It is his purpose to bring even the weakest of the musicians to their highest potential to achieve glorious sound.

As a youngster, I took up percussion and played in the band until I graduated high school.  I have been part of some pretty incredible bands with more than able conductors.  The one thing that was impressed upon me from the beginning is that I must keep my eye upon the conductor.  Yes, it was necessary to view the music, but my body was turned, my stand was set so that with everything else going on around me, I could still see the conductor.  I, along with the rest of the band, was to “fix my eyes.”

I know the imagery of Hebrews 12 is not that of a conductor of a band, yet I think the principle in mind is the same.   Jesus is the conductor of the band in which each believer plays an important instrument.  Not all instruments are the same.  Not all carry the melody all the time.  Some, like the percussionists, rarely do.  Yet each part is critical to the piece.  The only way we are going to pull it all together and produce the beauty entrusted to us is if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the conductor, and follow His direction.   With every wave of His baton, we seek to anticipate His desire.  His will becomes our will.  Ultimately, when the score is complete, it is our ultimate goal that He may turn to His audience, His Father, and take a deep, well-deserved bow.  For He is our Conductor and is worthy of all the praise.

Vacation!

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Assistant Principal

My classroom is quiet today - most of our high school students are off on a week-long educational field trip.  One of my favorite tasks is planning the Spring Trip - this year's trip has barely begun and I already have next year's planned in my head.  I love digging up information on an area and planning out educational opportunities for students to learn outside of the classroom.  These experiences are not just limited to school hours and field trips.  If you would like to add some learning opportunities to your summer vacation, here are some tips for doing so:

1.  Trip Advisor
I always start trip planning with tripadvisor.com.  Put in your destination and you can discover a lot of information about the place to which you are travelling.  One of my favorite links is "Things to Do."  This lists, in order of popularity, different attractions in the area - museums, national parks, hiking trails, and other activities.  Travelers have rated the attractions and have left reviews of the site.  From the reviews, you can get a good understanding if this is an appropriate stop for your family.

2.  The Website
After picking out a few attractions for your family to visit, explore the attraction's website.  Most of the websites will have an "Education" tab - those are not just for teachers!  This will be the place you will find out if there are daily tours, ranger programs, or movies.  Other helpful tabs may be "Plan Your Visit" or "Programs."

3.  Printables
On the website, you may find a "Teacher Resources" section.  Many attractions prepare lessons for teachers to use before coming on site for a field trip.  Explore those - you don't have to show a teacher I.D. to click on the link.  You may find some fun  printables - coloring pages, mazes, word searches - that you can take along with you for some in-car fun.

4.  Late Night Fun
On the Spring Trip, I like to keep the kids busy until late at night.  There are many educational opportunities that can happen after dark.  Is there an IMAX theater with a cool documentary about something local?  Is there a symphony performance or Broadway style show everyone can get dressed up for?  Is there an observatory in the area?  Many times they host public night viewings.  Your kids will be so excited about staying up past bedtime, they won't realize they are learning something too.

5.  Before You Go
Many times Christian parents have to fight against evolutionary ideas when visiting national parks and museums.  Arm yourself with good movies, books, and information before you leave.  Answers in Genesis is a reputable and excellent company that puts out stellar information on many of the amazing sites in our world.  Buy a movie or two for the car ride and help give your children the truth before you arrive at your destination.  Some of the movies can be rented from Amazon.com if you have computer access on your trip.

6.  Themed Vacation
If you aren't committed to a particular place for your vacation, consider making a themed vacation.  For example, the students of FCS are currently on a geology themed experience.  They are visiting amazing rock formations, the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, and even taking a float trip down the Colorado River - they are experiencing God's glorious hand and learning something at the same time.  Other ideas:  Wild West, Arts and Culture, Biology, US History, Government.  My dream vacation would be a literature tour of Boston, Massachusetts.  What are some themed vacations you can think of?

One of the greatest goals I have for the students attending the Spring Trip at Faith Christian School is that they would understand that learning can happen ANYWHERE!  Learning can be fun!  Learning isn't confined to the inside of the classroom!  God has given us a great big world to explore and He reveals Himself to us in many ways and there is so much joy in discovering these wonderful treats He has given us.  I challenge you to make your next summer vacation an enjoyable, learning experience for your child.  Give it a try -  may you too experience the joy of lifelong learning!

What was I supposed to remember again?

 “I've a grand memory for forgetting.”

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

For those of you avid followers of this blog, you may have noticed that a blog was not posted last week. Yes. It was my turn to write the blog and I totally forgot. While this wasn’t intentional and could probably be chalked up to “pregnancy brain”, it led me to the topic of today’s blog on FORGETFULNESS! Please tell me that I am not the only one to deal with this. Luckily I can say for certain that I am not. 

Just yesterday, I asked my husband to run to the store to grab 2 things. Just 2. By no means a lengthy list. And yet, when he returned home with several bags of groceries, I was met with the realization that he had only gotten 1 of the 2 things. I’m sure we could fill this comment board with similar situations. 

You must be able to relate. How many times have you gone into a room and totally forgotten why you went in there? Some of us even try to help ourselves out by making a list, but by the time we pick up the pen to write it down, the thought has completely escaped us. Or what’s worse, we actually write the note down on the paper and then can’t remember what our cryptic message even meant! People try to put strings around their fingers but forget what the strings are for.  They create pneumonic devices to help them remember lists. They write songs to help them memorize Scripture or other short passages. They play popular “memory-strengthening” games. And yet, we find ourselves remembering things from 20 years ago in specific detail, yet cannot find the keys that we just put down 5 minutes ago. How is this possible?!

According to Paul Reber, professor of psychology at Northwestern University, “The human brain consists of about one billion neurons. Each neuron forms about 1,000 connections to other neurons, amounting to more than a trillion connections. In comparison, if your brain worked like a digital video recorder in a television, 2.5 petabytes would be enough to hold three million hours of TV shows. You would have to leave the TV running continuously for more than 300 years to use up all that storage.”

Maybe it makes me feel a little better knowing that there is sometimes a lot of “footage” I have to sift through to find what I am looking for in my brain. Nonetheless, we know that forgetfulness is a part of life. Sometimes the consequences are minor, but sometimes you forget a deadline or a bill that was due, and the result sends some rather unpleasant shockwaves. Of even greater concern is when we get so involved in the hustle and bustle of life that we begin to forget that God is in control. What many forget most often is God’s presence and help in times of trouble or great need.

The Bible is full of stories that tell us how God remembers His people.  One such story that our school has connected with this year is the story of Samuel and the Israelites in 1 Samuel 7. After a miraculous victory in battle, “Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer. He said, "The LORD has helped us this far." I Samuel 7:12. When we start forgetting what the Lord has done for us, maybe an Ebenezer rock is more of what we need than a string around the finger.  

I can only imagine that my memory will get worse with age (or with the insanity that will surely come with having 4 children). But here is my ultimate comfort.  God always remembers the things that need to be remembered and always forgets the things that don’t!

Hebrews 8:12 gives us the following promise, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Praise the Lord! Knowing how prone we are to forget, God gave us His Word as a reminder of His great love and provision for us. Ultimately, His story of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate reminder of this.

I may forget deadlines and dates, but may my words reflect those found in Psalm 77:11, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” 

Remind someone today what a faithful God we serve!

Where is the Hope?

by Jennie Smith 
Secondary Assistant Principal

One of my favorite novels to read and to teach is Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo.  At the end of this classic, the main character tells the reader "Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget that until the day when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words - wait and hope."

I've been thinking a lot about hope lately.  As is true for many Christians living out their lives in this world, I have recently faced a season of adversity which just last week included the death of my beloved Grammie.  Many times I would hear from those comforting me that I have hope to see her again or I don't grieve as one with no hope.

My Gram often proclaimed God's truth into my life.  One of her last with me was on the topic of hope.  I was asking her to pray about one of my trials and explained to her my disappointment saying, "I didn't just lose out on an opportunity - I lost hope in changing these circumstances."  We hung up the phone, and it wasn't long before she called me back.  She pointed out to me that, in this trial, I was putting my hope in the wrong location. Opportunities, circumstances, even people will disappoint me if I put my hope in them.  My hope can only reside in the One who never disappoints.

The Scriptures are full of encouragement to put our hope in the right place:

Psalm 31:24  "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

Psalm 33:20  "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and shield."

Psalm 42:11  "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Isaiah 40:31  "...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Psalm 62:5 "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him."

Lamentations 3:25 "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him..."

Micah 7:6 "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."

Look how much we gain from placing our hope in the Lord!  We can be strong, receive help and protection, have our strength renewed so that we can run this race without becoming weary.  We receive rest for our souls, He hears us and He is good.  What victorious promises those are!  In the trials you are facing today, where does your hope lie?  May you too be encouraged from the words of my Gram...Put your hope in the Lord alone.

Finishing Strong

by Dick Buckingham, Administrator

II Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.”

The apostle Paul, in arguably his last letter to his protégé Timothy, makes this interesting and profound statement: I have finished the race.  Paul often uses the race analogy when referring to the lives we are living for Christ.  In I Corinthians 9:24 he says,

“Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

This verse has been the theme verse for our students this year and we have focused on running the race of

our lives with passion.  Passion is that element that often separates one racer from another, between getting or not getting the prize.  One of the things we love to see in an athletic contest is someone who gives it all in order to go a split second faster, or jump a fraction of an inch higher.  We seem to intuitively know that giving our all is the right and best way to live and we admire someone who does it, and does it well.  Many a race has been lost by pulling up too soon.  Every good coach knows to impress upon his athletes the importance of running hard through the tape before slowing down.  They push this just as hard in practice races as they do the actual race.

I often remind my students that we are given opportunities throughout life to practice finishing strong and we should use them to make it the pattern of our lives to give it our all, all the way to the end.  Such opportunities are things like school years which end each May.  Students can practice doing their work and being faithful to their studies at a time when they feel more like coasting and sitting by the pool.  Many a parent (and teacher) knows how difficult it is to motivate children with “Spring Fever.”  We may be able to look back and remember how difficult it was for us to focus and stay motivated and keep going strong to the end of a school year.  We may want to give our children a pass and feel like the school ought to take it easy on the students as the year winds down.

What I want to impress upon you as a parent is that there are some lifelong implications to how we finish things.  The way we practice the race is the way we will run the race.  If it is our habit and pattern to coast as we come to the end of the school year, we may likely do that in college.  When we could have received high grades, our grades are satisfactory or even mediocre.  We may tend to take it easy as we transition from one job to another or one position to another within our company.  Instead of giving our all for as long as we are employed, we may see our effort begin to wane as we approach retirement age.  We all know what a lame-duck politician is.  They are in their last term of office and the closer they get to the end, the less they accomplish. 

More importantly than all these, there are spiritual implications as well.  Instead of remaining steadfast all our lives and serving the Lord every day of our lives until he calls us home, we may begin to take it easy in our walk and not be so concerned about the Lord’s work as we once were.  Our place in heaven may be secure, but our reward will be affected.

The apostle Paul left nothing on the table.  He gave every effort up to the very end of his life to serve the Lord and others.  He was able to say without apology, “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.”

Once in a while, we see this kind of commitment in people we know.  My mom went to be with the Lord just about two weeks ago.  She was 81 and lived a life of service to the Lord.  Though weak and frail and prone to illness, she never ceased to pray for others, to encourage others in the faith, and to do whatever she could to serve others, up until just days before her Savior called her home.  She is one who can with Paul say, “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.”  As a result, she is now hearing the “Well done, good and faithful servant,” from her Lord.

What about you?  If your life on this earth came to an end today, would you be able to make that proclamation?  How are you finishing?  Are you finishing strong?  Are you encouraging finishing strong  from your children?  Are you leading them by your example?