The Cornerstone Devotions for Teachers

I wasn't going to do a Halloween post, but...

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:54:00 +0000

...there's something I heard on TV last night that I want to share. Many of you won't even read this until after Halloween; perhaps this post isn't for you. But the Lord wants someone out there to understand and pray against what's happening this weekend.

Celebrating Halloween with children (especially in a Christian home) usually focuses on costumes and trick or treating. Lots of churches and families have Halloween alternatives (such as harvest celebrations) that allow kids to dress up and play games in a safe environment. At our school yesterday, we commemorated Halloween with a 'wholesome costume' parade, fun pumpkin activities, and lots of candy. Looking at that, many Christians would say, what's the big deal? Halloween is about candy and costumes for the kids.

For you and your family, this may be true. It's not for me to determine whether Christians should or shouldn't let their kids go trick-or-treating, because every family creates their own parameters. I'm simply cautioning you to be aware: for some parties and celebrations (and Halloween has become a HUGE occasion for adults to go crazy), there is serious danger.

As believers, we know that spiritual warfare is REAL, and there is a literal yet unseen battle between good and evil raging on this planet every minute of every day. We need to always be mindful and prayerful of that. But on certain occasions, that battle is raged more fiercely. During the Christmas season, most people (even non-Christians) sense a peace that descends over our country, and the Lord reigns through an apparent presence as people more readily practice kindness and goodwill. On Halloween, the opposite is true. Darkness, death, and fear are celebrated, and an uneasy or spooky presence surrounds us. The spiritual battle is taken to new heights, but this time, the enemy's side has the advantage.

I was watching the NBC show "30 Rock" (a fairly entertaining sitcom which comes on immediately after my favorite show "The Office"), and one of the characters explained the Halloween atmosphere from a worldly perspective in a really clear way. He was trying to rile up disinterested friends and convey why Halloween is so awesome:

"Halloween is a time when girls dress in slutty costumes and drink too much! It's a time when down is up! Up is down! Good is evil, and evil is GOOD! We CAN'T give up on Halloween!"

That's an unwittingly powerful statement, and a perfect explanation of Halloween's appeal to adults. The lines are blurred between right and and wrong, fantasy and reality, truth and deception. If you're used to celebrating with your kids at home, you may not be aware of the chaotic atmosphere that is created by millions of people in bars, clubs, and parties throughout the weekend of Halloween. Those people need a prayer covering that only God's people can offer up.

For that reason (and for the sake of children who are vulnerable to the dark overtones they see around them this time of year), we as Christians need to have a prayerful mindset on Halloween and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. We need to be the light in the darkness, and pray against anything the enemy is trying to stir up on a night that was created to celebrate everything he represents: fear, deception, confusion, and chaos.

I encourage you as you read this (whether it be before Halloween or after) to say a prayer binding the enemy from doing his work, and speak the blood of Jesus over every evil intent or deceptive practice that may occur in your community. Pray that people's eyes may be opened to the light, and that any evil works conducted on Halloween in the name of fear would be undone through the power of Christ. Pray for spiritual protection over our young people in this country, and wisdom and discernment for adults. Pray that the weekend would pass with the Lord triumphant, with His people still on their path, straying not to the left or the right. And perhaps most importantly, pray that those who have experienced the darkness this weekend and do not yet know Him would be drawn even more to the light.

Not by might, nor by power...

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0000

...but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.

Most of us can complete that sentence easily, maybe even hum the tune to the classic Leslie Phillips song that declares Zechariah 4:6. But how often do we practice that scripture? If we know that nothing is accomplished but by His Spirit, why do we try to make things happen in our own strength?

I think this verse applies especially to our work in the classroom. It is a natural tendency to think that kids with challenging behaviors should respond to our might and power, and it's often our first and last resort. Do it, because I said so! We are quick to impose our own authority over rule-breakers and rarely think to pray for God's authority over the situation. However, the real, true, and lasting change we're seeking is produced by the Spirit of the Lord, and it usually starts with change in our own hearts.

Father, help me to remember this week that You are the Almighty, the center of the universe, and everyone is made in You.

I'm not actually late with posting these wedding photos...

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:45:00 +0000

…assuming you agree to pretend with me that sharing them on our three-month anniversary was the plan all along. Since most of you dear readers are educators, I am confident that you, too, have mastered the art of Creating Alternative Reasoning for the Purpose of Disguising Personal Screw-Ups, and you are immediately empathetic toward my little ruse. Surely you have used this strategy with your class on more than one occasion, a la “I’ve decided to push back the math test to Monday because I want to give you one more day to study” [and also because I forgot to have the copies run during my break due to excessive gossiping around the soda machine]. So without further ado, I present my extremely well-planned September posting of the long-awaited wedding pics. Happy third (month) anniversary to us!

But wait! There’s more! Several dozen more, actually, on my Facebook fan page, which you can view here.

Divine Intervention

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:00:00 +0000

There's a child whose behavioral and learning problems are beyond anything I've experienced in the past decade. Will I be able to get through to this kid? Is improvement possible? What can I possibly do to catch this little one up to speed?

I was just sitting on my couch trying to figure out a battle plan when I came across this post from the Christian teacher blog Teach On Purpose:

Just got done praying for my kids. I can't even tell you how much this has changed the relational connection to my students. Nothing helps me put down my agenda, see them as real people, and treat them with the dignity and humanity they deserve like spending a minute or two praying through each class roster.

I'm not great at this and I often miss days, but just like every other meeting, prayer time is scheduled into my calendar. Every day my calendar pops up a to-do list during planning time, and at least 3 days each week, that list includes prayer. You know how long it takes to pray through 2 classes per day, mentioning each child by name? Somewhere around 2 minutes, and as packed as my schedule gets, 2 minutes is often the only manageable time I have to refocus, re-purpose, and rethink the people I serve.

Ah, yes. Of course there's something I can do. In the midst of all my modifications and differentiations, how did I forget the most important intervention of all?

Joyce Meyer's "Simplify Your Life" Tips for Teachers

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:20:00 +0000

I heart Joyce Meyer: you've probably heard me mention that I start every morning with her podcast, which I listen to on my laptop while getting dressed. Joyce has had a tremendously profound influence on my daily walk with the Lord, and she's helped me mature spiritually more than any other Bible teacher or pastor. The podcast I watched today spoke directly to teachers, so I thought I'd share it here with you.

After publishing her book 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life, Joyce presented a Viewer Question and Answer session. This video clip shows her response to an email from an overworked school teacher who felt she had no time for her spiritual life. Joyce's response is thought-provoking and touches on a wide range of issues: perfectionism, assuming more responsibilities than required, the effects of negative thinking (and how changing your perception changes your mood), and the common tendency to create stress by anticipating problems that haven't occurred.

If you subscribe to this blog via email and cannot see the video below, click here to view it through my blog.

Here's a bonus 'simplify your life' tip from me: Do not attempt to trim down a video podcast to only the clip you want to play on your blog. Actually, skip converting the file type and embedding video in your blog altogether. While you're at it, just abandon the blog. There, now you've gained an extra three hours today that I lost! Hah! Just kidding, mostly. Now that I know how to edit podcasts in iMovie, I probably won't feel like stabbing myself in the eyeball next time around. Ahh, things are getting simpler here already...

Early in the morning

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0000

The view from the lanai on our honeymoon. I have such wonderful memories of sitting there in the mornings with a cup of locally-grown Hawaiian coffee and spending time with the Lord.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (Psalm 5:3) Oh God, You are my God; early I will seek you. (Psalm 63:1)

I’ve never been a morning person. Even though students begin entering my classroom at 7:45 (ugh), I don’t get into my groove until around 9. I’ve accepted that about myself:* I’m a night person, and that’s all there is to it.

For that reason, I never took a literal interpretation to the scriptures above: surely I don’t have to read the Bible in the MORNING. I could read at night! Theoretically, at least…since shutting off the TV and laptop is much harder than turning it on. But I could just pray in the morning! And I watch Joyce Meyer every day while I get dressed, isn’t that the same thing as being alone with God?

Apparently, it isn’t. Not for me, anyway.

A few months ago, I started reading the Bible while I drinking my coffee as soon as I woke up on the weekends.** I realized that routine made a huge difference in the amount of peace and joy I had as I went through my daily tasks. So during the last week of school in June, I decided to get up twenty minutes earlier and continue my weekend routine. I told my co-worker about the change in routines and she said, “I knew SOMETHING was different! I can really tell! You should definitely do that every day.”***

I always made the excuse that I wouldn’t be alert enough to read the Word at 6:30 a.m., but there’s a difference between doing a Bible STUDY and MEDITATING on the Word. Some days, I might just read a few lines in Psalms, and then selah (think about it, repeat it over and over like a mantra). If my mind wanders to the things on my to-do list, I go with that. It’s okay, because my mind isn’t racing wildly: the whole experience of prepping for the day is now occurring within the framework of God’s goodness and purpose for my life.

Sometimes I re-read the same underlined portion of a chapter three days in a row, and then on a morning when I have a little more time (and alertness), I’ll forge ahead into more chapters and a deeper study. I don’t condemn myself for missing a day.**** That’s alright—I miss my quiet time with God, and I know I’ll return to it soon.

The devil makes a bid for our minds early in the morning. It’s amazing how many anxious thoughts he can inspire just within the first 5 minutes I’m awake. As usual, obedience toward the command to seek the Lord early isn’t for God’s benefit, it’s for my own. I’m not doing Him a favor by making time for Him first: I’m setting myself up for spiritual success, I’m putting on the armor I’ll need in the day’s battle.

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." ---E.M. Bounds

* It doesn't take too long for the kids to accept that about me, either, though I pity the slow learners in this scenario.
** Wow, how telling was THAT sentence: the Bible but my coffee!? Ouch.
*** Hint, hint: you’re a grouch in the morning! We all REALLY need you to spend time with God first thing!
**** Ironically, as I write this, I haven’t read the Bible for the last two mornings.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Advice for Job Seekers (and anyone else discerning God's will in trials)

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:13:00 +0000

During the next few months, my prayer is to find a job and a home in New York City (either buying, or renting temporarily) so I can start a life with my husband. And of course, I'd like to have quality renters in my condo in Fort Lauderdale, since selling is out of the question with the market in its current state.

Those three things together are a pretty tall order, and I'm not the only one placing it. Countless educators have contacted me in recent months asking for advice about getting a teaching position in such a tough job market. There are tens of thousands of teachers currently attempting to relocate, secure a position in a school, or both.

There's no easy answer for those who are relying on themselves (or worse, me!) for solutions, but there is great hope for anyone who places their faith in God the Father. I can share with you the promises that the Lord has shown me in His Word. These are timeless truths which have sustained me through the three year 1,000 mile separation from the man I wanted to marry. These verses kept me from discouragement during our long-distance wedding preparations, and filled me with hope that our ceremony and celebration would be exactly the way God wanted them. (And yes, that day was exceedingly, abundantly above all that I could ask, think, or imagine!) Even now, I meditate daily on these scriptures to allow the Lord to fill me with bold faith as my husband and I make critical, life-altering decisions about our new path together:

These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open [a reference to Isaiah 22:20-24]: "I know your works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name." (Revelation 3:7-8)

That means any door (job, house, husband, or other blessing) that God opens for you His child, will be opened, and no one can close it. No person or obstacle in the entire universe can take it away. It is yours, even if you can't see it yet. The Lord will open it for YOU, and only you. Likewise, any door that He shuts, no one can open. If God doesn't mean for you to have it (and 'it' could be something you want, or a bad circumstance you want Him to withhold), you aren't going to have it, period. No one can open a door God closes.

And if you think that's amazing, wait until you read what the Lord tells us in Isaiah 30:20-21 (NLT):

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
He will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

Your own ears will hear Him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.

God has given you difficult times as part of the process of sanctification. But your teachers--the people who are helping guide you toward the right decision, and the Lord Himself--will be revealed to you clearly. And you will hear God's Spirit speaking directly to you (with your OWN ears, you will hear a voice), telling you what path to follow. The New King James translation reads:

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying "This is the way, walk in it” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

How reassuring to know that any time you start to veer off in the wrong direction, you'll hear the Lord telling you "THIS is the way--walk in it!" Stay in tune with His voice, and He will speak. Focus on His omnipotence, and know that He has a plan which will be revealed to you. Concentrate on understanding Him more and your circumstances less. God is holy and true; He will open and no one can shut; He will show you the path so that you can walk in it.

I look forward to sharing with you soon the doors that God has opened for me. :-)

Ramblings: What does it mean to finish well?

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:50:00 +0000

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith... (I Timothy 4:7)

Every year in June, the feelings of inadequacy resurface. Right now I'm tired, and quite frankly, lazy. I have given everything I have to give. And I'm never satisfied with what I've done throughout the year.

I didn't get to know my students' personalities well enough. I prioritized mutual respect, but not bonding and making personal connections. Those are not the same things. I was too serious and wasn't silly and fun enough. I was too snappy, too quick to pass judgment and get angry. I didn't finish the world history unit. I didn't do that money project. We didn't do reading logs, for the love of Pete, how did I neglect to have my kids write down the books they read in class?!

I think it's the end of the world. I am a failure! I should have my teaching license revoked.

I think it's not the end of the world. The year was a success! I will return in August refreshed and ready to make up for my shortcomings this year.

I think I might have schizophrenia. And I'm not the only one.

John Spencer (from the blog Musings of a Not-So-Master Teacher) has a few recent posts on this topic, including the beautifully introspective Self-Induced Teacher Guilt. But it's his post called End Well that really made me think about how I feel as the year comes to a close:

Yet, as I pack up the boxes in my classroom and prepare myself for another three weeks, I have a lingering sense of satisfaction mixed with guilt. I'm torn between enjoyment and feeling that I haven't done enough and that I don't know students well enough and that I took too many short cuts and that no one should ever engage in such a long run-on sentence when an English teacher might be reading this long-winded blog post. What does it mean to end well?

Feelings of guilt and apprehension abound. So what to do with them? My first impression was that we should examine them the way we should examine all our other emotions: are they from the Lord, or from the enemy? Is the sadness stemming from conviction or condemnation?

But for me, I think the answer is BOTH.

I ignored the Holy Spirit's promptings many, many times, and took the easy way out, putting my own needs first. That's conviction. I will always have to fight the flesh and consciously work toward becoming others-centered: it's the process of sanctification. The good news is, I'm aware of how God's trying to change me. The even better news is, He's patient.

But there's also some condemnation. Really, Angela, you feel like a failure because you didn't teach the kids EVERY skill and concept you wanted to? Do you truly believe that's the measure of your success?

Hmm. I suppose not. But what IS the measure? Maybe, Did I do my best every day?

I hope not, because then I still failed. I DIDN'T give 100% every single day.

That CAN'T be the measure of finishing well, because in my heart, I know I didn't fail. I know that my life is a work in progress, and there is no failure as long as I'm still striving to become more Christ-like and perform my job in a way that brings God glory.

So maybe the real meaning of finishing well is, Did I ask God to help me do my best everyday? Did I look to Him for strength and wisdom? Did I grow closer to Him this year? Did I actively seek out ways to become less self-centered and more giving to my colleagues and students and families?

Yes, yes I did. Sooo...why doesn't that make me feel successful? Why don't I have that feeling of satisfaction from a job well done?

Probably because I could have done a better job. Quite frankly, we ALL could have.

Perhaps you can see how exhausting it's been to live with my brain recently.

After fruitlessly mulling over the question for awhile, I finally gave it over to the Lord and let Him show me the answer. And He did, Sunday morning in church. We were singing about the depth of God's love toward us, and I realized that from God's perspective, our success as teachers is all about our love walk. It is not about our test scores, and it's not even about what our students learn academically. From an eternal perspective, teaching my kids to identify a numerator and denominator is frankly irrelevant.

For me, finishing the year well is about this:

Did I disciple my students?
Did I show them love, and teach them how to be loving?
Did my passion for life shine through, and did I encourage students to follow their God-given passions?
Did I set my students on the paths they should go and instill in them the desire to grow and become more than who they currently are?
Did I model AND teach them perseverance, patience, kindness, and self-control?
Was my focus on teaching with intention--not perfectly at every moment, but as a whole, from the first day to the very last--did I keep sight of the ultimate prize, which is eternal?

I've noticed that when my focus is on the eternal purpose, the academic goals fall naturally into place. This is really radical stuff, I know. But...what if we weren't put in the classroom to teach the phases of the moon? What if we were put there to instill in students a wonder for creation, a curiosity to learn more about the world around them, a desire to be the most intelligent persons they can be and make positive contributions to society? Think about that. When the teacher focuses on instilling those qualities during a lesson, how can children NOT learn the phases of the moon?

The standards created by the department of education are laughable in comparison. And because the board of ed doesn't set the real goals, it doesn't measure the real goals, and it doesn't determine our real value as teachers.

The student achievement levels we see on paper can never be the true measure of finishing well, not when an on-grade-level student assaults a classmate in the hallway while a struggling reader develops and recognizes the importance of self-discipline. And how do any of those behaviors, attitudes, and skill levels tie into God's ultimate plan of salvation? How little does any of this matter when both souls are lost?

Clearly the race set before us is difficult to run, and we run it imperfectly. But it's not up to us as teachers to determine our measure of success. We plant some seeds, we water others, and the increase comes from the Lord.

Who, after all, is Apollos? And who is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (I Corinthians 3:5-9)

So it's not about ME at all, it's not about how well I did MY job. God has a greater plan, of which I am only a small part. My performance is not quantifiable by anyone in this physical plane. How easily I lose sight of that when I'm made to feel that my job, my salary, and my worth is based on test scores.

Finishing well. Did I? I realize now it's far too complex for me to judge, and I shouldn't trouble myself with principles so far beyond my realm of understanding. I'm going to try not to judge myself, and instead let God, whose ways are higher than my ways, determine how well I've accomplished His tasks. The burden is lifted off of me and carried by Jesus, who tells us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). What freedom we have in Christ. I don't have to measure my own success or worth, or figure out where I stand with Him. He is my identity and my source. I can...

Be confident of this, that He who has begun a good work in [me], will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 1:6)

Wow, you're still here with me, reading to the end. Thanks. I hope my rambling thoughts make sense. And I hope they give you a bit of peace as your school year comes to a finish.

The quickness

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:30:00 +0000

"Sure, I still make mistakes. I'm still tempted, and make bad choices. But the difference now that I've rededicated my life to Christ is that I'm quicker to run back to him. It doesn't take me so long to recognize the wrongs, and I don't hold onto them with such stubbornness."

I heard a Christian make this comment last night, and I thought she did a great job addressing the problem of sin in the life of a believer. We will never achieve perfection, but as we grow closer to God and become more sanctified, we should find ourselves returning to the right path more quickly than we used to.

That also made me think about my students. Many times I get frustrated that they're still engaging in the same misbehaviors since August (or worse, since kindergarten). I wonder how they can continue to make such bad choices, forgetting that *I* do the same thing.

Maybe instead of focusing so much on the frequency of misbehavior, I should be focusing on how long it takes the children to return to the right behavior. Little Johnny might lose his temper three times a week (which is not much of an improvement from five times a week), but if he's able to regain control after ten minutes instead of pouting all day, that's a changed heart. He might still hurt his classmates, but if he willingly apologizes afterward, that's a changed heart. He may need a million reminders to follow directions, but if he self-corrects now without talking back, that's a changed heart. Change is a process, and each step along the way should be honored and appreciated.

It's easy to become discouraged when our attempts to instill values and self-discipline just don't seem to sink in with certain students. However, more improvement will be realized when we emphasize not only how to make right choices, but how to make things right AFTER students have done wrong. We must foster attitudes of repentance and explicitly teach reparation skills.

Lord, quicken my heart to Your chastening in my own life. Open my eyes so I can bear witness to my students' improvements. Give me the patience and grace needed to nurture in them a quick return to right attitudes. Help me teach them to resolve conflicts and rectify problems in a way that glorifies You. Show us all how to return to the right path with a quickness.

Meditating on the Fruit of the Spirit

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Part of my New Years resolution was to ask for (and receive in prayer) the fruit of the Spirit each morning. I've been very faithful with this, at least on workdays, and I think it's done a great deal to set the tone for my day. Instead of waking up and running through a mental list of everything I need to do, I recite Galations 5:22-23 and visualize myself embodying each of the nine attributes:

Feeling love toward my students because God loves them
Experiencing joy as I go through my daily tasks
Being at peace with my work situation even with all its faults
Demonstrating patience when my students are, ahem, a bit challenging
Showing kindness toward students even when they don't deserve it
Being an example of goodness in a sea of nasty and negative attitudes
Showing faithfulness toward my commitment to the little ones in my care
Choosing gentleness which turns away wrath (always a good thing)
Demonstrating self-control when I feel like being lazy

Meditating on this scripture probably takes around 30 seconds (which is about all I can spare, since I'm not an early-morning person and get up as late as possible). Maybe that's why I've been able to stick with it! The routine puts me in a good mood and gives me confidence that yes, I CAN handle whatever comes my way during the school day.

Working on a real post, but this had to be said FIRST...

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Curtis and I have officially set the date! We'll become husband and wife on June 27th in a ceremony at a quaint, historic church in South Beach. A small reception will follow in the lovely upstairs room of a nearby Cuban restaurant. We're also planning a ceremony up north in the fall for his extended family and others who can't make the trip to Florida. I can't believe I'll be Mrs. Watson in just over two months! We don't know what's going to happen after that--Curtis is still based in NYC and I'm in Fort Lauderdale--but we know God has a plan.

Happy Resurrection Day!

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Thought this made a nice connection between a secular tradition and the real meaning of Easter:

I'm celebrating with a powerful morning at church, a relaxing afternoon with loved ones, and an evening of copious amounts of chocolate consumption. How about you--what does your family do to honor the day that Jesus rose again?

Overheard

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I ate lunch with my fiancee Curtis this past weekend at a cafe in Manhattan. The food there is unbelievable and really cheap, but it's one of those places where the tables are scrunched so close together that you're practically touching the people sitting next to you. In our case, the neighbors were two obviously close female friends in their early twenties chatting loudly.

Our food had just arrived when I heard one of them say, "Hey! Did I tell you that I visited my mom's church this weekend?" The friend dropped her fork. "NO! Your mom goes to CHURCH?!"

My ears perked up, because I'm always interested in hearing other people's experiences with God and religion. I glanced over at Curtis to see if he overheard, but he was totally focused on the chicken cutlet. I considered getting his attention, but then realized that I had the perfect opportunity to eavesdrop without the distraction of my own conversation. I picked up a salt shaker and tried to look really engaged in seasoning my steamed vegetables as the girls continued.

"Yeah, my mom goes to church! She's like a born-again Christian! Totally!"
"WHAT! I never would have thought!"
"Yep, she goes to this giant church. I went when I visited her. It was so crazy, listen to this..."
"Oh my g-d, I can't believe YOUR mom goes to church. Lightning didn't strike when she walked in?"
"Hah, yeah, I know, right? So we go, and it's like huge."
"One of those mega-churches?"
"Yeah, a mega-church. Definitely. And they had like a rock concert at the beginning. People were throwing their hands up. It was craaaaazy."
"Oh my g-d."
"Yeah, so then the preacher gets up and starts talking about how, like, people don't know how to think, they keep making all these bad decisions, so they should let Jesus do the thinking for them."
"Whoa."
"Yeah, exactly."
'That's really scary."
"Yup. And in the hallway, you know how when you're in college they have those little exhibition booths, where if you want to join this club, you go here, and if you want to be in this club, you go there?"
"Yeah."
"They had those! And one of them was like this anti-abortion booth."
"Oh my g-d."
"Yeah, it was REALLY bad."
"I feel sorry for those people."
"Yeah."
"But I still can't believe your mom goes to church."
"My brother keeps saying I should stop telling people about it. He's like, you've gotta stop doing that! But I can't! It's like, SUCH a good story."
"It really is."

The girl changed the subject of conversation to her boyfriend who couldn't commit after 3 years and I tuned out, lost in thought about her perceptions of the church experience.

It was eerie just how much the church she described is like mine, right down to the 'exhibition booths' (and I'm pretty sure there was a pro-life table in our hallway at some point where people could sign a legislative petition). I know how strange that set-up seems to a person who doesn't understand how the modern evangelical movement approaches Christianity. It seems weird, I get it. I don't fault them for not understanding the act of worshiping God with hands lifted high, or for misunderstanding the preacher's explanation of the way God transforms and renews our minds. That's to be expected: as 2 Corinthians 4:4 puts it, the god of this age has blinded people's eyes to the light and hope of the gospel.

No, the truly sad part to me--and I wonder if you feel the same--was the huge disconnect between the girls' perception of the mom and the life the mom was trying to lead. How differently would that conversation have gone if the mother had experienced a changed life after joining that church? I can imagine the daughter saying, "I think it's so creepy that she goes there, but you know what, she's really happy. She's been acting so different since she started talking about God all the time. She stopped fighting with dad, and she's always off volunteering somewhere and helping people out. And remember when she lost her job, she wasn't even worried, she just kept saying God would take care of her or something. I don't know what she's getting out of those weird rock concerts, but it's working for her, I guess."

The saddest thing I can imagine anyone saying about me is: "You went to church with ANGELA? She goes to CHURCH? Whoa." My witness is far from perfect, but I hope that there is something different enough about my approach to life that others would say, "Yeah, doesn't surprise me that she goes to church. It figures that she's a Christian."

Some people eavesdrop on conversations. But there are also people watching our entire lives. The Bible says that we can tell a tree by its fruit, because every living creature produces after its own kind. If we are of the Spirit, then we should produce the fruit of the Spirit. We are a representation of the God we serve, and one day we will stand before Him. How awesome will it be to hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!"

How do you show yourself as set apart for the Lord without being overbearing or self-righteous? Is there anything you actively do to keep a good witness? How do you respond to people who are baffled by your religion, beliefs, or values? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Looking Expectantly

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:12:00 +0000

There are 74 days left until the end of the school year, and to be honest, I'm not in a big hurry to get them over with.

That's pretty typical for me, because I don't like to rush through my life in anticipation of something better. And I really enjoy the springtime with my students: state testing is over, we're doing fun and meaningful projects, I rarely get new kids added to the roster, and my group has bonded and learned to get along so that things flow relatively smoothly.

But this year, there's a slight apprehension that comes with the end of my school year.

You see, my life after June 5th is still undefined. Our wedding plans for the summer are progressing at long last, yet there are still so many unknowns about where we will live after the big day, since my fiancee and I are currently 1,000 miles apart. There are so many doors opening professionally, and yet there is nothing of solidity and certainty, no one development that I can base the next phase of my life upon. Should I return to teaching next fall, or take the leap into writing (or something else) full-time? Will I need to begin a new career in New York? And what about all those discouraging things I hear on the news about jobs and housing?

There are many aspects of my life that are coming to a long-awaited culmination, and that has a tendency to bring moments of anxiety. Most of the time my mind can rest in the peace of knowing that God is in control, but even that knowledge can sometimes set my brain racing. It's exciting to think what God has in store, and I'm always on the lookout for the next part of his plan to be revealed.

Last weekend I attended the ASCD conference, working as a reporter covering the event for the blog In Practice. The night before the conference began, I felt like I should read the Bible, but I was really too tired, so I went to sleep. When I woke up (at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday), I again felt in my spirit that I should read the Bible. Yet I dismissed the feeling, thinking that I needed to get ready quickly and could it read that night. I got dressed and looked down at my Bible on the nightstand, and for the third time, I felt that prompting to read.

"Alright, God, I'll do it--but you know I need to leave in 5 minutes. I'm sorry for procrastinating, but whatever You're going to show me, please give it to me quick!" I knew that reading the psalms would be give me focus and perspective, so I flipped open to the middle of Bible, in Psalm 145. My eye was immediately drawn to the words 'due season', which is a phrase in the scripture I named my publishing company after. I didn't even know that due season was used in the psalms! My eyes scanned through the passage eagerly:

The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

My heart began to sing with joy at this latest confirmation that God was orchestrating everything and meeting my expectations for provision in His perfect timing. This scripture was just one more reminder that He knows the desires of my heart, because He planted them there. The Lord was truly looking down on me at that moment and filling me with a deep sense of purpose and peace and knowing about His promise to fulfill all of my desires: to be with my husband, to have a family, to touch the lives of educators all over the world.

In reading that passage, I saw an image of myself surrounded by hundreds of thousands of living creatures throughout the planet, all of us with our heads upturned to the heavens, like baby birds waiting to be fed. What a beautiful vision, to see myself with eyes fixed expectantly upon the Lord, knowing that He will provide everything in due season. He will open His hand and satisfy my desires. All of our desires.

I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 5:20: For he [humankind] will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joys of his heart. And I know my task is to focus on being fruitful with those things that bring joy to my heart: teaching my students, enjoying my family and friends, loving the girls I minister to in jail, and sharing my thoughts and ideas through writing. When I'm focused on those things, I won't 'dwell unduly on the days of my life', because the focus is no longer on my life. It's on Christ. And I know that as always, He will provide everything in due season.

Guest Blog Post: Feeding Your Own Soul

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:39:00 +0000

Last fall, I was contacted by Karen Bayliff, who was presenting at the New England Association of Christian Schools Convention and wanted to use some of the resources from The Cornerstone in her workshop. I was thrilled at the prospect of collaboration, and even more blown away by her presentation.

One session was called "I Can't Wait to Get to School" and explained how to prepare your heart, home, and classroom so that you and the students are excited about arriving each morning. This is such an important topic, with special significance for Christian teachers, and I thought you all might enjoy reading some practical information from Karen. One of her suggestions was to take time to feed your own soul, and Karen has graciously expounded on that concept here through a guest blogger devotion. If you enjoy her words, please take a moment to leave a comment on the post (if you've gotten this through your email, just click on the post title and you'll be brought to the site--at the end of the post, you'll see the comment box). Enjoy!

I've been thinking about what I do as an educator every day: Teaching...instructing...spooning out information to the young lives that sit in my classroom. I do this all day long hoping that much of it will "stick".

At night, when I finally have a few moments to myself, I take in as much of the day's news as I can assimilate. I catch radio stories at the top of the hour, the newspaper gets a scan, and anything newsworthy that catches my eye online gets devoured. My head is now full of more information than I could ever possibly use!

Often times, however, it is my soul that gets neglected. Even an obligatory reading of my daily scripture passage often may not get past my head and down into my heart. The early morning hours seem to be a particularly difficult time to thoughtfully study and ponder on the truths of the Word. At that time of day my racing mind is already filling with busy ideas and plans about the next twelve hours, and it doesn't seems to want to slow down for a spiritual feeding.

What about you? The psalmist says "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalms 119:103). Are the wonderful, awesome, sweet truths of the Word able to slowly drip down from your head to your heart and soul? Do they fortify you for the day ahead, or are the precious passages quickly forgotten as you walk out the door? Does your soul's "sugar level" stay above the danger zone, enabling you to get through a long day with the "spiritual insulin" it received in your morning devotions?

Here is an idea that may help you. Continue reading the Bible where you left off the day before. Read slowly...carefully...thoughtfully until you come to a phrase, passage or verse that really speaks to your heart. Stop right there. Allow yourself to be saturated, mind and soul, with that single truth. Then, jot the nugget down on a 3x5 index card. Stick that card on your mirror, prop it on your desk, or put it anywhere that will allow you to "snack" on that truth all day long. Glance at the morsel often and find opportunity to share your "tidbit of the day" with a family member or other believer.

By narrowing your focus, you will truly be able to meditate throughout the busy workday on a specific point of truth. Your spiritual "blood levels" will stay elevated enough to meet any demands that your day may bring your way. Later, as time allows, deeper Bible study will provide the "meat" of a spiritually balanced diet.

Psalm 34:8 tells us to "Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Let's not go out our door in the morning until we have "packed a lunch" that will carry our heart and souls through the day ahead!

Karen Bayliff grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Tennessee Temple University. She spent over 30 years raising/homeschooling 4 children and ministering as a pastor's wife, and now teaches 5th grade at Emmanuel Christian Academy in Newington, Connecticut.

If you would like to provide a devotion here as a guest blogger, please email me! I would love to share your ideas.

A big announcement...

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:53:00 +0000

Publishing my first book has been quite a learning experience that's resulted in a mixed bag of emotions and outcomes. To say I've been disappointed with the performance of my publisher is an understatement. On the other hand, I've been absolutely thrilled with the sales figures and the reception I've gotten from the education community.

Over the past few months, I've been contemplating my next step. I definitely wanted to continue marketing and promoting The Cornerstone, but not under the Xulon Press label. As I researched my other options, the path I needed to take became clear.

In January, I became the President and CEO of Due Season Press, an independent publishing house based in South Florida. The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient, and Enjoyable is our first book.

I know, right?

Starting a publishing company was not as difficult as I imagined. It basically involved buying a block of ISBNs and contracting a printer to serve as a manufacturer and distributor for the books. The process of getting Due Season Press up and running has been thrilling and actually quite effortless, in the way that meant-to-be things often are. And now, I can't begin to describe how exciting it is to see my own book with my own publishing logo on it.

Some of you have already gotten wind of the new book, and are asking about the changes. So to clarify, THIS IS *NOT* A SECOND EDITION. The only modifications to the book are the publishing logo, copyright date, and ISBN (book number). The content is exactly the same. (I don't plan to release a second edition with revised and updated content until at least 2011.) So if you purchased the 2008 version, thank you for being an early supporter, and don't worry, you're not missing out on anything new.

Re-publishing right now was necessary, because doing so gives me more creative and practical control over my book. And, quite frankly, it cuts out the middle man when it comes to earning royalties. Most people don't realize how little authors make off the sales of their own books: between $2 and $5 is typical (and my rate was definitely on the low end of that spectrum, with the exception of books I sell through my website). This is a very frustrating reality, especially since I do the vast majority of the marketing and promotion myself. Without an outside company functioning as my publisher, a much greater percentage of profits will go to the person who actually wrote the book. This is (apparently) a revolutionary way of thinking in the publishing world.

The July 2008 book is in the process of being removed from bookstore inventories, and the May 2009 book is on it's way in. Amazon and Barnes and Noble have special rights to begin carrying and selling the book prior to the official publication date (which is more or less a formality), and the book is already available in both places.

So, thanks to all of you for supporting me through your prayers, comments, emails, word-of-mouth, and book sales. This is an amazing step forward, which I wouldn't be taking if you hadn't believed in what I'm doing and encouraged me along. The Cornerstone has always been about a community of teachers sharing ideas and supporting one another, and now Due Season Press is, too.

I'll leave you with the inspiration for the publishing company's name. "Due Season Press" came to me the moment I realized I wanted to found my own company. It's based on the scripture that encouraged me throughout all of the setbacks and disappointments that came with the initial publication experience...and it's one that I've found to be inspirational in my teaching life, too.

And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
(Galations 6:9, NKJV)

Hear the Heavenly Voice

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:55:00 +0000

That's the title given to a sub-section of Hebrews 12 that I read in my Bible last night. (Who creates those subtitles, anyway? Was that really someone's job, once upon a time when this particular translation was authorized, to section off chapters and create pithy summations for each part? Sounds like a great main idea/summarizing exercise. Hmmm.)

But I digress. "Hear the Heavenly Voice" was an interesting choice for this particular sub-section. The scripture reads (all emphasis mine):

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire. (Hebrews 12:25-29)

Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also? That's deep--a little too deep for for me at 11:30 on a Sunday night. I was ready to go to sleep, but I couldn't resist checking the footnotes to find the Old Testament reference. It turns out the phrase is from a passage in Haggai, when the prophet was warning God's people of the judgment to come:

“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” (Haggai 2:6-9)

What a tremendously powerful passage. Don't miss this. God repeatedly refers to Himself as The Lord of Heaven's Armies. He is the ultimate authority and center of power. And His promise is to shake up the nations and bring all their treasures to Him. And then there will be peace.

All of creation will be shaken and removed,
so that only unshakable things will remain.

This verse stayed with me all day, and drew me back into study this evening. Now in my fully awake mode, I read the previous sub-section in Hebrews 12: 18-24 and I saw how the big picture fits together. We don't have to be fearful, as the Israelites were on Mt. Sinai. No--we come before Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with Jesus as our Mediator. God's promises are not meant to intimidate us; they are meant to inspire gratitude and awe. And it is the eloquence of these scriptures in Hebrews and Haggai that shape my prayer tonight:

I want to be an unshakable being, surrounded by things that will remain.

I want to let go of everything that prevents me from being thankful and pleasing God.

I want to worship God with holy fear and awe. I want to stay focused on the future glory of His temple.

I want to inhabit the place of peace.

May the Lord of Heaven's Armies consume me in His fire 'till there's nothing left but Him.

Dreading Monday?

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:14:00 +0000

If Monday morning's not the problem, I guarantee that there's some other upcoming event you're approaching with dread. A dentist appointment. Visiting a sick family member. A long trip that will probably involve lots of sitting around in traffic or crowds. We all have life events and small everyday moments that we don't look forward to, little black clouds of dread that hang over us in the beauty of the present moment.

Joyce Meyer recently commented that dread is a close cousin to fear. That stopped me in my tracks, because I know where fear comes from. Most of us don't think about dread being a sin, but when you consider it, dread can't possibly be a Godly attitude. There's really no question about who would want to influence us with feelings of apprehension and make us feel reluctant to do the things we're called to do. That's right, dread is one of the enemy's weapons in spiritual warfare.

We tend to think that dreading something is okay because it's such a common response to tasks we believe will be unpleasant: we dread writing lesson plans, meeting with difficult parents, reprimanding children for unruly behavior, sitting through lengthy meetings...the list is endless! (Is it any wonder some of us are so miserable in our daily lives when all we do is think about the next unpleasant event?) But just because a human emotion comes naturally doesn't mean that it edifies us, or that it should be excused. The Bible tells us to cast down EVERY wrong thought and take EVERY thought captive.

God's been showing me that an attitude of dread will only prevent me from experiencing joy and getting satisfaction out of my daily life. It's a self-defeating thought pattern that destroys people from the inside and tears down everyone we come in contact with, especially the ones closest to us and the little ones of whom we're in charge.

Thinking about something that you dread taints the present; it keeps you in a negative state of mind in which you're actually anticipating something unpleasant instead of enjoying the moment. And when the dreaded event finally arrives, your pervasive thought pattern has set you up to have a disagreeable and complaining spirit throughout the experience and even afterward as you grumble and whine to everyone who will listen. Gee, God's REALLY getting the glory in your life now!

You've probably heard it said that 90% of what we spend time worrying about never comes to pass. I also believe that 90% of what we dread turns out not to be as bad as we'd anticipated. And in the other ten percent of cases, the experience is so horrible because the feelings of dread have actually intensified and escalated the problem.

The most powerful way to stop those feelings of dread is to recognize them as the sins they are: attitudes of worry, fear, ingratitude, and resistance towards Godly responsibilities and commandments. From there, we can recondition our minds to live fully in the present moment, content that the future is in God's hands.

Sure, I need to set my alarm for 6:45 a.m. on Monday. I need to deal with that disruptive child. And when 3:00 comes, I need to go home and clean my house. I'm not particularly looking forward to any of those events. But I'm not dreading them. I'm focused on this moment here, curled up in bed beside my cat and my laptop, with God speaking to my heart as I share these words with you. When Monday comes, God will give me the grace to experience each of these 'dreaded' events with a cheerful and joyful heart, secure in the knowledge that I'm exactly where He wants me to be.

A Prayer for the Nation

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:55:00 +0000

Rick Warren has been a controversial figure as of late. Personally, I was thrilled that Obama chose him for the inaugural prayer because I can feel Warren's sincerity in his speeches and books, and I believe he is a man who truly tries to follow God's Word. Warren's prayer yesterday did not disappoint: I had tears streaming down my face as he spoke to our Father. His sentiments were perfect, his phrasing flawless. This opinion may not be a popular one, but the things of Christ usually aren't.

Here are the words to the prayer, in it's entirety, as found here.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.

History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

This will be my prayer for our nation, as well. Let's do everything in our power to further the feelings of unity and goodwill that we experienced yesterday.

Dancers Who Dance Upon Injustice

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring Your hope
Songs that bring Your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice
-"Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" by Delirious

(Video embedded above)

Wednesday night my friend and I went to a new ministry at our church for people in their 20's and 30's. It's called Eikon, which is the Greek word meaning 'image' (as in, transformed into the image of Christ). The worship time included the song above, which amazingly I had never heard before. WOW. That's powerful!

The lyrics have stuck with me all week. What a beautiful thought...why NOT dance upon injustice? We know that God is going to right all wrongs, so we are free to dance. Our confidence is in HIM, and He's already formulated a plan for vindication before we even realize we've been wronged.

I have much more to share on this topic...stay tuned...and in the meantime, my prayer is for you to experience the peace and freedom of DANCING even in troubled times...

Stick to the Compass

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:19:00 +0000

"He who is slave to the compass, is master to the seas."

Huh? was my first thought when I heard that quote. It was a random, passing line I heard on TV.

But the more I thought about it, the more it resonated with me. When we are slaves to our teaching standards, we are masters of our instruction. Once you have memorized your grade level expectations and learned to keep your goals tightly focused on them, you are truly free to teach however your students learn best. If you keep to the compass--the pacing guide, the list of skills-- then you can navigate the world of instruction in those skills with as much creativity as you want. If the goal is telling time to the nearest minute, you can use dry erase boards, miniature clocks, worksheets, texts...whatever you want. You are master of your classroom.

Similarly, when we are slaves to Christ, we are masters over everything in our lives. There is no bondage. We can stick to what we know is true and unchanging in Jesus and navigate our way in the world freely, confident that we will never become lost when we follow the guidelines He provides. When we submit fully to what we know is true in God's compass for us--the Bible--we have immeasurable liberty.

And...we're back in class.

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:17:00 +0000

My "Not Waiting For a New Year" resolutions:

Get passionate about educational reform again.

Refuse to be a pawn in a system that doesn't understand real learning.

Stop relying on test prep and start preparing really engaging lessons.

Seriously. Put some effort in.

Get off the internet and grade some papers.

Use those assessments to drive the following day's instruction.

Go to bed earlier.

Don't get up in the morning without asking--and receiving in prayer--the fruit of the Spirit.

Walk in love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faith, self control.

Show less frustration when kids act inane and immature.

FEEL less frustration when kids act inane and immature.

Ask more higher level questions.

Listen more.

Talk less.

Smile.

Love the kids like they're my own.

The Post Of Christmas Past

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:12:00 +0000

Last year's Christmas devotion was entitled An Untraditional Christmas. If you weren't checking out the site back then (or just don't remember!), take a look. We typically start reading the Christmas story in the Bible at Luke 2, but there are some amazing and often overlooked lessons in that first chapter.

However you choose to do so, remember to contemplate the incarnation. May the joy of Christ's birth fill you and complete you this Christmas!

5 Keys to Christmas Joy

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:53:00 +0000

Because of all the commercialism, meaningless traditions, and endless stream of obligations that come with the holidays, I'm usually less than thrilled by the onset of the season. December for me has always meant an exhausting and expensive whirlwind of activity that constantly taunts me by waving the spirit of Christmas in my face, while simultaneously preventing me from experiencing it. Yes, I am the living Scrooge.

But. Something has been different this year. To my great surprise, I've been totally and completed captivated by Christmas.

The outpouring of God's love through the birth of His Son has been so clearly evident that I am at a loss for for words. I am speechless as I contemplate the truth of who our God really is. And for that reason, I haven't posted anything about Christmas. How can I describe this amazing experience and--more to the point--explain how it can be obtained?

Then I stumbled across the 5 Keys to Christmas Joy, and I realized, Christmas has finally become something meaningful for me this year because I followed five simple keys. There were five things I did without even being conscious of doing them, and these keys completely transformed the Christmas experience for me. Looking back now, I see that every year I neglected one or more of these five things, and that's why Christmas always left me wanting. Christmas joy is not elusive. It's simply a matter of taking the time to:

#1: Contemplate the incarnation.

I have had many wonderful opportunities to do this, thanks to the numerous concerts and plays presented by local churches. Two of the most sacred experiences were the 25th Annual Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant and A Not So Silent Night concert. How incredible it is to reflect on the birth of our Savior!

#2: Consistently practice the spiritual disciplines.

It's easy to slack off in December, but my church attendance is way up. I'm always amazed at how much my spiritual life improves by attending at least one service a week. I've also been reading the book of I Kings with a fervor. That sounds strange, I know, but God has really laid the story of Elijah on my heart, and I'm learning so much. (More posts about that to come!)

#3: Serve and give to others.

I'm looking forward to joining in on my fiancee's family tradition of serving at a homeless shelter over the holidays. What an incredible bonding experience that will be! I also really enjoyed the Christmas party we threw for the girls at the jail I serve at. We had pizza (which some of the girls haven't had in months), karaoke, an inspiring guest speaker, and a time of gift giving. One of the young ladies said, "Y'all made this Christmas even better than last year. And last year I was with my family." Wow. (By the way, this particular photo is of imprisoned Christians in Indonesia, faithfully worshiping God despite persecution.)

#4: Meditate on God and share your experience as an overflow of His love.

With all the negative talk and commentary in the world right now, it's so refreshing to spent time sharing what God has done with friends and family. I've had the opportunity to do this many times in the past few weeks, most notably over coffee after a Worship Night at church and at the Winterfest Boat Parade the following evening. What a beautiful time to relax and enjoy the beauty around me.

#5: Turn every gift into an opportunity to adore and glorify God.

My parents and I walked around their neighborhood recently, looking at Christmas lights. That was such a precious night, spent talking and laughing and reflecting on holidays past. My mom shared some of the ways she and my father have been able to bless other people with gifts, and we were all so taken with the privilege of being able to give.

It is my prayer that the next two weeks for you will be a time of Christmas joy. You have a break from your full-time job as a teacher, which gives you an opportunity to focus on God and the people and tasks He's divinely placed in your life. I encourage you to stay focused on the 5 keys during your Christmas break. Let these coming days be a time to contemplate who God is, draw nearer to Him, and serve out of an overflow of His love. Have an incredible, Christ-filled Christmas!!

Procrastinator's Christmas Sale!

angela@TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com (Angela) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:45:00 +0000

Order "The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient, and Enjoyable" for yourself, a friend, family member, or coworker for only $19.99 plus S/H! Regular price is $26.99. Sale lasts from 12/13-12/19. Guaranteed to arrive on or before 12/24, and all books are shipped via Priority Mail (2-3 day delivery time) within 24 hours of receiving payment. Click here for ordering info.