Fantastic Book!

Usually at my job we have a required reading over the summer. Sometimes it is related to teaching and other times it is related to our lives as believers. This summer because of the transition of having a new principal we did not have a required reading. Instead we were given the option of joining a group once a week to read and discuss the book "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" by Paul David Tripp. I was excited because I had read the book in college. It was one of the few books in college that I enjoyed...mostly because it was easy for me to follow where as many of the books for my Bible classes seemed so over my head. Don't get me wrong, I know they were good books I just had a hard time following them.
I pulled out my copy that I had underlined and written notes in and dove right in. I liked the book then and I love the book now! It is fun to see the things I underlined and commented on when I was in college and see the new things I'm discovering this time around. If you haven't read the book I strongly recommend picking it up and giving it a good read.

Here are a few quotes I've grabbed onto just from reading the first 2 chapters this week and last week.

We must faithfully proclaim, "Hope is only found in Jesus Christ, the king of Kings. In Him, lasting, personal heart change is possible."

The good news of the kingdom is not freedom from hardship, suffering, and loss. It is the news of a Redeemer who has come to rescue me from myself.  

When a certain set of desires rules our hearts, we reduce prayer to the menu of human desire. Worse, we shrink God from his position of all-wise, all-loving, all-powerful Father to a divine waiter we expect to deliver everything we ask. But God will not shrink to this size. He will only be our Father and King, who "satisfies your desire with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Ps. 103:5)  

 I'm so excited to keep reading this book!!

Fall Bucket List

I was pinning a couple of fall-ish things this evening and decided that I needed to make a fall bucket list. Some of these things may be very basic to most people, but lately I've been needing a plan to get anything accomplished so here it goes!

• make a wreath
• host a fall tea
• make a crock pot meal
• bake a pumpkin pie
• jump in crunchy leaves
• make a fall sign of some sort
• drink caramel apple cider
• make a fall-ish popcorn
• walk around Spring Lake
• thankful garland

So in a few months I'm hoping that I'll be able to report that I've completed all or most of these tasks. :) With how crazy busy my life has been lately I'm not sure how I'll do, but I'll try. 

Confessions of a Combo Class Teacher - No More Drama Please!

I have to tell you, this week it feels like I barely survived. It was a hard week. There were multiple mornings this week when I woke up and thanked God for new mercies every morning. I'm so glad that God is on His throne and I can lean on Him. This week has been filled with so much drama. Today was, thankfully, much better than the rest of the week. There were a lot of smiles and hugs today. I'm so thankful for my sweet group of 2nd and 3rd graders. (and the 4th grade boys who tried to sneak in my class today because they miss me -- I am so blessed!) I'm praying that the weekend will be much more relaxed. I'm ready for no drama for a while...well except for when I watch Downton Abbey. :)