The Good Samaritan Law

   One day I was at a first aid class, because I am a teacher I have to take them, and the instructor asked, "what is the Good Samaritan Law?" I had just raised my hand to answer when the instructor called on someone else. She said that the law protects you if you walk by someone who is hurt. The instructor said, "no, actually it protects you from the person you help from taking legal action against you, if you try to help the him/her."
   My first thought was it somewhat made sense that she thought that was what the law said. I mean, in the story of the Good Samaritan the Priest and the Levite both passed by the man. But, the whole point of the story is that we are not to be like them. We are to be like the Good Samaritan. If we were to be like the Priest or the Levite it would be called the "Holier than thou Law" (JK somewhat).
   Next I thought about how this proves that people have their priorities way out of line nowadays. People would rather walk away from those in need than get involved. Why is that? We don't want to get messy, or take time out from our busy schedules. We, like the Priest, think "this person is not worth my time." What if you were the person in need? Would you want someone to take time then? Yes, you would.
   Matthew 7:12 says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." We have laws in our country we are to follow but we also follow the Bible. The Greatest commandment in the Bible boils down to love God and the second boils down to love others. If we love God and love others we will do what we can to help them. If you were hurt you would want that person who is late for a meeting to stop and help you, right? Why can't you stop to help that person in need?
   So, the next time you see someone in need will you be like the Priest or like the Good Samaritan? What can you do to help someone today?

   James 2:8 and Leviticus 19:18

   Image from here. 

The Power of Words

   Once I was a young college student. I had just been through my first year of collegiate soccer and I was about to start my second year. I was the only goalie and I had just gone through a rough first year of soccer. I was still trying to gain confidence in the abilities God gave me. I felt more confident than the prior year, which was good.
   The bad thing was we had just played in a scrimmage that we lost 6-0. I felt I did my best and that the goals that were scored were good shots. Thus, I was feeling a little down, but not terrible.
   The team had just finished going through warm ups before practice. Then the coach began to talk about the game. He asked different people what they thought about it. Then he asked one of our captains to say something positive about the game.
   Up until that point many of the comments were negative. This captain did not typically say positive things. She asked if she could single someone out. The coach said yes. She pointed to me and said she thought I did a really good job. She said I had improved since last year and she was impressed. Then we went back to practicing.
   Do you think that during that practice I slacked off? No, I worked even harder than usual. Typically, we start out working hard in something because we want to glorify God. Then we begin to slow down for different reasons. It just becomes routine. However, with a little encouragement, we get back into the groove. Encouragement helps us feel like we are making a difference.
   At a different time in soccer my team had a meeting. Our captains said, "who here does not like to be encouraged? Raise your hand." Of course, none of us raised our hands. That's because we all like encouragement. Words have power. Actions have power. We may make a compliment in passing but it may mean the world to someone who is having a really rough day.
   So, I encourage you to try to encourage someone today. Think to yourself: "how can I show someone God's love today?" That will help you focus on encouraging others.

   1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Ephesians 4:29

   Image from here.

One Day: A Graduation Post

One day a preschooler was playing with blocks at school

He loved to sit and talk with his friends at lunch while sitting on a stool.

He loved to run around the playground

He liked to laugh and yell, but now we no longer hear that happy sound.

This preschooler was to graduate and go to the school where big kids go

He will still go to big kid school but we will miss seeing part of him grow.

One day a high school senior was riding with her friends

She loved just being with them because they were people on whom she could depend.

She liked to read new books and enjoyed learning new things,

But now it feels like something may have just clipped her wings.

This high schooler was to graduate and go to college

She will still go to college but for the last part of high school she won’t be able to see her friends and learn as much knowledge.

One day a college senior was sitting in class

She enjoyed learning about her major; it made her feel like she was headed for first class.

She loved work at her job and to play sports

But now, for some reason, she may feel out of sorts.

This college senior was to graduate from college and go out to share her knowledge many places,

She will still earn her degree and graduate; but, for the last part of her senior year, she will miss seeing her college friends’ faces.

   Thus far 2020 has been an interesting year. We had about 2 months of what seemed like regular life, and then it all came crashing down. COVID-19 has taken our jobs, health, freedom, and probably much more. Now, it has taken away the chance for people I know to walk across a stage, or a platform, and show their friends and family that they completed something really big.

   No matter where you are in life, graduation symbolizes the closing of a chapter. Sure, you will probably still talk to your friends from the old chapter but things will probably never be the same. Graduation helps you open a new chapter. You will get to move on to new places and meet new people.

   I am a preschool teacher and a coach. I know many preschool students, high schoolers, and college students who will not get a traditional graduation. They may never have what some of us have had. But that also gives them a choice.

   The graduates can choose to be bitter about not getting something they were probably looking forward to, or they can choose to rise above it. I have seen many of these people I know rise above this challenge. Are they still upset? Sure, they may still be upset. But, they know that being upset will not change this situation. They are following the words of Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

   In this case, instead of the word “them” we can insert the word “it.” We should not be afraid of this virus. Yes, it has the ability to take away our health and even our lives but we have someone we can trust in. God is with us. God has a plan. If God is for us who (or what) can be against us? We may not like our current situation. BUT, we can rise above it. We can choose to lean on God because he is always with us.

   So, will you choose to rise above this situation? Will you trust in God and his plan?

Congratulations to the class of 2020, whether you are in preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, or college you have achieved a huge accomplishment. I pray that you will trust in God during this difficult time and remember that he is always with you.

   Image from here. 

Continuing Through the Pressure

   One Sunday morning I got up and went to church. The worship leader had just made the announcements and asked that we quite our hearts for worship. The piano player begin to play. Then, all of the sudden, "BANG, BANG, BANG." It sounded like a gun had gone off. People began to look around frantically. I looked around at all of the exits as I covered my ears. There was no one there. Then I looked back at my dad, who was at the sound system. He and my brother were frantically trying to shut off one of the microphones. Finally they shut it off. People began to laugh after that and we continued on with the service.
   The noise only lasted about 30 seconds, but tensions were high for those 30 seconds. I honestly thought someone had walked in with a gun it was that loud. After 5 seconds I realized what it was because I had worked with the sound system before. I also realized something else. The piano player kept playing throughout this experience. She didn't stop even though she had jumped as well. She didn't stop playing because she knew what her job was. She didn't stop because she trusted God.
   Many times when we go through times of pressure or problems we forget to trust God. We stop doing our job, which is to obey God. We stop doing our job, which is to trust God. Yes, the little song we heard as children: "trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus" is just as true today. The piano player obeyed God by playing the piano. The piano player trusted that God would protect her so she kept playing.
   What about you? Do you obey God and trust in him no matter what? What do you do when the pressure is on? Do you continue to follow God or do you fall away?

   Proverbs 3:5-6 and Romans 8:28

   Image from here. 

Where's Your Heart?

   A few years ago I taught a kindergarten class. One of my favorite subjects to teach is Bible. I just love bringing Bible stories to life for kids. Not only that, but helping students apply those stories to their lives is just a joy to me.
   I've taught Bible lessons before I worked at this school. I was a Sunday school teacher, taught Vacation Bible School lessons, and lessons at camp. But, teaching at this school was different. I taught Bible lessons every day at school and went deeper into those stories with the kids. Each story I taught I started to see a common thread: everything comes back to the heart.
   Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Why? They disobeyed because their heart was not for God at that time. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son. Why? He was willing because his heart was for God. Saul killed Christians until he met Jesus on Damascus road. Then he started to preach the Gospel. Why? Saul's heart originally wasn't for God. Then his heart changed, he repented, and he started to preach the Gospel because his heart was for God.
   Each of these stories teach us many lessons but my heart started to change while I was teaching too. I have always tried to do what God calls me to do, even when it's not easy. That year many times when I was teaching Bible I wasn't just talking to my students, I was also talking to myself.
   Have you ever had that feeling when you heart starts beating faster and louder, you keep on talking though you may not know exactly what you are going to say next, and after you say what you said you are thinking "how did I do that? Where did those words come from?" Those words did not come for you, they came from God. And, those words may be talking to you as well.
   The words that come out of your mouth lets people know exactly where your heart is. If you are asked to help volunteer somewhere and you say, "I can't I have to get some things done at home." Then you just sit on the couch all day. Where is your heart? If you are asked to go to a special event at a church, and instead you go out to eat, where is your heart? If you lie, cheat, steal, etc. To gain things for yourself, where is your heart?
   God lets you know exactly where your heart is by testing you. If you feel like you are not having good conversations with God like you used to then your heart probably is not in the right place. What can you do to continue to have your heart in the right place? God tells us in the Bible: read the word, pray to him, and trust in him. That's the way that your heart will be for God. That's how we can be like those in the Hall of Faith. That's how we can reach others for Him.
   So, where is your heart at? Do you have a good relationship with God? What can you do to keep having a heart for God?

   Ezekiel 36:26, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:21

   Image from here. 

Redemption of Ant-man

   Years ago a movie called Ant-man came out. There is a man named Scott Lang in the movie. He just got out of jail. He was in jail because he stole money from the company he worked for. He was looking for a real job to reset his life. Once he earned a certain amount of money his wife would let him see his daughter. Scott has trouble finding a job because of his criminal past. He lies about who he is in order to get a job but is found out and gets fired. He has a friend who also has a criminal past. This friend tells him about a job where he could get easy money by stealing something that was in a safe at an older man's home. At first, Scott says no. But, eventually Scott gives in to temptation. Scott goes in the house where his friend said there is a huge safe. After much work, he cracks the safe. In the safe and all that is there is a suit. This leads him on a journey that he wasn't expecting. He has a choice he can continue to live life as a criminal, or he can become a hero and help others.
   What I find interesting about this story is it is a story of redemption. Scott messed up because he tried to right a wrong by stealing money from the company he worked for, since they were stealing from others. He wanted to stop being a criminal and start a new life. He wanted to be a hero to his daughter. Scott chose to go down the right path and became a hero. He could have easily gone back to being a criminal, it was what everyone was expecting. But, he chose the harder path. He worked hard to become a hero and made a difference in many people's lives.
   What about you? We all have hard choices. Maybe you think you are making the right choice because it's the easy one. The right path is not always the easiest. Many times the right path takes you down a hard road, but it's also worth it in the end. Do you have hard choices to make now? Will you choose to do the right thing even if it's hard?

   Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 2:20, James 4:17

   Image from here.

So Little Time: A Mother's Day Blog

   Imagine you wake up early, get dressed, eat breakfast, spend time with God, and relax for a bit in the morning. Then, you hear a bump. You begin to get goosebumps and you cringe. It is about to begin. Here they come: the children! They come running and bumping down the stairs. There is yelling, fighting, music blaring, and much more. This is the life of a mom.

   I’m kidding, sort of. Ha, I’m not a mom but I do have one. I am also a teacher so in a way I am like a mom to my students. And, if you are a mom, your house may not look like the one I just described. It may be better, or it may be worse. I know that no matter what your home life looks like you will probably be stressed at some point. It may even seem like there just is not enough time in the day.

For those of you who are not moms or do not work with children, here is a video describing everything a mom says in a 24 hour period but in 2 minutes and 55 seconds.

   Wow, that song was impressive. But, what is more impressive is all that mothers do in a short time. Time is a valuable thing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Time has a way of changing things. Children are born, they grow, and they leave the nest. That’s just the way things tend to work. We never know how much time we will have with someone. That’s why we need to be thankful for the time we do get with them.

   Today, I encourage you to send a message to your mother thanking her for all she has done for you. Mothers I encourage you to be thankful for the time you have with your little ones. They grow up so fast.