Dangerous Minds - True and Not True

So Dangerous Minds came on tv today and I started making a mental list of the things that were real and not so real for me and thought I'd share.

Things That Are Spot On

• There's always an Ermilio. They think you can't make them do anything, which they're right but if you get them, but once you do get them, it changes everything.
• Someone always says "these kids?"
• You need a gimmick.
• "Can you read the first two lines?" "You trippin' miss."
• The absolute mistrust of the school that will do anything good for them.
• "When you lose your sense of humor, it's over."
• Candy gets answers from kids.
• "I can't find a phone number for these kids."
• Parent Reactions - Dad's are harsh and day their kids will be punished and must do better. Mom's are worried about their babies. When you tell anyone their kids are doing well, it makes a difference (especially when they've never heard it).
• Anybody? Nobody?
• "Why do you care anyway?"
• Bribes work, but then they ask for prizes for everything.
• When you lose kids for any reason, it breaks your heart.
• Some parents really do want their kids to quit school to work instead.
• Sometimes when kids do something stupid like not knock, adults return and do something stupid like send them away and not listen and yes it does make me mad.
• I do have those kids that stand up for me and tell everyone else to get quiet and pay attention.
• Kids make it worth it.

Things That Aren't Quite True

• The administration isn't against all new approaches in the classroom.
• No xerox paper... I mean we have to get it personally a ream at a time, but we still get it.
• You don't break up fights the way she did. Just incorrect...
• Kids don't usually admit "I come from a broken home and I'm poor."
• My classroom is never left clean.
• My kids don't have any idea how much money I make.
• Most of my kids do actually care about graduating.
• They don't make you leave if you're pregnant.
• You have way more than one period to worry about.
• I can't just bring kids to my house when they need a place.
• All the white kids gathered outside the school while there are none in the classroom.

prosdokaō (pros-do-kä'-ō)

I have recently seen so many of my single, christian friends post the same four blogs/articles on Facebook about how we have such an epidemic in the church. All of them talk about how we have sold this generation of young women on the idea that God has promised us a husband and so we must wait.

The first time I read one, it encouraged me that I was not alone. The second time, I was inspired to live better. The third, something didn't quite strike my heart right. And tonight, as I read a blog, I felt rejected and shamed by it. 

Because honestly:

I want a husband. I want children. I want a family. 

To say that I have a passion for family is an understatement. 

Truth time: 

I have an embarrassingly long spreadsheet of baby names (and meanings) on my computer. I keep a running list of the best sippy cups/pacifiers/etc. in my head from many years of babysitting. 

I make faces at kids in grocery stores and restaurants. 

I pray for my future husband. I pay attention to awesome relationships and try to see what makes them work. 

And is that so wrong of me?

I have a job that I love and I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be and I live my life every day loving my King and Father and trying to love others as He does. 

I am happy.

So here is what drives me absolutely bonkers:

When God gives a young woman a passion for orphans and she works to get a degree in social work and then raises support to go live in Africa, we consider he strong, charitable, and in the will of God.

When God gives a young woman a passion to teach and she gets her degree and then goes to work in a poor school in the inner-city, she is praised for her heart and abandon for the will of God.

When God gives a young woman a passion for business and works to become the CEO of a company and then blesses those around her with her wealth, we consider her of amazing strength and will and favor.

When God gives a young woman a passion for music and she hones her craft until she is able to usher people into the presence of God as she is so in tune with His heart and is so skilled, she is praised for both her skill and her heart.

But when God gives a young woman a passion for family and tries to work toward her dream of  having a family of her own to bless and lead toward the heart of the Father, why is that unworthy of the call of God?

I realize that many young girls put a romantic relationship above the love of the Lord in their lives; but I just have to stand up for those of us who love God with all of hearts but He has placed a passion inside of us to build Godly families.

To be clear, I'm not waiting on a husband or family to walk forward in my relationship with God or to play the part He has for me in advancing His Kingdom and His love on this earth. But to say that I've stopped waiting on those things at all isn't true because they are something that God has truly given me a desire for and I don't believe God gives those passions randomly and without plans for them. 

I like waiting. Waiting on God to fulfill the dreams He's given me is a pretty regular thing.  I have got to do a lot of cool, exciting things while waiting on different things.

From Ephesians 4: 

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

There is a lot of truth that should be spoken about the need for women to put Jesus not only as our first hope but as our only hope. 

However, let's speak these truths in love, not judging and remembering that God works in ways greater than we can ever imagine and it might just be okay for some to desire, and, yes, even "wait on", a husband. It might even be what God had planned all along.

Waiting,

Sarah

paidion (pī-dē'-on)

"but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”" - Matthew 19:14

Recently, I have begun one of the greatest and most fulfilling experiences of my life: teaching. 

I cannot express how amazing to feels to be doing something I feel like I was made to do. I teach math at one of the most interesting high schools. 70-80% of my students come from families considered "economically disadvantaged", but you probably wouldn't guess that by looking at a lot of them. I constantly learn more about my kids that both shocks me as it breaks my heart but then really isn't all that surprising either. Sometimes my days are stressful, sometimes exciting, sometimes crazy, sometimes winning, sometimes losing; but here is the thing:

I love it and I am so happy.

I remember hearing a beautiful woman named Heidi Baker giving a sermon talking about how missionaries get "rewarded for how miserable they are" and I feel like a lot of time that can be true for anyone who works in public service of any kind. But Mrs. Heidi Baker lives in this place now of such joy and true happiness because she lives in the palm of the Lord.

I can sit here and list all the crazy times I've had, explain in painstaking detail how insane my kids can be, break your heart with stories of how disadvantaged my kids are and convince you of how much more I think they deserve. I can post statuses about the beautiful moments and tell you how they make it all worth it. You can tell me I'm doing such a needed service and secretly admire my so-called sacrifice. 

But in reality, you should know my secret. It's not that hard. I'm happy.

It's a weird feeling being this happy with my life. I'm not sure what that says about previous years of my life, but nothing I have done compares to the days I am currently living. The goodness of the Lord and his faithfulness, wisdom, and peace are so abundant in my life.

I don't say any of this to discount the hardships of any teachers. I believe there are many incredible teachers who were made to be teachers and still face terrible difficulties. 

Somehow I have walked into this place of such grace and perfection of leading that everything just flows and makes sense.

The title of my blog is "a different worship" and this post is "paidion" (Greek for children). It's interesting to see how worship has been so intertwined with children in my life. I have always had a heart to come to God like a child and working with my beautiful teenager, my perspective has changed again.

I called my teenagers kids a lot because they are. A lot of them are so broken, under-loved, and under-taught that they function as children. When they need attention, you know. When they need food, you know. When they've done something stupid, you know. When they need a nap, you know. My kids are honest. They are real. They may lack some tack sometimes, but if you simply ask, they will usually tell you the depths of their hearts.

This is why I love my school. Because I love to ask.

It reminds me how much God loves to ask and how much He cares. It reminds me to be like my wonderful children and just tell Him the whole load of it.

As to some up this post and my life: 

It is good. God is good. I am happy.

Some of my students' "algebra". They called the "DJ Method".
It has yet to be  proven accurate by the math community.

Texas Style Brazilian Rice

So I took an online recipe and altered it and thought I'd share :)

Feeds about 8 college students ( so probably about 10 normal people)

Ingredients

3 cups long grain rice
6 -7 cups of water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cans of chopped tomatoes
1 onion
2 green bell peppers
1-2 lbs. thinly cut steak (I used sirloin)
1/4 - 1/3 cup olive/vegetable oil
garlic salt
seasoning salt
black pepper
whatever normal steak seasoning you use

- Put bouillon cubes and water on to boil in a fairly large pot. While it is coming to a boil, chop the onion (the size depends on how you like them, I left them pretty large) and put in a skillet or small saucepan.

- When the onions are not quite clear add chopped bell peppers.

- When the onions are clear and peppers soft add the rice to the this until it is covered in oil. Let it cook just a little and add the tomatoes (drained).

- Add all of this mixture to the boiling water (w/ bouillon cubes) along with some garlic salt.

- While the water is cooking out, cut the steak into small strips and cook it in a skillet with seasoned with seasoning salt, black pepper, and whatever steak seasoning you want to add. (I would stir the rice if you don't want a bunch of burnt rice stuck to the bottom of your pot at the end; it's just such a pain to clean***)

- After all the water is cooked out (make sure to try a piece of rice to see if it tastes done), add the steak to the mix.

- I served it with corn tortillas just because I had them. You can also add cheese, guacamole, sour cream, etc to add some flavor but I thought it was delicious as is.


*** If your pot does end up with burnt rice or anything burnt on I have a found an AWESOME solution. Get some white vinegar and pour it in the pot. Now you have too choices: 1) boil or 2) let it sit. (If you boil it, stay clear of the stove, it'll make your eyes water more than cutting an onion) After that use one of those thin, rough, green sponge things to scrub; it'll come off way easier. If it's really stubborn, I've read somewhere to make a paste of water and baking powder (or possibly soda???) and use it to scrub, but I have yet to have to do this. Happy cleaning!


Sarah

so i love how Jesus answers questions (acts 1)

so, i decided i'm going to blog my way through acts.

acts 1

reading through this, i found a section that particularly caught my attention and decided it was worth sharing my thoughts on.

acts 1:6-8

"so when they had come together, they asked Him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to israel?"

i love this because this was something that was so important to the disciples. it's that one thing that we are yearning for God to do in our lives, we all have one. Lord, will you at this time restore my family? Lord, at this time will you give me a husband? Lord, will you at this time reveal to me what i'm doing in the future? Lord, will you at this time (fill in the blank here)?

then there comes the magnificent response Jesus gives...

"He said to them, "it is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. BUT you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

i just love how Jesus is like well..... that's not really for you to know right now; HOWEVER, here is all the power and grace you need to get through anything oh and here is your kingdom destiny. BAM!

now i'm sure this must have been the most frustrating statement for the disciples to stomach because well it is the most frustrating statement for me. reading it, it's so easy to be like "JESUS JUST PROMISED YOU POWER AND DESTINY!!!!!" but from my own experience, it's so easy to be like "Jesus, ummm, excuse me but i think you misunderstood the question or maybe you just didn't hear me. see this is important and it's a good thing, something that was even promised to me in the Word, don't you that understand Jesus?" 

so basically, i just love how Jesus answers questions :)

creative leftovers

So Monday night I made this Chicken and Rice stuff that my step mom makes. I'll post her recipe; however, I just used chicken breast.


From Pam:
I cook a whole chicken (put 2 chicken boulion cubes in water while cooking chicken) season while cooking with garlic and pepper in a dutch oven on top of the stove until done. debone chicken and set aside. Reserve 2 cups of the broth.
After deboning and emptying the broth, in same pot put a little oil and 1 chopped onion, simmer until onion is clear, then add a spoon of flour and mix into the onion mixture add 2 cups broth and 2 cups milk and bring to a slow boil, add 1 can cream of musroom and 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 small jar chopped pimento and about 2 tblsp of lemon juice, (you just have to taste this until it's right), add more garlic either chopped or garlic salt and pepper, bring to slow boil again and then add chicken. Simmer for at least 30 minutes and serve over rice.


I had a lot of the "sauce" left over so last night I cooked some broccoli more rice. Mixed it all up with some cheese and BAM! Broccoli, Chicken, Cheese, and Rice Casserole. I love being a grown up. :)

Your Father is an enabler. Just so you know.

So. I received this text from a friend of mine and he was actually talking about my biological father; however, when I first read it, I thought he was talking about God and I just haven't been able to shake that. So I look up the definition for enable and found this: to provide (someone) with adequate power, means, opportunity, or authority (to do something); to make possible; to put into an operative condition by supplying a suitable input pulse. So, that sounds a lot like what God does for me. So to pass on some oddly found wisdom.


Your Father is an enabler. Just so you know.