Peppermint teacher...but is it more...

So I just had this written...and it deleted! AGH! So I try again!

This year I became the "peppermint teacher" but no more because I love gum and am not supposed to chew it anymore so I have peppermints on my desk. It didn't take long before my students began wanting some and I thought how great a small blessing would be to my students. I wasn't sure how I would use this but it has became a teachable lesson to me with my relationship with Christ. I hope to relate it to a teachable lesson to my students also at the end of the year. My rules to which just kind of happened...If a student asks then he/she gets a peppermint. Sometimes, I do say "No" either they didn't ask appropriately and/or the timing just isn't right during class.

So this week while I was doing my Bible study I came across this scripture JAmes 1:5-8. (5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.)

Here are my thoughts:
1. Just as we are to Ask God who gives generously...my peppermints are normally given generously...but not always...sometimes I do say No because it isn't the right time or not the best for them. How often do we hear NO! when it is just not the right time for us, there is better for us out there, or our prayer might hurt us. Hmmm?

2. If the student does not ask appropriately or mumbles...I will wait til they believe and not doubt themselves. They knwo they have to ask again because I look real confused on purpose. (Now I know God always knows our requests but how often do you think he wants us to BELIEVE when we pray?)

3. Also I have students who will ask for a peppermint for his/her friend because the friend is not around. How often do we pray for our friends because they do not what to say or are not around to pray.

25 RAndom Things...

Rules: Once you have been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right corner of the app) then click publish.1. My pajamas never match.2. I only fold clothes when I am clean. I will only put clothes in the washing machine when i am dirty (not right out of the shower) then change them to the dryer when I am clean as well.3. I take a bath/shower before I got to bed so I will be clean when I get in clean sheets. If I go to bed without being clean then I wash my sheets the next day.4. I hated my mom's spaghetti and told her not to cook again...we only use Ragu. She hasn't. I still have yet to figure that out. (I hurt her feelings)5. I hate to read for comprehension but I love to read. I didn't read books in school like I was suppose to.6. Math makes my heart happy. I have wanted to teach Jr High math since I was in jr high. I actually cried in my interview for my first job because I was so passionate about it.7. I love making a different in young people's lives especially junior high kids and girls of any age. This is my passion.8. I miss being dropped off by Mom for school and being picked up by Papa Red. Those were the days when everything was ok.9. My favorite drink is a Strawberry/Coke Icee. (the coldest drink in town)10. I got my license when I was 15 but didn't start driving til I was almost 16.11. My best friend in high school was also named Amy. We were Amy Squared. Though we do not talk often we can pick right back off where we ended.12. My middle name is Mamaw's, Mom's and mine. It stops with me. I hate it. 12. I also do not like my first name because there were so many Amy's growing up that I could never be just Amy. I was always Amy S. (Mom loves the name Amy...and dreamed having a little girl named Amy.)13. My grandparents and parents are my heros.14. I became a Christian when I was 8 and was baptized on Mother's day. I surrendered to the ministry when I was in high school.15. I grew up in the same church that my grandparents met in and my mom grew up in.16. I have wanted to be a teacher since first grade.17. Nobody loves me more than my Papaw. (Nobody can ever love you as much as your family. I've learned that the hard way.)18. I HATE apples and bananas.19. I love to sing but will sing infront of you.20. I have two brothers that are much taller than me! Try 6 feet and growing and 6'5".21. I am on my way to be the next "27 dresses" girl. (I either have too many best friends, can't say no, or they are desperate.)22. I love antiques and crosses.23. Jewelry/Accessories are a HUGE deal to me. You will never see me without some form of jewelry on. Most of jewelry are heirlooms from my family.24. I love M&Ms and Skittles. They will always put a smile on my face.25. My relationship with Jesus is everything to me. I am very blessed to be loved as He loves and know that His grace is sufficient to me.

Believing in Miracles

Tonight I had the urge to write again...sometimes I get the urge to write like devotions or something...but here are my thoughts. Let me know what you think.

In your life have you ever been where you can't see God and you would like to know what He is up to? You have been praying, praying, praying, and you can't see what He is doing. You feel as if he is doing nothing and/or not hearing you. You are tired everything around you seeming to cave in and you feel as if you can't take it anymore? This list here could go on and on...

That is exactly where I am today. This past semester of school I have been praying for so many different situations...healing, illnesses, family, friends, relationships, jobs, coworkers, students around me and I feel/felt as if nothing is happening. I feel as if there are no miracles being done, no prayers being answered, no step in a new direction, no guidance...almost as if there is no higher power.

Then 2 nights ago I had the urge to read back in my journal just to see what life was like a year ago, 6 mths ago, 1 month ago, 1 week ago, etc...and I was able to see God's faithfulness and His miracles all around. Lately I have had some very eager prayers on my heart for healing for those around me and extra strength in me...but I was reminded these are being answered. These people I am praying for...myself included...had another day to live, another day to grow, another day period. These people I am praying for stepped ahead in life...are fighting the good fight. These people I am praying for...God is touching their lives...even if it isn't visible to the naked eye. You know how I know this...because they are not the same person and I am not the same person I was a year ago. We are not the same as we were 6 months ago. We are not the same we were 1 month ago. I was able to see God's faithfulness in carrying me through life's trials. I was able to see God giving me strength to fight when I didn't want to fight any longer.

I was also reminded yesterday of this verse that I have read and quoted so many times "Jesus said, 'What is impossible with men is POSSIBLE with GOD.'" Luke 18:27

So my question I ask you...What area of your life are you lacking believing in because you aren't seeing the visible miracle or the BIG miracle? What can you give to God so you can have peace again? What can you do today to look back in a month and say that changed my life?

My answer: I am not going to quit praying. I am not going to quit surrendering. I am not going to quit trusting. I am not going to quit living. I am not going to quit believing...because with MY GOD all THINGS are possible!