Weekly Verse: 12/29

As 2013 comes to a close and this is the last Sunday of the year, I post my last verse(s). 

But before I do, let me take you through this 52 week journey. I started this journey with the idea of simply memorizing a verse and sharing it weekly. I quickly realized that an anecdote, along with the verse helped me with memorization. 

After a few weeks, I realized that I didn't just want to memorize verses but use each "weekly scripture" as a message. I would spend so much time reading His word and searching for the perfect verse or verses to go along with what I was going through that past or upcoming week.  As a result my relationship with Christ has become stronger than ever!

If you need a New Year's resolution may I suggest this: Dig deeper into the Word! Read a few verses each week, memorize a verse each month, read the entire Bible! But dig into your faith, you'll be amazed at how much it changes your life! 

My verses for this week are part of my prayers for each of you as you enter into the new year.  God bless you and Happy New Year. 

Paul's Prayers for Spiritual Wisdom:

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength (Ephesians 1:15-19 NIV)

Weekly Verse: 8/18

For the past 10 years, the night before school starts (for teachers anyway) has always been an exciting time. Getting to see faces that you haven't seen since June and catching up, while feeling re-energized and pumped to start the year. However, this year feels different. Teachers have been attacked for the last few years, but even more so this year. Leading in to tomorrow, the atmosphere is different. Some teachers have already left the profession because they are not valued, some are hanging on by a single thread, and there are some who are still excited to start the year.

Teachers are of a different breed. They love and care for your children as their own. They buy school supplies for those who can't afford them; they provide snacks or lunch for those same children (and for those who simply forgot). Let me be clear, no teacher went into the profession thinking he or she would be rewarded with a huge paycheck. However, when I entered teaching it was a revered profession. One that was highly reputable and respected.

Since January of this year, teachers have been attacked over and over again. Our state legislature has proven that they do not value education and teachers have fought back as hard as they can. Over the summer more articles have been shared on FB than I have ever seen regarding teacher salary, job security, and the investment in education. I have read some nasty comments and hateful remarks about teachers and education from the public and it is heartbreaking to think that some folks think so little of these professionals.

Our schools and educators need prayer more than ever before. There are teachers who are going to barrel through the doors ready to fight against the stigma and show what teaching is all about! But there are some, who feel defeated and there are others who will start to deflate as the school year progresses. Please pray for our schools, our teachers, our students, and our government.

This week's verse focuses on teaching: "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8, ESV)