Farewell Summer

Farewell summer! Can you hear me bidding you farewell? You were fun, you were full, and now it is time for you to go, and take the heat and humidity with you.

I am grateful for a summer loaded with work, rest, and fun. There was no break between the end of the school year and the beginning of Summer School…no time to take a breath. We were whisked from academics to academics with just a brief weekend in between. I truly enjoyed teaching newcomers from around the world, how to speak English during those brief four weeks.

When Summer School ended, I had intended to have Denton in my rear view mirror, and to take my annual trek to New Mexico to see my sister and other family who live there, but, instead I was restricted to Denton for the summer as I tended to “ouchy” dental issues. God is good – through it all, I was able to spend the rest of the summer (5 weeks) having lots of long slow mornings, drinking in my time with God and his nature all around me. My days were also filled with friends, family, and of course time with my precious “grands”. Sprinkle among all that, a few workshops and it made for a very full summer.

A new school year has begun, and I am teaching a new grade this year – Third Grade, Bilingual. Yep – I teach mostly in Spanish, and at the same time am trying to get my sweet students into English. Third graders are the most precious children! I love their innocence, their eagerness, their tenderness. It is a huge challenge teaching them -- and God gives me exactly what I need each day to meet that challenge.

This week, I got to give my testimony at The Village Church, Denton, on Tuesday night. I am in awe at how God has rescued me, over and over, and has brought me to this place where I can walk intimately with Him. I’ll tell you what though, as I live each day, I find that it is constantly filled with trials and unexpected twists and turns.

As I was reading the bible this week, God showed me John 16:33 – I am not alone, for the Father is with me…In me you may have peace. In the world you WILL have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world. (Jesus speaking…)

Living in this world is a battle, a spiritual battle, over your heart – over my heart. There is an enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Can’t you see it all around us; in the news, in families and homes, on the streets, in our own hearts?

Below….is the last page of my testimony….

Christ has also shown me that I cannot fight this battle alone, but that I need strong warriors to battle alongside me.

The Old Testament Book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. Walls provide boundaries and protection from the enemy. The city was vulnerable without the wall intact.
Within this account, I clearly see how it parallels the process of rebuilding a life. Without walls and boundaries we too are vulnerable to attack from the enemy. And, as Nehemiah couldn’t build the wall alone – neither can we.
Nehemiah 2:20 says….. The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding the wall.
…and….v. 28…Each one repaired the section immediately across from his own house.

Of course, when they started rebuilding the wall, their enemy taunted them. Chapter 4:2 says..…”Sanballat was very angry when he heard that we were rebuilding the wall…he flew into a rage…saying,” what does this bunch of poor feeble Jews think they’re doing?…Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap – and charred ones at that?”

And that is what the enemy tries to fool us into thinking – that we can’t….
…and v. 9 says “But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.
And v.14…Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes!”

And they all returned to work on the wall and while some worked, others stood guard. The whole time they worked they carried their weapons with them, and when a brother was in trouble…
v. 20 says……”When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!

It is soooo important that as we are rebuilding the walls of our lives, that we constantly run to God, that we have a group of warriors that we do life with that will pray for us and hold us accountable. And when the enemy is attacking, we need to sound the trumpet – today, that may look more like texting your friends to immediately pray with you….to remind you of God’s promises in the scriptures, and to phone or meet with you to hold you up.
“…and our God will fight for us…”

And, most important of all…..I am constantly reminded, that Jesus paid the price for all my sins. That He alone is righteous, and Jesus stands between the enemy and me and says, “She is mine!”

I end this testimony with …
Psalm 40: 1 – 3
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.