Trust, Rest, and Enjoy the Fruits of the Spirit

Joy

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are

pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

God is so good to us to have preserved His Word that day by day we can get unfailing encouragement and instruction. Today you are training children. Look at the help you get from the Psalm. You or a student may be thinking, “I don’t feel or have much joy today.” At once you see, in the clear instruction in this verse where to get it! I just love that about God’s Word. Clear and helpful instruction ever present to meet your need.

Knowing why

Recently I was talking to a young lady about abortion. I enjoyed her fervor and her heart’s desire to know and

honor God. I asked her why she opposed it. She had good, thoughtful comments:

“It is wrong to murder.”

“You can see early in the pregnancy that a real human life is there.”

“God is in charge of life.”

We continued our discussion, talking about life in general — even the life of her pet.

Then I asked her if she thought there might be a deeper root to the abortion issue. She paused. Was eager. “Explain what you mean,” she said. I said that maybe we should consider that each person, born and pre-born has the image of God. We know that definitely because God told us. (Gen. 1:27)

Wow! Now we can see more clearly what is going on. Abortion is part of the big fight of all ages — good vs.

evil, Satan attempting to destroy or belittle God.

God creates all of life but only the human life is in HIS IMAGE.

This helps us better understand our culture — a fine for killing a baby eagle; laws protecting the killing of a baby human.

Struggling

Usually when we are struggling, it is in one area and ten or more areas are little or no struggle. The area of struggle zaps all of your energy and probably our time. Suggestions about that:

• Give some pause to the struggle. During this time of pause, pray and stay alert. Often God uses something or someone to help you focus and make progress.

• Pray specifically — as: “Is this the right time for us to be studying that?”

• Use positive language — not false, self-edifying language but language that connects you with truth. Examples:

1)”We know answers are coming in [struggle] for us but for now we will really zoom through this history” – or any non-struggle.

2) ”You know that we are all gifted differently and God is the one who creates gifts for us. We will agree with God and accentuate the gifts He’s given you.” List those and take your next academic step.

• When you return to the area of struggle, saturate yourselves with God’s purpose in struggle and suffering. Learning this at this age is a great advantage! Then begin steps to finish the course: Easier text, tutor, dividing the assignment AM and PM, student teaching, oral book or whatever is needed.

Keeping to the main point

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

I think educators (those who teach) are both challenged and excited with the phrase, “with all your mind.”

Surely that means with all that we think or do with our minds.

In Championship Christian Education the emphasis is always to bring the Gospel and the glorious nature of God

into all that we teach.

Consider this for older students:

• Encourage praying before a boring or very difficult assignment. Ask God to show you what good He sees in this assignment. Ask Him to reveal how what you are doing with this boring/difficult stuff shows anything about who He is.

• When an assignment looks easy and you soar beyond expectations, begin listing what God did or is doing to author your soaring.

• Choose any specific part of an assignment, such as one math problem, a scientific thought or a plot in literature. Pause and notice if you can see how God is connected to that specific part of your assignment. Share what you discover.

Authority — The roots

Just today I read, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and those who do

will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2

Maybe this is the perfect season to discuss in your school what these verses mean. Use specific illustrations about honoring elected officials, purpose of taxes, laws that protect, and your family’s specific interests, such as the role of parents.

Move into discussing the difference between refusing to pay taxes because you disagree with how the money is used and paying taxes yet disagreeing with uses.

Your lesson, of course, must include being willing to stand against any directive that clearly and specifically violates God’s teaching.

Rest

Did you ever stop to think that an autumn campfire is one way to rest?

Watch it burn until just the embers remain. Sit quietly. List blessings from your day, your life. Let the darkness

with the small glow wrap you as a blanket. Imagine all of your concerns in the capable hands of your caring Father.

If a campfire is not restful to you, no matter how much effort you put in trying to force rest, then consider a

dim lit corner in your special room. Sit. List blessings. Read praise verses. And thank God that His is both able

and willing to solve what you find unsolvable.

Know this: The highest level of resting is knowing for certain that your God, your Savior, your indwelling Spirit is working to bring all things together for good. You take a deep breath and affirm before God that you absolutely trust Him in all things.

Love, Becky