God is Able

As you get older, you learn more and more about the seasons of life.  Some seasons are bitter and brutal, others are slow and steady, some are peaceful and still, and others are enjoyable and full of bliss.  As Ryan and I have been experiencing different seasons lately, we're learning to take them for what they are and ride them out with a content heart and a teachable spirit.

These past four months we've been in the season of waiting.  It's been a season of stillness and waiting on the Lord's timing and His leading for our life.  And looking back over these past few months, I am able to see what God has done in our lives during the "waiting".  During this season we've been blessed with incredible community around us, the opportunity for Ryan to dive head first into seminary, a chance to rest and rejuvenate, a healthy church to attend, quality time to grow our marriage even stronger, and bible studies that have strengthened our trust in Jesus.

One of the greatest things I've learned and grown to trust during these months is that God is able.  He's able to do way beyond what we can even imagine.  His kingdom purposes are way beyond what we can see or begin to hope for.  Although God's character is predictable, his activity is unpredictable. And with that understanding, I've grown to be able to say that now is the time to have abundant life.  I don't have to wait for this "waiting season" to be over- for the next season of life to arrive before I experience and claim abundant life over myself and my marriage.  There's no reason to wait for a better time to start considering the ability of God.   Priscilla Shirer said it beautifully when she said, " Whether God moves is a question of His sovereignty not His ability.  What He does is His business.  Believing that He can is our business."  I don't want to be a woman who can attend church, learn about God, talk to Him, and serve Him, but not trust Him with my life.  I want to be a woman that believes that God can do way beyond what I can even begin to ask for and desire!  It's my prayer that God would continue to light a fire in my heart that grows stronger for Him through every season he walks me through. 

This song has been the cry of my heart during theses past four months of stillness and waiting:

(Verse)
Promise maker, promise keeper
You finish what You begin
Our provision through the desert 
You see it through ‘til the end 
You see it through ‘til the end

(Chorus)
The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness
You will lead us 
And forever we will say 
You're the Lord our God 

(Verse)
In the silence, in the waiting
Still we can know You are good
All Your plans are for Your glory
Yes, we can know You are good
Yes, we can know You are good 

(Chorus)
The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness
You will lead us 
And forever we will say 
You're the Lord our God 

We trust You, we trust You

So we won’t move without You
We won’t move without You
You’re the light of all and all that we need, Lord to everything
We won’t move without You
We won’t move without You
You’re the light of all and all that we need,
We trust You, God

We won’t move without You
We won’t move without You
You’re the light of all and all that we need, You will in Your hands 
We won’t move without You
We won’t move without You
You’re the light of all and all that we need, yea

(Chorus)
The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness
You will lead us 
And forever we will say 
You're the Lord our God 

And forever we will say 
You're the Lord our God 
And forever we will say 
You're the Lord our God 

You're the Lord our God 
The one we love, the one we trust
We live for You, the Lord our God

What's Your Story?

A few weekends ago, Ryan and I went with a few friends of ours to downtown Atlanta and filmed Ryan sharing his testimony.  Ryan has always loved writing- especially spoken words. God has blessed him with this talent!
Ryan decided to write a spoken word about his testimony about 8 years ago.  He found himself relating to students best by sharing the work that God has done in his life. He sat down one night and wrote out his story in spoken word form. At this time, he was working for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA in Cobb County.  He would travel from school to school and read his story as part of his messages when he was preaching to the students. He realized that reading the spoken word from a sheet of paper would have less of an impact on the students than memorizing it and sharing it from his heart.  So, he memorized it and saw the fruit soon after.  Since that time, Ryan has written many of other spoken words (which I'm sure I'll share on this blog eventually).  His testimony spoken word is by far the most powerful. I believe it's the most powerful because it's truly inspired and authored by Jesus.  It's a story of the grace and power of Jesus in Ryan's life.

What's your story?  When we share our story with others we proclaim that God is in the business of changing lives.  Our story can provide hope to those who need it desperately. Your story matters.  It's a story of God at work in your life. Jesus is beautiful! Let us share our story often.

Take a few minutes to watch Ryan's story- and let all glory and honor go to Jesus.


My Story

Keepin' It Simple

The main reason I love being a middle school teacher is the students.  They are great.  Yes, some days they can get under my skin and agitate me (which is probably on me and not on them).  But, most days they are a blast!  They keep it simple. They tell it like it is. They keep it fun.  They keep me young. And they keep me laughing!  Here's two examples:

Today, I took our Language Arts class outside to observe nature around them as they brainstormed what they wanted to write in their Haiku poems.  I introduced them to "sour grass".   I'm not sure if that's even the correct name for it.  My teacher friend calls it that- so I stole it.  So, I explain to them how they can identify it by the yellow tiny flowers and the heart shape of the small green petals (all of which I learned from that same teacher friend).  Each student got the chance to eat a piece of the sour grass greenery. They all agreed that it tasted like it sounds- like a sour apple. After we finished that up, they spread out around the area and sat and observed nature and their surroundings. Most students were closing their eyes, listening intently, and brainstorming on their papers.  However, when I looked to my left I saw one of my precious students eating handfuls of the grass (and the yellow flowers).  Slowly, the entire class noticed and we all just chuckled. There's just not many words to say when you see that and sometimes you just don't want to know.  It just makes you laugh!

Two weeks ago we were reviewing figurative language for the CRCT  reading test.  We were covering things like onomatopoeia, oxymoron, idiom, hyperbole, simile, metaphor, etc. The typical terms you can expect to see on the test. I explained to students that writers use figurative language to make their writing and language more interesting.  We spent about a week covering this material in detail.  About a week after this, one of my students walked into our 7th period class and was a good 10 minutes late.  I asked him where he had been and if he had a note excusing himself for being late.  He said he thought our whole class was in the library because he walked by it and saw everyone in our 7th period in there looking for books to read.  As he said this to me, he (and I) looked around and saw about 3/4 of our 7th period class was sitting in their desks in my classroom staring at him.  I couldn't help but respond somewhat sarcastically.  I said, "Really? You saw everyone in our 7th period class in the library? How is that possible if more than 3/4 of the class has been in here with me since 7th period started?"  He didn't even skip a beat.  He just looked at me and smiled and replied,  "Mrs. Rohan, I was practicing using hyperbole in my speech to make my everyday language more interesting."  What can you say to that?  The class and I just laughed and enjoyed the moment.

These kids really are a joy!  I'm so thankful for them.