I CAN do it!

but he has told me, “My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.”  - 2 Corinthians 12:9 ISV

Yesterday I awoke with this verse in my head.  I intended to blog about it, but didn't manage to do so.  This morning as I awakened, I remembered there had been something I wanted to blog about but couldn't remember what it was.  I asked God what it was and immediately this verse was once again in my head.  The miracle of that sudden recall was enough to send me directly to my blog to write about it - so here I am.

First the background for this story.  Toward the end of January I was approached about the idea of teaching a beginners class this summer.  Now, the truth for me is that teaching a beginner's class scares me much more than the higher level class I've been teaching. With a higher level class, there are certain assumptions I can make when teaching and because of this the teaching methods are different.  However, I knew that it was important to be open to the possibilities presented to me, so I indicated my willingness to teach the class and was told they would get back to me.

Months went by.  By mid-April I decided I better e-mail them about it because if we were going to advertise a summer class, the advertising needed to be in by early May.  Time passed and I received no reply to my e-mail.  I figured that meant it was not going to happen and I proceeded to begin making other plans.  Then, out of the blue, about a week ago, I received a phone call saying they thought there were enough students and we would need to start right away!  However, we were not available on the night they wanted to hold class, so it STILL wasn't certain.  They said they would check with the students about holding class on a different day, and check with other possible teachers and get back to me.  I heard back a couple of days ago that they indeed wanted me to teach the class starting this coming weekend!

My "to do" list for this week is already so long, with lots of out-of-the-ordinary commitments along with the normal ones - and our weekend is FULL with other commitments!  Though it was clear to me that I needed to be willing to start teaching right away because there was less time available for teaching the class than would be ideal anyway, I was terrified because of the lack of time to prepare.  I want to do a good job!  It was in this frame of mind that I asked for guidance and received the verse at the top of this post.  

To me it was God's voice clearly telling me that despite my feelings that I couldn't do it all, He was in charge and would be there for me.  And, in fact, I started to see how important it was at times for the task before me to feel "too big".  After all, if I felt I could do it, I might be tempted to rest on my laurels rather than turning to God for His strength and guidance!  As it is, I once again find myself thinking words like those of the prophet Jeremiah - "Father, I can't do this.  I'm new at this and don't have time to prepare."  God's answer to Jeremiah is also His answer to me:

"But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth." - Jeremiah 1:7-9 NIV

What a promise! I NEED those words in my mouth! Father, I am SO grateful for your promises!  As I ponder these things, I realize how much God has already prepared me for the task ahead.  Although I didn't  know if the class was a go or not, I spent most of the last week thinking through what would need to be taught and working on lesson plans.  Several times I started second guessing myself.  Why was I spending most of my time focused on something that I wasn't sure was going to happen when I had so many KNOWN things that needed attention?  But God's guidance was clear.  Whether I taught the class this summer or not, I WOULD be teaching such a class at some point so the time would not be wasted and it was what I was to do for now.  

Because of that focus, though plans are far from complete, I have a fair picture of what I need to do at the first few classes (despite on-going fear because some of the necessary teaching methods are so new to me).  Also, the weekend intensive I'll be attending this weekend will have a LOT of components designed specifically to help new teachers know how to teach beginners!  As always, God knew what needed to happen long before I did and ensured that I signed up for this weekend months ago!

I am grateful for God's promises and His work in my life.  It's true - I CAN do it, because:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13-14 ISV

Thank you, Father, for your guidance and direction in my life!  Thank you for your promises! Thank you for preparing me and giving me what I need to meet the tasks you have set before me!  Thank you for giving me peace and continued guidance as I take the steps you show me to take.  I ask that your will be done in my life, and that I be open to receiving your guidance clearly.  Thank you for working in me both to WILL and to DO of your good pleasure.  Amen.  

Wise as Serpents

It has been brought to our attention that someone with whom we have been dealing has been going behind our backs presenting a mix of facts and innuendo to create a picture that is far from the truth as we see it. And it looks like things may be coming to a head today.  This situation has been very painful for us personally because it was someone we counted as a friend and looked to for guidance.  It may also mean financial difficulty and other difficulties if students believe things about us that are not true.  

As I've prayed for guidance about this matter today, a couple of things have come to mind.  The first is that if we are to follow Jesus' example, despite the always "meek and mild" caricature of him, we see him standing up to the scribes and pharisees in no uncertain terms - even telling them they're like white-washed tombs - looking good on the outside, but inside full of dead men's bones and everything unclean (Mathew 23:27).  Secondly, I keep hearing the words from Matthew 10:16 in my mind - "be ye therefore wise as serpents and gentle as doves".   What does it mean to be wise as a snake?  And when should we be standing up for ourselves, and when should we be turning the other cheek?

As I turned to Matthew 10 to read the context of the "wise as serpents" advice, I found myself reading the passage from The Message Bible:

"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation — just because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you — and me — a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words." (Matthew 10:16-20 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Today these words seem written just for me.  Stay alert, don't call attention to yourselves, be cunning (the word literally means thoughtful and discrete) yet inoffensive, don't be naive.  Then I come to the words "some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation".  Yep! That has sure happened! Then there's "Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities.  Without knowing it, they've done you - and me - a favor".  As I read these words, I have to chuckle.  No, we haven't been hauled into a civil court, but our names have been hauled before the board of an organization.  I think they count as "civil authorities".  What a promise this is!  No matter the intent, this person has done us, and God, a favor in doing this!  As the impact of that sets in, I find myself grinning and I'm starting to see how one can indeed "count it all joy" when they face various trials (James 1:2).  And then the final promise, "And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it.  The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words."  I came to this passage as I was doing just that - worrying about what I'd say & how to say it, and I have to chuckle again. :)  

As I read these promises, I find myself laughing and feeling true joy!  It's amazing!  While I was open to God's guidance as I faced these trials, I really didn't see how it was possible to "count it all joy", but joy is indeed what I'm feeling! What an amazing thing! And what an amazing God!

Father, I am so grateful for your guidance in these matters.  I know you are not only guiding me, but the events and people around me.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your promises and your continued guidance as I walk through the rest of this day.