Message from Karla Mungillo, Elementary Teacher

Romans 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

 I'm tired,  I'm worn
My heart is heavy from the work it takes to keep on breathing
I've made mistakes,  I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest  so I cry out with all that I have left

And my prayers are wearing thin I'm worn even before the day begins
I'm worn I've lost my will to fight, I'm worn so heaven come and flood my eyes
Let me see redemption win Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn
I want to know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

I heard this song on the radio and I quickly realized that this sums up the way I have been feeling.  I am simply worn out.  Worn out from the demands of everyday living, worn out from the stress of trying to raise godly children, worn out from teaching my students to make wise decisions and to have a servants heart, worn out from pretending to others that I have it altogether when inside I'm falling apart.  But I know there is hope and I know that redemption wins.

What a treasure we have in God's word.  It's packed with lessons about people who walked with God.  They experienced great success and tremendous failure.  They were real people with real problems, people who struggled, just like we do, to grow in their faith.  What an encouragement to press on, even as they did, to help others know God.  May our lives be living messages for others to see.  He has placed each of us believers in a particular place, at this particular time.  Maybe it's to encourage another teacher who's afraid to ask for help.  Maybe it's to help those experiencing physical or emotional weakness, who struggle just to make it through the day.  Just stop and consider what others are dealing with in their classes or at home, and then offer them the same understanding and patient you desire from others.

Romans 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Message from Margarita Llanes, Spanish Teacher

May the words from the Institute for Creation Research make us think.

            “The Sin of Complaining”

“And he gave them their request; but sent a wasting disease upon them” (Psalm 106:15)

Christians who complain about their circumstances would do well to ponder this sobering verse and its background. God has greatly blessed His people, Israel, delivering them supernaturally from slavery in Egypt, protecting them against their enemies-even miraculously supplying bread and water to them in the desert.

Still they complained-about their food, about the imaginary luxuries they had left behind in Egypt, and against their leaders. “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled (Numbers 11:1).

God has blessed every Christian with forgiveness of sin and eternal life. He daily fulfills His promise to supply every need (not every desire, however), and we should live a thankful life in return, regardless of our particular lot in this world. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)”Do all things without murmurings and disputing” (Philippians 2:14) Complaining about what we don’t have may well result in God taking away what we do have-and still worse- sending wasting disease upon us.

Message from Lois Leader, High School Teacher

We all know high school is often a mirror of the adult world; sometimes very darkly. The significant people tend to be the star athletes or the top scholars or the most entertaining people. Cliques are common and kids can be marginalized in unkind ways.

The person who had the most impact on me in high school wasn’t a top scholar. She struggled with her classes and I got to know her at first as her tutor. She couldn’t be a star athlete because she had cerebral palsy and just walking from class to class was an accomplishment. And she couldn’t be an entertaining chatterer because the CP made it hard for her to talk. Her name was Carla Wilkerson.

She had a joy in God that was direct. I remember staying over at her house one night. We got up early and saw the sunrise. It was one of those brilliant desert sunrises and she said, “That’s what it will be like when I meet Jesus in person.” Her face glowed like the sunrise.

It may not be surprising to learn there were bullies “back in the day,” even at PC. One afternoon Carla and I were working together in the library when three of these fellows approached us. One of them told Carla, “Your boyfriend here has a present for you.” He gave her a dog biscuit and the crew sauntered out. At that moment I was prepared to leap the table and do whatever damage a person the size of an eleven year old could inflict on a football player. But Carla stopped me.

“Don’t,” she said, “They just don’t understand what it’s like.”

I’ve never forgotten the way she was able to step outside her hurt and see the situation from a godly, rather than a personal, perspective. She was the star of the PC campus to me.

In those days before Facebook we lost touch with each other. I learned recently that she passed away. I wish I’d been able to tell her that she’s been a lifelong influence on me. So I’m happy to be able to tell all of you. Phil 2:3.