Message from Jamie Ross, Kindergarten Teacher

Where is your treasure?  Where is your heart?

The words of Jesus from Matthew 6:19-21 (NAS):

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

On the last day of 2012, I attended a celebration of life memorial service. Family & friends said so many wonderful things, but the most profound and touching for me was what a family member said: “We would always give a kiss, hug & I love you before we left home, even if we were only going to be gone for a few minutes.”

I was faced with my own mortality, not too long ago. All the business of life seemed to stay at a stand still for a couple of weeks. I remembered those precious, tender words that Jesus spoke and that my friend spoke. I thought about where my heart and treasure was.

A song, by Deanna Edwards, from an old 33 1/3 LP album came to mind:

 

Live Each Day

 

When you live, live every day as if it were the last day that you’ll be living.

When you give, give every day as if it were the last gift that you’ll be giving.

 Don’t ever give with half a heart, or shine with half a light.

Live each day as if it were the last day of your life.

You can’t take back those thoughtless words you said before the dawn was breaking.

But you can say “good-bye” today to all the big mistakes that you were making.

You can take just one more step and give it one more try, living each day as if it were the last day of your life. You don’t have to save the world, just mend one broken heart.

Even if you’ve never loved before, it’s not too late to start.

Love begins where “now” begins, it doesn’t take too much to ease the sorrow.

It matters not what fortune brings, for only God can give tomorrow.

When you sing, let each man hear one sweet song through the strife, living each day as if it were the last day of your life.

Message from Jennifer Pellish, Drama Director/English Teacher

The Path of Life Leads Upward for the Wise (taken from Today in the Word)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Proverbs 15:9

In “The Road Not Taken,” poet Robert Frost reflected on the significance of a choice. Walking in the woods one day, he came to a fork in the path. He could not see what lay ahead in either direction. Which way should he go? In the end, he chose “the one less traveled by, /And that has made all the difference.”

Two contrasting paths is a common picture in the wisdom literature of Scripture. Just as Proverbs gives us a portrait of the godly person who takes the first path, it also gives us a picture of the sinner who takes the second path. What might that second picture look like, based on today’s chapter? A fool has a poor relationship with his parents (vv. 5, 20). He spurns discipline and correction (vv. 10, 12, 31–32). The things he loves are stupid or evil or both (vv. 14, 21). The words he says are harsh (v. 1), deceitful (v. 4), ignorant (v. 7), quarrelsome (v. 18), and impetuous (v. 28)—and since “the mouth of the fool gushes” (v. 2), there are a lot of them!

Comparison proverbs make even better sense in light of the two paths (see vv. 16–17). The general form of this type of proverb is, “Better is A with X than B with Y.” A is usually an apparently negative quality, activity, or circumstance, with B as an apparently positive opposite. X is usually a genuinely positive quality, activity, or circumstance, with Y as an opposite, resulting in a reversed perception of A and B. For example, in verse 16, A is “a little” (materially) and B is “great wealth.” B seems preferable. But add in X as “fear of the Lord” and Y as “turmoil” and the perception flips. A right relationship with God is far more valuable than financial wealth!

Message from Adam Olson, Physical Education Teacher

From the book of Exodus:
There are countless people and stories in the Bible involving strength and perseverance through God.  One such person was a man named Moses.  His story is amazing, so much in fact, that he is known in both the Christian and secular world for parting the Red Sea in order to let his people escape slavery from the Egyptians. 

What many people are unaware of, is the journey and the burdens that Moses bore throughout his trek to the Promised Land.  Even his most loyal followers questioned his leadership and therefore God's leadership.  The Jewish people's faith wavered at the slightest hint of adversity.  They complained, betrayed and even created false idols.

Moses himself never reached the Promised Land, but he delivered his people and remained faithful to The Lord.

The connection between teachers and Moses is strong.  In a world where we may feel alone, we must stand up and have an unwavering faith that we are living a Christ-like life.  In our own classrooms, we set the tone, handle discipline and undergo daily disputes.  Every day we are faced with trials that can make even the strongest of Christians waver.

We as adults (administrators, staff, teachers and coaches) are all expected to do the "right thing".  In today's world, the "right thing" is not always what lines up with what God wants us to do.  We feel pressured to let something slide because "it's not that big of a deal".

I'm sure that Moses was tempted to let things slide and even question God himself.  He was probably tempted to abandon his people (at least the "defiant and ungrateful" individuals) and continue on his journey himself.  By trimming the so called fat, his journey would be shorter and easier.  But Moses never wavered.  He saw to it that all Israelites would have opportunity to reach the Promised Land.  He had faith in God, even when all the people he led questioned him and complained about hunger, thirst or being lost, he had a servant's heart. 

In the same way, we must do this with our students.  Knowing that we are leading them to the Promised Land despite the obstacles we may face.  I am encouraged every day by my interactions with our students. 

As the school year winds down, I encourage you to lead like Moses led.  If he could do it for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 40 years straight in the desert while fighting wars, we are more than capable of teaching on the current schedule.  We have a great faculty and administration here at Phoenix Christian capable of extraordinary faith!

Message from Andi O'Dell, Junior High Teacher

“I Will Save the Best for Last”

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.  Revelation 22:4

I have shown you so many good things-my favor, my mercy.  I have granted you forgiveness, gifted you with insight, and flooded your life with my own joy.  But there is so much yet to come.

The day is coming when disappointment and death will be no more.  In their place will be abundant healing and fruitfulness, rich beauty and satisfaction.  The day is coming when I will show you what will bring your greatest joy and satisfaction.  I will show my face to you.  You will see the radiance of my countenance smiling down on you, welcoming you, rewarding you.  You will see the beauty of my character like never before-clearly and completely.

I am giving you abundant life now and in the days to come.  But you can celebrate in knowing that I will save the best for last-when you will see my face.

I have been marked as yours, Lord.  How I long to see the beauty of your face smiling as you look me in the eye and say, “Well done.”. . .

-Abundant Life by Nancy Guthrie