Prac

So I've been doing prac for three days now. Day one was exciting, day two was a bit more of a reality check - with lots of timetable changes, and things just feeling a little more chaotic generally - realising that you may not be able to (in fact probably won't be able to) achieve everything you set out to achieve... yes, I was probably idealistic. Day three was a good balance - seeing the reality and the challenges faced by teachers (particularly with a composite class and special needs child) but also seeing the privilege of seeing kids learn. I love it. Fortunate to have a great teacher and a great class.

It's been an excellent opportunity. Looking forward to teaching some lessons over the coming days too, now that I'm over the worst of my nerves!

trying too hard in my own strength

oh what peace I often forfeit
oh what needless pain I bear
all because I do not carry
EVERYTHING to God in prayer

('What a Friend We have in Jesus' by Joseph M. Scriven)

Like Mother Like Daughter

On the way to school this morning Sarah told me she was sad. When I asked why she said she wanted me to teach at her school now. I said I need to finish my studies first, and said, "One step at a time." She went on to say, "But Mummy, I want you to take two steps." I said I understood because I'm very impatient myself, but unfortunately that's the best way. Made me laugh lots.

Courageous and serving action

Just been looking at John 21. The notes on verses 15-17 in my Touch Point Bible say, '[Jesus] was helping Peter see that love is more than words; it is courageous and serving action.'

Friendship

This afternoon my amazing parents said they'd look after the girls while I went for a walk. As I was walking I listened to my iPod and resisted the urge to sing along. 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' by Mary Mary was one of the songs playing and it got me pondering more about friendship.

What makes a good friend? How can I be a good friend? Am I a good friend?

Makes me think about some of the friendships I've lost (or people I've lost touch with), and some that I hope I haven't lost.

I like this summary of friendship from gospel.com based on Proverbs 27:17, 'As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.'

A good friend is not someone who necessarily agrees with everything you do and say--it's somebody who lovingly challenges you to be a better person. We grow in maturity when we can test our thoughts and ideas against another person, and when we're open to correction when we're wrong.

Google Reader

Just had a bit of a fiddle with Google Reader and here's what I learnt:

- I have so much to learn about technology still, and I'm guessing I always will! A bit on the slow side.
- I had managed to subscribe to a few people's blogs more than once
- With facebook, blog, and google reader seems there are too many profiles, but at least I don't need another password to access reader
- Reader makes it easy to read blogs other people recommend, and to recommend some myself

Broken Pieces

A few months ago I blogged about a song by Stephen Curtis Chapman called Beautiful Scars. On the way to get the shopping this morning I heard All The Broken Pieces by Matthew West playing. It's often played on 103.2 but I think this is the first time I really noticed the words.

Did you hear what I said?
Did you read the words I wrote down in red?
I was broken once for you
And no one loves you like I do

And that's the beauty of this grace
It can put the pieces back in place
And shine reflections of forgiveness
In a million different ways

So lift them up to Me
All the broken pieces
All the broken pieces of your life

'Cause I can take even your greatest mistake
Every scar, every tear, every break
And I can turn it into something
More beautiful than you have ever seen

So lift them up to Me
All the broken pieces

Everything I need

Seems a common thread in recent devotions and encouragement from praying friends has been that God is our Good Shepherd. Max Lucado wrote a great devotion on it for today. Yes, He is my Good Shepherd. He provides everything I need.

Psalm 23

Rotting Bananas

This morning Dad reminded me that there are a whole bunch of bananas that we need to eat soon before they all go black. There are three sitting there just waiting to be turned into banana bread - the almost rotten ones make the best banana bread.

So that'll be my reward for finishing my assessment - making banana bread. Yum. Hopefully that'll be today!

Study

So I really need to get stuck into my next assessment, but I'm procrastinating instead.

I loved it this morning when I was getting the girls ready for school and Sarah said she wanted me to be a teacher at her school. I'd explained to her, after she said she wanted to go the shops not to school, that I had to do my study so that I could be a teacher one day. When she asked if I could teach at her school, I said we'd have to ask God if He could work that out one day. Probably by the time she's at school she'll think differently about the idea!

I start my first prac soon, which I'm definitely nervous about, but really looking forward to as well. Thankfully it's an observation prac so I'll only be teaching a few lessons.

I'm really stumped for ideas for this assessment - I have to prepare a lesson about cultural diversity based on a picture book. There were about five books the lecturer had recommended, or you could choose your own, and when I went to Borders they had sold out of the one I was keen to use, so the helpful guy kept looking for all the books on my list, each time saying, 'nope, sold out of that one too'. Finally the last one was there, it's called 'Tom Tom' by Rosemary Sullivan and Dee Huxley. It's actually a good story, just that based on the synopsis of each thought I preferred some of the others. I do find it interesting how virtually all the books recommended are set in the Northern Territory or about aboriginals, and that this is classified as 'cultural diversity'. I can think of lots of other cultures in Australia too.

Anyway, time to get back into it... :-(

To Simply Follow

Here's today's daily devotional from Elisabeth Elliot

Where God Is Taking Us

Bishop Leslie Newbigin, in his South India Diary, tells of the union of churches which took place in South India in 1947. It was the culmination of nearly fifty years of prayer and work on the part of Indians and missionaries. At the second synod a memorable sentence was spoken: "The demand to know where we are going is one which no Christian has a right to make." The bishop writes, "In a very real sense we do not know where we are going, but we are trying to meet day by day the plain requirements of God's will. This means a constant effort to bring every part of church life and practice to the test of conformity with the Gospel."

It is not for the flock of sheep to know the pasture the Shepherd has in mind. It is for them simply to follow Him. If they knew that his plans included a valley of deep shadow, they would panic. Keeping close to the one they have learned to trust is all that is necessary. He will faithfully provide rest, refreshment, correction, and protection as the needs arise. His accompanying presence is guaranteed, all the way--even through the darkest shadows--to the house of the Lord.

Losing something you never had

They say you can't lose something you never had. But I guess it's possible to still feel sad about it?

Healing for the Soul

Dad shared this song with me recently - someone at his work played it during one of their devotions and shared about the passage it's based on. Great words about the bleeding woman who was healed by Jesus as recorded in Luke 8. Reminded me of a great sermon I heard on this passage a few months back.

Jesus - our Saviour and Healer. How amazing that He would give His life for us.

One Touch by Nicole C Mullen

You can watch Nicole singing it on youtube too.

One step at a time

I was speaking to an older friend this morning who reminded me of that verse, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

She highlighted the fact that the verse uses the word "lamp", implying that it lights up just far enough to enable you to safely take a step at a time. Unlike the head-lights on a car that light up the whole street ahead of you. Being a planner, I do prefer the thought of head-lights and being able to see at least a bit further into the distance. But, I also realise that our God is a good God, and a loving Father and His plans are best. His wisdom is beyond my understanding. When I look back over my life I'm glad He didn't show me too far down the track - not sure I would have been able to cope!

One step at a time... ouch.

Under the Shadow of His Wings

Psalm 57:1

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.