IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE TEST

This week is like the culminating event, the grand finale for most of my fellow high school teachers in the school system where I teach. This is the time where our students are taking the state mandated high-stakes tests, End Of Course Tests (EOCT). It is nerve racking and causes a bit of anxiety for most. For an entire year we have taught students based on a set of standards. We have planned activities, assigned projects and administered tests. You name it, we have done it with the goal of preparing our students to be successful on “The Test”. It hasn’t been easy and some days it felt like we were teaching to ourselves. But the time is upon us where our “beloved” students face the test, proving that they have learned what they should have. It is interesting how all of our hard-work , our late nights, our extensive planning all comes down to one test.  Some say it is not fair and many are protesting this whole process, but for now that’s the way it is.

I was thinking about this issue yesterday while proctoring one of the tests. I watched students work so diligently on trying to do their best and I even watched others who unfortunately looked as if they were reading a test in a totally different language. No matter if they looked or felt prepared or not, the time was at hand. The test was upon them. I guess that’s just like it is in our walk with Christ. All of our prayer time, our studying of the scriptures, our worship really comes to the forefront when we face the tests of life. Ready or not, these tests will come in every season of life and it is at those times that we apply “what we have learned” to our situation in order to make it through. There are those who would rather go through life and exempt all the tests, but I believe just like the state tests my students take, the tests of life do have their purpose.

- If you never had a test of your finances where you have needed God to meet your need, how can you truly understand that God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.

- If you have never faced a test in the form of an obstacle or a mountain, how would you know that you can speak to the mountain and say, be thou removed?

- If you’ve never been tested in the “fire” , how will you know that our God is a deliverer, or will make a way out of no way?

Tests are inevitable in life but they are not without a purpose, whether they are actual pen and paper tests or tests of our faith. My mom used to say “It is the time when the rubber meets the road”. I refer to it as a time when what you say with your mouth is demonstrated by your actions. It all comes down to the tests of life. How will you come out?

 Will you pass with flying colors or

will you fail only to find out that that you will face it again?

Personally, I have never liked to fail any test so my goal is to face them and give it my best shot. I have been in study mode and I must use what He has given me so that I will earn a passing grade. I will apply His Word, take His promises at face value and stand even when all else around me is sinking sand. I declare this day that this test nor the ones that will come in the future will not cause me to give up on Him! I hope and pray that you will do the same.

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My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2-3

WE HAVE A SHIELD !

After a crazy, chaotic and draining weekend, I finally got a little bit of sleep last night. Yesterday I woke up with a list of things to do in my head, but not only that I had a particular scripture on my mind. It is found in the Psalms Chapter 3 and verse 3 and it reads “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head”. I wondered was God giving me a message? What was He telling ME through this verse? Being the analytical person that I am, I went to the dictionary as a starting point. Shield is defined as a broad piece of defensive armor carried on the arm or one that protects or defends (www.merriam-webster.com). When I think about having or using a shield I am reminded of the super hero cartoons that I used to watch when I was a child. I can remember the villain trying to attack the super hero and when they would try to shoot them with laser beam eyes, powerful arrows, or some other type of ammunition the first thing they would do would be to put up their shield. The shield was super strong and the first line of defense for the super hero. It would cause the weapon sent to destroy the super hero to simply bounce back. Back then I thought that was the coolest thing. I am even not ashamed to say that I made my own shields out of tin foil and cardboard while pretending to be a super hero as a child. As I fast forward to today, of course I no longer pretend to be a super hero or make my own handmade shields, but I recognize that I really could use a shield when it seems the enemy is running rampant.

Could this be what God was trying to convey to me through His Word? I believe that He was trying to do just that. He was reminding me that in those times when the enemy is making his best efforts to destroy me, that He is my shield against him. The arrows of attack may come, but they won’t even touch me because HE is my shield, My Protector, MY Defender. I needed to hear this!

I don’t believe that this word is just for me. I know that others are facing some seemingly insurmountable obstacles. You are not alone in your struggle. There are others going through as well (myself included). It may seem like the enemy is winning or that He has won already. But I say to you that we have a weapon that is so powerful if you dare to use it. That weapon is God, our shield, our defender, our protector! We have yet another reminder in Isaiah 59:19 and it reads “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

Remind yourself of these truths in His word continually. Be encouraged today!

STRENGTH DEFICIT

My usual posts are in the morning, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to post one this morning due to family matters. The old adage says “Better late than never.”  so here is today’s post… late, but here it is.

Have you ever felt like every ounce of your strength has been drained from your body one ounce at a time? Have you ever felt like there is nothing left in you to give to yourself let alone anyone else?

If you answered yes to either of these questions then you probably have an inkling of how I feel at this very moment. It has been a tough couple of days to say the least. As I care for my ailing dad, it has truly been a roller coaster ride both physically and emotionally. I finally was on my way home around 11:00 pm after being on the go since about 8:00 am. While driving home in a daze I was thinking to myself how my strength was at an all time low. As I continued to dwell on my strength deficit, I heard His voice say, “But in your weakness, my strength is made perfect”. That is a passage of scripture found in 2 Corinthians 12:9. I meditated on that as I continued to drive home. The New Living Translation makes it even clearer as it says “My power works best in weakness."

I don’t know about your situation or what challenges you face today. No, I don’t have a magic wand to make things all of a sudden be perfect. What I do have is a promise in the word of God that tells me when I am weak He operates in His strength on my behalf. I need that right now. I will need it tomorrow and the days ahead. I need God to transfuse me with His strength because I am totally empty. He can do it and I believe He will. Not just for me, but for you too! Be encouraged.

HIS GRACE

 This morning I got up with a lot of things on my mind, mainly the challenges I am facing (I know we all have them.), but in the midst of the cluttered thoughts I heard the word “grace”. I found a verse that I have read and used it many times before. It is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and it reads “Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (New Living Translation)

I am so thankful that in the midst of my lack, my needs, my shortcomings, God’s grace covers me. His grace more than makes up the difference. His grace reaches far beyond what I can accomplish in my mere human body. It is His gift to me, to all of us that are His. I didn’t do anything to earn it (unmerited) and neither did you. He freely bestows it upon us. I don’t deserve it, yet He allows me to rest in it. Today I am grateful. I choose to focus on His grace in my life. I urge you to do the same. Be encouraged today.