Gospel Centered...bible

That last post reminded me of my new favorite purchase: The Jesus Storybook Bible.

I love the subtitle:  

Every story whispers His name

Seriously, every story in here, Old Testament and New, ends with with a gospel-centered approach.  Each story points to Christ and God's ultimate plan.  For example in the story of Jonah, the last few sentences say:

The people of Nineveh listen to Jonah, and they started loving God.  They learned to do what God said and to stop running away from him -- just like Jonah.  

Many years later, God was going to send another Messenger with the same wonderful message.  Like Jonah, he would spend three nights in utter darkness.  

But this Messenger would be God's own Son.  He would be called "The Word" because he himself would be God's Message.  God's Message translated into their own language.  Everything God wanted to say to the whole world -- in a Person.

Buy this for your current or future children! :)

Gospel Centered...life.

A sweet friend sent me an article entitled "Gospel-Centered Children's Curriculum" by Yancy Arrington.  It takes a look at moral-based teaching vs. Gospel-Centered Teaching.  This is a great article for anyone who teaches the Word of God (at any level) and wants to get to the heart of the scripture and into the heart of the student. 

Here are a few of my favorite excerpts: 

"What does gospel-centered curriculum look like? Simply put, gospel-centered curriculum is material which demonstrates how the entire Scripture ultimately highlights the beauty, worth, centrality and supremacy of God’s saving action in Jesus’ Person and Work. It reveals how Jesus is the ultimate end of every story, every book and every letter of Scripture. Gospel-centered curriculum takes seriously the approach Jesus took to the Bible when he demonstrated to his disciples in Luke 24:14, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” In Jesus’ mind, the Bible was about him. Gospel-centered curriculum capitalizes on this idea by responsibly demonstrating how everything in the Scriptures points to Jesus, promises Jesus, parallels Jesus, prefigures Jesus, proclaims Jesus, etc. Hopefully, as the listener/learner witnesses the glory of the gospel, his affections will be deeply and profoundly moved for Christ. Put another way, the individual’s heart will  grow for Jesus!"

I love this:

"Are you morality-based or gospel-centered? It’s a question you must ask honestly. Look at the curriculum you teach, the songs you sing, the banners you hang. Question: how much of what you teach, sing and display on Sunday could be taken over by someone from another faith? Could a Muslim step right in and pick up where you left off on nine Sundays out of ten? What about a cult? Could a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness use your curriculum without batting an eye because it is so overly moralistic that it has basically squeezed out the gospel? Don’t take the morality based road. It’s easier for a reason. As sinners, we like the Law. It appeals to our desire to feel in control. It’s more “practical”, right? It is also less difficult to

teach. It’s easier to put lessons together when we focus only on “how to’s” for morality. But the real question is, is it better?"

This figure shows the difference of depth with moral-based teaching and gospel-centered teaching: "How to's" affect their behavior for a short time but the Gospel affects their heart.

Check out the actual article here: http://sojournkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Gospelcntrcurrarticle.pdf  
it's so worth the 10 minute read!

Rascal Flatts

What a fun evening at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater!  It was my first concert at the amphitheater and me and this sweet friend saw Rascal Flatts.  Thanks to Wendy for the last minute tickets, we had a great time!

me and Trish!

It was a sweet show.  Gotta love lawn seats on a cool summer night!

May I continually say "Great is the LORD!"

I've been chewing on this lately:

Blessed is the man who makes

   the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
   none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
   yet they are more than can be told. vv. 4-5

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me! v. 11

But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
   say continually, "Great is the LORD!" v. 16

from Psalm 40

driving lessons

Do you remember what it was like to drive for the very first time?  How awkward it was to only use one foot and to learn how sensitive the brake and gas peddles are... never mind learning to park and use a blinker.  

This evening my chinese friend, Fiona, and I had some driving lessons.  

Fiona came here to the US exactly a year ago to work towards her PhD in Chemistry (no big deal...).  I met her through an English Partners program at ODU and I meet with her to help her learn English and American slang.  But also to help her get acquainted in to the American culture.  One of the big differences between the Chinese culture and ours is how we all have cars here!  Fiona is planning on being here for 5 years or more, so she decided to start the process of getting her drivers licence.  She has already studied and passed the written test.  Now she just needed to get behind the wheel!

I must say she did a great job for her first time EVER being in the drivers seat. It was really fun for me too, to take driving back to the basics.  Oh how I have forgotten what it is like to learn to drive!  It is such a natural thing now!  She did great and we are going to continue to practice so she can pass her driving test!  I love this girl, she is so determined!  Against so much adversity, she works so hard to understand our culture...while she works towards her PhD and on research that may be the cure to some disease.  ;) 

thumbs up! 

my sweet friend!

we took a little break to watch the beautiful sunset over the river by ODU.

best mug. best friend.

the best part of my morning...

in my best mug...

made by my best friend.

it makes me feel like we're having coffee together every morning.

well you would have hot chocolate

I would have coffee.

but I like that about you. :)

Happy Birthday, Mem.

Today I've been celebrating my Memere's birthday.  

Dear Mem,

I miss you a lot.

I miss your sweet phone calls. 

 I miss your eagerness to keep up with the times on Facebook and text messaging to keep in touch with us grandkids. 

I miss the regular cards I used to get in the mail from you.

I love the beautiful story of how our family was made.  

I am grateful for the memories we have together and I know you are smiling down from heaven.

Happy Birthday!  I wish we could have some chocolate cake together. :)

Ruby's

I got a part time job at Ruby Tuesdays on S. Independence!! 

Come visit me :)  I start next Tuesday.

fifteen

I went out to my classroom again today and chatted with my principal and some others that were around.  I found out that I will have 15 students!  I was thinking more like 10-12.  But 15 is great!  Here's the other kicker...9 boys and 6 girls.  Lots of boys.

I also found out that we are getting white boards to replace those BLUE chalkboards...praise Jesus!  Those were really going to cramp my style.

Here are a few more pics.  Thanks to my sweet mama who helped clean, disinfect, and reorganize my room on Sunday!

I worked on hanging this alphabet strip today

It's getting there!

hung these today

Parts of Speech 

new place!

It feels great to be all moved into my new apartment.  I am so thankful for all the people that helped on Saturday.  What an efficient day.  Here's a tour!

pic from the front door.. stairs upstairs

living room, dining area and into the kitchen

wood burning fireplace! lots of windows

closet under stairs.

fenced in patio... for Lucy, our pup, to play!

kitchen, around the corner is the washer/dryer and 1/2 bathroom

view from the kitchen (camera is having some issues)

kitchen

my room

stairs back downstairs

my classroom

Here are a few images from my classroom in progress....

It's a work in progress... but its coming along slowly!

Saying Goodbye...

I don't like saying goodbye... but really, who does?  After spending six weeks in close community, it is hard to leave and be away from all the friendships that were formed.

These sweet girls have taught me tons about the importance of discipleship.

I loved working with each one of them and learning their stories and hearing their hearts.

I will miss these sweet faces.  

There isn't much more that makes my heart happier than a bunch of staff kiddos running around. 

And these lovely ladies!  I am thankful for each and every one of the women on project.

I am encouraged by each of them!

Oh, and my wonderful staff team :)

How I have loved working alongside each of you.

What a good looking group.

This girl, I will miss seeing her face every day.  

Thanks Rebecca for speaking truth into my life and for living passionately for Jesus.

And of course these girls.  The beloved single ladies!

I am forever grateful for our time together.  

And forever changed because of each of you.

Oh how I hate goodbyes and how I must transition in and out of the different seasons of life.

But, God is good and I am SO grateful for the past six weeks. 

I have learned to love the Lord deeper and His people better.  

How to embrace conflict and let go of burdens.

Now on to the next chapter...