Classroom Conversations

These last nine months I've had the opportunity to have some interesting conversations with my students. I wish I could write them all down and never forget a moment or a word! Here is a glimpse into my 4th and 5th grade classroom!

~~~~ The Empty Sacrifice ~~~~

Student #1- "Mrs. Stephanie, if someone didn't know Jesus, but they did a really amazing thing by saving someone else's life, and dying themselves instead, would they get to go to heaven?"

Student #2-  "Well, what does 1 Corinthians 13 say?" (We just finished memorizing this chapter as a class)

Student #1- "So yes, they would go to heaven because they were showing love to the other person by dying for them."

Me- "But what does the Bible say about getting to Heaven? Can we get to Heaven by the good things we do?"

Student #1- "If we are showing love, yes."

Me-   "If we could go to Heaven by only doing good things and loving others, why would Jesus have needed to come and die for us?"

Student #2- "Ahh! 'And though I give my body to be burned…' that's what that verse means…"(And this teacher's heart is overflowing with pride because yes, they are hiding His word in their hearts! It's coming to mind in uncertain situations!)

Me- "Exactly!" You can do amazing works and good deeds and love people like no one else, but without Jesus as your savior you cannot go to Heaven. It is only by His death and resurrection that we get to go to Heaven."

Student #1- "But 1 Corinthians 13 says the greatest of these is love."

Me-"Yes, and it's talking about God's love. We cannot have God's love if we do not have God in our lives."

Student #1- "That's really, really sad."

Me- "Yes, it is very sad. There are a lot of really great people in this world who spend their lives doing selfless things for others but do not know and follow God and will not be able to spend eternity with Him. This is very sad."

The reality of Hell is no joke. Even 4th and 5th graders can feel the weight of it.

~~~~ Who are they Worshiping? ~~~~

While reading about Hudson Taylor (missionary to China), we found him before a temple, overwhelmed as he watched devoted Buddhists worship deceased ancestors and images of stone. Hudson was astonished at the sincerity with which they worshiped.

Me-"What does it mean to worship deceased ancestors?"

Student #1- "It means worshiping your dead relatives that have become angles."

Me- "Really… so do you think when we die, we all become angels?"

Student #1- "Yes. We wear white robes and have wings."

Me-"Hmmm, I wonder why people think that. Let's think about Genesis and when God created the earth. Did Satan already exist, or did God create him when he created Adam and Eve?"

Student #2- "I think he already existed."

Me-   "I think you're right. And what is Satan? What was he before he rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven?"

Student #3- "He was a beautiful angel!"

Me- "Yes, he was! And he became very proud and wanted to be like God. The Bible says that when Satan rebelled against God, many, many angels decided to follow Satan instead of God. What do we call those angels now?"

Student #4- "Demons?"

Me-   "Yes. They are demons. Satan and the demons sinned against God didn't they. Do you think Satan and the demons can get saved and follow God again?"

Student #2-  "No..."

Me-   "I think you're right. I don't think they can either. You see, God sent Jesus to die for our sins, but not for the sins of angels. This shows us that we are a different creation than the angels are. Angels cannot be saved like we can, can they? Do you think angels are mighty and powerful?"

Students-   "Maybe…" (Now they're starting to doubt what they know to be true.)

Me-   "Yes, they are very mighty and powerful. Every time we see an         angel appear to someone in the Bible, that person becomes very afraid! I think angels must be amazing creatures! One angel even binds Satan for a thousand years during the reign of Christ." (The students begin talking about their many eyes, wings, and different faces.) "These angels are amazing creations of God, but for some reason God didn't send His Son to die for them. They cannot get saved. God sent His Son to die for us. He must love us so much! It seems like He chose us over even the powerful angels! And He sends His angels to minister to us and sent them to minister to Jesus. So, what happens when we die now that we know we don't become angels?"

Students- "We either go to Heaven or Hell."

Me-   "That's right. So when Hudson Taylor saw these people worshiping their ancestors. Who do you think they were really worshiping? Can we worship and talk to people who have died?"

Students- "No because they're not here. Maybe they are worshiping no one."

Me-   "That's right. Or maybe they are worshiping demons. When people talk to dead spirits, they are definitely not talking to people that used to live on this earth. Remember, evil is real. Satan is real. The demons are real. But God created them and He is more powerful than they are. They cannot do anything without His permission. We should not be afraid of them, but we should always remember that they are real and they are not on our side. And never forget that God loves you more than even the most powerful angel!"

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A Super Hero Kinda Day

There are numerous others I would have chosen, yet He chose me. He prepared this work beforehand that I should walk in it. I feel like I have to defend myself. I feel it necessary to prove not only my ability (which I can’t even convince myself of, let alone those questioning), but the very calling. “Do you have a degree? Have you done this before? What are your qualifications?” My qualification is my calling. Period.  

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Wise? Mighty? Noble? Not many, and surely not me. Foolish? Weak? Absolutely.

“How do you spell mousse? Like the dessert??” Day one and I’m thrown by a simple word. “Hmmmmm, how about you choose another word.” Yep, I really said that. And no, it wasn’t the end of the world. She chose ‘pudding’ instead, and I can spell that, and class proceeded, and no one died.

Foolish. Weak.

Whom shall I send? Who will go for Me? Pick me! Pick me! If the qualifications are inadequate, unable, under qualified, insufficient, incompetent, defective, imperfect, foolish, and weak, I’m the woman for the job! If He’s looking for someone who can’t glorify in themselves, He’s to look no further!

Strength will rise as you wait upon the Lord.

Wait- to attend as a servant; to supply the wants of.

Yes, Lord! Here I am! Choose me! I desire nothing more, nothing less, than to attend to You as a servant.  And I need nothing other than to be strengthened by the God who shall supply all my need.

And the last shall be first and the first shall be last and this upside-down kingdom makes no sense at all except that when He puts the desire in your heart and calls you to a calling above all you ever dreamed, you are filled with unexplained excitement, joy, and peace, and abilities not your own. I feel like super woman! Maybe I shall wear a cape to class. Jump out of a phone booth! Do they even make phone booths anymore? Today I will be Mrs. S! Super Stephanie! J

Will you be a super hero with me?  

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I Cast Because He Cares

I don’t doubt the splitting of the sea, the calming of the storm, the turning of water to wine, or even the raising of a dead man. I can clearly envision steel chains and prison bars miraculously being loosed. I am in awe of a God supplying bread from Heaven, not just once or twice or even a hundred times, but day after day for forty years to an ungrateful and undeserving generation.

A God that pours water from rocks and sprouts fruit from sticks? Surely He does the impossible. No doubt nothing is too hard for Him. I know it, and I believe it, and then we open math books, and the directions don’t make sense, and the questions lead to more questions and I am but one teacher. One minute lost in praise and wonder, the next drowning in place value, expanded form, addends, and subtrahends.

And it’s my turn to question the Teacher: Why does it matter, Lord? What is the point of knowing how to write the same number four ways? Can’t we just go back to our carpet, sing more songs, and be showered in the Word? Let’s get back on our knees and just wait- wait for that strength that I so desperately need right now.

The big things are never too big! God is a God of THE BIG. He’s moving mountains and feeding thousands! But what about the small? Forget the thousands, what about the ONE? What about the math? What about the hard questions and the bad attitudes? What happens when there is nothing BIG and I’m surrounded by little? Just me and these little hearts ready to learn and to grow and to soak it all in. Why is it when my trials are ‘small,’ my God becomes even smaller?

“God is many things: a ruling God, a righteous, a judging God, a holy God. He is also a feeling God. He who knows no sin feels for us who do.”

~Beth Moore, Jesus The One and Only.

What a big job it seemed, declaring salvation to the Ninevites. And what a small thing to offer shade for the messenger. Sending the mighty angel to deliver news of a coming messiah? Not so big that God would neglect to comfort the young handmaiden through the confirming proclamation of an over aged aunt.

This God of grace, God of love, this Consuming Fire. He’s surrounded these little ones with angles- angles that present themselves before the Lord Himself- and I take comfort; I rest in complete assurance knowing that at any moment six of these mighty beings are present. Protecting. Ministering. Taking guard over the one appointed to them. Standing strong in my little classroom.

God’s plan is in effect; His works are evident. I CAN see them in the small if I’m not distracted by the big. That smile and those bright eyes when he suddenly ‘gets it.’ When it all makes sense, and who knew rounding to the ten thousandths place was actually this simple! Who knew the God of the Big was concerned about Declaratives, Interrogatives, joining words, and simple subjects. WHO KNEW?!

Cast your cares upon Him ‘cause He cares for you. And I do, and I am! I’m casting and He’s caring and we’re progressing… one punctuation mark at a time. What Little thing are you seeing Him in? Please share!

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