Teaching has been one of the hardest yet rewarding ministries of my life. I do not consider myself a teacher, but an ambassador in one of the most unpredictable places in the world: school. It has been in my classroom that I have learned a new definition of love. Teachers are literally put into a classroom with anywhere from 16-25 kids at a time. We are expected to adjust our schedules, curriculum, and activities in the blink of an eye to accommodate the needs of each individual student. I have been a public school teacher for 20 years, but worked in a before and after school program at Travis Air Force Base before my teaching career began. It wasn’t until my tenth year of public education that I realized I wasn’t just teaching kids, I was in a mission field (sometimes foreign mission field.) My job wasn’t just educating children TEKS and curriculum. I was put in the public school mission field to tell them about the greatest teacher of all. I was there to tell them about Jesus and to show them His unconditional love. Many people ask me why I chose teaching as a profession. Even my own children do not understand this decision of mine. I can honestly tell them it isn’t the pay, hours, or promotional gain. It is simply my ministry mountain God has called me to. I get to spend eight hours every week day pouring Christ’s love on children from different races and backgrounds. Every day I get hugs from several of my present and past students, and I am reminded of my calling. One of my favorite opportunities I get is when students ask me to pray with them. Just to know they trust me and know they can come to me at any time to pull down Heaven for them and fight satan with them excites me! These opportunities are what get me through even the most closed off students or grinding days. Just recently I had a student ask me if I could read her devotional she read the night before to the class. She felt that God wanted it to be read, but she was too shy to do it herself. As I read this devotional to her classmates, tears began to swell in her eyes. It was about how God wants this generation to stop taking selfies, but to turn the camera and start noticing the people around them that were hurting or the ones that needed help. The whole classroom became quiet and I could see their wheels turning. I got Godbumps from my head to my toes! I love these opportunities of spreading the gospel through obedient children of God. Through her faith in God and her obedience, she came to me as her public school teacher, to get me to read this devotional about Christ Jesus to all her friends! I could have turned her away or told her I wasn’t allowed, but I know my calling. I wanted to be that vessel. This is just one of many testimonies to what God is doing on my ministry mountain. All of God’s children have a mission field that He has entrusted to us to harvest for His kingdom. It is our Kingdom calling. Sometimes it may look tempting to get worn down or just walk away, but we have to remember that our Lord and Savior never walks away from us. In these times of discouragement, we must remember why we were placed in this ministry and at this particular moment. We were chosen for such a time as this, so we need to embrace our purpose and take hold of our mountain.
Matthew 18:2-6, “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Proverbs 16:4a, “The LORD has made everything for it
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve You and to do Your work for Your kingdom. Help us to remember that You have chosen us and that You have given us a purpose. Help us to love as You love everyone we come in contact with. In Your Most Holy Name~Amen.
I included a sermon from my brother at Life Church Nac about God’s purpose for you and the cost.
4 responses to “God’s Calling”
Very inspiring and absolutely LOVE my child has an opportunity to be blessed with you ! Literally one of my answered prayers. I’ve asked God on multiple occasions “help me raise this child”
So thankful God put you in our paths!
Stay encouraged and on Fire for Him!
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I love having your child in my classroom. He is always polite and that is an encouragement for me. Keep looking up and reading out; beautiful woman of God!
Beautiful testimony!
Mrs. Stine you were such an inspiration to me in school. You always made me feel welcomed and important. Thank you for that and for reading my blog. Keep looking up and reaching out!