James 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b]7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Usually when I write, I don't use this big of a section of scripture. I felt like I needed to include all of this though. So much would be lost from this without the whole section. Love the teachings from the book of James. 

A lot of the time, we forget how powerful our words our. We forget the things we save have such an impact on those around us. Usually it takes somebody saying something to you, to really catch your attention on that. 

I have to be so careful with the things I say. I pour into 75 very influential adolescents. 5 days a week. 5 hours a day. 

for those of you that have never really worked with or been around adolescents... they remember EVERYTHING. and I mean everything. They also will say anything and everything that pops into their minds. 

You have to choose your words wisely because you can either make or break their spirits. So easily a relationship can be severed with a student. 

Love how in this section of James it even talks about being a teacher. It is only a calling for a few. Not only that though, but then it rolls into taming the tongue. How often do you really THINK before you speak.

I spend a lot of time mediating such unsweet words from one kiddo to another, & I have to redirect them to my expectations for them and the class rules. I so often have to remind them to THINK before they speak.

We only encourage each other. We are kind and considerate. Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it going to build them up or tear them down. 

"The Boss" (that's me by the way. Yes I let the kids call me that, and encourage it... hey who doesn't like a little bit of a confidence boost?!) had a conversation with an entire class last week. 1 on character and the fruit of the spirit/the fruit their bear, and 2 one about how powerful the tongue is. I try to pull in scripture to my discipline as much as possible without stating where it comes from. 

So I just actually had a conversation with 25 preteens about how powerful their tongues are, using the scripture from James about the tongue, not thinking that is a conversation that still needed to be had with others. It is so easily forgotten how powerful words are. 

I love the quote posted above. It is so true. How careful would we speak if our words hurt us too? 

I would have to say that I definitely have to constantly be more conscious of my word choice and tone, but forget how powerful words are until I have been burnt by somebody else's tongue and words. 

Use what I share with my kiddos:

" We only encourage each other. We are kind and considerate. Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it going to build them up or tear them down. "

I challenge you think before you speak. Think about how it might effect the other involved. Because "the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell" (v6) Your words are way more powerful than you think. 

Psalm 139:12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

Happy (early morning) Birthday post!

I say it a lot, but I love to write. I feel like I learn so much more when I just put all my thoughts into words. Even though they aren't my words or my thoughts. Usually a song, a verse, or a message just gives me that little kick that says 

"yes. write."

In this case, the song that is on this post is the one that gave me that yes. Plus it's my birthday (I don't know about you, but I'm not really sure I'm feeling the same way T Swift does about 22) and I really like to take a step back and reflect.

This time last year, I was taking classes in Boone still. Now, I have my own class. 
The transition from 21 to 22 was not a smooth transition, nor an easy one, and by no means always a beautiful one.

The cool part is, over this past year, through those struggles, through those dark not so pretty times; God was really shaping my heart and moving in my life in big ways. 

side note - I am afraid of the dark. 

& I know some of you are thinking, "what the heck. she is 22 and afraid of the dark? how crazy." 

Yes. I do not like the dark. I have a jacked up mind and it sometimes likes to tell me that there are things out there that will get me when the light isn't on. I am more afraid of the dark in a sense of like, the absence of light, home alone kind of way. But this past year, I was at times afraid of the dark that was in my life. 

Those dark times I walked through this past year were the best. (yes the best)

I love analogies. & those of you that always poke fun cause I alwaaayys have a story for everything, that's called effective teaching haha (or at least that is what I tell myself)

 I don't know about you, but imagine how you feel when you are in a stressful situation (like for me, making it from my truck into the house when it is super dark outside) It's like an adrenaline rush. Makes me feel kind of alive & powerful because I made it through the darkness and overcame that struggle. 

That's what those dark times in my life did for me. Once I got through those dark times (because, yes they do end) It began to give me a new perspective. So having the new perspective I have now after God has shaped and changed my heart so much by walking me through those dark times, I can reflect back on what I walked through this past year and see how beneficial it was, see God was always there, and share. 

darkness has 2 definitions;
    - the absence of light
    - evil or wickedness

I love how in Psalms it says that even the darkness is not dark to God.  Darkness & light are the same to Him, because He is the light. 

Those dark times when we feel like we are alone. Or we feel like they never will end. They will. We see them as dark times, and God sees them as times to shine His light into our life. 

Darkness and light are the same to Him because is always there, even when we feel like He isn't. He is the light, and the protector from all things evil. In closeness with Him, we are safe. 

Maybe you are currently in a darkness, my best advice is to keep looking for His light. Because He is there. He is using those dark times so He can shine His light in your life.  

Struggles make you stronger. & darkness makes you appreciate that light just a little bit more.

Proverbs 8:34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

I have always said that when I write, it is definitely not from me & they are not my words. This English teacher here, failed the HS writing test twice. Hello bad writer. God has turned that weakness around and used it for His glory. I love to write now, and sometimes I just get this pounding in my heart and the words just flow. Those of you that know me, know I talk a lot a lot. So when I write, it happens all the same. This one may be a long one, but if you are going to start this thing, I urge to read it all.

Watching the video for the 3rd week of my 10 week study, I just got this pounding in my chest and had to write. &I remembered I had taken some notes previously on Proverbs 8:29-30. I stumbled across it doing my quiet time at the beach one night, and it fits perfectly into my dating study. 

(Side note---- Yes, I am doing a 10 week dating study. After some things in my past, God had laid circumstances into place so I would be directed back to Him with a broken heart that only HE could piece back together. He wanted me to be so vulnerable to Him and His teaching. Yes, 10 is a random # but that's okay. I have found 10 weeks of studying that I am doing.)

As I am doing this dating study and watching this video today by Andy Stanley-- New rules for love sex & dating... its the third week and it is talking about honoring God with our body. Our bodies do not belong to us anyways. It says in 1 Corinthians that our bodies were bought for a price, and in Romans 12:1 it says that the greatest spiritual worship is to offer our bodies a s living sacrifice. 

Ok so what does that mean -- 

that means God has given us boundaries. He bought our bodies and lives with a price. So the least we can do is obey the boundaries He has given us. 

these are my notes I wrote on this section

Boundaries are key

In proverbs 8, starting in 29 it talks about God giving the sea its boundaries not to overstep His command.

God gives us boundaries for a reason. We have guidelines to follow for  reason. What a mess it would be if the sea had no boundaries--there would be no land. 

in 2 Timothy 3:16 it says all scripture (all of God's words, teachings, boundaries) is God breathed & is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, & training in righteouness v17, so man of God can be equipped for every good work. 

The sea has a good work to do -- but it cannot be done if it does not have & obey boundaries. 

Genesis 1: verses 9 & 20 show us a little about the water/seas good work 

Let the water be gathered in one place and let the dry ground appear (He separates & gives the boundaries like in Job 38 when he shuts the sea behind doors) Let the water teem with living creatures. 

We all know what water does & that water is a need. Water replenishes, cleans, helps make things new, helps things grow. That is the good work of the sea & water.

If God never gave the sea boundaries, it wouldn't have a special job. & what happens when water oversteps its given boundaries... disaster. Flood & loss. Loss of beautiful living things that were set to grow and flourish within their own boundaries. 

So-- you may be thinking, what the world do water, sea, and boundaries of water & land have to do with me...

We have God given desires to be in relationships. That is one of God's thumbprints on our hearts.

We have boundaries within those relationships. Whether they are friendships or something more. 

We have boundaries. God gave them to us. 

You can be the sea and that person in the relationship with you can be the land (lovely picture you have in your head right now I am sure... but bear with me)

You (the sea) know your boundaries (those relationship ones.. honor your body and those similar) & you are the sea shut behind the door & God says in Proverbs 8:34 "blessed are those who listen to me watching, and waiting at my doorway" (you know, that door he shut you behind as a boundary). 

Well one day you are in a situation, and you overstep your boundary. You have now flooded the land. Not only have you busted that door down & not waited and listened to God, but you have just flooded the land. What happens when it floods... disaster. Loss of life. 

The land (the other person in your relationship) has a specific purpose & boundaries itself. But now that you have overstepped your boundaries, you have messed with their boundaries as well. Now there is damage to the land. 

Okay--science teacher stepping in for a second

overtime sea levels have changed & erosion has occurred. Overtime, because the water has overstepped its boundaries, it isn't even sure where its boundaries really are. Overtime, the land isn't even sure where its boundaries really are. Overtime the boundaries change. 

Boundaries are key. 

The sea & the land don't have to be you and another person. The sea & the land can alone be you. The sea the worldly human flesh desires, and the land your soul. When the worldly human flesh desires creep in more and more and the boundaries are overstepped and moved and confused, it is eroding the soul. When you are overstepping the boundaries God set ups for us, you are hurting yourself. Once you overstep boundaries with yourself, and slowly erode your soul.. it will be easy to overstep somebody else's boundaries and begin to cause erosion there too. 

Soooo, after this heartfelt post, that may not even clearly make sense to all of my two blog readers, I just urge you to pay attention to guidelines & boundaries God has put into place for you. All of God's Word is to help you. Help equip you for the good work He has created you for. 

so just as the sea has a good work to do that cannot be done if it doesn't have specific boundaries that are set up so it doesn't overstep it's command... don't overstep your boundaries.

plus-- how special and valuable and precious is water if it can be found just anywhere? think about it. 

Wait at the doorway. Don't overstep the boundaries God has set up for you in relationships, because when you do that, when you overstep His command, you are hurting others as well as yourself. 

Blessed are the ones who wait at the doorway. Blessed are the ones waiting at the boundary God has set up for you. 

-B

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Last post, I updated all one million blog readers I have, that I got a job. 

Yay hurray! A "big girl" job! 

Well this past week I have had the chance to get in my dusty organized awesome class room & get started!

Now, lets just get this out in the open... I am by no means a classroom guru. However, I have prayed a BUNCH about how to go about setting up the room. I have prayed about everything from colors to use, to how I set up the student desks, and the room in general.

Day #1 #PanicCity (and yes, I did just use a # in my blog post)

I can tell you that I did not stress at all, all of the praying worked and I set my classroom up in ONE day; but that would be a huge lie & nobody likes liars... I started to stress A LOT. 

I have worked four thousand days; and here is how the timeline played out

Monday- Panic, stress, & A trip to walmart, staples, dollar tree, office max, AND office depot

Tuesday- More panic, stress, anxiety, & TWO trips to walmart, staples, & dollar tree in the same day.

Wednesday - less stress and panic, slowed down a bit, prayed a lot and just kept planning. 

Thursday - excited to go work, finally receive a teaching desk (who would have thought that might be a necessity), and walked out by lunch time un-panicked, 

Wednesday evening, worn, tired, and bogged down is when things all seemed to click. Things were falling into place. Things didn't happen immediately like I had wanted, or exactly how I wanted, but I got to see God working in me & in my room. He had worked all those annoying quick trips to a million a few stores, picking up super random things here and there, and the chaos all fell into place. 

I won't lie though, and I will tell you I did sort of expect things to just happen, on my time line, & the way I wanted. #howarrogant #selfish

(I am practicing my social media skills here people, since I am slowly crawling out of my pinterest & blog only hole and back into the facebook/twitter world) 

Things don't and won't ever work out like I expect, because my little brain can only see the right now & the current need want. 

I became so humbled at the fact God gave me a little peak at what He was doing. That whisper saying, "I have better, just wait.  Be patient" is the hardest thing to hear, but its stinkin awesome. 

It was a little reality check--

"ok Brooke. This isn't about you. This isn't about another teacher. This isn't about living up to that standard you set for yourself. This isn't about turning your room into a Pinterest factory. Trust me. It isn't about you. It's about Me. It's about the kids. Keep letting me work through you, but slow down & embrace the moment instead of just trying to race through. Stop worrying, keep close with me & I will give you peace and guidance." 

So, with my worship music playlist "turnt up"... Justice League hall & bathroom passes are in place. The teacher corner is set up. The desks are in rows & pods. Twitter board is ready to roll. Student data & "Growing Learner" board is working it's way up. Posters are working their way to the walls (AND sadly to the floor, more times than I would alike to allow. Thanks to every maker of puddy tape velcro & all that dadgum stuff that does NOT work for longer than, say... 10 minutes.. & is a big ole patience tester) & my word wall trees are going up Monday, Lord willing. 

Thankful for His guidance. Blessed & humbled that in a few short weeks I will be "teaching tweens in 128" and FINALLY getting paid to do so. 

Can't wait to see what God has in the works for me.

Here are some pictures of my beautiful 128 in progress! 

Humbled, excited, overjoyed, & almooost ready for my 6th graders! - B

Romans 12:12 (NLT) Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

So the cat is out of the bag now... 

I'm a counselor clown nurse doctor police officer psychic decorator  teacher! Signed my paperwork yesterday & got my official "Henderson  County Public Schools" badge! (which my dad boastfully wore around his neck, reminding me that he paid a little a LOT of money for that badge) 

When I set out on my job hunt, I was looking for 3 specific things

1- A Buncombe County school

2- An upper middle grades spot (7th or 8th)

3- An English Language Arts position

what I scored...

1- A different County 

2- A 6th grade spot

3- A Science & Social Studies position 

but nonetheless, I am thankful for what God is doing and where He is leading me. I am glad for all God is planning for me (Romans 12:12a)

Love how we think we know what we want and what is best for us, but God really knows what is going on. 

The best part of God being in control & trusting Him with stuff, is the reassurance that He is working all things together for our good. Not a few things, not just one thing, all things. (Romans 8:28) 

all-/ôl/ adverb/noun

       used to refer to the whole quantity 

He works all things together for our good. How awesome is it that He wants nothing short of the best for us?!  He can see the whole picture. He is Omniscient. 

I am following His calling for me to serve and teach, and He promises in Romans 8:28 that because I love him & am following His purpose for me that it will all work out for good in the end. So this is going to be a good school year, and a good job for me even though it is the exact opposite of what I was looking for. Trusting He answered my prayer to lead me to the right school & students for me.

I am so stinkin excited to teach, and have my own rules, and my own kiddos, and my own class, and my own room! I have seen what could be my room, but I haven't had the chance to start working in it yet. BUT that doesn't stop me from praying, planning, and preparing!

I have been praying A LOT  A LOT A LOT.
for my classroom
for myself as a teacher
& for my future kiddos

just been asking God to prepare my heart for them, and prepare their hearts for me. Been praying about everything from colors to use, curriculum & lessons to use, to the way my desks are arranged in the room & my room is set up.

I found these prayers & they are awesome!

AND like any good teacher would, I have been using a little A LOT of pinterest; & like any good first year teacher, I am extremely nervous. There will be good days & there will be bad days, but I will strive to be patient in the troubles & when things don't go my way & keep praying through it all! (Romans 12:12b&c)

But Hey, a little encouragement along the way never hurts.

Needless to say, I am very excited about the adventure I am about to embark on with my 100 6th grade preteens. Can't wait to share pictures  and stories from the adventure! Can't wait to see what God does!

Whatever your situation may be, whatever or wherever you are right now

be glad for all God is planning for you

be patient in the trouble or when things aren't exactly like you want

& keep praying. 

He has it all figured out. 

-B

(& now officially Ms. Reed)