People tend to see the public schools as the enemy instead of a place where the enemy lives. It needs to be enveloped with the love of Christ. It is a battlefield and Christ does not call us, as adults, to withdraw into our Christian circles but to be warriors in an eternal battle for the souls of these children and their parents. At the same time, being examples of a fearless parent to our children, willing to advance the kingdom through discipleship and obedience on the battlefields of our home and our culture.

Are We Wasting What We've Been Given?

I have read articles and books about people in other countries and times in history and how they have suffered, and wondered why God put me in America in this time period. It just didn't seem "fair" that I would have it so well, while others suffered so horribly. These people used those horrible circumstances to bring glory to God and to give thanks in all things.
Joni Earekson Tada, a quadraplegic, says in her article for Answers Magazine, " I'm convinced my response to my wheelchair has a direct bearing on my capacity for joy,worship, and service in heaven. Of all the things I may waste here on earth, I do not want to waste my quadriplegia!" John Piper writes in his article "Don't Waste Your Cancer" on http://www.desiringgod.org/, about 10 ways to waste your cancer, to not utilize the crisis that God has put in your life for His glory.
I don't have any of those problems. Isn't it even more evident that I should not waste being an American? Having the liberty to share the gospel freely and in the public arena, including the schools? And taking advantage of opportunities that lay themselves at my feet?
God has put me in America in the 21st century to NOT waste what he has given me. He did not put me in America during the Civil War to be a part of the underground railroad, or in Berlin during World War II to hide Jews. But he has asked me to adopt a sibling group of five children, to share the gospel in the public schools and to trust Him more in ALL circumstances. I see everyday how I have wasted opportunities, my money and my time on things that just don't matter. Ellen Vaughn in Time Peace, tells us that "God gives us enough time each day to do His will for that day." We all are here in America for "such a time as this". How much of your time,which is given to you by God, are you wasting?


This blog is about ways that God has shown me to NOT waste the opportunities which have been given to us in America.



Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Perfect Storm

So, mission accomplished? Great! Keep on donating books and they will love you!

Now, I have another idea for you that will cause a storm when you propose it, and they won't quite know what to do with it, but do it anyway.

Donate Bibles and Bible Accelerated Reader (AR) tests. There are tests out there for every book of the Bible at www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_series.asp?root=series&q=7387&x=100&desc=NIV+Student+Edition . This is how I did it. If you can't get to the link, you can go to http://www.renlearn.com/, click on the AR tab and search for NIV Student Edition.

I donated books for a while before I ever attempted this. I didn't want to come across as forcing myself and my "religion" on them (even though Christianity is not a religion!). I wrote a check to the school for the cost of two bibles and all the AR tests (there are 60 of them). At this point, it is out of the librarians hands. They have to go to someone further up because it involves the word "Bible". One school denied me because they went to the person in charge of the media centers, while the other school accepted the bibles and tests because the Superintendent of the school district approved it! So, because the highest person in the system approved of the tests and Bibles we got in! Buy the NIV Student Edition hardback, so that it matches perfectly with the tests and the librarian won't balk on this point. They might give you the check back and ask you to order it for them. That's fine also!!

The secondary school system is a little pickier about putting the bible on their shelves because they have to have "balance". They may say that they need to purchase a Koran if they have a Bible. Even though this is ridiculous, still accept it. I was hesitant, at first, to do this because I really didn't want the Koran in the school, but God revealed to me that the Koran is a dead document while His Word is living and breathing! Do not be afraid of the "competition".

This is not something that you can do right away because you want to build a relationship first with the librarian, but always have this in the back of your mind as the ultimate goal of donations!

Blessings
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