God Closes a Door

Yesterday, I faced rejection. I had applied and interviewed for a third grade teaching position in my district. I was nervous, and when I finished the interview, I did not have a happy feeling of accomplishment in my stomach. Yesterday, I got the call that the position had been filled. At first I was upset. I had wanted that position, but I didn't get it. I had prayed hard, but I wasn't going to be teaching third grade next week. Then I started to get excited. I still have my three months of fifth grade this year, and I have no idea what God has for me after that. This is really the first door God has shut because it's the first one I dared to really open. I applied for other teaching jobs last year, but I was terrified to move forward because I don't know what's ahead. Now, I'm confident that I can try doors, and God will shut the ones that aren't for me and let me walk through the ones that He has prepared. So, not only was the interview a good experience for me in the educational portion of my life, but just in life in general. Hmmmmm which door to try next.

Last Great Hope

Life has become busy lately...busy and distracting, but more of that in another post. This post is finally a book review. After posting one or two a week for so long, I can't believe it took me this long to post again. It wasn't the book's fault. I accept full blame.

I just finished Our Last Great Hope by Ronnie Floyd. The book discusses the need for God's people to carry out the Great Commission. It talks about the urgency and the fact that the church has fallen asleep in the face of this great need. I feel like I can sum up the book this way, "what could you be doing that you aren't doing to further the Great Commission and see souls saved in your community and across the world? Question answered? Go do it!" It was convicting and heart breaking to see the things that we have really dropped the ball on, yet Floyd offers hope by encouraging his readers that they can only do what they can do, but if everyone does what they can do, the job will get done. Floyd is a Southern Baptist pastor that worked on a committee to design a plan that could actually accomplish world evangelism. Now his dream is to see that plan executed and world evangelism once again become a reality.

The book was interesting. I can't say the writing gripped me, but the topic did. All that being said i do disagree with one premise of the book. That is that we are the last great hope. I know that this is not what the author intended, but I feel that I mus say it. God can accomplish His will however he wishes, but He has chosen to let us be a part of it.

I received this book as a part of the Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review.

Are you Ready?!?

Today I met the fifth graders that I will be working with for three months this semester. I can't wait! I learned all of their names today...short term memory anyway, and I can't wait until I get to be there everyday. Just like any class they come with their share of difficulties, but I felt as ready as I can be to work with them. God is so good to give me this opportunity. It felt really great to be called Miss Kauffman again (or Mrs. Kauffman depending on the student). I saw all my little third graders from last year...who are now bigger fourth graders. It's craziness I say :) I miss them like crazy, and it was so good to see them all. I was reminded today of how funny kids are. One kid, while making their scientist, sang "im gonna make my hands now" to the tune of "everybody dance now." I just stood there and smiled. I love being in a classroom more than anything else on this planet.

Rummaging

Today I went to rummage sales. That's they call yard sales here in Wisconsin. Let me recount some humorous tales and then give you a few tips for your future rummage sale.
I am a people watcher. Today was a primo day for people watching. The very first lady i noticed was about 80 or 90 and she was walking around in a suprisingly fashionable blue and white striped dress (not something I would wear, but I was impressed). She seriously showed up at every sale we were at. Some times in a car and sometimes on foot. To be honest, it was a little creepy lol. The second was the lady in the huge knit poncho. It was 80 degrees out and this lady was walking around with a blanket on. I was dying for her!! I really wanted to suggest she buy something, anything to wear instead. There was also a sale from people who must have owned a bridal shop. I could have gotten my own wedding dress for $50 brand new. They had about 15.

My purchases today included some Dr. Seuss stuffed animals for my future classroom, a coffee mug that you can write on with chalk, a new shirt, some jewelry, and a cool little cup from Japan.

Now for my tips on yard sales... #1 Do not try to hike up the price on broken items. It's stupid and just makes me stop looking at all the rest of your stuff. #2 I don't care if you only used it a few times. If it's at a yard sale, on the curb, don't expect me to pay 60 dollars for something you paid 65 for. #3 having lunch available is genius!!! I didn't take advantage today, but good thinking. #4 Just be nice! Its not that hard! and finally #5 Advertise!!! We probably missed a ton of sales because we got tired of hunting for them.

Mixed Feelings on Life

Ok, so admit it. The year really starts, not in January as celebrated, but, at the end of August/beginning of September. New clothes in the closet. New ambitions, new goals, new friends, new teachers...etc. This year has been just a little tough....maybe just weird, but I'm not starting traditional school for the first time since I was three years old. Admittedly, I do start subbing as soon as the calls start coming, but for now I'm struggling with not having school as a "purpose" in my life. For those of you who don't know, I did get a three month, long term substitute position at the school I student taught at. I am unbelievably excited (and if i already mentioned this on my blog...get over it...im excited :) ) But that doesn't start until October, and I want to be in classes NOW. Teaching preferably, but learning is always a great experience that I truly love, so for now I'm busying myself reading and completing projects that NEED to be done. Hoping to get sub calls soooon :)

A Vision for the world

This is a book I would have never picked up if it hadn't been for the fact that I received it through the Blogging for Books program of Waterbrook Multnomah publishing. I had heard little things about the book Radical. Nothing bad, but nothing amazing either. I mean if you look at a book and its cover is modern looking and it has a one word title, its probably going to be marketing toward a crowd that I'm not a part of. Right? Wrong. I just finished reading Radical Together by David Platt about unleashing the church to do the will of God, and Wow...that's all I really have to say. This book isn't just about unleashing Gods people to do Gods work in their corner of the world. Its about equiping people to do the work of God all over the world. If you have ever had the pulling in your stomach for missions, this book will make you be on the field right now. At least it did for me. I was encouraged to look around me and see the natural ministries that God has blessed me with. The book really makes you want to open your eyes to the opportunities that you have where you are right now.

As I was reading this book, I was expectantly waiting to turn the page and find something that made this author one of "those guys." Except he taught to sacrifice church growth if that's not God's will for your church. He instructed to evaluate if your amazing programs were the best choice for furthering the gospel. He talked about how we don't always have to find "just the right person" for this or that ministry and reminded his readers that God can use the weak things of this world.

You can (and i highly recommend that you do) purchase a copy of this book here.

Fresh Brewed Life

My morning quiet time usually consists of my Bible, journal, whatever I'm reading at the time and a nice hot-ish cup of coffee. I curl up on our "new to us" couches and spend however long I have talking to God, reading his word, writing to Him and then reading whatever book I'm reading through. All the while drinking my Berres Bros. CinnaNut Island with cream and sugar. Imagine how perfectly a book called Fresh-Brewed Life fit into the equation. Im still not quite sure how i felt about the book. There are parts I agreed with and parts I didn't so much. I feel like this book hits an issue I have blogged about before in that our society needs to know what true love is before we can expect them to understand what Christ has to offer us. I do not agree with certain statements that downplayed the importance of the question of eternal residence by replacing it with a question of our temporal response to realizing His eternal love. Though the second question is important, perhaps the second most important question, next to the first, it pales in comparison.

Overall the book was well written to include anecdotes and journaling prompts that I found to be very helpful. The book is very much directed at married women, so there were parts I skimmed fairly quickly that were not meant for me at the stage of life I'm currently in. While the book didn't "blow me away," I am by no means sad or disappointed with it.