Understanding what really happened at the Cross.

Three in one: ~Body, soul and spirit = one person. ~Matter, space, and time = one universe ~Appetizer, main course, dessert = one meal ~The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit = one God.

Seeing is believing: ~We can not see the Coronavirus, yet, its impact has made it clear that it does exist. ~We can not see Radio Waves, still, satellites, computer networks and radio, make it pretty obvious that it is there. ~We can not see Air/Oxygen, though amazingly up to now it is responsible for keeping us alive. ~We can not see, God almighty, creator of heaven and earth, who is before all things, created every thing and holds it all together, nevertheless, no other explanation makes sense to everything there is that exists.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. [John 1:3]

The greatest need for every man, woman, or child today is to have a fresh stream of the Holy Spirit from our living God pouring into us. This incredible gift will fill us with the strength we need, so that we can be confident in the uniqueness of who He has created us to be. We have all been given special skills and abilities to serve God and proclaim His love to the world. Gifts of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness wisdom, knowledge, healing, discernment, organizational skills, communicational skills, miracles all work in agreement with God’s principles and guide us in accomplishing His plans for our lives. As my 3rd grade class and I gathered on Zoom, l always love to hear what they have to say. Out of the mouths of babes, here is my students understanding of what happened at the Cross

An observant generation taking notice:

*“I learned from God’s love that He’s done so many wonderful things for us, because of His love”
*“When I see the cross I think of love and joy”
*“If you believe in God you can go on so many amazing adventures and He could help you so much.” *“He gave up His life for us so we wouldn’t have to suffer through death.”
*“If you love God, He will love you back and help you”
*“He will help you”

From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise. [Matthew 21:16]

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The first step in understand what happened at the Cross is to Humble ourselves and seek forgiveness. Life is a gift that has been given to us, what we do with it matters. Spending time with God allows us to recognize that our weakness is just a steeping stone to becoming all that we were created to be. That is if we ask God to intercede in those shortcomings. And if we do, we can be sure that the seeds of potential within us will never be wasted.

*What Scripture teaches us about God, Creator of heaven and earth:

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. [Matthew 3:16-17]

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. [John 14:15-31]

*Understanding what really happened at the Cross:

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [Jeremiah 29:11]

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow. 

Let us ask the Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, for a fresh stream of living water to pour into us and like a river flow from within us.

Until soon ~ Many blessings,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

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Pass the torch and let your light shine bright for all to see.

Light has always held great necessity for humans. It helps us to see our way through the dark, it provides us with many health benefits, it leads us to being more productive in our work and play. As athletes pass a lit torch to one another, the Olympic flame burns bright throughout the course of the games until they have reached the finished line.

This past week a member of the Care Coalition (Lovenevergivesup.com) dropped off painted stones in primary colors for our class. This provided my class with an opportunity to take action. With acts of kindness they wrote words of encouragement on the stones and placed them around town, in front of the hospitals and kept one to share with each other. As my 3rd grade class and I gathered on Zoom, I was impressed. They truly engaged in the meaning of passing the torch and letting their light shine bright for all to see!

Here are some of their words of encouragement:

*“Love”
*“Stay safe”
*“Stay strong”
*“It May be hard but you can power through”
*“Jesus gave you this life because He knew you were strong enough to live it”
*“Stay home”

It is said that our sky’s brightest star is 8.6 light-years away.

Is it possible for the light that lives within us to shine that long, that bright?!

*What does Scripture teach us about how God Provides?

And God said, “Let there be light,”and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.… [Genesis 1:3-4]

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. [Luke 9:1]

*What does Scriptures teach us about taking action?

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [Matthew 5:16]

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. [Hebrews 12:1]

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow. “When God provides, we need to take action!”

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us anew, and to release in us His wonderful gifts. May He, “produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”  [Galatians 5:22]

Until soon,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

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Pass the torch and let your light shine bright for all to see!

When God Provides, We Need To Take Action

Nothing Can Stop Jesus’ Healing Power:

Navigating Reality by Way of Taking What is “Old” and Making it New

As each vessel has a chain of command, starting with the Captain and following with a Chief Mate. I can tell you for sure, my class is filled with Chief Mates! They are ready, willing and able to take charge of their responsibilities with faith, hope, trust and love. This is a strong lesson in itself, as I watch them take the Scriptures of old, and apply it to their daily living .

As my 3rd grade class and I gathered on Zoom (what teaching looks like during coronavirus days), Team ‘A’ read Mark 4:35-41 and Team ‘B’ read John 9:1-15.

Mark 4:35-41 reads: Jesus Calms the Storm – A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”

John 9:1-15 reads – Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind – As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. The Pharisees Investigate the Healing They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “I was blind, and now I see!”

After they got the opportunity to read the scriptures out loud, I followed up with these questions:

*What do these Scriptures teach us about God?

*How do these Scriptures teach us about how we should live?

Through these Scriptures we learn that when we stay close to God through prayer, communion and repentance, we will rise to the challenges of life. We can take comfort in knowing that “even the wind and the waves obey Him!” These principles were true then and they are still true now.

We learn that nothing can stop Jesus’ ‘healing power.’ Our God encourages us to come together to offer compassion and support to one another. To share solutions and learn together as we navigate our way with Him (not apart from Him) through all circumstances, new and old.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”    (Galatians 6:2)

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow. Making connections in any way to see our students is just as important for them to feel seen, and more importantly know God is with them always!

Psalm 13, A Psalm of David, may sound like our prayer today:

How Long, O Lord?

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide Your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because He has dealt bountifully with me.

May you day be wonderful and blessed; filled with the knowledge and love of our gracious God!

Until soon,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

Nothing Can Stop Jesus’ Healing Power!