Tag Archives: great prayer

The Good Shepherd

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The chapter we covered this week in class talked about how good shepherds love and care for their sheep. It also shared how Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. We learned a lot about the nature of sheep. Sheep have very interesting personality traits, many similar to us. We also learned how good shepherds are a reflection of God’s love for us.

In this chapter, all the kids had the opportunity to pretend that they had a little sheep. I believe that once they learned they had to give it a name, they became very close to the it. When I asked them about the name they chose and why, they all gave more or less the same response; “Because I love that person, they are very special to me.” Anabelle said, she chose the names, Mary and God, for that reason alone.

I turned on a video as I shared how they are all very special, and will always be, because God made them and gave them all a meaning and purpose. The film was about a little crippled sheep who felt left out and different. This then brought him a lot of anger, to the point of going out into the wilderness on his own. He wanted to prove to the rest of the sheep that he did not need them. This pride brought the little sheep into great danger as he faced a giant lion. This made Siena turn to me and say, “My hands are sweating!” As she waited fearfully of what was going to happen. Sure enough, just as the great lion was getting ready to feast, the Good Shepherd interceded and saved him.

Even after the blessing of being saved, the little sheep was not very happy. He was still crippled and different from the rest. Then, one night when all the sheep were on their way to the green pasture, he had to stay back at the barn. On this night, there was one very bright star in the sky, and a lovely lady and her husband entered the barn. Next the little sheep realized that a beautiful baby boy was just born. Then, the couple looked around for something to help keep their newborn baby warm on that cold night. The little crippled sheep realized, for the first time, that God had a great purpose for him. The little sheep would be the one to help keep the newborn baby warm.

After the film, I said, “Look at my lips. There is something I want you to remember always.” They asked, “You want us to remember your lips?” I said, “No, I want you to remember not only what I say, but I want you to see what I am saying. I want it to be seen with your eyes, heard with your ears and received in your heart. God made you very special, and has great plans for you.” I have to say, that all their little smiles, are enough to make a teacher feel the presence of God’s great love in the room.

 When we feel broken, it is truly a time when we see the hand of God in action, protecting us. As the psalm of David says, in psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

May God bless you always,

Deanna Danielle

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Where Everybody Knows Your Name

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“Making our way in the world today takes everything we’ve got. Taking a break from all our worries sure would help a lot. Sometimes we want to go where everybody knows our name, and they’re always glad we came…” Just a little change to the words in the television theme song ‘Cheers’. Our class this week reminded me of the lyrics to this unforgettable melody, stressing a sequence of notes that is musically satisfying.

A smile that says, ‘it’s you!’ A quick, long wave like a puppy dog’s tail that conveys, ‘I’m so glad to see you.’ A hug that expresses, ‘You mean something to me.’ Priceless. With that being said, I thank my 1st grade class of 2013 for that warm greeting. Just like all of them, It was very special. They have all grown so much since last year. It was so great to see them.

As our class is coming together this year, it is wonderful to see them with that same little wave and smile. As they look around to see if all their friends are in the room, I hear a little voice ask, “Where’s Cathrena.”(Cathrena, Ben & Mark are our class helpers) We are very blessed to have them with us. What a beautiful feeling that was. I wanted to call Cathrena on the spot and tell her that she is missed already, and it is only our second class!

I once read a small article that left an impression on my heart. It stated how we all need friends who will stick close, listen, care, and offer help when it is needed — in good times and bad. The article shared how it is better to have one true friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances. Also, how instead of wishing we could find a true friend that we should seek to become one. There are many people who need our friendship. Then, we should ask for God’s guidance to them, so we can take on the challenge of being a true friend.

While I prayed one day, I asked, “Lord do our hands really know how to love?” I looked down as my hands came together. The left hand made the shape of the letter ‘L’ and my thumb and fore finger formed the letter ‘O.’ The rest of my three fingers on that hand spread into a very clear ’VE.’ All I can say is, God is forever blowing me away with His awesome love.

As I conclude this week’s blog, I want to thank Ryan for bringing in his rock collection, and treating our class to our first Show and Tell. It made a perfect ending to planting pumpkin and flower seeds, and talking about how important it is to take care of all God’s creations.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

Deanna Danielle

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Change Of Plans

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I am grateful for the opportunity to share God’s love through our first grade class. During the last two weeks, our class has been involved in the filmmaking of 201 Boulevard. My plan was to film one hour a week for two weeks, to prepare for a film festival that I would like our class to be part of.

At our first week of filming, I was asked to take in a second class. No problem. With Dominique, Kristin, Hope, and Juliana helping, we can do this. I had prepared a lesson, so the girls could lead part of the class while I went into another classroom to start filming. I have to say, after filming for a few minutes, I knew we had a lot of little stars in our class, and they were all ready to give it their best. I’d say, “Okay, say that line one more time,” after they had already said it five times. They’d just giggle, with a sigh and smile, saying, “again!” They were so excited to get it just right.

Back in the classroom, the lesson was going on about Adam and Eve. How God told them  never to eat the forbidden fruit on the tree in the middle of the Garden. As Dominique shared how they bit into the apple, Ewan raised his hand and said, “I eat apples, am I bad?” Thank God for His grace as we enter these precious moments and respond to  sensitive questions! Both filming and class were cut short when we were reminded one of our parish priests was waiting for us at the church. We quickly packed up and headed over.

On our arrival, the priest said, “repeat after me.” He said, “Jesus” and the class repeated, “Jesus” and at that moment a few of the kids began chatting, so to get their attention he turned to them and said “HELLO.” In a moment, 28 first graders repeated “HELLO” in his same tone! It was so funny the priest, himself, could not keep a straight face.

As we plan our time, it’s very important that we leave room for change, because it’s often in the change of plans that some wonderful things will take place. As I plan for this upcoming week, week 3, to finish with the filming project, I pray for God’s blessing, peace, grace, protection and guidance to live my life in the plan He has prepared for me. As David said in the Psalm 139:3-18 , “ You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment You know where I am…” This always reminds me that God takes care of us.

Last week was Dominique’s last week with our class, since lacrosse practice has begun. Now, it’s up to Kristin and me to fill in the joy that Dominique’s presence brought to our class. We are going to miss you Domi!

I look forward to sharing our film production with you in next week’s blog.

Blessings Always,
Deanna
Picture taken by Dominique

Picture taken by Dominique

“…deliver us from evil.”

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Ally asked,“…deliver us from evil, what does that mean?”
“Yah, deliver us from evil?” asked Salvatore.
The Lord’s Prayer,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
What a great way to start the class. A great prayer and a great question!
“Did you ever get angry at someone for taking your toy?” I asked them. “How does that make you feel?” Do you just want to hit them sometimes? “Yah, my cousin takes my stuff all the time.” All their little stories came out. Well, God loves us so much that He wants us to be aware of the things that can hurt us, or those around us. That is why He has us pray for all the things we need to help and protect us everyday. “Ohhh, that’s what it means. Now I get it.” As they breathe a sign of relief, so did I.
This made me think of this past Sunday’s reading about how God formed us in the womb, and how He has great plans for us. How we need to strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts and most of all, how import it is that we love one another and likewise, what the priest had to say about all this. “Love, he said; is a word we should not use so loosely, for its value is so great. However, it is the action of love that we should practice using a lot more often. How can we love all people all the time, when sometimes they have done what’s wrong to us? It is the gift God gave us to pray, to pray for their salvation. This is the greatest gift of love that we can give always.”
To be able to share God’s love with our class is an awesome privilege. One I am so grateful for. As our class continued, Kristen, mentioned that she could not find her phone. As Dominique called it, we all heard the vibration, but we could not figure where it was coming from. Fourteen 1st graders looking high and low. Their teamwork was awesome. Thanks to Nickolaus, who found her phone in a pail, and made everyone smile.
In conclusion for the day, we headed over to the Church to get more familiar with the main areas of the church, the altar, the pews, and the Stations of the Cross. As we knelt before the tabernacle to genuflect, we looked up toward the cross. For when I ask them, “What do you see when you see the Cross?” they always reply, “a hug!” It was beautiful to hear Samantha say, in the silence of our class, “I just want to go over there and hug Him (Jesus).”
It is the future that our children will hold in their hands, Though I wonder how our hands will mold it for them. It is my prayer that we all join together and ask God to deliver us from evil, from all the evil that is desensitizing our world today.
Brothers and sisters: Love is patient. Love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4
Have a very blessed day,
Deanna
A Prayer