2 Minute Lesson Plan

Now that school has resumed and we are well off to a fantastic start to the new school year, it has been brought to my attention, by the Glorious Holy Spirit, that there is a commonality between school and The Bible. I am sure there are several things they both have in common, however, I shall highlight one that I depend on when called to perform my job.As a substitute teacher, I depend on the lesson plans a teacher leaves for me to follow and teach in her absence from class that day.A lesson plan is a detailed instruction on the subjects and assignments the class is currently working on. It also includes schedules for the class, page numbers, helpful information, safety proceedures, health info, dismissal info, staff info, phone numbers, end- of- day requirements and such. All needed information a substitute teacher will need to ensure smooth sailing in a successful day of learning, in the temporary absence of a teacher. It is very time consumming and takes way longer than 2 Minutes. As the Spirit began to teach me this particular subject for this posting, I entitled it 2 Minute Lesson Plan cause that is about the amount of time Jesus took to give out His divine plan of salvation to Saul of Tarsus by way of Ananias. So as it goes, Saul was on his way to Damascus with permission slips from the high priest of the synagogues to arrest and bring back bound and gagged, those who followed Jesus (Acts 9:1-2). On the road to Damascus, wham, he was struck and blinded by a light from Heaven, and a voice asking him what's up with that? (author's paraphrase). Saul had the good sense to fall to the ground and ask who are you and what do you want me to do Lord? Jesus said to him go into the city and it shall be told to you what you must do.So in a matter of a couple of minutes, the persecutor of the followers of Christ,who is now blinded from this Glorious Light that shone all over and around and through him, had a 2- way conversation with the Creator of the Universe and his original plan was altered forever.(Acts 9) As he and those who accompanied him came in to Damascus,he couldn't function at all for 3 days. No eating, no sleeping, no seeing, nothing except praying. It is always comforting to know when our world has been turned upside down, we can pray, and God hears us and answers us,by faith (Jeremiah 33:3). At this time God spoke to a believer named Ananias in a 2- way conversation and gave Ananias the rest of the 2 Minute Lesson Plan to give to Saul.I believe God uses believers cause they walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7). So Ananias followed the plan after God assured him that Saul is the one I am going to use. What was this plan you may ask? That Saul would be the one God chose to bring the message of salvation (Jesus) to the Gentile nation of people (you and me, if you are not a Jew) and to Kings and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). It took 2 minutes to spell out what would be a life altering, life changing, message to a nation of people our Loving God included in THE PLAN. You and me. I stand in awe of the way He chose to tell us and the person selected to deliver this message and more so THE PLAN. He chose a person who by all accounts believed the Word but not THE WORD MADE FLESH (John 1:1). So He came to Saul personally, preached Himself to Saul and made him an Apostle (sent )(Galatians 1:1,15,16). Jesus convinced this former persecutor with a 2 Minute Lesson that changed his heart and caused him to preach Christ and Him only for all his life forward. No matter what happened to him, he preached Christ and Christ alone(2 Corinthians 11:22-27)! He used his life's work as a persecutor of The Way, as a testimony of the life change. Only a loving Jesus can cause that kind of change. Out of the 27 Books in the New Testement this Apostle wrote 13 for sure and possibly more. Hebrews and a good part of Acts maybe. That is more than Peter a beloved disciple who walked alongside of Jesus, James and Jude (aka Judas-not Iscariot), Jesus' half brothers. I think that this is significant information since all Scripture is Holy Spirit inspired. The Holy Spirit chose who would minister to the larger segment of His people. He covered everything from love to hate and everything in between. He preached to the Gentiles that Christ is inside each and all of us and that we can believe by faith (Galatians 3:14). His message on the GRACE of God has set many believers free (John 8:36). God wanted His message brought to all of us and He chose Saul (later Paul) to bring it. Saul is not the way of salvation, He is the preacher God Almighty used to deliver the message. Thank God for Saul's obedience to this mighty call on his life. We are all called to have an impact on our world as well. We have been given a 2 Minute Lesson Plan also. It states it clearly in Mark 16:15-18: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature..." Tell someone about The Living Christ and His saving, healing power found in an intimate relationship with Him. John 3:15-17, John 6:32-50,John 14. God loves you I love you and Jesus is Lord!!

SHHHHHH LISTEN CAREFULLY

Well it is that time of the year again.  By now we are all back in school all over this nation and well on our way to a new year of learning and teaching. It is very exciting this new school year for many reasons. Newness always brings with it an excitement on the level of that kind of  kid- anticipation you have on Christmas day or an unexpected party  in your honor or being chosen for something from among many contenders. As a teacher (substitute) I have begun to hear myself and the slogans we educators find ourselves saying tons of times in the course of a day. One of them is  simple but effective:  Shhhhhhhh. You may say it at times as a parent or in your line of work as well.  Shhhhhhh, followed by Listen carefully are words students hear that tell them that the information next is important, so listen up. God told us in His Word something similar when He said "Be Still and Know that I AM God....."Psalm 46:10. He was saying so much more than shhhh. I think He was telling us to quiet ourselves from all the noise (white and otherwise)  and listen for His Voice.  Remember when God AlMighty was speaking to Elijah  after Jezebel threatened his life, he was in a cave and God said to him to stand on the mountain where He passed by in an earthquake, strong wind and fire. God said to Him that though these things happened ,  He was in the still,  small, voice that came after all that. 1Kings 19.   This sounds a bit like God was saying that although things come and shake things up, break things and sweep things away, He is still there so quiet yourself and listen for Him.  He's not in the noise and racket of life, He is still, quiet, peaceful.  Another thing I find myself saying in my classrooms with the students a lot is : "1,2,3 all eyes on me".(lower grades of course)  That is a way of helping students to track the teacher (speaker).  When tracking occurs, this technique allows students to focus better on what is being discussed at that time and their complete attention is on the speaker. A student can hear and process their directions better and proceed with classwork or whatever, with a clearer understanding of what is expected. Non- focused students can't process as well and repetion will have to happen. Likewise with us if we put our eyes on God and trust His Word, we too can get a clear understanding of Him and what is required of us. We can't do that if we are not focused on Him.  We have many things that snatch our attention away from God. Much of it we allow and some we freely give away. Besides having every electronic device mankind has ever made, we have every event we must attend in a weeks time, every function must be kept by us or our kids,our calendars and date books and planners are loaded down months in advance of this date. We busy ourselves a great deal and that doesn't include tracking God. Cause to track God means time spent with Him. How you ask?  Reading His word,  something called Bible reading, talking to Him,(much like you would talk to a dear friend or loved one), Listening to Him, quiet time in His Presence, praying to Him in the Spirit or in your own words, singing praises to Him,(we were created to praise God), all out Love- Making to our God. Time well spent , if I may say so. You give it a try, and see for yourself.  At times when we are in traveling position,at school, we are about to leave the classroom for another location in or out of the school. We could be going to a resource or lunch or outside, etc and during this time of movement, I tell my students that we are in the "Quiet Zone" there is no talking.  Some times there are those who "forget" and when I catch them my response is typically "shhhhhh,  we are in the hallway and it is a quiet zone, no talking".  It works most of the time. We try not to disturb other classes, learning is happening all day in every classroom, every day. Quiet Zone?   In our everyday lives our Quiet Zone is that place in your spiritman, innerself, where God is constantly speaking to us. He is speaking to each person with blood flowing in their veins. That is you and that is me. SHHHHH can you hear Him?  Go to your Quiet Zone and listen for Him.  There is noise in this world so you will have to quiet the noise to hear cause His voice is still, small. No talking in the Quiet Zone only listening. Turn off that electronic thing for a while, it will still work when you turn it back on later.  SHHHHH   Listen  SHHHHH. Also in our quiet zone there is peace. A kind of peace that is unexplainable, indescribable.  When all else is falling apart around me, This Zone, this quiet place of peace is where God tells me (and I hear Him) I am with you and I WILL not leave you alone through all this.  Others may leave (people are human) but God says I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!!!! Sometimes He says it over and over and over again and again. That is very ironic cause in my profession I find myself repeating things a lot as well. Maybe it will sink in this time.  Listen Carefully is another thing we teachers have said frequently.  That can give the students the ability to know what they need to do, how to do so and a time frame. To Listen Carefully involves more parts of your body than just your ears.  The ears are vital but so are your hands, feet, legs, back, head, eyes, arms and hiney. All of this can be summed up with one word--- posture. Sitting up straight in your chair, feet and legs together, hiney flat in the chair, back straight hands and arms together, folded in front of you eyes on the speaker, ears tuned, head moving tracking the speakers movement.  Now we are in a good listening posture. If we are walking around while there is teaching going on there is a possibility to miss something. Listening Carefully posturing occurs during instructional time of course. Likewise with our God, we need to assume the position for Listening Carefully to Him.  All of these things (and others)  work together with eachother for a successful outcome in any given school day and they can do the same for us as we seek  time with our God. Perhaps you know all this already and if so be refreshed. Cause The Holy Spirit has charged me with writing this blog and as an obedient child of THE KING,  I accept. Maybe it is for me  to taste and see as well, I accept. Could be for a hungry soul longing for a Word from on HIGH, receive what the Spirit is saying through this mouthpiece. What ever or whichever these God,  uses the foolish things of this world to confound the things that are so called wise.1Corinthians1:27. I shall gladly be whatever He says I am and do whatever He says I can do. Philippians 4:13. When you are in Love, as I am, you gladly do whatever God says. As I FALL IN LOVE EVERYDAY, God shows me things that only He knows about me and how to deal with it all. IT IS A WONDER OF GOD the mystery that He reveals through His Word and time with HIM. So class lets review:  SHHHH and listen Carefully The KING of The UNIVERSE is speaking to you,  1,2,3, all eyes on THE WORD of GOD, it will minister to you,  Track the SPEAKER, THE CREATOR GOD ALMIGHTY IS MOVING,  NO TALKING in The Quiet Zone, Listening only, turn off the Noise   Shhhhhh and Listen. Assume the position for listening and Hearing from God.  Isaiah40:28-31.   God Loves you,  I love you and Jesus is LORD!  Genesis 1,  Psalm104.