Grace

Here I am, humbled by the love that you give

Forgiven so that I can forgive...

...Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed but alive in your hands

Love those words.

And I've been dwelling on them lately. Forgiveness is something I've really been struggling through for the past few years, but especially in the last couple of months. What's funny is I don't think I realized it was really an issue of mine until recently.

My prayer lately has been that I will be able to experience the truth in the words

"forgiven so that I can forgive."

Cheesy Song of the Week

This song embodies my frustrations with the American Christian church. Uggghhh....

"....the little church that I attend, and for all my Christian friends...God has been so good to me...."

God has been good to me....but not just because He's given me Christian friends and a little church. God doesn't call us to protection or isolation...He calls us to engage our culture in real relationships, both with ourselves and with Jesus.

Check it out and see what you think. (Two versions below.)

so good to me songs
Mp3 download | Music download

Last Day

Today is truly bittersweet. I've been a mess today. I wrote a note to my first graders below....I won't actually read it to them, but it's where my heart is right now. :)


Dear First Graders,

This year has been amazing. You have taught me so much about myself as a person, a friend, and a teacher. I have grown to love you way more than I ever thought I would. I have watched you grow in tremendous ways, and have seen God use you in my life continually.

My prayer for you is that you continue to learn and grow in who you are, that God reveals Himself to you, that you allow Him to radically change your heart, and that you know life abundantly through Jesus. I pray that the hard work we spent this year on learning to read will open a door for you to be able to read God's word, and that through reading you would come to know Him personally.

I will miss you tons! It's been an amazing year.
-Mrs. King

Haiku

Friendship Day

It's "Friendship Day" today in first grade....we're spending the day hanging out, talking about our best 1st grade memories, and making things for each other (friendship bracelets, best friend awards, etc.)   Yes, it's cheesy...but I think it's a cool way to celebrate the end of the year.  

Anyway...Frienship Day has got me thinking about my own friendships.  I'm really thankful for the friendships in my life, especially the ones I can be real with.  That's a huge gift, and a rare one. 

So here's to awesome friends (you know who you are!)    :)  

Happy Friendship Day!  

Pianos

Ahem....

A poem:

Pianos 

Pianos. Beautiful Music.  

Pianos, Pianos, beautiful sounds.

If you don't have one then go get one!

Oh beautiful sounds around the world are great.

Oh man, when will I ever get my piano?

Oh who in the world could not love piano's music?

The world just doesn't know all the beautiful music from pianos!

The world has some beautiful music.  I hope it stays like that.

Hello again.  Well, let's get back.  Pianos, pianos, the pianos in the world.

The music that I like is the music that is from pianos.

I love pianos, pianos, pianos.

Oh, the music, the beautiful music that is caused by pianos.  

I love the music that is caused by pianos.

The End

-Ethan G., 1st grade