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pray continually.
What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear And what a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness Take it to the Lord in prayer
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I did it.
It’s only the beginning but I did what I set to do. It took many years, but I finally completed it. I’m still afraid and uncertain, but I want to try. Despite many horror stories of teachers’ first year(s), I want to try. And then, we’ll look back and cry-and then maybe laugh.
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling* her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for* believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? Just "do it".Random acts of kindness, I think they call it?
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In His time, In His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time Lord, please show me everyday As You’re teaching me Your ways That You do just what You say, in Your time In Your time, in Your time You make all things beautiful in Your time Lord my life to You I bring May each song I have to sing Be to You a lovely thing in Your time
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04.18.19
It’s been some time since I’ve felt this small and broken before You, God. And it felt right. It felt as it should be.
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Sometimes, I find it easier more rewarding to endure and fight through a hard season than to enjoy a good, storm-less season.
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I want to be found faithful
I want to be found steady
I want to be found faithful
until the end
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I think about Heaven's perspective in that moment and Earth's perspective and the difference. Jesus said "It is finished," and it looked like failure on Earth, and nobody understood that Jesus fulfilled His mission. When I think about my own life and the journey of faithfulness that I want to walk, I find great comfort in thinking about whether or not our journey looks incredibly successful on this side of Heaven, there's an eternal narrative happening.
Jeremy Riddle with New Release Today
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Be faithful today
Because your faithfulness matters. It matters for tomorrow.
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scared to feel confident, because scared of disappointment.
Teach me how to be confident in all things, not just in God things. Actually, just help me to see You in all things.
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oldie but a goodie. short and not perfect but I had fun testing out 3 part harmonies
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태 호 오 빠
Favored one. Troubled one.
생각에 떠오를때마다 슬프고 또 슬프다. 요즘엔 자기도 싫다.. But they say pain gets duller in time. Never thought this would be part of my family’s story.
06.09.18
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You’re a God who loves well. You’re a God who knows His children well. Even when I don’t tangibly feel it, even when I don’t physically see it, help my faith to be enough to believe it.
Your love and grace over my life is unchanging. Amen.
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here I am waiting, abide in me I pray here I am longing for You hide me in Your love, bring me to my knees may I know Jesus more and more
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restore unto me a childlike peace, childlike faith, childlike joy.
convict me of the little things again, because I know it matters to You.
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