For the Love of God: Part 5

Upon graduating from college,

the church I had attended throughout my

college years was now my employer. My first

year of teaching was one of the first grade

classes in their Day School. Two of my

college friends also taught along with me.

One was a second grade teacher, while the

other taught music class. It was an enjoyable

year, but I began to long for home. So, at the

year's end, I resigned to return to my home

town and family.

It was so good to return to my home church

and family. A lady who had taught me piano

when I was 10 years old was in charge of

the hiring of teachers in the County where

I lived. I was very fortunate upon turning

my resume in to her and in the fall, I started

my second year of teaching, first in the public

system. The LORD is so good. He had guided

my every step. For the next 6 years I would

teach at the same school from Kindergarten

to 2/3 graders. The school I was in was a

new concept school in that it was the first

completely open classroom in a large pod.

Kindergarten was the only self contained.

Each pod was an enormous building with

4 classrooms in the corners. I taught 2/3rd

graders math/science. During this time I

was able to get my Master's Degree by

attending on Saturdays. So for a year, I spent

my Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. One

course would be completed after attending

four Saturdays. Then the new course would

begin for the next four Saturdays. At the

end of 10 months, plus writing a practicum,

I was given my Master's of Science Degree

in Administration and Supervision. It was

at this time that I bought my own trailer

and began to live the life of a bachelorette.

After 6 years another change was coming

down the road. One that would bring

joy and sorrow.

*

More to come...

For the Love of God: Part 4

For two years I worked after school from

5-9:00 pm Monday through Friday, also

on Saturday 5-9:00 pm and Sunday after

church from 1-5:00 pm.

Upon graduation from high school, I

started working full time at the same

store I had worked for the past 2 years.

It was at this time the pastor of my

church had encouraged my parents to

talk to me about going to college. Of

course they had no money to contribute

due to the low income of our family. It

was at this point we found out through

him about a Baptist college that had

financial assistance for those who could

not afford on their own to pay. I had

always wanted to be a teacher and now

the LORD had opened a door for me

to accomplish that goal. The LORD

definitely had His guiding hand in the

leading of many to assist me in getting

my education to be a teacher. Low interest

loans, National Defense Grants, and

occasional money from my church; as

well as getting on the student work/study

program allowed me the finances to get

my education. So, if I wasn't in class, I was

working in the college library processing

books. Four and a half years later I graduated,

receiving the Award for the "Most Outstanding

Graduating Senior in the Field of Education."

Thus began my life in teaching for the

next 33 years to the present day.

*

More to come...

For the Love of God: Part 3

Growing up in an area that had a small

population, most of the kids I went to

Elementary School with, I went to Jr.

and Sr. High School with also. The

sad thing is there was only 1 other

student that went to my church, and

it just so happened that he and I

didn't have much to do with one

another. It was at this time the LORD

moved in my life to share my salvation

of knowing Him and accepting His

Free Gift of Salvation. Soon

afterward I was Baptised into the

Family of God. Another forever lasting

change came into my life. I felt like a

new person. A joy I couldn't explain

had filled my life and I was telling

everyone I came into contact with about

this Joy of Knowing my Creator!

I had friends I hadn't seen in a while coming

up to me saying I had changed and they

seemed to be confused as to what that

change was. I would tell them it was

because I had become a Christian and

the LORD had saved me from my sin.

It would be at this point that they

would look at me as if I were crazy

and would not listen when I tried to

explain what "that change" in my

life was. I didn't know what I was

coming up against in the next few

years. Girls I had run around with

all of my life were now in a mocking

way calling me, "Rev. Susie." As I

look back on it, it is a shame they

wouldn't listen to the message I

shared with them. I felt the LORD

leading me away from them. I

had planted "the seed" and could

only pray the LORD would one day

lead them to Him. In my 11th

grade year, I started working at a

"10 cent" store in order to get a

car. My "friends" and I saw little of

one another in the next two years

as the LORD led me into another

direction. Some of my previous friends

were gone a year or so to which I found

out later, they had gotten pregnant. The

LORD began to lead me into a direction

of teaching. I had always played school

with the other children in the neighborhood

when I was in elementary school and I was

always the teacher. Now in my church which,

had a about 110 people, I was teaching four,

4-5 year olds about Jesus during the

evening services. I guess it was like baby

sitting, but I had them "in school."

Even though I was among Christian family

I had become a loner with no one else

my age in such a small church. The Lord was

shaping my life that would take me down

a path that I have no regrets when looking

back upon it. His Hand was directing

my every step.

*

More to come...

For the Love of God: Part 2

"From the foundation of the world, He knew me!"

I have been trying to find where this scripture is.

The closest I have come is Eph. 1:4. It still is not

the quote. I though I had written it down, but I

don't know where I put it!

*

I am always humbled when I am reminded of

this verse. The awesomeness of God is beyond

my comprehension in that He knows the end

from the beginning! He is outside of the time

continuum we are on. Before He ever created

Adam and Eve, He already knew the last person

that will ever be created! His heart must be

broken to know the multitude that will reject

His Gift of Salvation! All the more it humbles

me to wonder why I am so privileged to be one

to have accepted His Gift of Love.

When I asked the LORD to forgive my sin, I was

in third grade. It was in the middle of the night.

I woke up from my sleep and quietly got out

of my bed. I had a very high bed. My dad had

built it upon a platform that housed four

large drawers underneath. We lived in a small

trailer at the time and we utilized all the space

we had. As I knelt, my bottom was cushioned

between my inner ankles while the toes of one

foot lay across the other. I understood

that sin separated me from God.

I prayed for the LORD to forgive my sin. I

was sorry I ever had a part of my Savior's

suffering. Tears streamed down my face as

I thought of the darkness that wrapped

around the world when Christ was taking upon

Himself ever single sin from Adam and Eve

to the last person who would ever be created!

Not just any man could have withstood that horror.

God Himself in Christ had become our sacrifice!

*

My pastor's sermon from the Word of God

had brought the Holy Spirit to move upon me

in His saving Grace that night as I truly

cried in sorrow for His forgiveness of my sin.

*

There may be some who ask, "What sin could

a young child commit to bring them to this

Life changing commitment?" I had learned

in Sunday School that, "All have sinned and

fallen short of the Glory of God." Just one small

lie is enough to separate one from this Holy and

Just God. His Word also tells us that we were

conceived and born in sin. So, that in and of

itself is enough to separate us from our

Holy God. For me? I had stolen a penny pack

of cool-aide from our little "country" store

down the street.

*

God's Word says, " Salvation is so simple that a

child can understand it." I, as a third grade child,

had understood and my life was changed forever.

*

More to come...

For the Love of God

It's a shame that this phrase many times is used in the

negative. However, as a Christian, I have great excitement

with the Holy Spirit's indwelling that opens my heart and

mind to God's Love. He stirs me to want more of my

Awesome Holy Almighty Creator Savior God!

Those who do not personally know Jesus, have no idea

what Christians are talking about. That's the wonder of

God when I look back on my life. It's only in coming to the

Saving Grace of Christ that reveals Himself personally to

you. What an awesome relationship that faith in the only

Living God can bring to your life! As I grow in His Word,

the more He reveals His Truths. The more I grow in my

LORD, the less I'm interested in the ways of the world.

What becomes important is the Love of God in our

families, friends, and those we bring to Christ's

Saving Grace!

My earliest rememberance of the Lord in my

life was when I was four years old. I had been

playing with friends when they were called in

to eat lunch. I was supposed to have gone home,

but didn't. There was a metal Navy foot locker

we kids had been playing with and I decided to

climb in shutting the lid over me. In doing so,

the tongue fell over the slot locking me inside.

I couldn't get out! It was getting hot due to the

foot locker being in the direct summer sunlight.

After crying out, kicking, and pounding, the heat

turned my body into a saturated "ragdoll." I

began to get sleepy as it became harder to breath.

I remember a calmnest coming over me as I began

to pray to Jesus. The miracle is what happened

next! The mom and her children had been sitting

at the table beside the AC window unit. She says

she had a sudden feeling to check to make sure I

had gone home. When she opened the trailor door,

the first thing in her sight was...the foot locker.

I can't describe the cool/reviving breath of life that

came into me when she opened the lid! The prayers

of a four year old were answered through the moving

of God's Holy Spirit upon a caring mom.

More to Come...

Happy Valentine's Day!

When is their a better time

to tell those we love, than on

Valentine's Day!

Mom and dad were married

in 1947. They both are now

experiencing a Love we can

not know fully (until we cross

to the other side.) That being, the

LOVE of our Heavenly Father

in His fullness!

My brother and sister-in-law

were married in 1970. What

a great and wonderful couple

who puts the LORD first in

their lives! Such examples they

are to their children and others

they minister to, will forever

be rewarded!

My nephew and niece, I love you

with all my heart! You are

so loving and giving of yourselves.

I pray special blessings on you

and those you hold dear to

your hearts.

I love you!

Interesting Marks!

I noticed from the time I adopted Sam at

eight weeks old, he had this mark on the

back of his neck that looked like one of

the knights in armor. The helmet has a

spike on top and a hood over his nose!

His mouth is gaping open as if to say,

"Don't joust with me!"

My friend's cat looks as though he has

a "Phantom of the Opera" mask over

his face. Not to mention, "bat" ears!

Maybe he knows about Batman and

where his cave is(?)

One Lazy Cat

Sarah likes to sleep on her back with her feet

stuck up in the air! She was sleeping so

hard, she didn't even realize when I took her

picture! It was in the dark with the flash too!

The flash didn't even wake her up, lol!