5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:5-8
Saturday was officially the start of autumn, but the temperatures last week felt very, very much like summer. It has been hot. When the kids come back inside after recess with their red faces and their hair dripping wet, that wet dog smell permeates the air through the hallway.
In my current teaching position, I do not have recess duty. (They don’t let me out of the building!) But I have done a share of recess duty in the past. Our playgrounds do have some shade available. And some students seek it out on these sultry late summer days. But others just want to come up to the teachers and complain, “I’m hot!” My response to that was usually, “Why don’t you go play in the shade?”
I’ve been doing a lot of walking the last several weeks, and I try to avoid doing it in the heat of the day because along my walking route, there isn’t a whole lot of shade. When there is, I will shift my path to be in it. The shade is a cooler location. It gives some relief from the overbearing sun. But here’s the thing about shade: it doesn’t come to you; you have to go to the shade to enjoy those benefits.
Not long ago, as I was walking, I caught myself walking beside some shade -- not in it. Here I was dripping sweat, feeling a bit miserable, honestly, and yet I was so caught up in my own thoughts, in my own habits, that I missed the opportunity to enjoy the relief of the shade.
And when I realized that, I immediately had the thought, “I do this in my daily life, as well.” It's true. I don’t enjoy the shade because I don’t purposely go to it. I get worked up and stressed about all the things I need to accomplish in my day. I worry about my job, my family, my finances. I feel the strain of juggling practice schedules and games and lessons and church activities and appointments and meal planning and laundry and house cleaning.
I need to stop and move to the shade once in a while. I need to take all these burdens to the Lord and allow Him to put them back into the correct perspective. Psalm 121 tells me He is watching over all my coming and going, and He is my shade. I can go to Him for relief.
For me, that means spending some time each morning with my Bible and my journal, reading, listening, and praying. Some days it’s only 15 minutes, but that can make such a huge difference in my day! Not because my to-do list shrinks or my schedule clears of responsibilities, but because I often come away refreshed in knowing that God is in control. All these things that I get frazzled over, they are not life or death. In the grand scheme of eternity, they are usually frivolous. And even if they’re not, God often gently reminds me that He doesn’t need me to fix anything. He is handling it just fine. He is God -- all powerful, all knowing, perfect, wise, true, holy, just, loving, and more! And He’s got this. And He’s got me. And He delights in me so much that He invites me to come and sit in the shade with Him, cool off, and find relief from the heat of my life.
I think I often try to shoulder burdens that God never intended for me to carry. I am not responsible for the choices of other people. I am not able to be everything to everyone. I cannot possibly keep everyone in my life happy. If I am being obedient to those things I know God has asked me to do -- love Him with all my heart, mind, and soul; and love my neighbor as myself--then I can sit in His shade and allow Him to take care of the rest.
So today, I challenge you, my friend: Find some shade! Sit in it a minute or two and soak it up! God is watching over you. He loves you and loves spending time with you. Let Him take care of your burdens. Let Him take care of you.
Father God, thank You for being our shade, our relief from the stress and strain of busy lives. Thank You for being faithful and true. Help us to trust You more -- not only with life’s big problems, but with all the daily challenges, as well. Give us Your perspective to see things clearly and give us Your peace to help us through our week. Remind us to come to You and to enjoy the shade You provide for us.
For Small Groups:
What are some ways that you find some shade in your day?
Share something that is a burden you carry right now so that others can pray for you specifically.
How can we help each other to find some shade?
“And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ Matthew 25:40 (HCSB)
A penny is not worth much these days, is it? It has the least value of all our currency. There isn’t anything I can think of that you can purchase for even a few pennies, let alone a single one. When someone drops a penny, and it rolls away, it is not uncommon for it to stay wherever it finally comes to a stop. Even if people notice a penny on the ground, most won’t stop to pick it up. It’s not worth the energy it would take to chase it down. It’s just a penny.
And yet, have you ever been one penny short at the checkout line? Suddenly, in that situation, that penny’s value seems increased! I had a check to cash recently. It was for the amount of $12.99. Although I wanted to cash the check, I didn’t really want ninety-nine cents of change to jangle around in my wallet! So, I searched for a penny to give the bank cashier with my check. On that day, I was very glad to have that extra penny with me. Even a penny - the least of our currency - does hold value if we have the right perspective.
In Matthew 25, Jesus was teaching about the coming kingdom of God. He told the parable of the ten virgins who were not all prepared with lamp oil when the bridegroom came. He told the parable of the talents about the servants who used their talents to gain an increase while their master was away. And then he tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. In this parable, he commends the “sheep” for good deeds done to Him -- they gave him food, drink, clothing, shelter, care during illness, and company when He was in prison. But these “sheep” were confused, asking when did they ever do those things for Him?
Jesus’ answer was our verse above: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” He then reprimands the goats for not doing the same things.
There are many people whom our world labels “the least.” They are all around us every day. Those who live in poverty, who are uneducated, who struggle with addiction, who have made and continue to make poor choices in their lives. Those who suffer with mental illness, poor health, or disability. You can probably think of others, as well. They are outcast and ignored in many cases. And sometimes “the least of these” are the children who are living with adults in these situations. Children who are in our schools every day.
These who are considered “the least” by the world are still very valuable to God. Jesus said that when we serve these people, we are serving Him. And when we ignore them and their needs, it is as if we are ignoring Jesus Himself.
Ouch! I have to admit, I am sitting here evaluating my own responses to these situations, and I’m not getting an A+. I know there are many of you, however, who probably do this far better than I. You notice a need -- Johnny’s coat is too small; Susie’s shoes are worn out; Billy needs socks; Jane can’t seem to get enough to eat at lunch; a coworker is ill or lonely; etc. -- and you do something about it. That pleases God very much! Well done! Keep up the good work!
But I think I need a reminder to value and serve the least of these. So I’m going to keep a penny on my desk at school. Maybe if you see it when you come to my room, you can ask me how I’m doing in my efforts to remember to serve “the least of these.”
Father God, help us to be mindful of the needs of those around us. Help us to pay attention so that we can notice those needs. And help us to find ways to help those around us in a way that pleases You.
For small groups:
Share about a time when you were impacted by someone meeting a need for you.
Discuss ways to meet needs in your school or community together as a group.
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. Philippians 4:5-8
What do you think about all day at school? I know that’s an impossible question, but don’t gloss over it. Mull it over a bit. It’s important. What we think about matters. Our attitude matters.
What goes through your mind when a coworker asks you to do something for him/her? What do you think when a parent contacts you asking for a week’s worth of homework in advance of their family vacation? How do you react when your student wants or needs extra attention? What do you tell yourself when you sit in a meeting during an overly busy week?
If I’m answering those questions honestly, I have to say I am ashamed of my responses.
A teacher in our middle school has a poster with this quote:
“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
(I think this quote is attributed to FRANK OUTLAW, Late President of the Bi-Lo Stores.)
Although this poster quote is not from the Bible, there is some truth here. James 1:14-15 has a similar idea: our thoughts become our actions. (James says our evil desires become sin and death.) And Paul encourages us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
When Paul writes in Philippians 4:5, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,” he implies something: We have control over our thoughts and our attitudes! We can make it something different, especially if we cooperate with the Holy Spirit working in us. And Paul says we should strive to make our thoughts and attitudes match those of Jesus. We should strive to have the attitude of a humble, obedient servant, always putting aside our own will in order to take up God’s will.
I don’t know about you, but that is not my natural tendency! The world teaches us that we have to put ourselves above others to get ahead, that we deserve to be treated well and rewarded when we do something for others, that our own interests come first. But is that the attitude of Christ?
Jesus gave up his position in heaven to become a humble man, to live and work here on earth, to obediently submit to the Father’s will - even to die a humiliating and painful death on a cross.
What am I giving up to minister to those around me? Is my attitude prideful and self-serving? Or is it an attitude of humility?
Lord Jesus, I want to have an attitude that mirrors Yours. I want to humbly put others’ needs before my own, but it isn’t easy for me. Holy Spirit, help me to notice when my attitude needs to change, and give me the desire and the knowledge I need to change it.
For small groups:
Share an area where you are struggling to have the attitude of Christ and ask others to help you find a Bible verse that speaks to that area. Write out that verse and place it where you will see it often. Pray for each other as you share.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NASB)
It would be interesting to me to know just how many decisions a teacher makes throughout one school day. I know it’s a large number. I’m not sure you could even actually count them all.
Some of these decisions are trivial, I know. Should I use the pink pen or the orange one to grade this stack? Should I drink that coffee I need even though my next chance for the bathroom will be lunch? Speaking of lunch, should I order the main entree that sounds tasty today, or should I order the healthier salad bar option?
Many of our decisions, though, are not trivial at all. Do I need to address this student’s behavior, or do I ignore it? How do I handle yet another interruption during the lesson? Is this gut feeling I have that my student is dealing with something big at home something I investigate? How do I help that student who is failing to be successful? Should I check on my co-worker now, even though I know it will probably take longer than my short plan time allows? Do I need to contact this parent today? It just doesn’t end . . . .
I need wisdom to handle all these decisions! I don’t know the best answers to many of the questions that arise during a school day, but God does. It is very reassuring to me that God is ready and willing to give me wisdom if I will only stop and ask for it.
When King Solomon took over the kingdom of Israel after his father, David, died, God came to him in a dream and told him to ask for whatever Solomon wanted God to give him. Solomon asked for wisdom in I Kings 3:7-9:
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
God was pleased with Solomon’s choice and granted his request. In fact, Solomon is still remembered today for his wisdom.
No, we are not ruling monarchs in charge of a large nation of God’s people, but we are responsible for making many decisions each day that affect those around us. And sometimes, I feel very much like Solomon when he said, “I do not know how to carry out my duties.” I want to please God, and I want to help those around me. But do I take the time to stop and pray for God’s wisdom? Do I stop and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me as I make decisions throughout my day? Do I listen carefully to hear His answers?
Father God, we don’t know everything our day will hold, but You do. We don’t always know how to make the best decisions during our day, but You do. We know You have promised to give us Your wisdom when we ask, so we are asking for it right now, Lord. Give us Your wisdom today that we might distinguish between right and wrong. Help us to listen carefully for Your guidance and to glorify You with each decision we make today and all of our tomorrows.
For small groups:
Share one situation or area in your life today where you need God’s wisdom. Partner up and pray for God to give your partner wisdom in his/her situation.
