Don't Give Up!

Its Thursday! I've once again survived the marathon first half of the week. Now I can relax. As much as I know how. I have snicker doodle dough chillin', and my tea pot and I are going to have some bloggin' fellowship.=)
Tomorrow is the last day of school before spring break. Every year as I hit this time of year, I am in a quandary. Do we skip spring break and press on for an early school finish, or do we take a break, recharge and then do the final push? This year spring break won out. We have been having nice weather, I have sewing to do, and we still can finish school 6-7 weeks after spring break. That is before Memorial Day, and that will work great. I have a love-hate relationship with this time of the school year. "Weeks left" is in the single digits, and all we have to do is finish strong. Persevere.
Isn't that the pinch? It is easy to start something. The enthusiasm for the new endeavor gets you well into the project. But then it gets a bit of a drudge. Same old-same old. Day in-day out. I know from experience that the period after spring break in all my activities is always the hardest. I have had a taste of schedule freedom, and it is hard to buckle down once again.

House beautiful. Now I can start on the garden.

Finishing well is key. When I race, and even on my regular runs, I try to push it that last 1/8 of a mile. Run my heart out-literally. My legs and arms are pumping faster than they have the entire run. I time myself. And this past week, my last 1/8 has dropped 15 seconds. Finish strong.

A job well done.(almost=))

Speaking of finishing...our siding is done. Well, except for wrapping the front door, and painting the front porch posts. It looks amazing. Mr. Hippie, and crew, did a great job. And they actually finished about 10 months sooner than I was expecting. I was terribly afraid that it was going to drag on another year. That'll teach me to be so pessimistic.=)
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)
Even the youths shall faint and be weary (I still consider myself a youth-though maybe that is part of my problem=)), and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)
These familiar verses are proceeded by the amazing description of the infinite God's infinite wisdom and power. He doesn't faint. He isn't weary. There is no searching of His understanding. And God promises power to the faint, and strength to those who have no might.
I do a Bible Club in a public school. The past couple of weeks have not gone well. I lost my main girl Friday to the State capitol. I have been doing most of the teaching. And it is weary work. Carrying the burden of studying, discipline enforcement, and teaching all by myself. We have been averaging about 20 kids, mostly 6-8 years old. They have just been through a long day of school. They are sleepy. This results in wiggly-ness to keep themselves awake, or just plain falling asleep. Do you know how hard it is to feel like you are making a connection with a sleeping kid?=) And it has been warm, and gorgeous outside, luring the kids away from BC. I'd rather be outside-why wouldn't they feel that way? I was getting rather discouraged. And then we studied Ephesians 6 in BSF. I am reminded again of how we are in a battle. The public schools are Satan's territory, and here we are bringing the truth about Jesus Christ, sin, sinners and salvation to these kids. He can't be happy about it. But, what weapons do I have for this warfare? Ephesians 6 lists prayer and scripture-plus girding myself with this armor to protect my mind and heart. Putting on the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. Undergirding it all with truth. And I was reminded once again that we are not called in Ephesians 6 to fight. Three times we are told to put on the armor. Three times we are told to stand. And three times we are told to pray-praying always, with all prayer, and keep on praying. It is God's strength, and its God's panoply. Not us screwing up enough determination to keep on keeping on.
I prayed about BC yesterday. It is so easy to rely on my "own great teaching skills". But they were not cutting it. I prayed and prayed. I cast myself on God. It is His fight, His victory, His strength, and to His glory. Not mine. And I told the story of the crucifixion. I talked 40 minutes to these kids using the resurrection eggs. And only 1 child fell asleep. The rest listened like never before. They heard what it truly means that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. And it was all God-none of me. Persevere in God-not self. How many times do I have to relearn that? But they that wait upon the Lord. That is the key. That is the difference between success and failure, strength and weakness.

And, "all good things come to those who wait."