TO TEACH

by Danna Shirley

Teacher: also called educator, tutor, instructor, coach, trainer, lecturer, guide, mentor, counselor, pedagogue . . . and I would like to add to this list mother, father, and pastor. When you have a calling as a teacher by any definition, you can find a student anywhere and at any age. Everyone should recognize that learning is a life-long process and our eyes and ears should be open and attuned accordingly. 

The learning process reaches far and wide stretching across all social boundaries and professions; however, our individual interests may be limited to just one or two areas.

It’s the teacher who seeks to bring out the gift and creativity of any person. Someone with a talent for dance or entertainment shouldn’t be forced into sports. Someone with a talent for computers shouldn’t be forced into playing an instrument. I am not athletic so you will not find me jogging or even power-walking; however, I love to read and therefore I love to write. I sit and compose stories at my computer like a pianist composes songs at a piano. I play my music with words.

God’s Word tells us to “Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

In other words, train a child up in a careful study of his individual character and capacity, and with a thoughtful regard to his future course of life; the direction in which he is bent (his inclination, tendency, and disposition). 

The biggest challenge for any teacher, then, is to discover the talent of their students and bring those abilities to the forefront; helping them to identify and pursue their future course of life to success, the very thing for which they should already be passionate. Individual gifts should be developed and encouraged for everyone; if you’re five or fifty-five (plus), man or woman, boy or girl.

When a teacher sees the glimmer of understanding and the idea of a fresh thought shine in the eyes of their student, they join in the delight of this great discovery and something new is born. Something new takes off and grows and advances and matures until the world has the--

Camera ~ 1814                        Refrigerator ~ 1913               Email ~ 1972 
Telephone ~ 1876                   Television ~ 1927                   Artificial heart ~ 1982

Electric light bulb ~ 1879        Computer ~ 1936                   World Wide Web ~ 1990

Automobile ~ 1886                  Polio vaccine ~ 1955              and on and on I could go...

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

I would love to believe every new invention, discovery, or development produces a positive outcome for humanity but unfortunately, human nature comes into play and devious minds advance destructive consequences . . . which produce dictators, wars, murder/suicide, racial unrest, divorce, abortion, and many more; so many damaging causes that frustrate any community to be able to see hope and a future.

We, indeed, must look to our teachers (and pastors) to instill in our children the desire to promote peace and find a way to put destruction and unforgiveness under our feet. 

Will you be that teacher, mentor, role model?

“FOR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION BUT OF PEACE” by Linda Watson

by Linda Watson

This is a devotion written to go along with a 21-day fast at my church for 2018; the theme was "For Such a Time as This"

            Confusion and fear seemed to be the norm for me as far back as I can remember. I had not been to church on a regular basis for many years, but I soon began to have the desire to go. I visited a few places but none felt like they were where I was supposed to be.

            Every other Saturday I would pass by Bartlett First Assembly on my way to my granddaughter's house and I would think, I need to visit there, but I never did.

            One day my neighbor, Barbe Hill, asked me to be her guest at a ladies Harvest Tea, which would be taking place at her church. When she told me where it was, I was excited to learn it was exactly where I had wanted to attend. As Barbe and I walked into the church that Saturday, I stopped just inside the door and a peace came over me. I stood there for a moment. It was like the Lord was saying, Welcome home! Everyone was so nice and made me feel as if they had known me forever—just like family.

            I began attending BFA (now Legacy Church) and was very happy with my new church family; however, I couldn't seem to shake the continual confusion I felt. I loved our weekly ladies Bible study, but for the most part I just sat there not understanding a lot of what was being said. I wanted to understand, but I couldn't! All of the other ladies seemed so much more spiritual than I. It's like a voice in my head was saying, You're not like them, you can't understand.

            I was weary of sitting in church and Bible Study when nothing was clear to me, not even the music. One Sunday Pastor Johnny gave an altar call. I felt like I was supposed to go forward but I just couldn't move. Many people had already started down the aisle and I thought to myself, I wonder if they are just faking it or do they really feel something.

            Suddenly, I had a deep longing to feel what they seemed to be feeling. I was so tired of my confusion and uncertainty. But I don't understand, I thought! A voice inside me seemed to say, Be still. So even though I felt like I was supposed to go forward, I sat down. I knew I was about to cry but didn't know why. This feeling was all so new to me.

            As I sat there, the name Joyce popped into my head. Since that's my daughter’s name, she was the first one I thought of, but then I realized, She's not here. I stood up once again, looked around, and saw Joyce Doolittle standing on the front row. She seemed to be praying and even though her head was bowed, I started motioning with my hand for her to come to me, not really understanding what was happening. When Gordon nudged her, she walked to where I was and led me to the altar. The tears were falling now. There were quite a few people already at the altar but when she began to talk to me, it was as if we were the only two people in the room. I could feel and understand everything she said and I knew God was doing something in my life.

            Pastor Johnny came up and put his hand on my arm and said a short prayer . . . “You don’t have to beg God. He is here waiting, just ask.” Then the floodgates of heaven were opened to me. Whoosh! and in a moment’s time the burden I had carried for so many years was lifted and was instantly replaced with an overwhelming joy, peace, and comfort that I carry with me still today. 

           That was my “for such a time as this” moment. All the years of searching, confusion, and condemnation were lifted and I now better understand the Bible, the sermons, and even the music. It was a life-changing day for me, and I feel sure God planned it that way.

Times and Seasons

by Danna Shirley
This is a devotion written to go along with a 21-day fast at my church for 2018; the theme was "For Such a Time as This"

The beginning of this new year may be a new season in your life—a new baby, a marriage, or maybe a divorce or the loss of a loved one—so many times and seasons throughout our years; some happy, some sad.

I am reminded of starting my life as a Navy bride. I had never flown in an airplane before I took my first flight (1968) to meet my new husband, Ron, and I haven’t stopped flying since.

Every set of orders, every move to a new destination, brought a season of change and learning. On one of those moves, twelve years into our marriage, we became new creations in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

Over the years, we crisscrossed the United States from California to New Jersey, Florida to Washington State, as well as Bermuda, the Philippines, and Japan. What an adventure! And in every location God advanced my learning in this respect . . . I knew I was leaving behind friends and sometimes even family, but I also knew God’s faithfulness would replace them with a season of new friendships and an opportunity for ministry—for me to receive and for me to give. God knew I would need these people to sow into my life for such a time . . . until the next move, the next season, the next life lesson. And along the way I was growing and maturing.

In Florida, Ron faced a problem with a prescribed medication that prevented his training in the centrifuge. This moved him from the space program to an aircraft carrier. In the Philippines, a health issue developed that brought a medical discharge and made it impossible for him to reach the goal he had pursued since he was seventeen. He had moved through the ranks as an enlisted Seaman to become a Commissioned Officer and now the remaining eight years of his Naval career were being thwarted by this illness. Dwelling on what was lost, however, was futile. Looking forward to what new thing God had for us was so much better and illuminated our understanding . . . for salvation came after these two events. Why? Because the disappointment of what was left behind and the unknown of what was ahead brought us to a place of seeking God and our ultimate surrender to His will for our lives.  

Losing my husband of thirty-four years to pneumonia at age fifty-six was the deepest loss of my life, beyond anything I’ve ever had to endure. My life changed in an instant. There was no prolonged illness, no gradual preparation for the end. One night he was with me, the next morning he was gone.

Of course, I would rather have my husband back but I realize the events in my life in these last fourteen years would have never happened as they have if we were still together. I would not have moved to Tennessee to be near my daughter and granddaughters, I would not have moved to California for two years to help my sister care for her husband and my mother, and I would not be a member of Bartlett First Assembly with my brothers and sisters here.

God has a plan and purpose for each of us as we walk through the peaks and pitfalls of our lives. I am thankful God has been with me through them all . . .  for such a time as this! 

TIME, TALENT, and the TITHE

by Danna Shirley
This is a devotion written to go along with a 21-day fast at my church for 2018; the theme was "For Such a Time as This"

Now is a great time in church history. We have access to several methods of communication to reach people...television, cell phones, internet, and social media; more opportunities than ever before to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. I realize our lives are busily taken up with family, jobs, and our children with their school and sports and friends. Then there is the “me” time we all so desperately seek. We deserve that quiet time to just sit still and rest in God’s presence. If we examine ourselves (Galatians 6:4),

 Are we using our time wisely to further the Kingdom of God…

for such a time as this?

The Gospel story never changes but our presentation of it is our own. Our life experiences put a slant on our testimony, as we share with those who have never heard the Good News of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. We each have been given a talent to be used in the Kingdom and for His glory. Part of our talent is our testimony, told in such a way that it reaches down into the very heart of the hearer. The Holy Spirit then breaks through any hardness, doubt, and unbelief to bring unbelievers into the knowledge of the Savior. The seeds we plant may be watered by someone else but God is the Gardener. He brings in the harvest after we have sown the seeds.

Are we using our talent to the fullest by sharing the love of God

and the redemption message…for such a time as this?

We are all in this together. The church is not our building at 7981 Summer Avenue. The church is our physical body that is home to the Holy Spirit. As we meet in this building, we are learning and growing, we are loving and praying for one another and building one another up in faith (1 Thessalonians 3:12 and 5:11). We are fitly joined together each one doing their part for the work of the whole at Bartlett First Assembly (Ephesians 4:16). Even through all of this, there is a price to be paid and it is paid by our tithe. We live in this world and have to survive just like everyone else with daily expenses, monthly budgets, and unexpected emergencies. Our tithe supports our team:

·        Staff salaries

·        Mortgage, Utilities, Insurance

·        Missions

·        Outreach (Family Fest, Harvest Tea, Trunk or Treat, etc.)

·        Maintenance

What we don’t ever see or hear or touch, our staff accomplishes through our tithe as we each send our support to do the work of ministry through the whole Body at BFA. But it’s not a one-way street, for God’s blessings are directly bound to our faithfulness to tithe…

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)

Are we being faithful to God’s directive to bring all the tithe

into the storehouse…for such a time as this?

WHAT DID WE DO BEFORE . . .

Writing assignment...fill in the blank...
by Danna Shirley

In trying to answer this question, I was thinking about all of our modern conveniences and what our ancestors did before they were invented, like . . .

·     planes, trains, and automobiles

·     telephones, cell phones, and the internet

·     electric lights, central heat and air

·     washers, dryers, and refrigerators

·     and the one I always think of . . . flushing toilets and toilet paper. 😊

Finally, what did we do before our independence from England, and liberty and justice for all?

I was standing in church on Sunday morning worshipping God when He suddenly brought me the right answer to the right question . . .

WHAT DID I DO BEFORE . . . JESUS?

I just lived my life in sweet abandon. I didn’t drink, I didn’t do drugs, I wasn’t promiscuous, but I also wasn’t aware of my own sin, my own lost soul, or my destination when I died.

My wake-up call came in 1980 when the Holy Spirit wooed me into the arms of my Savior and I have been resting there ever since. 

Now, the question is, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITHOUT JESUS?

DRESSED TO DIE FOR

by Danna Shirley

Writing assignment to use the following words in a story:

Fecund, Euphoria, Sanitize, Destiny, Cemetery

Having a fecund personality, I love attending social events and “dressing to kill” so to speak. The invitation to attend the Christmas Ball prompted shopping for a new dress, shoes, and purse. At Neiman Marcus, Angela greeted me with fawning and flattery. Just the way I like it. She guided me to my usual dressing room and surrounded me with many colors of taffeta, velvet, silk, chiffon, satin, and sequined dresses. Trying on these lovely gowns sent me into euphoria that swept across my memory of past balls and proms.

Etiquette prompted this shopping spree for I cannot wear a gown already seen by the public through photographs in newspaper and magazine articles. It just wouldn’t do. I cannot sanitize my appearance, I must flaunt it. I need to be admired and the envy of every female there while also provoking jealousy of every man who cannot be with me.

I selected a beautiful Valentino design from Italy; sleeveless, fully sequined, silk, with a sweetheart neckline and ruffled shoulder straps. Red, of course, for Christmas, and just under $20,000, a real bargain by any standard.

Next was the salon for the full treatment; massage and facial, a salt glow, and mani-pedi. The final touch was the upsweep hairdo. The day’s activities carried me through to the evening when I dressed and donned my diamond necklace and earrings. As I looked in the mirror, my inner voice announced, “I am exquisite!” I eagerly looked forward to enter the ballroom and allow my own grace and elegance to outshine everyone else.

Giles brought the Jag around and I whisked off like Cinderella to the ball to find my Prince Charming. I am his destiny and he is mine.

I know this road like the back of my hand but in my anticipation to arrive, I didn’t notice my speed had increased around the curves and through the hills. I was singing and daydreaming of my entrance when I suddenly hit some loose gravel and began to swerve uncontrollably.

My life flashed before my eyes along with instant regrets for all of my pettiness and pride, my envy and gossipy spitefulness. How quickly these thoughts magnified and tortured me. If I live through this, I thought, I will make things right. I will be a better person.

The car finally stopped on the edge of a steep hill and I was safe. I let out a deep sigh while all the promises I had just made to myself quickly vanished as soon as they had come. I was again the envy of all at the ball.

“Didn’t she look exquisite in that stunning Valentino gown,” Sheila commented.  

“Such a shame,” added Amanda. “And to think she was just sitting there in her car when she was pushed over the cliff by that drunk driver.”  

The two friends left the cemetery arm in arm wiping the tears from their eyes.

Christmas 2017...

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and forget why we are truly celebrating. It’s not about the Christmas cards and family pictures, it’s not about the parties and formals, it’s not about the gifts and toys, and it especially is not about Santa Claus.

            The world would want us to believe all of these things are Christmas in order to keep our eyes off of the one true Christmas Gift—Jesus Christ! He came to be born for one purpose…to die for our sins. The star above His baby’s head is overshadowed by the cross that looms in His future. A cross He willingly placed Himself on for us, so that we could be forgiven and have a future with Him in heaven.

            Yes, enjoy your family and friends, the parties and gifts, but please don’t forget why we celebrate this season and remember that He died for each and every one of us…so think about giving back to someone in need just as He gave Himself for you. 

            Have a wonderful Christmas and a bright and happy 2018…