Christian minimalism

What an eye-opening reminder today at work was for me. My day started off slow because I was so tired from spending the night before out for a friend's birthday instead of sleeping in my bed at 9pm! God gave me strength and energy this morning to get through work enough until my body truly woke up. Today, I was doing things that were either part of my job description or things that I had been told to do while "floating" (walking around an area to see if the teacher's need help). To me, it was just things that I am supposed to be doing. With some things, I went above and beyond because I felt it was needed at the time. With others, I wish someone had done that for me or someone had done it for me and I knew how helpful it was. While doing those things, I hadn't thought twice about them, but the responses I got for doing those things shocked me. There was such overwhelming gratitude and comments about how no one else ever does those things. It amazed me because I know there are others who are assigned to do the same type of things that I am. I

t made me realize that as Americans, and even Christians, we tend to become minimalists when it comes to our jobs or work ethic. As teachers, sometimes we feel that we go above and beyond too much, but are we truly completing our job description first? I realized often times we do what we are told begrudgingly or do the least possible to say that we finished. As Christians, is that truly what Jesus would want of us? Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if we all did our jobs to the fullest of our job description (having a good work ethic) and sometimes even took that extra step or two. Or goodness, even if we tried to just do our jobs to the fullest joyfully how much things would change.

Yes, I know, some are thinking "but I wouldn't be appreciated". I must argue that this is not why we should do it! We do not do things for the purpose of gaining, but to serve others as Christ did. Imagine what our lives would be like if God only did the least possible? I don't think I would want Him to limit his blessings based on my gratitude or what He would gain from me! Just think of the blessing that you could be to someone else by just doing your job to the fullest and joyfully? People may not notice at first, but at some point they will. You may not ever know it or they may express it to you as people did with me today. The point is not the recognition but the action and knowing that you have done your job for the glory of God's kingdom. If you remember, Jesus told many that He helped or healed to not tell others of what He had done, but the people were so blessed and grateful they could not help but tell someone else!

Working at this preschool has given me a lot of insight. The best part of my job is being able to interact with so many different people on staff because I learn so much through different situations. This lesson was expressed to me today. The way I have been treated here by the staff, especially the office staff, also has reminded me that little actions can go far. Asking me how my day was, acknowledging me when seen, and smiles always make my day better. If we all reacted to each other how I have been treated here and in the aforementioned method, how much better would our workplaces and lives be? I sure am willing to find out!

Work has begun...

Today was our first inservice. There is a large staff and lots of names/faces to remember. Hopefully, I will be able to remember most of them and how to get around the building. Lol. It's definitely a much different experience than public school. I am ready to get all my materials and such. I am ready to set up a plan. Still looking for a weekend job or more students to tutor. I am working on living financially on faith. I am pretty excited about what this job has in-store. I also look forward to seeing how God will provide. Working with people I know is good too.

You finished it?

I went up to the preschool today to met up with the music teacher, along with asking some of my questions to the director. I got my questions answered and got to sit in during a few music classes. I have a feeling I will like doing this, along with being able to get a workout at the same time. haha. I am planning on going back the rest of the week during the mornings to observe more of the classes so I can catch on to how things work and begin to learn all the hand motions and songs I don't know. The teacher also gave me some binders of songs, hand motions, and articles to read to prep me for some of the responsibilities I have. I will probably use some more of my EC resources from LU and the internet for some more fun and interesting activities to do.
The director also did not know that I had finished my Masters. So that means my salary quote was inaccurate. So perhaps things will not be as tight as I had thought. I do not know what the new one is yet, but it's another provision God is providing. For that, I am excited and grateful.

Checkmate... I don't think so!

Pastor preached a message this morning that spoke to me and made lots of sense. Even though I am not a good chess player, I do understand the game. He described times when Satan thought that he had God and the saints in "checkmate", but what he doesn't see is that God, the king, has the final move. No matter how much we feel our back is against the wall and there is no way out (checkmate), God always has a way out, a final move if you will. Great sermon! He gave Biblical examples from throughout the Bible and then applied it to our lives.
If you have been reading my previous posts, then you know that I have felt like this job I took has put me in a corner financially that I was unsure I can get out of. But I forgot that in my life it's never "I", it's "we". God and I. It's not whether or not I can get out of it or if I can make it work, it's if "we" can make it work. Nothing is impossible with God and He will never leave us. So when I have done all that I can do, that's where God can work. I need to do my part and let Him do his. The final move is His and He always has one. Satan does not know His plans (unless He allows the plans to be known) and sometimes I don't either. God does not have to explain Himself. He knows the outcome and I'm glad to know that He always wins. There is never a doubt or guess about that, it's fact. Just some thoughts to share.

The provisions begin

Well, God has already started removing expenses from my life for this new job. Even after talking with Mom yesterday, last night was still intense. As I was checking my account to see which bills had cleared, I noticed that one of my automatic payments was lower than normal. Although that means that I will be saving some money it is still a little sad because one of my kids was departed from the program. So even though I would not drop my sponsorships (or rather didn't want to in order to save money), one was removed for me. I'm not excited about it, but I am glad that the large number of how deep in I am has gone down slightly. There are more things I need to try to cut on, but I am slowly working on that. Also I am looking into getting a job on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday), but I am worried about missing church. I am hoping that God will allow me to find a job that I can do those two days, but not have to miss church. Maybe even just one of those days. Working only all day Saturday only would be ideal, but nothing is impossible for God! Who knows? It could turn into a full-time summer job and part-time during the holiday breaks where I may not be able to work as much at this new job.

Mom

I decided to call mom. Talking to mom usually makes things better. We discussed some options on my car so that I can finally get it turned over to me and have it all put in my name. They think it would be cheaper to pay my insurance in Texas, for which I grateful that they would still help pay. I don't think I would be able to handle yet another expense. Then we talked about me moving back up North. Really the only thing that is truly "holding me back" is my lease contract. Once that ends in April, there is a possibility that moving up North could prove for better job options. The current discussion leads to MD, but time will tell if that is a possibility. From the MD website I saw, changing over my certificate wouldn't be so hard since I've taught for 3 years already. That also would mean being able to be closer to family, which would be helpful in these economic times. I don't know what I think about this plan, but having more options doesn't sound so bad.
Talking things through with Mom makes me feel like this is the job I need to be at, even with all the sacrifices and craziness that will ensue. Even if other jobs come up, this may be the one that I still choose. I asked God for open or closed and this is the only one that has been wide open. I cannot argue with that sense. There must be purpose in the reasons behind having this particular one.

The job

Well, I should be excited. I have found a job working at a local Christian preschool. Part of the day I am the music assistant and the other part of the day I will be in different classes. It sounds like a great job and I will be working with some people that I already know. It's close to home and the hours aren't that bad. So what's the problem you say? The money that it makes without any benefits covered and I have student loans out the wazoo. I tallied up how much I would have to pay in bills/loans for an entire year (including estimated gas and without groceries) versus how much I would make (even with tutoring on the side). It didn't come out too good. Being able to rely on God for THAT MUCH extra money is just whoa.
There are things that I am looking into changing, but even those will be leaps of faith. For example, I feel like I am having structural problems in my apartment, which I have brought to the attention of the complex, but not made a big fuss about. However, if they are planning on moving someone in upstairs, I sure will! But, if I can manage to get out of this one and into a smaller one (even though I may lose W/D in that instance *BOOO*) it would save me some. The heartbreaker to cut out would be Compassion. That eats up a lot of my money, but I feel that it is going to such a great cause and they need it too. I love those kiddos and to have to take away my sponsorship would hurt. Once I get a finalized schedule and officially hired response, I will be off unemployment and calling my student loan companies. Sallie Mae is the only one that I am currently dealing with and the rest starts in December. It almost makes me wish I didn't go back to school, but I did learn a lot and it has kept me sane during this period of unemployment. I am hoping that there is a way that I can have my loan payments reduced or stop for a bit or something.
Grandma called me the other day. She suggested I move in with her and find some work. Thinking about it, it wouldn't be too awful to move back. However, finding teaching jobs there would be an easier from what I have heard and I have no knowledge of how things work up there. That freaks me out a little. The cool part would be seeing family and friends up there more often and learning how to cook other things from Grandma. Did I mention that I love her back porch too? Lol. Of course, I would pay her some amount for being able to live there (whether or not she wanted it) and groceries etc. Maybe when this lease is up? I don't know.
Being around family would be so helpful right now. This is so scary being down here and the prospect of things falling apart. I just don't know how this is going to work out. I guess that is where God comes in, huh? Taking what I cannot do and making it work.