Psalm 119:147

I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I have put my hope in your Word.

This verse became a morning prayer for me several years ago,

and I still cling to it today.

I woke this morning, feeling anxious about a new trimester at school.

New students in all my classes.

Large classes almost every period.....30, 31, 32 students in my three largest.

22 and 28 in my other two.

140 lives will intersect with mine today, and honestly, I'm still half awake sipping coffee, knowing that before one of them enters my room there are several things I HAVE to get accomplished.

Printing lesson plans in the library,

placing Post-it notes on desks to make my seating chart easier for them to figure out,

getting standards posted on my board and bell work ready for them to complete.

Yes, the whole morning routine makes my chest cave in today; yet I know one thing that covers all of this in a sort of cozy blanket like the one I am curled up in this morning.

MY HOPE IS IN HIS WORD!!!

I don't have to hope my classes are well-behaved.

I don't have to hope my lesson plans print out okay,

or my bell work is ready to go, or my standards meet state expectations.

NO!  I will do my best at all of these earthly things, but MY HOPE IS IN HIS WORD.

So,this morning as I think about my day and reflect on God's promise to never leave me or forsake, I feel so much better.

Then I think of several of my friends I have talked to or spent time with this weekend, and I know that without the hope of God's Word their lives would be overwhelming too.

Marriage problems, custody issues, grandchildren facing the consequences of drug use, financial stress, health issues.......

so many of my friends are going through tough seasons and while I can listen and pray for them, I cannot fix anything for them.

"What can I do?"

That's what I ask myself so many times as I hang up the phone or come home from a visit with one of them or spend some time texting with them.

Sometimes praying for them seems like such an easy way out.

I don't want to be a friend who takes the easy road.

But deep inside I know that God is the only One who has the power to work in ALL situations.

I know that right now the biggest hurdle for each of my friends is facing today.

Facing what's next.

Facing it with courage and with hope.

So, my prayer for each of them this morning is that they will rise before dawn and put their hope in Him!

Today, what are you facing that seems insurmountable.

I'll be walking from my house in about an hour and 15 minutes, getting in my car, taking Olivia to her school, and then venturing to my classroom to begin another week of teaching.

This past Friday, one of my classes who I was saying "bye" to said, "Can we take a picture for a memory?"

Here's part of my daily crew!

Praying for all of you as you head out into whatever your Monday holds.

Cling to this verse.

Have hope!

Psalm 119:147

I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I have put my hope in your Word.