A Sunday Afternoon Post

Today was my last day teaching 2nd grade. It was a great blessing to see some of the impact the Lord has given me with the children. I've been with my 2nd graders for two years, so Ive seen some of them just grow and mature. I've been blessed to have earned the respect of most of them after many months work. I am going to miss them SO much - I know many of them are not saved and I just feel a burden to see them come to Christ. I hope some day some of them will come to me and tell their testimonies of God's salvation. I do trust that my Father will grant salvation to some of them. What a blessed day it will be to hear the work of my Lord in their lives. Maybe in a year, maybe in five years, maybe when I'm much older. It saddens me so much to not be able to teach them the Word, but I have great hope that the Spirit that causes change and growth is going to work!



My kids are so dear to me, I've been so blessed to have taught them for so long. We often think of serving as doing things for God, as blessing others. But, the Lord has used my service in teaching these kids to bless me so abundantly! In being faithful to serve each Sunday Ive seen the Lord give grace to persevere and provide energy. In being faithful to discipline the children when its hard Ive seen the Lord change hearts through his Word. Life is difficult, life is hard, adults are caught up in the worries of today. The business and academic world are abstact and brutal. But kids are honest, kids are joyful, kids are forgiving. What an amazing joy its been to work with them! I have learned so much through having to teach the Word almost every week. Studying Scripture to teach, meditating and praying for the lessons has taught me so much about the Lord and about his works. I've been challenged, convicted, and encouraged by the lessons I've had to prepare. God has so faithfuly used the Word to work in my own life as I've sought to share it with my kids.

I will now be helping out with leadership in kids ministry. When I announced to my class that I'd be leaving the classroom to help oversee the ministry my little brother Jared stood up and gave me a fist bump and said, 'That's awesome Mr. Matt, be a leader.' I was encouraged by that. I won't get to interact with the kids much, but hopefully what I will be doing will impact many of their lives. And eternal impact is what's important.

Had lunch with my brother. We just spent a good time talking about the future and life. Life is busy, life is now. But, God is with us today and gives so much grace always! It was good to be encouraged by his example of steadfastness, perseverence, prayer, love. I am very, very thankful for my brother. I am truly blessed by the Lord to have a friend who offers encouragement based on the Word, who loves in Christ, and whose main desire is to see the Lord honored with his life.

To finish... work hard for the glory of Christ! What we do today has eternal consequences. May the Lord bring salvation to the kids who are lost, and bring maturity to those who are saved!