Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of

heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

Courage and Change

All living things are constantly changing. Since the moment God knit the first
cells of our bodies in our mothers wombs we have been changing. Every living thing
is in constant change. As our bodies are constantly changing, so are our professional
lives. In Janice McBrides first few years of teaching she was amazed at the constant
change going on in her professional life changing strategies, philosophies, materials,
and personnel. Janice has served as a first grade teacher in the public schools for
thirty years and has never changed schools or teaching assignments yet she has
worked under eight different superintendents, eight principals, and at least ten associate principals. She witnessed six
or seven major changes to the approach of teaching reading. (All of them, of course, have been researched based.)
She has seen hundreds of staff members come and go. She has seen the special education students placed in all day
self-contained classes because research indicated that this was the best methodology. In the last several years she has
seen every special education child placed in her regular classroom because research indicates that is the best
methodology. She has seen no accountability testing systems at the campus, district or state levels changed into
systems now where three to four weeks of instruction, almost an entire month of every school year, is dedicated to
accountability assessment.
Amidst this professional maelstrom only one thing has remained constant for Janice and that is her personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Heb. 13:8) His instructions for her to go
into her classroom, shut the door, and privately pray for the staff, parents, and students she serves has never changed.
His call for her to return good for others evil has never changed. His call for her to encourage and gather with other
Christian teachers to agree in prayer has never changed. His instructions to bear spiritual fruit (peace, patience, love,
etc.) have never changed. Her instructions to constantly thank and praise God for all things in her professional life
have never changed. Her instructions to acknowledge Him in her professional life so he would direct her paths have
never changed. Her instruction to let His light shine where she works has never changed.
The first ten years Janice taught, before she fully committed her professional life to Jesus Christ, she thought
she could follow Jesus by herself through the public education system. She found herself being wrenched in one
professional direction and then another. She felt like her feet were on constantly shifting sand. She would put her trust
in a principal, co-workers, or program, and the next minute they were all gone in another crashing wave of educational
politics, financing, school zoning changes, or the slick marketeering of the newest educational guru. When she finally
surrendered fully to Jesus and understood she needed to join with other Christian educators to complete her walk with
Him, she finally felt grounded. She became like a tree planted by a river. Secular change still comes, sometimes in the
form of storms. Janices branches and leaves still sway in the wind and some are torn off, but her roots and her focus,
her faith in the God who brought her into this profession, are constant and keep her grounded.
Although Jesus doesnt change in this profession, He asks us to change because our relationship is constantly
growing. Each year we must ask Jesus in prayer, What changes do you want this year? How can I improve my
service here to you and others? It is amazing what He sometimes tells us to do regarding room dcor, materials, and
strategies. These things are called God changes. Write these changes down and set out to implement them. Some of
them take much courage and humility to fulfill.
While all the secular trade winds blow around us, sometimes at gale force, our focus must first be on what
Jesus has given us to do and not the agendas of states, districts, principals and our selves. We have one master, not
four or five. He serves as our shelter from all the professional storms. He is our Cornerstone upon which we are to
stand together and build something eternal in public education. It takes courage to first seek and obey Him in our
secular lives but if we do He promises to add everything else we need. God delivers on His promises.
.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for never changing. Thank you for asking us and giving us the courage to change. Thank
you for the principles you have given us to follow which bring greater success in this profession.
Application and Sharing: Write down three changes God wants this school year in your personal relationship
with him. Write down three changes God wants in the secular aspect of your job. Share these with a Christian co-
worker and ask them to hold you accountable.
CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE! (For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 7