I haven’t written in over a month, so I can’t possibly remember all there is to tell. But I have a few memories from this last week–ways in which that I saw the Lord obviously working in my life. Last weekend I was cleaning out my office and noticed a few books on my bookshelf that I eventually in life wanted to read. One was a book that I picked up somewhere and just stuck it on my shelf. It was titled “Key Words of the Christian Life” by Warren Weirsby (sp?). I glanced through it to see what words it called “key words”. In it were chapters based on words such as justification, sanctification, redemption, reconciliation, etc. In my 7th/8th grade Bible class, we have been defining words such as those in relation to our study of the book of Romans, so I glanced through one of the chapters to see what it had to say. I was very wrapped up in whichever chapter I read–it was well written, clear, easy to understand, and I agreed with all that I read. So I went back to cleaning, and set the book aside to pick up later and read. Anyway, the next night I was working in my classroom struggling with having to teach about election because it came up in Romans 9. I was really struggling with the whole topic and almost afraid to teach it. I was afraid that it would go over my kids’ heads. That I would explain something so much that I wound wind up confusing them more, or worst, leading them astray. I wrestled with it that whole night and into the next day. The next night I came home from playing soccer and wanted to take a bath. So I picked up that book that I had found the previous weekend and was planning to read a chapter while I soaked in the tub. I started to read a chapter on justification, when I recalled the topic of election that I had to teach on in the morning and decided to see if Mr. Wiersby as something else to say about it (I read his commentary on the book of Romans chapter 9 for the basis of my lecture for the next day.) While he didn’t have a chapter on election, he did have one on the related topic of predestination. So I decided to read that chapter. It was another great chapter! It was so great in fact that the Lord decided to inform me that that was what I was going to be lecturing on the next morning. So after I finished my shower, I booted up my computer and typed out notes for the following day. It was so clear to me that God was directing me as their Bible teacher as to exactly what He wanted me to teach on and in what order. Thank you Jesus, Thank you Lord! Often I feel so inadequate to be teaching Jr. High Bible. I barely understand it myself, how can I possibly know the best way in which to teach it to them?! Yet the Lord saw fit to remind me that I am just a vessel for Him to teach my kids what He has for them to learn. I have never been more thankful to just be a tool rather that the craftsman. I don’t know how much my kids have learned, and I probably never will see the fruit of His word, (at least not in this life), but I have seen how much more ready I am to give a defense of His word by having to teach it in a clear way.”
Yours In Christ,
Kelli Wilson