So, I have been doing this for the last three years.  Just to get my feelings out in a productive, God-centered way.  I can’t remember if I have shared any of these previously, but I wanted to demonstrate one for you today. 

I call it a prayer journal.  The strategy is simple really.  All I do is write out a prayer to God.  I expose my heart to Him, bring up scripture, ask myself questions, and respond back appropriately, based on what I feel He needs from me.  It is one of the most healthy, cathartic spiritual way of communicating I have ever experienced.

That being said, think about how your own prayer journal might look.  Try one out with a current issue you are facing as an educator.  The cool thing is that since our loving God is always beside us, all we have to do is listen to the Holy Spirit while writing.

Here goes …

Lord, thank you for bringing me here early this morning.  Most people would be frustrated at being woken up at 3:30 am to write.  Me?  I consider it a blessing.  I couldn’t fall asleep last night thinking about this, and I awoke this morning thinking about it again.

It’s my future, Lord.  The goals I am setting for myself down the road.  You have gifted me in two powerful areas, and I want to utilize them for YOUR glory!  I am so excited about this that I might even start today.  I mean seriously … why wait? 

Those gifted areas are my speaking and writing ability.  What if I combined the two to transform education?  What if I reached out to others, asking how THEY could be a part of this journey, either through prayer or coming alongside me?  What if I began phase two of my career not in the classroom but in auditoriums, gymnasiums, sharing hope with others?

Sounds pretty cool to me!

I know what You are asking me.  How will you get this going?  What messages do you want to get across to others?  Who are the right people to come alongside you?

First things first.  The message.  Lord, education has changed so much since I started teaching in 2003.  To be honest, I feel like education needs help!  We have entered an entire new era where fantastic organizations like FCA are being promoted less and clubs that embrace LGTBQ are on the rise. 

As a Christ follower, I feel restricted.  Ten years ago, I was once able to promote FCA through videos, word of mouth, posters, and even allowing students to promote it school wide at assemblies.  In the last five years it was cut down to one small bulletin board and word of mouth.  How sad is that?

I look at the morals and values that FCA promotes.  Solid character-building traits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Why not focus on promoting these traits?  You don’t have to cite scripture to promote kindness to public education.

It would be an undercover mission, but it would still be pointing public education towards You!  Take an issue the school is currently having, such as bullying.  I could tackle the issue by telling stories from my past about how bullying affected me and how kindness can flip the script.  I could present to students and teachers alike in literally ANY building, public or private. 

Or what if I simply focused on teachers?  Buildings all over are in dire need of quality presentations to enrich faculty.  What if I promoted my book, The Ohana Classroom, and taught educators everywhere the ways of the force?  Little tricks of my teaching philosophy like how to build classroom camaraderie and special ways to celebrate students. 

Lord, this could be as big as You wanted it to be!  I am so tired of teaching curriculum when I could be impacting lives!  I want to inspire.  I want to become the next Tom Cody.  He visited my school way back in 2018, blessing our faculty with his Top 20 Teaching book.  Could I be the next Tom Cody?

That is up to YOU, Lord!  I would gladly take the baton and run.  Crud, it already feels like I am beginning to build up to a sprint right now.  I am gaining steam by writing here, and when I go to my F3 walk here in ten minutes, I want to continue talking about these ideas.  As a matter of fact, I realize I will be leaving before I have a chance to even finish this prayer journal. 

Not a big deal.

The ball is rolling.  I can see it now, becoming more real to me.  Let’s throw out some more ideas to gain momentum …

• Schools would tell which topics they needed covered (ie bullying, character, etc).  A quick Google Form could be sent to a school to discover what topic is needed most. 
• My team would individualize presentations to meet the school’s needs.
• Yes, I need a team!  I cannot do this alone.  Any takers?  Who wants in?
• As presentations are created via PowerPoint, we could adapt them to meet other school’s needs.
• Student assembly topics would include any of the following: mental health, bullying, time management, job interview skills, teamwork, creating strong friendships, leadership, etc), positivity, or any other needed area.
• Teacher professional day topics would include: Ohana teaching methods, teamwork, positivity, crunching Assessment data (I know, very exciting!), time management, building strong relationships, or any other worthwhile and doable suggestion.
• Having fun is essential here.  There has to be some fun games like challenging a student or faculty member to a relay race or a game of HORSE.
• Humor is needed.  Laughter loosens the mood.  Not that I am a professional comedian, but cracking a joke or telling a hilarious story would help make the time memorable.
• Music.  We would need music!  Playing as people come in and playing during the games.  The right background music could be added to specific parts of the message, too, to add to the mood.
• I would give applicable homework to students and teachers alike.  I would pass out material or give QR codes to take a tangible idea and get it moving. 
• I would want a website to promote our cause. 
• What would be a cool name?  The name would have to sell our product.  It would have to be catchy, memorable, and maybe even have some sort of slogan to go with it. 
• Different talents would be needed on my team.  Speakers, musicians, technology gurus, artists, actors, greeters, behind the scenes people, etc.
• T-Shirts would be awesome!  Any type of swag.  Hats, hoodies, long sleeve shirts, short sleeves.  Even water bottles or knapsacks or maybe even pencils.  All would have the logo and name on it.
• Giveaways would happen at the end.  You must be present to win!
• A quick video on a screen could be showed to help prove a point.  Or our team could create a little promo video to be shown.
• We would connect people together.  Maybe those who wanted to join as members of our club could pay a small fee to gain access to presentations, documents, videos, or anything else supplemental.
• After the presentation is finished, a table would be off to the side with memorabilia to purchase. 
• Schools would provide feedback via Google Forms.  Positive comments could be used on our website to promote our organization.
• We would travel.  Locally first of course, but then branching out nationally.  The bigger we go, the more costs would go up to set up hotels, travel plans, rent-a-cars, etc.  One thing is for sure though: I get the luxury suite!  😊

OK, I can stop there for now, Lord.  Thank you so much for the creative mind you gave me to brainstorm with.  Father, would you bring people aside me?  Give me some wise counsel, and for those that join me, help us be completely transparent and vulnerable. 

Lord, don’t let this post go unread.  Share it with anyone who needs to hear it!  Help them pray for me and my cause, not to mention the crazy transition I am getting ready to experience in my life.  Father, be with me as I begin my first shift at Amazon early Sunday morning from 1:20 am to 11:50 am.

Thank you for the last three weeks.  You have healed me greatly, but Father, I admit that there are still some bitter feelings I struggle with toward those who wronged me.  I hate those feelings, especially since we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  Let love overcome hate, and promote positive thoughts over negative.

Lord, I pray for my former students.  I miss them so much, and it is hurting me that I cannot have any contact with them anymore.  I pray for the students, the staff, the administration, and the parent community from my old building, Lord.  Help them find the right person to fill the role I left behind.

Most of all, I pray for Your love to conquer all the bitterness and hate in the world.  Father, help us put the past behind us and embrace the future!  I cannot wait to see what you have in store for me in this new exciting phase of life.

AMEN!

Challenge: I need help.  First of all, I am a words of affirmation guy.  Any positive feedback or fun suggestions to help my cause are most certainly welcome as a reply below.  Whether you know me personally or not, send me your thoughts.  Even if it is just, “Hey, cool ideas, Clint!”  I don’t hear from lots of my followers, and I want to know you better!  If you feel more comfortable emailing as opposed to replying for all to see, you can contact me anytime at www.theteachersdevotional.com.  If there is enough interest, I might create a Zoom to share ideas.  Just let me know if you want me to create the link.  I would be more than happy to reach out.   

Song application: “Loves Got a Way” by Andrew Ripp

I let go long ago
Thinking I knew everything
I let love in my soul
Started listening to the choir sing

When I laid down all my pride
Was a death that saved my life
And that’s how I know
The darkest nights still end with the sun rise

‘Cause love’s got a way
Of bringing healing to a heart in pain
Making beauty from the ashes
Breaking chains one after another
Putting old lies to shame
Love’s got a way
Of looking straight into the eyes of hate
Still believing that a world can change
Hold on my sisters and brothers
The mountain looks too great
But love’s got a way