Today, I’m delighted to introduce my beautiful daughter, Keri Joy to you! Keri and her husband, Zach live in the San Diego area of California. Zach is an officer in the Navy. Keri passionately loves the Lord and is learning a lot about listening to the voice of the Spirit. She has an amazing singing voice – I always say, she came out of the womb singing! She is a worship leader and as you’ll read below, a school teacher. I love what Keri wrote below about inviting Jesus to take over a room of your life! Check out her post and leave a comment. Keri also included the link of the song she referenced. I’ll be choosing 2 winners from those who post and giving away 2 copies of The 30 Day Praise Challenge.
Here’s Keri:
While I love the opportunity I have to teach 142 (k-middle school aged) precious children how to sing, dance, and act, I am exhausted by the time I get home. The main reason for that is my rowdy, rambunctious, noisy, and occasionally smelly fifth graders. The room can feel entirely out of control. There are moments when I literally stare at the chaos unfolding before my eyes and beg God to show me what to do. In those moments, God so sweetly gives me the words to say to bring order to my classroom, of course not without a moment’s anxiety attack! Last night, after being discouraged from yet another out-of-control class with my fifth graders, I went to Life Group. At Life Group, we have dinner, worship together, and then discuss the Word and our lives. During the worship portion, We listened to Bryan and Katie Torwalt’s, “When You Walk In the Room”. Our Life Group leader encouraged us to openly commune with the Holy Spirit, and ask Him which “room” in our lives we need Him to walk into. It was so clear to me that I wanted to scream and say, “LORD COME INTO MY FIFTH GRADE CLASSROOM!” In those still moments while worshipping and praising my sweet Jesus, I felt a peace wash over me. Because when my God walks into the room, everything changes. Of course we know that we have the Holy Spirit who lives in us and goes where we go. But I believe there is power in proclaiming the mighty presence of God in the darkest and scariest places. I know that I will still have tough days with my students. But my prayer is that God’s presence would be so thick in my classroom that the children would notice something different. So my challenge for you today is that you would ask the Holy Spirit which room in your life needs taking over by the Most High God. Maybe it’s your home, or your office. Maybe it’s your neighbor’s home or even a family member’s that is not walking with the Lord. I am confident that God will show you. As you begin this conversation with our sweet Creator, let praise be your next breath; “Thank you, God, for what you are going to do in this room”.
10 Responses
Emily
Wow! Thank you for sharing, Keri (and Becky!). This was extremely encouraging and challenging to me and it’s so so good to hear what The Lord is doing in other believer’s lives.
Anne Denner
Such a beautiful blog! I love your suggestion about the room. I need one of those in my life. Keep up the good work. God bless you for working with that many children. (this old gal doesn’t have either the energy or patience anymore.)
Suzie Brewer
I have been there too and know that overwhelming feeling in a room full of students that only God can handle. I love the idea of inviting God to bring His Light into a room that’s filled with darkness. Thank you and God bless you.
Autumn H.
Amazing post, Keri – so proud of you! Such inspiring words that I’m now going to apply to my own life and share with others. THANK YOU!
Bonnie Rencher
Oh, that more of our teachers would have your vision and commitment to the Lord! We have two grandsons who just finished 5th grade so know some of the challenges you are facing. May God bless you as you faithfully serve Him in a difficult but rewarding place!
Keri P
This is such a thought-provoking question! Hmm… I think I’d have to choose our living room since that is where most of our time is spent as a family and where we have the most challenges with discipline of our two toddler boys that both have autism. I pray that God would bring them peace and give me and my husband discernment in knowing how and when to discipline them. I praise Him for entrusting these precious boys into our care. 🙂
Keri P
Love your name by the way 😉
Keri Denison
Love the comments you guys! Thanks for the encouragement and glad it was a challenging read! Love your name to Keri!! 😉
Keri Denison
too* 🙂
Kari
Great idea. It goes nicely with something I’ve been pondering today. “Let every heart, prepare him room.” Well this is, let every heart ask him into a room. I like it.