Principal's Pennings

It’s Worth the Struggle


Recently, Ms. Walker led our morning devotions.  The devotion shared how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, the struggle of this transformation, and how the students who were observing this struggle learned a hard lesson.  The devotion revealed how the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly was such a struggle and was taking a long time. The butterfly struggled and fought to get out of the chrysalis.  The students in the story thought that they would help the butterfly escape the chrysalis by making the tiny opening bigger and in turn free the butterfly. What they learned were the struggles they were witnessing were actually helping the transformation process for a beautiful butterfly.


Struggles are part of life.  It happens all around us and even to us.  I cannot tell you how many times I have asked my children to use their manners, do their homework, chores and getting ready for bed at a decent time.  I love and enjoy food but have learned and know too much is not a good thing. It can be a struggle to do the right thing in a hard situation. Struggling is part of life.  I am not aware of anywhere that says life is easy. The Bible is filled with struggles of Moses being told he was going to speak for God, David and Bathseba, Peter denying Jesus 3 times, and many more examples of God’s people struggling.  Every example of people's struggles is followed by redemption. Jesus is our redeemer. He struggled on the cross for all of our sins and because of this, we know that our struggles are only earthly. Believing in Him, we have salvation and a joyous place in heaven by His side.  This is why we can “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.” We know there is an end to our earthly struggles. As life can be full of struggles, both big and small, take time to lean on Him who provides relief to our struggle.

Last night, at the TEAM meeting, there was a discussion on class parties and how much fun they are for the students.  No doubt, parties are fun. There are activities, crafts, play, and, my favorite, food. Typically, the kids have a fun afternoon, and the parents and teachers are given the opportunity to chat on a more casual level. Parties are fun. 

This started me thinking about heaven.  I know, it seems like a strange connection, but we are told throughout the Bible what heaven will be like.  We know that it will be like paradise. It will be a paradise that we can’t even imagine. We will have a place to stay: “in my father’s house...I will prepare a place for you.”  There will be no more sin, hurt, pain, or injury - only perfection. We will worship our Lord with a “great multitude.” There will also be food in heaven, not because we need it to survive, but because food is enjoyable.  We are told this in Mark when Jesus shared with his disciples “Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” As you read through the Bible, you are able to learn more and more what heaven will be like and it sounds like a great party!

John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”  This is what makes MLA special. Each and every day, we have the joy and privilege of sharing this with students, families, and our community about the love of Christ and the salvation He brings.  This salvation provides us the path to heaven. The salvation is too big for us to keep quiet about but is something we should share with everyone we meet. This is another reason we should “rejoice always, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The devil has a way of attacking.  He works to drag you down when things are going well and when God’s will is being done.  We are blessed to have 111 students enrolled for the 2019-2020 school year.  This is the highest student population in MLA history.   We have 89 returning students and 22 new students. Another blessing is that MLA has three new called teachers on staff.   Mrs. Maas moved into her new role as Teacher-Student-Support.  The blessing of our veteran staff remains to welcome our new teachers and students.  We added music classes to the schedules, 5/6 band and 7/8 band, individual PE and computer classes. 

Even in the midst of God’s handiwork the devil attacks.  We are told in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  Mrs. Thompson, our music teacher, has started the year on a leave of absence so she may care for her aging mother.  Mrs. Folken fell and injured herself.  We have parents and students dealing with health and grief issues.  There are many other challenges that are being presented as well.  The devil prowls looking for us to falter.  

This year’s school theme is “Joyfully Christian” based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.  Verses 16-18 are my favorite Bible verses: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Unbelievers might ask why we rejoice and give thanks for these challenges.  It would be easy to focus on the challenges and not on the positives, but we have a great God.  We can find peace in Him knowing that as we face these struggles that they are His will and that He will continue to use us to glorify Him.  We are blessed to face these difficulties together and with Him. Therefore, as we go into the world, we are always rejoice, always praying to Him, and always giving thanks because this is God’s will in Christ Jesus. 

Recently, I had the joy of teaching the 5th/6th religion class.  I love teaching about the Bible. It never fails because there is always something new to learn.  The object of the lesson was for the students to understand that the Word of God is never changing.  It was the same yesterday, as it is the same today, and it is the same tomorrow. The scripture in the lesson was from 2 Kings, specifically about the 8-year-old boy king of Israel, Josiah.  Prior to Josiah becoming King, the Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the Lord and were suffering the consequences. King Josiah returned Israel’s focus on God and did not stray from that. He ordered that the Temple of the Lord be rebuilt and removed all the idols of the land.  While rebuilding the Temple, they discovered the Book of the Law, read it to Josiah, and then to the people. Even though Josiah’s focus was on God, he was still fearful that the law would condemn the nation of Israel. Here we read another example of God’s mercy, for he did not condemn Israel but granted them peace throughout the rest of Josiah’s reign.   

Throughout the books of I and II Kings, we read about how the people’s focus was on good, and then they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Josiah provided us with an example of a humble king who did not turn from God and his prophets. About 700 years later, the Apostle Paul writes to the people of Thessalonica, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)  He is warning them about the same struggles that Israel fell into time and time again.  

Just like the objective the 5th and 6th graders worked on recently, it is no different for us today.  The devil is constantly prowling, looking for someone to devour. We are being told one thing by the world, but because we have law written on our hearts, we know the truth.  We know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As a result, we can ‘rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  

Joyfully Christian

Below is a note from the Fishers.

The Fisher Family would like to express our sincere gratitude for a community that has stepped up and wrapped their arms around us. We have been humbled by everyone’s generosity throughout this process. We had no idea what we were in store for, and the kindness of others is what carried us through on the tough days. They say it takes a village. I had no idea how profound that phrase was until we really needed ours. We want to thank every single person that reached out to us whether it was something for Charli, a meal for our family, a gift card, a call or a text. We never felt alone through this process and for that we are eternally blessed. My heart is full of gratitude and I will cherish every single one of you for the rest of my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

All of our love,

The Fisher Family

Scott Dixon

He is Risen.  He is Risen Indeed.  Alleluia

Real. Present. God.

Come By and Visit!

We are located at the corner of 72nd Street and Overland Drive in the Northland.

To schedule your tour, call Lisa Martens at 816-734-1060 ext 224.

7112 N Overland Drive

 

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