Perspective. It’s still on my mind

Y’all, life has a funny way of putting things into focus for you. In fact, sometimes perspective jumps up and slaps you right in the face.

This may sound a little crass, but just know I’m preaching specifically to myself.

Someone makes you mad – big deal.

Ding your new car – it’s gonna be alright.

Crazy to do list – take a deep breath.

People are hurting.

People are broke.

People are dying.

People don’t know Jesus.

Daisy Marino, get your mind on God’s Kingdom and off of your own flesh.

Shift your focus. Get some perspective.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

Perspective y’all. It’s what’s been on my mind for weeks.

For example, when I’m sitting on my back porch and look straight ahead the view is beautiful – horse stables, an old wooden fence, and tall Texas grass. There’s just nothing better.

When I look to the left, the view consists of fields full of hay – bales upon bales. This Texas girl loves that, too.

But.

But when I look to the right, in the distance, I see a gas station sign. It’s big. It’s ugly. It drives me crazy. It makes me sad.

It’s all I can think about when I’m on my back porch. Talk about focusing on the negative.

I’ve got to shift my view, y’all.

I’ve got to shift my focus.

I’ve got to shift my perspective.

Because I’m focusing on the one thorn I’m missing out on a whole field of roses. Y’all, I have a beautiful view – I just need to turn my head a little.

I really am glad that gas station is there. I mean first of all – gas! Secondly, my kids drink milk like there’s gonna be a shortage next week. In fact, if there is a shortage it’s gonna be those Marino babies fault.

Where is your focus today? What are you looking at? Can you shift your focus just a little?

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.”

Isaiah 26:3

Educators take their work home with them.

Yes, papers to grade.

Yes, lessons to plan.

Yes, Pinterest Boards out the wazoo.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

Educators take their students’ hearts home with them.

Their struggles.

Academically.

Mentally.

Physically.

Their pain.

Their limitations.

Their burdens.

Their fears.

Their worries.

Educators take it all.

They carry it with them.

And it’s heavy.

They lose sleep.

Many a night.

They cry out to God.

Educators take their work home with them.

Every single day.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

Change hurts.

Growing pains – they’re brutal, y’all.

They stretch you. They pull you. They make you cry out in agony – and they last. They last for awhile.

Change isn’t easy.

It’s scary. It’s so – for lack of a better word – weird. Cause it’s different. It’s not what you’re used to.

Change happens.

Let it. God doesn’t want us stagnant. He wants us moving and grooving. He needs us on our toes – our tippy toes. Stretching. Reaching. Grasping.

I may not know what the future holds but I do know this – complacency is not a fruit of the spirit.

Change. It’s good. Let it be.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Y’all, the non-profit should be officially up and going by the end of this week. With that being said I wanted to share the mission and vision statement of Rays of Sunshine Inc. This has been the most unexpected, amazing adventure that God has taken me on. A dream I didn’t know I was dreaming. God is cool like that.

💛💛💛💛💛💛🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆

Rays of Sunshine: Love first. Teach second.

(Inspired by Robyn Young Glosson’s heart for kids.)

Vision Statement:

Rays of Sunshine: A world where all students’ physiological needs are met first.

Rays of Sunshine understands the important role that physiological needs such as food, clothes, and proper supplies play in a student’s livelihood. If these vital needs are not met first then the student’s academic success rate diminishes dramatically.

We call ourselves Rays of Sunshine when in all actuality the true Rays of Sunshine are the children that we are serving. They are our future. Our hope. God’s children.

🔆Our board is set (thank you sweet ladies). We already have a few Sunbeams (monthly backers) ready to give.

🔆Will you pray for Rays of Sunshine Inc.? We want to be lead by God. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We want to help.

🔆Will you pray about how you could help? Maybe be a Sunbeam? Maybe a prayer partner? I will post more information about that next week.

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Matthew 25:40 says that “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for ONE of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Jesus is concerned with the one.

Sometimes God shakes you up, twists you around, and leaves you standing up like you need a shot of V8.

▪️Currently Me▪️

Y’all, I don’t know why. I don’t know why because I’m not God.

I don’t see the big picture like God does.

I don’t know what’s happening next week.

But God does.

All I know is that I have to have hope.

I have to have peace.

And I have to have faith.

I have to switch my thinking from flesh controlled to Kingdom driven. God needs us moving. He needs us stepping out and stepping up.

Don’t be scared to be shaken up for God. If God is shaking you – He is using you.

Be used.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

Not everyone is gonna like you.

But if we’re honest – you’re not gonna like everyone either. I’m not being mean – it’s just human nature. It’s that stinkin flesh.

You can’t let it eat away at you though – don’t let it become a bacteria that infiltrates your soul. You can’t live in a state of constantly wondering what you did wrong.

But what you can do is keep being nice. Keep working hard. Keep loving Jesus.

Don’t grow bitter. Just try to be better, right?

Not everyone is gonna like you; however, Jesus always will. You are His. He likes your quirks. He likes you and all of your personality “flaws”.

Y’all, Jesus loves you. And Jesus loves me – this I know for the Bible tells me so. Amen!

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

I’m shook.

One of the latest phrases being spoken by teenagers and young adults all across America. Y’all, I’m 38 years old. I’m reaching the point where I just don’t quite get some of the new lingo.

However, yesterday at church my sweet friend sang a song that I’ve heard a million times before, and in that moment the words flipped my heart and mind upside down.

🎼Little boy, six years old

A little too used to bein’ alone

Another new mom and dad, another school

Another house that’ll never be home

When people ask him how he likes this place

He looks up and says with a smile upon his face

“This is my temporary home

It’s not where I belong

Windows in rooms that I’m passin’ through

This is just a stop, on the way to where I’m going

I’m not afraid because I know this is my

Temporary home.”🎼

In that moment the phrase “I’m shook” resonated so deeply within me that I literally was shaking.

Let me tell you when those words will shake you to the core – when it’s your 15th year of education and you walk through the halls unable to count on two hands how many kids are displaced.

Taken from their homes.

No mom.

No dad.

Shoved from house to house because nobody wants them. Nobody wants to deal with them.

Nobody wants to deal with their behaviors. Behaviors caused by their parents doing drugs and alcohol while pregnant. Behaviors due to constantly being abandoned. Behaviors that these kids literally cannot help.

But educators.

For about 8 hours a day we can be their mom.

We can be their dad.

We can be their home.

We can be Jesus here on earth.

We can, and we should.

We can’t give up on these kids because God hasn’t given up on us, and He could have – and He should have.

Y’all, I’m shook.

But I’m glad. As an educator I need to be. I need my heart to break wide open for these kids.

I need to simultaneously be focused and shook.

I need to take every step, every single day, for Jesus. I need to be mission minded, and as an educator – these kids are my mission.

Dear God, keep breaking my heart for what breaks yours.

“Love always protects, love always trusts, love always hopes, love always perseveres.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:7

Educators.

You are called.

You are called to the biggest -most important – mission field in the entire world.

Our children. Our future.

These kids need love and hope and comfort and peace. These kids need confidence in their abilities. They need to hear truth spoken in love.

These kids need you.

These kids need Jesus.

And that’s exactly what God has called you to do. He has sent His Spirit to us so that others can see and hear and feel Jesus.

This is serious.

You are on a mission.

Every single day.

Every single minute.

Guard your heart.

Guard your mind.

Guard your mouth.

Teach them.

Guide them.

Lead them.

Love them.

You are called. And if He called you then He has equipped you. You are vital. You matter every single day. Believe that. Live that.

Now, let’s go.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

God is not a checklist – points finger at self. It’s easy to slip into a lifestyle where we inadvertently make Him just that – especially if you’re a rule follower. Especially if you have the “this is what I’m supposed to do” mentality.

I repeat God is not:

Completing your bible study – check.

Paying your tithes – check.

Saying your prayers – check.

Attending Sunday School – check.

Posting a Bible verse on social media – check.

Attending a conference – check.

God is a relationship. God is a craving you have deep within your soul that can’t be – won’t be – satisfied unless you spend time with Him. Real time.

Time that you want to spend with Him. On purpose. Intentional.

God is your best friend. The one you just have to call. The one you have to tell your secrets and dreams to. God is your everything.

Be so in love with God that those things are just what you want to do. Not what you have to do.

Don’t let God become a checklist. Let God be the only thing on your list – and everything else will just fall into place.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16