Bradley Christian School

John 9

I really can't get enough of this story. In John 9:30 the man born blind says, "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know where he comes from? --9:33 "If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it."

Amen! God is love -- love is from God. Here is a man, Jesus, so full of God that He exudes love by healing and forgiving and loving the unlovable. He is an example of God and therefore an example of love. He's awesome! And it's really, completely amazing to me that God can be so incredibly powerful and so completely love. It is the most beautiful combination really.

Then we have the Pharisees...  they pull the defense card and start calling the healed man names and then they proceed to throw him out.

Which, brings us right into 'Spiritual Blindness'. In John 9:41 Jesus says, "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see."

I am so guilty of …

John 7 --

Jesus begins teaching openly at the temple and the Pharisees start getting pretty upset. This man who wants nothing and doesn't play by the worldly rules is healing and really just being quite kind and says He is from God. He's loving everyone -- especially those who 'don't deserve it'. 

I love Jesus.

Then he offers us all living water... What is living water?-- John 7:39 says The spirit -- the 3rd piece to the trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit). I feel like every day I grow in a little better understanding or personally letting go of this world and understanding :) -- to allow the spirit more freedom in my heart. One thing I have learned, the Spirit contradicts worldly reason.

As a society, we are focused on controlling situations, being right, knowing everything, reacting, planning, judging, getting ahead -- They are re-occurring themes... but the Spirit asks us to wait, be still, don't judge, don't react to everything -- be still and use…

John 6:1-40

I just really love John 6:20 -- but He called out to them, "Don't be afraid, I am here!" He was with the disciples when the storms were raging on the sea -- and He is with us through every storm in our lives... calling to us 'Don't be afraid, I am here.' He's so much closer and bigger than we can fully understand. Makes me want to dance. :)

John 6:29 -- He goes on to say, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent." Let's believe together! By living His love! I'll be the first to admit that I can't love perfectly -- or anywhere close for that matter... but He can -- I only pray for less of me and more of Him... everyday.

Finally John 6:35 -- He offers himself as the bread of life to those who will take it -- to those who will believe in Him. Sharing that with this, we will never go hungry again. What an awesome and simple existence -- to need only Him... to strive for only Him. He also offe…

John 5:31-47 -- Today we read about John the Baptist being a witness to Jesus and one other witness! :)

Why is Jesus saying His miracles and teachings are witnesses to directly connect Him to Our Father in heaven (John 5:36)?  Because God is love! 1 John 4:8. All of Jesus' miracles and teachings come back to ONE common principle -- LOVE! --- unconditional, all-encompassing love! He heals the broken, weak, sick, sinful. God could've sent a force that was so big and so great it would have scared us all to pieces and forced us into fearful submission to obedience... But that is not God. He literally is love. He's not asking for submission out of fear -- He's calling us to have a relationship with Him out of love. It's so awesome and amazing to me that the creator of the universe is love. The all-powerful Lord is love.

It is also puts into perspective the power of love. The word love gets tossed around alot which may dim the understanding of it's power -- but it s…

Hi! We have read so much about believing in Jesus and His healing and the Pharisees challenging Him... John 3, 4, 5 -- It's an amazing amount to reflect on and take in -- so I'm going to focus on one piece. We are all pretty familiar with this verse :  John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that all who BELIEVE in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  and what about John 3:17, one of my favorite verses --  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.  Amen! 
And Jesus proves this through His healing of the broken. He doesn't condemn the woman at the well, He saves her. In old testament times, sickness was related to sin -- and now Jesus walks around healing the sick -- even on the Sabbath -- the sacred day of rest. His love stretches far past the earthly boundaries. His love is unconditional.

So our job it seems when Jesus says in John 13:34-35 (So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love ea…

Reading -- John 2:13 through John 3:21

Jesus clears the temple. This is the strongest example of Jesus' emotion, physically. John 2:17 "Passion for God's house will consume me." He sees God's chosen people, the Jews, using God's house as a marketplace. Trying to exploit or profit from God's gifts... in His house -- 1 John 4:8 says "God is Love." I can only think to compare this scene to seeing a really nice person, one who is always kind -- and full, overflowing with love, being taken advantage of by a crook. And then the crook saying it's actually for that loving person or because of that loving person or in the name of that loving person. Kind of upsets me just writing about it. I also realize I am that crook some days. I use the temple of the holy spirit, my body, in non-loving ways. But thank God! He knew we can't be perfect, Romans 8:28 - and He can make all things work for the good of those that Love Him. I know I can't be per…

Hey all! How is the Bible reading going so far?

We have read about John the Baptist announcing the coming of our Messiah. Jesus appears on the scene and performs a miracle not long after. I never get tired of reading about the miracles of Jesus. This morning I was reminded that we all come face to face with challenges in our life - ones that seem impossible, and truthfully, they are impossible without Him. Some that we don't think are even worthy of Jesus' time -- there is alot to be said about Jesus' first miracle not being about something more controversial. He loves us so much -- all of our troubles are worth His time. He wants all of our burdens. We have a tendency to think only life and death matter but life is truly about the journey. He is a living and loving God, calling to us and ready to care for us... every day.  Godspeed.

A quick video from the last day of school.

Thank you to everyone for a great day and wonderful year. I continue to feel very blessed to work with and grow in faith with the children and families of BCS. The community of people God has put together is so beautiful.  Thank-you God for blessing us!

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

I'm going to launch right into the bible reading for the summer. I think everyday should start and end with Jesus -- and if you fill up the middle with Him too, it's a magical recipe... and only one ingredient necessary! :) Jesus. 

If you don't read this post right away and feel like you are behind - don't worry! and most of all don't give up! Just join the reading for the day.  We read the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible at home and at school. But you are welcome to read any version you prefer. The best translation is the one you read! :) Here is a lin…

We rounded out the year with the following bible verse:

Matthew 28:20 -- Lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 
We prayed lots today for our community and the people living in it, for the school, and for God's light and love to fill those in need. We also prayed that we may help be lights in a dark world. Please join us in continuing this prayer through the summer and remember, God is always near.

Enjoy the pics! There were no successful egg drops, but some good tries!!! Also, the kids did a fantastic job spreading God's love with a little art and color. :)

Thank you to everyone for a good year. I'm excited for tomorrow to celebrate with the kiddos and the community of people God has brought together through the school.

Psalm 139 OLord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.

We read Psalm 139 this week. I love knowing that David wrote this as a song - celebrating God's love -- that He goes before us and follows us. He loves us. He will not leave us. He knows the world crushes in on us -- He lived it... but He knows our thoughts. He's not asking us to be perfect but to know Him. We tend to always make it about us. He wants to offer us a break and David knows this and is singing to God a song of thanksgiving... praising Him for being ever-present. Let's join David! :) Amen!

Here are a couple pics from exploration. They make me smile. Also, after learning about giraffes, we played silly s…

Click here to read the notes.