"R-r-r!"

“R-r-r!”  The student began as he read his story out loud to his fifth grade classmates. As I sat in the back of the classroom listening to the students read their stories, I was pleased with their vivid imaginations and writing skills. It is so incredible to watch preschoolers at the beginning of their education, fifth graders in the midst of their pK-12 education and seniors who are ready to graduate and move onto their next challenge. Our teachers thoughtfully work with each one of our students to help them grow and mature as learners. This year we have focused on integrating faith and Christian principles into the curriculum to give our students a better grounding as they develop a Christian world view. In Daniel 2:21b, it says, “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” As we work in partnership together to raise up your children to be the next generation of Christian leaders, let us join in prayer that God will grant, us and them, wisdom and discernment.

A Great Symmetrical Number!

The odometer turned 105501. Wow! That is a great symmetrical number!  It made me think back to the many symmetrical numbers I celebrated as a child when my dad took our family on road trips across the country.  I took a moment to thank God for giving me such a kind, patient and understanding parent who was so excited about learning that even mathematical things gave us a moment to celebrate together. 

As parents it is difficult  but rewarding to celebrate many seemingly inconsequential moments. As we raise our children to be men and women of God,  our encouragement will help to propel them towards a successful future.  Please join me this week in praying for each other as parents so that we not only nurture our children but we celebrate even their small successes.

Check out this weeks e-letter with a great picture from out Academic Games Team who won the State Tournament in World Card.  They came home with a total of six medals!  Great job to the third through sixth grade students who have worked towards this since September!

Congratulations to our girls’ basketball for winning the Regional Finals!  Their next game will be Tuesday at Jackson High School at 7 pm against Athens High School.

Best wishes to our boys’ basketball team as they play tonight for the District Championship at 7 pm against Morrice.

Take Time to Enjoy God's Beauty!

Yesterday I was looking at some photos I took a couple of months ago of a beautiful multicolored sunrise. Interestingly enough when you look at the beautiful sunrise in a picture which was taken while riding in a moving car zooming along the highway, the photos are a bit blurry, and certainly do not depict God’s handiwork which I saw on that crisp morning. In the same way as we hurry through life we often miss the opportunity to enjoy God’s grace as He works in our lives and in the lives of our children. Our propensity to rush along, multi-tasking, distracts us from enjoying the rich lives we are granted through Christ. In Ephesians 2:7 we read, That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

This week at the secondary chapel we slowed down and recognized some of our awesome LCS students. Callie Mounsey was recognized for winning second place in the MSUFCU High School Art Show juried category and Tyler Parmer was recognized for qualifying or the 2012 MHSAA State competition in three events - the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle and 200 yard medley relay. Please join me in thanking God for our wonderful students! Take an evening next week and join in the fun at LCS as we cheer our basketball teams on to victory in the boy’s District competition and the girl’s Regional’s. Information on the games may be found in the Athletics section of the E-Letter or at Highschoolsports.net

God Touches the Lives of Young People

Earlier this week I spoke to the secondary students in Chapel about “How God Touches Lives.”  I had some assistance from some of the students and a teacher.  As I listened to the stories about the way God has touched the lives of those wonderful young people, it was amazing how God answered prayers and reached down to bless them.  One of the young men told about how God touched him through his father’s plane crash.  Two of the young women spoke about how they were blessed and touched by God through their mothers’ experiences fighting cancer.  One of the young women told how she was blessed and saw God through her brother’s experience when her grandma passed.  Another young woman gave a testimony about how God blessed and touched her by moving her to Lansing and arranging for her to attend Lansing Christian School.  The teacher spoke about how God has stretched and touched her life by sending her to teach at Lansing Christian.  Wow!  We have such wonderful students and teachers who are on fire for the Lord.  Their witness to others telling about how they have been blessed and touched by God, really spoke to me.  Please join me in praying that God will continue to bless the lives of our students and teachers as they let their light shine throughout the greater Lansing area.  Verse for the week: Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Our Guidebook

This morning a squirrel approached the glass door and peered into the office.  He seemed mighty interested in what we were doing.  Later, I saw him sitting up on his hind legs in the middle of the parking lot just looking around.  He ran up and down in front of the building several times, but he didn’t seem to have a purpose for his actions.  It made me think of our walk with Christ.  Sometimes it is as though we are like the squirrel, running up and down and around in circles, without a purpose because we have forgotten to read and reflect on our “guidebook”; the Bible. In Psalm 119:105 we read, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Unlike the squirrel, we as Christians have an opportunity to have guidance from our heavenly Father by reading and spending time in His Word.  Please join me in prayer this week dedicating ourselves to become more devoted to not only read the Bible, but to reflect upon it’s message.

A Spirit Filled Spirit Week

This has been a wonderful Spirit filled Spirit Week! At the assembly this afternoon we watched as our high school students performed original songs based upon Romans 12:2. The students wrote both the lyrics and the music and performed them for the first time in public for our secondary students and the many parents who were in attendance. We also had an opportunity to see how the students used the 2011 – 2012 school theme, “Be Transformed,” in their class videos. If you didn’t get to see the videos, you will be able to link to them from our Facebook and website early next week. The students did a wonderful job working together on their “Create-a-space” and giant poster projects. They truly learned the meaning of Christian community and what it takes to “Be Transformed.”

Impact the Nations

Today I opened up a package and inside was a t-shirt which read, “Impact The Nations.”  The bright yellow letters were jumping off of the t-shirt as I thought about our students and their impact on the world around them.  In addition to all the great activities our students are involved in which touch the lives of others, the past two years we have had high school students go to Guatemala for their mission trip.  Our high school students have carried the good news of Jesus Christ to the children in Guatemala as directed in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations.”  They worked together to improve soccer fields.  They brought in 12 truck-loads of dirt, raked out nails, bits of broken glass, and pieces of bone.  The students worked together to teach songs to children, played games like Pato, Pato, Gonza (duck, duck, goose), and gave out a lot of hugs. When it was over, the students brought back stories and pictures of the sweet neighborhood children with bright eyes and beautiful smiles.  As Spring Break approaches and many of us are thinking about going away on vacation, please join me in praying for our mission team as they return to minister in Guatemala with team leaders Charissa and Bob Karr.  If you are interested in learning more about the trip, or helping to support our high school missionaries, you may email LCS middle school teacher and team leader, Mrs. Karr.