October is such a beautiful time of year. The leaves are changing, the colors are warm and welcoming, and there is excitement in the air as we look forward to fall events. The school year is well underway, routines are becoming familiar, relationships are growing, and we are getting to know our students and one another in deeper ways. But October can also be the time when we really start to feel the school year. The excitement of the beginning has worn off, and the reality of everything that...

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 Well, we made it to September. The bulletin boards are up, the lesson plans are moving, and we've learned most of the students' names. Or at least gotten pretty good at pointing and saying, "Yes... you." Give a teacher two weeks and a class list and we'll give you a scouting report. This one's going to remind me when I forget to collect homework. This one will ask, "Is this...

A devotion written for a bunch of educators in the month of August is just begging to talk about the idea of “new.” “New Beginnings.” “Behold, I am doing a new thing…” “A blank page!” “A fresh start!” Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Sorry to disappoint, but this devotion will not cover any of those ideas. Rather, as the summer passes and the school year begins, one could consider this a time of transition. And almost everyone can attest to the fact that making a “smooth” transition is...