Popcorn Prayer

Dear Parents,

Be encouraged. The gospel is taking root in your children's hearts like a growing, mighty oak. A few weeks ago we started reading through the book of Proverbs together as a class. As we read, each student actively listens by taking notes. We then discuss the chapter and enter into a time of prayer. Popcorn prayer consists of a period of about fifteen minutes of constant prayer. Each child may pray once, twice, or even five times during this period. Oh, what a privilege to have the freedom of prayer in school!


Below are the themes, as well as the specific prayer requests from your child's heart. Be encouraged, because the Lord is moving mountains with your little ones. May you be blessed with the reassurance that Christ is not only dwelling in your child's heart, but He is actively transforming their innermost being.

Our prayer requests: 

• Christian martyrs 
• Persecutors would come to know Christ
• Peace for Japan, Haiti, Egypt, and Libya    
• Thank you that we are free to worship You
• Help us not to complain and to keep in mind that others may not have much 
• Give us wisdom 
• Family members would come to know Christ 
• Forgive our sins
• Thank you for taking the blindfold off our eyes and revealing Yourself to us 
• Lord, if it be your will, make the suffering in the world stop 
• Courage for those that are killed because they love You 
• Thank You that You are in control of everything

Happy Birthday, Ms. Virginia!

Our beloved Ms. Virginia's birthday is today. What a privilege to learn from, work with, and be surrounded by such an amazing, godly woman. We love you, Ms. Virginia, and thank you for all that you do for us here at Heiskell!

Second and third grade surprised Ms. Virginia by

 waiting to sing her happy birthday outside of her office.

She was definitely surprised!

We love you, Ms. Virginia!

A few weeks ago, third grade rolled up their sleeves and dove into a hands-on activity. We have been studying the history of our great state and had the opportunity to travel to coastal Georgia where history came alive.  After we came back from our trip we created salt dough maps of where we traveled. The students had a wonderful time creating their maps and seeing geographically what they experienced. Enjoy the photos below! 

We Survived!

     Yes, that's right, the third grade class had a wonderful experience on our overnight field trip last week! We had the amazing opportunity to go on a three day, two night field trip to coastal Georgia. We started off the trip exploring the Okefenokee swamp where we saw almost thirty alligators, cypress trees, and other wildlife. We then headed to Epworth where we stayed until Friday morning. After a delicious southern-style dinner, coach Burnette led the group in organized games and a devotional. Thursday, we started the day off extra early as we traveled to Hofywl Broadfield Plantation, Fort King George, and St. Simon's Island Lighthouse. Friday started out even earlier as we packed our bus and headed for Savannah. We spent the day exploring the city by means of a trolley and then walking down River Street. The students had the opportunity to do some souvenir shopping at the Savannah market and they enjoyed a picnic lunch next to the famous Waving Girl statue. OK, enough writing, I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story! 

A big thank you to Mr. John and coach Burnette for taking time out of their busy schedules to come along on our trip! 

     Every morning before school begins Mr. Leatherman graciously leads the faculty in devotions. Monday through Thursday we work our way through the New Testament, book by book and verse by verse. Every Friday we go through Psalms and Proverbs. Last Friday we read Proverbs 2 and it spoke of the pursuit of wisdom.

  Proverbs 2

 ¹My son, if you will receive my words

         And treasure my commandments within you, 

    ² Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

         Incline your heart to understanding; 

    ³For if you cry for discernment,

         Lift your voice for understanding; 

    ⁴If you seek her as silver

         And search for her as for hidden treasures; 

    ⁵Then you will discern the fear of the LORD

         And discover the knowledge of God. 

    ⁶For the LORD gives wisdom;

         From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 

    ⁷He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

         He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 

    ⁸Guarding the paths of justice,

         And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 

    ⁹Then you will discern righteousness and justice

         And equity and every good course. 

    ¹⁰For wisdom will enter your heart

         And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 

    ¹¹Discretion will guard you,

         Understanding will watch over you, 

    ¹²To deliver you from the way of evil,

         From the man who speaks perverse things; 

    ¹³From those who leave the paths of uprightness

         To walk in the ways of darkness; 

    ¹⁴Who delight in doing evil

         And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 

    ¹⁵Whose paths are crooked,

         And who are devious in their ways; 

    ¹⁶To deliver you from the strange woman,

         From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 

    ¹⁷That leaves the companion of her youth

         And forgets the covenant of her God; 

    ¹⁸For her house sinks down to death

         And her tracks lead to the dead; 

    ¹⁹None who go to her return again,

         Nor do they reach the paths of life. 

    ²⁰So you will walk in the way of good men

         And keep to the paths of the righteous. 

    ²¹For the upright will live in the land

         And the blameless will remain in it; 

    ²²But the wicked will be cut off from the land

         And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

     It is my prayer that my little ones seek after the Lord's wisdom as one who seeks after hidden treasure. However, the seeking starts with me. Am I seeking after the Lord with complete abandon and do my students see me doing this? This passage convicted and challenged me in more ways than I have time to explain. Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect and complete love when my motivations and intentions are far from honoring you. Thank you, Father, for your patience when I am blinded by my own self-deception. Lord, answer our cries for discernment that we may treasure your commandments and be fully satisfied in Your brilliance. 

"O Majesty unspeakable, my soul desires to behold Thee. I cry to Thee from the dust. Yet when I inquire after Thy name it is secret. Thou art hidden in the light which no man can approach unto. What Thou art cannot be thought or uttered, for Thy glory is ineffable. Still, prophet and psalmist, apostle and saint have encouraged me to believe that I may in some measure know Thee. Therefore, I pray, whatever of Thyself Thou hast been pleased to disclose, help me to search out as treasure more precious than rubies or the merchandise of fine gold: for with Thee shall I live when the stars of the twilight are no more and the heavens have vanished away and only Thou remainest. Amen." ~A.W. Tozer 

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Merry Christmas, third grade! Each year at the Heiskell School the teachers have the opportunity to give gifts to their students at Christmas time. This year I decided to give a simple, but important gift to my dear children. The candy cane is a special Christmas tradition that brings joy to people young and old. Do you know the true meaning behind such a delicious tradition? My third graders have learned it and they would love to share this grace-filled gift story with you. We also measured our hands and feet and made our very own, unique reindeer! Look for the picture below. 

 The Legend of the Candy Cane 

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about, so he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. The white symbolized the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. The hard candy symbolized Jesus- the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".

The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.

The candy became known as a Candy Cane- a decoration seen at Christmas time. Although the meaning has faded, it still gives joy to children young and old.

Hallelujah, I'm Alive!

     As most know, I was out sick the first two days of the week. Unfortunately, a sore throat and fever aren't ideal teaching conditions, so the gracious Ms. Patterson allowed me much needed bed rest. Anyway, the point of my writing this blip are the smiling faces I saw yesterday morning. My dear children greeted me with open arms and bear hugs. My desk soon was cluttered with homemade "get well" and "I love you" cards. I'm so proud of the way these children love the people in their lives. They are not afraid to show their sweetness and they let you know, daily, how much you mean to them. The Lord uses each of my twenty-three students to teach me how to love and minister to others in my life. Thank you, my children, for your sweetness, encouragement, and constant love. Thank you for teaching me how to love better and more like Jesus.

 Matthew 18:1-3 

"At the time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.