Remembering Who I Am & What I’m Here For The Most Important Part of a Principals Job Description

We Are Tempted To Forget: Who we are – That is our Identity. What we are here for – That is our Purpose.

The Answer to the Question – Who Am I? --- I am: A Child of the King His “Little Child”Christ’s Ambassador A Child of GodUnder His Wing An Heir of GodPart of the Body of Christ Constantly on His Mind “God Taught”A Part of His People One of the Redeemed The Prodigal Child He loves An Eternal Pride & Joy to my Father God’s Boy/ God’s Girl The Place Where God Resides “In Christ”Commission-ed of God Part of God’s Will His Loved OneHis Spokesman Adopted by God The Temple Where His Spirit Resides The One Who Bears His Name A Child the Father Disciplines A Son or Daughter of God The Recipient of His Gifts The One God Delights In Christ’s little Brother/Sister A Co-sufferer With Christ Part of God’s Tapestry of Love Chosen by GodThe One He Died For A Friend of Christ God’s Copy-CatThe One He has Forgiven

The Answer to the Question – What Am I Here For? --- We are here to: #1: Warm the Heart of God – To Make Our Father Smile Each Day. #2:To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day. ( By Beholding We Become Changed.) #3:To Be a Tool in Our Father’s Hands and To Do His Will Each Day.

#1:Warm the Heart of God & Make Him Smile Each Day. As He (Jesus) passed through towns & cities He was like a vital current, diffusing life and joy wherever He went. –DA 350 In the heart of Christ where reined perfect harmony with God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause, nor dejected by censure or disappointment. –DA 330

#2: To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day Your promises and resolution are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. -SC 47 You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; HE will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. –SC 47

#3: To Be a Tool in Our Father’s Hand Each Day. God never leads His children otherwise than they would chose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. –DA, 225 Joseph possessed an implicit and profound belief, which no developments seemed to shake or alter, that God had a definite positive plan for His life; that there was something in the mind of God for Him to accomplish, some purpose for him to fulfill, some program, divinely made, to carry out. –God Sent a Man, by Carlyle B. Haynes

The main thing is that we don’t for get that the main thing is still the main thing. And main thing is ….Christ IN us & then Christ THROUGH us every day. -The End

THE END

You are to show that you are a living letter from Christ… written not in ink, but with the Spirit of God. -2 Cor. 3:2 How do you become a living letter from Christ? Christ is sitting for His portrait in each disciple… In everyone Christ’s love, His holiness, His meekness, His mercy and His truth are to be made known to the world. –Desire of Ages, p. 827

SDA Educational Expansion # of Pupils 700 (680) (468) (245) (1) (2)(6)(16)(29)

What Caused the Enrollment Explosion In Our Schools -- #1 Spiritual Revival in the Adventist Church – An understanding of Who We Are – That’s Our Identity – We are children of the King #2 An Enlarged Vision of the Churches Mission to the World – That’s Our Purpose -- We are Here to do Our Father’s work.

CONCLUSION: “True education is MOOR THAN the pursuit of a certain course of study.” –Education p. 13

Why Do I Believe In Adventist Education? Here’s Why. Adventist Schools Provide ---- More Opportunities for Students to Know Their heavenly Father - Abba More of a Safe Environment – Emotionally, Physically, Spiritually More Emphasis given to Developing a Christ Like Character More Understanding that Their Lives Have a Purpose – Tools in their Heavenly Father’s Hands More Opportunities to Discover the Joy of Serving Christ by Helping Others More Emphasis on a Healthy Life-Style More Opportunities to Develop Leadership Skills More of a Family Atmosphere More Opportunities for Your Children to Take Snapshots of Jesus Lived Out in the Lives of His People.

Conclusion: Children/Students Only Grow Up One Time. Don’t settle by giving them what is good – When you can give them what is best. And, what is best is: The home, the school and the church all working to help your children/students know who they are & what they are here for. They are children of God & He plans to use them to finish the work here on earth!

The main thing is that we don’t for get that the main thing is still the main thing. And in parenting or teaching, the main thing is ….Christ IN us & Christ THROUGH us for His children every day.

Satan’s Counter Attack on Your Life. “It is satan’s constant effort to keep the mind diverted from the Savior and thus prevent the union and communion of our soul with Him. 1)The pleasures of this life, 2) life’s cares and perplexities and sorrows, 3) the faults of others, or 4) your own faults and weaknesses, to any and all of these he will seek to divert the mind.” -SC 72

What satan Would Have Your Children Learn -- That their identity is found in: People (Listening to what people say about them to discover who they are.); Possessions ( Who they are will be found in such things as the cars they will drive, the house they will own, the toys they have); Position ( Who you are will be based on how high up the “ladder of success,” they will climbed, or how much authority they will have to make important decisions); Power (Who they are will be based on who they can control or how much influence they have to get what they want) But when we chose to look at the life of Christ as our model, we learn that Christ lived IN His Father’s affection for Him & UNDER His Father’s authority over Him.

The Most Important Thing Parents & Teachers do Each Day -- Counter the work of satan in the life of each child by: Words: In a thousand different ways they need to here about: Who they are – their Identity & What they are here for – their Purpose. Actions: Research shows that communication is 38% voice tone and inflection, 55% body language and 7% the words themselves. (93% Non-verbal) Make sure they know that they are loved & accepted no matter what. Reflection: What message do your children/students get about their heavenly Father through your words & your actions each day?

Lessons From the Life of Jesus In the heart of Christ where reigned perfect harmony with God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause nor dejected by criticism or disappointment. Amidst the greatest opposition and most cruel treatment He was still of good courage. –DA p.

Christ Our Model : Lesson #1 Christ lived in His Father’s AFFECTION for Him. Christ new that His Father adored Him Christ new that nothing could touch His life unless it first passed through the hands of His Father. The only place Christ looked for approval was to His Father.

Christ Our Model : Lesson #2 Christ lived in His Father’s AUTHORITY over Him. He was not here for Himself; but for His Father. Jesus said, “I have come not to do my will, but the will of the one who sent Me.” Jesus said, “Father, please take this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will but Thy will be done.”

Remembering Who I Am & What I’m Here For Adventist Education: A Time To Re-Focus.

God is Watching Over You as Well The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted …. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ …. What ever comes to him comes from Christ … Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” – Rom 8:28 –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, p. 71

You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. –Matthew 5:13-14 In other words: You are to make an impact; people’s lives are to be changed for good because Jesus is living His life IN and THROUGH you.

Backdrop: Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. –Deut. 6: 6-9 Question: What is needed for commandments to be a matter of the heart as apposed to being a matter of the head?

Look How God watched Over His Son & How He Watches Over Us -- The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and NOTHING befell Him but that which Infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us…Nothing can touch you EXCEPT by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” –MB, 71 There are two reasons for the adversity you face each day: God wants you to GROW, or, God wants you to GLOW!!

#1:Warm the Heart of God & Make Him Smile Each Day. I don’t want your sacrifices, I want your love; I don’t want your offerings, I want you to know Me. –Matthew 22:37,38 When we come to God with our need and address Him as, “Our Father,” it is music to His ears. –COL, p. May the Lord smile on you … –Numbers 6:25 Noah was a pleasure to the Lord. –Genesis 6:8

Conclusion: “True education is MOOR THAN the pursuit of a certain course of study.” –Education p. 13 Adventist teachers provide quality academic education – But so do teachers in public schools Adventist teachers care for the emotional needs of their students – But so do teachers in public schools. Adventist teachers have the privilege of telling their students about: WHO THEY ARE: (Favored children of the King of the universe) & WHAT THEY ARE HERE FOR: (to be tools in His hands to work on His agenda each day). This is the “More than,” that makes Adventist Education a calling and not just a job.

#2: To Become More and More Like Jesus Each Day How often I find myself “stroking my contrary thoughts.” –Dr. Joanne Davidson Stoking thoughts that are contrary to the thoughts my Father wants me to be thinking. Dr. Davidson was talking about what goes on in the heart. What are the internal motives behind what I do! What are the internal impulses behind my actions! What are the internal affections behind my likes and dislikes !

#2: To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day Example: Let’s take a look at GOSSIP – that’s one of the acceptable Adventist sins. Where did Gossip originate? “Lucifer left the immediate presence of the Father dissatisfied and filled with envy against Christ. Concealing his real purpose, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself.-SR 14 Lucifer went behind God’s back and made God look bad while making himself look good. But where did the dissatisfaction and envy come from?

#2: To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain CONTROL of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for SELF-EXALTATION. With his own evil characteristics he sought to invest the loving Creator. –DA 21,22

# 2: Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day Sin originated with Lucifer “stroking his contrary thoughts” in two areas: 1)He sought to gain control – The origin of the “I’m going to be in charge” demon. 2)The desire for self-exaltation – The origin of the “look at me everybody, look at me” demon. Even today, these two demons remain at the very core of our carnal natures. And they can be broken down even further to ONE SIN. “Sin originated in SELF-SEEKING.” -DA 21

#2: To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day The battle for my heart – my internal motives, impulses, and affections; comes down to ONE SOLUTION: Am I going to give Christ full control so that I continually think my Father’s thoughts, or, am I going to continue “stroking my contrary thoughts” – the things I automatically revert to when Christ does not have FULL control of my life. And that’s where the battle takes place – around that word FULL control.

#2: To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day When I’m in charge – FEELINGS hold the upper hand over REASON. But, When Christ is in charge – REASON holds the upper hand over FEELINGS. My part in sanctification is to come to Jesus every morning and to cling to Him throughout the day. His part is to level the playing field with my thoughts, motives and impulses so that REASON guides my choices and not FEELINGS.

#2: To Become More & More Like Jesus Each Day Your promises and resolution are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. -SC 47 You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; HE will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. –SC 47 Here is how it works – Christ gives me His POWER ALONG THE WAY!

#3: To Be a Tool in Our Father’s Hand Each Day. GOD SENDS YOU into the world as His representatives. In EVERY act of life you are to make manifest the name of God. This petition calls upon you to possess His character. –MB, 107 God has created us for good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do. –Eph. 2:10

SDA Educational Expansion # of Pupils 700 (680) (468) (245) (1) (2)(6)(16)(29)