Latest / Faith, Family, and Lesson Plans / My Why: God's Call - Faith, Family and Lesson Plans- Episode 1
Transcript
- Mariel: Lord, what is your purpose for me? what is your purpose for me? You just had to love me from whatever you're doing, whatever it is that you are doing, you're supposed to do it. To honor my name and to glorify my name. if you're a mom, do it for his glory. If you're a teacher, do it for his glory. If you're called to be a cook, do it for his glory. Today. You do not need to wait for the next big thing. Your big thing is happening right now. none of us have tomorrow promise. So do it today. Welcome to episode one of Faith Family and Lesson Plan. This episode is called The Voice, The Calling, and of course, the Lesson Plan. Welcome to Faith Family and Lesson Plan. This is a space that I wanted to create to unpack the beautiful and chaotic everyday life in the classroom because I am a high school teacher, of a mom because I am a full-time mom, a wife, because that's also a full-time job. And of course, and most importantly, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am so glad you're here. Please grab your cup of coffee. In my case, it's a cup of tea. Or you know what, girl, go reheat the one that you left in the kitchen a long time ago or in the microwave and come in. Let's jump in. Today we are in 1 Peter 4, verse 10 to 11, but I want to stop at 10 for a few minutes. And it says, Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. As a faithful steward of God's grace, it is various form. If anyone speak, they should do so. as a one who speaks the very words of God. And that is why I am hitting right here today in front of this microphone hoping that you can hear me. Yes, I have a lot of papers here. I got a computer in here that I'm looking at. But then I remind myself the part of the everything that I want to tell you today is that we are not gonna focus on perfection. So no I'm not gonna read. I got bullet points. and that's what we're gonna do. That's what we're gonna do today. Try our best Not to be perfect because none of us. There's only one perfect, and that's our Lord Jesus. So the core conviction. Why am I doing this? Like I don't have enough going on in my life, being a full-time teacher, a full-time mom, a wife. I had to take care of my house. You know what? This is it. My voice. I do see my voice as an assignment. And I know I have an accent. English is not my first language. But the fact that I can sit here in front of this microphone. And well, like we say in Spanish, I am cara dura. Caradura is when you do something, even though people might tell you, How dare you? How dare you? No, you're not c no, not you're not capable of doing that. Well, here I am to prove things wrong because that's one of my favorite things to do. I see my voice as an assignment. I see my story as an assignment. And I see this platform that the Lord has given me as something I can use for his glory. This is an assignment that I'm gonna use to honor him. And I am so glad that I had the crazy enough brain to say, you know what, girl, let's do this and let's jump on it. So as I say earlier, we're not gonna focus on perfection. You might see a paper flying here and there as I do this. nothing needs to be flawless. I'm gonna lie to you if I tell you that I had the perfect classroom because Lord knows I don't. There are days that I want to pull my hair and I'm thinking what in the world what was I thinking when I decided to be a teacher, a high school teacher. I had 10, 11, and 12 graders and I love them. I really do love them. But here's the thing sometimes when I'm laughing so hard at something they say or something they do in class and my belly is hurting, I think, my gosh, I get paid to do this. But no, my class is not perfect. I would love to tell you that my house is perfect and it's super clean, but not even close. Actually, right now, as I'm doing this, I'm doing laundry. Is it gonna get folded today? Probably not. Probably tomorrow. And I probably had to run the dryer again so the clothes are not super, super wrinkled. You know what I'm talking about. You've done it more than once. So that's what we're gonna do. Not to focus on perfection. do I have the perfect setup in studio? Gosh, no. But you know what? If I was wanna wait to have the perfect everything, the perfect setup in the wall, I would love to have this fancy walls in there and the perfect lighting and the perfect S this and the perfect this. I was never gonna do this. I was never gonna jump on it and say, you know what? I want you to do this, but I wanted to do this. And there have been signs all over to say, do it, do it for my glory, Muriel. It's gonna be okay. So, what is the purpose of all this craziness here? The ultimate purpose is to point out people back to Jesus through everyday classroom stories and home moments and the stories that I had with my son. I had been a high school teacher for 11 years, I have been a mom. For almost 14, and I have been a wife for almost 17. There is a lot that I can share with you. And I really hope that it can encourage you to keep your eyes on the Lord. So we're gonna anchor today on First Peter four. And remember, I told you, each of you should use whatever gift have received to serve to others. We are not called to save that gift for ourselves. We are called to use that gift that the Lord gave us. To serve other people. And listen, that gift can be different for you as it is for me. I love to talk. I can talk all day long. And I think proof that I can I can really spend hours talking is the fact that I wanted to do this. Because I started doing TikTok a few months ago. I think it started two months ago, a few days ago. And it has been two months. And the first thing that I realized was that it is very frustrating to try to make a 30 seconds video. Because it's not enough for me. I want to talk. I want to tell you things that happened in my day. I want to tell you what happened to my students. I want to tell you what I learned today for them because I am constantly learning from them. And I am sorry, I cannot do that in 30 seconds. One of my first videos that I make on TikTok was six and a half. And my sister called me and said, I love your video, it's super funny and everything, but people want short videos on TikTok. It's too long. People are not gonna watch the whole thing. And I was like, well maybe TikTok's not for me then. I'm not gonna quit TikTok. I kinda like it too. But because my kids like it and they go watch stuff and I I'm pouring Jesus in there. You go watch baby. We won't talk about Jesus for 30 seconds, but we will. But I wanted a platform where I can talk and I can get out the message that I want to pass to you. Maybe something I read in my devotional, something that I read in my Bible study, something that I learned, I waited the Lord speak to me. This morning in a song on my way to work. And no, I cannot do that in 30 seconds. So that's what I want to do with this podcast is to point people back to Jesus, to my everyday experiences and everyday grace that the Lord gave me because He has covered me with His grace. And I love the fact that I can be doing this. I want to welcome tired moms, tired teachers, because listen, if you're a teacher, you are tired. Don't pretend you're not. It's okay. We're all tired. We are all exhausted. And if you are not tired after what, we are in week nine, I think, almost ten. If you are in week nine of school and you are not tired, please, please let me know your secret. I would love to know your secret because at the end of the day, I am exhausted. And I cannot wait for the weekend so I can sleep. But guess what? On the weekends, you had to do laundry and you had to clean your house because all day long. You're too tired to do it after school. So you had to do it on the weekends. Unless you're a super mom and you get home and start mopping and stuff. I am not. Remember, it's not about perfection. I am nowhere close to perfection. No, I do not do laundry on during the week. I do not clean my house during the week. I do clean my kitchen because I love that. And I do fix my bed because I do not like coming home to a messy bed. My house might be upside down, but is my bed is fixed? If it I got it on the control. We got it. It's all good. So what was the idea of this sh I don't want to call it show? This this time that I want to spend with you talking to you about my crazy day. it was born out of conviction. I wanna use my God given voice for him. I know that he gave it to me with this crazy accent that I'm never gonna get rid of it because guess what? I cannot hear my own accent. But that's okay. That's okay. I know that you can hear it, but I cannot. So Remember first Peter four. The gift that the Lord has given us we had to use it for service to others. Maybe your gift is teaching, like I believe is mine. And my ministry is in my in those four walls inside my classroom every day. And sometimes you feel like you live there because you spend more time in there than at home. Because you get home so tired, you take a shower, you eat something, you go to bed. And you are not looking at your beautiful house that you worked so hard to have and to pay the mortgage and to keep. But teaching can be your gift. Maybe being a mom is your gift. And I believe with all my heart that's one of the most important and amazing gifts that the Lord can ever give you. Because the Lord trusts you with those babies. Maybe your gift is encouraging others. I have some wonderful friends that all it takes is for them to pray with you. And you just feel like the Holy Spirit came and touched your soul and you just feel renewed. So maybe your gift is. To bake. And that's amazing. Use it all for the glory of the Lord. He did not give me that gift. I am not really good at cooking and I am awful at baking. But that's okay because those are not the gifts that He gave me. So whatever He gave me, I'm gonna try my best to use it for His glory. We are called to use all of them in the service of others. So if this podcast can encourage any of you, there you go. The Holy Spirit is already doing what He's supposed to. So with this scripture that we were reading, 1 Peter 4, we're gonna anchor that as our why and in the whole reason for why we're here today. And let me step back a little bit and tell you the why of this postcard and how I ended right here. as I told you, I wanted to make a little bit longer videos because I wanna tell you my story. And when I finally decided to do this and say, okay, this is it, this is it, this is what I meant to do. I was the first thing I said, well, I need a microphone. I need a microphone. And it's right here. This baby right here. And I'll tell you something. I said that ordered online and I had never been so excited about an online order. And I ordered a lot, like crazy. Like the Amazon driver is my best friend. I know her name and everything. And we're always talking. But when this box came, there was something different about it. It was not a regular package. It was not that cute clothes that you saw and you, I'm gonna try that. It was not something cool that I can use in my classroom and I got really excited. When I opened that box, and you know how the Amazon boxes are, it's a big box, and then you open, then it's another box, and that's your product. So I opened the big box and there it was. And I look at that box because there's a beautiful picture of the microphone on the box, and I started crying. I started crying because I truly believe this is it. This is it. All these years of learning, all these years of teaching, all these years of being a mom and learning a whole lot. man, for this moment. This moment where the bo the Lord is gonna tell me, I want you to use your voice and every single lesson that I had taught you through these years to pass that. Just for the service of others. And I cry and I pray and I bless this microphone. Because if that is his will, I'm gonna use it for his glory. I'm gonna use it for his glory. But why talk about education? We can talk about 50 million things. I can just open my Bible here and do a devotional with you and and talk about I don't know, funny stuff, cooking. And I cannot talk about cooking because I do not cook. That's not my gift, but that's okay. I wanted to talk about being a teacher and being a mom at the same time because it's a very emotional and spiritually heavy role that we carry. Like, I want to be 100% the best teacher for my kids. And I do that. I do that as often as I can. And I give my everything in that classroom. And by 4 o'clock when the day is over, I am exhausted and empty. But then here comes my child. And he has homework. And he has things that he needs to do. And he has things that needs to ask me. And I have been answering questions all day long that I do not feel like answering more questions. But this is my child. So in days like that, which is almost every day, I feel like I has given 100% as a teacher. And I feel like an amazing teacher. And I feel defeated as a mom. I feel awful as a mom. Because I am not there to give my 100% to my kid. My son, the one that the Lord trusts me with. And sometimes he's not feeling well. So what we do is I call him sick and I stay home and I take care of him. And I feel and as an amazing mom, but as a teacher, I feel awful. Because the sub that I have, I know it's not gonna do what I'm supposed to do in the classroom. And the lesson plan that I had that was planned a week ahead of time. I know it's not gonna work is I am not in that room. So I had to come out with plan A, B, C, D, E. No, A, I already have A. and pray that they're gonna do it. Which I had to be honest, I have wonderful kids, they will do the work. They will do the work because I know I'm gonna grade it when I come back. But I am not there to answer their questions. So when you are a hundred percent teacher. You do not feel like a good monk when you're 100% monk. You do not feel like a good teacher. And it's very heavy to carry that. And I know I am not the only one in this situation. So that's why I wanted to focus this podcast on teaching and being a mom And that's gonna be our focus. So the turning point for me was Just simply deciding that I want to use my voice for the Lord. looking at your dining room table and seeing a bunch of folders full of unit tests that you're supposed to grade by Monday and it's Sunday eight PM and you haven't even looked at it, you didn't have Or bringing all those tests and you know what, they just stay in the backseat of your car, you never even got it out. You know how many times I've done that? I lost count. I lost count. So now I don't bring work anymore at home because I know I'm not gonna do it. Because when I am at home, I want to be mommy. And I just want to be mommy. And the school work, as much as I love it, it can wait. Yes, it can wait. Because when I go back to school, I'm supposed to have my planning. my planning is not long enough, I can do it. Well, at home I am mommy. And I am needed as a mommy. If I don't have time to do it at school, well, maybe I need to reorganize my time a little bit better. The decision, why starting now? Because if I'm gonna wait for the perfect time, I'm never gonna have the perfect time. I'm not gonna have the perfect studio because I don't. If you see around, it's just this is just my office where I work every day. Well, not every day, but you know, I have my computer here, I do translations in here, and I do all stuff that has to do with school. no I do not have the background I would like to have or something fancy, kinda like a studio, a professional studio. I don't I did get me a very nice microphone and I am in love with it. And I did get some headphones that I I don't really don't like how they look but I needed those. And the Lord provides those. But we do not wait for the perfect time to start serving the Lord. He called us to do it right where we are. Right where we are. So I decided to use my voice, that is my gift, I believe, and my willingness to talk for the Lord. And this is what brings me to what I really want you to take with you this week. I'm planning on doing this once a week, but you can go back and listen into it anytime you need encouragement. we need to actually start living out the assignment that he gave us right now. You do not need to wait for the next big thing in your life or for the next figure out what the Holy Spirit wants me to do. None of that. You need to you can start today. You can start tomorrow if it's late already today. I watched a video the other day on TikTok and it's this pastor that I follow and I love his videos. And he was talking to Jesus. You know, it was kind of like having a conversation with the Lord. And he asked the Lord and said, Lord, what is your purpose for me? He's all excited, you know. And the Lord you just look at him and smile and say, You just have to love me. I know, Lord, I know, I I had to love you. And I do, I love you with all my heart, but what is your purpose for me? That big thing that I'm supposed to do? Am I supposed to be a doctor or an amazing lawyer? Or maybe I'm supposed to be famous and talk about you and the radio and the television. What is that big thing that you have assigned for me? And the Lord said, You just had to love me from whatever you're doing, whatever it is that you are loving, doing, you're supposed to do it. To honor my name and to glorify my name. So if you're a mom, do it for his glory. If you're a teacher, do it for his glory. If you're called to be a cook, do it for his glory. Today. You do not need to wait for the next big thing. Your big thing is happening right now. Because none of us have tomorrow promise. So do it today. Your purpose in Christ is. Today. You just gotta have the willingness to do it. For me, my classroom is my mission field. And I see it as that. And here's the thing. I work at a public school. So no, I cannot open a Bible and read it with my kids as much as I would love to. I cannot openly pray with them. Even though nobody can stop me for praying to pray like I I pray for my kids every day. I love them that much that yes I am going to pray for them. But your job, if you have a classroom and like me, you are in a public school, is you cannot be super open about your relationship with the Lord, is you can shine your his light for them without ever saying his name. That's the beauty of Jesus. You can shine his love for others in the way you speak to them, in the way you treat them, in the way you show them grace. Your classroom, if you're a teacher, is your mission field. Use it for his glory. But listen, your home comes first. Do not don't give your child or your husband or or or your everyday life your leftover time. Because that's the place where you're needed the most. And as sad as this is, as much as we love our jobs as teachers, the moment we're out, they're gonna be posting our jobs and they're gonna be looking for someone to replace us. Your kids only have one mom. You're not replaceable at home. And that's one of the reasons I do not go to church on Wednesdays. Because I am too tired to understand what's even happening in a Bible study. And I always feel like I'm giving the Lord my left over time. And that felt awful. It feels awful. If I go, I want to go because I want to go and learn and listen to the word. No go because I and I am super tired and I don't even know what's happening. All I'm thinking is what time I'm gonna get home. And then I just went just to go. And she went to church Wednesday. my no. I don't want to do that. And please defeat that imposter syndrome. Stop asking who am I, who am I, who am I, trying to find the answers in the world. If you really want to know who you are, go and see what scripture says that you are in Christ. He will tell you who you are. And if you are his, he will tell you exactly what you do. He supplies the gift. He supplies the strength. All you have to supply is the willingness to serve him with it. And I know you can do it from wherever you are today. Stop waiting for perfection. Perfection does not exist outside Jesus. He's the only one that is perfect. But as we wrap up this very first episode, I am so excited that I'm actually doing this. This has come after a few practice and a few scripts and a few things, but I want to make sure that you walk away grounded and ready for the week that is coming for you. Nowhere in the scripture says that you had to do this alone, sister. So you make sure you remember that there was another in the fire standing next to you. He is right there in the middle of that crazy third period. He is right there with you when your kids are crying and they are hungry or they are tired and they are sleepy and you are more tired than they are. He is right there in the middle when your kitchen is a mess and you don't feel like cooking because everything seems so overwhelming. He is right there with you. So this is what I want to ask you today. If you like this, if you think that we can hang out together, I would like to ask you to please subscribe. And follow for episode two. Episode two because I do believe I'm gonna be doing this very often because it turned out it is way easier than I thought. I thought I was gonna be here and stopping and recording as no, I can just talk. Again, I'm not looking for perfection, so I want you to feel like you're talking to a friend. I would love for you to leave me a comment if you made it all the way here. I will be posting this in a few websites. So hopefully it reaches you. And whatever website you like to use. I would like to also ask you to share this with a friend that is a teacher, a friend that is a mom, and maybe a teacher that is a mom. so we can share encouragement with them. And I would like to close this with a prayers. I would like to ask, Lord, I ask you just for this week for all my sisters, Lord, that are listening to this. I want to to please Lord give them peace in the classroom, in their homes, wisdom at home to guide that home in your name, Lord. And please, Lord Jesus, help us that we can always fix our eyes on you. And that we can always remember that we are not alone. Then we always do this with you. Thank you so much for joining me in Faith, Family, and Lesson Plans. This was episode one. I'll see you very soon.