Unfailing Love


Everyday I pose either a question or quote to my students in which they have to answer or explain. Today, I posed this question:

Do you have a habit of feeling like you're worth more in God's eyes or other people's eyes, when you're a success? Explain.

I found this to be a very interesting question for not only my students, but also for me. As I discussed this question with the students, I had to really take some time to think about whether or not I feel as though I'm worth more in not only God's eyes but other people's eyes if and only if I am "successful". Sadly, I have to admit that I do feel this way at times; I think we all do.

Many of us (myself included) tend to "get down" on ourselves when we feel as though we have failed at something. We tend to take on the belief system that if we do not do something perfectly, not only will people be disappointed in us, but so will God. The truth of the matter is, God loves us no matter what. His love is not based on how successful we are in life.

Let me share with you a devotion from the devotional book, "Jesus Calling". If you do not have this devotional, let me encourage you to purchase it. It is wonderful! In it, the author has written words of assurance, comfort, and hope as if they are coming straight from the heart of Jesus. May these words encourage you today:

"I LOVE YOU regardless of how well you are performing. Sometimes you feel uneasy, wondering if you are doing enough to be worthy of My Love. No matter how exemplary your behavior, the answer to that question will always be no. Your performance and My Love are totally different issues, which you need to sort out. I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions. I have clothed you in My robe of righteousness, and this is an eternal transaction; Nothing and no one can reverse it. Therefore, your accomplishment as a Christian has no bearing on My Love for you. Even your ability to assess how well you are doing on a given day is flawed. Your limited human perspective and the condition of your body, with its mercurial variations, distort your evaluation. Bring your performance anxiety to Me, and receive in its place My unfailing Love. Try to stay conscious of My loving Presence with you in all that you do, and I will direct your steps."

Allow the Lord to direct your steps one day at a time. Give him your best, but rest assured that if things do not turn out as you had planned, God still loves you with an unconditional love, and that's all that matters.

Blessings!

Student Leadership


Can you tell that I've been a little busy? I have not had one free moment to blog until now and the reality is, I have a million other things that still need to get done but I just couldn't wait to share with you about the wonderful weekend I had.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a group of students to the Student Leadership Conference in Orlando. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn and develop a variety of leadership skills. We basically went non-stop from Saturday to Tuesday. Many of our sessions covered topics such as:

* Excellence in all things and the future
* Dream it. Do it.
* Time management
* Worldview/Apologetics
* Mental Readiness

One of the sessions that really encouraged me was one that was titled, "SERVE-What Great Leaders Know and Do." This session was led by Ryan Bowman of Chick-Fil-A. During this session, he shared with students and adults what it is that great leaders do. Let me share with you a few of his thoughts that each of us can take to heart along with questions that you may want to consider answering:

1) Great leaders see and shape the future: When someone has a passion about something, this creates a picture of the future. What is your picture of the future? What is it that you are passionate about?

2) Great leaders engage and develop others: The challenge is knowing how to engage people-how to be personal with them. A question great leaders continually ask themselves is, "how can this person be plugged in?"

3) Great leaders reinvent continuously: Great leaders are always looking for ways to do things better. Great leaders focus on reinventing by changing self and changing systems-the methods that are currently in place. What is it that you want to personally reinvent? What do you need to change in order to get better results?

4) Great leaders value results and relationships: Leaders have to get results to be a great leader. Investing in others shows that you value relationships. What do you value, results and/or relationships? Why?

5) Great leaders embody the values: Values are filters by which we make decisions. If your actions and values do not match-up, you are a hypocrite. You must live consistently to your values in order to gain trust. What are your three core values?

Leadership is not about me, it's about others. Jesus came to serve.

Take some time to think about whether or not you are a leader and if so, what you can do to improve your leadership skills. Lastly, let me really encourage you to check out the website of Student Leadership University. This is something that every student who desires to be a faithful leader, needs to participate in. It is well worth the money.

Until next time!

Foundational Principles for Career Planning


I think I may have a new addiction. Let me explain. Today is my birthday and my wonderful husband gifted me with something I have wanted for quite some time-an iPod. I can't believe it-I'm actually moving up in the world of technology. I'm fearful that not only will I be addicted to reading blogs, but also my iPod. This thing is amazing-not only can I watch movies and listen to music, but I can listen in to some of my favorite speakers within seconds. I'm just amazed!

Anyway, on to the important stuff. The other day I decided to "test drive" Career Direct which is now offering an online guidance system report for career maximization. I decided to check it out because it is something I am really looking at incorporating for not only students, but adults who come to me wanting clarification on who they are and what they are passionate about.

One of the print-outs I received gives foundational principles for career planning that I thought would be great to share with you. As you continue to seek out God's purpose for your life and how you fit into this world, take these principles to heart:

1) You are uniquely designed by God-you are a unique creation. God made you for a special purpose. Psalm 139:13-14

2) You have been given unique talents for a purpose-God gave each of us unique talents to use, not waste. God has designed each of us with talents and gifts for His service. Romans 12:6-8

3) You must develop those talents for excellence-Develop your talents to the finest and you will stand out from the crowd. You should do your work as if you are actually working for the Lord. Using your talents in work is a form of worship to Him. Proverbs 22:29

4) Work is stage for your higher calling-Let your light shine, so that others will see your good deeds and they will praise your Father in heaven. Work is an excellent place to be a witness. Matthew 5:16

Take joy in where the Lord currently has you. Wake up each day thanking Him for another day of life and another day where you have the opportunity to reach those that He places within your path! You were created for a purpose!

Blessings!

Are you kidding me American Idol?

Ok, can I just say that I am in shock!! As many of you know, I am an American Idol fan, but due to my schedule being so busy, I have unfortunately, missed the last few episodes. Needless to say, I think I missed the best one-the contestants actually sang, "Shout to the Lord". I'm in shock. As I watched the video below, I have to admit, goosebumps were all over me. Now, the video that is listed below apparently was the first version they sang-the politically correct one-instead of saying "My Jesus, My Savior", they sang, "My Shepherd, My Savior". But, the following evening they followed up with singing the song again and including the name of Jesus.

As I watched I just couldn't help but get goosebumps and you know, I just can't even begin to think what it would be like if every person of our nation actually cried out to God and came together to worship Him. What if our country actually made God the priority. What if TV actually gave God a voice? I just can't even begin to imagine the changes we would see in our nation.

Another thought that came to mind was, gosh, here you have a group of talented individuals. God has given them the talent of singing. What if they used that talent to glorify God and no one else? In all honesty, it breaks my heart to see people who have been gifted with the talent of singing and yet, use it in ways to dishonor God. What if people actually used their gifts, skills, talents, and strengths to glorify God and in turn, use those gifts and skills to make an impact in this world? How different would the world be? Again, I just can't even being to imagine.

Let me leave you with this thought and piece of encouragement-God has gifted you in mighty ways. God has given you specific gifts, skills, talents, and strengths and He desires nothing more than that you would use them to glorify Him-that's why He gave them to you. If you would allow God the opportunity to use your gifts, He will use you in mighty ways. If all of us allowed God to use our make-up the way He wants to-our world would be a changed place. I'm confident of this!

Educational Consultation


Attending college can be one of the best experiences for a student to take part in, or it can be the worst. According to research, 57% of college dropouts do so prior to a students second year in college while 40% of students who begin a college degree will in fact, not finish out the degree program (Thompson, Orr, Thompson, Grover, 2007).

Students are arriving on college campuses unprepared for what lies ahead. Students are unprepared in the areas of study skills, time management, goal setting, etc. Students are presented with many more options than existed 20 years ago. Multiple options that are confusing to an unprepared student, may lead to that student’s failure to make adequate grades. Students are more likely to drop out of college when confused (Thompson, Orr, Thompson, Grover, 2007). The high school-college transition period leaves students underprepared and unprepared for what is to follow in their collegiate years, which leads to remediation and attrition (Reindl, 2006).

While getting into college is an important aspect, it’s not the most important. Students need to know why they should go to college. If students do not realize the relevance of going to college and studying for a specific career they have “discovered”, then students will continue to struggle and the transition from high school to college will continue to be difficult (Dedmond, 2005).

According to Gordon & Elovitz (2002), educators and other professionals who work with students refer to a 10-year drift that many individuals between the ages of 18 and 28 experience. They change the direction of their education, try different training and occupations, and do not settle into a career pathway until their late 20s or later (Gordon & Elovitz, 2002). One reason for the drift is that students are graduating high school unaware of their skills, what type of work they can be passionate about, and what career fits their skills and passions best.

According to Lapan, Tucker, Kim, & Kosciulek (2003), the transition from high school to college is one of the most difficult developmental periods adolescents face. Students need to be proactive in developing an approach to their post-high school transition. Career development research and theory suggest that students need growth in academic achievement, efficacy expectations, outcome expectations, career related attributions, goal formation and exploratory actions, work readiness behaviors and social skills, exploration of the career related aspects that promote better person-environment fit, active engagement in the process of crystallizing and beginning to implement one’s vocational preferences (Lapan, Tucker, Kim, & Kosciulek, 2003).

It is vital that when students graduate high school they have an increased knowledge of what is available to them after high school, an understanding of what it is that they are passionate about, an understanding of how they are gifted, what they are talented at, where their strengths lie, and a clear picture of what direction they need to walk in after high school.

This is where Educational Consultant, Jennifer Bennett comes into play.
Contact Jennifer today for more information:

www.coachjenniferbennett.com

jen@coachjenniferbennett.com

Great Literature


As an English teacher, I'm always up for reading insightful, life-changing literature; literature that really gets you thinking. Currently, my seniors and AP students are reading Macbeth by Shakespeare. I must admit, this is probably one of my favorite writings by Shakespeare. This drama really gets you thinking about power, the desire for more, selfishness, hate, guilt, sin, etc. If you have not read this play, then let me encourage you to do so.

According to the book, "College in a Can", here are some other noteworthy pieces of literature that they recommend reading prior to attending college (my favorites have an asterisk by them):

Pride and Prejudice*
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Alice in Wonderland
The Awakening
Heart of Darkness
A Tale of Two Cities
Emily Dickinson Poems
As I Lay Dying
The Great Gatsby
The Diary of a Young Girl*
Grendel
Lord of the Flies*
The Scarlet Letter*
Their Eyes Were Watching God *

I'm happy to say that many of my high school students have had the opportunity to read these classics within my classroom.

One book that I am reading right now that I have to admit, is not always the easiest to read is Kay Warren's "Dangerous Surrender". If you are looking for a book that will cause you to look on the inside and in turn, will cause you to change for the better, than let me encourage you to purchase this book. I seldom come across books that really tug at my heart when it comes to spiritual matters (I hope that doesn't say anything bad about me!). This one does it for me. I can only read so much in a day without having to put it down and basically, evaluate my life and give things over to God. This book will move you and in turn, will cause a stir in your soul. Read it only if you want to change for the better.

Alright, there you have it! This book list should keep you busy for some time!

Lies


When it comes to living out our life purpose, it is vital that we "uncover" those lies that we tend to cling to. These lies usually take the form of false assumptions we have, life misunderstandings, negative thoughts we have towards ourselves, etc. These lies are things that we allow to dictate not only the way we live our life, but also the way we choose to believe whether or not the Lord does have a purpose for us and whether or not we believe that He will do what He has promised to do.

Let me give you an example. As a young girl, I failed miserably at math. It all began during my middle school years. I had this math teacher who was just absolutely horrendous. She would require you to go to the board to work out a math problem. If you did not respond with the correct answer, she would yell at you in front of the whole class. Unfortunately, that began my dislike for math and my false belief that I could never do well in math. In high school, I flunked right out of geometry. I really believed that I could not do it nor pass the class successfully. Needless to say, when I entered college, I had my doubts about math and whether or not I could actually earn a college degree. Thankfully, I chose to not allow myself to give into those lies. Had I done that, I would not be where I am today-pursuing my Doctorate degree (which by the way, at one point I "believed" that I could never do).

What lies are you allowing yourself to believe hook, line, and sinker? What lies are keeping you from living the life that the Lord would have you live? Do you believe that you are not good enough and that God could never love you nor use you? Do you believe that you could never accomplish a college degree? Do you tend to see yourself as that chubby little girl that no one liked?

Take some time to allow yourself to uncover those lies that are keeping you from living the life that God would have you live. As you uncover these lies, make sure to also take some time to ask God how you (with His help) can overcome these false beliefs. It's only when we begin to uncover these lies that we can begin living a life of purpose!

Blessings!

Some of the worst reasons for choosing a college


Well, my husband and I have made it back home from Charleston, SC. While it was hard to come home, it's always nice to be back in the comforts of our own home. Last night we had the pleasure of having my sister-in-law and her children over. We ate way too much pizza and ended up in Downtown Disney where the girls conned us (not really!) into buying them some princess hats! Luke and I just couldn't resist!

Anyway, while I was in Charleston, I came across this book that I purchased, College in a Can. I have to admit, this book has some interesting "lists" in it, some good, some not so good. One of the lists I would like to present to you (part of the list anyway) today is: The 10 Worst Reasons for Choosing a College. This specific list is of interest to me being that my seniors are getting ready to graduate and head out into the college world. Also, while I was in Charleston, one of my seniors called me and shared with me her recent college visits. So, here are some of the worst reasons for choosing a specific college:

1) It's the cheapest-Don't assume that you can't afford an expensive college, even if your family doesn't qualify for government aid. Most private colleges offer scholarships of their own, including many that are merit-based.

2) It's the most expensive-On the other hand, don't assume that the higher the tuition, the better the school. Public colleges are often able to provide a high quality education at a reasonable price, thanks to government support.

3) They've offered me the most scholarship money-If college "A" is offering $5,000 in grants and college "B" is only offering $1,000, college "A" must be the better deal, right? Not necessarily. Subtract the amount of grants from the total cost of education at each school in order to get the real cost of attending. And remember, most scholarships have conditions attached.

4) I know, I'll get in-While it's important to apply to a "safety school", one for which you are well qualified, don't cross your dream college off the list without first doing your homework. Although most schools are vague when it comes to revealing admissions criteria, you can get a sense of your chances of acceptance by reviewing the profile of the previous year's freshman class. Ask about the mean SAT scores, the range of high school averages, the number of students with class ranking similar to yours, and the percentage of all applicants that were accepted.

5) The campus is pretty-Although aesthetics are important, you need to look beyond the beautiful to the practical.

6) It's where my boyfriend or girlfriend is going-If the relationship ends, you may find yourself trying to figure out how you ended up at a college that doesn't suit you in any way.

So, there's some food for thought! Enjoy your Friday evening!

Life-Ministry


"If our vocational endeavor is really a “life-ministry,” then we will resist the attraction of “lifestyle” decisions and honor the God-given gifts we have at our disposal" (Cedarville University).

One of my passions is assisting students with the many questions and concerns they have in regards to attending college, deciding on a major, "figuring" out what God has called them to, etc. What I have come to realize is that so many students view their "church/God life" as something different then their "career/job life". Many students today fail to see that their vocational calling is a life-ministry calling. The two go hand in hand.

Today, I came across this article that explains this topic pretty well. As you read, think about your own life. Do you tend to race towards the American Dream or God's Dream for your life? If you have children, are you encouraging them to chase after the American Dream or the Dream that God has for them?


Lifestyle Versus Lifework
by Cedarville University

If our vocational endeavor is really a “life-ministry,” then we will resist the attraction of “lifestyle” decisions and honor the God-given gifts we have at our disposal.

“There appears to be a significant difference between student perceptions of lifestyle and lifework.”

This is a quote written on my office whiteboard, based upon interactions with scores of students, regarding their life''s employment choices. As Director of Career Services at Cedarville University, I have a profound opportunity to interact with students as they attempt to deal with these issues as they try to connect their education to real life.

One of the pervasive tensions found in a Christian university of arts and sciences appears to center upon the issue of ultimate career choices on the one hand and the notion of God's initial design – in terms of a graduate's skills, interests, abilities, personalities, and values – on the other. Initially, admittance to such a university would presume some level of Christian testimony; in addition the academic matriculation process over four or five years is understood to be jam-packed with Biblical integration throughout each of the many majors and minors in offered coursework.

Throughout that educational process, students are challenged to consider summer ministry teams using mediums such as drama, music, puppetry, and healthcare. They attend daily chapel and minor in Bible. The campus “ethos” would seem to be centered upon a wide-range continuum of ministry opportunities from one-on-one mentoring through small group ministry to street evangelism groups.

When incoming freshmen students arrive on campus at our institution, they are encouraged to take an assessment tool that provides them with a wealth of research – based on information regarding their skills, interests, personality and values. Additionally, we have the opportunity to meet with all of them in several group settings and discuss strategies to prepare themselves appropriately for their eventual careers. During that session we ask three questions.

What is their desired future job title

What is the name of the company they had in mind

What would be the realistic salary expectation

You should see their eyes bulge when we indicate that we just asked the wrong three questions!

We stress that the educational journey upon which students are about to embark is not to prepare for careers, but rather, to prepare for “life ministries.” Therefore, with that view in mind, their education ought not to be about job title, name of company, or salary. It should be about preparing to do kingdom things, that is, to be so capable, as a nurse, or engineer, or accountant or an educator that people ask for “a reason for the hope that is within them.”

When given the opportunity, students are asked if they think that biblical integration in all of their courses would help prepare them to “have their lives read as a living gospel before men,” they nod their heads in the affirmative. Subsequently, when they are asked if their desire is “to be salt and light in places where there isn't any,” they answer in the affirmative. Additionally, they would universally agree that they are training to do kingdom things.

How do student responses mesh with their “having difficulty perceiving the differences between lifestyle and lifework?” Actually, they speak to the “lifework” part of the construct. It is almost a universally-held view by students that these would be the expected outcomes of a Christian education, searching out God's purpose for their lives and studying “to rightly divide the word of truth” as they find ways to share with the world at large.

Then what then causes tensions mentioned in the quote?

While it is true that students, perhaps also their parents, agree with the “lifework” notions, they also ardently hold on to their American Dream notions. These are “lifestyle” notions. The fast food, on demand, “I want the wife, the baby, the house and two cars, all within the first two years after graduation", instant gratification dream! To achieve it, significant numbers of them seem to have compartmentalized their paradigms. In particular, it seems that while students philosophically hold that their career choices should be about how God has designed them, they nevertheless make decisions when choosing employment that satisfies the three wrong questions of title, company name, and salary.

Why? In my thinking, it is to satisfy a lifestyle that in many (if not most) cases will require both marriage partners to work, that will create a series of credit card, loan, and mortgage debts that will enslave them for years, perhaps cause a need for serious marriage counseling, and may commit their children to an early life of child care. Make no mistake –decisions made on these lifestyle criteria alone will prevent experiencing the pure joy and freedom of a life ministry resonating with God-given design. A recent survey, published in the Dayton Daily News showed that over 67% of Americans are in jobs “they can't stand.” No wonder!

It has been said that while we may be able to do many different types of work, the one that we would select without salary would most closely match and resonate with our God-given design. So, why are students not doing that in large numbers? It appears that we've become too experienced in the art of “compartmentalization.”

We seem to have developed a way to deal with the tensions between lifestyle and lifework, between how we act at church or home and how we act in the business place or the ballpark. That is, we've created several varieties of public and private standards. Integrating a biblical worldview in the arenas of music/arts, politics/public sector employment and media/advertisement/private sector employment ought to be the sole perspective to our daily activities.

Consider the often cited quote from Ray Kroc, the McDonald founder and multi-millionaire: “My private priorities are God first, family second, and hamburgers third. When I go to work on Monday, that order is reversed.” That standard demonstrates one set of values for the private life and a graphically different one for the public life.

Acknowledgement of God-given skills, interests, personality, and values (on the one hand) and avoiding “playing by the pursuit of the American Dream rules” (on the other) ought to demarcate the normal Christian life. When job description, company name, and salary take precedent over family, home, and church we tarnish the “sacred” sphere of God-valued work. If our vocational endeavor is really a “life ministry,” then we will resist the attraction of “lifestyle” decisions and honor the God-given gifts we have at our disposal.

Unexpected Surprises


Why is it that when you are on vacation, time seems to fly by? I have had such a wonderful time in Charleston, SC these past few days, that in all honesty, it's going to be hard to go home. It has been wonderful being able to sleep in, explore, not having to worry about laundry, house work, etc. It's also just been really nice being able to think about the many thoughts and things that the Lord is continuing to show me.

First off, I have had the opportunity to meet a couple of people while I've been here in Charleston. Not only did I meet another Jen Bennett, but my husband and I also met a lady who used to live in Clermont, Florida-where we currently live. Now, I find that to be quite interesting. Let me explain how this happened. For the past few days, Luke and I have been driving down the same road in order to get where we need to get. Well every day, we have been passing this place called Life Management Center, Inc., which consists of educational consultants who work with families and schools in a variety of areas. Well of course, I wanted to stop to speak with someone from the company in order to get information about what they do being that this is a huge interest of mine. Today was the day. We walked in and met with this lady who gave us some wonderful information about what they offer and what it is that they specialize in. As we were talking, she mentioned that she was from Florida and of course we asked what part of Florida. Her response went something like this, "well, I'm from this little place right outside of Orlando called Clermont." We instantly had a bond!

Now, while this may not be all that exciting, what it reminded me of was the fact that it just continues to amaze me how the Lord opens doors here and there for us to meet and come into contact with those people that He wants us to come into contact with. Not only that, but He also opens the doors that He wants to open and He opens them when He wants to open them. Additionally, God will let you in on what He has for you when the time is right. I never expected to have so many thoughts and ideas flowing through my head while on vacation, but I have. God has been showing me some great things while I've been here and in all honesty, it just excites me!

Be open to what God wants to do you in your life. Many times, it's in those small occurrences that He ends up speaking big. Be open and always keep your ears,heart, and mind open to what He wants to show you!