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Poem: My Heart

If I didn't have her there for me,
I wouldn't be half the woman I turned out to be.

Poem: My Heart
Peromnia Grant
Passion for Teaching: I Remember Mama

In the words of the famous gospel singer Shirley Caesar, “I Remember Mama in Such a Special Way.” My mother, Jannie Rogers, is extraordinary; I have never met a woman like her.

Passion for Teaching: I Remember Mama
Sue Fitton
Helping Communities: EDUCATORS in the COMMUNITY ...

If there is one word that describes Katheryn Meagher, it would be passion. Katheryn is the Founder and President of Auxilium Manus DEO: Helping Hands with God, a Christian Career Development non-profit offering employment and spiritual guidance for those seeking sustainable careers.

Helping Communities: EDUCATORS in the COMMUNITY - Katheryn Meagher, PhD, MBA, MHA
Connie Pryce
Meditation: Two-Way Prayer

Prayer has always puzzled me in many ways, and reading numerous books on the subject hasn’t answered all that many questions. I can’t help but believe that others may have some of the same questions but are perhaps afraid to ask.

Meditation: Two-Way Prayer
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Poem: A Time of Planting

Cups of soil line the windowsill promising that soon, plants will emerge.

Poem: A Time of Planting

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

by Sue Fitton

Scripture, God’s precious word, is essential to daily living, as necessary as the air we breathe and the food we eat. Even more than that, it’s crucial to a victorious life. It’s imperative to the growth and vitality of being a Christian. It is knowing who Jesus is. His names are numerous from Genesis to Revelation. His many qualities are enveloped in the names or “word pictures” throughout the Bible and describe His power, position, and provision. My favorite verse is profound and declarative of His all-sufficient power, position, and provision: Let’s examine that verse in light of some other scriptures.*

John 14:6 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” 

The way: as the eternal word…John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” 

…the word as a lamp/light: Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 

How better to know “the way,” than following the Word and knowing we have “light” for the way to go! 

The truth: John 8:32 

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." There is freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ! 

The Life: 1 John 5:12 

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Christ gives life; eternal life; abundant life… 

John 10:10

 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 

John 10:28

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” 

John 14:6 encompasses, very simply, His power, position, and provision. It is a verse that settles a lot of doubt and question about “who He is”… The Lord Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, the life.” — the message people need to hear. 

*All references are from the New King James Version. 

Off-Shore Investments Part II

by Carolyn Burhans

Last spring an article was printed in WAVES that described how Sweetwater Elementary kindergarten teacher, Megan Martens, traveled to the village of La Salinas de Nahualapa, Nicaragua with representatives from Daytona State College’s Teaching Beyond Borders organization. You may recall that Mrs. Martens spearheaded the effort to collect swimsuits, games and classroom materials for the students with which they would work. Their main purpose was to teach the local children academic subjects. In June 2017, Mrs. Martens’ group of certified and pre-service teachers made another trip to La Salinas. Although they returned to the same village and students with school supplies, curriculum, dental hygiene items and swimsuits, this Teaching Beyond Borders delegation observed significant changes in the children. First and foremost, they were welcomed warmly with hugs from bright-eyed, widely smiling children. You see, they recognized the visitors who invested time and energy in them the year before. These children knew what to expect and they could not wait to get started with new learning experiences. Some of the students remembered the English phrases learned the previous summer and were proud to demonstrate this knowledge to their American teachers. According to Megan, the local children were not alone in receiving blessings during their time together. Individual members of the teacher team experienced spiritual breakthroughs as they jelled as a family. The teachers acknowledged that God was actively at work among the adults and some received healing in their lives. When asked, what they needed in the village, the community leader (similar to a mayor without the politics) responded, “It’s all about the children’s education.” Knowing that they were making a profound difference in the lives of these children encouraged the delegation as they left La Salinas with high hopes for an eventful 2018 expedition. Unfortunately, adequate funding for the education program is not available for a return trip this year; however some members of the team plan to visit their beloved family in La Salinas to stay in touch and provide encouragement. Please keep their efforts in your prayers. For the sixth consecutive year, Megan has organized a schoolwide book drive to benefit our local community. This year’s collection of more than 1400 books was delivered to Family Renew and other community organizations for distribution to children here in Central Florida. As the sponsor of the Florida Future Educators club at her school, Mrs. Martens empowered those students to spearhead the project. The FFEA students and Mrs. Martens are excited about the far-reaching impact on our greater Volusia community as well as La Salinas de Nahualapa, Nicaragua. 

Megan Martens is married and teaches kindergarten students at Sweetwater Elementary School in Port Orange.