Through little ways... in Jesus's name!
It has been almost four months since the Community Quarantine was first imposed in the Philippines because of the pandemic COVID-19, and CQ has been called a lot of names during this period: lockdown, ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ, and a lot more.
In this new normal, everyone is facing struggles on adjusting to the present setting of their lives. WFH or Work From Home is the new normal set up among some of the companies. Skeletal force is required to report physical in their workplace. All these adjustments are thanks to the blessing of technology. Before COVID-19, I thought advanced technology like wifi, smartphones, and others are doomed to destroy the lives of every human being because of the proliferation of pornography through these devices. Yet, during this time I realized that God has allowed the invention of these technologies to prepare us for what we have right now and also that good things can come out from the things God has allowed to happen.
Education has received a blow because of this pandemic. Due to viruses, we are limited to move and do what we normally do during enrolment and classes. Face to face classes with the students is still prohibited since the learners are considered vulnerable to COVID-19. The Philippine educational system did not even consider the option of canceling the school year 2020-2021 due to COVID-19. But instead, they devised plans and programs to make sure the education of every young Filipino continues under the program LCP or Learning Continuity Plan of the Department of Education.
The higher up have been exerting every effort to make education possible for every young Filipino in this time of pandemic and it goes the same way with the teachers. In little ways, teachers are doing their part to make sure they follow the direction of DepEd despite the uncertainties and anxieties brought by COVID-19. Teachers attend webinars, learn new strategies, techniques, and methods on how to deliver the teaching-learning process with the learners, while simultaneously complying with the paperwork and reports required by the school, division, region, or even from the national.
It is overwhelming and one may not be excused to experience quarantine fatigue. I thought staying at home or working from home will be a smooth sailing ship, and guess what I was wrong. Definitely wrong.
Paperworks and submission of reports arrive without a warning. They come on Saturday, Sunday, on weekends, at night, at midnight, and even during the dawn. It was a bit difficult at first, but DepEd is trying its best to prepare their teachers for the new normal by conducting webinars about mental health, psychosocial, and psychological support. I am glad that finally the department finally made this issue a priority not only for the learners but also for its personnel.
As one of the public teachers, I still struggle with this new normal. It was hard to imagine at first how the school year 2020-2021 will sail. Right now, at least I have a little glimpse of what could happen this school year during the teaching-learning process without the face to face learning modality. Our school head conducted a survey about the teachers' preferred mode of teaching in consideration of the learners' preferred learning delivery. I chose modular since my internet is not reliable (Ahem, Globe, baka naman), as of this moment I am waiting for a better internet connection through Converge. So, I'll see which is better, I want to remain with Globe, yet the need for a faster and better internet connection is a must to have an effective WFH arrangement.
Just today, I tried to create a digital presentation of a sample lessons for the LCP campaign of our school and also as a preparation for the new school year. I also made this because I had no choice but to choose to comply (hehe and because of Romans 13:1 NIV: "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.", to God be all the glory).
I am happy with the results of my journey in creating digital content. I was excited after seeing the finished product, because of my excitement I posted the video on my Youtube channel. I am content with my work, and accept that there is still room for improvement. I hope that through this kind of digital content school yeat 2020-2021 will come to pass, in Jesus's name!
Are you a teacher?
What is a teacher?
Hello! I am Teacher Arlene.
Always, I had an eerie feeling before whenever someone calls me Teacher Arlene outside school. I didn't like it because of the system and the duties and responsibilities entangled with it, they're huge, overwhelming, and some should be done by a different set of personnel most of the times. Thus, I wanted to get away from it. I have tried many times but God is not yet done with me being a teacher. He has put me for a reason and a season. I don't know until when I am going to be a teacher in the system I am in right now, only Him knows.
In the present setting, the new normal is very challenging for everyone else including teachers, learners, and parents. That's why my prayer is that may we all find the endurance, strength, and wisdom to thrive in these trying times through Him and in Him.
Let's go back to my question, so what really is a teacher?
It isn't someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires students to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows. ~Edda, The Witch of Portabello by Paulo Coelho
I pray that you will be able to find you're true calling in these trying times. Pray for me too. 😄🙌🙏
Who is God?
I did not know who God is.
Do I know Him?
I did not know the real Him.
Do I have that intimate relationship with Him?
I thought He hated me because I kept on sinning--and I still do. I thought He did not want anything to do with a sinner like me.
But I was wrong.
I am weak in the human flesh. So weak... But that did not and never cause Him to love me less, instead, He loves me more, more than I can imagine.
You might be thinking how do I know that He loves me no matter what. How do I know that He will never love me less? How can I be sure that despite my weakness or in its plural form I am loved and protected?
In any human relationship, we must have an intimate relationship with a person to know them better and the truths about him or her. We spend time with that person and talk to them on a regular basis. And just like in human relationships, to have an intimate relationship with God, we also need to spend time with Him like attending Sunday worship, having quiet time with Him, being part of a small group or Bible study, talking and listening to Him through prayers.
By spending time with Him through my quiet time, I am knowing more about Him and putting my trust in Him as a grow and live my life with Him. His promises to you and me, I hold them, dear, to my heart because I know Him, I know His truest character and He never fails.
Psalm 62 CEV is the Scripture during my quiet time with Him last Sunday, June 14. It is only now that God is allowing me to post this blog entry. This chapter says:
God Is Powerful and Kind
1 Only God can save me,
and I calmly wait for[a] him.
2 God alone is the mighty rock[b]
that keeps me safe
and the fortress
where I am secure.
3 I feel like a shaky fence
or a sagging wall.
How long will all of you
attack and assault me?
4 You want to bring me down
from my place of honor.
You love to tell lies,
and when your words are kind,
hatred hides in your heart.
5 Only God gives inward peace,
and I depend on him.
6 God alone is the mighty rock
that keeps me safe,
and he is the fortress
where I feel secure.
7 God saves me and honors me.
He is that mighty rock
where I find safety.
8 Trust God, my friends,
and always tell him
each one of your concerns.
God is our place of safety.
9 We humans are only a breath;
none of us are truly great.
All of us together weigh less
than a puff of air.
10 Don’t trust in violence
or depend on dishonesty
or rely on great wealth.
11 I heard God say two things:
“I am powerful,
12 and I am very kind.”
The Lord rewards each of us
according to what we do.
I am not an expert in Bible verses but these are the truths about God that are revealed through His word on Psalm 62:
1. He is the only one who can save me no one else (Psalm 62:1).
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.
2. He, alone, keeps me safe (Psalm 62:2).
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.
3. Only He can give me inward peace (Psalm 62:5).
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
4. God honors me because He loves me (Psalm 62:7).
Isaiah 41:10 ESV Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
5. God is a trusted friend, my confidant (Psalm 62:8).
John 15:15 ESV No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
6. God is powerful and very kind (Psalm 62:11-12).
Psalm 147:5 ESV Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
7. He is a rewarder (Psalm 62:12).
Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Reboot your life and start your journey with Him now!
Know God more! Be intimate with Him! Have that intimate relationship with Him!
Need someone to talk to? In need of prayers? Message me, I'm willing to listen and pray for you. May God bless us all!☺
Are you still lost?
I was lost until He found me. I am found. No longer lost. And from my journey of finding Him, He instead found me. I am grateful to be able to publish another poetry book. I intend that this book may glorify my God, the One who found me again. This is for Him. All for Him. For those who feel lost just like I was, may you find Him and be found by Him. He is your Shepherd, if you are lost He will definitely come and find you. May you be victorious in fighting your battles, just like I did. With Him all things are possible. May you also develop a personal relationship with Him. Know Him more, know Him better.
A little teaser from the book:
You can't stop me.
I will keep on moving forward.
You can't shut me out.
I will let my voice out.
You can't tell me what I am.
You have no right anyway.
I am what I am.
That's the truth you can never change.
I pray that this book may inspire others never to give up. I pray that you will endure all your struggles and overcome them. If you feel less, don't be. You are worth more than you can ever imagine. He redeemed us and paid the most expensive debt one can ever have. He loves you. Come to Him if you feel weary and burdened, He will give you rest. Peace and joy will overflow in your life. You are loved. So don't give up!
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