My first week back in the classroom after fifteen years, a former student and fellow teacher shared her struggles to stay focused on God. The pressures of changing to a new school and trying to run her classroom overwhelmed her. She asked me if I would write a Bible study for a small group of teachers she planned to meet with in her classroom after school. The next day, I outlined seventeen weeks of daily lessons in thirty minutes. Professional best practices mixed with a healthy dose of Jesus. And so, The Master’s Classroom was born.

I never imagined doing anything more than encouraging this small group of teachers. If it helped even one of them stay focused on Jesus, that was enough for me. But the nudges from God started, so I began sharing the daily study online with other teachers. Then one of the educators in the group asked when I was going to turn them into a book. That’s when I knew; this was bigger than I understood.

Fibromyalgia held my body hostage as I walked the halls and worked with small groups of fourth and fifth grade math students. There were days when I was physically depleted. But I knew God placed me in that school for the year, so I called on him for strength to get through the day. And when I arrived at home, I asked him for the words to write the six lessons a week I needed to have ready for the small group of teachers.

This year I learned that writing isn’t about “arriving”. It’s about serving others and offering our gift, even if it only reaches one. It’s about trusting God with EVERYTHING, especially my pen. But bigger than anything, writing is about obedience. I can’t tell you the number of times I wanted to quit. And every time, I would receive a text or email sharing how much the lessons were ministering to them in the moment. And I’d look at the sky and send a thank you to heaven for the encouragement to continue in obedience.

I’ve spent hours formatting and prepping this book.  I’ve rearranged the cover graphics umpteen times. But I’ve also relived amazing moments when God spoke to me in my classroom.  And I can’t wait to share those professional and spiritual lessons with you.

So, today, I introduce you to one of the biggest lessons on trusting God I’ve ever gone through. The birth of a new devotional Bible study series. May I introduce, The Master’s Classroom: Growing professionally while growing in Christ, Volume 1.