Ode to a Sunday School Teacher

This amazing lady standing with Jennifer and me is Mrs. Kathy Tidwell. We took this picture at the West Tennessee Pastors dinner at Union last week. We had a wonderful time reminiscing about the past... she was the pastor's wife at West Jackson while we were in the youth group, but even better, she was our Sunday school teacher when we were in high school. She and Bro. Jerry were such a blessing in our lives and had such high expectations for each of us. It always encourages you to do the right thing when you know that beyond even your own family there is someone expecting you to make godly choices. One of the things that impacted me the most was the summer before our senior year when she had us write down some things on the front and back of a note card and keep them as we faced tough choices that were ahead...she told us to write KEEP FOREVER at the top, and as far as I know, we all have! So, if you need a reminder on some good life principles, here you go...I pulled my note card out of my old Bible and took this picture today...it was a great reminder for me, too!1. Decision Making:

• When you make a decision ask...a) Will the decision violate any scripture? b) Does it take motivation away from my spiritual life? c) Can I ask God's blessing on it? d) Will it be a stumbling block for others? e) Would you want Jesus to see you doing this? f) Does it bring glory to the name of Jesus? g) Would I want to be doing this when Jesus returns?

2. Life:

• The most important thing is accepting Jesus...life will be incomplete without Him.
• Spend time in the Bible and don't be discouraged.
• Don't just read scripture, learn it.
• Stay involved in church.
• Try to be a model church member.
• Pray for your pastor (little did she know that 3 of us would be married to our pastors :)
  
• Be dependable, be committed.
• Be involved...teach Sunday school, choir, etc.
• Be a joy to work with.
• The Beatitudes...be like them.
• Spend time on projects that have eternal value.
• Be a friend to the friendless.
• NEVER make fun of someone.
• Be easy with others' feelings.
• Don't get YOUR feelings hurt easily.
• Sacrifice your wants for others' needs.
• Use Jesus' example.
• Harboring bitterness will destroy you!
• Find yourself a Christian man.
• Settle for nothing less than a perfect man.
• The best wedding gift you can give your husband is purity.
• Remain pure before God before and after marriage.
• As long as Mrs. Kathy is living and breathing, there is always someone to expect me to do right.
• No matter what else happens to me, God can use it.
• God sees ALL.
• Sin always takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay and costs you more than you want to pay.
• God uncovers the sin we try to hide and covers the sin we confess to Him.

Thank you, Mrs. Kathy, for loving us enough to take the time to share your life and impart your values on a group of impressionable high school girls! We love you and will always remember the lessons you taught us!This is a pic of the six of us...we live in four different cities, so we don't get together as much as we would like, but last year we all got together and went to West Jackson to worship...I'm so grateful for these amazing friends God blessed me with!