(classroomclipart.com)

It’s hard to imagine that the Two Voices have been writing this blog for almost a year! We made that conclusion when we looked at the calendar, and realized that it’s the time in some areas when school buses are running again, new clothes and backpacks are ready, and students are heading off for a new year of school. We thought it best to update our post from last year to once again encourage our teachers to realize how important their role is, was, and always will be. There are many quotes, plaques, and coffee mugs that state the obvious: teachers impact lives in so many ways, but it can never be mentioned too much. We salute you, have been you, and continue to pray for you. So here’s our updated post, just for you:

Another school year is beginning. Teachers, you never know who is sitting in your classroom. Some of my former middle school students are doing amazingly well. Many now have classrooms of their own, are managing their own businesses, enjoying nursing careers, at least one holds a professorship at a major university, several are world travelers, one actually made and played in the NBA (does the name Iverson ring a bell?), and my most consistent overachiever may soon be interpreting at the United Nations! Your profession is an honorable one that affects everyone who enters your personal domain – your room. God has placed each student – even the ones that challenge you the most – with you for a reason. Isn’t that an awesome thought! All your momentary victories, frustrating experiences, and headache-causing situations are fitting into the plan from Above. Make good memories this school year and try to enjoy each moment.

Sue – Voice II

When I reflect on the new school year, I remember Principal McGee from the movie “GREASE.” She dramatically plays the xylophone as she reminds the students how they can perhaps be the next Eleanor Roosevelt, President Eisenhower, or Joe DiMaggio. As she calls out the prominent names, the different characters who portray the high school students lift up their chins, poke out their chests, or display wide grins as they think on the possibility of being someone great.Today, we remind students how they can possibly be the next Condoleezza Rice,  Colin Powell, or Dr. Ben Carson. Either way, the bottom line is that all students really are already great within because of their Creator. They just need our help to discover it.

Question: How does the teacher or parent in you help bring out the possibility of greatness in each student or child you will directly impact in this new year?

Answer: We must remember to “look-up” and ask God to show us the heart of that child as He sees it. We must be mindful that each person has been given unique gifts, skills, and talents in order to perform or complete a specific assignment in this life. Parents and educators alike are given the privilege to help a child discover his or her reason for being. As God begins to show us things, our compassionate eyes become more aware and are opened to see new levels. This better insight enables us to love and mold the ones we least like and to discipline and challenge the ones who are so easy to love. All  of these actions can be done within such a balanced intricate realm that the best in each child is forced to surface beyond what we initially thought was ever possible.

Remember, you have the power to help every student you teach this year reach his or her next level of growth.  Please don’t waste it.

Deidre Hester, Voice I

The Voices have spent some time the past two weeks watching highlights of the Republican convention in Cleveland, and then the Democratic convention in Philadelphia. Since our candidates of choice did not make the cut into the final two, we’re evaluating those we would not have considered earlier for the office of President of the United States.

As related in Chapter 1 of our book, One God Two Voices, Sue has always taught and encouraged others to vote in every election. (Pg. 5). Not voting is not an option in a representative democracy. However 2016 poses a real problem for people who do not want to pull that lever for either candidate. What do we do?

WE PRAY . . . for wisdom, for our country, and for the final two candidates, knowing that God will honor that kind of prayer. People often say, “When all else fails, just pray.” However prayer should be our first choice, our priority. We agree with the Rev. Franklin Graham that this is the time to pray for our nation to turn back to God. It’s never too late for a revival as the following verse declares: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

We hope you will join us as we pray for that forgiveness and healing.

Deidre and Sue

Don’t forget to check out our Youtube channel and new book entitled “One God -Two Voices.”

Purchase your copy today at  https://onegodtwovoices.com/purchase/

(Pray It Forward Everyday FB post)

This has been a rough week. Questionable police shootings in Baton Rouge, LA, and Falcon Heights, MN, fueled protests that ultimately resulted in an ambush of police officers in Dallas, TX. Most of those who died over the last days were probably among those celebrating at the beginning of the week with July 4th picnics and fireworks; unaware that their lives were about to end. Three states . . . three tragedies . . . many mourning the loss of life for those gone too soon. Once again we are divided, not just over politics, policies, or laws, but by race. Will we ever overcome that age-old demon resulting from the days of slavery? Can we ever come together, try to understand our differences, and work to overcome them? Are we doomed to always be the melting pot that never really melted?

Coming from two different ages, races, and backgrounds, Deidre and I realize as many don’t that this melting can be accomplished because we have done it. Our closeness and love for one another comes from a power greater than ourselves. We were drawn together by our Christianity; by God, and our relationship has blessed others and been such a blessing to us.

We were led to write our first book, For Such A Time As This . . . We Are But Small Voices and then update it to our current work ONE GOD, Two Voices to try to explain what we experienced together, with our students, and our families. We sought to explain how coming together resulted in so much more than we could have ever experienced apart. We wanted to encourage others to take a leap of faith and get to know other people that don’t look like them, and learn that judging by the outside never gives you an accurate picture of what is inside. How many will read our work? That’s up to God, but we hope it helps to move us forward and not back. We don’t need more white hoods, a resurgence of the Black Panthers, or anything else that divides rather than unites us. We need our nation on its knees before a Holy God, asking for forgiveness for removing Him from our daily life, and allowing all forms of negativity to be ushered in instead. Will you join us?

Deidre and Sue; “We Stand United!”

This past Sunday was Father’s Day and for those of us still fortunate enough to have our dads, it was a day of good food, funny gifts, and just good times. However life goes on, and in the midst of marketing our book and living our busy lives, the “Voices” have had several reasons to celebrate lately and we are so thankful! Let me share my (Sue’s) blessings first:

Richard and I experienced a busy week of VBS – “Submerged” – at our church and saw many children learn about Jesus’ love for them. The Bible stories, songs, and crafts were wonderful, as was their mission-giving, which topped $1,500 for our Preschool Scholarship fund. I, the director, had to submit to a pie in the face as a reward for their generosity . . . but it was well worth it!

Then, our son married his beautiful fiancé last week and we became instant grandparents! Now we are vacationing at the beach, recharging for my next book appearance in Wytheville, VA, at the Chautauqua Bazaar, June 24-25. Life is good as my heavenly Father has shown His love in many ways recently. He is always with me, in good times and bad. It’s easy to understand His closeness in the good times, but we have to hold onto the reality that when we hurt, grieve, or simply don’t understand during the hard times, He is just as close.

Sue – Voice II

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When it comes to celebrating the blessings in our lives, I think about how there is still so much to be grateful for even in the midst of worldwide pain, agony, and degradation. Life itself can be the greatest form of a paradox to me.  Right in the thick  of brutal murders, natural death, and disasters, there is also a simultaneous steady flow of celebrations such as  births, graduations, and marriage.

Thus, my mind  ponders on, “How do we look beyond our pain in order to enjoy and appreciate the happy moments that life brings to us on a daily basis whether they belong directly to us or not?” That is why Sue and I wanted  to use our voices on this particular blog to offer God another public “shout-out” for all He continues to do with us and through us.

Monday was my mother-in-law’s 88th birthday. Over the weekend, our family had the opportunity to surround her with good food, lots of laughter, praise, and fun. I reflected on how “our” mother is still so full of glee, and the sheer glow of life still reveals itself as she ages.  I couldn’t help but also reflect on how so many others didn’t make it to see such a milestone including the many youth that I have had to witness being buried at such a tender age (One God, Two Voices – Ch.VI; p.80). Even  after such a thought, I still had to lift up my hands in praise each time I looked at the circle of love encompassing my mother-in- law.

The previous weekend was also full of love, laughter, and fun as we watched our niece exchange her wedding vows at the beautiful Butler Chapel located on the campus of Campbell University in Dunn, NC. The atmosphere was full of God’s glory, peace, and joy as we all recalled how His presence was felt during this sacred ceremony that God has  defined and ordained from the beginning of time between one man and one woman. Amen! Afterwards, taking pictures, eating dinner, and dancing at the reception were also enjoyed by many there, including my husband who had the honor of dancing with the bride after giving her away at the ceremony. I was also privileged to light the candle representing the Hester’s side which symbolically joins the bride and groom together as one united family.

One of the  greatest moments I experienced  was when  I  watched my husband during  the “father-daughter dance.” He first danced with our niece and then he danced with our own daughter. I felt lots of warm tears rolling down both cheeks on my face, but I felt so much joy and peace. How beautiful our niece looked as she rested her head on her uncle – a picture of peace and security. I also felt a sense of serenity and confidence believing that I would also live to see the day when our own daughter would be able to favor her dad in a similar way at her own wedding.

What a time we had during both occasions! Whether it was laughter over how good the wedding and birthday cakes tasted, the smiling faces of our children and grandchildren jumping up and down on the trampoline while we talked between bites of hotdogs, baked beans, and grilled meats during the birthday cook-out, or tears of joy during the wedding ceremony, it all reflected God’s powerful unfailing love.

Just knowing and acknowledging that God is always there with us makes all the difference in every situation whether it is happy or sad.

We cannot forget that in both the  good times and bad, God is on the throne and He still reigns.

Deidre- Voice I

Check out our Youtube channel and new book entitled “One God -Two Voices.” Purchase your copy today at  https://onegodtwovoices.com/purchase/

(adamspestcontrol.com)

“Choose this day who you will serve . . .But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”    Joshua 24:15

Now more than ever it is time to choose the Lord’s way over the will of man. With each day, the news brings word of more ungodly decisions that seek to remove or dilute the rights of parents, educators, and Christians.  One of our major platforms is to encourage Christians to work their “sphere of influence” – the workplace, ball field, grocery store, or gym – and urge others to stand for God’s way and take this country back for Him. As we spoke to many people at the CHAPS Home School convention in PA recently, we repeatedly exclaimed to many that the legacy we are currently leaving our children is unacceptable! If we are indecisive about current issues affecting them, the world they inherit will not be a positive one. None of us want that, but few people realize that they can be an individual part of the solution.

This situation reminded us of part of the commencement speech we heard at Larry’s recent graduation from the University of Mount Union. Dr. Richard Drake spoke on several topics, encouraging the about-to-be graduates on their next steps after college. However, the most memorable one for Deidre and me was the statement he made about driving the interstate and noticing the “highway of flattened squirrels” along the way. He told the audience he felt their demise was directly related to the fact that they could not make a decision about which way to run in order to avoid the approaching car. Their indecision led to their death which resulted into a really ugly “SPLAT!” on the highway of life.

We feel that indecision is prohibiting many people from making changes that could positively affect our country, our culture, and our children. Some would say, “It’s too late.” We disagree – it’s never too late as long as we’re still here. Reflect on our title for this blog and make a resolution – even in June! Joshua’s example to stand for God’s ways regardless of any hardship enabled him to lead  well and be blessed. Our choice to do likewise will also allow us to live a life that results in positive change and blessings from our Father as well. May God bless you as you DECIDE to stand for Him and His ways.

The Voices- Deidre and Sue

Check out our Youtube channel and new book entitled “One God -Two Voices.” Purchase your copy today at  https://onegodtwovoices.com/purchase/