Tuesday, April 24, 2007

PRAISE to My FATHER!

GOD IS SOOO GOOD! I've been talkin to my cousin Monica for the past couple of hours. We've been talking about God and how awesome that He is. I just wanted to shout it out on my blog......

GOD is soooo good!
Don't forget that fellow bloggers and readers!

Saturday, April 21, 2007

A Call To Our Youth......

Growing up I always had a strong faith in God. I never felt many of the pressures that youth face, whether it be drinking, cursing, smoking, drugs, sleeping around, etc. I was raised in church from the beginning of my life. Being raised in church for me wasn't a burden. My parents showed Jesus to me in their daily lives as well. Therefore, being raised in church was a support to the life that my parents were already teaching me to live. As a matter of fact, I was Saved at my bedside after a Wed. night service. I was shown a love for God's son Jesus and for the Living Word of the Lord. I pray that I can do the same with my future children.
This entry is for the youth out there today. Some of you may have had a similar upbringing as me. Some of you may have never entered a church door. Some of you may have heard the name Jesus, but you may not realize the importance of turning your life over to Him.
Youth, I want to share with you a well known Bible story. I want you to read this and really pay attention to the sections that I have emphasized in red. These are the verses that show what this young boy named David spoke boldly about his faith in God. Also, notice the end of the story. God uses this young, small boy to defeat a huge, strong giant. "Why didn't God just provide a massive, strong army?", you might ask. Well, would anyone have remembered this story? Probably not. God uses those that aren't anything major in the world's eyes to accomplish much for Him. This proves that it is not what we can do for God, rather what we allow God to do with our small lives.
If you are a young person, my prayer is that you realize just how great of an opportunity you have to let God use your life. If you aren't a Christian, you need to become one. Why? Is it because everyone thinks that is the correct way to be? Or because it would make your grandparents happy? Maybe because folks think you are this horrible person, right? WRONG. You need to become a Christian because you desperately need God to guide your life from your youth on. No matter what you may have done, or what you have been through, God loves you and wants to take you in as His child.


If you want to be Saved:
1. Pray and tell God that you realize that you are a sinner
(We all mess up each moment of each day.)
2. Ask God to forgive you of your sins.
3. Tell God that you believe that He is our creator and that He sent His Son
Jesus to die on an old, rugged cross to pay for all the sins that we have committed and will commit in the future. 4. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and to Save your Soul.

That's all it takes! If you prayed that prayer or need someone to pray with
email me and I'll be there for you!

NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I GIVE YOU THE STORY OF DAVID & GOLIATH
FROM GOD'S WORD!
I SAMUEL CHAPTER 17
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
PS. David is the son of a SERVANT (not a royal king) named Jesse. Guess what guys, this is the lineage (ancestors) of our Savior JESUS!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Happy Birthday Lea Bea!

My niece's birthday was on Easter Sunday this year. Michael got off work a bit early and we left for Louisville to get to her birthday party. She looked soo cute and we had a good time (despite me being sick)! Here's some pics from the event!










GAVIN COMES TO VISIT 4 DAD'S BDAY!

Here are some pics from Gavin and Jessica's two trips down this week. They came on the 9th to celebrate dad, mamaw, and Edie's bday and then on the 10th to pick up a free pc that Billy got for her. Hopefully Jess will be bloggin' before long! I have such a wonderful daddy! He has always been the Godliest man that I know! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!











Sunday, April 08, 2007

Dogwood Legend: Jesus Died For Our Sins! Praise God HE Arose From the Dead!

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A LEGEND....... BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD WITNESSING TOOL EVEN IF IT IS JUST A REMINDER OF JESUS DYING ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SIN DEBT. HAVE A WONDERFUL, BLESSED EASTER. AND REMEMBER..... EASTER ISN'T ABOUT BUNNIES AND EGGS ITS ABOUT JESUS AND WHAT HE DID FOR US! HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD VICTORIOUSLY! PRAISE GOD, HE LIVES!



As legend has it, the cross on which Jesus was crucified was made from a dogwood tree. God decreed that the dogwood tree would from that day forth never grow large enough to be used to make a cross. Thus, the dogwood tree is a small, under story tree. The flower of the dogwood has four petals which makes the shape of a cross. The center of the flower resembles the crown of thorns with bright red, clustered fruit in the center representing the blood of Christ. The dogwood blooms in April when Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Christ after the Crucifixion.

The Old, Old, Legend Of The Dogwood
Two thousand years ago, few trees in the Middle East were not big enough to construct anything. However, one tree was valued above the others for its thick trunk and fine, strong wood.When the Romans came to rule over Jerusalem, their government used this same timber to build the crosses for executing criminals. A group of workers were assigned to gather wood for the crosses. Before long, every Roman official knew the best wood came from these gatherers of execution wood, so those workers became popular.
One day, the wood gatherers received a special request. An officer of the Roman court came and said, "The King of Jews is to be put to death. Deliver an extra-large cross made from your finest wood." So, a fresh tree was cut from the forest of the trees with thick trunks and fine, strong wood. An extra-tall (and extra-heavy) cross was quickly made and delivered. Three days after the death of Jesus of Nazereth, the chief wood gatherer got alarming news. "All of our finest trees are withering!" the messenger whispered. The wood gatherer hurried to the forest and saw that it was true.
Several years later, the chief wood gatherer heard that, every spring, many people visited the old forest that had once made his job so easy. Despite his advancing years, he set out to discover why. He saw the remains of forest, now like a salty bottoms, with only a few trees still standing tall,baked, lifeless and rotting.
But what was this? As he drew closer, his feeble eyes could make out the people walking among thousands of beautiful, flowering bushes. Seeing one of his own workers there, the old man said, "No one could ever make a cross out of this twisted wood. Our finest tree has gone to the dogs!" He noticed the beautiful white flowers, each blossom looking as if it had been burned from the touch of a miniature cross. So...an old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: "Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red -- and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember.
Legend of the Dogwood in a Flash movie . . .
here.


Wednesday, April 04, 2007

That time of year........



It's that time of year........ when I begin to feel really overwhelmed, stressed, and usually develop a *ACHOOOOOOOO* cold. I currently fit all of the above categories. We have 2 weeks after this week until the annual CATS testing block which lasts 2 weeks. Then we have 3 weeks of school left after the CATS test and we are out for the summer. I have so many plans for this summer, however, I am having a hard time getting to the point where I can actually see this summer in the future. Sound insane? Be a teacher for a year and see what I mean. This is a stressful time of year for us all. But........ there is a light at the end of the tunnel for a tired teacher who is in desperate need of summer vacation. I pray that God will help me through the rest of this year and the planning for next year. I also pray that He will use me through the remainder of the year to touch my students' lives and the lives of all those that I come in contact with. Though I am definitely not what I need to be 99% of the time, God is sooo good to me!