Be of Good Cheer!

John 16:33 KJV
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


This verse is the verse of the day on my MyWay page. If it wasn't there for anyone else, it was there today for me. I have definitely felt tribulation on every hand lately with my hubby being sick with what we think is a diseased gall bladder (flash back to last January when I did the same thing!), my school loan company is trying to deny me of loan forgiveness because my consolidation didn't meet the deadline that they slated it would meet (they advised me to do this and it was on their behalf that it took 3 months to consolidate, even the representatives do not understand this situation!), I am still longing for that precious baby news, tax season is here, our house shopping has been put on hold (because we don't really know which route to go), etc. The list goes on and on and on. But I am of good cheer because MY GOD has overcome this old world! In a few years, none of this will matter because we will be called up to be with HIM! Praise God!

PS. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME ABOUT THESE THINGS! GOD HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD AND HE WILL OVERCOME THESE THINGS FOR ME!

Longing

It's quiet, cold, and kind of dark here this morning. The hum of my space heaters and the click of my keys are all that I hear. Yet again I have a longing. Actually a few. I am longing for the excitement of finding out and announcing that a precious child is on his/her way. I long to experience even the hardest parts of being pregnant and welcoming a new spirit into our lives. I long to see this child that I have been praying for even before he/she is even in existence here on earth. I long to let my eyes behold it and to fall completely in love, to watch it grow and to have the opportunity to ask for God's guidance in the molding of his/her little life.

I also long for home. I don't want to die and I am not being morbid at all. I am talking about Resurrection Day and the excitement that will come with that. I long to see my Father's face. I long to kiss the nail prints in my Savior's hands and feet and thank Him in the best way that I know how, with tears and songs of praise! I long to see my loved ones and my precious friends who have made Heaven there home. I long to have no more worries and stress, no more confusion or sadness. I long to be at peace.

But until God is ready to provide an end to either of my longings, I will continue to serve Him because I know that He knows what's best.

So Cute... A Good Principal!

THIS IS MY AUNT AND A CLIPPING FROM THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER ABOUT HER REWARD FOR STUDENTS WHO DID WELL WITH THEIR ACCELERATED READING POINTS! THIS CRACKED ME UP! I LOVE HER. (SHE'S THE ONE IN THE CHICKEN SUIT... SANDRA ADAMS! click on her name to read about her and her school.)

For reading excellence

Julius Marks principal rewards students with 'Chicken Dance'

Charles Bertram | Staff

From left, staff assistant Regina Dawson, Principal Sandra Adams and school administrative manager Cheryl Young danced Monday for students during an assembly at Julius Marks Elementary School on Pepperhill Road. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

The chicken suit arrived just in the nick of time Monday, transforming Julius Marks Elementary School Principal Sandra Adams into peppy poultry.

During an afternoon assembly to celebrate reading success, Adams, wearing a costume the school bought for this occasion, jived to the Chicken Dance.

Julius Marks students surpassed a goal of 4,000 points during the Accelerated Reader program with a total of 5,632 points.

"That's unbelievable," Adams said.

The reading program requires students to independently read books and take computerized tests, which are monitored by a librarian, to accumulate points.

The school's 634 students collected about 1,400 points in the first quarter of the school year, quadrupling that number in the second quarter. The principal promised students the Chicken Dance this period as a reward for passing 4,000 points.

The suit arrived Monday about 20 minutes before the assembly, Adams said, and the students went wild.

"You could not hold them still," she said.

A Tribute To Maddie

Thanks to Emily and her blog entry "Getting To Know Maddie." She found this video which I wanted to share with you guys. It is beautiful. The song is perfect! Please watch this! And please keep Praying for Maddie's family!

Maddie Is Being Rocked By Jesus Tonight

IN MEMORY OF BABY MADDIE

For many of us Wednesday was a normal busy day. For baby Maddie's family, it was the worst that they could have ever imagined. Just the day before, my heart was so overwhelmed for this precious family and for this precious, tenderhearted little girl who had been through so much. Maddie left this world on January 16 and the ironic thing about the story to me is that she was pronounced brain dead..... on the anniversary that my grandmother was pronounced brain dead to our family 11 years ago. I am so hurt for this family, yet I am so happy for little Madeline. Today she has no tubes, she has no swelling, no pain, no lung problems.... today she has a brand new heart that works like a charm and a whole new body that has no pain. Praise God for this assurance. What would we ever do in the face of adversity without it? Please pray for this family and her precious siblings who are broken hearted over their baby sister I'm sure. Here is the email from Maddie's father David. It was almost surreal for me to even attempt to comprehend the words the first 3 times I read it:

Wednesday January 16, 2008

We are crushed today. Last night Madeline's pupils failed to react to light, so an emergency CT scan was ordered. The image revealed that Maddie's precious little brain had hemorrhaged and was severely swollen. We were hoping and praying for good news, but the opposite came. Maddie was pronounced brain dead last night just past midnight. We said goodbye and took her off of all life support and she died peacefully in our arms at 10:15 this morning. We are stunned and speechless. Our hearts are broken, and we are so very sorry to have to announce this news to all of you faithful and beautiful people. Today the King of Kings welcomed our princess home. The worst day of our lives was the best day of hers.

We are on the way home right now to let Anna & Sam down. They love their baby sister more than words can express, so this will be a hard one. Please pray for peace for our family in the weeks ahead. Leaving the hospital today was like leaving our best friends. Every day for six months, the staff was our family, and then in one day it was all gone. There is joy somewhere in all of this, but I cannot see it yet. I am praying for that clarity.

This whole situation and blog entry reminds me of Hannah Sobeski and her situation. Praise God, Hannah and Maddie are healed today and are singing praises to their King!

Christians PRAY!

I've been keeping up with little Madeline Lester's situation. If you are an avid "Shine 4 Jesus" reader, you'll remember me writing about little Maddie. She is very sick with a heart condition and she has suffered so greatly. Currently, she is on the list for a heart transplant that will have to be delayed because of her latest condition. Maddie is swollen so immensely with fluid and is struggling so much to get better. I know her family has to be worn out because they have been right there in the hospital with her for months now. Now think of this, what if that were your child, niece, sister, cousin, friend's child, etc. ? Would you be able to rest tonight without praying for her? Please, please cry out to Jesus for this precious little girl. Pray for her healing and for her life. Pray for her family and her loved ones. Pray most importantly for God's will to be accomplished. Also, please visit her website and subscribe to the daily email from her parents and keep abreast of her condition. www.madelinelester.com

Heavy Hearted Hurt For The County I Grew Up In Bell County, Ky

IN MEMORY OF....

ERIC OGAN

STEPHANIE WILDER

WESLEY COLE

SHAWNA MCCREARY

DEPUTY SEAN PURSIFULL

DRUG DOG "KING"

This has been a very sad week in Bell County. Early Sunday morning, 4 students from our county high school were killed in an automobile accident that caught fire and burned them. While the county has grieved over these students ( and while we have grieved with the mother of one of them who works with us at our school), another tragedy occurred. This morning, Bell County Police Deputy Sean Pursifull was killed after two teenagers, one from Delaware and the other from Pennsylvania, T-boned his police cruiser while being chased by State troopers from stealing 35 dollars worth of gas from a gas station. This accident has been declared intentional. The crash also killed the county drug dog "King", who Pursifull worked with daily.

What a somber face our area has maintained this week. I just pray that each and every person involved personally with these situations, will be reliant upon Jesus and that some joy can come out of such pain. How beautiful salvation would be in the midst of all the sorrow. Please be in much Prayer for my beloved hometown. Also, please be much in prayer for my precious family and friends.


VISIT OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE TRAGEDIES.

Pregnancy Thoughts That Parallel

Good Morning All,

I must first start off by saying, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE SNOW DAYS! I have managed to get an extra 3 days off straight after Christmas break plus my weekend that's coming up. While being off, I have not spent as much time as I wanted blogging. I have been here there and everywhere with my family. I don't regret it though, because those are memories that I'll cherish forever.

My friend Kristi recently found out that she was pregnant with her fourth baby. Though I have not seen her in years, I know for a fact that she is a wonderful mother and so deserving of these precious souls. However, she has been facing a lot of morning sickness and really struggling with it. Her post yesterday reminds me a lot of my thoughts on trying to get pregnant. You can click here to read her post and then follow up below with my thoughts that parallel it.


I know how exactly how it feels, not with morning sickness, but with feeling so "envious" of those who aren't going through what you are. I have to work through that daily, too. My issue is that I feel that way towards folks who do not even want children, yet end up pregnant. It is a human thing. It's something I fight against all the time. And I often wonder, how can God bless me with a child if I can't get past my issues with others and their pregnancies. But...... our God is good. He knows that we (you, I, anyone else who has had a similar situation) do not really dislike these other people rather we are just hurting inside because we want it so badly for ourselves and we struggle with seeing why it can't be when we are trying our best to do God's will. And through the whole thing, not matter how hard it seems, God is teaching us something with each moment of the situation. And, I know for a fact, that when I do get a positive pregnancy test, I will be a whole lot more grateful than I would have been a month into trying. Not because my pregnancy is any more special than others who got pregnant fast, but because God saw me through that period of time that I felt like it wasn't going to happen. I thank God once again for knowing my "frame" and what it can handle! He's so good!

Ps. Could everyone please continue to help me pray for my precious friend and her sickness? She is worthy of our prayers! I love you Kristi and thank you for being YOU!

A Bible Suggestion For You....

I have been eying this Bible for over a year now. Actually, I have been thinking about this purchase since Dr. Jim Gardener came to our church last year. After his "Creation Conference" this year, I decided to go for it. I ordered two, one for my lil bro and one for me. I have been using this during my Bible time for about 3 weeks now. It is wonderful. It has so many footnotes and information from Christian scientists and about the various languages and word meanings. Very interesting to say the least. 'It took me an hour to read Gen. 1 and 2 tonight because I kept pouring over all the notes and references. You can purchase this online in a few various places, but I actually found it at its cheapest at www.AIG.com . I am unsure if the sale has gone away but I purchased ours for $28.00 each. There's also tons of other great stuff on the Answers in Genesis website. So anyway, check this out! You won't be let down, I promise! (Click the Bible image to see it on AIG.)