Overcoming Persecution

2 Timothy 3:12-17 (King James Version)

¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

¹³But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

¹⁴But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

¹⁵And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The scriptures above tell us that when we live a Godly life, we will suffer persecution. This persecution may be physically, emotionally, socially, etc. We must realize this and not quit. Verse 14 tells us to continue on. This is something we must do as Christians. It is so hard to continue on when you feel as though you can't even get back up from the previous time, yet it is imperative to do so. When we stop, lay down on the job, we give satan the reigns for our lives. It gets tiresome but in the end, or I guess I should say the future since we as Christians have no end, it is worth it!

Verse 15 talks about knowing the holy scriptures from your childhood. I realize that not every one of us were taken to church and taught God's Word at home. I feel very fortunate and blessed that I was raised in church my entire life and that my parents consistently taught me God's Word. Maybe you didn't have that opportunity. But you can bestow such an opportunity to your children or little children around you. We may be the only Bible any of these children, or folks in general, ever read!

As many of you know, my heart greatly desires to have children, "to go forth and be fruitful." I know that God will give me the desires of my heart if I continue to earnestly ask for them and if they are for the right reasons. My reasoning is the fact that I truly cannot wait to teach my child/children about my Savior. I want to speak His name to my child daily and to be an example of Jesus' love. Until I am blessed with that opportunity, I Pray that I can demonstrate these things to my students. As a teacher in the public school system, we are not allowed to read from the Bible or have Prayer in our classrooms. However, my students know my heart and who holds it in it's entirety. When they have problems, they come to me and ask for Prayer. It truly is a beautiful thing! I Pray that I can always be a light to those around me, especially the young, pliable hearts of children!

Verses 16 and 17 speak of God's Word being inspired by Him and making the man of God "perfect and thoroughly furnished." I have always known that God's Word is totally inspired by Him but I really enjoyed reading the Greek meaning this morning in my New Defender's Study Bible. In the Greek, "Given by inspiration of God" is all one word, theopneustos, which means "God-breathed." Isn't that awesome? Can you just imagine God breathing on those men and their minds and bodies given total control to their Master to pen His Word? I Pray that God will "breathe" on my mind, spirit, heart, and body daily so that I can speak a word to those who may need it.

Lastly, I was curious when I read in verse 17 about God making His children "perfect and thoroughly furnished." Could we ever be perfect? Sure... when we are like Him. Here's what the notes from my awesome Bible states:

"3:17 perfect. The word used her for "perfect" (Greek artios) is found nowhere else in the New Testament. It seems basically to mean "new" or "fresh," which most expositors interpret as "complete." Perhaps, however, it refers to our ultimate perfection in Christ, when "we shall be like Him" (1 Jo 3:2), with all sin removed and the age-long effects of the curse taken away. He has promised, "Behold, I make all things new" (Re 21:5), and that must include us as well, even our bodies (Ph 3:20-21). We shall then, indeed, be as fresh and perfect as Adam was when he was first created -- even more so, as perfected in Christ. No doubt, the "man of God" shall be as perfect then as "the law of the Lord is perfect" now (Ps 19:7), for the Holy Scriptures are now, and will eternally be, our spiritual food (Ma 4:4; 24:35).

3:17 thoroughly furnished. "Thoroughly furnished" is one word in the Greek, meaning "completely equipped." We need nothing more that God's complete Word for our complete life."

Such an awesome message from God's Word in these appropriate times! God bless each of you!

2008 4A State Champions... The BELL COUNTY BOBCATS!

Well... I'm a little late posting this but... we did it... we won! And it's all by God's grace! I am so excited for our boys and our community. It was a long 17 years but we have once again brought the championship back to the mountains and did it with an undefeated season! God is soo good. I pretty much had church in the stands... I Prayed every play like I always do and I thanked God at the top of my lungs after every play. I am so excited for my little brother and his friends. They have worked so hard and they really deserved this as an ending to the past 4 years! I'm going to share some pictures with you below. Keep in mind... there are tons of pics out there so I can't share them all but here are some:

MORE TO COME...

In Loving Memory... 4 More BCHS Students Who Passed On

On Saturday, we were all pumped. We had just won the final game before heading to the state championship this coming weekend. That all was quieted down by the news that four more of our students at BCHS were killed in a head on collision in Pineville. The students were on there way to the Christmas Parade in Middlesboro to march with the Junior Airforce ROTC group. I didn't personally know any of the students but I did have Daniel Campbell's sister and brother a couple of years ago. Jonathan was also a student that I had seen around quite often. Daniel and Jonathan both went to Page School Center (where I work). My brother was really hurt overr all of these students, especially Jonathan. The night before the accident, after we won the game, Jonathan came up to Billy and was congratulating him. He was saying all kinds of encouragging things and telling Billy that he had played well. Billy told me that he felt like God was telling him to hug Jon again and so he hugged him for the second time. He sure was glad that he did. Today as he was checking out of school to attend Jon's funeral, mom asked if he really felt like he would be ok. He told her that Jon attended his game to see him play and that the least he could do would be to see him out this final time.

Those students who died in the accident were:

Wesley Ingram (twin brother of Jessica "Nikki" Ingram)

Jessica "Nikki" Ingram (twin sister of Wesley Ingram)

Daniel Campbell

Jonathan Miracle

This was such a saddening event for us here in Bell County. Exactly 11 months ago to the day, we lost 4 other teens in a car crash. How sad! Let's be much in Prayer for our students, faculty, and most importantly, the families who have lost their precious children. I can honestly say that I cannot even fathom this!


(Courtesy of Middlesboro Daily News)

Tragic accident claims lives of four Bell County teen��s

Tragedy strikes Bell High again

By Sarah Miracle/Staff Writer

PINEVILLE — The Middlesboro Christmas Parade marched on as scheduled Saturday afternoon, with the Bell County High School Air Force JROTC as one of the participants.

Bell’s JROTC Instructor Lt. Col. Barry Tanner recalls that, however, prior to the parade, he had a strange feeling.

*
“I was missing three of my students,” remarked Lt. Col. Tanner. “It wasn’t like those kids not to be there.”

Lt. Col. Tanner tried to put his worries aside and BCHS’s JROTC performed without three of their star cadets. Little did he and his cadets know, those three teens would never perform again.

While in route to the Christmas parade along U.S. Highway 25-E in Pineville, former JROTC cadet and BCHS graduate 18-year-old Jonathan Lee Miracle; current cadets and BCHS students 16-year-old twins Jessica Nicole “Niki” Ingram and Wesley Allen Ingram of Pineville; and 15-year-old Daniel Earl Campbell Smith of Blackmont lost their lives in a fatal car accident.

At 12:51 p.m., Kentucky State Police and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement responded to a call about a two vehicle accident along U.S. 25-E, near the Off Track Betting facility. The 2007 Toyota Yaris driven by Miracle was travelling south on U.S. 25-E, while a Peterbilt coal truck driven by 34-year-old Dwight Robinson of Tyner, Ky., was traveling northbound.

Police report that due to the road and weather conditions, Miracle lost control of his vehicle and veered into the northbound lane of traffic, where he collided with the coal truck. All four occupants of the Toyota Yaris sustained fatal injuries.

Miracle was transported to the Pineville Community Hospital after the accident, where Bell County Deputy Coroner Bill Bisceglia later pronounced him dead. The Ingram twins and Campbell were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

“This is the second accident involving Bell County High School students that I have responded to this year,” stated Deputy Coroner Bisceglia.“My heart just goes out to the families and kids at Bell High.”

Facing the aftermath of this tragic incident, BCHS Principal Jeff Saylor has arranged for grief counselors to be available at the school throughout this week.

“I guess what makes this so hard is rejoicing over our football team’s victory Friday night, and now within 24 hours, we’re facing the loss of four young people who meant a lot to the students, this school and the community,” said Principal Saylor. “There’s no rhyme or reason to something like this.”

Bell County School System’s Superintendent George Thompson agreed. “What can I say? This is the second time we’ve suffered a fatal accident involving our students. It doesn’t get any easier. It’s just a tragic and terrible shock and a loss,” stated Thompson. “These children will be sorely missed.”

Thompson and Bisceglia referred to the untimely passing of four former students, all killed in a vehicle accident on Hwy. 92 on January 6. Bell County High School students Shawna McCreary, Stephanie Wilder, Eric Ogan and Wesley Cole perished in that incident.

According to Lt. Col. Tanner, the school will be opening a memorial fund for the students’ funeral costs and the family’s incurred expenses. Details are not yet confirmed, although the accounts will be established at Home Federal Bank.

“They’re going to be missed. We’re talking about kids who were loved for who they were,” commented Lt. Col. Tanner. “These children didn’t have enemies, only friends.”

Tanner also mentioned that the Ingram family wishes to hold a memorial for both Nikki and Wesley at Bell High. However, arrangements are not yet complete or official.

The teens’ full obituaries are listed on page five in this edition of the Middlesboro Daily News.

Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.

Add On To My Last Post

Just wanted to really emphasize my thanks to my precious Savior for hearing our cries yesterday. I Prayed for hours yesterday for the health of my sister-in-law and God saved her life. Yes she does have a lot of hurdles to jump for the next year or so but at least she is alive and has the opportunity to get better! THANK YOU PRECIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER FOR YOUR MERCY!!!

HoHum

Hi guys:

I am feeling very down-hearted today. My husband is sick and WILL NOT go to the doctor. I keep trying to make him go but he won't and he gets aggravated at me for bugging him about it. Please Pray for him to start feeling better. We aren't even sure what's wrong.

We had also put an offer in on some land in TN but that offer was rejected and we don't feel the need to go up anymore because the price the seller wants is way above what the land values at. Still, it did feel pretty exciting to think that we had found a place to place our roots as a family.

For those of you who don't ready my Infertility Blog, On the Outside Looking In, I am undergoing infertility treatments right now that consists of a newer drug than the Clomid I was on. I will also be taking an HCG shot sometime next week provided that my follicles are where they need to be (please Pray that they are). You can read a full post about this at my other blog mentioned above.

School has started back and I am already feeling pressure. On my birthday, August 21, we will be having visitors from the Kentucky State Department of Education at our school and in our classes. This is such tremendous pressure especially only 2 weeks after school has started back! Please Pray about that as well.

I guess the main reason I am down is the fact that I feel like I'm at a stand still and have been for some time. I know that we will put down roots and own our own home and have a baby eventually BUT I guess I am just really craving the excitement of all that. I know that God has a perfect time for everything in my life and I am trying my hardest to be patient and let Him work it out. Please, just Pray for me.

I am the metal, YOU are the blacksmith! Mold me & Shape me.

I am loving our Wednesday night sermons at church lately. I mean I always love them but I am really loving them right now. Preacher Bingham has been preaching on sowing and reaping. Amazing lessons and sermons I tell ya! Tonight, he talked to us about the topic again and he brought up the fact that God is molding us into what He needs us to be. He also talked about God drawing our attention to His precious Son by letting our flesh go through things here on earth. He mentioned several verses but this one stood out to me...

John 8: 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

This verse is often misquoted as ... the truth shall set you free.... but the word make brings on a whole different meaning. To "make" something be a certain way can only be done if that something is taken through a process just as we are as Christians. We are like a piece of metal being heated in the fire, beat with iron, and cooled down in water and Jesus is the blacksmith who is molding us. This repetitive process molds us into what He would have us be in order to bring glory and honor to His name. Beautiful picture isn't it?

I also thought of this verse which some of you might recognize at the bottom of all my emails:

Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

He truly is refining and purifying me and I truly praise Him for that!

Waiting is hard....God grant me the grace to wait right!

Good Morning All,

I am in Louisville this morning and it seems like it is going to be a beautiful day. Just an update on the baby situation.... still nothing. I have come to realize that waiting is so hard. No matter how much I try to be good, I can't help but have thoughts that enter my mind about the situation. Sometimes I see folks who have never uttered thanks to God for anything. At other times I see young teenagers with children that they really weren't ready for and sometimes didn't and still don't want. I know children in my school who have parents that really don't want them around. The common link? They all have these children that some of us long for and can't seem to get.
Now before I get a ton of comments that say... "Alesha you know God has a purpose for each of those folks and for you" let me go ahead and answer that by saying "Yes, I know." I realize that. I honestly believe that. But it is still a hard row to hoe. (Throwing in some of my country vernacular there hehe) I'm not bitter and I'm trying hard each day to be happy, jolly, and grateful for what I know God will do. I do believe He will do it, it's just sometimes my mind gets overwhelmed by the thoughts of "What could be wrong?" My husband is fine. His tests all came back good. I am taking my meds as prescribed. I am being healthy. Probably healthier than I've been in a long while. I've dropped 10 pounds in the last couple of months. I am taking my vitamins, folic acid (have been on that since college just for this reason!), and I am not consuming myself with the whole thing. I'm not stressing and worrying every single moment of each day. Yet, I'm still babyless. And though I know folks mean well, some of the things they say just make me want to scream. It's almost as if they think I am sabotaging myself by wanting this to happen. I am tired of hearing, "You're trying too hard" or "When you stop thinking about it, it will happen." How do I not try so hard? I have to try on certain days and I have to think about it occasionally.
Oh, what a post, huh? I just realized that I hadn't posted in awhile and I thought to myself, "What is there to post about this morning?" and this is what developed. Please don't think I am grumbling, being mean towards folks who haven't had a hard time, or those who mean well with their thoughts. I'm not. I love each of you and each of those who don't read this but fit the "comment" category. I am just saying what's on my heart.
With that said, I am so glad that I can take this burden to Jesus and lay it at His feet because I don't know what I would do if I couldn't. Talk about heart ache, that would be heart ache.
So let me end with a prayer. That would be fitting. I'm always asking for God's guidance and grace.

Dear Father,

Please Lord grant me the grace that I need to continue on this path. I want to make it to the end of this experience and be able to say that I handled it in a way that is uplifting toward you. Please Jesus, when You feel that it is the right time, please send us a child. Let he/she be devoted to You in the womb and I pray that this child will serve You all the days of his/her life. I pray also that until I meet this child or even know of his/her existence, that You will let he/she enjoy getting to know those that I love so much that are already there with You. I know there's no proof that that can happen but I'm not living by proof anyway. I am living by faith. I have faith that Danielle, Mamaw & Papaw Brittain, Papaw Brock, Shauna, Uncle Bruce, Edie, Sister Helen, etc. can inspire this child even now. Maybe they are even molding it for me as we speak. How precious You are Lord to let those thoughts comfort me! Jesus, go before me and just prepare the way. I thank You for loving me even though I never, ever show You enough love as hard as I try. I praise You for the joy that I have in my heart even through the tough times and I thank You for all the healing and health that You have provided me and those that I hold so dear to my heart. I thank You most importantly for my salvation and Your saving grace that I know those that I am Praying the hardest for, will accept when the time is right. Continue to lead us on and help us through this situation. Help us to never let this time or any time be in vain. Mold and shape our hearts into what they should be. Help us to continue to grow.

In Great Love and Thanks,

Amen


(picture from http://www.easybabyhandprintcrafts.com/babyhandprinttshirt.html)

Thank You God ... He's Ok!

Some of you may know that my husband has been going through a lot physically lately. He had a major episode with what we think was his gall bladder and he was diagnosed again with H. pylori. After all this happened, he had a dental procedure go wrong and ended up with severe burns on his upper and lower lips. It has been a crazy 2008 just 2 months in!

To add to the drama, Michael was involved in a car accident today. As most of you know, Michael is a sales and leasing consultant at Legend Suzuki in Corbin, Ky (if you ever need anything let me know! sorry had to put that plug in there!) Today, he had a young guy and girl that wanted to test drive a 2007 Cobalt. So, he followed protocol and then proceeded to get in the car and leave. After he got in, something kept coming to his mind about his seatbelt. He said that when you are in and out of cars all day, sometimes you just don't bother to connect your seatbelt. But today was different. For some reason (GOD), he was panicking because he couldn't get his seatbelt to fasten. He kept trying and trying as they neared the roadway in front of the dealership. The more he tried, the more he stressed about getting it in. Finally, he heard a click and about 10 seconds later they were T-boned by a Suburban. The hit was mainly in his door and he walked out shaken up and sore but ok. What a blessing from God! The folks that were with him on this test drive were ok as well and only had a minor injury.

We were driving home tonight from the gas station and he said, "Alesha, I would have went through that windshield and hit the metal between the windshield and the door just like Danielle did." I just teared up. It's hard to know that my best friend moved into Heaven's realm after this tragedy and to hear it brought up and in relation to it happening again with my husband is extremely difficult. How awesome is our God that He would keep the very thing that took my best friend's life from taking that of my husband's? So many more memories are still hanging in the balance and I want to see them come to pass. Wow! Words cannot describe! So, I just want to shout it for the whole world to hear........
THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR BLESSINGS OF PROTECTION UPON MY PRECIOUS HUSBAND AND MY PRECIOUS FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
This just may make you reach out and hug your hubby or loved one a little tighter. I know I will.

An attempt

Hi guys....

I've been home all day today due to snow and it was awesome for me because I am sick. The snow has saved me 2 sick days, today and tomorrow. I've been bored today because I have MADE myself stay in bed so that I can get better. While I laid here, I figured I might as well play around with making a new blog border. Well, as you can see.... here's my first attempt. It isn't fancy and it actually isn't the first attempt (I just didn't really like how the other's looked), but it feels good to know that I did create it. So... just hang in there with me and hopefully if I continue to find spare time I will learn more. One question, does anyone know where to get good graphics?

Love,

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.

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!

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.)

Another Year........Another reason to say THANK U JESUS!

So here it is 9:49 pm on December 31st 2007. Hard to believe a whole year of life has flown by at unmeasurable speeds. 2007 had so many hopes and dreams, some of which are still in the making, but overall many were fulfilled. Early, early, early into the new year of 07, I was diagnosed with my gall bladder issues and had that fixed within the first month. I spent the next few months trying to get use to life without a gall bladder and am actually still doing so. Let me tell ya, there's more to it than you think, at least for some of us.

February showed up with a new little man who has really brought our family together and got my mind rolling about my own baby future. By April, I had decided that I was ready to start trying for a baby of our own. In May, I signed up on my insurance at work that deals with maternity leave and began trying. The summer brought on lots and lots of work stress and drama. All of which ended up coming to a close right as the new school year began.

September brought "pregnancy" excitement and twisted ankles, and exited with my still messed up, no baby in sight, and my mother falling ill and being flown via helicopter to Lexington, Ky for treatment. From then until now, it has been my mission to try to help my mother and my family even more so, while still trying to maintain my own home and trying to conceive adventure. And it all ends in about 2 hours so that it can resume in another time frame. Who knows what 2008 will hold? I sure don't. If I had have known this time last year, what 2007 would have brought, I am not sure I could have handled it. But ahhh our Precious Savior! He knows our frame and what we can withstand. He surely knows that we could not handle the stress of knowing what the next year would bring. He knows that it must come one day at a time. I am so thankful to Him for that.

I'll admit... as much as I love the holidays, they do sort of bring out a blue feeling in me. New Year's especially does that. I look back over all the past memories and I begin to miss the times, the people, and the situations that were once a huge part of my life. It is then I must turn and look unto Jesus and realize that our life is a vapor and in a short time it will vanish away. But those memories are eternal and the love I have shared with those who have gone on will never fade away. Actually, it gives us something to look forward to in our eternal future.
I could never thank God enough for all that He has done for me and continues to do in my life. I am so undeserving. I deserve nothing that He has done, yet He has done each and every thing. Instead of the plenty of whippings I deserve for disobedience, my Heavenly Father has shined his mercies and grace upon me and spared me again. I praise Him for all that He is and all that He always will be.



My prayer for those of you reading is this......... If you don't know Jesus, please don't waste another day without Him. You can't fix yourself enough to be ready to accept Him. Being Saved isn't about how perfect you can be. It's about realizing that this awesome, awesome King took the form of a human and came to this earth 2,00o years ago. He died a gruesome death upon the Cross just so that you could have eternal life. That's what salvation is about. Believe that truth, tell Jesus you believe it. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and tell Him that you believe that He came to complete the Father's will and to provide salvation to ALL mankind. Tell Him you want Him to be your personal Savior. And you know what? He will do just that. He will come into your heart that simply and He will help you with each situation that you feel is not good enough to give to Him. Jesus didn't die for people who were sinless, perfect and without problems or issues. The Bible says that He died for all mankind........and do you honestly know anyone who fits the above standards? I don't. Please, please realize that this is the hour for you! Don't put off this decision that you have been wanting to make for so long. God knows who this post is for even if I am not positive who this is speaking to. Please, heed this calling and get saved before it's too late. Not too late even in the sense of dying, rather the sense of seeing this all powerful King come back to earth to claim His children, and you are left standing because technically you never became his blood bought child. One simple, loving gift and you didn't accept it. Please don't let that be the case!




Dear Heavenly Father,

God I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. Lord you know who this message is for. I have thoughts but you know each individual that will read it and that will be pricked in their hearts. Lord, let them let down there guard and resist satan's warfare of using excuses to keep them from you. Save their souls Jesus. Please Lord just save them before it is too late. Let them see that the time is at hand and that we will not dwell on this earth for much longer. Now is the time for the accepting of your perfect gift!

God I thank you for all of your many blessings this past year. Lord, through many of a trial, you have comforted my grieving heart. Oh Lord when I have been so overwhelmed I didn't know if I could make it, You lifted me and held me in your strong loving arms and rocked me. I am adult, but I am your baby. I still need you to rock me into sweet peace and I thank you for still doing that for me Jesus. Lord, thank you for the health and the lives that you have spared this year in my family. Thank you for the relationships that you have restored throughout my family and friends. Thank you for the advanced notices of situations that we have no control over that you have given us. Most importantly, thank you for Saving me 17 years ago and never "letting me alone." Thank you for my family's salvation now and for those that I know you will save. I thank you for the precious child that I know you are molding and creating even now and preparing to send our way. You are a faithful God! The Heavens proclaim your goodness!

God I pray for the lost in my family, friends, coworkers, and folks that I come in contact with. I pray for the lost throughout the entire nation and world Jesus. Please send a revival to their hearts and to the hearts of the Christians who are asleep. Lord, I pray for the continued safety, good health and well being of my parents, brother, husband, in-luvs, and friends. God I pray that you would touch my mom's heart even now and just continue to heal each artery, vein, and vessel. Heal her of each disease and issue that plagues her body. I pray for my dad's body and health and for that of my brother and husbands. Heal each of them physically. Heal each organ and each ailment. Lord, heal each of them spiritually, help them to continue to grow in grace and knowledge. Heal them emotionally. Lord, you know what may being looming ahead for them, Jesus heal them even now if it be possible in thy perfect will and use them for years to come to bring glory and honor to you as you have for so many years in the past. Use my little brother God to continue to point to You. Lord, I pray that each decision he makes will be guided by Your influence and fit perfectly into Your will. Use him in mighty ways to bring glory to You. I pray for each member of my extended family and my in-luvs and their health throughout 2008. I pray for each situation that may arise throughout our lives and for your guidance. Lord, I pray that you would just continue to bathe us in your wonderful blessings from on high and help us to recognize each of them and where they are from. And God, I Pray for that one special blessing that I know is on His/Her way even now. Lord, save my child's soul at an early age and just use him/her to bring You glory. Help Michael and I to be mindful of the parents we need to be and help us to continue to grow to be just that. I ask that you guide Michael and I in the year ahead to make correct decisions and good choices. Help us in all areas that we need help in. Most importantly, help us to totally surrender all to you. Lord, I also pray for the salvation of my precious cousin/nephew baby Gavy at an early age and for that of his precious parents soon. Lord just cover my family in your blessings and protection. Lord, bless my pastor and his family and our church and sister churches. God just continue to do mighty things with us. Bless us with more souls saved and more opportunities and help us to realize each opportunity that we have. I thank You for answering my end of 2006 prayer God and for blessing me so greatly with those answers. I thank You and I praise You for all that You are. I praise You for being a Constant in a world of change.
In Your Precious and Holy Name..... Amen.

ONE MORE THING... PLEASE READ THE LYRICS OF THIS SONG.........

IT IS SO TRUE...

While You Were Sleeping Lyrics
Artist(Band):Casting Crowns

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

United States of America Looks like another silent night As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies That save the trees and kill the children And while we’re lying in the dark There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky For the Bridegroom has returned And has carried His bride away in the night, in the night America, what will we miss while we are sleeping Will Jesus come again And leave us slumbering where we lay America, will we go down in history As a nation with no room for its King Will we be sleeping? Will we be sleeping? United States of America Looks like another silent night.

Happy 2 Years Michael!

Just wishing a happy anniversary to myself and my husband. 2 years seems like no time, yet it sorta seems like forever... strange huh? Anyway, I am a few days late with this but I promise we did celebrate our anniversary. We actually went to Pigeon Forge, Tn for a quick preholiday trip this past Sat. night into Sun. evening. We shopped at Tanger Outlets (I love!) and we visited Wonder Works (Awesome!) We have a really good time despite the fact that I was really sick (again this year... 2 years in a row I have been sick on our anniversary trip!) Anyway, I forgot my digital camera on this trip so I picked up a throw away camera and as soon as I finish with it, I will post those pics.



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PSALMS CHAPTER 139... Read This Often As A Reminder

We studied this chapter last night at church as a part of our study on God's omnipotence. Here are some of the thoughts Preacher Bingham shared, along with some of my own personal thoughts. We should really read this chapter often. How beautiful it reads and how true it is!

PSALMS CHAPTER 139

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1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

GOD KNOWS THE PARTS OF US THAT WE, OURSELVES DON'T KNOW!

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

HE KNOWS WHEN WE ARE IN A LOW MOOD OR A GOOD MOOD. HE UNDERSTANDS OUR FEELINGS.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

WITH ALL .... NOTICE THAT. GOOD OR BAD. HE LOVES US IN SPITE OF WHAT WE ARE.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

GOD HAS NEVER HAD TO LEARN HIS KNOWLEDGE... HE HAS ALWAYS HAD IT. WE CAN'T EVEN ATTAIN ALL OF HIS KNOWLEDGE.

7 ¶ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

AS LOW AS WE GO OR AS HIGH AS WE FLY... GOD NEVER DESERTS US.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

HE KNEW US!

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

MY MOST FAVORITE VERSE! WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
GOD YOU HAD ALL MY MEMBERS... EVER FINGER, EVERY TOE, EVERY LIMB WRITTEN DOWN BEFORE I WAS EVEN THOUGHT OF.

17 ¶ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

HE HAS BLESSED US..... AND HE HONESTLY THINKS OF US SO OFTEN THAT WE COULDN'T KEEP COUNT. LITTLE SMILES THAT COME TO OUR FACE OR LITTLE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT OUR DAY.... THAT'S GOD BLESSING US. HOW MUCH TIME DO WE SPEND THINKING OF HIM? MORE THAN THE GRAINS OF SAND AS HE DOES WITH US?

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

SEARCH ME GOD, SHOW ME MY FAILURES FOR I KNOW THERE ARE MANY AND HELP ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU HAVE SHOWN ME AND TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT IT INSTEAD OF JUST IGNORING IT. BLESS THE LORD!

Revelation 14 13-20 ... Pondering on Beautifully Scripted Verses

These are a few verses that always stand out in my mind when I read Revelation. They are so beautiful phrased and written.

13 ¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

(This is great to know isn't it? All of our prayers that we pray here on earth will even be answered as we are living a new life in Heaven! How awesome is our God to remember and grant our answers even when the world thinks that because we have died, it is too late!)

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

(Can you not just see the visual image of these verses? Beautifully written and so thoroughly inspired by God!)

Random Thoughts on a Friday Evening...

It's Friday evening. I am sitting her melancholy. My fall break is almost over and that's a sad thing. I know, I know... I've been off for awhile now but that has been with mom being sick and that has not been a fun experience. Mom is feeling better with the occasional cold feeling in her back sometimes accompanied by tingling in her arms. I have worried myself sick about this but her cardiologist and his nurse have assured me that they do not feel it is cardiac related because the vessel that is blocked is only a small one and it wouldn't give those kind of feelings. They said that it didn't sound like a stroke or blocked blood vessel in the neck (things other people had suggested) and she said it may very well be her blood sugar just feeling slightly different than it did before. She has had the cold feeling in her back for years with her blood sugar just not the feeling of it washing over her with tingling. The nurse told me that the fact that she had unrestricted blood flow now and actually has more blood could make her blood sugar feelings feel different. I pray (and ask that you do, too) that this is nothing major and it is related to the blood sugar. For those of you who do not know my mom, she is wonderful and I am not just saying that because she is my mom. She is the kind of mom that any child would want. She honestly is my best friend. I can't complain about my precious family because God has blessed me far too much with wonderful parents who have brought me up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. My brother isn't so bad either ;)
For those of you who know, I am still dealing with getting my wedding ring back. That has been an almost 3 month ordeal with the local Kay's store. I have sent the same ring (my wedding ring) back 7 times now. It began with just getting it sized and has resulted in the change of color on the band, a new shank, and now the fact that the jeweler cannot seem to get the indentions on the top of the ring fixed, they have been filled in with gold from attaching the new shank. There has been a young lady, unsure of her name, with blonde hair that has been very, very helpful. However, the older lady there was extremely hateful and talked down to my mother and I because she thought I was making a fuss about nothing. When I tried to explain what the problem with the indentions was, she said that the jeweler must have not thought it was that big of a deal because it was a small detail and I replied that if it were their wedding ring it would be a big deal. She was very smart with us and I have really had to pray about not getting highly upset about all this. So anyway, it came back wrong again and I am, once again, having to send it back.
Still no positive pregnancy test. But I can see what God is doing. He could foresee that this would all come up with my mom and that I would need my emotions and thoughts at full capacity to help. I praise Him for that and the healing that has given and is continuing to give to my mom and family members even now. I know that He Will bless us with a precious child when He sees fit. I trust His timing. I still ask that you pray for my friend Kim who recently lost her child and my friend Misty who is trying to conceive also.
I will leave you with some cute pics of my little Gavy. Enjoy!!!

Saturday Evenings

One of my most favorite times ever is Saturday evening. What makes this time so special you may ask? Well, nothing actually. Just the fact that I get to relax. I love coming home after shopping with my family on Saturday morning and just relaxing. By this time, I usually have my house clean and everything caught up. It's so nice to hear the silence and to be able to relax. Today while relaxing I read some of the book of Romans. Here's some of the key verses that stuck out to me. Some of them I have seen and heard a million times, but they really stuck a chord with my heart.

Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
We are no better than anyone else no matter what we possess in earthly possessions!
Romans 9:
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 4
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
(We shouldn't sin just because we know we are already going to Heaven. Salvation brings about repentance of sins and a "want" to do better.)
Romans 6
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(We pay for our sin with death but with Jesus we get a free gift to live forever!)

If you want that gift.... Pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and to forgive you of your sins. Tell Him you want to be his child and that you believe that He died upon a rugged cross for you. Accept Him into your heart. Don't worry about not being perfect, none of us are. God will help you do things the right way. Don't change to accept God, accept God to change!