John 10

So, here is Jesus' very own people accusing Him of creating this "story" that He is the Son of God. Imagine, the very people that you love and came from, discrediting your journey to earth to die in their place. Even to this day, Jews and Gentiles alike do not give Jesus the credit He is due. But in a day not to far away, He will get His glory from EVERY man! This chapter was so powerful to me even though I've read and heard these verses a million times. Read and think of our Risen Savior who is alive and well today! He has His scars to prove His love for us!

John 10:

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

(HOW AWESOME! THIS PRECIOUS DOOR HOLDS THE KEY TO A SHEPHERD WHO IS CALLING US BY NAME, GOING BEFORE US IN OUR LIVES, AND LETTING US BE SO INTIMATE WITH HIM, THAT WE KNOW HIS VOICE BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT!)

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

(WE CAN GO IN TO LEARN AND GROW AND WE CAN GO OUT AND SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS SO THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING!)

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

(HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US! HE TOOK ALL THE PUNISHMENT THAT WE DESERVE!)

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

(THAT SAME POWER IS THE POWER GOD IS USING TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS! GOD IS SO MIGHTY!)

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

42 And many believed on him there.

Billy Brittain "Obama" ... yes this is about politics

My baby brother Billy Brittain called me last night to ask me to read his latest blog entry on Myspace. I just read it and I am so proud of him! I wanted to share with my readers. Keep in mind, you may not agree with this post. I am not asking that you do (though I really wish you'd consider it ha!) but please take the time to read what he has written. And please, do not take this as an offense if you do not agree. That is not my intent. I don't apologize for my beliefs but I am not trying to lose friends over this post. I don't know of many 17 year old boys that take the time and effort to write something for God's glory. I am very proud of him and the servant of God that he is becoming!

6:09 PM - Obama
Current mood: thankful

As you know In November we (as a nation) will be voting in a new president to serve four years as leader of our great country. As always the election process has been a slow and heated battle between the democrats and republicans. And after all the smoke has cleared it looks like one democratic candidate has emerged as a favorite for the majority of the U.S. This person being Barack Hussein Obama.
..BOF_DEF--> As a christian and a strong believer in the lord Jesus Christ I personally don't support Obama in anything he does. The reason being is that the practices that he preaches go against the holy word of God. And if your an Obama supporter your gonna say: "He's a christian and he's been a member of his church for 25 years so how is he going against God?" Well I'm not gonna judge Obama and say that he's not a christian. But if he is a christian then he has really let the world influence his beliefs. The reason I say this is because Obama is a supporter of civil unions, for those of you who don't know what that is: A legal union of a same-sex couple, sanctioned by a civil authority. Thus meaning Obama supports homosexuals and lesbians.
The Bible clearly speaks against homosexuals throughout. In Genesis 19:4: "But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter." In this verse of scripture the men that are mentioned are those who inhabit the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And as you may know Sodom and Gomorrah was a sin ridden city that was destroyed by God because of its wickedness. The men are confronting Lot (one of the few righteous inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah) to try to get to two strange men (angels of God) who came to Lot's in the night. "The enormity of Sodom's wickedness is indicated by the eagerness with which not a few degenerates, but all the men of the city desired to commit the crime of homosexual rape, probably leading to murder, on two unknown visitors to the city. Lot's desire to protect them demonstrates his basically godly character (2 Peter 2:8) even through his carnality had led him into this compromising association". This is a footnote from my KJV New Defenders Study Bible, the notes being written by the creation scientist Dr. Henry Morris. This is a clear example of Obama's unbiblical beliefs.
There is more scripture in the bible that references back to homosexualism. In Romans 1:24, 26-27: 24 "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishounour their own bodies between themselves." 26 " For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." 27 "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward one another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and recieving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." Now the footnote for these verses. " The descent into evolutionary paganism is always followed by gross immorality, specifically including sexual perversion, such as described in Romans 1:26-29.Ancient Sodom was so notorious for homosexuality that its practice has long been known as sodomy (See Genesis 13:13; 19:4-9)." It does go on to say that its becoming more accepted in America today. I believe that the reason its becoming accepted is because of people like Senator Obama.This isn't the only reason I don't support Obama but its the main one. Obama is also a supporter of abortion and ending the war in Iraq. Both of these issues are spoken against clearly in the bible. The war is helping to set up the soon to be Armageddon.
What our nation needs is a christian president who is a firm believer in God. Who stands upon the word of God and will help bring morality back to our struggling nation. Until we vote in a president who will lead our nation by the word of God our nation will never prosper. It won't do anything but fall until the Armageddon and thankfully for myself I will be in Heaven.
After I say these things I assume that the argument of separation of church and state will come up. And I strongly disagree with this as well. The government was based off God's word and shouldn't be separated from it now. In Isaiah 9:6: " For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." This verse shows that the government of our nation was and is supposed to be based off of God's holy word. It's just one of many verses that mention this. Another few more modern examples of our government being based off of God's word are: The Declaration of Independence assumes that American freedom is ensured by obedience to the creator (a.g. "all men are created equal") . And the background of the U.S Constitution is based on English common law, which was derived mainly from scripture, and efforts of many Bible-believing founding fathers.
I know this has been an extremely long blog and if you've read it all I thank you dearly. I just want to show all of you that Barack Hussein (Saddam who?) Obama is not the right candidate for presidency. If his beliefs were based off the holy word of God then he would be but he's not. Therefore I ask that you do not support him in any way.

And I know John McCain isn't like Huckabee and isn't a complete Conservative but he's the next best candidate because he isn't a complete left side Liberal.
Thank you for reading Vote McCain,
God Bless

God's Words To Me

Last night as I read through Exodus, I came across two verses that I know God used to encourage me. As you know, I just finished my first round of Clomid and Glucophage. I am really, really hoping that this month will be the turning point for Michael and I to have a baby. I don't go on and on about it like I did when I first started trying to conceive, but I do think about it on a daily basis. God knows my thoughts and He hears each prayer that I pray. I am thankful to Him for this trial because, believe it or not, it has been truly a blessing to us. I appreciate conceiving a child so much more than I think I would have if the whole thing would have ended up on my time line (consisting of me having a baby this summer!) instead of His. Here's what God said:

"..... Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: ....."
---- Exodus 14:13

"The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace." --- Exodus 14:14


Wow! Those are powerful. Stand still Alesha and see the salvation of the Lord! So many times I've seen it but I have been far from still waiting on it. I pray that Jesus sees me standing still and waiting right now!

And ohhh.... that second verse. God will FIGHT for me. God will FIGHT for Michael. God will FIGHT for my family! How awesome. So many times I want to fight back in all kinds of situations, but God is telling me to step back, watch His salvation, and that He will fight for me as I hold my peace! Amazing! Thank you Lord for your precious mercy and grace upon my life and the lives of those that I hold dear to my heart!

Pink Bows ... another old poem from "Seasons of Life"

Pink Bows

I woke up yesterday morning

And tied my pink bows in my hair

I wondered exactly what pink shirt I should wear.

I rode the bus

I walked inside

Down the hall I went, in my cute 9-year-old stride.

I went to my class and stayed there all day,

I thought about how lovely life was

And how I wanted it to stay that way.

I went home to homework, dinner,

And playtime with friends.

We played out near the old trash bins.

I lay down in my bed that night,

Closed my eyes and began to count sheep

And mommy knew it had worked when she didn’t hear a peep.

But something was different the next morning,

For my pink bows were lost,

I must go without them today at any cost.

I brushed my teeth

I opened my closet door,

But to my surprise no pink was to be accounted for.

So I got on the bus wearing a bright red skirt,

Nice black shoes, and a white top,

My hair hung down and did nothing but flop.

Into my class I went,

I sat down at my seat,

I noticed something was lying down near my feet.

It was a note that said

“I think you’re cute”,

I turned red and basically became mute.

After eating my dinner

I walked outside to find

Those lovely friends of mine.

But they were no where to be found

Not on this beautiful sunny day,

So I sat outside talked to my neighbor Ray.

That night as I lay in my bed,

I realized the something different was me,

And it was all right because I liked what I had turned out to be.

~Miss Alesha A. Brittain

Pray about Decisions

My hubby and I have had some decisions to make here in the last week. Nothing bad, but still big decisions. We did make one of those decisions on Friday and though I feel as though it was the right one, it still feels kind of frustrating. I thank God for His guidance and love in this. He can foresee the future and help us know what to do. Please pray for God's guidance in all parts of this situation. Thanks!

Seasons of Life Poetry.... The Essence of New Life

I found a poetry book that my friend Jennifer Helton-Richmond and I created in our Children's Literature class in college. These are poems that we had written from our youth through our early 20's. Some of mine really show the development of self esteem and self concept in action because I was developing mine while writing them. I can't imagine how I felt when I wrote some of them and then again with others, I can remember every single feeling. Anyway.... I will share some of these off and on over the next few weeks with you guys. Please keep in mind, if some of these poems are sort of gloomy, remember I was a young girl and had had a few broken hearts along with the dreariness of learning to be a teenager and then a young woman. The coolest part about finding these is the fact that I can read them now and see exactly how much I have grown as a writer and as a woman. I love our poetry book because it is entitled "Seasons of Life" and it contains poems from childhood up through adulthood. Jen and I even matched the font to the ages group of each poem and laid out the whole thing in the timeline of a life using seasons of the year. It was beautiful when it was finished and bound and we received an A, which the professor had warned, would be really hard to get if we opted for a project over our final exam. Anyway, here's the first one I will share and it's mainly because it was amazing to me when I read it. I was dreaming of creating and raising a child with my husband even before we were man and wife. I was already looking deep into the future and thinking about our children. Enjoy!

The Essence of New Life

The cries of a newborn child ring in my head.

How I want a love like that.

I want to reach into the depths of my soul,

And intertwine that with yours.

I want to hear this beautiful sound in a short increment of time.

The thrill of creating,

That is an honor in itself.

The essence of discovering.

What a wonderful moment.

Informing the world.

Yes world here we are together

The magical months that are too often taken for granted.

The bittersweet pains,

The climax,

The release.

And there you’ll be.

Fresh and new in my arms.

A product of an unbinding love.

A small, yet bright, glow to light up a future life.

And I’ll look into your big eyes,

Such innocence,

And Pray for the future

That God has sculpted out for you.

Pray that he blesses you as much as he has blessed me.

Pray that you, this small being,

Can make a positive impact on a darkened and dull world.

My child, I Pray that someday you’ll know the love I feel right now.

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,

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.)

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.

Christmas with the Brittain's and the Goodlett's

We had a great time celebrating Thursday with Gavy & Jess, Friday with Sandy and Mamaw, Saturday with mom, dad, and Billy, and Monday with the Goodlett clan. Here are some pics that are probably not in order but oh well : ) Merry Christmas!