So Encouraging ... Miss California Speaks Biblical Truth!

Thankful to God!

On this morning of Thanksgiving, I slept in a bit (after a loooong round trip to Ohio last night) and then opened God's Word. I decided to read verses pertaining to giving thanks. Here's a few that I read:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (King James Version)

18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Ephesians 5:20 (King James Version)

20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Job 1:21 (King James Version)

21And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (King James Version)

17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

1 Chronicles 29:13 (King James Version)

13Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 (King James Version)

1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.

9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Such beautiful praises unto God! I'd like to offer up my own on this blessed Thanksgiving morning.

Dear Precious Father,

I come to You thanking you for so many things. I thank You for my Salvation that was made possible by Your Son, my precious Savior, going to the cross for my wicked ways. I thank You for looking beyond my faults and loving me regardless. I thank You for reaching Your hands down daily to lift me up and to help me with my infirmities. I thank You Savior for this thorn in my flesh that daily brings me to my knees. I Pray that it continues to bring glory unto Your holy name.

I thank You for my precious mother who is truly my best friend on this earth. I cannot imagine being raised without her God given guidance in my life. I thank You for my precious daddy who has always put my brother, mom and I before himself in all that he does. I thank You that he continues to be a daddy to me even though I am a grown woman. I thank You for my precious, little brother. I thank You for the things that he is learning even now and I Pray for your guidance to be upon his life. I thank You for my sweet, sweet husband who loves me more than I'll ever realize. I thank You that He has stepped up to the plate throughout my struggle with infertility and that He is truly a helpmate to me throughout it all.

I thank you, precious Father, for my sweet "in-luvs" who have always accepted me as family even 6 years ago when I was just dating their son. They have been wonderful to me and I am truly blessed to be a part of the Goodlett clan. I thank You for all my family: cousins (Jess, Gav, Mon, Kris, Shell, Michelle, Robin, etc.), aunts and uncles (Sandy, Craig, Barb, Steve, Candy, etc.), Grandmother Rose, and all those who have passed on yet their teachings bear witness in my life, (Papaw Brock, Mamaw Brittain, Uncle Bruce, Sister Helen, Brother Jack, sis Shauna, Precious Best Friend Danielle, etc.).

I Praise You Father for my blessed friends who have stood by me through all these situations. Those who have Prayed without ceasing for my miracle. Those who unselfishly love me for me and for nothing in return. Lord You know who each of these people are. I Pray a special blessing down upon them on this wonderful day of Thanksgiving.

I thank You God for my home, my job, my material goods, and even the air that I breathe. None of which is possible without your grace and mercy. I thank You for my nation and the freedom that we have been blessed with. Lord I Pray that we will continue in Prayer and keep it that way.

I also thank You Father for my blessed, Bible believing Church and Pastor, William Boyd. I thank You for his faithfulness and for his family's faithfulness. I thank You for inspiring each sermon that he preaches. I thank You for the blessings that I receive from them. I also praise you for the lessons that You have been teaching me through Your Word and experiences. I feel so blessed to be able to study and read such a wonderful set of instructions for my life.

Lord, I praise You for the miracles that I know that You are bringing to pass even now. I thank You for my future, my past, and my present. I could never ask for more than You have given me thus far. I Pray that You rain blessings down upon all those who are celebrating this blessed, and overlooked, holiday. I Pray for those who have no one to celebrate with and for those who feel as though they have nothing to be thankful for. Will You open up their eyes Father, remove the scales and show them their blessings. I thank You most of all for Your unconditional and unchanging love. Without You, I AM NOTHING!

In Your Precious Son Jesus' Name,
Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:22

2 Corinthians 1:22 : Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

My pastor has been mentioning some of the banking terms found in the Bible. He has talked about the binding agreements that is talked about and showing us God's promises via these terms.

Tonight I was beginning 2nd Corinthians. I have been here all day in my bed resting and trying to get all healed up from surgery on Friday. I read up to verse 22 and then read the commentary and realized that this was another of these terms. Here's what my commentary says:

1:22 earnest. The "earnest" is "earnest money," the deposit paid to guarantee that the whole promise will be fulfilled in the proper time. See 2 Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians 1:14. On the sealing of the Spirit, see note on Ephesians 1:13. (Source: New Defender's Study Bible)

2 Corinthians 5:5 (King James Version)

5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest (deposit paid to guarantee that the whole promise will be fulfilled in the proper time) of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 (King James Version)

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 1:14 (King James Version)

14Which is the earnest (deposit paid to guarantee that the whole promise will be fulfilled in the proper time) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

How beautiful these verses are when you realize what they are talking about. God has placed a deposit to guarantee His promises! How wonderful! He didn't have to do that.... but He did because He is a good God. The Holy Spirit is this deposit. How amazing to have the deposit of such a promise living inside of us! Thank You Lord for the Trinity and for allowing me to have the Holy Spirit guiding me and reassuring me of the promises You have made me on a daily basis.

Such a Beautiful Statement!

Jer 32:17 "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." King James Version

God is such a good Father

I should probably have saved this post for Father's Day but oh well... when God is your Father, everyday is Father's Day. You know... I am so glad that I can call God my Father. I have had a wonderful "snapshot" of God through my earthly parents, but even there unwavering love is nothing compared to the love that God has for me. Can you imagine that? He loves me even though I have treated Him so awful sometimes. When my mom calls to talk, I talk to her. Sometimes I have put Jesus on hold and never went back to Him when He has called. Yet, if I dial His number... He still answers. I Pray that I can be a better child and make Him proud of me.
Even right now, it is such a blessing to realize that God has my precious child in His arms right at this moment. He knows if when I'll find out, how I'll find out, what the child will be (m/f), when he/she will be born and He already knows what He will speak to that little one as it grows inside my womb. And I do believe that... I believe God can whisper in those precious babies' ears and let them know just how much He loves them. Imagine the babies born to drug parents. I am sure that they hurt and have major problems while developing and just as He does to us, He whispers sweet peace to them. Maybe you think I'm crazy, but I really feel like they hear His voice as we do. Praise God, He is so good!

HAPPY MOMMA'S DAY MOM!

JUST WANTED TO WISH A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY PRECIOUS MOMMA! I couldn't have asked for a better mother and I hope that I can someday be the mother that she has been. I love u mom, my best friend!

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.

Thanksgiving... a few days late haha

Well... we had a wonderful Thanksgiving here and in Louisville. My mom guided me in the creation of my very first holiday cake. For those of you who know me, you know that I don't cook and rarely bake. It's ironic because I did more cooking/baking when I was younger than now. I am so tired now and get in so late that I just don't take the time and ignite the desire to create meals for just the two of us. Michael works wonders in the kitchen, so he is our chef and Subway is pretty nice, too. Anyway, here are some pics from Thanksgiving. (I didn't get any in Louisville because for some reason, I just didn't think to take out my camera.)

A plate of my momma's good cookin'

Pattern of momma's Vera Bradley... festive huh?

Good Food!

Banana Pudding... my favorite

Chopping Apples for the Carmel Apple Cake

Mixing the cake mix and the pudding

putting the apples in the mix

momma mixin'

the bunt pan

finished Carmel Apple Cake

Again

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I ponder to thank God this morning for His many blessings upon my life. He is beyond magnificient! I think of all the things that I have been through this past year and I am amazed at the things God has brought me and my family through. I praise Him for that! I praise Him for letting me enjoy my family for another year and for comforting my heart when no one else could. I praise Him for the blessings I know are already on their way! Most importantly, I praise Jesus for dying on an old, rugged Cross for my sins... I deserved it... He didn't! How great is our wonderful, mercifiul Savior?!


Comments at WishAFriend.com

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!)

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!

This is Beautiful!

Please everyone, take 3 minutes and watch this entire thing. Think about how Jesus can pull us out of all the sins and demons that attempt to bind us. Praise His Holy Name!

I'm Staying!

BIG Thank you's to all of you for your Prayers and support this summer during my stressful situation with my job. I WILL be staying at Page School. As previously mentioned, I have no issues with the other school, its just hard to leave your workplace when you feel like that's where God wants you and that's where your heart is. I Prayed for God's will this summer. It was hard to imagine it any other way, but I was ready for what was to come. I was actually even voted in as a staff member at the other school, however, God worked it out in His own time and way for me to be able to work at the school that I love. I also will be with the same students that I have taught my entire career. There are two groups of kids that I have had every year and I get both groups this year. I am nervous because I will be moving up to new grade levels. Just Pray that the transition will be easy and that God will walk me through this year. AGAIN....THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS! PRAYER CHANGES THINGS! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND YOUR HELP. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

Most importantly, THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER! My God has supplied! He always does. I am soo blessed and so thankful for everything, every person in my life, every smile I receive, every breath I take, and most importantly every drop of His precious son Jesus' blood that was shed to represent every sin I have committed and will commit. God has been there when I have thought that I couldn't find a way out of situations and when I felt as though I was staring at a dead end. He's been there in the hard times and the not so hard times. And He is the only true constant that I will ever have. He makes the other "constants" in my life continue to be "constant." Thank You Father!

P.s. Continue to remember the other request.... I so want to find out that I am pregnant whenever God sees fit for me to do so : ) I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Thank You God!

In lieu of the accident at Kentucky Kingdom last week, I began researching last night to see if their had been any new developments. There had.... the amusement park I had been to last week and the ride that I had been on 2 times in a row with my husband and friends was shut down after a frayed cable was found on it. Click here to read about it. Scary but it shows me that my God is good! He protected us!