I am so blessed and thankful to have a wonderful family. Thanksgiving was such a wonderful time this year. All the family was home, and it was great. We're all so spread out, and have such crazy schedules that it's just hard for us to get together at the same time very often. I always have a such a nice time over the holidays, but I have to wonder, WHY?? WHY do they always go so fast?? :-( Funny how work never goes so fast. I hope you all are feeling thankful and blessed by your families. I also hope your Thanksgiving was fabulous! I often wonder why God chose me to have such a good family? I just don't deserve it, but I'm so grateful. Have a wonderful day!!
I am by no means a shopper!! I know that probably comes as a shock to many since I'm a female, and isn't that what most females live for?? Today is known as BLACK FRIDAY! If you get me involved in Black Friday, it would not be pretty, and I would rather hear finger nails scraping on a chalk board all day long (which I CANNOT HANDLE!!!), than to go fight with a bunch of hormonal, insane, maddening women just to get that "good deal" on something that you can purchase as cheap, or cheaper AFTER the holidays WITHOUT the madness. I know some women live for this day, but if you put me in the midst of all that hoop la...I would just die! I think what I find ironic in all of this is all the people who can get up at the crack of dawn, wait in a line for hours in rain, sleet, and snow, in 10 degree below 0 weather for a "good bargain", but yet how many of these people can't get up at 8:00 on a Sunday morning to attend church? One word...PRIORITIES! It saddens me how people will sacrifice all things for that fleeting deal, when in 6 months or less, it will become boring or old, and we will want something new, but yet when you put your priorites in Christ, it is eternal, something you will never grow tired of, it will never grow old or boring. Material things are great, and we are blessed to have "fun things", but they don't and won't last. I'm not sure why we can't grasp this, but everything you see here is going to wear out eventually, including your body no matter how many nip and tucks you do to it. I would rather put my time and effort into something eternal, than getting up at 2 a.m. to save 50 bucks on something that won't last. I'm not knocking people who enjoy Black Friday, I'm just stating facts. I wonder how many people would get up at the crack of dawn, stand hours in line to see Jesus Christ if he was here today?? Sad to say, but probably not many. Think about it!
Of course with my sick sense of humor, I think this picture is funny! :-) Just don't show the kids! I hope you all have a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! Remember to thank God for all the blessings you have, as we have MORE than we deserve! So many are not so fortunate! Also, remember those who have lost family who have an empty chair at the table this year. I pray God blesses you all today, AND...don't stuff yourself too much! :-) God Bless!!
I got home this evening about 5:30. I'm always amazed when I come "back home". Nothing ever seems to change, even when I haven't been home in 2 or 3 months. I guess that's just the norm of small towns. I always know when I'm getting close to home when I start smelling the stench of cow manure in Indiana and Illinois. Undoubtedly, everytime I get on the Interstate in Indy, I KNOW home is not far away! ha! Anyway, it's good to be home, and I'm looking forward to seeing my brother, sister-in-law, and of course my 3 GORGEOUS little nieces tomorrow!! I'm not sure who is more excited, me or them! I've got to get my rest tonight because they are going to wear ole' Aunt Julie out the next 4 days, but I wouldn't have it any other way! They are my world!! Hope you've all had a wonderful day, and I hope you all have a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! We all have SO much to be thankful for, we are SO blessed!
Is it just me, or did it just seem like summer was here, and now Thanksgiving is upon us?? This time of year seems to get faster and faster. Christmas is a month away! A month from today, to be exact! YIKES! I'm sure you all are gearing up for Thanksgiving, as I know I am. I will be heading to my parents house in Illinois for about 4 days. I'll be leaving after work tomorrow, and return sometime Sunday. I'm MORE than ready for a few days off from work, and I'm thrilled to death to get to see my 3 "rotten" nieces. :-) They will wear me out, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I hope to blog some while I'm home, depending on how busy things are, but I will try. Now, if I can just make it through ONE more day of work, I'll be FREE for 4 days! Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!
My church is putting on a Christmas Dinner Theater next month entitled Uncle Phil's Diner. I'm going to be a part of it, singing in a group called "The Dinner Bells". It should be hilarious, and let's just hope I can control my laughter because for me?? That's a task in itself. :-) I will still try to blog, but this is your warning that it might not be every day because we are going to be hitting practice hard as soon as Thanksgiving is over, more than likely it will be several nights a week, so my life will not be slowing down until after Christmas, as I'm sure many of yours won't be either. Anyway, if you live near the church, be sure to buy your tickets next Sunday!! The food is great, and the entertaiment is a hoot! I'm including a video, just to give you a little sneak peak! Enjoy!!
HA! My subject line is the title of this article that is listed on the link below. Oh my goodness, has our world become so wrapped up in Daytime Soap Operas that we are upset that they might be dying out?? Personally, I'm MORE than happy to see them go. Maybe years ago, they were ok for the housewives, but now days, they are nothing but smut and trash. Hmm...kinda sounds like our world. Anyway, it will be the end of the world for some people, but the rest of us will be rejoicing! :-) My life is a REAL LIFE soap opera, I certainly don't need to watch it on TV!! Enjoy! http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/are-daytime-soaps-doomed--43
Back up to a blog I wrote a couple of days ago, about the wreck I saw on I-65. I found the news story online today. I'm absolutely sick, and speechless. But what makes you really think is, what if I had been just 5 minutes earlier leaving from work?? This could be a story about me. God is always protecting me, but yet I tend to forget. Life is short, and we just never know from the time we get in our cars each day if we're gonna make it home or not. I'm sure dying was the last thing on this man's mind. But what is worse?? Such a senseless death that should have never happened. Here's the link if you wish to read the story: http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=9375760
Fill in the blank! Why is it that we ALL more than likely put God in that blank?? Could it be because we hear it all day long at work, all night long on our tvs, constantly thrown around loosely in movies? Do people even stop to think what they are saying?? I had an incident occur at work today with a coworker who constantly says "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ" in a degrading matter. I tolerate alot of language where I work, but when you start using my Jesus' name in vain, that's pretty much the last straw. This has been going on for quite some time. I let it go, but felt the guilt of not saying something. Another woman who is FAR from a "church" person even commented to me how she was offended by people saying that. So I heard it for the last time today, I emailed my boss and asked her to please tell this girl to stop saying JESUS in a degrading manner because it was offending me, and others. Why? Why do we have to degrade our Father, our Lord who have given us everything?? A couple of years ago,our drama ministry at church put on skit that made you think! The scene was 2 girls engaged in conversation about shopping. One girl was so excited about the clothes she bought, and she just kept saying "Like oh, my God...". She would say this about everything, well the other girl starts in, and she would talk and she would say "Like, oh my Dennis..." over and over. The girl taking God's name in vain finally pipes up and says "Why do you keep disrespecting my father?" The other girl points to heaven and says "Why do you keep disrespecting mine??!!" I'm telling you, that one hit home!! People just don't even think about what they are saying. We all know the commandment "Do not take the Lord's name in vain", but as with most things with spirituality, we don't get it!! I've even heard people comment "Well, there's alot worse things you can" Um really? You are slamming the Creator of everything we know, but there's worse things we can say? Wow! The only time I better be saying "OH MY GOD" is when I'm kneeling by my bedside crying out in prayer! Think about it, and think about our God when you say it, would you want someone taking your father's name in vain?? Probably not! Have a blessed day, and remember what our Lord has done for us!
We all have those moments in life, you know the "bumps in the road", or "the valleys", the moments when you just don't know if you can take any more. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about, we've ALL been there. It's funny in my life how things are going along so smoothly, and then WHAM!! Satan slaps me upside the head with something. I had a rough night last night, and probably being female, it's worse because, trust me, the girls reading this just know about those "teary days" or things that make you cry at the drop of a hat. Last night was one of those nights for me. Sometimes, I wonder where my life is going, because at times, it just seems I've hit a brick wall. I look around, I see people who have good jobs, a house, families, everything has fallen in place for them...at least that's how I view it in my eyes. And I know some of these people probably look at me thinking they wish they had the simplicity of my life. I admit, I love my life as far as being single, not to say if the right person comes along, I won't settle down and marry, but for now, I'm happy, but I have my moments. The hardest part of being a single female is trying to make ends meet, but funny, God always provides, he always has, so why do I worry about it?? I'm rambling on, but I tell you all this as I had a HUGE reality check today on my way home from work. Funny, Satan knocks me down one minute, and God picks me up the next with a reality check. Coming from a small town, I have never experienced some of the things that I have living in a city. For instance, homeless people holding signs on the side of the road, people coming up to me in the Target parking lot asking me for money, the craziness of city traffic!! Those things just don't happen in small towns, at least they didn't when I was growing up. Some things I have just not been prepared to see. That's what happened to me today, and this vision will be forever etched in my mind. I was traveling home on I-65 when I start seeing brake lights. Of course my first initial reaction is, "Oh great...wreck!!" Of course that's my OWN selfishness because someone could be hurt, and I just want to get home. I witnessed something first hand today as I was driving past the wreckage. There was a car flipped upside down. Not to be too graphic, but I have to tell this to get the point of my story across. I look over, and see a person (couldn't tell if they were male or female, young or old, it doesn't matter) on the ground with an EMT administering CPR on them. I literally started crying, and thanked God right then and there for my life. Somehow, the "junk" that was plaguing me just didn't matter anymore. I AM ALIVE!! Things in my life didn't seem quite so bad afterall. I can't stop thinking about that person, and wondering if God spared their life. I prayed for them, and it is my prayer that God spared them, but if not, I pray they were "ready to go". Funny how God can send HUGE reality checks in the blink of an eye, and make you realize, hey, I'm not so bad off, afterall. If you're having a rough time right now, stop and ask yourself, "Is it really so bad?" Because no matter what, there is ALWAYS someone worse off than us! God Bless!
This is one of my absolute favorite prints, entitled "Forgiven"! I love it so much! I saw it at a friend's apartment one time, and I just had to get a copy for my wall. So, I did just that. I have it hanging in my living room to remind me that Jesus is always picking me up even though I hold a hammer and nails in my hands everyday. I place myself in this picture, as we all should. We hurt Jesus OVER and OVER and OVER, but yet he is still there holding us, forgiving us, and loving us. I just don't understand!! What does this picture mean to you?
I just want to take a minute to tell you all to PLEASE go see the movie "Fireproof". You will NOT be disappointed!! It's about "fireproofing" your marriage, but I encourage singles to see it too as it has SUCH a great message. I will warn you, take a box of tissues because you will cry. At least I did, but I'm pretty emotional too. It is SO moving, and it will make your marriage, and relationship stronger with God! It's not often that I beg people to do anything, let alone go see a movie, but I am BEGGING YOU PLEASE!!! Go see this movie! We waste how much money watching "trash" movies, can't we watch one that has to do with God? This movie is made by the same people who did "Facing The Giants". As much as I liked "Facing the Giants", I think this one was even better. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and feel closer to God than you ever imagined. GO SEE IT!!! :-)
I mean that subject line out of the kindness of my heart. You will understand why I wrote that after you see this video I have posted below. This is D. J. Gregory. I saw a snippet of him on the news this evening, and it just made me realize I need to sit down, shut up, and stop complaining. I have NO problems, so when I get upset because my car won't start, or I can't get online, this guy, as well as my niece, Hannah, and my friend Jill (Yes you Jill Young, I love you!) give me reasons to sit down, and shut up. D.J. was born with Cerebral Palsy. And I'm sure I just butchered those words all over the place, but you can figure it out. :-) Drs. told his parents he would never walk, well what do you know?? They were wrong, and this video just proves it. It's about 5 minutes long, but please watch it if you have time. It will give you hope, inspiration, and make you realize that things in your life aren't nearly as bad as you think when you are healthy. My niece, Hannah, is a prime example of perseverance. With all her "stuff" she has had to deal with in 7 1/2 years of life, she never complains, never whines, never let's anyone or anything stop her from doing anything. Boy...how she gives Aunt Julie HUGE reality checks all the time. She is my hero, and I love her with all my heart! Not that I don't love her any more than my my other two niecs, Morgan and Lauren, but Hannah is just VERY special with all the obstacles she has endured and overcome. So the next time you complain because you don't feel well, or have a headache, or have a bad day...think of D.J. Gregory, or other people in your life who will make you sit down, and shut up!! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Thanks Jill and Patricia for your comments on my previous blog. I think we all have words to describe a baby when we see or hold one. Whenever I see a little baby like this, it reminds me of peace, innocence, and GOD. God's perfect peace that passes all understanding. They are innocent and know nothing about the evils of the world, they are without sin, they are perfect. I see God's awesomeness in them, how he creates a human being inside a mother's womb. Everything is perfect, down to every minute detail. They are just like us as adults, only on a much SMALLER scale. When I see a baby, tears are brought to my eyes for different reasons. I see how fragile, how perfect they are, and to think that God's mighty hand formed them is just absolutely incredible. But I also have tears in my eyes wondering what in the world they are going to face when they are our age? Our world is nuts, if you haven't watched the news lately, just turn it on. I wish we could be more like little children. How I love this verse, Matt. 19:14 (NIV) "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." If our world was like the innocence of a child...wow...can you even fathom? How I long for the world where everything is perfect, and we will once again have the innocence of children! We will never be hindered, and will be able to say "The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to us!!" Have a blessed day!
This is going to be a participation 2 part blog, so help me out, and COMMENT! SHEESH! :-) And yes...I believe that's flat out BEGGING. :-) Ok, now that we have that out of the way...this is my friend, Teresa's new little baby, Anna. What are your thoughts in one or two words when you see a new baby? Don't think about it, just type the first thing that comes to mind. I will share with you my thoughts on tomorrow's blog. I can honestly say (even though I don't want any children), that the Oak Ridge Boys song "Thank God For Kids" says it all with the line "The nearest thing to Heaven, is a child!" Have a wonderful day!
Well once again, I've had an "experience" ! Today, it would be at the eye dr. I have needed glasses and contacts for several months now. I was not happy with the guy I was going to, so I tried a new guy today. My favorite thing (yes, I'm being sarcastic) about the eye dr. is when they want you to read a chart, like the one you see above. Yes, you've all dealt with one of these charts at one point or another in your life, I'm sure. Well, let me just say, I am BLIND AS A BAT!! Much to my parents disbelief when I was in 4th Grade, I couldn't see the blackboard, and they didn't believe me! I think that's some form of child abuse, isn't it?? :-) Well, of course I will never let them live that moment of my life down when they found out from the school nurse that "Julie REALLY can't see!!" Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!! ha! So, I have been "blessed" with "great" eye site for almost 24 years. Now mind you, I'm not complaining, because at least I am able to wear corrective lens, and can still see. Some people aren't even that fortunate, my 7 and a 1/2 year old niece for one who had cataracts when she was born, and now has Glaucoma. I would give her my eyes in a heart beat, if I could. Well anyway, it's the same ole' routine when you go, they always want to know "How far can you read down the chart?" Well, my brain just goes into overload TRYING and STRAINING to read down as far as I can. I can't ever see down very far, it seems. Today was no different, but the one thing that WAS different is with no glasses or anything on my eyes...the assistant says "Now...what do you see up there?" I'm thinking "Are you kidding? I can hardly see your face, let alone any letters on a tiny chart that seems millions of miles away." Trying not to laugh, and be a smart alec, ok maybe I was ;-), I say "I have no idea, is there something up there?" :-) She then puts my glasses on, and do you know what was up there?? The "E"....THE BIG BLACK "E"!! I could not see it, it looked like a big black blob. Nice. I don't know why they try to get you to see things, when they know you can't. I think it's just humorous to them. That is my only conclusion to their madness. I have always wanted to say "Do you think I would really be here if I could see?" But, of course, I don't. I just play along with their "fun games", and try to make light out of it. Today they dialated my eyes, which is another "fun" thing, if you've never had that done. Driving with dialated pupils is quite a fun task. Well, all this to say, that all in all, I loved my new eye dr. I got new contacts, and new glasses are on the way to make me "look smart"!! :P Have any of you had fun eye dr. experiences? Would love to hear your stories. Have a wonderful day!
I often wonder how many people in the world truly worship on Sunday mornings, or merely "go to church". Anyone can "go to church", and live the rest of the week like the world. How is it we, as Christians, don't "get" that it's MORE than "going to church", more than "critiquing" the sermon, more than "griping" about the praise team being too loud, or "whining" because "we're singing this song...AGAIN!!" I'm preaching to myself here, as much as to anyone. There are times I get caught up in the "things of church" that just don't matter a hill of beans to our God. Why can't we put aside "what's in it for ME?" and really WORSHIP!! Today was one of those Sunday mornings where I felt like I was truly at the feet of God. It was one of those mornings when singing on the Praise Team was tough for fighting back tears. My friend, Patricia, texted me this morning and told me she was praying I would be able to "let go" and truly worship this morning, and I believe whole heartedly, her prayers were heard, in turn helping me more than she knows. Thanks girl!! :-) We sang a new arrangement of the song "Alas, And Did My Savior Bleed" this morning, and I have to say, today was probably the first time I'd REALLY paid attention to the words, and it hit me hard. I have sung that song my entire life, and being a kid, who in the world knows what the word "Alas" means? :-) But WOW! Have you ever truly focused on the words of that song? If you don't cry, you are stronger than I. :-) I wonder how many times all of us just sing, without really focusing on the words of a song, and truly worshiping! Worship is much more than just "going to church to get our ticket punched". God couldn't care less about attendance, he wants your heart, your soul, your mind, your WHOLE self. That, my friends, is true worship. It is not merely 2 hours on a Sunday morning, and saying "Welp, good deal. Got that in for another week." Being a Christian is 24/7, not just 2 hours on Sunday morning. You're either IN or you're OUT. God is not looking for half hearted Christians who play both sides of the fence. You just can't do it. It's ALL for him, or it's nothing. I look around in church many times to see "stone faces". Do you see "stone faces" at sporting events, concerts, parties? Of course not, but God just seems so boring, and we can't muster up ANY excitement, or even a smile, for Him. I honestly don't know why He gives any of us the time of day, but I'm SO thankful He does!! Next time you "go to church", try to do more than just that, try to open up your mind, place yourself at the feet of Jesus, and give Him your all! He gave his ALL for us, why can't we do the same in return?? Have a blessed day!
I come to you today with a heavy heart. As I was driving up to the park today to go walking (since I have no cell phone service where I live), my phone starts going off with text messages. Most days, I'm excited to get text messages, but today, I received one of sadness. It was from my friend, Dayna, letting me know that one of our dearest Elders from back home in Illinois, had passed away Friday morning. He was 84 years old, and suffered from cancer. To many of you reading this, the name Murrel Kelley won't mean much. But to those of us who knew him, I think I can speak for all of us, we were blessed by knowing him. Dayna and I grew up together at the Fairfield Church of Christ, and I'm sure she will agree with everything I'm about to write about Murrel. Our church was small, so we only had 3 Elders, and they are all wonderful men, but Murrel is the one that always stood out in my mind. He was "the greeter". :-) He would make sure to shake EVERYONES hand, and I mean EVERYONES, when they entered the building, and when they left for the day. No matter what, you were sure to see Murrel coming around to greet you. You always knew when he wasn't there because you missed that radiant smile of his, and his handshake. There is no doubt in my mind that Murrel is celebrating right now in Heaven, along with his wonderful son, Kevin who passed away a couple of years ago from liver failure at age 49. Another wonderful guy who we all love and miss! My heart goes out to the Kelley family at this time, and I hope they know how much of an influence they have been to me since I was a child! It's times like this that I REALLY miss being home to say "goodbye" to friends and loved ones. As I was looking through the obituaries to find Murrel's online on our local radio station site, the one right before his caught my eye. A former high school classmate of mine has passed as well. It's a real wake up call when you read "35 year old Chris Cariens...". It's like THAT'S MY AGE!! I don't know the circumstance of that situation, and I didn't know Chris very well at all, but I DO know one thing. We are just not here on this earth long at all, and we need to live each day as if it's our last because we NEVER know. James 4:13-14 (NIV) pretty much sum up life, and I leave you with these scriptures: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." That is life, my friends...we are a "mist", and nothing here matters. Think about it, and think about how people will remember you after you have died. Are you doing good things that people will remember you for? Living for the Lord, and influencing others is ALL that matters! I know Murrel lived this life, and I know we all will remember him fondly!! Have a blessed day!
Is it just me, or have you all noticed the wonderful display of God's creation lately?? I am blessed to be able to take back/country roads to work in the mornings. Before the time change, it was still dark on my commute. But since "falling back" an hour, it's really bright on my drive to work in the mornings. Not so much today as it rained the whole way to work, but you could still see the beauty of the leaves as they were falling to the ground. Every fall, I'm blown away at the magnificent beauty of the leaves, and just how CLEAR everything seems. The colors just pop out at you, even the sky looks a million times "bluer". How anyone can doubt there is a God when you look at creation is beyond me. I LOVE nature!! Nature is where I LOVE to go to get close to God. I love to hike, not that I get to go very much, but what a way to "see" God through his creation. We take for granted God's creation, but let's try not to. Tomorrow when you go outside, take a deep breath, and just look around you. The "painting" you'll see beats any famous painting you'll ever see. God's presence is all around us, won't you take 5 minutes out of your busy day to notice, and say thank you? Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Well, before my Power Point "disaster" last night, I did have a really nice surprise! I got a call yesterday at work from one of my best friends who used to live here. We went to Harding together, and I knew, Teresa, at that time, but I didn't really KNOW her. It's funny because we had a ton of mutual friends, but we never really met back then. Well, once my old roommate, Jeanene and I moved from Florida to this WONDERFUL state of Tennessee in 2002, was when I really started to get to know Teresa. She and I grew very close over a short time span. It was about 2005 when we really became close, and made it our daily routine to meet up at our local park to go walking. I have Teresa to thank for getting me "in to" the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. She mentioned to me one time that she was doing it, so I said "Sounds like fun to me! I want to do it too"...so in April 2005, that's just what we did! If she's reading this, I will probably embarrass her to death, but I have to 'brag" on her. Teresa is the most positive, uplifting, slow to anger, Christ like person/friend I have ever known. I don't have many friends that pray with me the way she did. I will never forget her praying with me many times after we finished walking at the park. She has an amazing faith like noone I've ever known. All this to say, Teresa went on a mission trip to India one summer while still living here and met an American Missionary there who became "the man of her dreams" :-). They are now married, and are both full time missionaries in India, and have been there for a year and a 1/2 (I think). As of August, they have a new little addition to the family, a beautiful little girl named Anna. Teresa, and her husband Craig are on furlo until Dec. and they were in Nashville yesterday. I was saddened when I missed Teresa's call to hear they were here, but they were going to Teresa's old church last evening. I knew I had to do the Power Point where I attend church, so there just wasn't going to be any way I could see them. Well, sometimes God works things out so perfectly, and he did just that yesterday afternoon. I do not go home between work and church on Wed. nights because I live pretty far out, and there's no point driving all the way home and all the way back to town. So, I usually just hang out at the park until I need to get to church around 5:15. So I pull into the park, and pull in a parking space right next to Teresa, and Craig! I was about to flip out, because honestly, what were the chances? Teresa didn't see me until I got out of the car, and the look on our faces of excitement had to be something to see. We enjoyed visiting for about an hour, just talking, laughing, catching up, and even taking a walk, just like old times, around the park. I even got to meet little Anna, and I have to say, she is beautiful. :-) It was SO wonderful to see Teresa! She is definitely one of my life long friends who will forever hold a special place in my heart. I know this story may not mean that much to anyone, but I just had to share. Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day!
Well, I am NOT going to talk about the election. I'm tired of hearing about it, I'm tired of talking about it, I'm just tired of it...so I'm going to share a story that happened to me tonight that is light hearted, and will hopefully bring a smile to your face. :-) A couple of weeks ago, I was asked if I would help out with our Power Point at church. You know, I get to change the slides for the songs, etc. No big deal, right? Well, tonight was my first "official" time to do it. Now granted, it's not a difficult task to push a button, but as we all know, I can "doozie" it up good, if I try, sometimes not even trying! :-) So things are going great tonight, getting through all the songs, no glitches or problems. We get to the lesson, I'm supposed to pop up a verse on "my cue"...so I do. Goes great, no problem. Next verse?? Well, this is when the problems start. I punch the button, and nothing happens, I punch again, still nothing. By this time I'm thinking "uh oh..." Thankfully our amazing sound guy, Keith, was beside me and he helped me out. He started punching buttons, and it was going crazy on him too. FINALLY, after the church is laughing, Keith FINALLY got the verse up and starts reading it. It is Phil. 4:6...which starts out "Don't be anxious about anything...." and the congregation lost it again! HA HA! Of course, I'm rolling by this point, and that verse couldn't have been more appropriate for what just happened. Well, the one good thing in all of it, is it wasn't my fault. I was told it was being "cantankerous", so that was good to know, but wow. I sure felt like all eyes were on me when this happened. It was kind of one of those moments you wanted to crawl under something. Brent, our Worship Minister, said it best when he laughed and said "You had a Power Point Train Wreck, didn't you??" All I could say was "It wasn't my fault, it wasn't my fault!" :-) Oh well, it doesn't matter, God is good and this thing called "life" just happens. You just roll with it, computer glitches and all, and keep on smiling!! Hope you've all had a blessed day! I can only wonder if any of you guys have had any Power Point disasters?? :-)
Doesn't the above church sign say it all? I thought it would go hand in hand with my blog for tonight. Typically we think of "rug burn" as painful or "not a good" thing. Well, I guess that's true if your wresting or goofing around and you hurt yourself, but one kind of rug burn we all should have is rug burned knees from our prayer life. I know I talk about prayer a lot, but that's because I'm a firm believer in it. We might not always get the answer WE want, but undoubtedly we WILL get an answer if we just do it. I'm ashamed to say that my knees are not rug burned, but I need to get them that way. What does this verse mean to you? 1 Thes. 5:17 "Pray without ceasing". Does that mean just pray every now and then, pray once a day? Pray every other day? Pray just when something bad is happening? Hmm....to me that verse pretty means what it says "Pray WITHOUT ceasing". Now I realize in life you can't just drop to your knees at any given moment, but even at work or other daily routines such as driving in your car, there are moments you can pray. We also need one on one time with God ALONE with no distractions from this world, and for me, the best time for that is night time. That, my friends, is when you can get some of the most INCREDIBLE rug burns you could ever hope to have. I know many of you knelt by your bed and prayed with a parent as a child, well why do we not do this as adults by ourselves? Some of you reading this may do just that, and I hope that you do, but if you don't, give it a try. Start getting some rug burns on your knees, and then you can ask your friends "Got rug burns"? And explain to them the power of prayer. You will never reach such a high as you do when you hit your knees. I hope you've all had a blessed day, and it is my prayer that we will all have rug burns on our knees tonight and tomorrow as we pray for this election! And a final reminder, if you haven't early voted...go vote tomorrow!
We all know the Election is coming up in 2 days! How can we not?? If you're like me, you're so sick of HEARING about it you could scream! I honestly can't wait until it's over, but I just don't know where our country is headed. I've really not been concerned with many elections until this year! I don't want to get into the "ins and outs" of politics, everyone is entitled to their own choice and opinion, but this is one election that we REALLY need to pray over. It was brought to my attention about 3 years ago by a friend that she dedicates 30 minutes to God a day in silence and prayer. Sure most of us pray, and you may even pray for 30 minutes, but let's take a different approach. My friend goes into a dark room or closet, shuts the door with NO lights or anything to distract her, and prays for 30 solid minutes. I have done this a few times, and I can honestly say you will have the greatest peace you will ever know when you do it. But how many of us want to "bother" with just 30 minutes for God?? We can sit and watch 30 minutes of trash on TV, or 3 hours of sporting events, and think nothing of it, but 30 minutes for God..in SILENCE? Are you kidding me?? That's like an eternity! We now, more than ever, need prayer warriors for this election, and especially for our LOST world. We need committed and dedicated people to pray and fast for this election. I am challenging each of you to give this 30 minutes a day in a dark room a try, pray for the election, pray for others, and pray for your specific needs. I can promise you the results will be incredible, and your relationship with God will grow immensely! If we could just turn off the tv, the computer, the cell phone for 30 minutes and PRAY and spend time with God...wow! What a difference our world could be! Please, if you do nothing else from my blogs, I beg you to pray for this election! Thank you all for reading, and my God bless your day!
Today is a special day! It's my dad's birthday. This blog could be never ending because there are just so many wonderful things I could say about my dad. My dad is one of the best guys you could ever know. I can't tell you how great of a father he has been to me, he always took time out for my brother and I for everything when were growing up. I know alot of fathers now days are "too busy" to take the time out for their kids. I can't say that about my dad. He was at EVERY school band and chorus concert, sporting event, play, church event, you name it, my dad was there if his kids were involved. Although those things are wonderful, the best and most important memory I have of my dad is him taking the time to teach my brother and I about the Lord. I know many of you have seen my blogs on my dad before, but you're just gonna have to bear with me as I write about him again. :-) My dad took the time on a regular basis to sit down and have nightly Bible Studies with us. He did not "cram" it down our throats, but he did it in a way that made us want to know more. Even when we were really young, my dad, brother and I would have discussions about God and Heaven, when we should have been sleeping, we were talking about spiritual things late into the night. I think the Bible instructs parents to do this. Prov. 22:6 (NIV) "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." My dad lived by this verse, and if it was not for him (and my mom), I probably wouldn't be in church today or even care about it with all the temptations of the world. I don't know why I was blessed to have such a good upbringing when I see so many others hurting or in horrible homes. It doesn't seem fair, but I thank God every day for the loving parents I have. God has blessed me more than I could ever ask for with a wonderful family and great friends. Even to this day, I will still call my dad when I have a spiritual question. We have the best spiritual conversations, and it means so much to me. Plus, we probably get along so well because my dad is just as CRAZY as me! There's no doubt that I am his daughter! I look like my mom, but my personality is my dad MADE OVER!! :-) So to my dad, I wish you a wonderful birthday, and know that I love you very much! I would also like to let everyone know, he and my mom are vacationing in Florida right now, so yeah...it's a rough birthday indeed! ha ha! Have a wondeful Satruday, and don't forget to turn your clocks back tonight! Yay! An extra hour of sleep is always good!
