THANKFUL THURS ON FRIDAY! Better late than never!

So yesterday got a little hectic and I didn't get to finish my post yesterday. BUT I was reflecting ALL day on the MANY things that I was and am thankful for of course! And while driving into work I was just taking in the drive and all the things around me and then I was stopped at the red light in old town Flowery Branch. And right next to the red light to the right of me there runs a railroad track parallel to the road and all of a sudden I hear a train and the guard rails come down and I see the train coming around the corner and then I see the lights on it and I quickly turn down the radio and roll down the windows and just listen for the train horn sounding. The red light turns to green right at the same time the train is just sounding the best part of the horn, you know the loudest part where it crosses the intersection of the railroad tracks. The part that I love the most!!!! So, where I would normally take off at a rapid pace at the red light turning to green I took my sweet time, taking in the sound of the train in all it's simple but huge glory. To most it's probably annoying, the sound of trains that is, the slow person at the front of the red light not taking off fast enough for your liking and the train going through the intersection that you need to cross that morning. Normally it would totally be annoying to me even. Well NOT the sound of the train, because I LOVE the sound of trains anytime! But for some reason the other morning I just took it all in and was LOVING it in a way that I felt I never really have in awhile. I really love the small things like this in life. The icing to life that makes me smile. It's like driving down a rather boring road and finding a HUGE field of sunflowers along it's path that just brightens up your day and makes you smile. At least it makes me smile and brightens up my day, I don't know about you and I certainly can't speak for you about these simple things in life. But if for a second or two in your hectic lives (because I know we ALL have them) you could literally STOP to smell the roses as the saying goes, or in my case the other morning, pause or stop to hear the train and take it all in a little more or a little better maybe, just maybe we would appreciate these things better and more and maybe it would make us each a little happier on the inside and less stressed. I'm just sayin' it certainly couldn't hurt right?

 

I am thankful for these simple things in life that truly make me happier and joyful and they make life a little brighter each day if each of us really stopped to take them in. Come to think about it even the little guy that stands on the corner jumping up and down with the Ci Ci's Pizza sign dancing around trying his hardest to earn business for the company brings a smile to my face. I know it sounds crazy but it just makes the drive to the bank each Friday that much better knowing that at least I will get some entertainment along the way right?! As I sit here and write about that I laugh to myself out loud actually! LOL! If you just were to take a look around you at all the chances you really have to take in the things that can make you smile and feel good there really is no reason to let one thing or another ruin your entire day. Sure, maybe you get mad or frustrated for a portion of it, who doesn't right? I have a ton of times within this day and within the time it has taken me to complete this post in fact. BUT the fact of the matter is, is that we can choose to either LET is take over our entire attitude towards the remaining portion of the day we may or may not have left of that day.....OR we may CHOOSE to let it roll off our backs, laugh it out, pray about it and let it go. Look around us and find something, or someone to make us smile if even for an instance. AND if you see or hear about someone having a rough time during their day BE that person to bring a smile or laugh and light into their day. IT may make ALL the difference in their little part of the world in their day more than you will ever know. The people that did that for me today made my day brighter by doing that for me  more than they may ever know and I appreciate them for it!

 

Dear Lord- I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for placing all the little tiny and sometimes not so tiny, even large things that are all around us each and everyday that I myself seem to take for granted sometimes Lord that are here to make this world a brighter place if even for a moment in time. I just want to thank for them and thank you for placing them there and and at just the right times and moments in my life when I need a burst of light in my life or ray of sunshine in my otherwise frustrating gloomy day Lord. Thank you for adding these parts of the world into our everyday life that really makes it truly brighter and better and makes me smile bigger! Thank you for all that you are continuing to do in my life day in and day out and being the CONSTANT light that makes me whole. -Amen.

Inspiration for Tuesday!

So while having my quiet time this morning I came across MANY amazing scriptures that are inspiring. Well each day I read I ALWAYS come across MANY scriptures that are very inspiring. But I truly hope that these verses help some of my friends and/or family members that may be hurting or in need of healing and/or inspiration today or in the days and weeks or months to come. I know this life can throw us many curve balls and trials and bumps along the way. BUT it's all just a test and it's making us each stronger better people and it's all for a greater purpose. Through our struggles we may someday be able to help others come through the same things we are currently going through.

 

So here are the verses from my Monday quiet time that I wrote down that spoke to my heart that I think you may love as much as I do:

 

Colossians 2:5 "For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."

Colossians 3:13-14 " Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Colossians 3:23 "What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

Colossians 4:5-6 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, make the most out of ever opportunity. Let your conversation be full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone.

 

And for today on Tuesday I have several as well that I REALLY think are inspiring and could really help you through the storms!

 

1 Chronicles 28:20 "...Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord is finished."

 

*Do not let fear hold you back from taking bold steps to take action in the name of the Lord. The Lord will see you through it and help you conquer all. There is nothing you can't get through and nothing you can't do without God by your side.

 

Luke 9:48 "Then he said to them, "Who ever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is the least among you  you - he is the greatest."

 

*How much do you truly care about others in need? Honestly? How giving are you? How willing are you to go the extra mile to help others out in their desperate times of need? Are you good at loving others who can't or aren't willing even to love you back? This is a true measure of your greatness. How well can you serve and love others wholeheartedly without EVER expecting anything in return, no glory, praise, or thanks, but just because it's your calling.

 

Luke 9:62 "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God."

 

*Meaning that Jesus simply just wants TOTAL and complete dedication from us, nothing half hearted. We shouldn't pick and choose which things to follow. We instead must accept the cross completely along with the crown, judgement with mercy. We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. With our focus on Jesus, we should allow NOTHING to distract us from the manner of living that He calls good and true. No matter what battles we may face we must press on and stand firm in our faith and do what is right in the eye's of the Lord.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 (Paul's Longing to see the Thessalonians)

"But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us"

 

*These two verses show how real and harsh Satan is. We aren't certain what or how Paul was held up from getting to see the Thessalonians but the point is that he was held up from getting to them and from doing God's work. Satan doesn't want good to happen and many of our difficulties and battles that we are facing can be attributed to Satan. We MUST recognize this and stand firm to our faith more than ever during these hard times and realize that we are NOT willing to let Satan win. We have to have faith in the Lord to take control of the situation and work things out for us. Satan comes between important relationships, ministries, families, friendships, anything he can in order for God's works to be stopped or delayed or not heard or not followed through on. Let's STOP this from happening by NOT buying into the twist and the lies and the deceitfulness that can come from Satan, and we often are too caught up in the pain of the situation to step back and see what's going on to even realize what's really going on. That it's really just Satan in there working to tear things apart to tear things down to win his victory. God is more powerful than that we just have to trust and have faith in Him to work in our struggles and hardships.

 

 

Fourth of July Pictures!!!

 

We had a very low key 4th of July this year. Rob was sick that entire week before and still somewhat sick on the 4th. So I enjoyed fireworks on July 3rd at the fire station with my mother-in-law, sister-in-laws, brother-in-law and nephews and a couple of awesome friends who just so happened to also be parents of one of my students in middle school ministry at church. We were supposed to meet up with some of the other students we lead in Xtreme but some didn't end up coming and then the other family just missed seeing us and where we were sitting. I was so sad we missed them and that we were so close to each other.

Then on the 4th of July Rob and our friend and awesome roomie Mikey Felker all hung out at our friends pool all day. They were so kind to allow us to come hang at thier house and pool while they were all away on vacation for the week. Then went and watched fireworks at Chateau Elan that evening. It was a great spot!!! I really missed my family this year more than I thought I would though. My parents were in south GA, in Brunswick and my sister was sick due to being pregnant. But we had a blast just relaxing and hanging out and soaking up the sunshine all day though! Sometimes just having the ones that you love the most close to you is the best day ever! We really enjoyed it!

Hope you enjoy our pictures! :) To view them larger click double click on the slide show!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

Today is a very special day in my book! I have one of my middle school students in our small group at church in our middle school minsitry called Xtreme boarding a plane for Kenya TODAY heading for a mission trip there along with her parents and their team! She is a TRUE shining light for Christ in EVERY sense of the word and at her age it is amazing and goes to show that age does NOT matter! She makes me proud that's for sure! While reading my Bible this morning there were a couple special verses that made me think of her and also made me think about mission trips in general and sacrificing ourselves for the greater good in life and serving God and others above ourselves.

 Here are two different translations for your reading pleasure!

 

LUKE 9:24-45 "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his very self?" NIV

 

LUKE 9:24-25 "If you give up your life for my sake you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" NLT 

These verses simply mean that if this present life means the very most to you no matter what then you would do everything you can to protect it and be as comfortable in it no matter what that means or takes or looks like for you. You may not do certain things for fear of getting hurt or taking risks. You may hold onto your money tightly or treasures so that you are secure in your finances. You may do those certain things to you secure your place here on this earth while you are here and make things better here and now.

 

By contrast if following Jesus Christ is the very most important thing to you no matter what, you will do things that may seem a little different to others. You may take risks, find yourself in unsafe places, just like Lauren and her team may be when they will be in Kenya while on their mission trip and like so many others before and after them on many other mission trips. You may even risk death for the glory of God but you will not fear because you find comfort and have faith in Jesus and you know that the kingdom of Heaven awaits you. We as followers of Christ should spend our lives serving Christ and other people instead of ourselves and holding onto material things and way of life. We can't take anything with us when we leave this place. We only can leave behind a legacy of what we have been able to do for others for the glory of God in serving Him! Give to others who are in need. If we have more money or food or clothing or even shelter, why would we hoard it all to ourselves and not share it with others? Why would we not share the wealth that God has given us. The things, the money, the clothes, all the things are only in our possession because God has given them to us. Only God has granted us the abilities to earn what we have so why not pay it forward to those that may be struggling or less fortunate than we may be at the time? So what if it puts is in an uncomfortable position? Do we not have faith in God to see us through tough times? God blesses those who bless others and serve others with a cheerful heart! If we have extra time to give to serve then give it, make time, serve others in a big or small way! It will be pleasing to God, this is what we have been called to do. Love each other and serve one another. Help your neighbor! It's simple really!

 

 I today am thankful to have a wonderful middle school girl in our small group in Xtreme like Lauren that at such a young age just gets this and so soon in life! She is inspiring to me! I, at her age was so immature and not with it. I, at her age was no where near where she is. I, at her age was selfish and would NEVER consider giving up a portion of my summer break to go serve in a foreign country, and serve foreign people who I didn't know. That wouldn't even have registered on my radar at all. I am thankful to know her and get to see her light shining BRIGHT for God and get to see her be a role model in such a HUGE way! I am thankful that she, at her age can inspire me to be a better person and serve more, and better, and stronger, and harder!!! We can all learn from others around us and it doesn't matter if that person just so happens to be younger than us. Age is just a number. NEVER underestimate the power of the young! We can all stand to improve ourselves and the outlook of the world. Learning and improving is an ongoing process. Thank you Lauren for inspiring me and for shining your light for God here and in Kenya! You are a beautiful creation of God and never let any person tell you different!

 

Dear Lord- I thank you for this beautiful day! I thank you for the people in my life that continue to inspire me and help me grow closer to you each and everyday. Thank you for allowing me to become a better person and want to serve you better. Thank you for opening my eyes. Thank you for helping me through my struggles this week. Thank you for sending me friends and a sister and a husband to help me and lift me up at just the right times and some that were unexpected but very awesome. Thank you for blessing my life in ways that I cannot even begin to imagine. Lord I pray that people will begin to see the importance of giving and serving others and you Lord. And that by hoarding all the treasures that you have given and blessed their lives with is just not the way and that they will not gain anything in this life by doing so. I pray for those people who look down upon young people Lord. I pray that they will see the power the young have over this world and that they will see that the young are the future and that they have something to learn from these precious creations of you Lord. I thank you for allowing me to continue to serve in middle school ministry and thank you for teaching me so much throughout the process! It's amazing! Thank you for each and every breathe you allow me to have! I pray that I can be a bright shining light for you and that SOON I too can take a mission trip to a far away place and help shine your light in an unfamiliar place that may not be comfortable all for your glory Lord! I pray for the Kenya team while they are traveling to Kenya and while they are there. I pray that they arrive there safe and sound. I pray that the lives of the people there are touched by what is going to be done by the team that is about to decend upon them by your grace. Let your light shine upon them through the vessels of the people you are sending!!!

This is one of the best explanations ...

 

of why God

allows pain and suffering that I have seen. . . 

 

 

A man went to a barbershop 

to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. 

 

As the barber began to work, 

they began to have a good conversation. 

 

They talked about so many things and various subjects. 

 

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, 

the barber said, 

'I don't believe that God exists.'

 

 

 

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.

'Well, you just have to go out in the street 

to realize that God doesn't exist.'

Tell me, if God exists, 

would there be so many sick people? 

 

Would there be abandoned children?

 

If God existed, 

there would be neither suffering nor pain. 

 

I can't imagine a loving God 

who would allow all of these things.' 

 

The customer thought for a moment, 

but didn't respond because 

he didn't want to start an argument. 

 

The barber finished his job 

and the customer left the shop.

 

Just after he left the barbershop, 

he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, 

dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. 

 

He looked dirty and unkempt.. 

The customer turned back 

and entered the barber shop again 

and he said to the barber, 

'You know what? 

Barbers do not exist.' 

 

'How can you say that?' 

asked the surprised barber. 

'I am here, and I am a barber. 

And I just worked on you!' 

 

'No!' the customer exclaimed. 

'Barbers don't exist because if they did, 

there would be no people with dirty long hair 

and untrimmed beards, 

like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! 

That's what happens when people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 

'That's the point! 

God, too, DOES exist! 

 

That's what happens when people 

do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. 

 

That's why there's so much pain 

and suffering in the world.'

 

Courtesy of an email I received from my cousin! Thanks Cindi!

Scripture for Friday!

 I just LOVE reading Psalms! It's really inspiring! I of course get to read a few each day during my quiet times and throughout my journey in my discipleship reading plan. Here are a few I have read today that I hope you will love as much as I do and I pray that they inspire you as much as they have me today!

 

PSALM:125:1-2

" Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore."

 

* This is just another reminder for us that God is ALWAYS with us and will never leave us no matter what. In all situations and circumstances we can take comfort in knowing that He IS there with us through it ALL. So long as we TRUST that fact and TRUST in Him and Him alone there is nothing that we can do through that can shake us or take us down because He is always there, right there ready to pick us up and help us along the way. He is as steady and strong for us as a mountain.

 

PSALM 126: 5-6 " Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."

 

* God's ability to heal and rescue the broken is beyond anything that we can ever begin to wrap our brains around ever. We cannot ever even begin to imagine how God does what He does. Our tears can be the seeds that can grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to ALWAYS bring good out of tragedy or bad circumstances no matter what. If we can allow our human nature to allow it to happen and allow God to do His work that is, and allow Him to open our eyes to the healing and to the good. We just have to be patient while we wait for healing to come and be restored. We have TRUST God and His timing.

 

This verses seem so simple and yet if you seem to be in a time of trouble or grieving or feeling desperate or lost or turmoil or where ever you may be, these verses can truly be your saving grace. These verses can be your light at the end of the otherwise dark tunnel. God is the way the truth and the light and it's unfolded in this beautiful words of scripture in these verses in Psalms right here. I pray that you can take hold of these beautiful truths and hold them near and dear to your heart and share them with others that may need light in their world today or tomorrow or whenever. God has called us to be his representative's and we should take it to heart in every way.

 

Love to you all! And may God bless you and your friends and family this holiday weekend.

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

Ok so it's Thursday and I am SUPER excited because that just means that tomorrow is Friday which means PAYDAY, AND tomorrow is FIREWORKS for the 4th of JULY in Cumming, GA!!! I know it's NOT even the 4th of July tomorrow and in Cumming, GA they always do their fireworks the day before, which is weird and awesome all at the same time! You get to see fireworks TWO nights in a row if you choose, which if you know me you KNOW I always choose double feature fireworks...DUH!!!! YAY for fireworks two nights in a row! So this Thursday I find it very appropriate to be thankful for my country and the great place in which I was born. I could have very well just have been born into a family anywhere else on this wonderful earth but no God choose ME to be born into my wonderful family who lives in the GREAT almighty U.S. of A!!!! And I have to say that I couldn't be more proud of where I live and the county that I was so graciously born into. Sure this country has it's MANY MANY MANY issues that I will not get into. I am not one for deep political talks really. BUT I will say that this country overall has way more going for it than MANY others out there. I do have to say that we do still have WAY more freedoms than many others out there. I do have to say that each and every Sunday I am FREE to head off to the church of my choice that I love dearly and get all undignified for the glory of my God and worship him freely without getting persecuted for it. I do have to say that I can take (and do) my Bible into the place where I work each and everyday not get fired for it and I can openly read it and do often at my desk and nothing happens. How AWESOME is that?! I'm just sayin'!!! It's pretty darn AWESOME if you ask me, even though I know no one out there DID in fact ask me but that's ok, we can just pretend that you did! This country is still pretty darn awesome in my book no matter what the president may or may not be doing and no matter what things I agree with or do NOT agree with in regards to how he is currently handling things. Again that's another conversation for another time and another place. God bless the USA is what I say and I am thankful for this place I call home!!! Today I am thankful to be called a US citizen and am proud to say that I am!!!!! I am proud to stand tall and say that I can vote and that I DO! I am proud to say that I take advantage of my rights as a citizen! I am proud to be an American where at least I know I am free, more free than most people in this crazy world. So before we are quick to complain about this great country how about instead we just sit back and take a tally of all the wonderful and beautiful and great things there are that are still left in this great country, the home of the brave. Just a thought, to think positive instead of negative, it may just make your day a little brighter a little bit better and it may just make your outlook on things seem to be a little bit different. I'm just sayin'!

 

Dear Lord- THANK you for choosing this GREAT country for my birth place back on August 23, 1983 when you brought me into this world and obviously WAY before that when I was created in the womb and even way before that when you thought me up in your mind you already had a place picked out for me Lord. AMAZING to think about, in fact SO amazing I am getting chills just thinking about it. Lord I PRAY that people can still see the light in this county and the brightness that it holds and it's beauty and that it stills DOES in deed hold great things in it still even in all the bad things that are going on in it today Lord. Open their eyes to a place that was created by you and all the bad that's been created in it is only of the evil among us and the beauty and awesomeness that still rings true all across this land is because of YOU! Lord I just thank you for this place that I call home. I hope to one day get to see more of it and experience more of it's beauty like I never have before. Lord I just thank you for placing me here and allowing me to live in a place of freedom and LUXURY, when there are so many other places I could be suffering and starving and not living a good life Lord. Lord I pray for those others living in those darker places other than where you have allowed me to live. I pray that in the darkness that they may see your light some way some how. Lord I pray that someone there is bringing them the word of God and the truth! Lord I pray that some day that person will be ME even! I want to go there and help others see your light Lord. I have so much and want to share it and spread it out over this place. Thank you for all the blessings you have poured out over me Lord, for I am SO undeserving. Thank you! -Amen