Today Michael Jackson and Farrah Faucet passed away. As humans we feel that tug of sadness when we hear about someone who died. It does not matter if they are related or if they are someone in passing. I am grieving for these 2 because I don't know if they knew the Lord. I am at bothered by this because regardless of what anyone did or said or did not do I would not wish them eternal separation from our Lord. Some people have said that Michael Jackson deserved what he got because of his lifestyle. When it was announced that he passed away all I could think of was that I hope he knew Christ. I worry about someone who has denounced Gods grace. I am tormented by where they may end up. When the comedian George Carlin passed away my husband turned to me and said "We know where he is going". If you know anything about George Carlin you knew he was very vulgar and a proud atheist. He had no problem telling anyone that there was no God. So when he passed away I felt so sad knowing that he very well may be eternally separated. Unless he came to a saving knowledge of Christ right before he died then its inevitable where he is now. Christians today have done too much tongue clucking and pointing fingers instead of going out there and spreading the word. If there was one thing that motivated you it should be knowing that 3 cultural icons may have had it all but did not except the greatest gift of all. Material gain, status, and money is nothing when you do not have Christ. I pray for the Faucet and Jackson families today. I know its hard right now. Imagine if someone could have knowledge of knowing that someone you love will be in the arms of Jesus. Not knowing is torment and I pray we as Christians become better at presenting the Gospel. Its available to everyone regardless. I feel as Christians we have failed in being a witness to the lost. I pray that Farrah Faucett, George Carlin, Michael Jackson and any others that may have passed on knew Christ. Its a sobering thought to know where a person could end up by denying the Gospel.
Heavenly Father I pray for the families of Farrah Faucett and Michael Jackson as they are grieving during this time. I ask for Your assistance in us being better agents of Your word. I pray for anyone who does not know Christ and will hope that they come to a saving knowledge. I ask this humbly in the Name of Jesus.
Amen
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Celebrity and Priority
Have you ever thought of celebrities and why they are famous? What do they do to have them get the recognition they deserve? Are they talented singers? Do they act well? Or do they just have a ridiculous show exploiting their families? I have noticed people buying up the People, US Weekly, and In Touch magazines so they can gobble up the tidbits of information that seems fascinating. Some people actually seem to care that Britney Spears drove a Mercedes. Others are tsking over Lindsey Lohan's rehab stint. Jon and Kate's Goesslins marriage is falling apart on national TV. What do people find so wonderful or captivating about those tidbits? Its sad to see why people admire celebrities. It really is sad to see people idolize Madonna or Paris Hilton. I have no desire to meet any of these people. They have no impact on my life.
If someone were to ask me which "celebrity" I would want to meet the answer would surprise them. Its a question that will take some explanation. But lets list the mainstream answer first. Now for music I would love to meet Stephen Curtis Chapman or Mercy Me. They are great men of God and awesome musicians. Also I would like to meet Steve Perry from Journey. I always loved his voice and wondered what kind of person he would be. Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, and Alan Jackson are on the list as well. But that is as mainstream as I can get. These are people that are well known and admired for their talents. It would be nice to meet them. However its not a life long goal. With the possible exception of Mercy Me I would not be totally psyched if these people mentioned were to come to town. I would try to get tickets but would not feel let down if it did not happen
I would really want to meet Dr. Albert Mohler, Dr. Hershael York, Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. Richard Land, and Dr. Os Hawkins. Who are these people? Why would a young woman want to meet a bunch of men with Dr. titles? These are men of God I have come to respect greatly. These are well known men in the Southern Baptist Convention. Remember a previous post where I said that Southern Baptist and me did not mix in the past? Well things change and I think for the better. These men have preached Gods word lovingly but boldly. They get the bad rep because they don't compromise what they believe in. They aren't photographed in a magazine or flashed on the tabloid channel. However these are the people I want to meet due to the message they bring in their words and actions.
I was browsing the Internet one day and decided to look at the chapel schedule for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since I work Sundays I would go to chapel services at the seminary during the school year. I was curious about the upcoming fall schedule and decided to see if it was posted. When I looked on it my first reaction was excitement. I am embarrassed to say that it was almost the equivalent of a young girl going to a Hannah Montana concert. No I did not scream but I did clap in delight and I was excited to share the news. The list had some of my heroes of the Christian faith on it! Dr Mohler, Dr Land, and Dr Hawkins will be preaching at SWBTS this coming semester. I am very excited because for me it would be an honor just to shake the hands of soldiers for Christ. I was reminiscing with my husband at how old I must be getting if I am getting excited about going to a chapel service instead of wanting to get tickets for the next concert in town. Ricky mentioned that I was not getting old but my priorities are different. It is quite a change to be anticipating a chapel service. I have not started marking the days with an X but i have been happy to know that these men will be here before we know it! I cant wait to tell Dr. Mohler just how much I appreciate his stance. I am looking forward to shaking hands with Dr. Hawkins and sharing a few thoughts with Dr. Land. I cannot wait and I know that I will be blessed by these upcoming events.
One thing you always have to do is be careful regarding anyone who is a celebrity. If you start to idolize them and lose focus of who really is in charge then you will set yourself up for disappointment. This always happens for any person in the limelight. People are willing to defend Britney Spears breakdown or excuse her behavior just because of her status. Its the same with Lindsey Lohan or Amy Winehouse. No one wants to realize that these people are not gods and we should not elevate them above God. This same rule goes for my heroes I have mentioned. Dr. Land was on Live from Criswell discussing a controversial viewpoint. He disagreed with the host Dr. Barry Creamer on that show and for whatever reason I was disappointed in him for not seeing Dr. Creamers view point. However I realized I was dangerously elevating him above God so I set myself up for that. This can happen with anyone regardless of whether they are well known or famous in your eyes only.
I have had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Mohler via phone on his radio program. He was always very polite and kind. I have also corresponded with Dr. York via twitter and Facebook. Dr. York is a very busy man but he took the time to respond to me! That's humbling when someone who could be doing many other things decides he will answer me or listen to what I have to say.
So would I call my heroes celebrities? Possibly because is a lot to "celebrate". However I don't have pictures of them on my walls or glossy magazines with trivial information. I have something better. I have the assurance of Gods Love. That's better than any movie star or celebrity. Dr. Mohler, Dr. Land, Dr. Hawkins, Dr. York, and Dr. Moore will be the first to say so. They are the representative of the One who needs to be celebrated the most. That is our Lord and Savior.
If someone were to ask me which "celebrity" I would want to meet the answer would surprise them. Its a question that will take some explanation. But lets list the mainstream answer first. Now for music I would love to meet Stephen Curtis Chapman or Mercy Me. They are great men of God and awesome musicians. Also I would like to meet Steve Perry from Journey. I always loved his voice and wondered what kind of person he would be. Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, and Alan Jackson are on the list as well. But that is as mainstream as I can get. These are people that are well known and admired for their talents. It would be nice to meet them. However its not a life long goal. With the possible exception of Mercy Me I would not be totally psyched if these people mentioned were to come to town. I would try to get tickets but would not feel let down if it did not happen
I would really want to meet Dr. Albert Mohler, Dr. Hershael York, Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. Richard Land, and Dr. Os Hawkins. Who are these people? Why would a young woman want to meet a bunch of men with Dr. titles? These are men of God I have come to respect greatly. These are well known men in the Southern Baptist Convention. Remember a previous post where I said that Southern Baptist and me did not mix in the past? Well things change and I think for the better. These men have preached Gods word lovingly but boldly. They get the bad rep because they don't compromise what they believe in. They aren't photographed in a magazine or flashed on the tabloid channel. However these are the people I want to meet due to the message they bring in their words and actions.
I was browsing the Internet one day and decided to look at the chapel schedule for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since I work Sundays I would go to chapel services at the seminary during the school year. I was curious about the upcoming fall schedule and decided to see if it was posted. When I looked on it my first reaction was excitement. I am embarrassed to say that it was almost the equivalent of a young girl going to a Hannah Montana concert. No I did not scream but I did clap in delight and I was excited to share the news. The list had some of my heroes of the Christian faith on it! Dr Mohler, Dr Land, and Dr Hawkins will be preaching at SWBTS this coming semester. I am very excited because for me it would be an honor just to shake the hands of soldiers for Christ. I was reminiscing with my husband at how old I must be getting if I am getting excited about going to a chapel service instead of wanting to get tickets for the next concert in town. Ricky mentioned that I was not getting old but my priorities are different. It is quite a change to be anticipating a chapel service. I have not started marking the days with an X but i have been happy to know that these men will be here before we know it! I cant wait to tell Dr. Mohler just how much I appreciate his stance. I am looking forward to shaking hands with Dr. Hawkins and sharing a few thoughts with Dr. Land. I cannot wait and I know that I will be blessed by these upcoming events.
One thing you always have to do is be careful regarding anyone who is a celebrity. If you start to idolize them and lose focus of who really is in charge then you will set yourself up for disappointment. This always happens for any person in the limelight. People are willing to defend Britney Spears breakdown or excuse her behavior just because of her status. Its the same with Lindsey Lohan or Amy Winehouse. No one wants to realize that these people are not gods and we should not elevate them above God. This same rule goes for my heroes I have mentioned. Dr. Land was on Live from Criswell discussing a controversial viewpoint. He disagreed with the host Dr. Barry Creamer on that show and for whatever reason I was disappointed in him for not seeing Dr. Creamers view point. However I realized I was dangerously elevating him above God so I set myself up for that. This can happen with anyone regardless of whether they are well known or famous in your eyes only.
I have had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Mohler via phone on his radio program. He was always very polite and kind. I have also corresponded with Dr. York via twitter and Facebook. Dr. York is a very busy man but he took the time to respond to me! That's humbling when someone who could be doing many other things decides he will answer me or listen to what I have to say.
So would I call my heroes celebrities? Possibly because is a lot to "celebrate". However I don't have pictures of them on my walls or glossy magazines with trivial information. I have something better. I have the assurance of Gods Love. That's better than any movie star or celebrity. Dr. Mohler, Dr. Land, Dr. Hawkins, Dr. York, and Dr. Moore will be the first to say so. They are the representative of the One who needs to be celebrated the most. That is our Lord and Savior.
An update
So its been a long while since I have posted something. So be prepared for a jumble of thoughts.
Meri has moved out of my place. It was bittersweet because I was hoping she would get a job and try to get ahead. I felt that the DFW area offered for opportunities instead of Sulphur Springs. However she felt that she needed to be there for her mom. The good news is that she has a job and is working on going back to school. As long as she keeps those goals in mind then it won't matter where she is if she stays focused. This is true for anyone who wants to succeed. Of course there are times that the place you are in does not allow for such opportunities but instead of letting that be an excuse to be limbo, take baby steps to move on. Meri is doing that by working and obtaining her ID. She will be taking classes within the next year.
Ricky and I are doing somewhat better with our finances. Part of it is that I have been working 20-30 hours of overtime each paycheck due to 3 people on my team being out. I have been able to pay the rent on time the past 3 months so that has been a blessing. Ricky will be searching for a job once he gets back from Kentucky where he has been visiting his family for the last month. I am learning to be patient with him but not tolerant of laziness. If I approach my concerns in a loving but firm way we are more likely to get somewhere. He said he wanted to look for employment once he comes back because he knew how hard I have been working.
I had been under so much stress the past few months due to the limited income and job issues. Regardless I have gotten through them just fine without any major damage to goods. :) Working those OT hours was almost not worth it because I wanted time off and I could not get it. There were days I was on the verge of breaking down, days I wanted to cry. There were times at work where I would just stare at my computer for an hour because I had no idea what to do. The Lord was able to carry me through this.
I had events that made me think of family. I had to take care of my mother-in-law when she had surgery because her family decided to ditch her. All of Claudia's sisters were whining and complaining abut how it was an inconvenience to help her out. Also every time she needed something the sisters would always do that "Cant Candice Do it?" whine. It makes me sad that family see each other as burdens or just do not like each other. I have a similar situation. My older sister Rhonda for whatever reason does not like me. I hear about the attempts she makes to smear my name to my younger sister Alicia. The problem with her attempts is that they are thwarted every time by Alicia. She tells Rhonda she is not interested. I have no idea why Rhonda carries this burden. I pray for her every day and hope she and her family come to a saving knowledge in our Lord.
Work is just another stressful time. As mentioned before I had to work overtime due to some people being out. But I am really starting to resent my job in the worst way. Getting the Lords Day off to worship is too much to ask I guess. I have tried anything and everything and all of my attempts are being blocked. There is a rule for trades. I can take time off but then I need a reliable back up but normally those are not available. I also have a coworker who asks me to cover for him when he needs time off but he has not returned the favor at all. I feel like I could use some help. It pains me to be in a pew at worship on those rare Sundays. I never know when I will be back. I am also missing out on joining the choir. I don't want to complain because I know the job is good for providing during a tough economy. However I question myself if its worth it. My spiritual life is not getting fed. I read my Bible and listen to sermon archives but its not the same as being in communion with fellow believers and getting to share Christs love with others. You cant get that from listening to a sermon on the computer. Right now I am working on my resume and ways to polish it up so I can find the position God intends for me. I do not plan on being where I am for a long time.
I got to go to a family reunion over the weekend. That was fun being able to meet parts of the family I did not know I had. My second cousin who lives in San Diego invited Ricky and I down to his place. I hope we can do it. It was a great time to be able to see where I came from and what my roots were. I pray that another family reunion can happen again while some of our relatives are still with us.
This is just a snap shot of whats been going on. I plan to start writing regularly again. I have so much to share! The Lord has blessed me even during these tough times.
Heavenly Father Thank you for Your many blessings and love during a hard time. In Christ Name, AMEN.
Meri has moved out of my place. It was bittersweet because I was hoping she would get a job and try to get ahead. I felt that the DFW area offered for opportunities instead of Sulphur Springs. However she felt that she needed to be there for her mom. The good news is that she has a job and is working on going back to school. As long as she keeps those goals in mind then it won't matter where she is if she stays focused. This is true for anyone who wants to succeed. Of course there are times that the place you are in does not allow for such opportunities but instead of letting that be an excuse to be limbo, take baby steps to move on. Meri is doing that by working and obtaining her ID. She will be taking classes within the next year.
Ricky and I are doing somewhat better with our finances. Part of it is that I have been working 20-30 hours of overtime each paycheck due to 3 people on my team being out. I have been able to pay the rent on time the past 3 months so that has been a blessing. Ricky will be searching for a job once he gets back from Kentucky where he has been visiting his family for the last month. I am learning to be patient with him but not tolerant of laziness. If I approach my concerns in a loving but firm way we are more likely to get somewhere. He said he wanted to look for employment once he comes back because he knew how hard I have been working.
I had been under so much stress the past few months due to the limited income and job issues. Regardless I have gotten through them just fine without any major damage to goods. :) Working those OT hours was almost not worth it because I wanted time off and I could not get it. There were days I was on the verge of breaking down, days I wanted to cry. There were times at work where I would just stare at my computer for an hour because I had no idea what to do. The Lord was able to carry me through this.
I had events that made me think of family. I had to take care of my mother-in-law when she had surgery because her family decided to ditch her. All of Claudia's sisters were whining and complaining abut how it was an inconvenience to help her out. Also every time she needed something the sisters would always do that "Cant Candice Do it?" whine. It makes me sad that family see each other as burdens or just do not like each other. I have a similar situation. My older sister Rhonda for whatever reason does not like me. I hear about the attempts she makes to smear my name to my younger sister Alicia. The problem with her attempts is that they are thwarted every time by Alicia. She tells Rhonda she is not interested. I have no idea why Rhonda carries this burden. I pray for her every day and hope she and her family come to a saving knowledge in our Lord.
Work is just another stressful time. As mentioned before I had to work overtime due to some people being out. But I am really starting to resent my job in the worst way. Getting the Lords Day off to worship is too much to ask I guess. I have tried anything and everything and all of my attempts are being blocked. There is a rule for trades. I can take time off but then I need a reliable back up but normally those are not available. I also have a coworker who asks me to cover for him when he needs time off but he has not returned the favor at all. I feel like I could use some help. It pains me to be in a pew at worship on those rare Sundays. I never know when I will be back. I am also missing out on joining the choir. I don't want to complain because I know the job is good for providing during a tough economy. However I question myself if its worth it. My spiritual life is not getting fed. I read my Bible and listen to sermon archives but its not the same as being in communion with fellow believers and getting to share Christs love with others. You cant get that from listening to a sermon on the computer. Right now I am working on my resume and ways to polish it up so I can find the position God intends for me. I do not plan on being where I am for a long time.
I got to go to a family reunion over the weekend. That was fun being able to meet parts of the family I did not know I had. My second cousin who lives in San Diego invited Ricky and I down to his place. I hope we can do it. It was a great time to be able to see where I came from and what my roots were. I pray that another family reunion can happen again while some of our relatives are still with us.
This is just a snap shot of whats been going on. I plan to start writing regularly again. I have so much to share! The Lord has blessed me even during these tough times.
Heavenly Father Thank you for Your many blessings and love during a hard time. In Christ Name, AMEN.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Job does not equal spiritual feeding.
I am very frustrated right now. Maybe I should just deal with what is bothering me by saying that others have it worse. That is true but it does not make me feel any better. It just makes me madder and want to spit.
I am having issues at my job. I work every Sunday and miss church. First Baptist Dallas has many services but every single one of them is within the time frame that I am working. FBD broadcasts their sermons on the radio but its not the same. I don't get to attend Sunday school at all. I am lucky if I can take a couple hours off to make the evening service. I do not have much vacation time to take the day off. Another option is to do a day trade but no one else wants to work on Sunday. My coworkers are quite happy not coming in on a weekend day. So I have to get creative and take a couple hours off here and there and make them off on a day off. Its frustrating. I have mentioned this to my boss and his response is "this is what you get for being last on the list for the shift bid". Well thank you very much for pointing that out. Does he honestly think that was supposed to help? Not to mention that condescending tone of "Cant you just find a Saturday service?" Well yes and no. Yes I could because there are a few churches that offer that option. But the Lord called Ricky and I to serve and attend First Baptist Dallas. This means honoring it with our tithes, attendance, and service. I can only provide the first thing. I am unable to attend most of the time and getting involved in ministry is out of the question. So no I cant just go to a Saturday service just for a feel good time. Oh and then getting snapped at by a coworker for mentioning that our job could save money by closing on Sundays was the tip of the iceberg. No reason to snap! I just made a suggestion! The coworker said I need to just deal with it. So I am dealing with it. But I wont be giving up this fight. Its not happening. I am glad for my job but if the Lord calls me somewhere else then there I will go. I will not let my current employment keep me from that. Sorry. It is not happening.
I am having issues at my job. I work every Sunday and miss church. First Baptist Dallas has many services but every single one of them is within the time frame that I am working. FBD broadcasts their sermons on the radio but its not the same. I don't get to attend Sunday school at all. I am lucky if I can take a couple hours off to make the evening service. I do not have much vacation time to take the day off. Another option is to do a day trade but no one else wants to work on Sunday. My coworkers are quite happy not coming in on a weekend day. So I have to get creative and take a couple hours off here and there and make them off on a day off. Its frustrating. I have mentioned this to my boss and his response is "this is what you get for being last on the list for the shift bid". Well thank you very much for pointing that out. Does he honestly think that was supposed to help? Not to mention that condescending tone of "Cant you just find a Saturday service?" Well yes and no. Yes I could because there are a few churches that offer that option. But the Lord called Ricky and I to serve and attend First Baptist Dallas. This means honoring it with our tithes, attendance, and service. I can only provide the first thing. I am unable to attend most of the time and getting involved in ministry is out of the question. So no I cant just go to a Saturday service just for a feel good time. Oh and then getting snapped at by a coworker for mentioning that our job could save money by closing on Sundays was the tip of the iceberg. No reason to snap! I just made a suggestion! The coworker said I need to just deal with it. So I am dealing with it. But I wont be giving up this fight. Its not happening. I am glad for my job but if the Lord calls me somewhere else then there I will go. I will not let my current employment keep me from that. Sorry. It is not happening.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Its been awhile...
Ricky and I joined First Baptist Dallas and wanted to follow in believers baptism. We scheduled it for January 25th. We chose Walter Guillaume to officiate. He has been a major force in getting us to join First Dallas. He was one of the main contacts that was making sure we were okay and was so good to us. We were excepting to be baptized on January 25th. However Rickys grandmother passed away that day. We had gotten the call right after our First Step class that she was not doing well. Ricky and I were debating whether to cancel our baptism. Ricky wanted to go through with it but his mom kept telling us we needed to cancel it. Ricky said "Granny would want me to go through with it" She kept saying we needed to go and that we were being selfish if we did not leave. I have prayed for my mother in law but it seems that she wants to cause conflict no matter what. My relationship with her is not the best right now. But that's okay because we rescheduled the baptism.
February 22nd Ricky and I were baptized. It was a wonderful experience. It was quite funny too because when Ricky was dunked he ended up ruining Walters microphone. Plus Walter is about 5'11 and Ricky is 6'7. If you saw the video you would see a short man try to wrestle a giant. Not really but Walters amazing strength earned him the nice name "Little Dipper". Plus I got a chance to meet Doran Bugg the music minister for First Dallas. He was so friendly and open. We talked for a few minutes. One of my favorite parts of the church service is when Doran leads us in worship. His voice is awesome and you can tell he loves his job. Not to mention after the service we had just about everyone coming up to congratulate us.
Now for some great news....Meri got saved and will be baptized!!!! I am so proud of her! She did this tonight! She accepted the good news! This was prayer that finally got answered. Thank you LORD! We are looking into ways for her to get the kids back as well. She wants to do better in life. She understands it wont be a cake walk but with God walking beside her she will be fine. The Lord is awesome and has blessed all of us.
Thank you Lord for being there for us during our tough times. Thank you for Dr. Jeffress, Reverend Guillaume and Dr. Bugg for them being Your faithful servants. I am so glad Meri knows You. In Jesus Name,
Amen
February 22nd Ricky and I were baptized. It was a wonderful experience. It was quite funny too because when Ricky was dunked he ended up ruining Walters microphone. Plus Walter is about 5'11 and Ricky is 6'7. If you saw the video you would see a short man try to wrestle a giant. Not really but Walters amazing strength earned him the nice name "Little Dipper". Plus I got a chance to meet Doran Bugg the music minister for First Dallas. He was so friendly and open. We talked for a few minutes. One of my favorite parts of the church service is when Doran leads us in worship. His voice is awesome and you can tell he loves his job. Not to mention after the service we had just about everyone coming up to congratulate us.
Now for some great news....Meri got saved and will be baptized!!!! I am so proud of her! She did this tonight! She accepted the good news! This was prayer that finally got answered. Thank you LORD! We are looking into ways for her to get the kids back as well. She wants to do better in life. She understands it wont be a cake walk but with God walking beside her she will be fine. The Lord is awesome and has blessed all of us.
Thank you Lord for being there for us during our tough times. Thank you for Dr. Jeffress, Reverend Guillaume and Dr. Bugg for them being Your faithful servants. I am so glad Meri knows You. In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The most exciting day in American History???
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the US. Many were excited about this event. He is the first African American president. He got ridiculous media coverage today. I felt he was being over hyped. It is a good thing when a country can get past bigotry and vote someone in regardless of color of skin. But I feel like this election Obama was voted because he was an African American. I feel he was voted in to prove a point. That is almost never a good reason to vote someone in. In my personal opinion had he been a white person with the EXACT same agenda he would not have received as much media hype or votes. This election was based on color of skin any way you look at it. Many people I know are pro-life but they voted for Obama because of the idea of a different colored person in Washington. I only know a few people who elaborated on why Obama got their vote. One friend gave me educated reasons why he voted for Obama. The issue of race never came up. We may disagree but I respect him for looking at the issues. But everyone else was so worried about getting an African American in office they put aside their own principles. Again I am not racist but I did NOT vote for him. I wanted to so bad because I am one person who said a few years back about how nice to see a black man in office. When I first saw Obama on Oprah 2 years back I was excited! I thought we had our candidate for president! But doing more research and listening to his proposed ideas I got crushed. Because he does not represent someone I want in office and in good conscious I could not vote for him.
I did not watch the inauguration today. In a fit of bad unchristian attitude I thought if I did not watch it, then he would go away. Yes that is not a good thing to think of but I had dread just knowing that he was about to be sworn in. But the Lord has been with me and has gently reminded me to pray for our new president. I plan on doing that and trying to get away from the negative thoughts that keep churning. If I continue to think horrible of him then I am no better than those who criticized Bush. Does this mean I will keep quiet when Obama makes a decision that could potentially be dangerous? No but I will try to disagree respectfully and not stoop to the level of those who brutally slandered Bush. Also when something goes wrong I vow not to automatically blame Obama.
I am going to miss George W. Bush in office. We have seen war and economy declines. But I will not pacify people and say he was horrible. He did some things I did not agree with but he protected our country. He made sure we did not get attacked. He made decisions that were unpopular but ultimately kept us from a second terrorist attack. Our military knew that Bush was on their side. He valued the sanctity of life and protected many babies from being aborted. He was not a perfect candidate but will always have my respect and admiration. I will pray for his transition to civilian life with Laura. Ricky and I will miss him in office.
President Obama has stepped into the role of commander in chief. I will pray that his heart will be changed on some issues and that he will protect the country the way we deserve. I will also remember that Our Lord and Savior is in control. That is where my faith will ultimately lie. May he have the Lords hand in all decisions that he makes.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your perfect Will. Please be with President Obama and work on his heart to preserve the sanctity of life. Its in the name of Christ I pray,
Amen
I did not watch the inauguration today. In a fit of bad unchristian attitude I thought if I did not watch it, then he would go away. Yes that is not a good thing to think of but I had dread just knowing that he was about to be sworn in. But the Lord has been with me and has gently reminded me to pray for our new president. I plan on doing that and trying to get away from the negative thoughts that keep churning. If I continue to think horrible of him then I am no better than those who criticized Bush. Does this mean I will keep quiet when Obama makes a decision that could potentially be dangerous? No but I will try to disagree respectfully and not stoop to the level of those who brutally slandered Bush. Also when something goes wrong I vow not to automatically blame Obama.
I am going to miss George W. Bush in office. We have seen war and economy declines. But I will not pacify people and say he was horrible. He did some things I did not agree with but he protected our country. He made sure we did not get attacked. He made decisions that were unpopular but ultimately kept us from a second terrorist attack. Our military knew that Bush was on their side. He valued the sanctity of life and protected many babies from being aborted. He was not a perfect candidate but will always have my respect and admiration. I will pray for his transition to civilian life with Laura. Ricky and I will miss him in office.
President Obama has stepped into the role of commander in chief. I will pray that his heart will be changed on some issues and that he will protect the country the way we deserve. I will also remember that Our Lord and Savior is in control. That is where my faith will ultimately lie. May he have the Lords hand in all decisions that he makes.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your perfect Will. Please be with President Obama and work on his heart to preserve the sanctity of life. Its in the name of Christ I pray,
Amen
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Many Thoughts
I have not been keeping up blogging. Mainly because I have had so much happen. Its just been a whirlwind the past few couple of months.
Ricky and I were in an accident in December. It was an event that has in many ways changed our life. Our car was wrecked by someone who rear ended us and did 5000.00 worth of damage. Our routines were interrupted. We were without a car for a week before the other guys insurance came through. We were broke and struggling to pay the bills. Many inconveniences happened. One thing stood out through all of this. God was with us every step of the way. He provided what was needed for us to get through the next month. My boss was very understanding and allowed me to work from home. My dad was kind enough to let me use his truck while waiting on the rental. Ricky's mom and dad sent us money to get us through. I had friends and family who were there for us and it meant the world.
The Lord has been working on our hearts since then. We have joined a new church home. It was not where I thought we would end up. Especially since we joined First Baptist Church led by Dr. Robert Jeffress. I had mentioned his series on Politically Incorrect previously. We felt like the Lord wanted us in that church because Dr. Jeffress preaches the Word compassionately but is unapologetic. Some would consider him narrow-minded because he is uncompromising on Gods truth. But he is NOT brimstone and damnation either. I met Dr. Jeffress personally and he is a great guy. He is funny and has a sense of humor. He has been very warm and friendly to Ricky and I. His associate pastor Walter Guillaume has been the main person we have been in contact with. He has been really nice and always thinks to call Ricky. He knows about Ricky's ailments and prays with us. I had to say I had misgivings leaving University UMC because I swore I would never join a Baptist church ever again. However I don't have control on that one. That is in God's hand. I am being baptized on January 25th. I am a little nervous about this because in the Methodist church you did not do immersion baptism. So this will be a big step in my walk with the Lord.
Also I have been reflecting on my past mistakes. I have had so much anger and bitterness that has consumed me and affected my friendships and relationships. I have been snapping at Ricky for no reason, being distrustful and hateful. I am not proud of these mistakes and have asked God for help in controlling this. I have also hurt people with my actions. I now understand why people do certain things. I know its not to hurt me but its to help.
I made major mistakes that could have very well ended my relationship with Ricky. Instead of trusting in the Lord during my emptiness, I turned to temptation and destructive behavior. I had unhealthy attachments to men at work and almost would cross the line. I did get close to destroying my marriage because of one of those friendships. It grieves me to this day that I have hurt the other person and my husband. I want to give a word of advice to many who may be in a marriage that is in a rough patch. Please do not look for affection outside of marriage. I am not opposed to friends of the opposite sex but you would really want to be careful. Even if you and that other person go into the friendship with platonic attempts, anything can happen. Even if nothing physical happens, an emotional affair can be just as damaging. You start depending on the other person. That has damaging lasting effects. Please get counseling, talk to a trusted minister, friend, or counselor. Also please work at the marriage and never for a second suggest divorce as an option. In our society marriage has been treated so carelessly because people have the idea that if they don't like this model they can exchange it for something else. That was not what God intended. It grieves me to see how much the sanctity of marriage has been discounted. It may sound like I am trying to be self righteous and perfect. But that is not the case. I am speaking from experience.
Ricky and I are excited about the new year. We are hoping to get more involved in the church and grow even closer to God. We have believed but have been fair weather Christians. We are reading our Bible, getting educated in His word, and cutting many negative influences out of our life. We don't watch much TV. We are working on cutting bad words out of our vocabulary. This is not a quest for perfection. This is a step toward living the way Christ did. Knowing that we are sinners and we fall short of His Glory could grieve us but accepting Him as our Saviour is good news. We are not narrow minded. We don't stop being friends with someone just because they don't have a relationship with the Lord but we do constantly pray for them and just be there as a witness. The best way to witness to an unbeliever is through actions. One mistake that Christians make is they turn their back on their friends once they get saved and grow closer to God. That's not what God wants us to do. But He does not want us to do things that are not pleasing to Him either. So if you have a friend who is questionable in his/her beliefs pray about it. Don't assume you have to drop them like a hot potato. But if it is someone who is destructive and brings you down, you are not required to constantly be beaten down. Pray for that person but keep your distance. I have a good friend who has been telling me this for awhile. He says that being a good friend does not always mean hovering over that person.
The inauguration is Monday for President Elect Obama. I have taken my own advice and prayed for him. I am not going to stoop to the level of the Bush-bashers of the last 8 years. I don't agree with his policies but I wont be bad-mouthing him and calling him names. That is not the way to proceed. I still have mixed feelings about him in office. It has nothing to do with race either. If you know me, you understand I am not racist or judge on skin color. I felt like some of my coworkers took the election too personally. On election night there were people who acted very unprofessional. I know Obama is glad he won but I would like to think he would not approve of the racial behavior. I am glad I am not working tomorrow or I would probably lose it. I pray for unity and that we can see each other the way the Lord sees us. In Gods eyes we are all His children.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your presence during our tough times. Please forgive us where we fall short. It is in the name of Christ I pray,
Amen
Ricky and I were in an accident in December. It was an event that has in many ways changed our life. Our car was wrecked by someone who rear ended us and did 5000.00 worth of damage. Our routines were interrupted. We were without a car for a week before the other guys insurance came through. We were broke and struggling to pay the bills. Many inconveniences happened. One thing stood out through all of this. God was with us every step of the way. He provided what was needed for us to get through the next month. My boss was very understanding and allowed me to work from home. My dad was kind enough to let me use his truck while waiting on the rental. Ricky's mom and dad sent us money to get us through. I had friends and family who were there for us and it meant the world.
The Lord has been working on our hearts since then. We have joined a new church home. It was not where I thought we would end up. Especially since we joined First Baptist Church led by Dr. Robert Jeffress. I had mentioned his series on Politically Incorrect previously. We felt like the Lord wanted us in that church because Dr. Jeffress preaches the Word compassionately but is unapologetic. Some would consider him narrow-minded because he is uncompromising on Gods truth. But he is NOT brimstone and damnation either. I met Dr. Jeffress personally and he is a great guy. He is funny and has a sense of humor. He has been very warm and friendly to Ricky and I. His associate pastor Walter Guillaume has been the main person we have been in contact with. He has been really nice and always thinks to call Ricky. He knows about Ricky's ailments and prays with us. I had to say I had misgivings leaving University UMC because I swore I would never join a Baptist church ever again. However I don't have control on that one. That is in God's hand. I am being baptized on January 25th. I am a little nervous about this because in the Methodist church you did not do immersion baptism. So this will be a big step in my walk with the Lord.
Also I have been reflecting on my past mistakes. I have had so much anger and bitterness that has consumed me and affected my friendships and relationships. I have been snapping at Ricky for no reason, being distrustful and hateful. I am not proud of these mistakes and have asked God for help in controlling this. I have also hurt people with my actions. I now understand why people do certain things. I know its not to hurt me but its to help.
I made major mistakes that could have very well ended my relationship with Ricky. Instead of trusting in the Lord during my emptiness, I turned to temptation and destructive behavior. I had unhealthy attachments to men at work and almost would cross the line. I did get close to destroying my marriage because of one of those friendships. It grieves me to this day that I have hurt the other person and my husband. I want to give a word of advice to many who may be in a marriage that is in a rough patch. Please do not look for affection outside of marriage. I am not opposed to friends of the opposite sex but you would really want to be careful. Even if you and that other person go into the friendship with platonic attempts, anything can happen. Even if nothing physical happens, an emotional affair can be just as damaging. You start depending on the other person. That has damaging lasting effects. Please get counseling, talk to a trusted minister, friend, or counselor. Also please work at the marriage and never for a second suggest divorce as an option. In our society marriage has been treated so carelessly because people have the idea that if they don't like this model they can exchange it for something else. That was not what God intended. It grieves me to see how much the sanctity of marriage has been discounted. It may sound like I am trying to be self righteous and perfect. But that is not the case. I am speaking from experience.
Ricky and I are excited about the new year. We are hoping to get more involved in the church and grow even closer to God. We have believed but have been fair weather Christians. We are reading our Bible, getting educated in His word, and cutting many negative influences out of our life. We don't watch much TV. We are working on cutting bad words out of our vocabulary. This is not a quest for perfection. This is a step toward living the way Christ did. Knowing that we are sinners and we fall short of His Glory could grieve us but accepting Him as our Saviour is good news. We are not narrow minded. We don't stop being friends with someone just because they don't have a relationship with the Lord but we do constantly pray for them and just be there as a witness. The best way to witness to an unbeliever is through actions. One mistake that Christians make is they turn their back on their friends once they get saved and grow closer to God. That's not what God wants us to do. But He does not want us to do things that are not pleasing to Him either. So if you have a friend who is questionable in his/her beliefs pray about it. Don't assume you have to drop them like a hot potato. But if it is someone who is destructive and brings you down, you are not required to constantly be beaten down. Pray for that person but keep your distance. I have a good friend who has been telling me this for awhile. He says that being a good friend does not always mean hovering over that person.
The inauguration is Monday for President Elect Obama. I have taken my own advice and prayed for him. I am not going to stoop to the level of the Bush-bashers of the last 8 years. I don't agree with his policies but I wont be bad-mouthing him and calling him names. That is not the way to proceed. I still have mixed feelings about him in office. It has nothing to do with race either. If you know me, you understand I am not racist or judge on skin color. I felt like some of my coworkers took the election too personally. On election night there were people who acted very unprofessional. I know Obama is glad he won but I would like to think he would not approve of the racial behavior. I am glad I am not working tomorrow or I would probably lose it. I pray for unity and that we can see each other the way the Lord sees us. In Gods eyes we are all His children.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your presence during our tough times. Please forgive us where we fall short. It is in the name of Christ I pray,
Amen
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