Currently Listening God of This City By Passion see related

Loving Life and the ground God has allowed me to walk on.

This was a great week.  I missed Wednesday nights service but heard it was awesome.  I'm on vacation for the next four days and I've named this weekend the "all about me" weekend.  This is the weekend that I pamper me and pay attention to my needs.  So I'll start with visiting the hair salon.  Tomorrow after golfing I will go to the nail salon to get my manisure and pedicure.  On Monday, I'll get a nice message.  On Tuesday, I'll get back to reality and prepare for another week of work, Awana, Toastmaster's.  Basically, I'll return to the life style of the not-so-rich and only famous to the God I serve.

I finally won the Chili cook-off at work, but that's probably because I had no competition.  There was only my chili entered in the "original chili" category.  I won a $25 gift certificate to Target and you better believe that I'll make good use of it.  More important that my winnings is that my fellow emplyees and I had a fabulous time at what I called the "chili social".  Even my boss commented and how much she enjoyed herself.  She was proud to have two people from her Unit participate as contestants in the "moral building" function.  I was happy to see one of my co-workers so fond of my chili and starting to talk to me again.  You see a couple of weeks ago I talked to her about God.  She got pretty mad at me when I told her I didn't want to see her family go to Hell.  To be honest I shocked myself when it came out of my mouth.  I looked around and wondered who in the world said that. I  couldn't believe it was me.  Needless to say, our relationship was a bit shakey for a minute there.

I thank God for Donna, and a few other people at the church who help provide me with the scriptures to support what I had told my co-worker.  I also thank God for Denise in my small group for her support and reassurance.  She is an amazing woman.  I'd have to say that all the woman in my small group are truly amazing and I love them with with all my heart.

Well, that would be about the end of this entry.  See you all next time.  Peace Out :o) !!!

A Promise to Remember

1 Timothy 4:8

"But Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 

Although I'm currently reading 2 Timothy, today at Shelia Calahn's Memorial Service, 1 Tim. 4:8 stuckout my mind so I thought I'd start out this web log sharing it.  Pastor Baize did such a fine job conducting the service.  Friends had so many nice things to say about her.  I shared that I will always remember her as the person who welcomed me with open arms when I first start attending Midway.  She also new her Bible very well and could recite scriptures as fast as Pastor would call out the book and verse.  Additionally, she'd find her scriptures and turn to help me find mine.  She challenged me to learn the books of the bible and to memorize verses.  May she rest in peace and enjoy resting in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour.

Even though it was a sad occassion that brought us all together today there was something special about many of the people that attended Sheila's memorial.  So very often you don't get a chance to share thoughts, say Hi, or get a nice big bear hugs from those you love, respect, admire, and adore. 

Sheila had a faith that sustains and absolutely understood the significant role church plays in a family.  Church was there for her when she needed them and she was there when they needed her.  God bless all of those she leaves behind.  May they all remember, respect, and abide in the promises of Christ. 

Currently Reading Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance By Barack Obama see related

"Standing Together in a Deceitful World"

Hi all,

For some reason I thought my xanga subscription had terminated.  Guess I was mistaken.  I've been so busy lately, mostly enjoying my walk with the Lord.  I got an interesting email from Carleen and started reading a piece on the Holy Spirit.  It reminded me about an article that I read and must share.  But first of all, to sum up questions about the Holy Spirit:  It is God's Spirit and it lives within all Christians helping us by communicating God's truth to us, convicting us of sin, convincing us that God's ways are right -- no matter what --, and comforting us when we are not feeling the joy of our salvation.  The Holy Spirit has also been called the Holy Ghost, our Comforter, our Counselor, and our Helper in times of need.

Now, about that article.  You must first read 1 Corinthians 1:4-10, and then think about this.  "As believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we all belong to God's family and have a special relationship with one another.  We are spiritual brothers and sisters, called by God to live in loving agreement with one another.

Unity in the church occurs when believers live in submission to the Holy Spirit and let Him control attitudes, emotions, and actions.  By surrendering the "outward things" that we value about our church--such as its worship style, appearance, and programs offered--we position ourselves to be in one accord with fellow believers.  How can we learn to lay aside our own goals and preferences in order to help our spiritual family?  By remembering how precious we are to the Lord and how important others are to Him as well.

Not only is the concept surrender vital for unity; it is also key element of love.  Biblical love--in Greek, agape--willingly sacrafices so that someone else might benefit.  It is the "super glue" that keeps the body of Christ together and enables us to put the interest of others ahead of our own.  (Colossians 3:14)

Furthermore, within any fellowship, there exists a variety of opinions on many different topics.  Diligence and cooperation along with lots of love--a divinely given fruit of the Spirit--are necessary to preserve the peace.  Ephesians 4:3; Galatians 5:22-23)."  (In Touch, June, 2006).

"When we know what we believe and are knitted together in love, error has difficulty penetrating, and false teachers do not stay around.  In light of some differences of opnion among believers you know, how might you show love to your spiritual family?"  (In Touch, June 2006)

Sometimes at church when people are saying or doing things not pleasing to God's eyes and ears -- gossiping, slandering, or contemplating philandering, and so on, and so forth.  For an instant, I find myself right on the verge of partaking in their follies, and then I find myself immediately experiencing the awesome power of the Holy Spirit, warning me to just let the feeling ride on by -- I then catch myself smiling inside and out.  For that feeling is something so unbelievable--totally marked by a steady dispassionate calmness and self control, and so full of love.  I can't help but to feel incredibly good, incredibly blessed, and incredibly loved by God despite all the anger, jealousy, intimidation, prejudice, fear, hatred, and emptiness that might have circulated (or continuously circulates) in the air.  How can I not say-- Thank you God, because if it were not for your grace, it could be me.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced that feeling.  I can almost guarantee, if one takes the 21 consecutive days challenge and is successful, they will get that feeling a lot.  Because doing what is pleasing to God, feels so gosh darn good.  Peace out :o) !!!

God is good always -- even when I am not

A little under the weather : (

 Hi folks,

I'm a little under the weather today.  Woke up about 3:30AM with what felt like a migraine, an achy body, and a soar throat just on the right side (felt like a slow nasal drip pain).  Anyhow, I took the day off and wouldn't you know it I end up on the computer anyhow.  I started out just letting folks know I wouldn't be able to attend a meeting I have scheduled this evening.  One thing lead to another and now I find myself submitting this posting. 

Something unbelievable happened yesterday.  One of my close friends and one of the Office Manager's at SDRC died.  About a year ago he had colon cancer, had surgery, and was seemingly doing well.  I had noticed that he seemed to be losing a lot of weight and had asked him was he okay.  He told me it was the medication he was on and he was having complications related to his surgery.  Next thing I know he is taking some time off.  Then I hear he is in the hospital.  Next thing they are asking that people stop visiting him so he can get enough rest to recover.  I then hear that they have taking him off life support which I didn't realize he had been on and finally the news that he had past.  He is survived by his wife and daughter (about 19 or 20 years old). 

I had no idea that he had Hepatitis C, and that somehow it was something he became aware of when he was in the military but not related to any foul play on his part.  He had been in need of a liver transplant for a long time.  I had no ideal.  I had send him some flowers but was suppose to go and visit him and never did.  I felt uncomfortable going by myself and arranged for someone to go with me.  On the morning we were to go I had forgot all about it and wasn't having a good day that morning so I didn't go.  How I regret it now.

One thing I don't regret was I did have an opportunity to talk to him about God and found out he had received him as his savior -- so I know where my friend is right now.  That still doesn't make me feel good about turning my back on him when he probably needed me the most. 

Please pray for his family and friends -- his name was Tommy and for the life of me I can't recall his last name right now!

Currently Listening 100 Hymns & Songs of Inspiration see related

Accepting Gods Will

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Jerard.  He did not get the job but he seems just fine with it.  Especially since he has another job line up.  The unfortunate thing about that job is that he'll have to work every Saturday and Sunday.  I hate so much to think of him having to miss church.  It seems like to me that church is his only consistent livelihood.  He lives for church and choir.  Anyhow, someone who knows the person in charge of the position is going to find out if charge can avoid having to work on Sunday's.  God is still at work and I know he knows what's best for Jerard.  I just can't allow myself to ever believe anything different.  That thought is my reality.

Anyhow, Cubbies was awesome.  Albeit, challenging than all get out it was still pretty awesome.  Someone said to me, "you memorized the whole script, you didn't have to".  I figured somebody at AWANA put forth all that time and effort to create those curriculums, why not use them.  I like them, they make sense to me and the kids are kids.  They seem to have fun.  They got the biggest kick out of me calling this past week to see how they were doing with learning their verses.  It was too cute. 

Well, I'm making this short before it cuts out on me again.  Goodnight!