True Friendship

Hello, my loves!

I hope everyone is doing wonderfully! If you're not, please let me know so that I can be praying for you. There is no joy in this old sinful world quite like the joy of lifting your brothers & sisters in Christ up to The Lord and knowing that He is listening and will intervene. It's such a privilege coming before the throne of God on your behalf.

If you can count on one hand the number of true friends that you have, you are blessed beyond measure. Here are some of my favorite Bible verses about friendship:

True Friends Strengthen and Help Each Other.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.

The list goes on. There's something so special about this kind of friend. You may not see them for many years, but they are always in the forefront of your mind. Even more so then family. You know that if anything were to happen and you called them, regardless of the circumstances they would drop everything to be by your side.

I can have issues with my memory about a lot of things but I can remember things about these friends like it was yesterday, they never fade with time. I wouldn't take anything for those memories I have of them.

This person knows your flaws and loves you anyway, unconditionally. That's so amazing. It's like Jesus' love wrapped in someone else' arms. Warm & safe. I can't imagine what it would be like not to have that. I pray I never do.

I know when my brother, Jerry, passed I had that feeling. Even if I didn't see him or speak to him for long periods of time, just knowing he was there was so reassuring. I knew he loved me and always would. Now there's a void there but I'm blessed to have others to fill it as well.

It's one of those things that people tell me won't concern me anymore when I get to heaven but I would like to ask God why there are some people who can pass in and out of your life without leaving much of an impression. But others have such a large part of your heart that you could not survive if they were ever removed from it. I happen to think that they're like what the Bible describes as "meeting Angels unaware".

That's what used to make me wonder if there was such a thing as reincarnation. I know the Bible says there's not but it just seemed to be the perfect explanation because it was as if you were recognizing someone you knew in a past life. An instant, unexplainable connection.

I often ponder these mysteries that make life so sweet. I pity those poor souls who seem to think they know the answers to everything and that there are no surprises in life anymore. How wrong can you be?? If you open your eyes and your heart to new and interesting ideas and people, you will find yourself constantly amazed at the God of the universe and it will keep you young in so many ways. Learning & growing is the way to enjoy life to the fullest!

If you have anything you would like to share, or if you would like to tell me about someone that you have in your life like this, please let me know. I love to hear from you.

You know I love you. Smooches!

Everybody Loves a Miracle!

Good morning, Ya'll!
I really do love summer but I'm happy that fall is coming. The only problem I have with it is that winter follows and I hate winter because we're all stuck here in the house together and it seems like an eternity, know what I mean? Whew! I'm trusting God to keep me from totally losing what's left of my sanity until spring arrives again.

Anyway, that brings me to my topic today. (nice segway, huh?) I was laying in the tanning bed (yes, I do) thinking, which we know I like to do when given the opportunity. And I started to think about why the current situation in this country is making me so anxious. The Bible tells me to be anxious about nothing. When I get that way I'm actually insulting God by implying that he's not able to handle his business. Really? How ridiculous could I possibly be??

So the progression from there was God reminding me that many people think that He no longer does miracles like He did in the Old Testament. And then there are many of us who are incredulous when we read about all of the amazing miracles that He performed and we can't believe the Israelites still continued to whine and complain. I mean, our Pastor talked about this yesterday. Here God had just parted the Red Sea and destroyed all the Egyptians who were pursuing them, demonstrating His power before them and they turn around in the next chapter and start griping about water. Really?? Oh, come on! No wonder He got frustrated with them. Talk about spoiled.

But here's the part that was brought home to me in that very moment. I'm just like that. I'm sitting here fretting about my finances, my this, my that, the world in general, just like a big ol' spoiled baby when there have been so many times that God has demonstrated His love & grace towards me in multiple ways on multiple occasions and what is my excuse?? I don't have one. The Bible tells me I am without excuse. I've been given everything that I could ever need by the God of the universe and what is my response?? I'm ashamed to say it's often not the correct one.

Ok, then I started thinking back to every miracle and answered prayer in my life. We can just kind of skim over the beginning. Just suffice it to say that the song, "The Little Girl" by John Michael Montgomery is pretty close to my life growing up. (I've attached it) I'm not going to list them all but they included meeting Charles, having Amanda, surviving after hemorrhaging during labor. There were all those times God saved Charles' life, he could have died many times over. Of course, there's Josh's brain tumor and the miracles God performed in his healing. I found my birth siblings and family members. Most recently was the CSF leak that I developed in my brain in 2005 that The Great Physician spontaneously healed when Ms. Darlene prayed over me and anointed me with oil.

There are more, and I fully intend to sit down and list all of them so that I can be reminded of His faithfulness even when I'm not quite so faithful. I am so thankful that His character and grace has nothing to do with what I do! I would be in big trouble but He is Who He is and He cannot be anything else. It's not about us!

Also, I have a PRAISE REPORT for you all about Undivided. Yesterday when I was coming home from the gym and tanning salon, I was talking to God about the job situation and he told me to call Brett Quinn, a Team Leader, about it. He had helped me put in my request online. So when I got home I called him and I told him everything that happened and that I didn't know what else to do. He asked me to forward him the email from my boss saying that he would do it. I did and within an hour it was all done and my schedule is now adjusted to allow me to get off early on Mondays to go to practice!! God is so good all the time!

Love you guys! Keep in touch.

UNDIVIDED

Hello, everybody!

I'm so disturbed about the direction that the world is taking right now. Even though I know this is all Biblical and has to take place. But I know who holds the future and I can trust Him because He is in control. But please exercise your right to vote this November and make sure that Washington hears your voice. It's the most important responsibility you have, and you have no business complaining about anything the government does if you're not involved in the process. Make sure you research the issues for yourself and don't just take someone else' word for it. If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem. Of course, you need to pray first so that God will lead you in the decisions that you make.

Here's the update on Undivided. We have tons of awesome music that we're learning. I'm trying to exercise my voice and work towards reaching those ultra high notes. (I'm a First Soprano) It's a lot harder than it used to be. I'm doing the usual voice exercises, do re me, etc. If you know of any other techniques I can use please let me know. I'm up for any new ideas. We're having a special practice session this Sunday for just the Sopranos so we can figure out how we all blend in. There are a few of us new kids on the block. I want to make sure I'm ready for that. I'm afraid my poor family is going to hear some pretty ugly sounds coming out of my room until then. LOL!

And one of the best parts is that we will be having concerts at various places this holiday season. I'm so excited! I'm finally rediscovering my Christmas spirit. Music has always been a big part of that for me and not being involved in it for so long has really put a damper on it. Not that I don't praise God for His magnificent gift. I do that every day, though. It's just been missing that certain element of joy and celebration. Being part of this group has certainly restored it for me, and I am so thankful!

This is a list of our appearances:

Sunday, Dec 2 - North Paulding Baptist Church

Saturday, Dec 15 - Sanctuary Church

Sunday, Dec 16 - Westside Church, Mableton

Thursday, Dec 20 - Marietta Square

We're doing a lot of traditional songs but very cool arrangements. It's going to be awesome. If anyone would like more information about these concerts, let me know. I hope I will see you there!

Watching God Move!

Hello, everybody!

Can you believe I'm back already? Ok, I hear you groaning from here. I told you that I had a lot to share so I would need to spread it out into several posts, right?
Well, I love starting out the day with giving you an update on a previous prayer request. I still need you to pray because the enemy is still trying to mess things up!

Remember when I shared with you that God was leading me to give up my Sunday School class because it was time for something new? Well, the very same week we had a concert at the church by a group called "Undivided". Kind of a choir but they do all kinds of music, secular and christian. Anyway, we went and they were awesome. Then they said they were looking for singers! Yes, that's what I said, dear ones! I knew immediately what God wanted me to do. I almost didn't go to that concert. I was tired, etc but I felt like I needed to go.

I love singing in a choir. I love singing praises to the Lord most of all! Don't get me wrong, I don't mind doing solos and small group stuff but there's just something wonderful about singing with a full choir of people singing in parts and harmonizing like that. And the camaraderie is amazing. We have so much fun!

Of course, I wanted in but there was only one problem. They practice on Monday nights at 7:00 PM. I work until 8:00! This sounds like a job for Super God! Here I come to save the day! I sent an email to my boss and asked him if it would be ok if I adjusted my schedule to get off earlier on Monday nights and make the time up during the week? He says that's fine, just put in a availability request & let me know when it's in. Awesome! I'm so excited & happy, I go to the first practice & join. It was awesome! I had such a wonderful time.

Now, dear loyal & listening friends, this is where it becomes strange. I send an email to my boss that I have done what he requested. No response. *Puzzled expression* Growing feeling of dread. I've sent several more. *crickets chirping* Well, I'm going to take off for practice whether or not my boss likes it. I made a commitment based on what I was told by him and I thoroughly plan on keeping it. That's how I roll. A friend is going to pick up my time today so I can go but I don't know what's going to happen next week, but you know what? I trust God, and no matter what else happens, I know it will be the best thing for me. Like Charles always says, "I was looking for a job when I found this one". Yep.

Now, here's where you come in. Would you please just be in prayer for me? I know it will be fine but it never hurts to get some back up, you know what I mean?

In the meantime, I love you and I hope you have a wonderful week! Let me know what's going on with you.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? I think not!

Hey, Ya'll!

know it's been awhile but there has really been a lot going on in my life the last few weeks. It actually took quite a while for me to come up with a title for this blog. Plus, there are so many different topics that I need to cover that I may have to split it up into more postings.

We all know people who are missing something in their lives. Whatever it is – love, security, self-esteem, whatever – they try to fill that void in some pretty amazing (read that “sad”) ways. We have all read about people who are promiscuous as a way to feel better about their lives. If you know anyone like that, you know what they say…”if you can’t say anything nice, come sit next to me!” Seriously.

Then there are people who attempt to fill their nonexistent lives by having bigger houses, more expensive cars, the latest fashions. I have yet to figure that one out, given that you can lose all those things in one natural disaster or huge financial downturn. Not to mention that someone else will always have bigger, flashier, more expensive, and unfortunately none of those things necessarily means taste or class. Quite the contrary.

But what really amazes me are people who have absolutely no life whatsoever so they have to try to create one. Here I’m thinking of stepparents who did NOT bear any of the responsibility, expense, heartbreak or joy of raising their stepchildren and yet feel free to claim credit for the good in those children, and have the gall to claim them as their own! (If you feel guilty reading this, yes, I MAY be talking about you. Or it may be your conscience calling.)

Oh, it goes deeper, Dear Reader. People who have no lives of their own who hold on to family members who AREN’T part of their lives anymore are so desperately sad. Do they not have their own families, their own weddings, births, funerals, etc. to attend?

Is it possible, I wonder, if people who do these things are sadder than those who gamble, spend, or fornicate to try to fill the void? If someone has to try constantly to make someone else unhappy to make themselves feel better, which one is the better person? And do they really think this is going to make their life better? What would happen to someone like that if the people they try to emulate and emotionally sabotage weren’t around for them anymore? Would the scrap of life they’ve built on wind collapse? Oh, you know it would!

The temptation is to feel sorry for people like that. I know I used to, but not anymore. They certainly feel no remorse regarding the people they hurt. Now I just find them pathetic.

So, here’s a little “How To” advice for anyone who is lacking in a real life, whether they want to admit it or not. Get off the Internet (and especially off social media) where you will be constantly tempted to create a virtual reality in which you actually have the things you lack in reality. Stay off because 1) you’re not fooling anybody but yourself, and and eventually you won’t be able to maintain the lies, and 2) it will never take the place of a real life. Do something for yourself that is real, personal and creative. Take a writing class and start working on the great American novel. Take art classes, or learn some new skill. DEVELOP an interest and you will develop more dimensions in your own life. You will have something real, personal, and creative to brag about, instead of siphoning off happiness from people who are really living. You will also feel better about yourself.

Well, folks, that’s my words of hard-won wisdom for the day. Thanks for listening. Love you!