With a Thankful Heart..........

Sorry for not posting for awhile! I had cataract surgery almost 2 weeks ago and have been recovering from that....along with the Thankgiving holidays.

I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given us! We are all in good health. My husband has a good job that he enjoys. He has been blessed with an awesome church to support him in Singapore while he is away from us. We have so many at our own church who are praying for us. We have a wonderful family and two precious sons.

May I never grow complacent when it comes to thankfulness to God. Our pastor preached that we should be "Thanks-living". That is our new motto around here! :)

Remembering and Thanking!

Today, we all are remembering and honoring our Veterans.

I thought about the sacrifice that so many have made. We say that sacrifice was for our country. But think about it.....

It was for you. It was for me.

I can sit here and blog without anyone coming to my door, dragging me out, and arresting me for sharing Christ online.

I can homeschool. I can vote. I can walk the streets without fear of war. I can move with my husband to a country across the globe and experience a new culture.

It is because of the soldiers who put their lives on the line.

It is because of my grandfather, who told of stories of fighting in WWII. He was in the Philippines most of the time. He tells of one time where he sat on the side of a mountain, hiding from the Japanese solders...for days!

My father spent time away from his family and friends serving in the Navy. My father-in-law served for over 45 years in the United States Air Force. My husband was an airborne ranger/paratrooper/medic in the Army 82nd.

He still will not watch the movie "Black Hawk Down". He told me one time that some of his group were in this battle.

I cannot imagine what these men saw. I cannot imagine what my great uncle went through at Normandy. And yet, they came home, and lived their lives.

We should be honoring these men and women everyday!

I have a former student who was a medic in the service. His group was bombed while in our latest conflict in Iraq. While he was laying and dying, he was giving fellow soldiers instructions on how to save a fellow brother's life. My student died....the other soldier lived thanks to his bravery.

I will not take this for granted. Too many days I have wasted.....is that fair to our military?

And what about the sacrifice Jesus made for us? Are we wasting our life in vain?

Don't waste a day. Make it count for the soldier and for Jesus!

Sacrifice

I had one of "those weeks". I was very disappointed with the results of the voting for Amendment 26 in Mississippi. My heart was broken, in fact. I could not understand why more Christian would not take a stand?

Then, today came. It is Veteran's Day. There are so many who have serve and sacrificed their lives, free time, and work to fight for our freedom. The freedom to speak, the freedom to worship, the freedom to do whatever we want......just wish more of us would think about that when we think of the freedom of "choice".

I have been challenged to "Choose What is Right". Yes, we didn't stop abortion. I can't stop others from abusing people, feelings, and property. I can't even change a person's heart.

But I know Who can! And that is what I choose everyday. I choose to serve and worship God, the Almighty. I choose to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, friend, etc. I choose to smile. I choose to show love to others who need God's love. I choose to face the day not for me, but for Him.

“Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.” Psalm 106:3

 

Life?

Tomorrow is a very important day for the state of Mississippi. We vote on an amendment......Amendment 26, which states:

Amendment 26: What it says?

Amendment 26 - The Mississippi Personhood Amendment-- is a citizens initiative to amend the Mississippi Constitution to define personhood as beginning at fertilization or "the functional equivalent thereof." Its purpose is to protect all life, regardless of age, health, function, physical or mental dependency, or method of reproduction. The entire proposed Amendment is as follows:

Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hereby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, "The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof." This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.

(NOTE: Please understand that the inclusion of the word cloning in the proposed Amendment does not in any way condone cloning. There will be an entire section on the web siteposted soon explaining why this wording is necessary and answering any questions.)
We the people of Mississippi were required to collect and certify 89,285 certified signatures from registered voters (equally divided throughout the state of Mississippi). We far exceeded this requirement - collecting well over 130,000 and having over 106,000 certified.
Now, in November of 2011, we have the opportunity to vote on the question. If the majortiy of the people voting in vote YES on Amendment 26, abortion will be outlawed in our state; cloning and other forms of medical cannibalism will be effectively stopped; and a challenge will be set up to Roe v Wade.

Now, I have talked with people on facebook, through email, and face to face who have argued that this will end up making miscarriages a crime, birth control pills illegal, and invitro fertilization illegal.

Here are my thoughts.....

No one has ever been arrested because they had a miscarriage....unless there was other criminal activity involved.

No, birth control pills will not be affected.

And, more and more medical experts and government officials have emphasized that invitro will not be affected.

Even if the later two were affected.....I still could not bring myself to vote no on this amendment.

I cannot vote against LIFE! And, yes, I don't know how it is not to be able to bear children. However, I have a heart for adoption.....there are too many children out there needing a family. I have seen friends of mine adopt...and it is hard, but a beautiful and rewarding thing.

So, do what you want...but my Father in heaven (and on earth) have had some long talks about it....and I know what He wants me to do.

Making a difference....

Today, I hope I made a little bit of a difference. I taught the Sr High and Jr High Youth in Bible Fellowship (Sunday School). An area youth pastor/football team chaplain passed away last Monday. I did the lesson on struggling with the "why's".

I hope a helped a little. I shared interviews of Abby Rike for Biggest Loser who lost her husband and two children in a car accident. I also shared about Bobby Petrocelli....he lost his wife when a drunk driver drove through their bedroom.

So many "why's"! I have to remind myself daily that I may never understand.

God's plans are way higher than ours. His thoughts are so much more vast than mine.

But, what I am thinking about today is.....what difference can I make everyday in someone else's life?

I challenge you to do the same. It may be a text, phone call, a smile, a visit....just find a way to reach someone else every single day!

Now, you know....you all have to keep me accountable! :)

Just like the men in the movie "Courageous", all of us can stand up, be courageous, and fight the fight daily. We can make a difference!!!!

Questions and Frustations....

One year ago, October 3rd, we lost our worship pastor at church. He was only 46....married with two precious teenagers.

Monday, a friend of mine from college lost her brother, age 42. He was married with three precious teenagers. He was a youth pastor and chaplain of the local high school football team.

These are times that I ask "why" a lot. Some people may think that is weak spiritually. But, I think God would rather us be honest and real, than a fake. I don't understand while mean, hateful people go on to live...and these two guys are gone.

My brain, however, is very small (no comments, please..haha!). It is so small compared to the mind of God. He knows a whole lot more than I do. And, even though it breaks my heart and brings me to tears in situations like these....I will trust He knows what He is doing.

Praying for the families, friends and students all affected by this death. May God be glorified even in tragedy!

Trick or Treat!

This was a special day for our boys...especially Micah. He did say "Trick or Treat" and even sang "Happy Birthday" to his dear old mom.

Here are a few pics from the night.