Blast From the Past

I ran across an old journal of mine yesterday. How old you ask? THIRTY YEARS OLD!!! Oh My! The pages are yellowed and it is quite musty smelling! So funny how foreign some of the words and thoughts seemed at first but the memories flood in as I read it . It was a journal I had to keep for Mr. Barnwell's Literature class in the 8th grade at Sego. We really had no boundaries or requirements as to what we wrote about - basically just what was going on in our lives. As I read it I am reminded of great friendships, romance, football games, but most importantly, the foundation I received in my Christian walk in the Fleming Baptist youth group. Many of my entries mention youth activites, Bible Study, fellowships, Acteens, and even a retreat to Camp Daniel Marshall at the lake! Wonderful memories!! Lasting lessons!!


I thought I'd share what I wrote 30 years ago to the day - how funny!

9/25/78 - Today has been fan-tas-tic!! I won all my games in ping-pong!! Marlette Padgett and I are tied, we won 18 games each. Guess what? I just got my test paper back and I made a 100!!! Yahoo!!! I'm so happy!!! I hope I continue to do this well on my tests! Well there are only 9 days to my birthday!! I'll finally be 14!!! I can't wait. I'm having a slumber party with a few girlfriends this Friday!!! It's going to be terrific!! Well gotta go!! Bye!


Reading this reminds me - I was athletic (don't laugh - ping-pong takes stamina), I was smart when I applied myself, and I was always up for a party!! Four things that are important to life - recreation, knowledge, social activities, and exclamation points!!!! I must have more of these in my life today! For starters - I'm going for a walk!!!!!!!!!!!!


Oh on a side note - we also had to write a quote after each journal entry. The quote for 9/25/78 was "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." John F Kennedy


So I'll take this opportunity to remind you - a MAJOR election is coming up! If you aren't registered to vote DO IT NOW!!! Time is running out. And if you are registered to vote, then begin praying daily for the elections and our future President! Those are 2 things you can do for your country today!

When Did It Become Wrong For Our Leaders to Pray For Our Troops?

Is anyone excited about the upcoming election? Can't you just feel the energy since Governor Palin was nominated VP by McCain! My Mother and I will sit most of the night watcing any and every interview on TV. We watch them all, McCain, Obama, Palin, Biden. But we try never to miss a Palin interview or any coverage of her. Of course - we watch Fox mostly. But last week it was ABC and Mr. Gibson's interview we didn't miss!

Family Research Council stated in an email - "If you missed the interview Charlie Gibson had with Governor Palin last Thursday, you missed a very revealing moment that demonstrated just how out of touch our media elites are with the American people and American history."

During the exchange, ABC played a truncated clip of Governor Palin in her church praying for our troops, praying that their mission is in accordance with God's plan.

After reciting just a small portion of her prayer, Mr. Gibson glibly asked Governor Palin, "Are we fighting a holy war?"

"One wonders if Mr. Gibson would have asked the same question to President Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt, or any of the other Presidents who have offered similar prayers for the troops in times of war."

But that was the tone of the whole interview - very skeptical, and condescending. Ask hard questions Mr. Gibson, but please! Show some respect!

Lord, help us to elect ONLY leaders who pray in accordance with your will! AMEN!!

Praying for the Elections!

Will you join me in prayer?

We don’t know who it will be, but I know one thing, in this, the greatest country in the world, whoever is elected President in November will need our prayers. Shortly after taking office, President Harry Truman said to reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now.” Truman understood the importance of prayer to the presidency. Our new president will face a huge job and will bear the weight of incredible responsibilities including:

• 303,824,640 residents—each with an opinion
• A budget of $2.568 trillion in revenuesand $2.73 trillion in expenditures
• A debt of $ 9,697,453,381,850
• 3,537,438 square miles of land
• 12,380 miles of coastline and 7,476 miles of borders with Canada and Mexico
• The world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India)
• A government constituency of 50 states, over six time zones and an additional five territories, coordinating efforts with 55 governors
• A Congress of 435 representatives and 100 senators, some members of his party, some not
• 1,436,642 members of the Armed Forces of which he is Commander-in-Chief
• A workforce of 153.1 million
• An unemployment rate of 6.1% and 12% of the population living below the poverty line
  

Don’t you agree—our new president will need prayer? We have an opportunity to give that support in prayer right now, knowing that God hears our prayers and will work, in His sovereignty, to prepare all things for the next occupant of the Oval Office. Will you agree to pray for the next president in the coming days? There may be no greater act as a citizen that you could perform. Sign up HERE, and join your efforts with millions of caring Americans.

The Storm

I've been in denial. I'm in the midst of a storm like I've never experienced before. And no - it's not Ike! We just moved to a new city 3 months ago, my mother moved in with us, we left our friends and church family behind, our daughter just went off to college (GO DAWGS!), and I thought that I would adjust better than any of us. NOT!! Cleve has started a new school (7th grade) that he really loves and he has made some good friends in the neighborhood. Paul is doing what he does best - work. Jenna has gone off to school at UGA and is managing perfectly. But I'm beginning to feel like a hermit and suddenly seeing alot of things for what they really are. It's funny how a busy life can mask alot of things. When life slowed down it was as if a spotlight shines on all that is not as it should be with my life. Various things - some too personal to mention here. But I've come to realize that I am in several storms. Storm of lonliness, storm of laziness, storm of bitterness, storm of self-doubt, storms all around me! But I was reminded in worship today that Jesus will see me THROUGH it! He never said we would not have trouble in this life. But my God is the same here as he was in Augusta. He is always with me and He does have a plan. I see Him working already in the midst of these storms. I have FAITH that He will walk through them with me! Thank you Jesus! And I kind of get the feeling that He's going to be teaching me many things along the way! So if you're like me, and going through a storm right now in your life - there are many that plague us at various times in our lives - sickness, depression, financial, relational, etc. - remember that God is right there with you - He'll never leave you nor forsake you! And He promises to get you to the other side! Mark 4:35-41