on my friend

My best friend is single, 44 yrs old and the best friend anyone could ever ask for. She has gone through so much in the last few years of her life. She has been trying to settle and figure out what she's going to do. She's been living near her family for the last few years and in these few years lost several close family members.

She has a strong faith in God and knows only that through His grace she's made it. I long to see her in a place where she is content, where she is doing His will and finally at peace. She is one of the strongest women I know. You have no idea what losses she has suffered throughout her life. Most would have lost their faith before they went halfway through what she has.

I commend her on her faith in God. I am very proud to call her my friend.

on who yo baby daddy??

I was just thinking about how many of the men in the Old Testament had more than one wife or concubines, etc... I mean Jacob had Leah and Rachel and the two handmaids. Four mothers bore his children. Look at Solomon, I don't know how many kids he had, but it must have been quite a few with all those women.

So, I wonder if this question "who yo baby daddy," was ever asked back then? Did they have to worry about child support? Was it common for a man to father children from many different women? It looks like it was.

on the faithful..

I was reading my Bible the other day and a particular verse caught my eye. Perhaps my preacher brethren may have noticed this already, but if you haven't, I see a good sermon in it.

The book of Hebrews, chapter 11, I'm sure you are all very well acquainted with. This chapter speaks of faith. It mentions many great, faithful servants of God. Just to name a few; Abraham, Noah, Moses, and also....Rahab. (vs 31)

Now, when I noticed this, my first thought was "why?" Why was Rahab mentioned in this chapter with so many of the faithful servants, whose names appear many times throughout the Bible? Why was she so special?

My second thought was that out of all the other faithful women of the Bible such as Esther, Naomi, Ruth, etc...God chose Rahab's faithfulness for this scripture.

I began to ponder this and it is my opinion that the Lord specified Rahab to make a wonderful point. That even a harlot, such as Rahab, had faith in and feared God. He can use anyone. He can change anyone. So there is no excuse for any of us. We all can be used of God.

Just Julie's Thought....

just curious

Easter Sunday is on its way. I plan on the usual for Easter, driving down for services at Whispering Pines, then going to mom and dad's for the usual family gathering and a good meal.

Joe has decided that this year he's not going with me to Whispering Pines that morning, he is going to go to Lakeview (our church) and then drive to mom's for dinner.

So, I am faced with a choice. Either I can go ahead and drive down and take Marissa to Whispering Pines or go with Joe to Lakeview and drive down after service (which by the time we leave it's usually close to 1:00).

Is there a right or wrong choice?

I'm still going to do what I want to do, just wanted your responses.

new song

I had every intention of living my life,
without any sin, to live like Christ
But little did I know, the battle had just begun
And with every tear I shed, I pray,
Not my will, but thine be done

Not my will but Thine be done, as You prayed in the garden
Before they took you away
Give me the strength to call on you for the choices I make
Not my will, but Thine be done.

I tried to keep my promises, I tried to keep the faith
Failing You so many times, yet here I stand today
And this one thing I know, more trials will surely come
And with every tear I shed, I pray, Not my will but Thine be done.

*Lord I want to serve you, but the battle rages in me,
The spirit's always willing but the flesh inside is weak.

on keeping the Lord at work

Many of us who work with "the world" have a harder time struggling with our flesh. It is very easy to make it through the day without one thought on Christ. There are many influences that we are under. We are so busy and have to stay focused on the job that by the time we realize it, the day is over.

Our pastors, preachers, and others who do not work at other places tend to forget that we are facing "the world" every day. I'm not stating that men of God are immune to the flesh by any means. I'm just simply saying that I've noticed, in my own life, that those times when I wasn't working I was closer to God. I had the day to pray, read my bible, study, etc... Of course, any time that we are not as involved with the world, we are going to be closer to God if we make a commitment to Him.

I also think that preachers should consider this more when they are giving advice or preaching their messages. We don't have the time to go into an office and study the bible, or just simply pray sometimes. We have a job to do that, for many of us, uses all of our day and we still do not get everything accomplished.

There have been times when I am at work that I know I'm not being the person I should be. I am dealing with people who have lost their patience, manners, care, and respect for any others. I see the world every day and it is very easy to succumb to their way. I find myself being impatient, without manners, uncaring, and disrespectful. I find myself feeling no love for them because they show no love for their fellow man.

We need to pray for those of us who are struggling on our jobs to be a witness, to stop for a few moments throughout the day to focus and pray. We need to take just a moment to say "thank you Lord, please help me through the day."

She searches her heart for love where bitterness and resentment have taken its place.
She cries uncontrollably, her only hope is to seek comfort in her Savior's embrace.

She desires forgiveness for the thoughts deep within her mind,yet they still linger inside.
She questions her faith, knowing not why she can not let go, though she has tried.

She faces another day of sorrow, of frustration, of emotions filled with pain
She struggles, fighting the battle hoping today she will win, only to find she has failed....once again.