My Smoke Signal

Look Up Here Kid - Video Podcast

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This is a video podcast from Aaron's church, Chestnut Mountain Church @ Flowery Branch.  Jeff Benefield is one of the most amazing preachers I have ever had the privilege to hear and get to know.  This past weekend I was visiting Aaron and on Sunday, Jeff delivered a message that changed my life. 

His sermon was on..."living a life with discouragement".  Yes, we all get discouraged.  I do regularly; I did today; I am sure I will again.  The thing that came to mind when I got home was Jeff's sermon.  So, I pulled up the church's website and went straight to the video podcast to watch the sermon again.  I will have to be honest with you...this sermon you DO NOT WANT TO MISS! 

Jeff tells the story of his son, AJ, pitching in a high school baseball game against what we may call "the giants".  As he shared with us what happened, tears rolled down my face.  I felt AJ's pain, and I felt Jeff's pain as a parent.  You will have to listen to this sermon to get the whole story...it is incredible...it will change your life! 

The main point in Jeff's sermon was that so often when we get discouraged we tend to look to Jesus' hands to fix the problem...

WHEN...we ONLY need to look at Jesus' face.  Just like Jeff (in the press box at his son's game) kept saying to himself about his son..."just look up here kid".  All Jeff wanted as AJ hung his head in the dugout was for him to look up there at his dad so Jeff could tell him that he loved him...no matter what...he loved him. Jesus is saying the same thing and wanting the same thing from us..."just look up here kid". He wants us to look to him so we will know that He loves us no matter what.  He already knows of our heartaches and disappointments.  He knows the very things that make us feel or get discouraged.  Jesus can fix anything, but the one thing He wants most is for us to just look at His face...to trust Him...and to know and believe that He loves us more than we can comprehend.

I got discouraged today when something happened that was out of my control, not my fault, but was very embarrassing for me.  I first called Aaron, then two of my closest friends and my hero... Mrs. Catharine.  All told me that it was going to be okay, and that God uses these things to get us to rely on Him and Him alone.  Mrs. Catharine told me that no matter what people said that it only mattered what God thought and that He knew the truth and that He will protect me and my reputation and the truth would be revealed.  People can be so cruel however, and yes, it hurts.  I immediately did what Jeff said we often do...I looked to Jesus to fix it...I looked to His hands...I wanted it fixed right then.  I even in my own strength tried to fix it but realized very quickly after thinking of Jeff's sermon...I just needed to look at Jesus' face and believe that He will take care of me. 

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Not only did I get some incredible advice and comfort from the people I love and that love me, but one of my dearest & best friend that lives in Canada sent me an email today that included the story below.  How amazing that I got this particular email today of all days...I love and thank you Jolene!  MISS YOU TONS!!!

The email went like this...

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him!

'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Run4Missions

RACE #2...Here We Come!!!

We are going to try this race thing again.  Details about this race, click on the link below.

RUN4MISSIONS

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Mt. Zion Baptist Church – Macon, GA

On-line Registration

HISTORY of Run4Missions

On April 19, 1986, Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church in Macon, GA, became the first church in the Middle Georgia area to host a road race. The race was named Run For Missions since any proceeds from the race would go to a mission effort. Thus, the first annual Run For Missions was hosted by Mabel White on the Wesleyan College campus though the church was located at the corner of Eisenhower Parkway and Second Street. RFM included a 5K, 10K, and one mile fun-run. Approximately 300 runners and walkers participated in the inaugural event under blue, cloudless skies.

The original race course began on the Wesleyan campus, moved left onto Forsyth Road, turned right across the railroad tracks and left onto Rivoli Drive, and was an out-and-back course. Several years later, due to the increased traffic on Rivoli Drive, the course was changed as it continued out-and-back on Forsyth Road. The 10K course looped through the Wolf Creek subdivision twice; once while running out and the other while returning toward Wesleyan.

As Mabel White chose to relocate their facility from Eisenhower Parkway to Bass Road in 1999, the race course was also relocated to the new church property though the new building was not completed. With the race being run the first weekend in March, RFM experienced all types of weather in its 17 year history. The first eight years brought excellent weather, but in 1994, Middle Georgia experienced an extreme snowfall on the day of Run For Missions. The race was cancelled, but a Re-Run For Missions was run in May, 1994. Heavy rains creating muddy conditions in the new church location made for interesting challenges in RFM #16 and #17.

RFM became part of the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix Series in 1998. The largest recorded crowd for a RFM was 415 in 1990. Several notable runners have participated in Run For Missions throughout the years. Craig Virgin, three-time USA 10K champion ran and set a course record in the 10K. Stan Cottrell, an ultra-distance runner from Kentucky and Atlanta, did RFM twice. Cottrell became famous for running the Great Wall of China, running across America twice, across Vietnam, and other ultra-distance races.

RFM dropped the 10K race in 1999 when the course was moved to Bass Road. The race drew runners from California, Ohio, Florida, and throughout the Southeast while becoming one of the three largest local 5K races in the area behind the Labor Day Road Race and GEICO’s race for Special Olympics.

In 2002 Mabel White decided not to continue this race any longer. In 2005 members of the Macon Tracks Club approached Mt Zion Baptist Church in Macon, GA in hopes to continue this annual 5K race. With much prayer, Mt Zion Baptist Church decided to revive this great event and continue with this road race. A website was created Run4Missions.com and the race name was changed to match the website address. All monies that are made will go toward a mission trip for the youth of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

We are excited...OUR RACE RESULTS COMING SOON!!!!

God's Beauty

Just some of God's beauty that caught my eye....

warmed my heart....

and let me know He was near!!!

OH' MAZING!!!

VOILA!

Several girls from the church and I had the privilage of hosting a baby shower for a dear friend several weeks ago. I decided to do a diaper cake for the centerpiece of the food table, and it could also serve as a gift. No, I have never done a diaper cake nor have I ever seen one before. 

I researched and researched and came up with a plan. I had already been to see the baby's room and knew what colors were being used.  By the way...the most beautiful nursery I have ever seen. So, I set out for Hobby Lobby and Wal Mart to buy the goods.

Rolling diapers, hot gluing ribbon, cutting out squares and tying bows was so much fun. I must say I had a blast making my very first diaper cake. It wasn't hard, but I am a bit of a perfectionist so it took me some time to get the cake just like I wanted it...PERFECT!!!

AND...  VOILA!

LANDER is his name and he has already arrived.

He is absolutely beautiful and precious! 

Proud Aunt Mel

Unforgetable Impact

Several years ago when I was in the process of looking for a new church home, I spent many Sunday's listening to one of my favorites on the television...Dr. Charles Stanley.  He came on every Sunday morning and every Sunday night...so I caught one or the other "religiously"!!!  I guess I considered him my preacher for some time.  I loved & still love his sermons.  It always seemed as if Dr. Stanley had my phone bugged or something.  Every time I was faced with some trial or was troubled, his sermon that week seemed to always hit the nail right on the head!  I will tell you that he has done more for me and my life than he will ever know.

Shortly after Aaron and I started dating, he surprised me one Sunday with the best surprise ever.  He was taking me to see Dr. Stanley in person.  When we got to First Baptist Church of Atlanta where Dr. Stanley is pastor, I was literally shaking.  I even cried when he came out.  I was sitting three rows from the man that had helped me through some of the darkest moments in my life.  WOW!  I could not believe it.  I am almost crying just writing this because I still remember the feeling like it was yesterday. 

On the weekends that Aaron and I were in Atlanta, we continued to go hear Dr. Stanley.  We even went for a three week seminar on Wednesday nights on "Identifying Your Spiritual Gifts".  During one of those seminars, I bought one of Dr. Stanley's devotional books in the church's bookstore.  This is it....

 my favorite devotional book... 

he even autographed it for me. 

If you like Dr. Charles Stanley’s radio program, TV broadcast and books, then you’ll love his FREE, award-winning monthly magazine that I have been getting for a little over a year.  It’s full of informative resources that will touch your heart and invigorate your faith. In Touch magazine has daily devotionals from Dr. Stanley, in-depth Bible studies, inspiring articles and insightful teaching to help strengthen your family and your relationship with God. It is one of the best freebies around.  Click the link below and you can have one mailed to you each month like I do.

REQUEST YOURS HERE!!!

I actually started this post to share with you an article that is in this month's In Touch magazine titled SIGNS OF SPRING.  It is an interview with Steven Curtis Chapman, a famous contemporary Christian artist, but it isn't about his singing career...it is about a tragic accident that took the life of his five year old daughter and there is more...SOOO MUCH MORE!!!  It is one of the most heart grabbing stories I have EVER read.  You must read it...click here! It definitely left an unforgetable impact on me.

The Set Of The Sail

This week has been one doozie of a week.  It seemed like everytime I turned around something bad was happening to GOOD PEOPLE.  People were dealing with the loss of a job, infertility, financial burdens, family issues, problems with ex-spouses, depression, gossip, legal issues, illnesses, and loniness.  Can you believe all of that happened in one week???  I'm sure it even does in  one hour the way our world is today.  My heart breaks when people hurt...even more so when they are so dear to me.

Ironically, my preacher spoke about "surviving storms" Wednesday night at church.  The scripture that he read from was Matthew 7:24-29. Here you will find the story of the wise man that built his house on the rock and the foolish man that built his house on the sand. They both experienced the same storm; however, one survived and the other one did not. 

Here are a few things Preacher Morton shared in his sermon about storms.

• storms are inevitable...we all will face them - Christians and non-believers
• storms can be good
• our darkest moments are the ones during storms and is when we pray the most
• storms can help reveal God's plans
• there is no storm bigger than our God
• there are some storms that God allows
• some storms are not our fault, but some are
• storms can bring us closer to God
• there are no storms in HEAVEN

Why do bad things happen to good people? 

Have you ever asked yourself that question?  I have...I do...I am sure I will again.  This makes me think about Job in the Bible. Job was a righteous man that suffered much.  He was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1)  Job was an honest man, and God knew Job's integrity.  No matter what Satan did to Job, he maintained and did not deny his integrity.  He even kept his tongue (Job 2:9-10).  How many times do we encounter storms and the first thing we want to do is lash out at the person or thing causing the storm?  I have in the past...I may get weak and do it again...I will pray to have the integrity of Job from now on and hold my tongue.  Holding the tongue requires much prayer on my part. 

What storms did Job face?  Satan took away everything Job had of value. His oxen & donkeys were stolen, sheep burned, camels stolen, servants and his children killed.  Job lost it all.  Satan also took away his health; gave pain and misery through boils and ulcers over his entire body.  He even tempted him with his wife. What was Job's response? Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:9) 

In the end...

Did Satan win the battle with Job? No, through his unwaivering faith, Job survived. 

Was Job suffering as the result of a serious sin or sins? NO!

What had he done to deserve his sufferings? NOTHING! 

Had God sent the suffering to test Job?  NO, God allowed Satan to test Job. 

Did Job realize or understand the reasons behind his suffering? NO! 

Was Job happy about what had happened to him? NO! 

What do we do when we are faced with storms?  Turn to Jesus, pray, maintain your integrity, hold your tongue, be patient, praise God for the blessing inpsite of the troubles, keep your faith!  Filter every storm through this:  Romans 8:28...And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  God loves us and he knows what's best for us.

A philosopher, Jim Rohn, spoke about the "winds of life" - winds of adversity, winds of trials, winds of challenge...

the same winds blow on us all. The difference is the SET OF THE SAIL.  None of us can choose whether challenges blow our way, but we can choose our attitude, how we react to those challenges, and to whom for which we turn.  Set your sail toward God...be the ship that reaches the other shore, not the one that is blown back on to the rocks!

Hammer Time

Over the weekend, we went to the Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic.  This is something that Lowe's does regularly for kids and the best part...it's FREE!

The first time you go to one of these clinics, each kid is given a red Lowe's apron, goggles, name tag, hammer, project kit and a project patch. This time the boys got to build a mini baseball game. 

One thing the boys like is adding new patches to their aprons. This was the patch for this project.

Boys all ready to start!

Reading the instructions is very important.

They hammered...

and hammered...

and hammered.

We all hammered.  We hammered nails and thumbs galore!!! The boys seemed to really enjoy doing this.  What is so great is that they can do all of it right by themselves.

And when the hammering was done...

...they were so proud!

Next, they put on the finishing touches.

Yes! Stickers!

Tons of stickers!

Now the project was done and it was time to try it out.  A mini baseball game...how awesome. 

 batter steps up to the plate...

batter swings...

and he hits it!

 

 

Homerun!

 

The boys worked so hard, had a blast, and are ready for the next time.  Many thanks to Lowe's for such a wonderful time.

The Gift That No One Sees

Today I almost allowed someone to steal my joy. Well, if the truth be known…maybe they were successful for a short time, but I after a good cry and much prayer, I got over it managed to enjoy the rest of my day.

Have you ever been nice to someone, truly cared about them, tried to show them godly love the best way you knew how and no matter what you do, they hurt you time and time again? What do you do? How do you not allow yourself to continuously get hurt?

My preacher did a sermon a couple of months ago and I remember him saying, “hurting people hurt others”. When this happened today…this was the first thing that popped into my head…well, I take that back…the first thing that popped in my head came from the little red creature with horns that sometimes sits on my shoulder.

You know the one I’m talking about!

The one that says, they are hateful people, wash your hands of them, tell everyone how badly they hurt you, give’em a dose of their own medicine.

BUT THEN...

The tears started falling like always & thankfully so did the bad creature from my shoulder, and that’s when I remembered what my preacher had said. ”Hurting people hurt others.” As I sat there at my desk, I started wishing I could take away all their hurt and pain so they wouldn’t hurt anymore and maybe just maybe they wouldn’t hurt me anymore.

My thoughts then took me to the cross, when Jesus said, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do.” I want to think that these people don't either but as Ricky Mokel would say....”you don’t know!”

Do you know that every time they do something that hurts me, I give them a gift??? It is the gift that no one sees.

What is forgiveness?

Ephesians 4:32 tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.

Forgiveness...It is the decision to let go of any grudges or any attempt to get even. God is very clear that vengeance is His and His alone. Forgiveness is a decision of the will in which you choose to not hold anything against someone. The other person does not deserve to be forgiven but you give it as a gift. It can be a very difficult choice especially when you have been hurt deeply. It is also a decision that you might need to make over and over again. You might even need to forgive the same person many times in one day. But it is always the best decision. Otherwise you can get trapped in bitterness and carry around anger with you for months or years. And that bitterness can trap you and destroy you.

Forgiveness does not mean that we forget. It’s almost impossible to forget, especially when is happens over and over. Forgiveness can include distance however. Through Christian counseling, I've learned that we sometimes have to allow some space between us and the people who hurt us, so they don’t continue to hurt us. A boundary can be helpful. It protects both people until they are ready to be closer again.

I have had to set a few boundaries with some people, and it has not been easy for me. I have been accused of not caring about anyone but myself, damaging my children, and even being unchristian-like. Today let me know that I need to set some more boundaries because I can't keep getting hurt and be okay with it. Ultimately, I know that forgiveness is not optional. God says we must forgive people just as Christ has forgiven us. This is for our own good and it also glorifies God too.

My Catch All

Meet MY JOJO!

2010 Perry Junior League - Yellow Jackets Catcher

Joseph Lee

My "almost bigger than me" eleven year old that loves to play baseball.

gearing up before the game...

ready for action...

Okay, confession time again!  I am a former softball coach and "catchers" have always been my favorite!  NEED I SAY MORE???

loving being behind the plate...loving the game

"I see you runner and I'm gonna get you..."

"nothing by you ONE-ONE"  ...this momma yells out!!!

One-One = #11 for those of you not up with the lingo.

 he gives the signs and...makes the stick...STRIKE THREE!

batter back to the bench...

MEETING OF THE MINDS

"you got this man...send it right down the pipe...

straight to the mit, just like playing catch" 

...you got this man"

accessing the situation...

(bases loaded, 2 outs, last inning, ahead by one)

the runner is coming...the throw to home is made...

and HE'S OUT!!!!

cake people...just doing my job!

GAME OVER...JACKETS WIN!

Enjoying the WIN with friend & teammate.  By the way...meet Callum.

Joseph and Callum have known eachother since

they were toddlers in the same daycare. Callum was the first one

to call Joseph "JOJO" and 11 years later...

that's what everyone still calls him.

Life is good & my Catch All is great!!!

Buckets for the Cure

Just wanted to share this with all of you. What a great idea! These would be great for picnics, Sunday lunches or even to take to families in need or those affected by this.

Have you heard about Buckets for the Cure?

KFC and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® are teaming up this spring to raise funds and spread breast cancer awareness and educational messaging via a major national campaign which will reach thousands of communities served by nearly 5000 KFC restaurants.

Participating KFC franchise locations will be selling specially designed pink buckets of grilled and Original Recipe chicken. KFC has pledged 50 cents to Komen for every pink bucket ordered by its restaurant operators during the promotion period, with a minimum donation of $1 million and a goal to raise more than $8 million. Twenty-five percent of the funds raised will be earmarked to Komen's 120-plus domestic Affiliates for breast cancer programs in their communities. The remainder of the funds will support Komen's national research and community programs.

The lids of these special pink buckets will have a call to action to get involved. Names of breast cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle with breast cancer will be listed on the sides of the bucket. The pink buckets will be available through May 30, or while supplies last. 

Visit online

Each bucket makes a difference!