3rd Times A Charm...

OR NOT!

So I've had yet another offer on my house that continues to insult me. I really don't know what people are thinking right now. I'm well aware that we are in an economic crisis right now. I understand that the price of gas continues to rise even though the price per barrel is going down. I'm well aware that most people's credit is down the toilet. But should I really have to pay for all that? Should I really have to pay for everyone else's mistakes? Should I have to bite the bullet just to get out of this hell hole? I'm beginning to wonder if the answer to all those questions is "yes". Just put my head down and nod yes in defeat.

I feel as if I'm inches away from what I've wanted to do my entire life. If I can just get through this Chemistry class with a decent grade (an "A" would be marvelous - but I'd settle for a "B") and get accepted into dental hygiene school I will be well on my way. But for whatever reason this place keeps holding me back. The enemy (devil) keeps putting up road blocks. And to be frank....I'm tired of his SHIT! Yes...I said it. I'm tired of the devil's shit. He has no hold on me. He has no authority over me. He is not my Maker. He is not the Lord of my life. He is not my Salvation. He is not the Victor. He is the devil and he does not win. I'm standing firm....after done all to stand....and continuing to believe that God has the answer right around the corner. God said to ask and you shall receive. I'm asking...and I'm receiving. Please continue to pray with me. I'm pressing on. To the prize.

Nights in Rodanthe

For those of you who are thinking of going to see this movie...please...PLEASE do not bother. You see, I read the book and absolutely LOVED it. Everything flowed so well. The bond that was made was incredible and believable. What Richard and Diane did was taint that. They made it look cheap and completely trashy. No, the movie wasn't trashy....it just made the love look...cheesy and well just stupid.

Why is it that books are so much better than movies? I mean the "acting" in my head is SO much more believable. The characters are normal. They don't TRY to act like Diane Lang or whatever her name is. (I swear she is the worst actress I've ever seen. I can't stand anything with her in it...and I was just HOPING she would redeem herself with this movie. But friends, she failed miserably. Don't get me wrong, I'm no movie critic....but serious she is pitiful.) But in my head the landscape is always better and more realistic. The story plays out like it should. But the movies...Lord help 'em. They are lacking. Is it imagination? I guess that's what makes a book so great. You make it what you want it to be. You make it what you need it to be at the time. And it speaks volumes to you as the words roll from page to page.

I think I've learned my lesson. I really shouldn't watch a movie after reading the book.

7 days....

What if you only had 7 days to live? More importantly...what if Jesus was coming back in seven days? Would you change anything? Would you say that "thing" you've been wanting to say to someone for months now? Would you pray more? Would you read your Bible more? Would you shout out on the rooftops for everyone to get their lives right with God because He is sending His Son back? Would you be content with where you are?

My mother's pastor posed this question to the congregation yesterday at church...What if Jesus was coming back next Sunday? It really puts a kind of urgency in you doesn't it? I found it pretty interesting and started thinking about it quite a bit myself...What would I do differently? I guess I'd spend more time in prayer. I mean I'm just going to be honest here...I know that I know that I know that God is the Lord of my life. I know He is my Savior. But when this question comes to my mind...I guess I just want to make sure...I want to make sure that there is NOTHING...absoultely nothing that would separate me from the Father. I can't say I've lead the best example in the world because I haven't. I have many faults. I have many flaws. I have many shortcomings. And I fall regularly, sometimes more than once a day. But I do know that I'm forgiven. I do know that there is NOTHING I can do to make myself worthy of God's salvation. I've just accepted Him and His grace and decided to walk with Him. Sometimes I go astray. Sometimes I fall down. Sometimes I run ahead. But always He brings me back to His side. And in that I think I realize that God doesn't expect perfection. He only desires our acceptance of His love. And with that said, secondly...I'd want to reach out more to those people that God has put in my path that don't know Him. The interesting thing is, the past couple of weeks those people that I thought were so unreachable...God seems to be reaching. I can't take any credit for this at all. Quite the opposite. But those that have been unreachable are beginning to allow their eyes to be open to the love of God. And now, even more, it makes me want to say to them..."Okay, so God is doing something in you....what are you going to do about it?" The time is now. Personally, I'm not one that belives in pressuring people into salvation. I feel I can only live my life and allow God to touch them through me....and even through my mistakes. The fact is, God doesn't NEED MY HELP! But those people that I know He has been working on...it makes me want to say....Okay....are you ready? If not, lets get ready. If so....THANK GOD!

So what about you? What if Jesus were coming back in seven days? Would you do anything different? People out in the cyber world that I know and those I don't....I'm here if you need a helping hand. Feel free to contact me. We never know the day or time that God will send Jesus to take us home, but shouldn't we be ready just in case it's in seven days?

This was NOT the "Mother of All Storms"

like someone wanted to call Hurricane Gustav. I'm floored that a government official would stir a situation up such as a hurricane and throw his "chocolate city" (those were HIS WORDS...not mine!) into a panic. Don't get me wrong, I totally believe the people of New Orleans needed to get out of town. I'm so glad they heeded the warnings. But this was NOT the "mother of all storms." This was a fraction of storms of the past. Yes, there is damage. Yes, there is flooding. But it wasn't nearly what it could have been.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Here in Biloxi we did have SOME damage, but it wasn't anything like Hurricane Katrina...and we're ever so thankful.

Hope everyone had a good Labor Day Weekend!