Choices -Mid Week Epistole

Choices



Many times in my life I have been confronted with choices. Not just the daily ones of where to go or what to eat or what to wear, but difficult choices. Ones that require me to stop and evaluate everything that I am and have dreams of becoming in the future. It is at times like this that I am reminded of a poem by Horatius Bonar.

Choose Thou For Me



Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!

Lead me by Thine own hand;

Choose out my path for me.

I dare not choose my lot:

I would not, if I might;

Choose Thou for me, my God,

So shall I walk aright...



The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine: so let the way

That leads to it be Thine,

Else I must surely stray.

Take Thou my cup, and it

With joy or sorrow fill,

As best to Thee may seem;

Choose Thou my good and ill.



Choose Thou for me my friends,

My sickness, or my health;

Choose Thou my cares for me

My poverty, or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice,

In things both great and small;

Be Thou my Guide, my Strength,

My Wisdom, and my all.

What would happen in your life if this was to become one of the guides for you? Would it change anything, or would it affirm the path that you are walking with God right now.

Take a moment and prayerfully consider what these words might mean to you today. Then please lift your heart and hands to God and offer Him all that you are.



This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will share a special witness together.

Ghost of the past

Ya know, once in a while I will get an email from someone I had not heard from in forever. And sometimes, I will search out those people. It is still weird when I get someone email me from back in my College days though. On myspace, there is a small group of us auggie people who still chat to each other. That group is small, but it is still nice to read thier pages and see what is happening in thier lives. Another small group of auggie people who I email often. It is so strange that those wild and crazy kids are now parents. EEK. What an idea.

Last night, I was searching around the web though...and I found the name of a very old friend. She used to live with me when I was in Middle school. And I hate it...because I have this name, her husband's name...and still no way to contact her. We were best of friends, and my mom's foster daughter. I wish that I could talk with her...we lost touch during one of the many moves...the last time I talked with her was right after my mom died. I just miss her a lot. She is an awsome person.

I have decided I like Ghost from the past. It is nice to hear from old friends and reminders of what life once was.

Me

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Sabrina
Birthday:	February
Birthplace:	Maryland
Current Location:	Exiled in Louisiana
Eye Color:	Cat Green
Hair Color:	Brownish Red
Height:	5 foot nothing
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Both
Your Heritage:	Irish, Scottish, American Indian and a little bit German
The Shoes You Wore Today:	slip ons
Your Weakness:	Ice Cream
Your Fears:	Too many to list. Water, heights, etc..
Your Perfect Pizza:	Sausage, onions, tomatoes, green peppers
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Move out of Louisiana
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	lol
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Why is it morning already?
Your Best Physical Feature:	Eyes
Your Bedtime:	10ish
Your Most Missed Memory:	My Mom
Pepsi or Coke:	Diet coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Mcdonalds I guess..Prefer Wendys
Single or Group Dates:	Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Lipton Ice Tea
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Neither. yuck
Do you Smoke:	No. yuck
Do you Swear:	Sometimes I let one slip
Do you Sing:	Yes. Love to
Do you Shower Daily:	LOL yes
Have you Been in Love:	Yes
Do you want to go to College:	Did already...would like to go to grad school though
Do you want to get Married:	already am
Do you belive in yourself:	sometimes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	yes
Do you think you are Attractive:	i am me
Are you a Health Freak:	LOL no
Do you get along with your Parents:	I am parentless
Do you like Thunderstorms:	yes
Do you play an Instrument:	violin
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	no. cant with my meds
In the past month have you Smoked:	no. yuck
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	prescription drugs
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	no
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	no
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	no
In the past month have you been on Stage:	no
In the past month have you been Dumped:	no
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	no
Ever been Drunk:	yes
Ever been called a Tease:	yes
Ever been Beaten up:	yes
Ever Shoplifted:	yes
How do you want to Die:	when I am old
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	LOL. I do not know. at 35 I should huh?
What country would you most like to Visit:	hmm...Ireland
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Brown
Favourite Hair Color:	Brown
Short or Long Hair:	Not long but not too short either
Height:	Taller then me. not too hard
Weight:	does not really matter
Best Clothing Style:	casual dress
Number of Drugs I have taken:	no clue
Number of CDs I own:	too many
Number of Piercings:	2 in one ear, 3 in another
Number of Tattoos:	none
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	too many to list.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Mid Week Epistole

TUNES IN THE CHURCH

Are you one of the people who cannot carry a tune in the proverbial bucket? Many times I hear people say those words when asked if they would sing in the choir or during church. Well, I have good news for you.

Donald Hustad once wrote: “Somehow, about 40% of churchgoers seem to have picked up the idea that ‘singing in the church is for singers.’ The truth is that ‘singing is for believers.’ The relevant question is not, “Do you have a voice?” but “do you have a song?”

Do you know the difference between the two songs? Or to you, are they the same?



Loving Father, we know you do not so much listen to the voice of Your church as it sings as much as You listen to the heart. We thank You for our song. In Christ’s blessed name. Amen.



This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will read a journal entry from a servant of God who soared over the mountains.

This song Reminds me of Brianna

Brianna is a huge Hannah Montana Fan....but this song..

It reminds me of her for many reasons. My Little Ms. Independent.

Billy Ray Cyrus Ready Set Don't Go Lyrics


(BILLY RAY:)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do
And I've gotta like it or not
Shes got dreams to big for this town
And she needs to give 'em a shot
Wherever they are

(MILEY:)
Looks like I'm all ready to leave
Theres nothin' left to pack

(BILLY RAY:)
Aint no room for me in that car
Even if she asks me to tag along
(Both:)
Gotta gotta be strong

(MILEY:)
I'm at the startin line of the rest of my life
As ready as I've ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to win
(BILLY RAY:)
She's waitin' on my blessins
`Fore she hits that open road
Baby get ready
(MILEY:)
Ohh Im ready
(BILLY RAY:)
Get set, don't go

(MILEY:)
Looks like things are fallin in place

(BILLY RAY:)
Feels like theyre fallin apart
Im paintin this big ol' smile on my face
To hide my broken heart
If only she knew

(MILEY:)
This is where you don't say
What you want so bad to say

(BILLY RAY;)
This is where I want to
But I wont get in the way
Of her and her dream
And spreadin her wings
(MILEY:)
I'm ready to fly

(MILEY:)
Im at the startin line of the rest of my life
As ready as I've ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to win
(BILLY RAY:)
[Ready Set Don't Go lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

She's waitin' on my blessins `fore she hits that open road
(MILEY:)
gotta hit that open road
(BILLY RAY:)
Baby get ready, get set
(Both:)
Don't go


(CHORUS)
(MILEY:)
Im at the startin line of the rest of my life
As ready as Ive ever been
(BILLY RAY:)
It'll be alright
(MILEY:)
Got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to win
I'll be okay
(BILLY RAY:)
She's waitin' on my blessings
'Fore she hits that open road
Baby get ready
(MILEY:)
Oh oh oh
(BILLY RAY:)
Get set, please don't go
Don't go

(MILEY:)
Lemme go now
I'm ready

(BILLY RAY:)
Hmmmm Dont go

(MILEY:)
I'll be alright
I'll be okay
Know that I'll
Be thinkin of you
Each and every day

(BILLY RAY:)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do

(MILEY:)
lemme go now

(BILLY RAY)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do

(MILEY:)
I gotta do what I gotta do

(BILLY RAY:)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do

9 years and Counting

Artist: Williams, Vanessa
Song: Save the Best for Last


Sometimes the snow comes down in June
Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
I see the passion in your eyes
Sometimes it's all a big surprise
'Cause there was a time when all I did was wish
You'd tell me this was love
It's not the way I hoped or how I planned
But somehow it's enough

And now we're standing face to face
Isn't this world a crazy place
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

All of the nights you came to me
When some silly girl had set you free
You wondered how you'd make it through
I wondered what was wrong with you

'Cause how could you give your love to someone else
And share your dreams with me
Sometimes the very thing you're looking for
Is the one thing you can't see

And now we're standing face to face
Isn't this world a crazy place
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

Sometimes the very thing you're looking for
Is the one thing you can't see

Sometimes the snow comes down in June
Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

You went and saved the best for last

Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

WHICH ONE DO YOU TRY TO TAKE CARE OF?

Yesterday was Monday, the dreaded day of the work force. How did your Monday go? Was it rewarding or filled with all kinds of disruptions?

When difficulties come into your life, how do you deal with them? Do you let them control you or is it the reverse?

Well, let me give you a very simple prayer to pray: “Lord, you take care of the gnats -- I can take care of the elephants.” The only thing you have to decide is which of your problems elephants are. Usually it is the one that is right in front of you. The gnats are the ones that seem to buzz around and make us think we are failures.

I think how true this prayer is today while I sit at home with the ice on the ground. I look out the office window and the beautiful Bradford Pear trees that we have enjoyed since we moved here are now split apart will have to be taken out. The birds are sitting in the branches still looking for their seed, and still I feel like God will provide for both of us as we wonder what to do now.



Lord, was that another gnat that you conquered for me? If so, would you mind coming and helping me with this elephant? Together we can win a victory for You. In the name of the Living Christ we pray. Amen.



This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will find the power of having a song to sing with your voice.

Quick Let's Pray -Mid Week Epistole

QUICK! LET’S PRAY!

Dr. W. E. Sangster once wrote about what he called “minute prayers.” It’s not known if by “minute” he meant “tiny” or prayers that could be prayed in 60 seconds; it probably amounts to the same thing. Prayers do not need to be lengthy. Here are some little gems of prayer that can be used at any time, anywhere:

“O Lord, let me not live to be useless.” (John Wesley)

“Protect me, my Lord; my boat is so small, and your ocean so big.” (Briton fisherman’s prayer)

“Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom; lead Thou me on.” (J. H. Newman)

“O God, help me to be master of myself that I may be a servant of others.” (Unknown)

What “minute prayer” could you create for God today?



O God, hear us. Amen!



This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Today we talked about short prayers, next week we will look at the text of a prayer.

Letter to Me Lyrics

I am really stuck on this song right now. Reminds me of all those times I thought my life was just over, and it was really just a passing phase.

Letter to Me by Brad Paisley

If I could write a letter to me
And send it back in time to myself at 17
First I’d prove it’s me by saying look under your bed
There’s a Skoal can and a Playboy no one else would know you hid
And then I’d say I know its tough
When you break up after seven months
And yeah I know you really liked her and it just don’t seem fair
All I can say is pain like that is fast and it’s rare


1st Chorus
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
She wasn’t right for you
And still you feel like there’s a knife sticking out of your back
And you’re wondering if you’ll survive
You’ll make it through this and you’ll see
You’re still around to write this letter to me

At the stop sign at Tomlinson and Eighth
Always stop completely don’t just tap your brakes
And when you get a date with Bridgett make sure the tank is full
On second thought forget it that one turns out kinda cool
Each and every time you have a fight
Just assume you’re wrong and dad is right
And you should really thank Mrs. Brinkman
She spent so much extra time
It’s like she sees the diamond underneath
And she’s polishing you ‘til you shine

2nd Chorus
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
Tonight’s the bonfire rally
But you’re staying home instead because if you fail Algebra
Mom and dad will kill you dead
Trust me you’ll squeak by and get a C
And you’re still around to write this letter to me

You’ve got so much up ahead
You’ll make new friends
You should see your kids and wife
And I’d end by saying have no fear
These are nowhere near the best years of your life

I guess I’ll see you in the mirror
When you’re a grown man
P.S. go hug Aunt Rita every chance you can

3rd Chorus
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
I wish you’d study Spanish
I wish you’d take a typing class
I wish you wouldn’t worry, let it be
I’d say have a little faith and you’ll see

If I could write a letter to me
To me

I Want to Move!

I want to move. Have I mentioned that lately? I want to move, I want to move, I want to move.

Did I mention I want to move?

Argh. Dorkboy is going out of town. fun fun.

Mid Week Epistole -Positive Thinking by Jim Massey

Positive Thinking

Do you have a problem today thinking positively? It seems as though we are encouraged to look at everything in the world in a negative way. It always reminds me of the famous song from Hee-Haw: "If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all..."

There once was a shoe company that transferred one of its salesmen to Africa. After arriving he wired: "Am coming back; they don't use shoes here."

The company replaced him with a more positive salesman who immediately wired: "Start shipping shoes; no competition!"

What do you see in your world today? Lost opportunity or golden moments? When you look through the eyes of God, you see all His glorious promises and not the temptations of the devil.



Father, let us look with loving eyes and find the truth you have for us. Then let us turn every moment in the day to a blessing filled with Your glory. In the name of Christ, we lift this prayer. Amen.



This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I hope this devotional will encourage you to look for all the blessings that God gives you every day of your life. Join me next week when we look at what we put in to be paid from.

Disney and the Beach

and

Pictures

2 Thoughts

I was listening to the radio when I took the kids to school and was coming home. We have been listening to the Christmas Channel that is just playing Christmas Music.

1. There was a song on about a little girl who wanted her daddy for Christmas, but he was "at the war". It was as though a gentle reminder to me to pray for the families of those soldiers fighting over seas this Christmas. Everyday I make time to pray for our soldiers in harms way...But I can not imagine spending the Christmas without them. In 1990, My brother was stationed in the middle east as the build up to the first gulf war. His son had been born just 6 months earlier...and he missed his first Christmas. I will never forget how it felt like part of our heart was missing.. So, Please join me in praying for our troops families this Christmas.

And 2. There are 3 bridges that connect the "twin cities" here...and there were accidents on 2 of them. This lady called in and said she was stuck in traffic and to avoid that area if you could....and when the guy asked her if she could just rewind and start over...she said "Nah, not really. I am just enjoying listening to the Christmas music this morning in my car." What a wonderful attitude to have this Christmas. It makes me feel guilty for my bah humbug mood lately....but it reminds me that really....nothing is that important. May we all find joy just in the being of Christmas this year.

Leaves

Leaves

The Darkest Hour -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

The Darkest Hour

Today is the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City. I imagine everyone remembers where they were when the tragedy happened. I recall many people saying it was one of America’s ‘Darkest Hours.”

I remember the days that I watched people relived the event over and over through the news media and table conversations everywhere. The cry went up from people to “Remember 911!”

And then I think of another “Darkest Hour.” It was during the time that terrorist struck at the heart of the world in a garden near Jerusalem. The Son of Man was betrayed by a kiss and evil motives of others. He was judged guilty by angry crowds, scourged and crucified.

Now people may not see the similarity of these two events, but look closely and you can begin to see ways in which they are. The difference is found in what happens after we stand through such trying times. If we are not careful, we will remain forever caught in the pains of the tragedy.

For Christians, it is the days afterward that we begin to see new visions. In both the tragedy of the Twin Towers and the Crucifixion God was present fighting hatred with the power of His grace and love. He never gives sin and evil power in the midst of tragedy, but the strength and resolve of His people show forth in new ways of care and compassion. You see, the answer becomes visible afterwards. In 911 we should now be a nation of strong resolve toward freedom and truth. In the Resurrection we should have a strong individual resolve toward God’s love and salvation for all.

I find new strength in life’s darkest hours in the words of the Psalmist: “If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Ps. 37:23-25)

May God bring His light to your in your darkest hour.

Heavenly Father, today we pray for everyone who faces dark hours in their lives. Though they feel despair, may they know the strength of your children as they encounter them everywhere. You ask us to be a light set upon a hill as a beacon of hope. Let us remember before we can be the light, You must shine in our own heart. Come into our hearts Lord Jesus! Amen. This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for another mid-week Epistle.

Invisible Mom

This is for those times when you feel like you haven't accomplished much, or when you feel, like I do sometimes, that what you do really doesn't matter so much.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.


Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."


In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM

Adequate Shoes

Adequate Shoes

With all the disasters in our world today, we need to hear some words of encouragement. Without such words, we can fall victim to something beyond our understanding and our hearts seem to break completely into and we begin to lose sight of the ways in which God can still come to us.

We are reminded in Romans 8:28 - "...in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." When I read that Scripture, I once again reclaim the promise of Christ when He said, "I am with you till the end of the age."

Then I remember something I read years ago. "God will not send you down a path without adequate shoes." That means His love and assurance will always be with me. Prayers, presence, and friends will affirm it. Nothing will be left out of our situation that is needed. All we have to do is claim it in the name of Jesus Christ.

When you walk in the world today, praise God for the "adequate shoes" that He has supplied for you.

Holy Father, to all who have great need this day, let our words lift fallen spirits and help our presence reaffirm Your glory. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen. This has been Rev. Jim Massey.

Pray for the nations this day that are caught in hurricanes. Many people will be left homeless, pray that they will not be hopeless. See you next week in our Mid-week Epistle when we talk about naming.

Love Me If You Can

Sometimes I think that war is necessary.
Every night I pray for peace on Earth.
I hand out my dollars to the homeless.
But believe that every able soul should work.

My father gave me my shotgun that I'll hand down to my son, try to teach him everything it means.

(chorus)
I'm a man of my convictions. Call me wrong, call me right. But I bring my better angels to every fight. You may not like
where I'm going, but you sure know where I stand. Hate me if you want to, love me if you can.

I stand by my right to speak freely. But I worry 'bout what kids learn from TV. And before all of debatin' turns to angry
words and hate, sometimes we should just agree to disagree. And I believe that Jesus looks down here and sees us, and if you
ask him he would say

(chorus)
I'm a man of my convictions. Call me wrong, call me right. But I bring my better angels to every fight. You may not like
where I'm going, but you sure know where I stand. Hate me if you want to, love me if you can.

(chorus)
I'm a man of my convictions. Call me wrong, call me right. But I bring my better angels to every fight. You may not like
where I'm going, but you sure know where I stand. Hate me if you want to, love me if you can.