HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD

     Happy Father's Day to my Dad.  Yes, I admit I'm a spoiled daddy's girl.  He does his best to provide me with everything I need or just want. He used to go on many business trips and always brought me something back.  One time, I think from Denver, he brought back on the plane with him a life size Papa Smurf.  I bet that got a few looks, lol.  I can say he was strict enough for me to never consider sneaking out my easily accessible bay window as a teenager but generous enough to teach me about the joy of giving.  We are alot alike in that we are few on words, think over things too much at times, have a humorous wit and we are both genetically earmarked.  I love you, Dad.

Vacation

     Most of my church is leaving for Rock Haven church camp tomorrow.  The kids look forward to it every year.  It is a chance to get away from the hum-drum of everyday life.  It is also a chance to learn more about God's word and apply it in daily life.  Even tho friends are there, it is different to be with each other for a whole week.  I think this frog reminds us to not let little arguments get out of control but to let things go.  We must pack wisdom to take with us on trips, as well as clothes.   Remember, you may be the only Bible some people ever see.

Truly Live

     Some people think that living a Christian life means a mundane, boring, and restricted life.  That is certainly not the case.  I would ask 'what sin is it you don't want to give up that is worth risking eternity for?'  I'm not saying the Christian's life is sin-free but instead forgiven.  With our Savior by our side, we are freer to experience the joys of life and handle the hardships.
     I had a discussion with a friend about this very topic.  According to her, the life she has is self built and self attained.  She is uncertain of eternity and feels this life may be all there is.  She wants to live it up in this life with her rules as her guide.  Well that's foolish thinking.  Hebrews 11;1  ''Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.''  Everything comes from God or He allows it to draw you to Him.  As the ant prepares for harvest, we too must use this life to prepare for eternity, not selfish gain.  God has prepared a place for believers but are you prepared to go there?
     You can live to the fullest with less fear when your burdens are laid at the Cross.

Exaggeration

     Do you know people who embellish the truth?  It makes you doubt some of the things they say in general.  Now did this little rabbit see a real giant carrot, a plastic carrot, a carrot grown in Alaska or is it a carrot he dreamed up?  I wonder if he's trying to rally the other rabbits into Mr. McGregor's garden with his impressive tale.
     When we are known to be truthful, people will take you at your word.  Exaggeration tho can lead to distrust.  Is exaggeration an attempt to get attention?  I'd rather hear your story, even if it's boring, in truth than with false embellishments.
     There is also the 'one-up' factor.  Some people feel the need to tell their better story as soon as yours is over.  I hate that.  It gives the impression that you didn't even care about the first story but that you just want to tell yours.  The Bible says do not boast on anything but the Lord.
     Just tell it like it is and say 'and that's that.'  No more and no less equals out to be just enough.

     Proverbs 12;19  ''Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.''

Way Back Wednesday---Happiness

     What a way to wake up!  I wish I could say this is how I get up each day but that is not the case.  I can say that this is how I envision the happiness I will feel when I get to heaven.  I was probably about 4yrs old here with not a care in the world.  I didn't care about a fancy bed or room, but was humble enough to be happy to wake up to loving parents.  Was that the age for me to not yet know the ugliness of this world?  Children at this age are often trusting, forgiving, and oblivious to the dangers of this world.  When we come to know our Savior, we too can turn to Him to regain these characteristics.
     Matthew 18:2-4  ^''He called a little child, whom he placed among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place—becoming like this child—is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'' 
     My desire is to be like this little girl again, who is filled with love.

Forgiveness

Psalm 130;3-4  ''If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.''

     This was one of the verses in my daily Bible reading today and I thought this caption went well with it.  I think this verse not only points out our sinful nature but the forgiving nature of God.  There is no one but God that is good so we need His saving grace.  His love for us keeps no record of wrongs.  We want that kind of forgiveness for ourselves but do we give it to others?  I read yesterday that 'forgiveness is a promise not to use the sin/hurt against them in the future.'  Woah, now.  I've forgiven people of things but to never ever recall it to them.. hmm, can I do that?  How can we ask for what we're not willing to give to others?  You can't.  We are to forgive just like God has forgiven us.

     We are like this little kitten.  We know what we've done and the guilt can hold us back.  Forgiveness can free us from those burdens.  Aren't you glad that with a repentant heart God will not turn from us in continued anger?  Have you ever thought  'well sorry, just isn't good enough.'  We can never repay our debt of sin ourselves with good works, good behavior, or good words.  The Law in the Old Testament could never be lived up to.  Only one way was our debt paid, Jesus' death on the cross.

    Acts 13;38  “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.''

Don't Give Up On It

     Okay before I begin this story, let me preface it by saying my professor wasn't terrible.  I took Physics in high school so I wasn't too worried about taking it in my first semester in college.  Well it was a whole new ball game at college level and some courses are to weed out the weak.  Well my first physics test was humbling to say the least.  My test score was 20, yes out of 100.  ACK!  How could one recover with a start like this?  Well it was comforting to know that my score was the average for the whole class.  The professor put his ego in his pocket and took part of the blame for the low scores.  He retaught the material, retested us and we all got  dramatically improved scores.  I respected the teacher for doing this and took his class for physics 2 also.
     Failure is a given in this life at times, even when we try.  Should we give up at the first opportunity?  No.  It is our chance to learn and improve from our mistakes.  I certainly had some classes that it would have been easier to drop and try something else but I never did.  I'd rather have a hard earned C than an easy A, if it involved not quitting.
     Don't give up when the waters get rough, just keep paddling thru it.  ''Some thru the water, some thru the flood, some thru the fire but all thru the Blood.  Some thru great sorrow but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long.''

Urgency

     There are times in our lives when the sense of urgency leaves no time to explain.  Sometimes we just have to   trust and act on instinct.  I'm going to share one of those stories with you today.
     After I moved back here, I could still transfer independently from my scooter to a chair.  One day my parents were outside and I attempted to get in my recliner to watch tv.  I put my portable phone on the chair, just in case.  Well the case turned out to be that I got stuck in mid-air between seats.  My foot got caught on the bottom of the scooter.  So I assess the situation, I can't swing back to the scooter seat and if I just fall then my leg will not give and break.  So, I called 911 with one hand while bracing myself with the other.  The 911 operator couldn't hear me so I just hung up and redialed over and over.  The cop soon came in our driveway and told my dad 'someone keeps calling 911 from this address.'  My dad took off running for the basement with no further explanation needed.
      One day there will be no time left to explain the importance of putting your trust in Jesus.  Your time will be up and your name will be in the Book of Life or not.  God will not permit you to explain why you never chose Him.  He will just say 'I never knew you.'  The urgent time is now.

Wisdom

     Okay some of you may not agree with my choice of captions for this blog but it's to say all babies are precious and beautiful.  Personally, I think this little one is cute as ever.  I had a stuffed animal named Baby Hugo that it reminds me of.
     Mothers are very protective of their young and want the best for them.  When reading of the mother in the Bible whose baby had died and she swapped another mother's baby with hers, I am glad Solomon had the wisdom to know how to reveal who was the real mother.  The real mother would sacrifice her desire to raise the baby in order to save the baby's life.  She had protective wisdom too.
     Solomon was already wise when he was able to ask anything from God and yet chose discernment.  Is wisdom more precious to you than silver or gold?  I've heard it said  ''You can know the price of everything but the value of nothing.''  By learning wisdom thru God's Word, we can make right decisions, see our mistakes and stay on our narrow path.
     Psalm 110;11  ''The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.''

Acknowledgement

      When I saw this caption, I felt like it was so me.  Often times I'm not in a position to have a conversation with someone even though I'd like to.  It might be too noisy, I might have my air mask on or the other person may always have trouble hearing me.  Regardless of the situation, I like to let the person know I see them and show a friendly gesture, like a smile and a wave.
      Sometimes people don't want to talk, they just want an acknowledgement of their presence.  Southerners have a knack for smiling and waving as we drive down the road.  Sometimes if I can't get my hand up in time or don't recognize the friend in time, I feel guilty and hope they don't think I was being rude.
      As a kid, I remember giving the big rig drivers the honking sign thru the car window.  They would often smile and wave at me before they blew their horn for me.  I think they got a kick out of it as much as I did.
      It doesn't take much to shine a little light into someone's path.  Just a smile and a wave can make someone's day.

Helping

     Okay, I just have to say this first about this caption... I prefer, no I insist, that all of my helpers have clothes on...lol.  This picture also reminds me of Marge Nosek for some reason.  She liked hot tea and I often saw her at her dining table.
     Helping others is a way to show God's love to others.  One day we will all be defined as old, like me, by what the Bible says...John 21;18 ''Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  I think aging is part of the transformation of ourselves into Christ's image because it takes patience, humility, kindness, self-control, and more patience.
    I can tell you if those helping hands aren't motivated with love, they aren't as much help.  I saw a sign yesterday while shopping that said,  ''If things get any worse, I'm going to ask you to STOP HELPING!''  We've all heard it or said it after a disaster occurs, ''I was just trying to help.''  We can't say love wasn't intended because accidents do happen but there are those times when you rush the help just to get it done.  Not so love motivated, huh?
    1 Corinthians 13; 1-8  ''If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.''

Way Back Wednesday---Stuffed Animals

     This picture was taken in February 1980 in our home in Stuttgart, AR.  I was 8years old here.  I have always been a fan of stuffed animals. I was never that much into dolls.  This bear looks so big but when I went thru my collection, not too long ago, he didn't look the same as I remembered...he shrunk!  My bedroom used to be what is now the office.  The ceiling was once covered with stuffed animals hanging from fishing line.
     My largest stuffed animal was Gordy. [ yes, they all had names]  He is a large gorilla that I won at Libertyland amusement park in Memphis.  It was the game where you throw rings on milk bottles.
     Some of you may not understand this but as an only child, my stuffed animals were like my 'chosen' siblings. I talked to them and shared with them both my joys and frustrations of childhood.  Don't get me wrong, I was never one who wanted or longed for a sibling.  My parents asked me at age 10, if I'd like a brother or sister?  I didn't even have to think about it.. Nope!  I'm sure some will say I don't know what I'm missing but I'm okay with that.
      God gives us all what we need in life.  I have friends that are my true sisters and brothers in Christ.

So? What About Me?

     Have you ever came home to this kind of greeting after a bad day?  Your kids or your spouse meet you at the door with 'their' list of needs that need attention right this very second?  All you need is five to ten minutes to collect yourself, right?  Locking yourself in the bathroom seems like a reasonable option.
     So let's say you do get those few minutes to yourself, what's the best way to use that time?  Recount all the bad things that happened that day?  No.  Prepare your outlash remarks for when you do come out?  No.  Take the time to pray for a peaceful disposition, a righteous attitude and a forgiving heart for those you felt wronged you that day?  Yes, most definetely the best use of your time.
     For those waiting at the door ready to ambush you with requests, Patience.  Timing can make a world of difference in the response you get.
     We all have responsibilities that must get done but when we think and care about each other's needs first, it can be done alot smoother and peacefully.

SPRING RECITAL SONGS

     For those of you who didn't see my video at the recital, here they are.  'In Christ Alone' and 'Day by Day' are the two songs I've been working on with Phillip.

FBF MISSIONARY PRAYER REQUESTS FOR JUNE 2012

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR JUNE 2012


LESLEY WOLFE--

(1)  Sometime this month (June) I hope to make a trip to Liberia to take 15 chapters through the next step of the translation process.  I’ll be working in Exodus with Isaac (an animist) and in Mark with Joe (a true believer).  Pray for our time together, that God will speak to these two men through His word as we work together.
(2)  Pray for the “Felix family” --- Felix is an elder in our village, and an animist.  His 5 sons, however, attend the Assembly of God church in our village.  Pray that God will have His way in the lives of these five young men:  Kwia (32 yrs old), Kuro (30 yrs old), Francis (28 yrs old), Michael (24 yrs old), Kwamle (19 yrs old); plus his grandson, Caesar (16 yrs old).

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK--

We have our Parents in Action camp.  Please pray for enthusiasm among the families, and that this would result in a zeal

among the parents to work diligently with their children, teaching them the ways of the Lord and studying the Word with

them daily.

Continue to pray with us for Lourdes and her family, who come faithfully to church, but we are uncertain

as to their commitment to Christ.

MARTIN AND HANSY TUOHY--

1. As we continue to wait for clarity on whether or not we should go to Mexico, please pray that God would fill us with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we might live worthily of the Lord and please Him in all respects...Col 1:9b-11

2. Blessings on the new Bible study in Romans, may it stimulate great spiritual growth in those who attend.

 

MONICA SERNATINGER

 

1. Continue to pray for Guille and her daughter Nancy. After the extortion, they have not come back to the ladies meeting. May the Lord strengthen their faith in His goodness and faithfulness, and may Antonio, Guille's husband, come to know our Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. May the Lord give us the wisdom as a church how to reach out to them in love and compassion.

2. Baptisms: Praise the Lord! Juan (who was picked up by the federals a couple months ago, thanks for praying!) and Erika are getting baptized this Sunday! Please, continue to pray for their marriage and their spiritual growth. Erika has been too busy to make it to the ladies studies, but Juan continues to faithfully attend the men 's study, and helps to serve the Lord's supper. Also, Laura is taking this step of obedience after 16 years of having confessed to be a believer (she was one of the reasons that brought us to minister here in Puruandiro 14 years ago). May her husband Jose, her two teenagers Rafa and Reni, and her daughter Diana, experience her sincere love and gratitude for her Lord and Savior.  

Call It What It Is

     Good grief, I hate the promotion of socialism here in the US.  I am referring to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wanting to ban super-sized soft drinks available at restaurants, arenas and movie theaters. Any sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces would be prohibited in this new law.  If it begins here, where does it end?  If they make you drink less, then surely they'll limit how much toilet paper is on a roll next, right?  Will the Seinfeld line 'Can you spare a square?' become a reality of daily life?  Yes, it sounds ridiculous but so does the idea of making me buy two drinks instead of one to get the desired amount I want at double the cost.  Why aren't people outraged at the mere thought of limiting our freedoms?  Why aren't the avid recyclers balking at creating more waste?  Oh sure, they claim it's for our benefit.  The media is even promoting it as an effort to curb obesity in society by telling us how many calories and grams of sugar are in a certain amount sized cup.  I've also heard that they are shrinking the size of candy bars too.  Let's call it what it is!  It's government control of your individual rights!
     A missionary friend of mine now lives in the Ukraine.  He and his wife had to go two weeks this winter without hot water because it is government controlled.  Is that what you want from your government?
     If I could say one statement to Bloomberg, it would be ''Don't try to make decisions for me and DON'T MESS WITH MY SWEET TEA!'

Koalafied?

     This caption makes me think of all the people who claim to be Christians but their lives don't reflect it.  Yes, we are saved by grace and not by works but there should be evident fruit of the Spirit.  John 15:5  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'' Our lives should be distinctly different than one with a worldly view. ''If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.''  There is no act or series of good acts that can redeem us from our sin other than belief in Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
     ''Some people have an assurance of salvation based on faulty thinking. They believe that church attendance, baptism, or just being good will gain them approval from God. But our thinking is faulty if it isn’t based on what God says in His Word. God says that “all have sinned” and that we are His enemies. But through the death and resurrection of His Son, we can be made right with God (Rom. 3:23; 5:8-10). By faith in what Christ has done, we can have peace with God (5:1) and the assurance of eternal life in heaven.''  from ourdailybread.org
     Don't be like the koala who thinks he's a bear but really isn't according to the definition. The Word tells us how we can truly be saved according to God's definition. John 3;18  ''Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.''  Ephesians 2;8  '' For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.''
    

Way Back Wednesday---Blue Hawks Mascot

     Here I am in the 4th grade as the mascot for the Blue Hawks football team in Stuttgart.  I don't remember how this came to be.  I recall the cheerleaders as being a little bit older than me but somehow they let me be the younger mascot.  I couldn't do their flips and jumps but I did get to join in with them on the cheers.  The two cheers I remember are 'Pork chop, pork chop, greasy, greasy, we can beat your team easy easy' and 'Our team is red hot, just look what we got, we got T-E-A-M...yea team.'  I do remember it as very fun to be a part of something.  I think uniforms of any kind give you a sense of belonging to something special.
     Maybe I've always been an encourager, I'm not sure.  I have though always wanted to be a participator.  I'm not a bench warmer by choice. It's never been my goal to be number one at physical activities but just to play a part.  We played kickball in elementary P.E. class and my goal was never to score a point.  It was to kick the ball in the opposite direction and maybe make it to first base.  That's making the most out of reality.
     Even with my limitations today, I want to participate.  Sometimes I even join in by volunteering my dad on my behalf..lol.  I think it's important to be involved with something.  I can't sign up for the cleaning schedule at church but instead I found a project that I could do... missionary prayer requests.
    You can sit on the sidelines and watch the world pass by.. and it will.. or you can get involved and have some fun.

Body and Soul

      In this world, we tend to think of body and soul together.  They are different though and our soul should take priority.  Many people have a plan in place to maintain their bodies thru vitamins, diet and exercise.  How is it that you keep your soul in shape as well?
      The disease I have that affects my nerves and muscles is progressive.  Therefore, abilities that my body could once perform have weakened or disappeared entirely.  As my life's journey has progressed, it certainly has strengthened my soul as my body fades. It has helped me differentiate the two with ease. That's the goal tho, to transform our souls for eternity's sake.
      I think it's always neat to hear pilots say there are x number of souls on board.  If the plane crashed, the bodies would remain but the souls would be taken.  It points out what is really at risk.
      Matthew 10:28  ''Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.''
      I encourage you today to work on a plan to keep your soul on the healthy, narrow path.  'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.'   1 Peter 1;24-25  ''All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Memorial Day Weekend

Below is the story of my friend's dad.  Twylia wanted to share the story of her favorite soldier of all.  It tells of the sacrifices veterans often make so that we may enjoy the freedom of peace-enjoyed everyday living.  May we all remember those of the past and present.  Veterans---They all give some but some gave all.

With Memorial Day fast approaching, I am thinking of my dad, Harley N. (Bud) Gray, a WWII soldier, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in early June, 1941, just after he had married my mother, Ruby Burchell Gray, on May 17 in Crossett, Arkansas.  May 17 would have been their 70^th wedding anniversary.

After boot camp at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, my Dad served in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign and was severely injured at Guadalcanal on May 11, 1943.  Prior to that he had been stationed in the Fiji and Solomon Islands with other men in his company, many from Ohio and West Virginia.  When injured, he was near a soldier who stepped on a land mine and Daddy was hit directly in the throat and legs by shrapnel.  A large piece of shrapnel literally cut his throat and shattered his jawbone….he lost his bottom teeth and his tongue was exposed through his neck.  A buddy, Sgt. E. A. (Dave) David, held him up so he would not strangle on his own blood.  He was so badly injured, they left him under a mosquito net for three days waiting for him to die.  When he didn’t, he was transported to Auckland, New Zealand where he began a long 23-month journey to recovery.   A bone was grafted from his leg to his face to reconstruct a new jawbone and his mouth was wired shut for eight months.  During that time, he was on a liquid diet and suffered a severe weight loss (see picture).  He returned to a hospital in the United States…in San Francisco…in July of 1943 and then was transferred numerous times to various other hospitals within the states….including army hospitals in Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas.  He was honorably discharged after his full recovery on April 2, 1945 (though he carried the scar underneath his chin and the shrapnel in his legs for the rest of his life).  He opted not to have plastic surgery, after my mother told him if he could live with the scar so could she.  From the letters that I have of my mother’s from Sgt. David and from the stories that we have heard from other Army buddies (though they did not talk about it often), we understand that Daddy had a very strong desire to live and return to Mother so that they could have their life together.  Sgt. David wrote, “The fortitude he has shown has won for him the admiration of all who came in contact with him.  I have yet to see a man more courageous than he. You, yourself, Mrs. Gray, gave him the inspiration and the will to recover.” I am not kidding when I say that “I am here by the grace of God”, but then I suppose we all are.

Sgt. David and my dad were never reunited after the war, although Daddy did reunite with many others from his company fourteen years later, and remained in close contact with some of them until his death on January 4, 1998.  In June of 1995, Dave’s daughter, Carol Falone, called Mother and Daddy to let them know that she had found two letters that Daddy had written to Mrs. David (Dave’s mother) during that same time (1943).  Sgt. David had passed away that year (1995) and the letters were among his possessions.  Carol was born in April of 1946; she is just four months older than I am.  I found her letter to Mother after my mom passed away on May 1, 2000….I called Carol on Memorial Day of that year and we “met” over the phone and shared our thanksgiving for our fathers.  I still have the letters she sent.

Though my father did not see a lot of battle, and actually was not killed during combat, he is a hero to me, as he served to preserve our freedoms just as those who were on the front lines did.  Daddy remained a very proud veteran of the U. S. Armed Forces throughout the remainder of his life and was always totally supportive of veterans and men and women in service to our country.  He never complained about his injuries, though I know they did cause him hardship at times.  Because of his service and the example he set for me, I too am a blessed U. S. citizen who cringes at the thought of anyone who wants to burn the American flag or criticize this land of liberty.  I know for a fact, and from Daddy’s suffering, that our freedom has come at a great cost and a great sacrifice.  I am deeply appreciative to Daddy and to all the other men and women who have contributed, and who are still contributing, to preserving our country.  We truly cannot thank them enough!

Just Breathe

     Well, I can tell you today feels like a total bust.  I was looking forward to going bowling with my dad in Cabot and picking up some 3 Flamingo's yogurt on the way home today.  Well my sinuses and allergies instead teamed up against me to put a halt to those plans.  So my goal for the day has changed to unlabored breathing. For most people, allergies are just a nuisance but for me they can rule the day.  
     Psalm 150;6  ''Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord.''  Proverbs 19;21  ''Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.''   These two verses comfort me in the change of my plans today and remind me to praise Him in all that today brings.
     

Integrity

     You may have heard recently on the news about parents that had wire-tapped their children for school to prove the abusive claims of their children about their teachers.  The recordings proved the cruel and abusive language used on their kids by the adult in charge. I personally think they should be fired on the spot. That is not an example to be taught.
     Do you claim integrity as a personal characteristic of yourself?  Integrity consists of  honesty, reliability, not being swayed by immorality, and righteous behavior.  If you were wire-tapped, would it need to be edited to get a G-rating?
     Even when we think we are alone, we never are.  God is always watching and listening to us.  Nothing is hidden from Him.  Convicting, huh?  That is why we need to meet with Him every day in prayer, spend precious time in the Word and fellowship with other believers.  We each need accountability to keep us from veering off the narrow path.
     Instead of looking into someone else's bathroom cabinets when you're alone, I encourage you to look into your own.  Hebrews 4:13  ''Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.''   Luke 8:17  ''For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.''

Proverbs 2:1-9   "My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And he preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course."

Way Back Wednesday.....A Good Start

  


    















    

      Here I am at age 3.   This is one of my favorite pictures because I love pigtails.  It took me until 2 to get any hair to speak of, so by 3 I had enough to put up with a cute style.
      In my daily Bible reading today was Psalm 119;9-10  ''How can those who are young keep their way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.''
      My church life began at First Freewill Baptist in Conway but I was too young to remember that.  I only know of what I've been told, which was that I used to ask the preacher if I could sing to the congregation after each Sunday or Wednesday night sermon.  After we moved to Sherwood, we attended Freewill Baptist in Jacksonville.  I remember loving children's church.  We learned Bible story songs like 'Lil Zacheus up in a tree' and 'Build your house on the Rock.'  We had puppet shows with messages about how to get along with others and sharing the Word.  I think it is a fundamental building block to take children to church so to begin their life's journey with a firm foundation.  It teaches them that church is part of life and not a now and then activity.  Also reading Bible stories to them at home is a good practice.  I don't know why but my favorite was the one with baby Moses in the basket.
      Proverbs 22:6  ''Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.''

Armed for It

     I think this caption points out the value of reflecting upon our past.  I can personally think back on times where I felt scared or lost in what to do but was always equipped with a solution in His timing.  'I will never forsake you' is a comforting thought in stressful situations. 
     People often say 'Life isn't fair.'  Who said it was supposed to be?  I think we see others trials and wonder if we could handle it as well.  I think God equips us in a specific manner for specific ordeals. As I was going somewhere the other day I was a little anxious about needing to cough.  I saw a church sign that said 'Trusting God relieves panic.'  The storms of life will come to test you so your foundation must be solid to withstand them.  God gives us a full set of armor to fight our battles. We are to always speak the truth, always do the right thing, always be ready to witness to others, always trust with faith what we do not understand, always guide our ways thru the Word, and pray without doubt.  This is how we make our way thru a dark world with the light of the Son.

Ephesians 6:13-18  ''Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.   Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. '' 

Don't Compare

     The other day I found out something about someone and began to compare my blessings with theirs.  It was the devil at work in my mind.  I thought why do I care?  I wasn't envious because I never wanted that situation in my life.  It did try to rob me of the blessings in my life, until I got my perspective back on track.  How did I do that?  I started naming off the blessings in my life.  An instant joy booster.
     Comparison is only good for price shopping, nothing else.  If you compare your looks to a model's picture on a magazine, you'll lose confidence in your own beauty.  Einstein said, 'if you judge a fish by its inability to climb, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.'  We are all given different abilities to journey on our different paths.  Don't sell yourself short because your blessed in a different way.  Embrace your uniqueness.
      If you must compare yourself to someone, choose your past self to the current one.  It should show growth and maturity both physically and spiritually.
      'Don't compare yourself to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.'

Shine On

     I have wanted to write this blog for some time now but have waited for the right caption to go with the story.
     My friend's mother, Paula, found out that her neighbor was in desperate need of a kidney transplant.  Paula wanted to do whatever she could to help her so she participated by signing up on the organ donor list.  She didn't know how or who it would help.  Well the Cleveland Clinic found several matches, 8 I think, where it would work like a chain reaction.  On Feb. 14, 2012, Paula's kidney went to someone in California but as part of the swap, her neighbor got a kidney too.
      I asked Paula how she could literally give so much of her self to someone else?  She said she felt blessed with good health from God and that He would protect her in wherever it took her.  She also realized He might call her home sooner by doing this but that was okay too if this brought Him glory.
     What an example of light to others in this dark world of selfishness.  I hope the organ donation story has/will touch so many people thru all of its duration as an example of 'love your neighbor as thyself' to the n-th degree. 
     May you be a shining example today in whatever you do to help someone else out....shine on!

A Desire for More

     This past Monday night we completed our women's Bible study on the Book of Revelation.  I can tell you alot of it surpassed my mind but it did reassure me that God does have a plan and it will all come to be one day.
     We ended with combining both Rev 21 and 22, which both relate to what heaven will be like.  Rev 21;1  ''Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.''  Rev 21;3-4  '' And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
     As the caption implies, there is so much more to put our hope and trust in that this world cannot begin to give.  I think of us like a baby in the womb.  We are created for so much more but in His timing only will he push us into that new realm.  He does give us a taste thru the Word of a preview of what is to come.  Isn't it exciting?  'This world is not my home, I'm just a passing thru.'  As I look ahead, I trust He's got my back.

Not Forgotten

     Have you ever felt forgotten?  I call it the 'back burner syndrome' when everything you want to do gets put on the back burner till later but then it's forgotten. 
     Sometimes our relationships can take this road, especially long distance ones.  Keeping in touch is not easy and takes work.  Before I moved back here, I made sure to bring with me some of my forget-me-not plants from my yard that one of my friends had given me.  We planted them here and remind me of my friendships that I cherish from Springfield.
     God never forgets us.  We are the ones that need reminded of Him by prayer and His Word.  We ask Him to draw near to us and yet we are the ones that pull away.  If our plea truly is to have a closer walk with Thee, then we must recognize His ever presence with us, His unfailing love for us and His good plan/will for us.
     ''Our total being--mind, will, emotions, personality, and physical body--are to be turned over to our heavenly Father (James 4:7a). Submitting ourselves to the Lord requires a definite decision to give Him control and a daily commitment to remain under His authority. By surrendering to Him, we will position ourselves for godly living.''  from intouch.org

Way Back Wednesday-----3rd Grade Art

    

     Well I have blogged before about Mrs. Bowen's third grade class but here the picture is included.  Mrs. Bowen was a great teacher because she had love and discipline balanced perfectly.  That means she was full of praise and patience but didn't take any crap.
     I remember most from her class, two art projects.  One was using butter lids to make coasters or pot holders.  We glued different types of beans onto the underside of the lid in a concentric pattern.  The other project was gluing different colors of rice onto an 11x12 piece of wood that had an animal traced onto it.  My project was a bald eagle.  It was a tedious task using a toothpick to line the rice up to make it look like smooth feathers but it was fun.
      They say the Earth without 'art' is just 'Eh.'  I think Mrs. Bowen instilled an appreciation for art in me.  The projects also taught me to finish a project,  especially ones that take a long time to complete.

Gentleness

     ''You're being too rough with me!''   I've heard it, thought it, and said it before.  I think this is how impatience shows its ugly head.  It's not an easy thing to be at the mercy of the hands of someone else. Have you ever played that game where you fall backwards into someone else's arms?  It's supposed to teach you trust but sometimes we aren't given the choice.  We have to trust and hope they're gentle.   Sometimes we think we can make a square peg go thru a round hole, if we just force it a little more. 
      I think the caption above uses a cat as a prime example of gentleness.  Have you ever tried to catch a cat?  It does take a gentle touch with a patient hand.  They are quick and know when you're up to something. When we share the Word with others, we must use gentleness in our approach or the listener may too run off.   Donald Gee, gave another illustration I like. ''A guide was taking a group of visitors through a factory. One of the things he showed them was a giant steam hammer capable of flattening an automobile. Then the guide put down a walnut and had the hammer break the shell without hurting the meat of the nut. What an illustration of gentleness as power under perfect control!''
     Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  Therefore, it should play out in all areas of our lives.  Gentle words, gentle actions and gentle thoughts.  Philippians 4:5  ''Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.'' 
     ''In our daily lives we cannot help coming into situations that bring conflicts with people. It is easy for us in the natural to react with violence or anger, especially if we feel insecure in our position. But when we accept the reality of who we are in Christ and trust the Holy Spirit to help us, we can be gentle, whatever conflicts may arise.''

Colossians 3:12  ''Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.''

Happy Mother's Day

      HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my Mom and all the other mothers who read this.  I thought this picture was appropriate to show my mom at what she does best.  I'm not skinny because of her cooking, that's for sure.  Love you Mom!

Changes

     We are all a work in progress.  Are you being tranformed into something better?  I think this caption gives good examples of how time and pressure can be of huge benefit.  We often think of everyday pressures as strife and yet they are useful to our spiritual and personal growth.  We also tend to just associate time with getting older but it should also bring wisdom. 
      For those of us with a few more miles, aren't you glad you're not the same as at age 20?  I guess that's where the phrase 'I wish I knew then, what I know now' comes from. 
      How gritty as sand and dirty as coal are we without His love and discipline to change our image into one like His?



Romans 12:2  ''Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.''

2 Corinthians 3:18  ''And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.''

The New Rude

     I'm sure you've heard of the 'new math' [yea I don't know what that means either], but this caption makes me think of the 'new rude' from people.  I am a big advocate of eye contact.  Of course, most people need to look at me to understand what I'm saying but I think it should be done with everyone.
     This reminds me of a story back when there were no cell phones.  For a couple of years, The Villa had a location here in Sherwood.  I went on a date there with a guy named Larry.  I didn't pay attention to our seating arrangement until a few minutes into the date.  The tv was in his line of sight over my head.  This does not leave a good impression.
      So now days, the ante of how rude can you be has been raised.  A large majority of people are hog-tied to their cell phones by which I mean they cannot move or function without it.  Emergencies are one thing, the rest can wait. Pay attention to who you're with or they will leave you there alone with just you and your phone.....or at least they should.

Routine

       This caption is so me!  I am a creature of habit and like to stick to a routine.  I like to rise at the same time, eat on schedule and do things a certain way.  I do like to mix it up a little with a change every now and then, like a vacation, but I do like to get back to the familiarity of things.  Some may think it's a sign of age but I think I've always been this way.
        One of our preachers brought up the topic of routine in his sermon the other day.  Traditionalism is what he called it.  Why do we do the things we do?  Are we going to church to worship with a seeking heart or going with a heart of habit?  Do we give donations to missionaries because it's that Sunday of the month or with a 'love thy neighbor as thyself' mentality?  We should do things not out of duty but out of the heart.
       I am not against traditions.  I think some family traditions are very important and have a special meaning to them.  I'm just warning about how some things can become rituals without any thought to or behind them.

Way Back Wednesday---Kindergarten Grad

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      Well I didn't know until now that I had a doctorate degree.  You can now start calling me Dr. Angie...lol..just kidding.  This was my first of three diplomas in my life. 
      We lived on Flagstone Street off of Kiehl Avenue back then, that's one street west of the skating rink.  I went to a private school called Lil People School for kindergarten and first grade.  I loved it.  They stayed open until 6pm to give parents time to get there after work to pick kids up.  They offered a variety of different after school classes.  I was first put into dance class with ballet and tap.  Well after discovering I had two left feet and no rhythm, I moved into baton class. You might notice in the picture that my shoes, that later became fashionable, were not a stylish statement by me.  These were corrective shoes that were a precursor to my braces.
       I think it's important to make education an important aspect in a child's life at an early age.  A lil graduation for a lil people group makes it fun and special.  Getting a good start to a hopefully long road of education is priceless.

Not In, Today

     Don't you hate it when you go somewhere for something specific and they are out of it? I wonder how far this little girl and her dog in the caption walked in the cold only to be disappointed.
     I've gone to Whole Hog Bbq for one of their pork loaded potatoes and found out that they had run out of them. What? No potatoes? That's what I had my heart set on and now nothing on the menu is going to taste as good.
     Another example is finding white jeans.  I think there are about two weeks in a year when you can find white jeans.  Why is that?  Apparently I missed it this year and am going to have to wait till next spring.
     How disappointed is God with us when He comes to us for something specific and we claim to just not have it in us that day?  Will He not give us the strength and provisions to do what He asks of us?  We can only blame our being 'out' on ourselves.  We each have so much to give that could bless someone else's life and to just keep it, is to waste it. 
     ''You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.''

A Rebel?

     Do you consider yourself a rebel?  For the most part I don't but I certainly have my rebellious areas.  I would define a rebel as one who thinks they have it under control, know best and reject authority's instruction.  An example of my rebel nature is definetely behind the wheel.  When I started driving to high school-- North Pulaski, my parents told me to take Kellogg road all the way to Hwy 107.  They didn't want me to take the shorter route, Oakdale road, because of the limited line of sight on the south side.  Well I don't remember going the long route one time because I was usually short on time.  Now most rebellious stories end with punishment but grace must have been with me because my secret never came to light or caused a problem.  I was probably extra cautious to make sure I didn't get caught.
      The Bible has many stories on rebellion to teach us to submit to His authority thru examples.  Surely the most well-known story is that of the Israelites.  God led them, protected them, and provided for them but they still questioned and disobeyed Him.  Rebellious? Most definetely.  Am I feeling more like a rebel in His eyes?  Most definetely. 
     Hopefully as I have progressed thru my journey here on earth, I've learned to become more submissive and less rebellious in my thoughts and ways.  The Israelites felt the consequences and so have I.  ''The rebel can never find peace. He knows what is good and, despite himself, does evil.'' 

     1 Samuel 15:23  ''For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

Leap for Joy

     Frogs are in the air this weekend.  In Conway, Toad Suck Daze is kicking off the beginning of summer festivals here in Arkansas.  A relative's son won his preliminary round in the frog jumping contest yesterday when his frog crossed the finish line with two jumps.
     Do you remember playing leapfrog as a child?  We too can leap over obstacles in our lives with trusting God as our strength and shield.  I know my heart was leaping with joy yesterday when I was out yesterday for a good while without having to come home to cough.
     One way to give my thanks in song is by learning the new song, 'The Love of God,'  I got yesterday during my music lessons.  His love is measureless and pure.
     I'm going to toad-lly leave you with a hip-hoppin good day.

Ready for the Weekend

     Are you ready for the weekend?  When I worked, I just looked forward to some rest on the weekends.  Now, I look forward to it as a change of pace.  Maybe the chance to go out and do something different.  I always look forward to my friend that comes over on weekends, when she can.  I also have music lessons on Saturday mornings which is a joy to anticipate.  Of course, there is church on Sundays that can refuel me for the week ahead.
     A quote I love is  'Why is Monday so far from Friday, and Friday so near to Monday?'  You know the feeling.  The week when it drags on slower than a snail's pace and yet the weekend flies by faster than a F-14 plane.
     I hope you don't have to work this weekend and can do and enjoy the things you want to do.   HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Common Sense

     Has common sense not only left the building, but the Earth too?  Have you found it to be a scarce commodity too?  I read that it's so rare these days that it should be considered a superpower.
     Last night after church, we went to Tutti Fruitti to get my frozen yogurt fix.  [The coffee flavor is to die for..yum]  Anyways, it is in a strip mall along with a fitness gym.  As we drove past the gym, there were two ladies out there smoking after their workout.  Seriously?  Are you gasping for air from the workout or from the toxic fumes you're purposefully inhaling?  I'd bet on the smoke killing them faster than the fat.  I wonder if I am the look they are going for, skinny with a mask?  I don't recommend it.
     Another common sense question I personally get is 'does that go backwards?'  If I had a dollar for everytime I've driven my scooter on an elevator and been asked that..lol.  Of course I'm polite and say yes.
What I'm thinking tho is 'no, I'm gonna ride up and down for hours and wait for a miracle to get me out of here.'  Aren't you glad I don't say everything I think? lol
     The folks with the least amount of common sense are those who say there is no God. Even the devil knows that God exists.  His evidence surrounds us.  There is no where you can go without proof that He exists and created what's in front of you.  Psalm 89:8  ''Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.''

Way Back Wednesday---Golden Retrievers

     When I was a teenager, my idea to earn money was to raise golden retriever puppies.  So one Christmas morning I got a puppy that I named Wendy.  She kept my parents up most of that Christmas eve night.  She was a very good dog and turned out to be a great mother. She loved to be petted more than anything.  We later got another female, Misha, who wasn't a very loving mother so Wendy took care of those puppies too.
The puppy business worked out pretty well for me.  My parents did most of the work and I did most of the loving of  Wendy and the pups, then I got the loot after they were sold.  Even though we found good homes for the puppies, I hated and avoided the times when they left.
      Wendy passed away at an old age for dogs in June of 2001 right before I came back in August.  God's timing is always right and it made it easier on me to be far away. 

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS FOR MAY

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS FOR MAY 2012

  

DENNY NORRIS AND FAMILY........CANNON BEACH

1.        In our most recent update we asked you to pray for  Leonard, the husband of Sara.  We are grateful that he has been studying the Bible with me now for 2 months.  Two weeks ago, he had a birthday and his “friends” invited him to have a drink after work.  Since that time, he has been coming home late from work.  While we missed one week of Bible study, we are back on track.  But I sense that he is now struggling more to understand the gospel.  (We are currently doing a study in the gospel of John.)  Please pray that Leonard would be released from the dominion of Satan and be transferred to the kingdom of God’s Son (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13).  Sara and her 4 children had been encouraged to see him receive a bible study, but these last weeks daunted some of their hope.  Pray for them that God would give them encouragement and a good testimony with Leonard.

2.        Please continue to pray for the Jr. High and High-school Youth.    We now meet each Thursday morning before school at a Bagel & Coffee shop.  They are memorizing Scripture and we are studying the book of John.  Sometimes we can barely get to the Bible study because they have so many questions.  Pray that God will give them:  (1) a desire to live holy lives;  (2) that they would not being conformed to this world; and (3), that they would be faithfully reading God’s word (Rom. 12:1-2; I Pet 2:2).  These kids all go to public schools where they are surrounded by immorality and bombarded by worldly philosophy.   Some of them do not have the support of Christian parents and others have parents that are new in the faith. 

3.       We have 3 events coming up in our church where we will have the opportunity to give the gospel to unbelievers.  Please pray with us concerning the following events:  (1)  May 9, wedding of Misael & Reina;  (2)  June 9,  Sand Castle Weekend in Cannon Beach.  Our church will be entering the Sand Sculpturing event, passing out tracts, etc.;  and  (3),  June 29-30,  Evidence for  Creation Conference with Steve Hudgik (I’ll be translating into Spanish).

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK

You may remember, many years ago, we asked prayer for doña Mari, an older woman in our village who is very hardened

and closed to the truth. She has threatened and prohibited her many grown children living nearby, from having anything to do

with us (spiritually).  In spite of this, one daughter, Josefina, has been listening and opening up more and more throughout the years. She attends

church quite frequently now, and we believe that she and one of her sons, Quico, have trusted Christ for salvation. She

recently asked prayer for her mother, who is discouraged and not feeling well. She has become a confirmed alcoholic. Pray

that the Lord would give us wisdom to reach out to her, and that the Holy Spirit would be at work in her heart, convicting her

of sin and pointing her to the Savior.

We also need prayer for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance as we have begun work on some major changes to the camp

 facilities, and are contemplating other big projects as well.  Our goal is to accommodate more people for the family

camps, as the current facilities cannot easily handle the 400 plus people who are eagerly signing up for these

camps. (This, in spite of the fact that around half of them stay in tents on the camp property!) We hate to turn

people away, but have been obligated to do so, several times, due to lack of space. This year, the Lord allowed

 us to expand the women’s bathroom in time for the Easter camp. The 4 toilets were increased to 10. We hope to

have four additional showers done by the next camp. Thank you for your prayers for us,

as we proceed with these projects in the coming months.

MARTIN AND HANSY TUOHY

1. Hansy is fighting a painful breast infection. Please pray she'll be able to nurse Markus successfully.

2. Our Mexican sister, Yuri, is traveling to Denmark today to help us out with the children for 7 weeks! Please pray for a spiritually fruitful time while she is here.

 

PHILIP AND SANDRA PRIME

 

1. Javier and his wife Josefina came to us by accident...his. A little more than 3 months ago he was struck by a car while crossing the road  and ended up in the emergency room. Josefina was desperate and looking for spiritual help when she began to talk to a Gudelia, who goes to our church and whose daughter-in-law was also in the emergency room. She took down the directions and ended up in our church the next Sunday morning. I began studying with them and it appears that they have come to faith in Christ. The prayer request has to do with the surgery on his fractured leg; it appears that they did a poor job setting it with the rod and screws (all exterior). He needs a second surgery but can't get anyone in the hospital where they have their insurance to do it. The bar and screws have been there for 3 1/2 months and counting. Pray that the Lord would use this injury for His glory and their good and that soon he could get the necessary/proper attention.

2. This Saturday evening the youth will be in our home for Bible study. We have also invited Chava and Nancy Vera and their 3 kids from Puruandiro to spend the weekend with us for fellowship and encouragement. Pray for Chava as he will share his testimony with the youth on Saturday and bring the message to our church on Sunday.

 

Lalalalala

     Who out there has not done this at some point?  haha.  I've done it when somebody is talking about a movie I want to see and I don't want it spoiled for me.  I've done it in my head when overhearing chronic complaining.  It can be a useful tool in a never ending, no win arguement. I've sang the lala's in songs when the writer of it was clearly at a loss for words.
     Maybe the 'lala' method would irritate the person who is using unpleasant words as much as their words bother us.  There is so much in this world that we should avoid hearing.
     Many people shut their ears like this to the gospel but it is not a wise decision.  It's just a way of ignoring and refusing to submit to His Word. Romans 10;17-18  'Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”'   Some people choose to 'lala' thru parts of the Bible too instead of accepting all of it.  You can't pick and choose what you like or don't like.  Deuteronomy 12:32  ''See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.''
     I'll wrap this up not with a bunch of lala's but I prefer 'nananana hey heyyyyyy goodbye.'

I Gota Wear Shades

     Well this picture of Snoopy reminded me of a song from the 80's called 'My Future's So Bright, I Gota Wear Shades' by Timbuk3.  [ heres the link, http://youtu.be/8qrriKcwvlY ]  The song has been popular with graduations even tho the song is really about the threat of nuclear war.  As you know, graduation season is upon us next month.  I hope those that are graduating and moving on to their next phase in life have a plan in place with a guided sense of direction. 
     We can get caught up in the fear of war, earthquakes, or famine but the Bible tells us these things must happen before the end of times.  Luke 21;9-11  '' When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.''  Believers have The Hope in their futures from the promises of God.  'I go to prepare a place for you.'  We should look forward without fear because our futures are too bright, even for RayBans, to shade it out. 
     Be sure before you graduate from this earth, that your heavenly plan is in place with His direction.