My Choices Were Influenced by WHO?!

Take a moment. Think of your 3-5 closest friends from high school.

Where are they now?

Do you even know where they are living or anything about them?

Do you talk to them now once a week or more? I am not talking about just surface level "my dog just ate my remote" on Facebook. I'm talking about real conversations. Are they still your friend or are they more of an acquaintance?

You see, those people who were once so very important to us and who so strongly influenced what we did, who we thought we were, or what we believed are typically no longer in the picture.

Isn't it strange how me make choices as a teenager that can forever alter our lives, and those choices are influenced by people who will not be around to see us live with those consequences.

Kinda' makes you wonder why you listened to them. I wish we could convince today's teenagers of this.

The Story of Zac Smith

Just wanted to update this post and note that Zac died on 05/16/10. I pray his family and friends know peace while missing this inspirational man.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Do Some People Think You Stink?

I was doing my daily Bible reading a couple of days ago and came across a passage that I've never noticed before (isn't that strange how you can read OVER a passage many times but actually read it another?).

Here it is:

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? (2 Corinthians 2: 15-16, NIV)

This scripture is further evidence that real life as a Christian plays out in very real ways.

It seems that when we are walking with God and living out loud, other believers find a sweet aroma. Those who are seeking experience the "fragrance of life" that can only be found in God. However those who have the burden of sin upon their lives find us offensive...the very "smell of death" whether they recognize it as that or not.

If they are not ready to meet God, they will often reject you, your life, your beliefs, your faith, your morals. They might mock. They might ignore. They might attack. All because you are the smell of death to them...their own God-given consciousness is reeling at your presence because of the weight of sin bearing down on them. Conviction is weighing heavy on them.

But if they are ready...they will encounter an aroma unlike anything they know in their current state. You will appeal to them in a way they cannot explain. They will be attentive to your ways and your words. They will be watching and learning. They will seek what it is that makes you smell so sweet to them.

Strange that one person can effect people in two very different, very polar ways.

You never know where a person is in their path to faith. It is up to us to leave a path in our wake that will draw others to God. Maybe they will mock. Maybe they will be attuned to God. All we must do is live in the way that He commands and let Him work out the rest in whatever way He wants.

So be who you are meant to be in Him. Let the reaction of others not phase you nor discourage you. Their perception of you might well be tied up in their heart condition.

And remember--if you absolutely reek to some people...you just might be doing it right.

Every Moment is His

I love it when God touches you at the most ordinary, mundane moments and claims them for Himself.

This morning our local Christian radio station interviewed Chris Tomlin, and he talked, among other things, about a new Christmas album he has released for this holiday season. I need to get my hands on this one!

One moment in the interview that I cannot get out of my mind came when he was discussing the lyrics to one of the songs, Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground). He talked about how God was silent to his people for about 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. Then the silence was broken...by the sound of a crying baby.

What a beautiful picture that painted.

Thank you for sharing that, Chris. God spoke to me in my car through your words and made my daily commute extraordinary today.

Get Out Your Tissues...

A Post of Interest

I know, there's supposed to be an LDS Study post here today. And there might be later today. However, I just ran across an article that I wanted to share with you, as I thought it might interest you...

Republicans Ask Obama to Back Down on Pro-Abortion Freedom of Choice Act

Prayers Needed

I have a request for any/all who might actually read this blog.

There is a young man who was part of the inspiration for all of my postings regarding the LDS church. He was a missionary for the LDS church who I spoke with and defended my faith to.

He is currently thinking of leaving the LDS church. He wants to take time away to really look at things and think about things. He has a lot of questions and he's frustrated at the lack of answers he's getting from people he trusts.

His family is quite unhappy. They have told him that they would disown him if he leaves the church.

I can't imagine having to make that decision.

Please pray for him. Pray for his family to see the error of their ways (of desiring to disown him if he choose to leave). Pray that God will guide him to the truth. Pray that God will give him the strength to make whatever decisions he has to in order to follow God's plan for his life.

Also, know that he has been offered a place to stay to get things straightened out if he has no where else to go by a friend of mine.

His name is Nathan, and he needs our support right now.

Real Life - Not So Pleasant Surprises

Today's Real Life of a Christian is about surprises...and not those kind that you could excitedly find underneath your tree in a few weeks.

Yesterday I was completely blindsided. I will not go into detail just because I don' t want to share some of the more intimate details and make it appear that I'm blaming someone else for what happened, because I'm not.

However, yesterday I got a huge surprise. It's a situation with which I'm directly involved in that took me by total surprise. I feel like I should have known. I feel like I should have been told. But it doesn't lie totally in the hands of the person who should have told me. I honestly feel stupid for being naive enough not to realize it myself.

Okay, that's pretty vague, but I don't want to hurt anyone by implying blame or by anyone else inferring it, so I have to leave it at that. However, please know that a lot of changes are going to have to take place to rectify this situation and it's going to take some sitting down and planning from all parties involved. It is possible, but I am now taking a deep breath and trying to take in the changes that are going to take place and how to work with them. Pray for this situation (regardless of how little detail I've been able to give!). Pray that God will help us take care of it and guide us in the decisions on how to clear everything up and open up lines of communication that will prevent this from ever happening again.

On a note for a friend: I have a coworker whose wife has been in poor health for a long time. Two days ago she fell in the shower and bumped her head. She was taken to the ER and stitched up, but yesterday he took her to the doctor. This morning he is running about trying to get out here so he can go get the living will. Obviously the prognosis isn't good although I'm not clear on the details. Please pray for them though. If the result is not a healing, please pray for the family as well.

What about you? Do you have any needs that you would like us to pray for?

Real Life - Struggles All Around Me

Let me begin by apologizing. Life has been busy and I haven't been posting as I should. This explains the absence of Real Life of a Christian for teh past few weeks, but is not a good excuse. I want to be here to support and uphold you and need you to do the same for me, but I have removed our connection to one another for such to happen. It is my shortcoming and I am sorry for the absence of this feature of my site. It is back and hopefully will remain a more permanant fixture from now on.

Now...onward.

Life has changed drastically since the last time we visited the Real Life of a Christian. There are many things that I need you to lift up in prayer. I firmly believe in the power of prayer, so I am passing along the needs of others as well so you can lift them up when they are weak.

1. First of all, I would ask that you pray for our family. We recently found out that there will be a new edition of our family in June. Everything has been going well. I will tell you that I have experienced some scary symptoms that are often normal for many pregnancies, but since I did not experience them with my first, they have been frightening. Please pray that these symptoms have now subsided (going on 3 days without them right now) permanently and the health of the baby will continue to flourish. Also, on the same note, please pray that I can regain some of my energy soon and feel less sluggish and lethargic soon. I am constantly exhausted, and feel energy-less most of the time.
2. Next, please pray for a bloggy friend of mine who just found out that they have miscarried their bundle of joy. She and her husband have been desperately praying and trying for a third child (after a prior miscarriage), and she was ecstatic when she found out she was expecting again. This week she learned that the baby has not survived and she is now beginning to pass it naturally.
3. Next, a coworker's house burned to the ground Sunday night. It was a rental and his insurance will provide full coverage of the losses as well as temporary housing, but he is having a tough time dealing with the overwhelming feeling of loss. Some of the items he lost were of very touching sentimental value to him (possessions of his late mother as well as his journals) and in addition to losing priceless items, he is just dumbfounded by the severity of it all. No one was hurt (praise God, he was inspired to go to the gym because he was restless instead of falling asleep to possibly not awaken). However, I think he has not yet accepted it, as he has not yet started shopping for more clothes again (he has just what he was wearing and what was in his gym bag). He just needs the strength to pick up and move on and peace from God regarding the "why me" factor.
4. Another coworker is dealing with some serious marital issues. He is trying desparately to piece together a marriage that he wife has given up on. He is making a lot of the right steps to making the changes he needs to and get them (as a couple) the help that they need to rebuild their relationship and keep together their marriage after 16 years. However, as you know, it will require both of them to be willing to make changes, forgive, and work really, really hard to put together what is currently wounded, broken, and hurting. It's not an easy task, but I know it is possible. I pray that God will provide him strength and guidance to continue trying to do what is right, and that she will be open to working out the issues that they have been battling for many years. It is going to be a long haul, and I pray for God's strength and guidance so that they are willing and successful at making the trip.
5. My boss's house was broken into this past Monday. They have caught the guys and recovered anything that will be recovered, but pray for a renewal of a sense of security and safety in their own home. I can't possibly imagine the feeling of violation that they must be experiencing.

Wow...lots of heavy stuff this week. When it rains, it pours, right?

Seriously though, everyone on the list would greatly appreciate all of the spiritual support they can get!

What about you? Going through anything that you want people to pray about? It can be major, like the above, or it can be comparatively minor. No problem is too small or too large for God and He truly cares about each one of our struggles.

Please let a comment or your info in the Mr. Linky here and you will be on my list as well as those of other readers! God bless!

Real Life - Legacy

Once again it is time to examine the Real Life of a Christian across Blogland. You may notice that there is no button for this week's post. That's because Blogger is not allowing me to upload images to any of my posts at the moment. Stupid blogger.

So, we'll have to go at this without the pretty little graphic.

So this week I had a reality check. I was attending the Beth Moore Bible study that we're doing at church and on the video Beth was discussing leaving a spiritual legacy for your children. Well, the Holy Spirit must have been talking to me because the message I got out of her saying that had nothing to do with the point she was trying to make.

I had an eye-opener though. I got to thinking about how Patrick would view my Christian walk. I wanted to be a Christian mom and guide to him and not someone who is a Christian some of the time. You see, there are times that I get frustrated at Patrick. Really frustrated. I know...we all get frustrated at our children because, well, they are frustrating creatures sometimes. However, I had a memory of a recent example that I yelled at him. Not raised my voice, but yelled. He looked crushed and although my heart broke at his expression, I was no less frustrated about the situation. That's when I realized that my Christian example would not hold as much water if I were yelling at this precious gift that God gave me.

Sure, it's fine for Chrsitians to be mad, but I was not expressing my anger in a Christian manner, or even an effective manner. I ended up hurting his feelings more that I was expressing why I angry.

So, I am resolved to only express my anger to him in a healthy constructive manner from now forward. I want him to remember me not as someone who yelled at him when I was mad, but as someone who firmly disciplined him while loving him all along. I don't want to leave a legacy of anger, but one of control.

This most likely will not be easy. I've been doing great since this past Tuesday, but only 3 days have past. Can I keep it up? Will I falter? I need strength to keep this up and break the habit. Everyday I must choose to handle these situations with the right attitude and control regardless of my emotions surrounding the situation. Until this because part of my character though, I ask you to pray for strength for me in this effort.

What do you have to lay down today? Do you have a situation that needs prayer? Do you hold on to your "ways of the flesh" more than we are called to do? Leave a link to your site telling us what you are in need of prayer for or leave a comment. We all need to be lifting up each other in prayer so we can make our time on this earth as Christ-like as possible.

Real Life - Blah

I have been in a funk lately. I know...I'm supposed to find contentment in everything. I'm not totally depressed or anything. I do find joy in life and when I think of it, I can count more blessings that I deserve. However, it is sometimes hard to remember to count those blessings.

I am currently unhappy at work. I just really don't feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I don't really know how to describe it. I don't hate it. The people are great. The hours are fine (usually). The job pays well. However, it is just proof that true joy does not come in any of those things. Even on days when I get a lot done and feel very productive, I do not feel like I am being productive in anything that really matters at the end of the day.

I have no idea what I would do if it were not being an engineer. It is all I have ever known. It has worked for me. Without any bragging in my voice, I can say that most days, I am very good at my job. I just don't feel fulfilled at it.

So...I'm asking you to pray along with me for God to either show me His purpose here at my current job or show me an open door for what He wants me to be doing instead. I trust Him to pick whatever is best for me. I just don't hear any answers at the moment.

Do you have any prayer requests? Blog about them and leave a link here or request them in the comments. We all want to pray along with you and there is power in the prayer of the saints.

Real Life - Humbled

Today in Real Life of a Christian, I will cover an issue that is currently all over my blogs. It humbles, overwhelms, challenges, and lifts me up all at the same time. And I need your prayers concerning it.

Over the last few weeks I have been helping a friend though a crisis of faith that he was/is having. I am trying to be supportive yet not overbearing; understanding, yet firm. It's hard work to keep your mouth shut sometimes, but if the Spirit is not leading my prayer is that I will not be talking.

Over the course of these weeks he has introduced me to two young LDS (Mormon) missionaries who are currently serving their two-year missions in our town. They were working pretty hard to convince him to join them until he talked to me. I was concerned due to my knowledge of the LDS church and its beliefs, and began a bit of an intervention.

The missionaries have been to our house now on two separate occasions. Through these two visits (and some time before with at least one of them), they have begin to doubt their beliefs (praise God for how He works!). I have asked for one more meeting with them to defend one question that they asked last time which I provided an answer for, but had no time to provide my evidence for my beliefs. They have agreed to return at least one more time.

Although I had some fairly knowledgeable overview-type understanding of the LDS beliefs, through this situation I have REALLY learned a lot about them and their history. I have learned a lot about their church, both what is portrayed and the actual inner workings. I have learned much about some secret rituals that they do not discuss with non-members. I have learned how to use the Bible and some of their own scriptures to refute their very beliefs.

I have, in short, become slightly obsessed.

Now I feel the urge/push to share my obsession with you.

I am going to start a series of posts that will examine the ins and outs of the beliefs, history, and people of the Latter Day Saints church. I will show you how to speak with them and how to back up your own beliefs and not be intimidated by their apparent familiarity of scripture versus your feelings of inadequacy. I will show you how to defend your faith as a layperson and child of God.

So, there is a LOT to cover and I currently look like a deer in headlights. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot and I am pondering how to cover it all clearly and effectively without a lot of jumping around.

Please pray for clarity and direction in this effort. I really believe this is something I need to do. The people of the LDS church are good, hard-working people who have been lied to. Many of them were brought up in environments where they were surrounded by others like them and therefore are immersed in their faith. It resonates in them so loudly that it is often difficult for them to see what appears obvious to those outside of their faith. They are certainly not bad people and have no bad intentions. However, they are misguided and not headed in the right direction. Pray for them as well that we might reach out to them in a Christ-like way and lead them to the appropriate flock.

What do you need prayer for this week? Do you need guidance, help, love, healing, faith, strength, peace? Please lay your burdens before the Lord. Feel free to blog about it or just ask for a supportive prayer partner and leave a link here. We all have to be in this together.

Real Life - Sometimes Things are Good

You know, sometimes things are just going well. Honestly, I have had a chaotic week and now that Friday is here, I have a peculiar sense of peace. Must be God, right? Because I'll tell you that there is no unmiraculous explanation of why I can be calm after the week I'm having. Thank you, Father!

So today I'm just going to leave you with a thought that I have learned from the Beth Moore Bible study (Believing God). that I'm currently involved with. I cannot quote here exactly and I'm not nearly as an effective communicator as she is, but it goes something like this:

In order for a structure to stand, the foundation has to be strong. The depth has to be able to support the whole. Before God can expand the breadth of your ministry, he has to expand the depth so that the whole breadth of it can stand firm.

That's what I firmly believe is going on with me right now. I have such a heart to be working for Him, but He is really having me grow at the moment. Praise Him, He's awesome and He really knows what He's doing. That sounds funny and a bit obvious to state, but sometimes I forget it in the process of living it.

So things are good now. I want to keep growing until I get to the point that He feels that I am ready to be used for His purposes. I guess that is my prayer request for you today.

What about you? Do you have a heavy heart or a burden to lay down? Do you need some divine intervention or just the support of a friend lending a shoulder? Please leave a link here and we'll all pray with you. Remember that Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) God bless you!

Real Life - A Muddled Mind

Today the prayer request I am presenting to you is a simple one...relief from a muddled mind.

I know that we all suffer from this from time to time, and I am currently going through one of those seasons. I am swamped from multiple directions but at the same time, still don't feel like I have time for everything. I am trying to prioritize, but I still feel bad about those things that are left undone.

I know that I can't be everything to everyone, but I am struggling to be something to those who DO matter. Between trying to manage a household, work full time, take care of my spiritual life, and spend time with my family, I have other items right now that are bogging me down. There's a birthday party to organize, photography session to be had, Mormons to be ministered to, and all this while trying to make sure we have meals planned, clean clothes, a clean house, and the mundane things of life.

Don't get me wrong...I have a WONDERFUL husband who is more than willing to help when he can. He is a gold-medal winning vacuummer (is that a word?), washes the cars, pays the bills, helps A LOT with Patrick, cooks meals when there is no time for me to do it, and is taking care of getting storm doors for the house. Regardless of everything he is doing, I still feel completely overwhelmed.

Please pray for a sense of peace in my life. I am working on priorities, I am letting the little things slide, I am making sure I have some "me" time (I am loving some library books that I recently got) and I still feel weighted down! I need Him to be my Prince of Peace right now.

Real Life - More of Him and Less of Me

So last week, my request was for you prayer warriors out there to lift up my friend in prayer regarding his search for the truth. The story continues in this Real Life of a Christian situation...



The visit with my friend and his Mormon missionary buddies happened. I hope to be able to give a lot of detail later, but right now, more prayer is needed.

The conversation with them went well. As I mentioned, there will be more details given later, but for now, suffice it to say that God was speaking. Through me. Literally. There was even one thing in particular that I said that I had never thought about until the words had already left my mouth. I know, many people (including me sometimes) do that frequently, but I had vowed not to open my mouth unless it was the Holy Spirit speaking and not me. I prepared a lot of information and background research about both my faith and theirs for this meeting. And words simply fell out of my mouth that I did not know were in there. And it was good--just like all of His creation.

There were several points where I left them unable to answer...and several others that left them answering, but with an explanation that I made obvious did not stand up to my faith and did not bear the strength of my God.

We talked for about 1-1/2 hours. We barely skimmed the surface.

They are coming back this Monday. I still need your prayers.

Not only is my friend on a search for faith (although Praise God, he seems to be coming around to an understanding of what I have been trying to tell him). It seems that one of the missionaries MIGHT be questioning his faith. He cannot come out and say so much, but he has left little notes and indications to my friend that something is amiss. He tried to defend his faith to me, as he feels he is called to do on his mission, but he was quite quiet through much of the discussion and thoughtful. He informed my friend that I used a LOT of supporting scripture for my arguments (ummm...yeah). He told my friend that I was intriguing and that God lived in our house.

So, here is my request.

• God will keep my mouth closed until His words come out
• God will protect the hearts and minds of those in our house and our home as well (no, the Mormons aren't dangerous, but I believe in spiritual warfare)
• My friend will see truth in what I am saying
• The Mormon missionary will be opened up to the real truth of God
• More of Him and less of me.

Thank you all for your support.

The Time Draws Near

Okay, so the big day is this upcoming Wednesday evening. I have been studying and prepping myself because frankly, I'm scared. I'm worried that I won't live up to what He deserves me to be, but I feel called to do it and I keep telling myself that I can do all things through Him.

Breathe in, breathe out.

On an interesting (possible) turn of events, it seems that one of the Mormon missionaries might be going through a faith crisis of his own. Maybe this is the reason why they are coming? We'll see. I'm leaving it up to God.

Keep praying. I need it!

Real Life - A Crisis of Faith (Although Not Mine)

Here is a seriously Real Life issue...

Okay, so I have spoken on my blogs about having to take some personal time away from blogging for a very important situation. Well, I am actually taking some time away from working on that situation to ask for your prayer concerning it. I'm not going to go into huge details concerning it just because I could write pages upon pages (I already have in "real" life) about this situation and subject matter, and I need to take this time to prepare for it. However, I want to bathe it in prayer, so I am giving it to you to lift up with me:

One of my coworkers who has become a good friend is struggling spiritually. He knows that he's struggling, but he really doesn't realize how much. He grew up in a faith that he now questions. It was a Christian faith, but was ultra-conservative and felt that they were the only right way to salvation (even other Christian denominations are wrong to them). He has never appreciated his church upbringing and left the church for a long while.

Like all of us, he can't ignore the spiritual longings that tell him that there is something out there that he needs to be a part of. Enter some Mormon missionaries. I have no problems with people speaking with Mormon missionaries; I feel that they are a very mission-minded people who are doing so much for their cause. However, I don't believe in their cause. In fact, I feel that their cause is very, very dangerous for the eternal lives of those who hear their message and consider it seriously. I will get more into that later, as I plan to write a lot about their beliefs soon. However, just know that no matter what they claim, their message is NOT a Christian one in the truest sense of the word "Christian"...in fact, not in any real sense of the word.

He has been speaking with them and getting a little TOO interested in their message for my comfort. I care about this coworker-friend and although ultimately it is his decision, I cannot stand back and watch him do this. Enter me.

He and I have been talking. He knows that I am a very accepting, caring person and will not bash him or his missionary friends over the head with my Bible (which actually happens to them all of the time!). I am, however, scheduled to meet with all of them next Wednesday to discuss the differences in my faith and theirs. I hope to (lovingly) point out where their faith fails while mine is strong.

So here I study. I study their faith so I know how to approach them, how their faith is misguided, how to point out the differences. I also study my own Bible because I know that they are MUCH more familiar with their books than I am mine. I'm not going to try and pretend to be a scholar, but I want to be able to quickly find the scripture that I KNOW is within the covers of my Bible.

So I ask for you to pray with me on several notes (please!)

1. That my study will be thorough and guided by God' hand to the areas that will be most persuasive to them.
2. That my mouth will not open except when filled with words from the Holy Spirit.
3. That my hands and eyes will be guided to the scriptures needed during this meeting.
4. That I will not be tripped up by lack of experience on my part.
5. That my friend can see the explanations and rebuttals given during this conversation with the missionaries and see that they are misguided.
6. That maybe even something will be said to reach these Mormon missionaries. They have been raised in the church and it is all they truly know. Maybe God can reach out through me to them and draw them unto Him?
7. That I will be guarded by an army of angels to prevent the enemy from misguiding, postponing, or redirecting my study and my meeting with them.
8. That I can be a true light of God, a shining example of His child, to these people.

...nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

Real Life - Storms

Thank you for joining me today for The Real Life of a Christian series hosted here on each Friday. Please feel free to join me in seeking prayers and support from fellow believers. Post any need you have on your blog, linking back to this post and filling out the Mr. Linky below (make sure you link to the particular post instead of your entire blog so it is easier to find).

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28



For me? Storms. Yep...the literal kind.

I live in Savannah, GA and just earlier this week we were faced with the certainty that Hurricane Hanna would provide the first direct hit on the city in over 100 years. Tuesday night was pandemonium at Wal-Mart with water and toilet paper flying off the shelves. Wednesday evening and it is only a tropical storm now, and they are barely predicting much wind or rain for us due to the fact the storm is most likely going to hit the NC coast (as of Thursday afternoon when I'm actually writing this).

Sigh of relief, right? Not quite.

You see, Hurricane Ike is presently a category 4 hurricane. The winds therefore are currently between 131-155 mph. The ranking system only goes to a category 5. Of course it is approximately 4 days from hitting the Bahamas. That's at least 6 or so from us. However, we are within the sight of the storm. It could come here. There's already talk of evacuating nursing homes according to my hubby's fancy travel employer (they are on retainer for use of their buses).

I'm scared. I know that God is faithful and will take of us. I know that material wealth is unimportant. I know that He is in control. However, I am worried about what could happen. I don't want to see the power of God's mighty hand in the form of either a hurricane or the protection from it. I just want to believe He can do it...in theory...no reality needed.

So I know that this is possibly premature, as I have seen how quickly the predictions can change in two days, much less a week, but I'm still concerned, as most people naturally would be.

Pray for protection for everyone in the path of all of these storms. Pray for clean up efforts and volunteers wherever they are needed and respond to. Pray for a peace through this literal storm.

Thank you, friends.

What about you? How can we all pray for you today? Any burdens you need to lay down? Sign the Mr. Linky below to be entered into our own prayer chain and increase the number of prayers going up on your behalf.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

More Weather...

So it seems that Gustav was not nearly as bad as expected, although I hate to say that knowing that there are a lot of people who did receive the brunt of that storm.

What now? Hanna is headed for our house. Hopefully not specifically our house, but she is definitely headed this way. Although the reports show it hitting more of the Charleston area rather than Savannah currently, there is no certainty with the weather patterns and we'll still be affected even if it hits Charleston (although that does put us on the "good" side of the storm.

We'll be watching it carefully and evacuating if need be. In fact, Chip plans to go get plywood for the back of our house (which faces east) tomorrow. Even if Hanna misses us, there is a possibility that Ike is right behind her.

So, right now I ask you to pray for a few things...

1. Firstly, pray for those currently undergoing the storms. Those poor residents of the Caribbean have just encountered Fay, Gustav, Hanna and now Ike is headed toward them. Although only one of our coastlines is affected by each (usually), they take hard hits with each!
2. Secondly, pray for those recovering from Gustav. Although it wasn't the massive monster that it could have been, there are people still in need of help due to the damage that was inflicted.
3. Next, pray for whoever these next hurricanes hit. I will be glad if it is not us, but I know that it will hit SOMEBODY.
4. Lastly, pray for all of us in the possible paths of all of these storms that we will have peace and comfort in our Lord, knowing that God is in control of all of this crazy weather.

Soon I hope to be back to our regularly scheduled posting (was it ever regular?), but until these storms pass, it may be sporadic!

Real Life - Girlfriends

Welcome to the first installment of The Real Life of a Christian. Feel free to grab the button below and use it in your post. Whether or not you use the button, I request that you do link back to this post so that others can visit and see what we've got going on here. The more prayers, the better, right?




So here is my contribution and thought of the week: I miss having good Christian girlfriends. Before we moved here I was surrounded by an awesome group of ladies from church. Although we didn't hang out as much as some friends, I had no doubts that I could have called SEVERAL people and ask for prayer and they were on it!

We've been living in Savannah for just over a year now and although I have a few good friends from work, I can't say that they are something that I can look to for spiritual guidance...not even someone that I could ask to pray for me.

The church we go to is a mega-church. I love the church and the opportunities. However, one problem with a church with over 5000 members is that it is harder to get close to people easily. At previous churches, you always run into the same people at the same places and times. Here, not so much. I don't know that I've sat near the same people twice in the (almost) year that we've attended. We did attend some small group meetings and although those people were awesome people who welcomed up with open arms, I didn't feel the bond with them that I am seeking. Perfectly warm people, but no connection.

So tonight I attended the kick-off for our women's ministries for the upcoming year. I did three things that I feel good about--1.) Signed up for a weekly women's Bible study; 2.) Signed up for a G (Girlfriends) Group for a game night once a month; and 3.) found a bond with another lady of similar age and status who needed a friend. We exchange nubmers and emails, so I'm hoping that we can find some female companionship.

I love Chip dearly and value having a good Christian husband, but there is something special and different in having a same-sex spiritual friend to whom you can run.

My prayer is that I can find a good support group of ladies to whom I can both lean on and provide strength for.

What about you? How can we all pray for you today? Any burdens you need to lay down? Sign the Mr. Linky below to be entered into our own prayer chain and increase the number of prayers going up on your behalf.