At the age of ten, I did not know a thing about the Lord and all of his glory. The year of my fifth grad I had gotten the worst news ever, my mother had cancer. I remember when my brother asked the question that made my heart jump, he asked "Mom, can you die from this?" In her answer she replied that it could kill her, but God will be with her every step of the way.

My mother ended up passing away only months after. I was so scared to be a girl without a motherly figure around. I told my father that I wanted to attend a church whenever we got settled into our new house that we had moved into, just after my mothers death. He agreed, but it was so hard adjusting, that all we had time to do was worry.

My father started to date, and soon after I had a step-mother. She attended the First Church of God, in which now I attend. I started to attend there once in a while, whenever I had time. Now, I can't miss a chance to be in the house o ... Read more »

I can't forsee this coming year
but this one thing I know
God will always be with me
no matter where I go.

I may be in the valley
shed many tears as I cry
or I may rejoice with gladness
as I'm lifted up inthe sky.

I may suffer times of heartaches
but they will come to pass
my journey on this earth
will be over, oh so fast.

I do not know what lies ahead
or what tomorrow will be
this I know, God is in control
and will give the best to me.

On Good Friday, 1994, just before midnight, my telephone rang. On the line was my brother, he told me that my 16 year old nephew, Dustin, had just died in a car wreck. Instantly my heart felt like it was in my stomach. My brother told me that there wasn’t any need for me to come down that night and I told him I would see him in the morning. I then told my wife and can remember crying in her arms.

The next morning, as I drove the 22 miles to my hometown, it just felt like a dream. I just kept thinking of my sister and how she must be handling this tragedy. As I walked into the house, I hugged my sister and told her how very sorry I was. As the day went on, I just watched her and her husband and kept thinking of my children, Ryan, who is one and a half months older than Dustin, and my daughter Tara. I couldn’t imagine losing either of them and how would I handle such a situation; they mean so much to me. My brother and I went ... Read more »

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People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

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If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

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If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

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If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

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What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

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If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

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... Read more »

Katherine was having a bad day and luckily a good friend and accountability partner of hers, Mary, noticed and wanted to talk about it.

They were talking about her feeling of loneliness. Katherine just really didn't feel special to anyone, but she knew that God was special through her to many people everyday. She knew God loved her, but she just desired to know that someone on earth loved her for who she is.

Then a man came into the room in which they were speaking. He threw some trash away and left. The two women continued their conversation and the man returned to throw more trash away.

Katherine noticed the man this time. He was about 6'4", with crystal blue eyes, and golden curls on his head. She remarked that she really liked his hair. The man laughed and then he told Katherine of how much he used to hate his hair-how he permed it straight once, and by 24 hours it was curly again...Katherine laughed with him because she also st ... Read more »

I had always felt like a misfit in school. My friends, although good and true friends, were not in the crowd of popular kids in school. Besides, I was sure I was funny looking. I just didn't fit the mold.

Parading constantly before my eyes was "the fun group" - the popular kids - always laughing and whispering, never sad or depressed, skipping their way through school, the best of friends. Teachers loved them, boys loved them, the whole school loved them. I worshipped them and wanted to be just like them. I dreamed of the day that they would accept me.

My dream came true when I turned fourteen and I tried out for the cheerleading squad. To my surprise, I was chosen. Almost instantly, I was thrust into the "in crowd."

I felt like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon. I changed my hair and the way I dressed. Everyone thought the change in me was fantastic - new clothes, a new group ... Read more »

Always say a prayer
There's work to do
Deadlines to meet

You've got no time to spare
But as hurry and scurry
Always say a prayer
In the mist of family chaos

"quality time" is rare
Do your best
Let god do the rest
Always say a prayer

It may seem like your worries
Are more that you can bear
Slow down and take a breather
Always say a prayer

God knows how stressful life is
He wants to ease our cares
And he'll respond asap
Always say a prayer

I had a safe trip. The angels carried me safely into Father Abraham's bosom. Oh, the thrill I felt when I met the one that died for me!

And no matter what you've heard, there's just no words to describe the glories that surround him. I'm satisfied here; every need's been supplied. Just wait till you see my new home.

I'm satisfied because there's no sin here, no murders, no divorce, no abortions, and no need to ever have locks on the doors. Perfect peace reigns here. I'm satisfied because there's no sickness. Why, I've never felt better in my life! I have a brand new body just like Jesus.

And oh, I wish you could hear the singing. David played his harp today, and a great crowd gathered by the river of life and sang a new song. Of course, the angels couldn't sing that song, but they sure were listening. It's really wonderful here, because there are no strangers. Everyone knows ... Read more »

Recently, one of my best friends, whom I’ve shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago, we’ve both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other.

Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other self-destructive behavior. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even sneaking out to see this guy because they didn’t want her around him. No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn’t believe me. Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared.

I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and he ... Read more »