Home, sweet, Dallas...

Mum and I arrived in Dallas at about 5:00 this afternoon. I'm glad to be back home with my wonderful family again, and I am so grateful to the Lord for the safety He gave us on our journey. Please pray for me while I'm here in Dallas. I'm praying that the Lord will use me while I'm here these next few months in a way that is beyond my imagination. 

No need to say goodbye...

Well, it's not the end. It's simply the beginning of a brand new story. 

Here I am in a small town in Arkansas on the way back to Dallas, Texas for the night with my Mummy. I am quite sad to have left my home of Powell, Tennessee this morning, but I know that this is the Lord's will. He knows what He is doing, even though I do not. I love Him so very much, and I am so glad that He is in control, not me. I know that I would make a mess out of everything. 

But, I miss my Crown family. An awful lot... 

Thomas, Sydney, Becca, Mike, and Myself

 ♪It started out as a feeling which then grew into a hope which then turned into a quiet thought which then turned into a quiet word. Then, that word grew louder and louder 'till it was a battle cry. I'll come back when you call me; no need to say goodbye.♪

Mike and I

♪...Just because everything's changing doesn't mean it's never been this way before. All you can do is try to know who your friends are as you head off to the war. Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light. You'll come back when it's over. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back when you call me. No need to say goodbye...♪

Becca, Sydney, Will, Alicia, Caleb, and I

♪...Now, we're back to the beginning. It's just a feeling, and no one knows yet, but just because they can't feel it, too, doesn't mean that you have to forget. Let your memories grow stronger and stronger 'till they're before your eyes. you'll come back when they call you. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back when they call you; no need to say goodbye.♪

 

Sydney and I

Becca, Myself, and Sydney

"Photos, cold weather, and Starbucks remind of us of why we're best friends."

(Song quotes are property of Regina Spektor)

He Knows...

John 6:6 "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do." 

You mightn't understand why the Lord is testing you, but He Himself knows what He is doing. The Lord is omniscient; why do we question Him? He is omnipotent; learn to lean on His almighty arms. He is omnipresent; He is with you at all times. 

The Lord is testing you to prove you. He wants to see if you're worthy. 

Stand strong in the face of adversity. Kneel before His throne in humility. Lay in His loving arms. 

He is going to help you, for "he himself knew what he would do". 

♪♫All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Thee, I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. And I surrender all. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.♪♫

Becca can be found at beccagracejohnson.blogspot.com I introduced her to Blogger today!

Also on my list of favorite people in the world, Miss Becca Johnson, my official friend! 

Sometimes...

I've waited a rather long time to work up the courage to write this blog post.... Bear with me, please. 

Sometimes, we have to make difficult decisions. While they mightn't seem fair, they're necessary. After much prayer on the subject, I have decided not return to Crown in the Spring. I hope that you will pray for me as I stay home. This has, for now, been the hardest decision I have ever made. never did I think that I would choose to not return to the place that I love the most. I wish to stay here forever, but I can't. I need to go home for a little while. 

The Lord gives everyone troubles in life just so that we can remember who He is. 

You will never realize how great of  a God He is until you have been broken down. 

While this isn't easy in the least, it is something that I know the Lord God Yahweh wants me to do. I hope that you will pray for me this next semester as I stay home, work, and get my needed medical treatments. I will, of course, be continuing with this blog so that everyone can know how the Lord is working in my life. 

I love being a teacher in an infant room at a daycare. I seriously get paid to take care of babies all day! It is such a great job! I can't wait until I get to take care of my own kids; then, I'll never have to give them back to their parents!

One year down, a lifetime to go...

A year ago today, I finally gave up. I surrendered. I realized that I couldn't survive anymore without being completely obedient to the Lord. It was a year ago today that I surrendered to serve the Lord on the mission field. I had no idea where He was going to send me, and I didn't care. I just knew that I was yielding myself to His will. Just this past year has been a series of constant ups and downs. The Lord has shown me over and over again of how He will provide for me, even when life seems bleak. He will keep me safe, even when the mountains are crumbling right on the path before me. I am so grateful that He is letting me work for Him. 

Writer's Block...

How is it that I have so much on my mind, but I can't think about what I would like to write about? I wrote such a long blog post earlier today, but I still feel as if I need to write more. There's so much on my mind, on my heart, but I cannot express it the way I would like to! The Lord is truly working in my life, and I am so excited about it, but I just can't let my words out? Is anyone out there? Is anyone listening? Or am I just writing this blog like a crazy person talking to herself? How is it that I feel like this? I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I feel as if words themselves mean nothing. The only thing I can truly say right now is that God is perfect. He is still God, and He always will be. 

My friend , Melody, recently introduced me to a poem by a lady named Helen Mallicoat. I wanted to share it on here, for it will help others. I know it will, for it has helped me immensely. 

I AM

I was regretting the past

and fearing the future. 

Suddenly my Lord was speaking: 

"My name is I AM".

He paused. 

I waited. He continued, 

"When you live in the past

with its mistakes and regrets, 

it is hard. I am not there. 

My name is not I WAS. 

When you live in the future 

with its problems and fears, 

it is hard. I am not there. 

My name is not I WILL BE.

When you live in this moment, 

it is not hard. I am here. 

My name is I AM."

When you start worrying, remember that God is there. His name is not I WAS or I WILL BE. He's there right when you need Him. Are you there for Him when He needs you? 

Michael Holverson is my very best friend! ^_^

Oh, Uganda...

James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." 

Many Christians overlook this verse. They are afraid of it. They know that it means commitment. While I do not believe that every single Christian is to work in an orphanage or move to a Third World country, I strongly believe that every Christian should "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction..". There are over 163 million orphans in this world. 42 million of them are on the continent of Africa. About 1/3 of African orphans are orphans due to AIDS. (Yes, I said it. The word that has become taboo in Christian society. AIDS... the horrible disease that kills over 5,000 people every single day. AIDS... the disease that makes me want to vomit. The disease that crushes me to the core. I hate it.) About 2 million of these beautiful, orphaned children live in the country of Uganda. 

Uganda, the "Pearl of Africa" is a small landlocked country in central Africa. Its people speak mostly English and Swahili. I could list statistics all day, but they mean nothing to me. What is important to me is the beautiful children there that God has given me a burden for. I have known since I was eight years old that I was going to adopt at least one child from Uganda. This past year, God has proven to me over and over again that He wants me to serve Him in Uganda. I am so amazed that He, the God of the universe, wants me to serve Him! I can't wrap my brain around this idea. 

Many times, it is hard for me to stay here. It is hard to continue studying here at Crown. It is hard to stay here in America. In my heart, I want to be in Uganda. The thoughts will not leave my mind. When it is silent, I hear the songs of an African choir. When I close my eyes, I see hundreds of coffee-colored children with doe eyes staring up at me. I want to just go. I want to get my passport, quit school, pack my bags, and leave. 

But I can't. God wants me here. He wants me to finish. His perfect will for my life includes this. I love it here. I do. There is no place in this world (besides Uganda) that I would ever want to be. I love my classes (besides physical science. But I know that it will help me!!! I think. I hope. I pray.) I love my friends; they are my family. I love my family back in Texas. I don't want to leave them. I want to stay comfortable at home. I want to wake up, do dorm and room chores, go to breakfast with my best friends, take classes, go to work, go to church, go home, do homework, take a shower, sleep, and do the routine over again. It's easy. It's my life. 

But I can't. 

Right now, I'm torn between being a "normal" American teenager and being a missionary in a Third-World country. My body is here, but my heart and mind are in Uganda. I am praying for patience. Here's something that the Lord has shown me lately: If you pray for patience, God will not give you patience. He will give you a trial through which you must learn to be patient. That is what He, in His omniscience, is doing right now. He's stretching me. He's pulling on me, getting me to grow. It really hurts, but it is for my good and for His glory. 

I will, one day, be there. But for now, I am here. I am training. Every moment that I am here is preparing me for the moment I step onto the first airplane and fly off into the rising sun. And it will be worth it! 

Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my son; he also is become my salvation." 

The Cutest Thing I've Ever Seen ^_^

This was, without a doubt, one of (if not the) greatest, most wonderfully adorable things that I have ever seen in my entire life. Yesterday, the Korean Children's Choir came to The Crown College and sang a few songs for us. It was so adorable! I loved meeting this sweet children; they were such a blessing to my heart and to everyone else that was there. They are lead by Dr. Billy Kim and vary from about 7-12 years old. They were sooooo cute and such great singers! I loved seeing them sing for the Lord! They sang "Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones" (see the video at the bottom of the post), "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" (which I WILL be adding to YouTube and this blog later), "This Little Light of Mine", "It's a Small World", "Jesus Loves Me", and "Every Time I Feel the Spirit".

The Jabberwocky

I really have the urge to share my favorite poem of all time with you. This is the "Jabberwocky", a poem written by Lewis Carroll in his novel Through The Looking Glass.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; 

All mimsy were the borogroves, 

And the mome raths outgrabe. 

"Beward the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun 

The frumious Bandersnatch!" 

He took his vorpal sword in hand; 

Long time the manxome foe he sough- 

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in though. 

And as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled with his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
Al mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

The Daisy- some of my thoughts

When I look into the bright yellow face of a daisy, I think of Your beauty.
When I see the white petals, I see Your hope.
I will never lose my amazement at the fact that You have cared for me oh, so very much,
For only you could take someone like me and make something strangely beautiful.
Through You, I see that love is unending... unchangeable.
I now see that, through Your grace, nothing is impossible...
For you are truly powerful, almighty, and as the daisy You once created...
Breathtakingly beautiful. 

The Shepherd of the Hills (Part Two)

Here are the rest of my notes from Dr. Green's study on the Song of Songs. I hope it is as much of an encouragement to you as it is to me. 

The Beloved came to reveal Himself to His dear Shulamite. He wanted her to know that He was still there for her. George Burrows once said, "The Christian life is a series of visits and withdraws of our Lord, of revivals of grace in the heart and exposure to trials." How very true this statement is! The Lord's voice calls out to us. Above countless voices, the Shulamite woman heard the strong voice of her Beloved. "The Bible which we have in our possession is from cover to cover the majestic authoritative voice of the Beloved, and what power and blessing it brings!" (Dr. Brian Green) 

The Shepherd of The Hills, part 1

This week, Dr. Brian Green, pastor of Calvary Free Grace Baptist Church in London, England, has been at Temple Baptist Church teaching a course on the book of the Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon). He has written a book called The Shepherd of the Hills , and it has been a huge help to me. I only started reading it this morning, but it is such a wonderful book! If you ever have a chance to read it, take hold of it. I wanted to share some of the notes that I wrote down this morning. I'll write the rest of them on here, hopefully, tomorrow.

Part 1: "The View of the Book"

Solomon's Song is the most important song that will ever be sung. The first verse of the song says, "The song of songs, which is Solomon's." It is so important to the Lord that He Himself calls it the Songs of all other songs. He wrote over 1,000 songs, but this is the only one that we still have a written record of. It is an extremely beautiful song that we should all know of.

Although this book is a picture of Christ's love, it also involves true people and places. It is not strictly allegorical! Unlike what I always though, this book of love is not that between Solomon and his Shulamite bride. It is, though, a love story between her and the Shepherd from whom she was taken away. This was most likely written by Solomon after being rejected by her. She couldn't let go of the great love she had for the Shepherd of the hills. (Song of Songs 1:7 "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?) In this book, Solomon is NOT a picture of Christ but of the sinful world. The Shulamite bride is a picture of the Church which is constantly battling to remain faithful. The Shepherd of the hills is a picture of Christ, truly loving and caring for His bride.

There is a beautiful relationship between God and His Church pictured in this great book. The church is called a building (Eph. 2:19-21), a family (Eph. 3:15), a body (Eph. 4:4) and, most importantly, a bride (Eph. 5:23). The Shulamite woman (the Church) belongs, body and soul, unto the Shepherd of the hill (Christ), but Solomon (the world) always tries to steal her away. The world will NEVER stop trying to get you away from your Beloved. The Song of Songs is pre-eminently about the Beloved, the Shepherd of the hills. Charles Spurgeon once said that "This [The Lord] is the soul and heart of this divine composition." He was so very true. We need to pray to be more and more in love with our Beloved, the Lord Himself! Even when we leave our Beloved standing at the door as the Shualmite woman did, He still loves us. He will NEVER stop loving us. The Song of Songs 2:16 says "My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies."

Part 2: The Vision of the Bride

The young Shulamite woman only desired to run away from Solomon, her dangerous captor. His castle, regardless of its unnatural beauty, was her prison. She hated herself. Many times, she calls herself "black"; she is comparing herself with the fair-skinned beauties on Solomon's court. She couldn't stand any distance from the Shepherd. In the Bible, there is never a mention of any form of "farewell" or "goodbye" kiss. Our Lord will never leave us! His love is much more precious than any earthly pocession or position.

"How wonderful it is that, even in our locak, the Lord works through us!"-Dr. Brian Green

Part 3: The Visitation of the Beloved

On the Shepherd's first visit, he comes to reassure the Shulamite woman. He comes smelling of sweet perfumes, of spikenard, myrrh, and camphire (henna). His sweet smelling savour was so inviting to her. "Is Christ the sweet frangrance of our souls?" (Dr. Green) He whispered words of love to her, calling her "my love", "my dove", and telling her "thou art fair!" He loved her so very much, regardless of how much he had to work to attain her love. Our Lord, our Beloved, loves us so much! I can't believe that He lets me call Him my Father and my Friend! How amazing is that! Dr. Green told us this simple but unbelievable truth: "Christ takes the common, He takes the ordinary, and makes a lot of it!"

One of my favorite hymns is called "Dear Saviour, Thou Art Mine". Most Americans have never heard it, so I'll put the lyrics here:

♪Dear Saviour, Thou art mine,

How sweet the thought to me!

Let me repeat Thy name,

And life my heart to Thee.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

I know Thou art mine;

Saviour, dear Saviour,

I know Thou art mine.♪

I am so thankful that the Lord is mine!

Song of Songs 6:3 "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies." 



Compassion? I don't understand.

Have you ever truly asked yourself if you were "compassionate"? Many times, this word is used in the Bible, but what does it truly mean? The Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, had compassion on those around Him.

"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

(Mark 6:34 KJV)

Last night, I was reminded of God's what God has for me. So many times, we are distracted by everything around us. We forget about the people. There are over 6.7 billion people in this world. Majority of them have never heard of the Lord Jesus Christ; most of the people who have heard of Him have never accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour. I am ashamed of myself, for I have not taken the time to share His Gospel with these people.

Kevin Carter, a South African photographer, took a picture in March of 1994 while in the country of Sudan. He photographed a young girl, starving to death, crawling with all of her might. She was trying to get to nearby feeding center and had stopped to catch her fleeting breath. A vulture appeared and stood by her, simply waiting to attack. For twenty minutes, Carter sat and waited for the vulture to spread its wings. He finally took a photo (which later went on to win a Pulitzer Prize), shooed the vulture away, and left. He didn't pick up the dying little girl. He left her there, dying in the dust. A few months later, after being criticized for letting the little girl die, Carter committed suicide. He could not live with himself knowing that he had let a human being die and took profit from it.

Many people want to scream at Kevin Carter for the unthinkable thing that he did to this beautiful little Sudanese girl, but he is not the one to blame. Yes, what he did was horrible. Yes, he should have picked up the young girl and brought her to safety instead of taking a lousy picture and letting her die. This is all very true. But, we as Christians do the exact same thing. We walk past people every single day and let them die. These people are dying without God, and the Devil himself is waiting to attack. We take time to bash people for their beliefs (or lack thereof). We take the time to call them names and blame them for their sin. This world is full of sinners; there will be sin. GET OVER IT! Stop attacking people for their sin when you are ignoring God's direct command to you. It's time we put down our cameras and start picking up people.

"Compassion is putting people into your heart."-Dr. Tommy Sexton

Are you truly compassionate? Do you love people where they are and give them the true love of the Lord?







A New Chapter...

I officially started classes for the fall semester of my Sophmore year this morning! I can't believe the fact that I'm already a sophmore in college!!! Not much seems different, but I am enjoying my classes so far. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I have Theology of Christian Education (7:30 with Bro. Mike Fox), Bible Doctrine I (8:30 with Bro. Tim Tomlinson), Chapel, Speech (Noon with Bro. Mike Fox), and Choir (1 with Bro. Josh Cehulik). On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will be taking Physical Science (7 with Dr. Yuing) and Hermaneutics (12 with Dr. Hugh Samworth). I'm so very excited about most of my classes this semester. I hope you will continue to pray for me. I am praying right now about traveling this summer with two dear friends, Teylor and Sydney, to India for New Testament Church Pioneers. Please pray that we follow the will of the Lord, not our own wishes.

Blessings!

Caitlyn Mae

My big fat Germexish wedding...

So, my brother is getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for Casey and his lovely fiance, Yesenia. I can't wait to help them through this!

My new obsession...

If you haven't been introduced to "Pinterest" yet, you should be! It is so much fun, and everything I love is put together on one website. A virtual pinboard? Yes! Here's the link to my boards: http://re.pn/b/mT5C Have fun, Bloggers!

A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now!

I am quite excited right now. I live in Dallas, Texas, and for the past 15 days, it has been over 100 degrees. We haven't had rain since the first day of summer, and the heat has been absolutely unbearable. Of course, we've been downing water, lathering on sunscreen, wearing hats, etc. We know how to handle the heat, but that doesn't make it enjoyable. BUT........... God is soooooo good!!! A few minutes ago, the clouds split and rain starting pouring down.The sound was almost unrecognizable. I'm serious. I opened the back door and was overwhelmed by the beautiful smell of grass, asphalt, and rain all mixed together. (That is my favorite smell of all time, by the way!) I am so ecstatic to hear, see, feel, and smell the rain. I know it won't last for a long time, but I am so thankful for this little fall of rain.

Fair weather and a just God...

"Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."-C.S. Lewis

This quote by C.S. Lewis is so very true. Many people think that they have the power to live daily by themselves. Humans simply do not have the strength to survive alone. Without my powerful God, I would fall apart. I know exactly where I would be without grace. I would be struggling to find a way to heaven by myself and would end up failing. I am so glad that I serve an Almighty God! Job 37:22-23 says, "Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict." I am so blessed to know that, regardless of the storm, fair weather will always come from the north. God promised this, and He cannot go back on His promises! He is excellent and just. I love Him so much!

"Give Me Jesus" by Fanny Crosby

♪♫Take the world, but give me Jesus;
All its Joys are but a name,
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus,
Sweetest comfort of my soul;
With my Savior watching o'er me,
I can sing, though billows roll.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;
Let me view His constant smile;
Then throughout my pilgrim journey
Light will cheer me all the while.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision
Face to face my Lord I see.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.♪♫

Because I knew you....

♪♫I've heard it said that people come into our lives

For a reason, bringing something we must learn,

And we are led to those who help us most to grow

If we let them and we help them in return.

Now, I don't know if I believe that's true,

But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun,

Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood,

Who can say if I've been changed for the better,

But because I knew you,
I have been changed for good."♪♫

("For Good" from the play "Wicked"; written by Steven Schwartz)

I love my friends and my family. I miss my "family" from Crown. My closest friends there are my "family". They're not related to me through human blood, but we are tied together through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they mean so much to me. That's all I wanted to say.

Land of the Free because of the Brave!

I am so thankful that I live in a country where I am free to worship God in the way that my conscience chooses. Many times, we forget how blessed we are as Americans, and we should be ashamed of that. When the Pilgrims first left the west coast of England and set sail for this land, they inscribed the words "In God We Trust" on the sails of the Mayflower. Every time they hit a wave or felt sick, they could look upon those true words and remember that God was with them, regardless of how hopeless their mission may have seemed to their friends and family. I have had the privilege to be born and raised in the United States, and I believe that it is the best nation on this planet. I love this nation, and I will stand for it. God gave me this land, and I will use the freedom it has for His glory. I will not sit idle while those around me do nothing. I will praise His name while I still have- freedom to do so! If you are an American, this Independence Day, remember how a great God has blessed you to live in this land. I love America!

My "African-American" Family



Alex, Sydney, Tony, Caitlyn, and Wani

I miss my little Liberian family! This is Wani and her three boys, Paul, Tony, and Alex. They're my adopted family that lives in Knoxville. They came to America about seven years ago from Liberia (West Africa) during a military overthrow. When Wani and her husband became Christians, they moved into a commune with a missionary and his family. Just weeks later, guerrilla warfare soldiers attacked and killed Wani's husband and eight of her fourteen children right in front of her. She ran with her surviving children (Kadi, Tony, Paul, two older boys, and Alex, still in her womb). She gave birth to Alex in the jungle with her daughter Kadi helping her deliver. She finally was met at the nation's border by U.N. workers, and after several months of waiting, Wani, Paul, Kadi, Tony, and Alex came to America. (The older two boys now live in Côte d'Ivoire.) She is such a strong woman, and I love her so very much. I miss hearing her sing songs in her native language of Bassa and just giving praise to the Lord! This family means the world to me, and I am so grateful to call them my family. I love my sister and my baby brothers! I can't wait to see them again in August. Tony says that we're an "African-American" family, and I don't believe that a stronger truth could be spoken!



"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sydney, Alex, Caitlyn, and Tony







VBS Visitation

Our church is preparing for our Vacation Bible School coming up later this month. It will be from July 18-22, and the theme is "Soldiers For Christ". The kids will be separated into four basic groups (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines) and will learn everything from Bible verses to having a clear presentation of the Gospel. This morning, we went out once again on visitation, giving people fliers and telling them about the VBS, and a lot of kids seemed extremely interested in coming. Please pray that parents will let their children come and that children will truly come to know Christ this week. All are welcome, and if you or anyone you know lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, feel free to come see us!

Bethel Baptist Church

1224 Hilltop Drive

Grapevine, Texas 76051

bethelbaptistchurch.org 

"Hello, Gorgeous!"

While I'm on the subject of my favorite actresses of all time, why not mention the great Barbra Streisand? No woman in movie history has a more recognizable voice, face, or name than Miss Streisand. Famous for her rolls such as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" and Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!", Barbra changed the idea of beauty in Hollywood. Before Barbra emerged on the scene, only pint-sized blondes were considered attractive. When she emerged in "Funny Girl" with her distinct Jewish features, most people believed that she would not last as an actress. Many people suggested she get a nose job, change her hair, and speak in a different way, but Barbra refused to change herself for anyone. She has become a roll model for countless young actresses that aren't exactly beautiful according to the American media. The opening scene of "Funny Girl" involves Barbra as Fanny Brice looking into a full-length mirror and saying, "Hello, gorgeous!" in that classic voice of hers. Thank you, Miss Streisand, for always being yourself and refusing to back down to the demands of people who were simply jealous of your overwhelming talent. We love you, Funny Girl!

Little Miss Shirley

Since I was a very young child, I have had a deep love and appreciation for Miss Shirley Jane Temple Black. She is definitely one of my favorite actresses of all time. Her grace and style has always been so breathtaking! I can't imagine anyone, much less a small child, speaking, singing, or especially dancing with such grace! I know for a fact that my little girls will one day watch her movies, even though they are considered "old-fashioned" and "outdated". My favorite movies by little Miss Shirley are "Little Miss Broadway" and "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (The photo on the right is from the latter of the two films.) No matter how old she grows, she has always been such a beautiful lady. Below is a video of Shirley and two of The Three Brian Sisters. I adore this songs. It's called "Be Optimistic" and is from the 1938 film "Little Miss Broadway". Who is your favorite classic star?

Guatemala: Where all the moose live

I am often amazed at what young children say! It is hilarious how they pick up bits and pieces of what you teach them and mash them all together. Children have a wonderful way of saying the most ridiculous things and making it actually make some sort of sense! One of the sweet five-year-old little girls at my church and I had one fo these moments Wednesday night at church. I told her about a friend of mine from Guatemala, and she wanted to know more and more about the country. Next, when she pointed at a flag on our bullitan board and asked, "Where is that flag from?" I told her that it was from Canada, a country just north of the United States. She asked if any cool animals lived there, so I told her that moose live there. Later, while she was playing 'teacher', she decided that we would learn about different countries. She said, "This (squiggled something unrecognizable on the dry-erase board) is Guatemala. That's where all the moose live!" I thought it was the most adorable thing! I love the kids that God has blessed me with as a teacher.

The Wisdom of a Stuffed Bear

One of my favorite storybooks as a child was "Winnie the Pooh". I loved reading of Christopher Robin's dear friends in the 100 Acre Woods. Why? Because they were so genuine. Nothing touched my heart more than the true bond they all shared. They were not just friends; they were a close-knit family and they truly loved one another. I have been told that if you have one good friend in a lifetime, you're lucky; if you have a handful of good friends, you are truly blessed. I have some of the best friends in the world.

Some are here in Dallas. For example, my friends Taylor, Hannah, and all my friends from Berkner High. Taylor is definatly one of my best friends. I love her to death! We love spending time together and, of course, eating at Cassie's FroYo in Grapevine, Texas. I can't imagine life without my friends here in Texas. They have been there for years and help me so much.

The rest of my best friends are at Crown. Right now, we're spread out around the country (some out of country) and I miss them more than I ever imagined possible. My friends there are my family. When you're so far away from family, you bond with your friends more than normal. None of us live close to the college, so we are all far away from our families. I believe that God brought us together to help each other grow. I miss them so much. I love you, Sydney, Thomas, Justin, Manuel, Brittany, Rachael, Chelsea, Jessica, TJ, Juston, Kyle, Kaylee, Melody... actually if I listed them all, Blogger wouldn't let this post. It would be far too long.I am so grateful fo the friends that the Lord has given me, especially during my first year of college.

Christopher Robin once told Winnie the Pooh, "If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."

Dream a Little Dream...

Having insomnia causes me to have extremly insane dreams, and many times, I wake after landing in strange places. Since childhood, my dreams have always been a mixture of Lewis Carrol's "Alice In Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". I don't remember a time that I had a normal dream or even an understandable dream. I believe that dreams are a huge part of my life since they have such a way of changing the way I think. I would love to share a few of my dreams with you, but I don't even understand how to start descriing them. Usually, they involve falling asleep, waking up in a distant land, and starting my day. Many times, I have had dreams that felt as if they went on for days, weeks, and once, even months. It is so tiring that I get more rest while awake than asleep at times. When you wake up after what seems like a long period of time, life seems weird. For example, I woke up one night deep in the jungle in a small hut where I was working on opening an orphanage. The next night, I woke up in a land very similar to "Wonderland" where a large creature followed me around and, thought I thought he was trying to kill me, it was trying to get me to take a thorn out of his paw. He then became my best friend/pet and I named him Pongo. :) Yes, dreams are weird, but I'm glad that I have them. My strange dreams are a huge part of my life, and I am so priveledged to be able to remember the majority of them!

"I Can Go In" by Abigail Miller

I heard an amazing song this week and wanted to share it with you. I am in awe of how good our God is for He alone can bring a poor lowly sinner into the presence of holiness. A clip of Abigail Miller (the composer) singing it can be found at http://youtu.be/00Qle_9vza8 if you would like to hear it. The lyrics are based on a sermon by Spurgeon, and the words are still true to this very day and always will be. They are as followed:

♪He stood beside the gate of Heaven, waiting to go in,

And he wondered how this Holy Place could take a man like him.

With shouts of great rejoicing and with music then they came,

Of the angels standing by him he asked what could be their name?

"These are the company of prophets. The goodly fellowship of souls,

Who spake God's Word with faith and boldness;

Who blessed the poor, and made the wounded whole."

"Oh," he fell upon his knees, and cried,

"I am not one of these."

He waited 'til another band of shining ones drew nigh.

They entered into Heaven with a "Hallelujah" cry.

He asked again, "Who are these?

Can you tell me whence they came?"

He seemed to see the answer in a burning tongue of flame.

"These are the company of martyrs,

The mighty fellowship of Saints

Who knew our Lord and walked beside Him,

Who ran the holy race and did not faint."

"Oh," he fell upon his needs, and cried,

"I am not one of these."

Then suddenly a multitude was heard from far away.

Their voices rang with songs of joy like children at their play.

He saw Rahab, he saw David,

Mary Magdalene and Paul,

And the theif who died by Jesus

Was the one who led them all.

"Whoare these?!" he almost shouted at the angels.
"These are the sinners saved by grace!

The host of them who called upon the Savior:

Washed in Blood and justified by faith!"

And, Oh! He leaped up from his knees!

"Oh, I can go in with these!!!

And I can go in, for my heart is free from sin.

I've been washed in the Blood, everlasting life to win.

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice.
I can sing, and I can go in!"

Oh, he thought that there could be no 'hallelujahs' and no cries,

For this lowly band of people by the world despised,

But as the scenes of Heaven opened up before his eyes,

He saw the martyrs and the prophets, and the host of Heaven rise,

And they sang, "I can go in for my heart is free from sin.

I've been washed int he Blood, everlasting life to win.

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice.

I can sing, and I can go in!

I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice.
I can sing, and I can go in!

I can go in!!!"

"Not all those who wander are lost."-J.R.R. Tolkien

I had a great week travelling with Mum. We had schedualed a trip to visit family in Louisiana; it was supposed tobe a short, uneventful roadtrip for just the two of us. It turned out to be a crazy week full of family reunions, revival meetings, broken down cars, etc.

Saturday, we recieved a call that my Mum's cousin, Larry, had lost a hard battle to cancer. This made us leave Sunday after morning church service instead of Monday as planned. Three hours into our trip, my car started making a weird noise. I saw that the oil light was on, so we pulled over.... and the engine died. :( No fun! BUT, God is good! He let us get to a nearby resturant where we could eat and wait while looking at a beautiful lake. A few laters, my father and brother came to our rescue. We switched cars with them and continued traveling. (My car is currently at a great mechanic's shop here in Dallas, by the way.)

On Monday, we went to Larry's funeral and then visted my great-great-aunt Mammie. She is 91 years young and is in a nursing home in Franklinton, Lousiana. (The locals pronounce it "Frankilton" and think it's weird if you actually say "Frank-lin-ton" like I do.) I had never met her or anyone on that side of my family, so it was interesting. My great-grandfather, Willie Duncan, was killed in a gravel pit accident when my grandfather was only three years old, so I, obviously, never knew him. His brother, Alan, married Mammie. She has 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. This woman has lived a full life! She asked how old I was and when I told her that I'm 19, she sweetly said, "I'm 91. We're the same age, but backwards!" I enjoyed meeting Mammie Duncan!

Later on Monday, Mum and I attended a revival meeting at my dad's sister's church. (Her name is Lawren, but we affectionatly call her "NaNa".) It is a small full-Gospel church, and it was interesting to see the differences and similarities in our churches. We have the same basic beliefs, but there are several major differences. I enjoyed visiting there for that night. The music director asked if I could sing, so I was more than happy to use my voice and hands for God's glory. I sang and played "I Have Been Blessed", and it made me really think of how much the Lord has blessed my life.

Throughout the rest of the week, Mum and I attended a camp meeting at Fundamental Baptist Church in Livingston, Louisiana. It was great to catch up with old friends and hear some truly amazing messages. I hope you'll pray for this church and their ministries there. (For more information, go to fundamentalbc.com )

We returned last night, and all day today, I was out with Daddy getting my car from Waskom, Texas back to Dallas. It's been a long week, but I've enjoyed every moment!

Day by Day by Lina Sandell

"Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treausre

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand."

This song means so much to me! I had never heard it until I went to Crown this year, but I fell in love with it the first time I heard it, and it is constantly in my head. I hope it is a slight encouragement to anyone who happens to read this.

Old Favorites

This video never ceases to make me smile, even when I'm an insomniac and it's after one in the morning and I need to be up bright and early for church ^_^ What is your favorite old movie? Because anything involving the lovely Miss Shirley Temple, especially "Little Miss Broadway", is mine! I adore this scene!

Hello, Bloggers :)

I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been busy and I have had very little to write about! The past few weeks, though, have had various exciting events.

First, I met up with a new friend! Every Friday night while I was at Crown, I went with some of my friends to a Bible study for Chinese students that attend the University of Tennessee. ON the last week we were there, I met a very sweet Chinese girl who happens to attend a college within five minutes from my house here in Dallas! (The world says 'coincidence', I say 'divine appointment'.) We switched information and decided to get together throughout the summer to have dinner and what-not. This past Sunday, we met up and she visited my home church with me! I was so very excited to have her with me. I gave her a Mandarin New Testament, and I pray that she will soon come to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

Second, I am teaching a Sunday School class for the young kids at my church this summer. In addition to this, I have started a Wednesday night summer program for the kids called "The Rejoicers". The Rejoicers are going to be learning about the Lord by learning about the people whom He created. I asked which countries and people they want to learn about and they requested China, Peru, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Scotland, and Uganda. I am very excited to be able to teach them about the great Christian warriors from these countries who fought earnestly for the faith as well as missionaries that our church supports in these countries right now.

Third, my parents and I went shopping at a few estate sales today and found some amazing international percussion and woodwind instruments. I'm very excited about sharing these with The Rejoicers as well as my own children some day. I am praying right now about starting a children's home one day, and I pray that the Lord will lead me in the way that He wants me to go. Please pray for me with this.

Well, Bloggers, I am back home in Dallas, Texas with my wonderful family. I am praying that this will be a great summer and that I get a job soon. I am truly missing my "family" from Crown. Right now, they're scattered throughout the country and around the globe, and I miss them desperately. I can't wait to see them all in August, and I hope that you will pray for them!

I Have Been Blessed

I've been told that if you can count your good friends on at least one hand, you have been extremly blessed. I am happy to say I have more than that. I have been so blessed with so many godly friends, and I am so thankful for them. Also, God has given me a wonderful family, two wonderful church families, freedom, health, etc. This son has meant so much to me lately, and I wanted to share it with you.

♪♫Lately, I've been looking back

Along this winding road

To the old familiar markers

And the mercies I have known.

I know it may sound simple,

But it's more than a cliche

There's no better way to tell you than to say,

"God's been good in my life!

I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night,

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could,

Cause through it all,

God's been good!"

Times replay and I can see

I've had some bitter tears,

But I've felt His arms around me

While I faced my greatest fears.

I've had more gains than losses,

And I've known more joy than hurt

As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved.

God's been good in my life.

I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night,

And though I've had my share of hard times,
I wouldn't change them if I could,

Cause through it all,

God's been good!

God has been my Father, my Saviour, and my Friend;

His love was my begining and His grace will be my end.

I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is,

But the best way just to tell you is this:

"God's been good in my life.

I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams

When I go to sleep each night,

And though I've had my share of hard times,

I wouldn't change them if I could,

Cause through it all,

God's been good!"

Then Came the Morning

♪♫They all walked away,

Nothing to say;

They just lost their dearest friend.

All that He said-

Now He was dead.

So this was the way it would end.

The dreams they had dreamed were not what they seemed,

Now He was dead and gone.

The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail-

How could a night be so long?

The angel, the star,

The kings from afar,

The wedding, the water, the wine.

And now, it was done; they'd taken her Son

Wasted before His time.

She knew it was true; she watched Him die, too.

She heard them call Him 'just a man'.

Oh, but deep in her heart,

She knew from the start

Somehow, her Son would live again!

Then came the morning;

Night turned into day!

The stone was rolled away.

Hope rose with the dawn.

Then came the morning!

Shadows vanished before the sun.

Death had lost, and life had won,

For morning had come.

Morning has broken

Like the first morning.

The stone was rolled away.

Hope rose with the dawn.

Then came the morning!

Shadows vanished before the sun.

Death had lost, and life had won,

For morning had come!♪♫

Praise the Lord God Yahweh that the morning came after the long dreary night. This week, we look back of the death and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ. He willingly laid Himself down as a sacrifice for our sin. Only His blood can wash away sin and give eternal life. If you are reading this and can't say for sure that you know you would go to heaven if you were to die today, please, PLEASE e-mail me. I would love to pray for you personally and show you how you may know for sure that the Lord lives in your heart and that heaven is your eternal home. He is my best Friend, my Rock, my Strong Place, and my reason for singing. I hope that you know Him, also. Happy Easter, friends.

In His Love,

Caitlyn Mae

Oh What a Saviour!!!

♪♫Once I was straying in sin's dark valley;

No hope within could I see.

But the Lord Jesus, my precious Saviour,

Came to save poor lost souls like me.

Oh, what a Saviour; oh, hallelujiah!

His heart was broken on Calvary.

His hands were nail-scarred;

His side was riven.

He gave His life's blood

For even me.

Death's chilly waters I'll soon be crossing,

But I'll not fear, for His hand will lead me safe o'er.

But then, I'll join that chorus

In that great city,

And I'll sing up there forever and ever more!

Oh what a Saviour; oh, hallelujiah!

His heart was broken on Calvary.

His hands were nail-scarred;

His side was riven.

He gave His life's blood for even me.

Oh, what a Saviour!♪♫

Rest in Peace, Dory (4/17/2010-4/17/2011)

Here's some photos of my poor little baby!

You'll be missed, darling! lol I'm so happy that I'm safe and sound and that the Lord prevented any harm.

Independent Baptist Friends International was such a blessing! I am so thankful for all that the Lord showed me through all of the messages. The thing He showed me the most is my need to fully trust Him. I prayed that He would give me an opprotunity to trust Him, and He gave it to me in a very strange way. Sunday afternoon, I drove to go pick up a family from Liberia to bring them to church, and while I pulled out (thankfully before getting them), a man in a Trail Blazer came down a steep hill about 60-65 miles per hour, right at me. I knew that he would hit me, and I heard the Lord tell me to get out of the way. The only option was to swerve to the right and hit a parked red pick-up truck. Therefore, my car, Dory, is no more :( It's really sad right now, but I am so thankful that the Lord spared my life in this event. Please pray for me to find a new car soon and that I will continue to trust in His power and holiness.

I am so excited to see my parents on Saturday! They are coming to Powell for the second annual In dependant Baptist Friends International meeting. (See baptistfriends.org or templebaptistchurch.com for more information.) I will be going Saturday to pick them up from the airport, and I will be spending the next week with them! The Lord has blessed us so much; I am so privileged to call them parents, my friends, and the dearest people on this planet to me. I pray that everyone has a wonderful day! Oh! I almost forgot! Every day next week, services will be shown via Internet at templebaptistchurch.com and faithforthefamily.com (9 AM E.S.T. and 6:30 E.S.T.) If you can, be sure to watch some of the services; they are sure to be a great blessing!

Here is Love

For my Office Computer Applications course at Crown, I have been making a PowerPoint presentation about the place that the Lord has burdened me about. As many of you know, I have a huge burden for the people of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales). For my slides about Wales, I have made sure to make much mention about the great Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. It is amazing to see how the small testimony of a young teenage girl named Florrie Evans sparked a huge revival; the Lord can use anything you do for Him, regardless if it doesn't seem very significant to you. Many hymns were used by the Lord during the Welsh Revival, and one has become known as the "Love Song of the Welsh Revival". It is called "Here is Love", and it has been a huge blessing in my life during the past few years.

♪♫Here is love, vast as the ocean

Lovingkindness as the flood

When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,

Shed for us His precious blood.

Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?

He can never be forgotten throughout Heaven's eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,

Fountains opened deep and wide;

Through the floodgates of God's mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers

Poured incessant from Above,

And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.

In Thy truth, Thou dost direct me

By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;

And Thy grace my need is meeting

As I trust in Thee, my Lord.

Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring

Thy great love and power on me,

Without measure, full and boundless,

Drawing out my heart to Thee.

Let me all Thy love accepting,

Love Thee, ever all my days;

Let me seek Thy kingdom only

And my life be to Thy praise.

Thou alone shalt be my glory;

Nothing in this world I see.

Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me;

Thou Thyself hast set me free.

Grace and love like mighty rivers

Poured incessant from Above,

And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.♪♫

"The most important thing you'll ever learn in your Christian life is this: 'GOD COULD USE ME!'"-Dr. Clarence Sexton

Are you going to let the Lord use you the way He so deeply desires to, or are you going to live everyday for yourself. I pray that I use everyday of my life for the glory and honour of the Lord God Yahweh!

The Ninety and Nine

♪♫There were ninety and nine that safely lay

In the shelter of the fold.

But one was out of the hills away,

Far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains wild and bare,

Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;

Are they not enough for Thee?

But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine

Has wandered away from Me;

And though the road be rough and steep,

I go to the desert to find My sheep.

I go to the desert to find My sheep.

But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through

Ere He found His sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert, He heard its cry,

Sick and helpless and ready to die;

Sick and helpless and ready to die.

"Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way

That mark out the mountain's track?"

"They were shed for one who had gone astray

Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."

"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"

"They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;

They are pierced tonight by many a thorn."

And all through the mountains, thunder riven,

And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,

"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"

And the angels echoed around the throne,

"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!

Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"♪♫

Praise the Lord that He goes to find those who have left the fold. I am so happy to say that the Lord never gives up on us, regardless of how unworthy we are. I love Him so much, and I am pleased that He is pleased with me!

My Personal Testimony

I had the privilege to be raised in a wonderful Christian home, and when I was nine years old, I made a profession of faith. I claimed to love the Lord, and I knew it was right to serve Him, but I did not truly know Him as I said I did. I went through a lot of illness and a few surgeries, and when my family moved to Texas when I was fourteen, I became slightly bitter towards God. I continued going to church, but I couldn't stand it. No one, not even my parents, knew how I didn't enjoy it besides the Lord and myself. I didn't enjoy that my friends didn't have to be "weird" like I had to because my parents were greatly involved with our church. We live in Dallas which is extremely diverse, and since Christianity "wasn't working' for me, I started to think that maybe the religions of my friends would be better for me. I secretly researched Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Baha'ism, hoping to find a bit of truth. (Now I see how lost I truly was!) But, praise the Lord, He never gave up on me!!! When I was sixteen years old, I heard my aunt give her testimony of how she professed faith as a child, rebelled against the Lord, and truly came to salvation as an adult. She regrets not coming to the Lord when she saw that she was going down the wrong road as a teenager. As she gave her testimony, I fell under deep conviction. I told my family how I needed to be saved; they were thrilled that I told them and happily led me to the Lord. He led me to come to The Crown College as a Music Education major, and on October 20, 2010, He called me to serve him on the mission field. I am happy to go wherever He leads me, and I'm so thrilled to call Him 'Father', regardless of my unworthiness!

Happy Irish Heritage Month :)

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things she loves are far away.
And precious things
Are dreams unto an exile
They take him o'er
The land across the sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Inisfree.
And when the moonlight
Peeps across the rooftops of this great city
Wondrous though it be,
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter;
I'm once again back home in Inisfree.
I wonder o'er green hills
Through dreamy valleys
And find a peace
No other land would know.
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander--
My dear old home--
The folks that I have known
Around the turf fire gathered
On bended knee, their rosary is told.
But dreams don't last
Though dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality.
But though they pave the foot ways here with gold dust,
I still would choose
My Isle of Inisfree!

What have I been up to?

I had a great weekend in Titusville, Florida with a group of students from Crown. It was great to be able to go out with the New Testament Church Pioneers to help work in Faith Baptist Church. Pastor Jeremy Coppock and his church family were a great blessing to our group. We were able to knock on over 3,000 doors and leave Gospel tracks for these souls. It was such a great blessing! I hope you will pray for these people, especially the three dear people who were saved this weekend! It is so encouraging to see that our work is not in vain when we're working for the Lord God Yahweh! I hope you enjoy some of the pictures from our wonderful trip!

Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter...

So, what does one do with an overly optimistic person? I don't really know, because I've never been the one having to deal with that person! I've always been that person. I woke up this morning at exactly 5:00 A.M. and was happy to see the world! I can't stand how so many people just go through life as if everything in the world is depressing, horrible, and gloomy. I love every moment, and even try to be happy during the bad times. Have you ever noticed the little things in this world that are so beautiful? Here's a random list of things, in no particular order, of things that make me happy!
1) Music
-Classical
-Jazz
-Swing
-Christian
-Opera
-Broadway
2) My Family
-My Parents, Kevin and Donna
-My Brother, Casey
3) My Friends
They're the most fabulous people I have ever met in my life! I absolutly love them with all of my heart. God has blessed me with amazing friends. They are such encouragments to me, and I am so grateful for them.
4) Salads
5) Books
6) Clean rooms and cars
7) Shirley Temple movies
8) Old Musicals
9) Pink... anything pink makes me extremely happy
10) Babies :D
11) Professional choirs, especially The Crown College Choir
12) My churches
-Temple Baptist Church in Powell, TN (Dr. Clarence Sexton, pastor)
-Bethel Baptist Church in Grapevine, TX (Rev. Scotty Carrier, pastor)
13) Random people smiling at extremly random things
14) Driving in my car
15) Singing.... loudly... a lot :D

This is just a small sample of things that spark my interest, but it goes on and on. It's never ending, actually! I hope you will remember to be a happy person, of good cheer, and always have a song in your heart!

May It Be

♪♫May it be an evening star shines down upon you
May it be as darkness falls your heart will be true.
You walk a lonely road; oh, how far you are from home!
Mornie Utulie (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way.
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now.
May it be the shadows call will fly away
May it be your journey on to light the day
When night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun!
Mornie utulie (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way!
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now♪♫

Amnon Had A Friend

Wow! The whirlwind of life has swept up once again! I'm back at Crown and the Lord God Yahweh is truly amazing! I love Him more than I can even describe in human languages. It amazes me how He cares for me, an alienated sinner who denied His great power. I did nothing worth His great love, but when He was on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ reached up to God and down to man, and just as if I'd never sinned, He took me in His arm, embraced me, and willingly forgave me! We're in the beginning of our Faithful Men's Meeting here at Temple Baptist Church, and it has already been a huge blessing to me. Dr. Larry Brown from Washington, Iowa is preaching and He has been such a great blessing. This morning, his message was from II Samuel 13: 1-3 about Amnon, the son of David. He committed a great, horrific sin before the sight of God and his family, all because he had an untrustworthy friend. He probably would have not sinned out of respect for himself, his family, and his God if it weren't for his friend Jonadab, a very subtil man. How many "friends" do you have in your life that keep you from serving the Lord fully? This morning, I was truly convicted and had to go and get half of my music, literally rip it up, and throw them away with the assistance of my friends. We had a good time ripping up CDs full of garbage I didn't need in my life. I am so happy now! I went and deleated it all off of my computer as well. I pray that you will get rid of any "friends" you have in your life and get to know my dearest Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ!