STAINED GLASS MASQUERADE

Casting Crowns is my favorite Christian artist. These guys are awesome.

STAINED GLASS MASQUERADE -is a song that reveals the truth about the life many Christians unfortunately regularly live in. Read the lyrics below and you’ll see what I mean

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away,
like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it,
maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin,
I play the part again
So everyone will see me
the way that I see them

*Chorus*
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

Chorus x2

Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRUJrjUGGfg

Brighter Days

"And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."


Father, make me mindful of what others are going through...


I am one who strongly believes in this scripture which is found in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 verse 26. I personally believe that we should be similar to dominoes falling against each other or even a thrown pebble rippling the water, believers do have an effect on one another. In addition to that, when believers suffer or when a believer is honored every Christian in that local body (church) is affected.



While I am getting through this terrible time of dealing with my moms death, I truly believe that the church I am a member of has showed no compassion, I was and am forgot about. It has opened up my eyes to show me, this is not where I want to belong.



I have always been one to show compassion to others when they are going through difficult times. When I was in the youth ministry I showed this to the youth who were under my direction. When there was a death in our church family, we all got together and went to the home of the person who was hurting. This was very important to me to teach them to show compassion and genuine concern for whomever was hurting. When one of the youth members were going through a hard time, I reminded them to show compassion and empathy for this youth member who was hurting. No matter how small to us it may seem when someone is hurting it is important to show them love, care, & empathy.



I do feel as if I have been forgotten about.. When you are hurting you need Godly people around you ... To reassure you that you have not been forgotten about. To reassure you that you are important to God and he is right there carrying you through this difficult time.. Thank goodness I have these type of people in my life. However they are not from my local church where I am a member of..



A huge thank you to Mt Pleasant Baptist Church (where I attend all of my life up until a few years ago), Pastor Fred Quidley (pastor of Selma Baptist Church) who calls me up just when I need it, to quote a scripture, let me know he is praying for me. Kathy Williams (my BFF) for always being there for me... Ashlee Tolleson (my BFF's daughter) who is truly after Gods own heart, and my sisters who are the bomb. I know we will get through this...



I hope and pray I never become a person who does not show compassion for my fellow man. Even if the situation they are in, was due to the bad or wrong choices this person made. What a wonderful way to show the love of Christ.. other than showing the same love and compassion that Jesus Christ shows us every single day.



I read just this week, that God does not look down on Christians who mourn... Jesus Christ mourned himself. He cried when his friend Lazarus passed. So I know, without a shadow of doubt brighter days are coming...

Prayer for a Friend Lyrics

We all have a friend who is lost. I heard this song and it brought so many names to my mind. Friends who have strayed away from the Lord. Friends that I still love..
I know we all have lost friends, that still need our prayers... Don't forget about them..



Lord, I lift my friend to You,
I've done all that I know to doI
lift my friend to You
Complicated circumstances
have clouded his view
Lord, I lift my friend up to You
I fear that I won't have the words
that he needs to hear
I pray for Your wisdom, oh God,
and a heart that's sincere
Lord, I lift my friend up to YouLord,
I lift my friend to You
My best friend in the world,
I know he means much more to You
I want so much to help him,
but this is something he has to do
And Lord, I lift my friend up toYou
'cause there's a way that seems so right to him
But You know where that leads
He's becoming a puppet of the world,
too blind to see the strings
Lord, I lift my friend up to You
My friend up to You
Lord, I lift my friend to You,
I've done all that I know to do
I lift my friend to You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN3D0Carn3U

Good Ole Gatlinburg, TN

We escaped to Gatlinburg this past weekend. I just up and decided I wanted to go. I would have loved to been up there in those beautiful mountains by myself, but it does not work like that.

Randy, Lindsey, Tianna, Erica and Adam joined me. The ride up there was very pleasant. We woke up on Saturday morning to find there was no water. We were not able to take a bath, make coffee:( (you would not like me without my coffee) I made a quick dash to the grocery store to get some water. We had breakfast, sat around on the back porch for a few hours and still not water. What to do now? We all needed a shower....

We had to go to the club house to shower, which was not at all fun. The shower stalls were so small. No even enough room to turn around in them. The water finally came on around 4:00. So much for Cabins4you.com . I was not going to let this ruin my trip though. We went shopping (which is my favorite thing to do) . Grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to Gatlinburg so Lindsey & Tianna could escape mom & dad. We gave them a couple of hours to hang out without us tagging along.

Not the best trip I have taken to Gatlinburg, but it was time away from Spartanburg and the long weekends that I so dread these days. Life seems to have taken a toll on me these days, but when I am spending time with my kids, it gets me through!!

10 Thngs You May Not Know About Me

1. I want to go back to school


2. I need a partime job


3. I miss my mother so very much!!


4. I love to read


5. I could eat watermelon every day


6. I am the 8th child


7. I do not like to receive gifts


8. I miss the good times I had with the old Mt. Pleasant youth


9. I have A.D.D.
10. I love pickles

Justin Turns 18

July is the Bday month for many of my family members. Let's see, well July is my birthday month as well. There is Me, Amy, Jeff, Lauren, Benny, & Frankie. forgive me if I left someone off. Oh yes, of course, July is also Justin's birthday. He turned 18 on the 24th.

Justin is very special to me. I have alot of empathy for Justin. His life has not been an easy one. Those who know him, know he has lost some very dear people in his life. He struggles daily with making the right decisions. He seems to not make good choices, which has gotten him into some trouble. If only people knew this kid has had it rough. He is such a kid at heart but he is in a mans body, and I mean a big man... LOL.....

He was such a good sport on his bday. He wore the stupid hat and tie that Candy and I picked up for him at the "Dollar Tree". Candy made him a "cookie cake" for his bday. We went by Fuji and got his favorite, and Candy, me and Erica headed to his house to celebrate his bday. I think he really enjoyed himself. We made him feel special. His mom had to work, and she has been out of work for several months and didn't really have the money to do anything for his birthday.

I pray for Justin daily, and I pray he will wake up one day and decide this is the day I turn my life around. I will never give up on him, and will hold him close to my heart and continue to love him no matter what. I made some pretty dumb choices myself when I was 18, I was just lucky that I never got into the things he did. It was in front of me but I had the strength to walk away from it.. Happy Birthday Justin!! I love you very much!!

Justin really enjoyed getting to spend his special day with his favorite cousin"Erica". They have a bond, and even though Erica is only a couple of years older than him, he really looks up to her.

It's Been a While

Wow!! I looked at my last post and all I can say is "Where has the time gone". To be completely honest I have not even felt like posting. I mean if i would have posted something you would have seen how sad, lonely, & somewhat depressed I was. I had no desire to post anything. It seems like I have been living in another body for sometime now. No, I didn't just wake up and see this. I have been knowing it, but really did not want to do anything about it. While I have been living in this closed world environment and trying to make people think I am okay because I can handle what God sends my way, I have been dying on the inside.

I mean I can grieve as long as I want to.. There is no time limit on how long it takes a person to get over the death of a loved one. But who was I trying to fool. I guess myself. I laid around all weekend and did not even bathe. What kind of person does that. I mean for three days I did not leave the house. I have friends who care about me and family, but I don't really want to be around any of them. Not because I feel sorry for myself because I don't.

But right up under my nose my youngest daughter who has been branded the "perfect child" has fallen head over hills with someone. She has a telephone growing out of her ear, and she has grown up on me in just a few months. She has broken the trust her father and I had for her and whom would have ever thought that she would "sneak out of the house" to see this little guy she has fallen for. You talking about a wake up call, that was it...

What am I to do now?? I keep thinking how can I get her to see this young guy is not worth it. Yes I am so disappointed, but I am also shocked. Where has my little girl gone??? How could this guy take the place of her mom & dad? I dare him... I know it is called growing up, but it was much easier for her to be a little girl.

I will figure out what to do and try to be the stern mother I was to my oldest daughter, but that is so hard to do when you have never had to discipline this child in probably 8-10 years. Her dad would love it if we could some how kill this little boy and throw him away... But, it was just a thought. I really don't think that is the answer. No I am sure it is not the answer.

Thought for the Day......... Seek God's guidance in everything...