More pictures from the luncheon!

Leanne and Marlesa, "just two southern belles who lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvve PINK"


Marlesa Ball Greiner, Miss Georgia 1986

Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus!

Our ladies luncheon was awesome this past Saturday, I am so grateful for God's goodness to our women's ministry. Here are some photo's of last weekend, and as they say pictures are worth a thousand words:

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

The Christmas season is almost here! You may think, "wow, she has jumped the gun on Christmas this year!" Not so my friends, it is only 48 days until Christmas day, but Christmas begins this week at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. The annual Ladies Luncheon will be hosted on Saturday, November 15, so in the next few days we will transform the ROC into a Christmas celebration. It is definitely one of the highlights of the year, with over 400 women guests and 53 tables individually decorated to display the hostess' joy of Christmas.

The following week we begin decorating the Living Christmas Tree and sanctuary for the Christmas program, another highlight in our church year. With all of the trees, celebrations, parties, programs and decorations, nothing compares to the real reason that I love Christmas. I love Christmas because I love the Christ of Christmas!

My heart grieves when I look at the depraved world around me and then I have hope, because of Christ. We have the answer for this lost and dying world and that answer if Jesus Christ--the real reason for the season! So this year, starting on Thursday for every light wrapped around a tree, I will be praying that I can become an even brighter light to shine forth the love of God. With each ornament, I will be praying that God will bring revival to my church, community and the colleges that my daughters attend. With every bow that I tie, I will be praying that God wrap His loving arms around my family for protection, guidance and provision.

This wonderful Christmas season, I choose hope, I choose Christ, I choose Light, I choose Peace, I choose Joy and I am so very thankful that the great God of the universe, who is Almighty, Holy and Divine..........chose me!

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.
John 15:16

Tough Times

These past few weeks have been very tumultuous in our country. The nation is witnessing one of the most unusual political campaigns in history and the economy is experiencing one of the greatest crisis since the Great Depression. In almost every conversation that I have with friends, family and even strangers, these issues seem to be at the forefront of our minds.

God is teaching me some amazing truths as I watch the changing history of our great nation unfold before my eyes.

Through His word, the Bible, I have been reassured that the great God of this universe is in total control of everything.

He promises that He "will never leave me or forsake me."

God alone is the satisfaction for my soul. Salvation secures our lives for all eternity and soul-satisfaction ensures abundant life on earth.

God gives great power, through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, for those whose believe!

I have to constantly "take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ" and the weapons of our warfare are not of this world but spiritual weapons that will demolish every stronghold and anything that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God.

Prayer is the KEY to experiencing the practical reality of God's amazing peace.

Isaiah 26:3 states "You will keep me in perfect peace, when my mind is steadfast on You and I completely trust in You!"

Enjoying God's presence is possible and a great privilege in the life of a believer. Although times are tough and we are living in difficult days, there is hope and there is a future because of the finished work of Christ Jesus my Lord!

Today, is a bittersweet day for me as I remember the anniversary of my precious mama's homegoing to heaven. I truly thank God upon every rememberance of her life and the cherished memories that will always be with me. I am most grateful for her faithfulness to pour the truth of God's word into my life and for her prayers that have blessed me even after her passing. Although words can not describe how much we miss her, we continue to "rise up and call her blessed among women!"

In Loving Memory of Marcella Eldridge Wood
March 1, 1939 - October 22, 2004

"For Such A Time As This"

Throughout the course of Biblical history, God has chosen to use women during very crucial times. One of my favorite stories from the Bible is the great story of Queen Esther. A beautiful young Jewish girl that God found favor with and used in a mighty way to save the Jewish people and change the course of history. The famous line from the book of Esther occurs when her uncle Mordecai challenges her to stand up for the truth and that God had placed her in the position as queen "for such a time as this." Esther followed God in obedience and was willing to risk her life to do so.

During the craze of the upcoming presidential election, I believe that God has chosen Sarah Palin, Govenor of Alaska, to be salt and light in this nation and to rise up in strength and power "for such a time as this."

Recently, I read a story told by Marilynn Blackaby in her new book Experiencing God Around the Kitchen Table where her husband, Dr. Henry Blackaby, had been impressed by God to meditate and really ponder a scripture from the Old Testament that says "when the foundations crumble, what will the righteous do?"

That seems to be the overwhelmingly pressing question for America today? The foundations literally crumbled on 9/11, and they continue to crumble very rapidly today. So, I ask you, what will the righteous do?

We need to PRAY, VOTE and campaign for the McCain-Palin ticket. Oh God, that you would have mercy on our country and grant us a President and Vice-President who cherish life and will fight to defend and protect this great land.

HOPE revisited!

Since my last post I have had numerous comments about HOPE! A fellow blogger commented that God had given her another meaning of hope during a difficult time in her life...............
Holding
Onto
Promises
Eternally

What an awesome perspective on what HOPE means! So I began thinking about how many different meanings that little four letter word can have in the life of a believer, because remember we are not people without hope when we are in Christ Jesus!

CHALLENGE FOR TODAY:

Think about the word HOPE and I would love to hear from you if you would share what God has done in your life. For now, I pray that you can continue to look to the future with hope!

God Bless!

HOPE!

These past few days have been filled with many emails and phone calls requesting prayer for serious problems and real crises occurring in so many lives. It is very difficult to "set my mind on things above" when the things of this earth are painfully serious and gravely stressful.

Although the requests are too many to recount some of the ones that really got to me are listed here:

Baby Hodges, who is due in November, has been diagnosed with SMA and his big brother died this past January of the same horrible disease.

Persecuted Christians in China.

A friend from Sunday School has colon cancer.

Another friend who is pregnant discovered her husband has been unfaithful.

Financial struggles, custody battles, illness, injury, marriage discord and many other trials and tribulations.

As believers, how do we cope with pain and sorrow and not become despondent, bitter, or complacent about the tragedies and concerns of this world?

As I prayed this evening, the Lord reminded me of the answer to this question...

H..........O...............P...............E..................

That's right, we have HOPE!

So I asked myself, what does HOPE mean to me? The Lord gave me this acronym:

HAVING AN
OPTOMISTIC
PERSPECTIVE ON
ETERNITY

No matter how discouraging this sad, sick world looks and no matter how bad the news and events of our lives are.......we are not a people without HOPE! Having an optimistic perspective on eternity, being very sure of my heavenly home, and knowing what the final outcome will be when the final story unfolds, the only choice I have is to face tomorrow with HOPE!

Thank you, God, that you give me HOPE and as the scriptures say, "Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12