Miss California

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21

Were you able to watch the Miss USA contest the other night? I was not, but I have definitely heard about it and I am sure you have to. Miss California Carrie Prejean was asked a question about same-sex marriage. She gave an honest answer and said her beliefs are that marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman. Amen.

Prejean was competing for MISS USA!! This is not the time to stand up for your beliefs, right? She may have lost a crown here on Earth, but great are her rewards in Heaven. She was on the Today Show and told Matt Lauer it is the way she was brought up. It was Biblical truth. This wasn't God's plan for her. She wouldn't change a thing. Wow...

It is amazing to me how our plans sometimes do not coincide with what God has in store for us. Sometimes I am very stubborn and want to go my way, but God has my whole life planned out...He already knows what is going to happen. He has a plan for me :)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I may not always know His plan, but I know it is far greater than mine. Simply because it is God-created. I will cling to that truth.

Prejean will not be Miss USA. But, because she stood up for what she believed in, she will be able to talk to students and others about doing what is right. She has been given opportunities to let God's light shine through this whole situation. Don't tell me God isn't in it...

Disclaimer: This is my opinion...my right as an American...you can have yours too...

To listen to Miss California go to this link... http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30322011#30322011

Blessed

April flies by way too fast to really know what each day brings. Being a student, you have tests, projects, and papers just to keep up with school. Then your personal life and whatever may come with that. Then you have all the extracurricular stuff such as club meetings, banquets, contests, you know...end of the year wrap-up activities. In this hectic and some what chaotic time, we tend to forget how very blessed we are.

In 1995, I was a first grader at Harmony Elementary in Cushing, Okla., when I heard a loud noise. I remember looking around and everyone in my class heard it. Not many will believe that a town over an hour away from Oklahoma City would hear this boom, but we did. That afternoon, every TV station was reporting about a bombing that took place at the Alfred P. Murrah Building. This attack claimed 168 lives, left hundreds injured, and probably had countless other effects on people we will never know.

In 1999, a high school shooting in Columbine, Colo., claimed 12 lives and left many injured. Ten years ago today, families lost their loved ones. This has seemed to cause an uproar with security in our school systems. This includes our elementary schools. These kids are too young to have these type of feelings.

In 2007, as a freshmen in college, reports were all over the TV saying a shooting had taken place at Virginia Tech. This left me scared as I walked across campus the next morning to attend my 7:30 a.m. class. We all became Hokies that day.

Amidst these tragedies, we have to look back on these things and say we are blessed, don't we? My thoughts and prayers will forever go out to the families and friends who lost people in these events. When April appears to become too fast, I will remember how blessed I am.

Blessed not because of these events, but blessed I was given the opportunity to live another day. Blessed to still have my family and friends. Blessed to live in a free country. Blessed to say "In God we trust!" There are many things to be thankful for...you might just have to look around.

The birds and the bees

Today has been very uneventful. However, my niece whom you have read a little about it previous posts is here with us tonight. We are watching a movie and the girl gets pregnant and so my 3-year old niece turns around and says, "how did she get pregnant?" OK now, isn't that a little too young for her to be asking a question of this magnitude. Maybe she is just inquisitive. Haha...we laughed and my little brother said a stork brings the baby...lol. She didn't ask anymore. I am not the mom or dad, this is not my job. Maybe this post was TMI, but I think it is funny. Anyways, tomorrow is Easter Sunday!!

I'm Back :)

Hey, guys! Sorry it has been awhile with school and all, I just haven't found much time to blog. But, I think I am making it a goal to blog a little maybe everyday...we will see..lol. Anyways, I know you are dying to know what is going on in my mind and I am about to tell you.

Fires have been burning like crazy here in Oklahoma. We have had our fair share of natural disasters and this one was no different than the others. Often people laugh at our news stations because they tend to only report on whatever weather may be happening, especially if it is something like this. However, I think a little different. I think this is Oklahoma at its best. They reported on what Oklahoma wants to hear. I also noticed how many mass texts were sent out last night to pray for the firefighters and families still battling the fires. This is America! This is Oklahoma! We help each other out. It amazes me every time. So many people stepped up today to help their fellow Oklahomans. Right now, we are not the only ones who are experiencing disasters such as these. It makes me really open my eyes to what is really important, ya know? I am very blessed I can sit here tonight in the comfort of my home with most all my family members. But, my prayers will still go out to everyone in America who may not be as fortunate tonight.

This is Easter weekend. In fact, today is Good Friday!! I read something today by Max Lucado about the cross. The cross is very symbolic in the Christian faith. People wear them as jewelry, hang them in their homes, some may even make the image of a cross when they pray. The list could go on and on. The wow factor here is ... my Jesus died on a cross over 2000 years ago today. He died so that I may live. What might seem as a symbol of death, is really a symbol of life! I am so thankful for the cross!! Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Wow! Thank you Jesus! I know I am not worthy of his love and grace and mercy. But, I am learning to lean on Him more and more because I can't live without Him. As the lyrics go, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe."

This weekend, have fun hunting easter eggs and enjoying yummy food with the family (because I will too), but please remember what this holiday means..Jesus died on the cross so that we may live...but he rose on the 3rd day. He is alive!

To read Max Lucado's article about the cross, please visit http://maxlucado.com/email/2009/03.29.html