Dear 16 year old Michelle,

Dear Michelle,
You are 16, enjoy every minute of it. Have fun at the Friday night football games, these nights will be gone before you know it.
Pay more attention to math & less attention to boys, they will not be there, but you will need math more than you realize.
Don't drive the car so fast. People die everyday from speeding, so slow down, Atlanta Highway is not a drag strip.
The boss that has been flirting with you at Winn Dixie & that you have developed a crush on is too old for you. He's trouble, leave him alone.
You may have already done this, but whatever you do, don't go out with the blind date that picks you up wearing a dog collar. You will never live this one down.
Don't get in the car with your cousin after work, he will lock you in with other people & smoke pot, so you will get high from the second hand smoke, because you refuse to smoke with them. You did the right thing. Always stick to your guns. They will think it's funny, you will not. You go girl!
You will get your heart broke, you will survive. You won't think you will, but you will, I promise. It will pass & later in life, you will find someone that will make you happy on a daily basis. Someone that you want to be with. No, he's not perfect, but he loves you & the children. Yes, you will have children, all six of them.
Spend more time with your grandparents. One is already gone, the others will be gone when you are in your thirties.
Enjoy this year, everything about it.
Slow down.........
Love, Yourself at 44

Music & Me!

When I was very young the music that was played in church was real 'church' music. Church music in my opinion, has changed & thank goodness.

I recently started to listen to contemporary Christian music via Pandora Radio. I love Casting Crowns, Third Day, MercyMe, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, etc. My day seems to be much calmer with this music in the background. Now don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the 80's music that I am so in love with. I would never ditch Bon Jovi. Pandora allows you to type in the genre of music that you like & it plays your music plus other artists that have similar genres. It's awesome!

Enough about the Pandora plug. Listening to this music really creates a peace within that is like no other. Some of the artists I mentioned you wouldn't think that it's a 'christian' song. It's sounds so much like main stream secular music. The Bible says:

21 So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. 2 Chronicles 30:21 (NKJV)

1 Praise the Lord!Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Psalm 149:1 (NKJV)

There are several references throughout the Bible to music & praise. God knows that music is important in worship of Him. It has a calming effect on me when I listen to it.

I want to encourage each of you to just 'try' it. Go to Pandora type in Casting Crowns or Chris Tomlin for the artist & will pull all that type of music. It's great! You can leave it playing in the background & I promise you, it will make your day go better, it will make you calmer & it will make you happier during the busy work day.

Check these out!


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Now playing: Mark Schultz - I Am
via FoxyTunes

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Now playing: Casting Crowns - Everyman
via FoxyTunes

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Now playing: Todd Agnew - This Fragile Breath
via FoxyTunes

Anger, Romans 12 & Me

I love a good argument. If it's something worth fighting for, then count me in. I've think I have gotten pretty good at judging whether or not it's really worth it, except for in the parenting area. I have found myself 'having to always be right' just because I am the parent.

In July we will be the parents of four teenagers. May God have mercy on us. They are completely different. We cannot parent one like we parent the others & I have finally realized that sometimes, it's just not worth it. Does it really matter or am I just fighting this fight, just to win or is it something that truly is worth fighting for?

Which brings me to Romans 12...... I am in a women's Sunday school class at church. (Grace Point Community- Hwy. 14) We are using the book 'The Frazzled Female' by Cindi Wood. When I heard this title, it described me to a tee. I AM a frazzled female, in every way. We started getting into the book & I really have learned to just 'let go' of some things. One of the lessons in the study book said to read Romans 12. Well, I started reading Romans 12 & amazing things started to happen with me. I got calmer with the way I speak, I started applying verse 18 to my life & it's just amazing how much happier with life in general that I am now. I walk away from situations Romans 12:18 says:

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

That was 3 weeks ago & I am still reading Romans 12 every day & it has worked! I don't argue just to be right. Of course, the kids think I'm nuts, because when they start to fight I'll just say, "Romans 12!!!" They say, 'What?!?!?' When they try to get to me, I say, "Romans 12!!!"

If you are struggling with anger, I encourage you to read Romans 12 everyday. It will change your relationships with everyone that you come in contact with.