Bassmaster Classic 2013

   Sunday February 24th My husband Greg and I along with our good great friends the Shulers attended the Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Ok. First of all those who don't know what that is, I will explain briefly. It is where fishermen who qualify after a year of fishing in tournaments are eligible to fish in the granddaddy of them all....which is called the Bassmaster Classic. They spend three days of fishing on Grand Lake and they are allowed to bring in five fish per day. The total weight after those three days determines the winner.
   We first went through the expo and did a little dream building (you would understand that term if you were ever in the amway family). They had everything you would ever need to fish. We saw a few celebrities...not Red Carpet kind, you know real men doing what they love to do.  FISH!!!
After that we headed to the nose bleed section at the BOK Center and  sat in anticipation of who would win. I had no favorites but Greg was pulling for Kevin Vandam. Or he was hoping one of the local guys from the Grand Lake area would win. As the guy come in to the center they are in the back of their boats with their fish in the live wells. A truck...a Toyota truck that is unbelievably decked out and matches their bass boat of many different brands, pulls them into the arena. At that time their theme song is playing. They get out of their boats show off thier catch, take them to get weighed we hear the results they talk and thank their sponsers. It is all very exciting, lights loud music, cheering, ESPN is taping it. I mean this is a big deal and glad Greg encouraged me to go.
Cliff Pace from Petal, Misssissippi was the final man to pull in. His theme song was " I Can Only Imagine" He became the winner of the 2013 BASSMASTER  CLASSIC!!  He won $500,000.00. Yes I have all the zero's in the right place. He accepts his new title, says some words, stands under confetti. His wife teary eyed with flowers stands beside him. They get back in his boat to take a victory lap. As I'm looking at him he never once came across as prideful or selfcentered. I saw a humble man. I could truly sense it and shared my thoughts with Greg and Kala.
So today as I was studying the book of James, I came across this scripture. James 4:6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the scriptures say "God oposses the proud but favors the humble.
God poured  out favor on Cliff Pace. And I along with thousands of others got to witness it. HIS name was glorified thru a  man who likes to fish.

Trek Program

Today is my day to go to an area school and be a mentor for an hour. My little guy's name is Justin and he is in the third grade. This is out third week of being together. Last week he told me he liked me and I was nice. So today started out great he agreed to all the paper work I picked out. We played a game of Old Maid and he won. And then he was done, wouldn't do anything else, wouldn't obey just totally shut down. His brother went and got the teacher  who told me this is normal behavior and would talk to the principal about him no longer being in the program.
As I drove back to work I pondered in my mind what happened, I didn't do anything, I didn't punish him, or yell at him why would he suddenly just push me away? Do I take it personal or is this just him?
Then I thought back to my life when I pushed God away, not intentially but still I turned  him away. ( I came across this blog.. I never published it.) I thought it needed to be published any way. Perhaps whoever reads this will think back of a time in their life when they chose to shut down and not let God in. Or maybe you just don't want to let people in. Why is that? I encourage you to take the time and seek HIM. He is so faithful!!

Getting Back To The Plan Of God.

March 7, 2011 I decided to start writing. I wrote two blogs and typical to my personality it ended there. The desire to write has not left me. In fact I would like to write a book one day. I looked back on the two blogs I wrote and my best friend from kindergarten encouraged me to keep doing it. I just found her encouragement  as I logged back in almost 2 years later. I love how God moves because today as I was taking my little dog Winnie out, Loree came to my mind. I remembered how our dreams were for me to write a book and she was going to draw the pictures. My thoughts were I wonder if she still takes the time to draw because she had the gift too.
  In the last year I have not quit writing, in fact I wrote quite a bit of encouragement to the women of my Titus 2 ministry that I was involved in at the church I attend. I just had not wrote on this blog. Well that is all going to change. I want to become dedicated to it. I want to commit to it.
COMMIT is my 2013 word and I am struggling to fulfill it any many areas of my life. So bear with me and by all means pray for me because I want more than anything to be in the will of God.

March 13, 2011, A typical Sunday Morning.  I'm sitting at church worshipping, learning from the pastor and fellow shipping with friends afterwards, like I said a typical Sunday morning. There is a family behind me but honestly I'm not paying attention, hear the baby jabber but still so in tune with the message that it couldn't even distract me. I know who the family is but still don't really connect with them. They are a large family, still have kids in school, a granddaughter, nothing at all in common with them. That afternoon I stay in town to prepare for a new ministry I'm involved in. Called Titus 2. It is a mentoring ministry and although I question if I have what it takes to be a mentor, I do embrace it whole heartily I am shopping for serving plates, and food for our first meeting on Monday March 14th. I can't resist a book store so while I'm out I stop at Hastings. Go straight to my favorite section, Christian books. I really don't need anymore books because I have several to read and I  don't need to spend the money. I come across a book called From Mourning to Morning, The Only Difference Is You. by Harry and Cheryl Salem. I immediately know this could only be for me because it would help me to understand a friend of mine who lost her son, and then I could pass it on to her. I had never lost anyone so close to me so I was really searching for some answers to help her. It was a used book and I got it for around $4.00. But if it could help my friend I would purchase it. I walked around some more looked at some others and even thought I don't need to buy anything. I'll come back in a week or two and if it's there then I'll get it. Then I thought for $ 4.00 I'm already here just buy it.
Monday March 14th, work a little go home bake and be at the church by 5:30. Ladies are trickling in, visiting laughing and waiting in anticipation for the evening to begin. My last person to check in was Carol Goad, I have her sign the sheet, give her a name tag then I move on , I see her on the phone but then I don't even see her leave. We get ready to start the evening and the call comes in that Carol's  19 yr old daughter, Nychelle  was in a car accident. We stop everything and lift her and her family up in prayer. As the evening progresses we get more news and the prayers continue. At 1:30 am my daughter calls me and says Mom she died. It's on Facebook. I can not believe it or sleep so I get on Facebook and try to find someone who knows and I start texting to find out more info. Surely this is wrong. Remember I do not know this girl but I remember the words of one who did and she said I know Nychelle will be okay because she has a calling on her life. What events developed after this I will never forget. The people came together and loved on this family. Immediately a Facebook Memorial page was set up and it had a multitude of "likes" in a matter of minutes. Mom and Dad were posting encouragement to everyone. My husband Greg said I want to know these people. The s funeral  service was unbelievable, hands were raised and hearts were changed. People walked out of there with comments like, " I've never seen a worship service like that, or what should have been so sad wasn't."  If you are a Christian then you know why even in the midst of sadness that family was rejoicing. I mean they don't have to worry if their daughter is going to heaven, if that doesn't get your shout on then nothing will. As I said before I never knew this sweet child who spent a short time on earth living her life to spend eternity with Jesus, but when I get to heaven I can't wait to meet her. And God did have a call on her life. He called her home so that others might be saved. The Goad family is truly remarkable and it has blessed me to see how Godly people handle tough situations that life throws at them. They have inspired me beyond measure. Nychelle, I made a name tag for you so that I could be your mentor and although you never put it on you became my mentor. I'm just about finished reading my book and I know now why I bought it, for a family that in a week's time had their whole world turned upside down and through it all their biggest concern was that Nychelle's friends would come to know Jesus. Sunday March 20, 2011. 1 week later there is a remarkable family across from me shouting and praising the Lord. And let me tell you if you can bury your child and still praise the Lord...I Want What You Have.   And I do have something in common with them, I want to see my child in heaven just like they want to see theirs. If you know Jesus  Christ as your personal savior then no one is in your past, they are always in your future.

Janet

New To Blogging

After you read this post I'm sure you will understand the title. I decided to start blogging as a way of getting in the swing of writing. I had a teacher who encouraged me to write when I was in high school and even believed I could write a book someday. Well, love, baby, jobs and just life in general has a way of interupting some dreams and goals. And although they weren't bad interuptions and I fully wanted that in my life, writing took a backseat. So now I believe I am ready with arms wide open to see what  God has in store for me.I have also been reading and studying a lot, which I think has also made that dream surface. So who knows this could be the very beginning of a new era in my life. I embrace it with  excitement and anticipation. So if I come to your mind please say a prayer for GOD to show me the direction he wants me to take in  my life.  
Jeremiah 10:23 I know, Oh Lord, that a man's life is not his own;is is not for man to direct his steps.
Lord, I am so excited for this journey that I am on. I thank you for stirring my heart to put my thoughts in writing, may I always honor you in all my words. I thank you for friends who encourage me to pursue a dream. In your Holy name I pray, Amen