Oh How He Loves

2-3-11 I had a really great group of thoughts that went together for this post saved in the notes section of my iPhone. Somehow they got deleted. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to take that as they weren't meant to be heard or if it was just an accident. Either way, here is what I do want to say. If I want to get right down to the root of my issues, everything comes back to unworthiness. I don't feel worthy to be loved. I know some of you are thinking I'm crazy for saying so, but this is the lie that Satan has gotten me to believe for so long. I've believed that when I didn't get a position I wanted, a boy I wanted, a job I wanted, a friend I wanted...it all came back to me not being worthy for that thing. I've played into Satan's game long enough. I won't allow him to bully me into thinking I'm not worthy of the blessings my Heavenly Father wants to bestow on me....because that's the key. I am a child of God. I am loved and worthy of love because He first loved me. You are too if Jesus is your Lord! Whew, let that soak in a minute. He loved me before He knew me. Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee" One of my other favorites is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future" Oh how wrong I have been to let my agenda change the perspective of how God feels toward me. "For I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14 I'm reading a book right now called "I'm not good enough...and other lies women tell themselves" by Sharon Jaynes. It is filled with such great Scripture on this subject and has helped me realize that it's something everyone struggles with in some fashion or another...not just me! Friend, Let me help you to know there is One who truly LOVES you and He is enough! I'll leave you with a song called "How He Loves" by David Crowder Band which is pretty powerful. I'm so thankful that if no one ever did love me again, Jesus loves me and always will!

James Eunice has been found...

1-31 The Valdosta Daily Times and the Lowndes County Sherriffs Department confirms that the body of James Eunice was recovered at Ocean Pond this morning. My heart is so conflicted right now. I've prayed so many times for his body to be found so that the family might have some sense of closure yet I know with this comes a whole new set of days of grief and healing for them. An overwhelming response from the community doesn't even sum up what an impact James had on the people he knew and never will know. There will be a special prayer service at CrossPointe Church today at 2:30 pm. The funeral is set for Saturday at Cross Pointe. My prayer is that people will cling to God now and in the days ahead. I pray that God would protect the hearts of all those involved and bring His peace in their lives. I pray that God will continue to be glorified in the days ahead just as James would have wanted. Can you imagine that this whole time James has been held in the arms of Jesus as He says to him, Well Done, my Good and Faithful Servant.
I leave you with some words that James wrote in April of last year after losing a friend...
"Take the time to love someone. Today, tomorrow, for the rest of your life. Because when that unexpected day comes that they pass on, you'll be left wondering what you could've done better." -James Eunice

Woo Hoo...Another Baby in the Family!

1-25 My precious cousin, Whitney, and her husband, Jody, are having a baby!!!!! They have prayed for a child for a long time. They live in Oregon and she told me via phone on Thursday 1-20. I had to keep it a secret for the weekend which wasn't easy. I was so excited to share the news on my blog because they are a perfect example of praying for something you desire and long for and God's faithfulness to bless His children in His time. Faith is an amazing thing. I wish I could say that I am able to trust God for everything, but I'm human and I'm working on it ;) I am continuing my study called "No other gods". The writer was single at the time she wrote it. She thought only single people struggled with trying to find their identity. In doing the study, she realized it happens to everyone. We get caught up in being wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, career women, and forget that our sole identity should be found in Christ. So that's what I'm working on now. I'm trying to focus on who Christ wants me to be and be happy with that. My study this morning was on Hannah and how "The Lord had shut up her womb" The question was posed, "How do you think Hannah was enriched by God's closing of her womb?" Wow, what if we looked at every situation that we dread, that brings us pain, fear, and doubt, and ask...What is God doing in me because of this? Just some food for thought today. I hope you all are blessed this week.
Congrats again to Whitney and Jody Duvall and their soon to be little one...coming around August 10, 2011. Thank you God for your blessings!!! 1 Samuel 1:27 "For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him."

Special James Eunice Prayer

1-24 This is being passed around twitter and facebook today.....Special request from the Eunice Family: We, as the people of God, know and understand the power of prayer! Wherever you're at, at 7pm stop what you're doing and pray that James will be found! Join us in this #oneprayer at 7pm

Weekend Getaway

1-21 I went to Columbus this weekend to see my friend, Missy, as a last minute sort of thing. I usually go see her every year in September, but life was just crazy this past year. I didn't have clients on Friday afternoon or Saturday so I jumped in the car. I'm beginning to really enjoy traveling and seeing friends and going to different churches. I have NO earthly idea what God has in store for my life, but I'm just trying to enjoy the time He's giving me and bring Him as much glory as possible.
It had been a dreary couple of days in Valdosta so when I got into Moultrie and saw the sun shining, I had to take a pic. I love how it turned out!
Two of my friend's kids, Shelbi and Matthew
Matthew got a Wii for Christmas and wanted to play it non stop. He plays some of the games better than I do, I must admit.
Ok, so not the best pic of Matthew, but getting a 3 year old to smile when he's ready to go into church and play...this is what you get.
We don't have Mellow Mushroom in Valdosta anymore so this pic is for all those out there craving MM pizza and that amazing Esperanza dressing!
After church, we went to a yogurt place called Chill. All I wanted was a Venti White Mocha from Starbucks...ask and you shall receive!
I thought this was cool. The sermon was on generosity and giving so they projected the word trust on the curtain over the drum kit.
Not a great pic, but I didn't want people looking at me funny for taking a pic in church. The praise band was pretty big. I enjoyed their music as much as the sermon.

Me and my dear sweet friend, Missy, after church Saturday night.
A family friend flies Matthew around on his new bike. He loved it.
We all had a great time of hanging out, watching movies and Missy cooked some super yummy food. She even brought me a Starbucks and a blueberry muffin this morning while I was getting ready to leave. I pray God blesses her for being such a wonderful friend! She also saved me from the no water for city residents of Valdosta this weekend. The power at the water plant went out so the city residents didn't have water for most of the day on Saturday. From my understanding, we are still under a boil water advisory which means having to boil the water before using it to say brush your teeth or wash dishes. Crazy!!!!! I'm just glad I was out of town although I got several phone calls from my County friends volunteering their houses and showers which was super sweet!

On a not so happy note: I found what I thought was some rotting wood on my house. I love having my house and am proud that God chose to bless me with it. I just do not like it that I happened to reopen my savings account last week and now have to shell out several hundreds of dollars to have the wood repaired and painted. Oh well, such is life I guess!

I hope you all are having a great Monday!

UGA loves our Valdosta Wildcats!

1-21 Last night Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome, Valdosta High School Wildcat football players, announced their committments to the University of Georgia. As a former Wildcat and a lover of all things Bulldawg, I'm pretty proud! I figured a post was necessary.

James Eunice-a light for Christ in our community!

1-19 I went to the service at CrossPointe tonight. It was a definite different feel from the Monday night service. I thought, in my own emotional mind, that everyone would be more weary because the days continued to draw out with no sign of James. I was very much surprised and happy to find a community of people who had come to praise God and surround the family with love. The music was more about praising God and much more upbeat. There were still tears, but the peace of God was almost palpable in the room!!! The Music leader started off the service by asking the youth if any of them had the opportunity to share the gospel today. There were several shouts of yes across the room. (If only we could all remember what we were put ont this earth to do!) His brother, John, and sister, Lindsey, spoke about their amazing little brother. They both were thankful of the efforts to love on their family and in the search for James.
One thing a leader pointed out was the efforts in the recovery process. They listed the names of the agencies that have been helping: Lowndes County Sherriff's Department, Valdosta City Police Department, Lake Park Fire Department, Volunteer Fire Departments, Moody Air Force Base, United States Air Force, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia and Florida Department of Natural Resources, and countless other volunteers. The effort has been great. Even on facebook, people are reaching out to the family and praying for James to be found. He is making an impact on so many lives right now! Even with my blog, I had no idea that when people googled his name, it would lead them to my posts. God is moving in a mighty way, some of which we may never see or understand. As for me, someone who has lost a loved one suddenly before "their time", I can say now that God's plan is perfect. I have been able to help several young ladies who have lost their Dad and I've been blessed because of it. I pray that whatever the outcome is with James that the life he lived for Christ continues to be a light in our community and that others will come to know Jesus!