Be an Example

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."  Proverbs 23:26

The first Naval officer killed in the Iraq war in 2003 was twenty-seven year old Lt. Thomas Adams. He was one of seven who died when his Sea King helicopter collided with another aircraft over the Persian Gulf. Lt. Adams was serving as a liaison officer with the British Royal Navy at the time. In serving his county Thomas Adams was following a long family tradition. He was a descendant of President John Adams, and many other members of his family had served the nation from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to modern times.

Adams’ legacy is a wonderful example of the legacy we can leave for the future by the way we live our lives in the present. President John Adams believed in the United States and devoted his life to helping form and build the new nation. His children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps because of the example that he set for them. By observing his ways the course of their lives was set—in a pattern that has lasted for generations.

Part of God’s plan for His people is that each generation sets an example for the next to follow. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Each day we should be aware that there are others watching us, especially in our family and in our church family. They see how we respond to success and victory, and how we respond to difficulty and defeat. They watch our actions to see if they match with our words. They observe our behavior at home to see if it matches our conduct in public. While none of us are perfect, we should strive to continually set a godly example for those who come after us to follow. 

Live in such a way that as your children and grandchildren follow your example, their lives will bring honor and glory to God.

By Paul Chappell

Sista's

The Servant God Uses

"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6

       "Lord, what..."

1. Surrender - "to give up"


       "...wilt thou..."

2. Subjection - "to place under"


        "..have me to do?..."

3. Submission - "to yield without resistance"

BEING GOD'S SERVANT IS A....

• Personal matter (Acts 9:6)
• Practical Mission (Acts 9:15)
• Particular Mandate (Romans 12:1-2)

"No reserves, No retreats, No regrets" 

.....till next semester

Hey look Madison....i'm blogging! :)

Well, it's true...i'm done with my Web Design Class! That semester totally went by Über quick! Definitely learned a TON. We learned all about HTML and CSS (sorta complicated to explain). Anyway, I can now say that I can make a website. Since I now know what goes on 'behind the scenes' on a webpage I understand it a lot better. By the way....blogging is WWAAYYYYYY easier! Everything is practically done for you! If you want to see a little what i'm talking about, do this - start a new post and click (top left corner) HTML instead of Compose :). Yes, do that RIGHT now! :) So basically - we had to learn all the coding and what everything means. Fun stuff! Oh, and if you're wondering... 94.6% was my final grade. I think ;).

Grateful to have my pal, CrystalyN take the class with me. We had many laughs (ok, mainly her laughing AT me..smh), lots of fun, crazy stories and grand times!

You're probably wondering what this first picture is. Well, it is my LAST and FINAL Submission!!! So happy to click the little SUBMIT button! So to me that is a BEAUTIFUL picture!!!!! :D

Well, tata for now. I'll try not to let so much time pass between posts :)

Soft Answers

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Proverbs 15:1-2

I read about a study that researchers at Kenyon College conducted among naval personnel. They wanted to evaluate how the tone in which orders were given impacted the response those orders received. What the study showed was that the way in which the orders were given had a greater impact on the response than the content of those orders. The tone of the order went a long way toward determining the response.

When someone received an order in a soft voice, the answer tended to be given softly. But when the order was shouted, the response tended to be sharp as well. Interestingly enough, these findings held true whether the communication was in person or on the phone. It was not so much the facial expression or body language as the tone and volume of the voice that drove the response.

The same principle holds true in our lives, just as we find spelled out in the Scripture. When we speak to those around us with harsh, loud, or angry words, we should expect a negative response. Wisdom guides us to govern and control the way in which we speak to others. This is an especially important lesson for those in leadership positions—pastors, teachers, parents—as the manner of our speech often determines the response as much or more than the content.

We should never shrink from a necessary confrontation or correction. If some behavior needs to be changed or stopped it should be plainly stated. However, this should be done in kindness and love rather than harshness. Jesus was never soft when confronting sin, yet those who heard Him speak were astonished by the “gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22).

by Paul Chappell

Spring is in the air!

At last! It has arrived! Well, it's here....lets hope it stays. 

It was 50 degrees yesterday! So what would you do if it

got really warm and sunny? I don't know about you, 

but for me......................

the picture should say it all! :)

true alaskan

National Sibling Day!!

Apparently, yesterday was Nation Siblings Day. I'm not really sure what that is suppose to mean. 

I guess my siblings didn't get that memo :) jk. 

But, what a great opportunity to show my appreciation to them.

So to do that, i'm dedicating an ENTIRE post JUST FOR Y'ALL!

Yes, feel special.....veeeeeery special. 

I know y'all probably won't read this but y'all are fabulous! 

There is RARELY ever a moment when we aren't cracking up at one another. 

And with 8 of us that causes lots of laughter! It would be horrible to be an only child! 

I can't even imagine that. #tragiclife

Anywho, mucho grateful for these folks....not only siblings, but also

friends :). Well, some of them anyway heehee.

Here are a *few* pics. There is no way I could upload all the ones

we have together....your finger would get tired of scrolling! 

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.