Guest Blogger: Caddi Locke

(Caddi is a high school student that serves and fellowships at Promise Land Baptist Church. Thanks Caddi for guest bloggin..I love you - you're a true blessing to me!)

1. "Be Still and Know I'm Here"
2. "Cuz you are not alone, I'm always there with you"
3. "Emanuel....God With Us"
4. "I Know Your There"
Last year I had been struggling with wondering if God was here with me. It was really hard for me because I knew that God loved me and that He was "there". Its hard to explain really, but I'm sure many people have felt this way. I just felt alone. At camp last year, I just broke down and told God that I needed to know He was there with me. It was amazing, that verse that says "Ask and you shall receive" became real to me. That whole week at camp, the weeks to follow, and even now God keeps showing himself to me. It's incredible. Since that week at camp, I have not doubted that God is here with me. Those four lines listed are different songs that talk about God being with us. This summer in Sunday school lessons, concerts/songs, in quiet times I have been reminded numerous times that God is with us. In June my brother, Chelsea, my friend Dee, and I went to Wild Adventures and heard Story Side B and Mercy Me in concert. I can't describe that night. It was incredible. SSB sings a song called Be Still. Its hard in our every day lives to be still. For me it means, even when life is tough and we don't see God working through it or understand why we are going through something, we need to hold up (be still) and know God is here and that He has it covered. One of my favorite singers is Michael Buble, he sings a song called, "Lost". The meaning of the song probably has not one thing to do with God but when I have heard lessons recently about knowing He is here I remember that line. Its a goodie! MercyMe is just amazing!!! I love them. Their music has gotten me through some hard times. A song they sing is God With Us. Most of us know that Emanuel is one of Jesus' names which means God With Us. Not much more I can say about that. Casting Crowns has a song called "I Know Your There". Again speaks for itself. Psalms 139 is a very reassuring chapter about how we can't get away from God. I feel like I have gone on and on but it has been amazing to me how I keep getting reassurances of God's presence. I don't know really how to end this blog other than just saying thank you for reading it.
-Caddi

A beautiful rose?

Our pastor Tommy has said that he likes to look at people as to who they can be..their potential. If we're honest ,we can say we often look at people and make a snapshot judgement. Perhaps we simply need to not judge. At times we've seen someone when they are going through a storm and they're battered. Maybe they are struggling with an issue in their life and it has affected their walk or witness. What you see at that moment in that person's life, well, it just wasn't a pretty picture. Instead of being so quick to prune them, lift them up in prayer and encourage them. There have been times in my life when my bloom was looking pretty shabby and the fragrance of my life wasn't so sweet. But you know what? I asked forgiveness, repented and am trying to root myself even deeper into my source of life, Jesus.

These are pictures of roses in my front yard. One picture..they are battered after a hard storm. I had to tie the stem to the railing for support. The next, is still a rose, although no bloom because of disease. Had to pull off dead leaves and apply disease killer and let it rest some. The last is a rose as it is intended to be; a beautiful bloom.

Sr Hi Small Group Study

Today Jenny taught about God, being in us, is everywhere we are. The Holy Spirit can't be dropped off and reclaimed when we're ready. We are to be and live the Christ filled life.The scripture was Col 2:5; Acts 17: 27-28;Eph 1:13, 2:13; 3:16-17, Joshua 1:5
The prayer requests today are:
H: Brother entering the service
K: Emily, the 6 year old we have been praying fory. She died yesterday. Please be in prayer for her family; camp and US
C: b
P: The Davis family -father has a brain tumor.
J: 2 US; praise: bro finished boot camp; G-ma
M: b C exam, sB alot of responsibility
L: US
C:J makes me grasp 'why' i believe what i believe;Kaylee returns home 7/31
M: relatives now missionaries in Ukraine children: 4,2 and 1 on the way
Lets be in prayer for these, girls! Mrs. K

Cool Pix of students

I sent out a mayday over the weekend to some ladies to find me a crew for a job this past Monday. Check out some fun pictures on the album ...

I heard alot today from the Sr. High girls

Today in Sunday school I taught a lesson of obedience being the foundation of abiding in Chirst.
John 15: 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

There was a good discussion on obedience. If your parents ask you to clean your room on Monday, and you don't do it until Friday are you being obedient? We looked at 1 Samual when Saul was partially obedient..bad results! What I found striking was when I asked each girl (about 15 students) what percent of the Sr. Hi ministry students do you consider "resting in/ abiding in Christ? In other words are living Jesus? The resounding answer was 5%. Wow. Adults, don't be shocked at that number because their percent of adults in their lives they perceived abiding in Christ..a resounding 10%. Impressive huh? We as the body of Christ have alot more abding and loving to do.

Prayer requests: several brothers and friends either in Iraq or heading there, several children with cancer need prayer and their families, many papas that are sick, travel mercies, Da's papa died, travel to PA for service, family going to mission field (Russia), friends and family and camp.

I heard alot today CHURCH SERVICE

Ever hear so much that you just need time to absorb it all? I need time to breathe what I learned today from my student Pastor Kevin. He preached about the pictures we as christians, paint of who God is. Others are looking. What picture are we painting of God? It is this picture that others see (thus the word "Christ-Like") of Christ. Is it accurate? Have I recently checked if my life's activities are grounded and covered with unselfish love? I have to confess, the easiest group I tend to lapse from showing unselfish love to is...I'm ashamed to type it..is my family. Can I confess that? It is in my home that I am more selfish, self-centered and have expectations.
Kevin, I'll take your challenge and ask God to make these words for ME true in my home.
1 Corinthians 13:
4 Karen is patient and kind. Karen is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. Karen does not demand her own way. Karen is not irritable, and keeps no record of being wronged. 6 Karen does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Karen never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance..