Seriously....

As I look back on my life, one of the constants has been, God. I do not remember a time when I was without Him. I was "Raised in Church"....I know most Hymns by heart...I know almost all the "Imortant" verses and stories...I have the utmost respect for a sanctuary and Church building. But, in all my life have I really been the mirror image of Christ?

I have taken the two jobs I have for 2 very important reasons...I love children and I want to help children. Plain and simple...my job with the school affords me the opportunity to spend time with children and help mold them into better students...my job with the Church affords me the opportunity to teach children about Christ and His immense love for EVERYONE. Not just the ones that go to Church....EVERYONE. There is a song we sing called "Big House"....

It's a Big, Big House,
With lots and lots of room.
A big, big table,
With lots and lots of food.
A big, big yard
Where we can play football
A big, big house,
It's my Father's House.

Of course the song is referring to Heaven...Heaven our ultimate destination...But, as I become older I watch as people fall farther and farther away from God. We send missionaries to foreign countries to teach them the Gospel, which is a fabulous thing. But, these are people who have never been exposed to the truth...If you are reading this and live in the USA, then more than likely you have seen or heard some of the truth. People are turning away from the faith in droves...they are opting to sit on their couches on Sunday mornings, rather than attending a local church service...why is that?

Half of the children in our class at school don't attend Church and some have never been! We live in the "Bible Belt" where EVERYONE is a Christian...NOT! I see the problem from many different angles and I have heard all of the excuses...

"My clothes aren't nice enough..."
"Sunday is the only day we don't have anything to do..."

But, the most horrible thing I hear is....
"We visited your church and not one person spoke to us..."
Seriously? Let's get something straight...Church is NOT a "Social Club" where one is allowed based upon their status, their bank accounts, their neighborhoods, their vehicles, their education...NONE OF THAT! Church is and should be one of the most welcoming places on earth. Our job as members of a congregation is to welcome ANYONE that walks through our doors...ANYONE! Regardless of how they are dressed, or how their vehicle looks...

It sickens me because I have been guilty of not running up to New Comers and introducing myself, telling them how glad I am that they came and asking them to return...Brother Tim does an EXCELLENT job of delivering a message from God's Word EVERY Sunday. He is such a fabulous teacher...he makes the Bible easy to understand...but, when you don't make someone feel welcome, they are not going to be fed the way they should. Some Christians will be surprised when they walk through the Pearly Gates and see who all is in Heaven...VERY SURPRISED...God doesn't care about the things we care about...He cares about our souls and our hearts...

He cares about the least of these, He cares about the fatherless, the widowed, the poor, the rich, the homeless, the uneducated...EVERYONE! So should we! As members of our Churches, we have a responsiblity to welcome and to love...it goes beyond the size of our contribution! Faith without works is dead...so if you do not feel the desire to live like a Christian, then you might need to reevaluate your faith...Do you have to go on every mission trip? no...Do you have to go to Bible Studies? no....Do you have to go to Sunday School? no....Do you have to come on Sunday night? no.....Do you have to come on Wednesday night? no....

But, those things give you an opportunity to grow in faith...to become a better person...a better Christian...the bonus will be you will become more like Christ and you will not be governed by the World's ideals, but by a more kinder set of ideals...Will it be easy? NOPE....being an example of Christ is probably one of the most difficult things to do...half the time I feel like a hypocrit, because my life does not always mirror Christ...I am a work in progress and I am beyond thankful...He is not finished with me yet!

Oh, and one more thing...You have NEVER done ANYTHING God will not forgive...with a humble heart and sincerity, He will forgive you! With your confession and belief in Jesus, He will save you! God is so much easier than humans are...and I am TERRIBLY sorry if I have made any one of you feel as if you were not welcome...You are and you are also very loved by the Most High God! He even loves you if you aren't an Ole Miss Fan! ;)

Love to all!
Monica

Oh Happy Day!

19 years ago today, at 7:00pm on a very cold and stormy night I became Mrs. Brent Anthony Morse. We had met almost 2 years prior on one of the most random meetings I have ever or will ever have again. It was such a "God Thing"...I knew who he was before we met, he had no clue who I was! All, I could remember thinking was, he was the absolute best looking thing I had ever seen! He had those incredibly blue eyes, which turn turquoise on some days and almost a glass green on others. Blond hair and he was tall...love me a tall man!

The problem with Brent is he is incredibly shy...it almost comes off as "stuck up" at times, but he is genuinely shy! It turned out he was a friend of a friend and he knew where I worked. So, the VERY next evening the two of them just showed up at the jewelry store...the next night Brent walked up by himself...he never would ask me out, he would just stand there and talk to me! About a week passed and it was a Wednesday night and I was closing with Jeanette and Rachel, he came by and spoke, then he left...I turned around and said, "I think that boy wants to go out with me, but he won't ask!" Jeanette pipes up and says, "Girl this is the 90's, YOU ask him out." He then proceeds to walk by one more time and says non chalantly, "Well, I guess I am going to go get something to eat." I said, "If I had any money I would ask to go with you." He said, "If you promise not to eat more than $6, you can." And that folks is how it all started!

We were inseparable...well, as inseparable as you can be in the 90's, we lived 20 or so miles apart...there were no cell phones and we literally saw each other for the occasional lunch together and on the weekends. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him within the first couple of months or so....and I waited....For two people to be as opposite as Brent and I were, we were so suited for one another! Whether or not you believe this, Brent is HILARIOUS! He is terribly dry and says that funniest stuff without even knowing it! I loved being with him, he made me laugh...he also liked me for who I was! I did not have to put on with him! I did not have to pretend I was something I was not...We were comfortable!

When I look back on the proposal, I laugh! Brent said, and I quote..."Here, take it..." Seriously, cause I was freaking out! I couldn't believe he had actually done it! When I arrived home I told Momma not to get mad and she said, like any good mother, she was happy for me if that was what I wanted...I think she is sure today, I made the right decision! That was January....we married a year later...

I dragged myself and that 100lb train down that tiny little aisle all by myself and started a journey that I can not believe has lasted for 19 years! Wow...we proved all the nay-sayers wrong...we did it...and we continue to do it! Nothing or no one has come along that makes me want to leave...we have two beautiful, amazing, intelligent babies...we have a house and a dog....we have the occasional spat....we say things we regret....we act like fools about the DUMBEST thing, just trying to prove we are right!

He still walks in the room and makes my belly flop...he still makes me laugh loudly and inappropriately...he still makes me fighting mad....he still turns heads and I still bristle up like an old wet hen...I would rip my earrings off over him... and win every time!

As we continue with this journey, I find it has become so easy to be with him...don't get me wrong...he ain't easy. But, I have prayed about our marriage, over our marriage and continue to pray, beg and plead with God to just give us one more day. So far, so good...Would I change anything? Nope! It is where and what I am supposed to be...He is the one chosen for me....I thank God everyday for him....I am also VERY thankful I didn't end up with any of the others...I am glad I met them, but they taught me how I should not be treated and I recognized the truth when I met Brent!

I always kid about my "next husband"...Hugh Laurie or Matthew McConaughey or Michael Keaton...ha ha...But Brent knows the truth and he knows I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world! We are a team...he's the hot head and I am the reasoner...he is the financial guru and I am the manager...he is the yard boy and I am the homemaker...we go together like peas and carrots!

So as we near 2 decades of wedded bliss I just want to thank Brent for putting up with me...I ain't easy either, he he...Thank you for our two beautiful children....thank you for all the wonderful friends you have brought into my life...thank you for supporting me and allowing me to be a mother over a career girl, no matter how finacially straining it was...I believe our children are thankful for it as well.

I hold the vows we took as sacred and I am so glad God chose you for me!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Brent! I love you!

Happy Anniversary, Bud!

All my love,
Monica