Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina this, Hurrican Katrina that....man, thats all we've been hearing about for the last 6 days now. I am just in awe of the mess that this woman has made of LA, MS, AL and FL. New Orleans is torn up from one side to the other and from what they are saying on the television and radio it is going to be more of a clean up process than even Hurrican Ivan.

I spent all night Sunday night after we got home from church watching the Weather Channel just waiting for her to touch land. I kept thinking of Dr. Paula's parents in Gulfport. Paula, Christy, Mims, Mindy, Anna, Nay, Anne, Trey, and Kristen all in Hattiesburg. Dr. Paula, Dominique,Laura, Heather and the Vandercooks down in New Orleans. My dad had finally gotten my Aunt Missy and her daughter Taylor Ann to leave Covington, LA (35 min from N.O.) and come here. If they had still be in Covington, I would have been an absolute nervous wreck.

Since Katrina has touched down, phone lines are gone, cell services are unavailable, and just in general there is no way for me to know if these folks and their homes are ok. I just continue to be hopeful. I know just as soon as they are able, they will contact us one way or another and let us know that they are doing alright. You guys all know me, I am just a worry wart!

I wanna help, but I know that at this point the only thing I can do is pray. My question is though, how do I pray. Do I pray that those individuals sleeping on ramps on the interstate would have a bed tonight. Do I pray that those people that may still be stranded in their homes would be rescued. How should I pray for those that are within the Super Dome now that the Gov. is saying that they must leave. How should I pray for the mobilized relief workers? It's just all so much to take in, but I know that I have been called to stand in the gap in this time of need. So, Lord here I am use me!

Please pray. Pray Hard. Pray Faithfully. Pray Hopefully!

Megan

The Measure of a Man

Just in case you've been wondering why I haven't written in a few days, I'm here to explain. I asked you to pray for Grandaddy Gilmore on Tuesday. Well shortly after I posted my thoughts and request I recieved a phone call from my very shaken father that Gradaddy had gone on to be with the Lord. I was beyond emotions. I wasn't shocked. I knew that it was coming, but honestly I didnt think that the battle would end this soon. It was time though. Grandaddy just couldn't fight the fight anymore. I've spent alot of time this week with the Gilmore Family and with my family trying to sort things out and just remembering the legacy that was left behind for us to cherish. You see, Grandaddy Gilmore, really isn't my true Grandfather. I must say that I have never known him as anything but a Grandfather. He has been a father to my father and truly lavished upon him the love he lavished on his own children. He's gone now, but the love I have for him will continue on.

I'm curious to know how you do you know the Measure of a Man? What things should we look at? We'll from now on when I want to know the Measure of a Man, I will just look to the character of my Grandaddy Gilmore. Do you look directly at the character, or do you look at the heart, their strength's, their weaknesses, their determination and dedication? Let me hear you!

I need some answers!
Megan

Pass the Prayer Please.....

School only started last week and I am already beyond the word busy. Yesterday I took some time just for myself and it was nice. Wesley and I slept in, which we never ever do. I know we should have been at church, but I really needed some rest. I was in and out of bed until around 3:00 p.m. I finally got up and decided to go visit my Uncle Tim's father at the hospital. I was just about to leave when my cousin called and said that they had released "Grandaddy" from the hospital with Covenant Hospice and they were back at home. I was releaved at this, because I HATE hospitals. When I got over to the Gilmore's house I met the unexpected. I have known that Grandaddy has been sick, but when I walked in the room in which his hospital bed was in, I saw something I never thought I would have to look at. This man, probably 6'5 or taller and always wearing a smile, was sitting on the bed with his grandsons's supporting him, frail, weak, gasping for breath and quiet confused. He knew me though and that surprised everyone. I gave him a hug and a kiss on the check and he smiled that smile that he used to always wear. I only stayed in the room with him for a little while. My emotions were getting the best of me and I knew that I had to be the strong one for the boys and for Grandaddy. Anyways, I want to make a long story short and ask you to please pray for Harold Gilmore in these last days of his life. Pray that he won't just give up this battle that he is fighting. He's a strong man, many have referred to him as the energizer bunny. He just keeps going on and going. Keep in mind he's 90 years old and until 5 months ago was doing everything on his own. Driving, cutting grass, building fences, tending to the farm, etc. I love this man as if he was my own Grandfather and man oh man will my family just be devestated when he goes on to be with our Lord. It will indeed be a happy day don't get me wrong. No more suffering and no more pain, but to us we won't have a Grandaddy Gilmore anymore.

Megan

Trouble!

I have been spending a lot of time this week thinking about what Pastor Don preached about this past Sunday. We visited Hiland Park Baptist Church in Panama City and the service was absolutely refreshing. We spent some time James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and completer, not lacking anything." His entire point was what do we do with trouble? What do we let trouble do to us? He He gave some great points that I am trying to apply to my very own life at this very moment.

1. Trouble grows us, it helps us to become more mature in our walk with the Father.
2. Trouble refines us. It takes those pieces of our life that may be falling apart, and does it's very best to mend us back together.
3. Trouble disciplines us. Whether we like it or not we all need discipline in our lives. Sometime it does take us getting ourselves into trouble to realize that we are not in the Father's perfect will.
4. Trouble most importantly sustains us. We must continue to have a sustained relationship with the Lord. He does not desire for us to have an on and off again relationship with Him, but one that is consistent and never ending.

I have always wondered why the writer of James asks' us to consider our trials pure joy. We'll I think I finally understand. I know now that if I can find joy in my troubles and allow the trouble to grow me, to mature me, to refine me, to sustain me, in the end there will be joy that is unending. Indeed, trouble is something that most people hate to deal with. Trouble brings change. Trouble requires stronger faith than most of us want to give. Trouble requires ultimate faith in the Father. Trouble just all in all puts us through a lot of extra work.

Although, I have some trouble in my life at this point, I know that the Father is using it as a growing tool. His desire is not to harm me, but to bring me back on track with him. To make my path clearer so that I may be walking firmly in His ways.

Friends...Who are they anyways?

What are your thoughts?

Holla Back~
Meg

Ain't No Cure for the Summer Time Blues!

Man, Oh Man! I'm about to be one busy woman. It's time for things to start rolling. My prayer has been that the Father would give me unending strength and endurance. On Monday at 8:00 a.m. classes start. After weeks of debating which classes I would be taking, I finally nailed them down on Thursday. I must say this semester is going to be very challenging, but also one that I will enjoy tremendously. 13 hours should not be too bad. The only thing I really do not like is that like the last two semesters Wesley and I will not be seeing much of one another on campus. I guess that is what happens when one is a music major and the other is a christian education major. We'll make do. He's got himself a pretty full load also. We'll both be spending time doing homework! I start taking classes at the dance studio ( www.thekellyschoolofdance.com ) on Monday,and teaching classes on Tuesday. I have one class of 10 babies 4-6 years old and a class of 2nd-5th graders. I should have ALOT of stories to share with you all. Don't let me sound like I am dreading the studio because besides my family and my ministry, dance is a major part of my life.

My prayer for this semester is that I would adhere to the task that the Father has placed before me. I have been called to run the race. The race is going to be difficult one, but I know that because of the strength that my Father has I can run harder that I have ever run before. I know that because the Father has assigned this race to me at this particular time in my life that I can accomplish anything. With alot of faith in the father and focus on the finish line, I can and will see this task completed faithfully!

Meg

Know that this semster I will be praying for you. I pray that