Religulous

I had seen Bill Maher on "The View" a while back as he was advertising for his movie religulous. I was so frustrated listening to him mock one of the ladies as she said God had spoken to her and he told her she needed to check into a mental institution. This movie is a comedy documentary that walks around asking people about religion and questioning and mocking their faith. Curiousity got to me when my husband and I were at Movie Gallery and I decided I wanted to see what it was all about. Of course the goal of the movie was to make religions look silly and he actually says that people which believe in God have something neurologically wrong with them.

In life we are faced with these type of people everyday and some are our loved ones. As Christians one VERY hard thing for me to understand is most of us don't love like Jesus would want us to. We ridicule others, mock others, and we of all judge others. The worst part of it all it takes place inside the church. I hear it in every church everytime I go...the gossiper whispering in the pew. Or the pianist is mad because someone wants to sing and they won't get their solo. I have literally gotten up and walked out of a church because there was a lady sitting behind me who talked about every person that came through the door. Whether it was there clothes or something they did or said she talked about it.

As Christians we are judged (I personally believe) more than ANY other religion. People despise us for some reason maybe it was a bad experience they had at church. Or MAYBE its because alot of us talk the talk but don't walk the walk. It is hyprocritical and is something even I am guilty of. How can we preach the Gospel if we aren't living our lives according to God's purpose. I have heard it over and over especially from the Hollywood crowd that God is a non judgemental God and basically live your life however you like, don't worry about the Bible to get to Heaven all you have to believe is Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was sent here to save us. I don't believe that at all, God is a very strict God and has provided with basically a rule book. To many people have one foot in the Church and the other out in the World.

We are all human and we will ALL make mistakes BUT we can't make mistakes just to say I will repent later. There may be no "later". Get the ridicule and gossip out of our churches welcome and love one another with support and true care. Be understanding to others and love ALL those we come across in our paths. Christians have caused the criticism that is upon us now its our duty to show what being a Christian is truly about. Surround new people in your church with your love. I went to a new church a few months ago probably 4-5 Sundays in a row not one let me say it again NOT ONE church member came up to me and acknowledged my presence. The final straw for me was a young lady came over and talked to a girl sitting next to me and never said "Hi my name is". The congregation was to into talking to their cliques and talking about clothes rather than welcoming someone to their church. For all they knew it could have been my very first time hearing the Gospel and all I could see were hypocritical stuck up people. Is that what you want someone to think there first experience seeking God? Think about it....

Quotes & Scripture I love

These are a few scriptures and quotes I like. Enjoy!

At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable.
-- Mark V. Olsen and Will Sheffer

Bringing up a family should be an adventure, not an anxious discipline in which everybody is constantly graded for performance.
-- Milton R. Saperstein

In every dispute between parent and child, both cannot be right, but they may be, and usually are, both wrong. It is this situation which gives family life its peculiar hysterical charm.
-- Isaac Rosenfeld

No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?
-- Elbert Hubbard

The family you come from isn't as important as the family you're going to have.
-- Ring Lardner

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

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.
-- Author Unknown

As we grew up, my brothers acted like they didn't care, but I always knew they looked out for me and were there!
-- Catherine Pulsifer.....I have two AMAZING brothers which I love more than they will ever know. They have been there through thick and thin and I am so blessed to have them in my life.


Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.
-- Marc Brown


A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.
-- Author Unknown

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.
-- Author Unknown


He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
-- Clarence Budington Kelland

It is much easier to become a father than to be one.
-- Kent Nerburn

The first man a little girl falls in love with is her Dad.
-- Author Unknown


Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots.
-- Hoosier Farmer
Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.
-- Mother Teresa

A mother,
There to support you,
And hold you up whenever you need her.
-- Laurel Stephens

Before becoming a mother I had a hundred theories on how to bring up children. Now I have seven children and only one theory: Love them, especially when they least deserve to be loved.
-- Kate Samperi

Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.
-- Erich Fromm

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.
-- Peace Pilgrim

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

The more anger towards the past you carry in your heart, the less capable you are of loving in the present.
-- Barbara De Angelis

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
-- Dr. Seuss

Falling in love with someone isn't always going to be easy... Anger... tears... laughter.. It's when you want to be together despite it all. That's when you truly love another. I'm sure of it.
-- Author Unknown


I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
-- Ray Croft

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
-- Mother Teresa

1 Peter 5:10 (New International Version)

10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Matthew 18:19-20 Again, I tell you if two of you on Earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will fiProverbs 28:13
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.nd; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matt. 7:7

Romans 12:1
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship

What is a Good Parent?

Having my first child at the age of 19 I was placed into that "Young Mother" category. You know the one, the label that gives almost everyone around you to criticize your parenting style or provide their advice even when they weren't asked. It's been "I think you guys should do it this way". As I have let alot of it just slide and realize everyone just wants the best for the kids, it brings the question what makes a good parent? I understand everyone has their opinion and I have respected it but it still won't make my parenting change. I don't know of any parent that didn't make mistakes but the thing about parenting is every child is different. No one has all the answers but we can just pray for guidance and know that God's watching and knows our hearts and sees our love.

I have said it once and I will say it a million times before in my opinion self confidence is the biggest gift you could give your child. My focus has always been giving my children the self confidence to be able to stand up to peer pressure and be comfortable with whom they are not what someone else wants them to be. Its something I wanted to instill very early on so when they started school then became pre-teens and then teenagers they didn't have to feel the need to get involved with the wrong crowds or be the class clown to "look cool". I just want them to be comfortable with themselves. Self confidence is the foundation to their healthy relationships, education, and careers.

But I am interested in what everyone elses idea of a good parent is? In my opinion it doesn't matter how you can eat off of your floors, or how you have made a schedule for every minute of everyday, or how you spent 24 hours a day teaching them words out of a dictionary. You could team them every language and prepare them beyond belief for college and think your child is going to successful because you have raised them to be smart. The truth is, I know tons of kids like that but they never went to college. There parents trained them for college but they fell into the wrong crowds and decided they were now adults and no longer had to follow the strenuous schedule of studying everyday.

I once had a friend tell me that he wanted his daughter to believe she was better than everyone. It sent a chill down my spine to hear that. That is where teaching them the difference of arrogance and self confidence. Also teaching a child to respect others. I strive for my kids to understand they can do anything they put their minds to but also for them to understand they are no better than anyone. We are all the same we just all make different choices for our lives. Ones choice may be great for them but completely wrong for you. It doesn't make them less of a human. The most important thing is ones happiness.

As far as discipline goes I try to discipline my kids based on the circumstance (and age). My son whom is two usually gets sent to "time out", only long enough for him to know he is in trouble and give him time to correct his behavior. I then go to him and explain to him why he is in trouble, if it is for hitting or pulling his sister hair then I make him apologize and give her a hug. Now it has become almost automatic for him he goes right over to her and hugs her and says "sorry sissy". For my daughter who is five she usually gets sent to her room with no television. The same goes for her too I go to her and then she must apologize to whomever she hurt.

My kids are not the quiet little kids that are always polite or that have every hair in their head in place. In fact, they are rarely quiet but to me and my husband they are perfect. They are happy, active, loving, and healthy kids. To end this I want to say I think a good parent is the kind of parent that just gives their child all the unconditional love they can imagine. Our parents could have never prepared us for all the obstacles we were going to take and I know I can't do that for my kids either. But in the meantime I'm just going to do what I know how...Love them!!

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.
-- Charles R. Swindoll

P.S. Encourage your kids non stop. Remember every positive thing you say to them there will be someone else saying two negative things. Be the best you know how to be and don't stress over everyone elses "scheduling or discipline". God knows your heart and that's all that matters!!

Trinity Gospel Trio

My dad is a part of a gospel group called Trinity Gospel Trio. They have been singing together for about a year and we are amazed by the many doors God has opened for them. This month they will be featured in "Christian Voice Magazine" and they are in the process of recording their debut album. My dad always knew his calling was to sing and share the gospel but he always struggled to find his place. He once was singing in a group called Hamm & Humphries and they were a secular country group. They traveled to Nashville had a recording contract, made a video, and were locally singing a good bit. But the peices never fit, they weren't singing songs with cursing and they were all very clean country songs because they were both men of Christ but the demands were becoming evident. The group was being requested at bars and parties and the guys quickly reminded themselves this is not where they wanted to be as a whole. So the band broke up after much money spent.

At that point my dad kind of lost his spirit, my grandmother (his biggest fan) had just lost her battle with cancer very suddenly. We moved away from his hometown because he needed that fresh start. Daddy became the music minister at a small church in our new town which is also where I met my husband. After 4 years I decided I wanted to move back to our hometown and a year later my parents followed. Here, my dad struggled to see what God truly wanted him to do. He knew it was some sort of ministry and he always believed it was music better he never felt in place or it would seem things would fall a part as he got settled. So after a few years home my parents had started a going to a church in Reform, AL it was very small. After a few months at the church the pastor went through some hardships and had to resigns the church then asked my father to fill in as pastor here and there. They were considering him as a full-time pastor but things again started slowly but surely not working out. Dad continued doing solos at the church here and there and went to a couple church homecomings elsewhere and sang. He met with a friend from his youth group years named Kenny and he had been working with a group called the Capstone Quartet as a fill in and also doing solos. May 10, 2008 my father got a call Kenny asking if he could sing at a homecoming at Eternal Faith Church because the church had a few cancellations and needed singers.

While in the church parking lot Dad, Kenny, and Rodney practiced a couple of songs together and things just clicked. The harmony was amazing. They started getting requests to sing together before they had even formed the group. Soon after much prayer they all agreed they felt this is was God's will. They began getting many requests to sing and things just snowballed from there. John Lanier was performing at a church and heard the group and asked if they would come to the SGM fanfair in Pigeon Forge, TN and compete for a recording time in the studio. After prayer they decided to go and just have fun and share God's word. Surprisingly they ended up winning and this past week traveled to Kentucky to begin recording their debut album. My dad has written a couple of songs that will be on it, one that they are really excited about called "I'll Live Anyway". Its a song about someone struggling a disease such as cancer, which is near and dear to us because my dad lost both parents to cancer and currently my mom's father is fighting lung cancer.

I wanted to share this because it has been amazing to me seeing God open door after door because they followed His will and not their own. They were never looking for a group but each just trying to figure out which path the Lord was taking them on. I am very excited to see what else God has in store for Trinity and I know the song "I'll Live Anyway" is going to be such a ministry for those struggling. For more information about bookings or if you would like Trinity Gospel Trio to attend your event you can visit the website www.trinitygospeltrio.com .And be sure to look for them in the July issue of "Christian Voice Magazine".

God's Purpose

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:20-22

Do you listen to God's purpose or do you follow what you "feel" like you should do. God tells us that to everything there is a reason and even non christians use this term often. I followed my mind and what I thought was the best decisions for me for a long time without consulting God and I seemed disappointed with the outcome the majority of the time. But EVERYTIME I took the time to pray and ask for Gods guidance and I followed his guidance I felt satisfied and the things in my life began to come easier. I am learning to walk by faith and not fear. I cast my cares to him but it takes more than just praying about things I have to walk in faith that God is going to be there and show me the way. We never know what tommorow beholds and how the devil is going to try and attack us but as long as we hold our heads up and fall to our knees and have faith we can move mountains and people can be raised from the dead. I have a joy in my heart that nobody could give me except God. Thank him everyday for your blessings and walk by faith in him.

A Mothers NICU Prayer

I kept you in my womb as long as I could.
Praying that things would turn out like they should.

I'd never imagine we'd end up here.
Everyone keeps trying to calm my fears.

The Doctors say everything should be alright.
But still here I am sleepless tonight.

What a precious little warrior are you.
Fighting for your life and I am praying you won't lose.

God is healing your body right now, even though the doctors believe they know how.

Until I take you to your crib at night, I will be here at the hospital praying by your side.

-Charity Humphries-Meads

One of the hardest things I have ever gone through was seeing my son Brayden fight for his life in the NICU. I praise God everyday for allowing me to put Brayden in his crib every night. I am not the best at writing but at the time I wrote this it just felt good to handle my emotions this way. My ultimate goal for posting this is to try and find supporters for the March of Dimes and other Charities that support premature babies. I believe one of the most important things for mothers is education. Women need to be educated about the dangers and how important it is to listen to your doctors and if you feel like your Doctor is wrong don't be afraid to seek other advice. I began having contractions very early with Brayden and my doctor kept telling me it was just Braxton Hicks. There were other signs that were happening that my doctors kept blowing me off. I knew something was not right. The problem was I trusted their advice and didn't seek any other. You can't go back and change things once the baby is out. Ask questions even if you feel it might be dumb. Ask, it's what the Dr. is paid for. Don't be afraid to call after hours if you feel there is something you feel is important. The picture above is after Brayden had most of his tubes out. The hardest part was not only seeing him on the ventilator but not being able to hold him for 2 weeks. It felt like eternity! But, please take the time to join the March of Dimes group and if you can, donate.