Million Dollar Smile....Priceless Faith, Strength & Courage

I have been thinking about this since yesterday.  Stumbling over the right words to say.  Words that will hopefully bring some comfort and peace in knowing that Jackson, "Our Warrior", "Our Leader" of Team Jackson, has won his battle.

 

As I drove yesterday to pick the kids up from school I passed their home and noticed the overwhelming amount of love and support being shown to their family.  As I continued my drive I noticed something else, I couldn't hear birds chirping and I didn't see any squirrels playing as I normally do on my daily travel to the school.  Then I realized why!  The birds had no reason to chirp.  The trumpets were rejoicing so loudly from heavens gates that the birds knew there was no point in making a sound.  Even the squirrels were at a standstill.  There was a peace and calmness over the whole City of Evergreen it seemed.  

Even now as we question the whys, the what ifs and could haves we can rest assured knowing that Jackson is completely healed, whole again and wearing that "Million Dollar Smile".  I didn't know Jackson personally and only got to meet him briefly a few times but you didn't have to meet him to know who he was.  He was a child of God with a tremendous amount of Faith, Courage, Strength and Love.  He was not a selfish person and he was full of Grace.  I completed every assignment that God had given him and done it wearing that, "Million Dollar Smile."  

Jackson has built a Team of prayer warriors on this earth, he built a class of prayer warriors, he built a school of prayer warriors, and he built a community of prayer warriors.  I think he done a lot for the Kingdom of God.  He went through more than a lot of us will in a lifetime, in a short amount of time, but he also accomplished more than most of us will in a lifetime. 

While he was here he also developed bonds with 27 students.  27 students that had his back from the beginning all the way through his final healing.  Those 27 students are now brothers and sisters that will be here to protect his sister Chloe, just like he would.  Those 27 students will also be here for his parents throughout the years checking on them.  Those 27 students will carry his Legacy, Faith, Strength, Courage and Grace with them for the rest of their lives.

But not just those 27 students; he showed the whole school.  But not just the school; he showed the community.  But not just the community; he showed the World!!!  

Gone but never forgotten.  Class of 2021 Sparta Warriors.  #15

2 Timothy 4:7-8

"Smile that could light up any dark room"

"Team Jackson"

"He never gave up"

"Million Dollar Smile"

"Jackson's Team"

"Building Faith"

"Community Outpouring"

"Family"

The Sunset on the day of Jackson's "Home Going"

"Million Dollar Smile"

                                                                                                  G. P. W. L.

                                                                                                 Melissa Harris

How are we walking?

Am I walking in a way that is pleasing to God?  Am I walking in a way that I would approve of my children walking when they are my age?  Am I doing anything that I wouldn't want my children doing?  Is God saying that about me?...Why are my children doing this?  Why have they let Satan rope them in?

Most of us as Christians at some point join a church, get baptized, and dedicate our children to the church and God.  Meaning that we agree to raise them in a Godly way.  Teaching them the ways of being a good Christian.  Raising them in church.  At some point in our lives most often, Satan brings something into your live that detours you away from this.  He convinces you that something else is more fun or that something else is more important than church.  That's exactly what he does but we have a forgiving God that is always here and always around to remind us of the children.  All of his children.  We are his children as well.  

Whatever your doing today that is not pleasing to God, Satan has placed in front of you and made it look like this wonderful idea.  He's made it look like a whole lot of fun.  He's made it so convincing that you have others joining in and eventually it will spiral out of control and it will cause so much pain.  Right now he has you thinking there is nothing wrong with it.  But all things that begin with Satan don't end well.  

Would you want your children doing what your doing?  Exactly, my thoughts, God doesn't want you doing it either. 

                                                                                    G. P. W. L.

                                                                                Melissa Harris

Mini Me or Combo?

Yesterday morning I was reminded again of how I prayed so many years through our infertility struggles for a sweet, healthy baby girl.  I prayed for her to be my mini me and for us to be best friends.  My husband has his mini me in our son although he is also a great combination of us both.  Eventually my prayers just turned into a sweet healthy baby, period.  My heart shattered with each month that went by.  I felt so betrayed with every announcement of a new baby from friends and family.  No fault of theirs at all.  It was a me thing.  It was a God thing.  It was his timing and not our own but it took me awhile to realize that.  But through faith and really learning to trust God I figured it out.  We figured it out.  

Shortly after our oldest turned 8 years old, God found it in his timing to bless us with our sweet, healthy baby girl.  My mini me but also a great combination of the two of us.  I was reminded again of how she is perfectly molded by God to remind me of the two of us.  How she was perfectly picked by him from his "Garden of Babies" and sent to us to borrow.  Yes, I said borrow.  See I've also learned along the way that our children are only ours to borrow from God, they belong to him just as we all do.  

She wakes up in the mornings in such a cheerful mood just like her dad.  Polar opposite of me and DJ.  We are those kind of, "Don't talk to me, Don't even breathe on me," kind of people when we first wake up.  Elizabeth and her dad remind me of a mosquito.  Why you ask?  Annoying?  No, LOL...not exactly!  Maybe when I first wake up I'm annoyed.  But then I listen to them.  I listen closely.  Yesterday morning she was singing as she got ready for school.  Yes, singing...what child does this?  So it reminded me of the saying about the mosquito.  

 

"I want to be so full of Christ, that when a mosquito bites me, he flies away singing, "There is Power in the Blood!"  I was reminded of this saying and this song listening to her.  Of course, she sings this song loud and proud in church.  She knows it word for word.  Then while dropping them off at school she wants to walk herself up to the breezeway and across the driveway.  Even telling me, "I know to watch for cars."  Yet again reminding me of myself with independence as a child.  But I will continue to protect her, guard her from harm and continue to teach her right from wrong; so my mini me/combo baby hopefully doesn't make any of the mistakes me and her dad made.  And her brother, the other mini dad/combo baby.  But if they do we will be there to catch them when they fall and remind them who is fairest of them all!!

                                                                                                                   G. P. W. L.

                                                                                                                  Melissa Harris

"Blood is thicker than water."

"They learn what we teach them."

Broken things made beautiful again!

Sometimes in life we get drug down in the trenches.  Sometimes we feel like we are at our lowest point.  Sometimes we feel less than ourselves.  Sometimes we feel less than a sister/brother, daughter/mother.  Sometimes we feel less than human at all.  Sometimes we also beat ourselves down even more for the mistakes we have made.  Why?  God has already forgiven us.  He had already forgiven us before we even committed the sin.  He knew we would sin, it's human nature and we aren't perfect human beings.  NO ONE is, except HIM.  He picked you to be that special mother/daughter, sister/brother.  He picked you because you are a special human.  He picked you because all broken things can be made beautiful again.  No it want be easy, but let's face it, nothing in life is.  But you already have half the battle won.  How?  You have faced your demon.  You have looked your demon in the eyes and said, "NO MORE."  No more will you kill, steal and destroy from me or my family.  That's have the battle my friend.  And God is on your side and always has been.  You got this.  You and God!

                                                                                                                G. P. W. L.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Melissa Harris

"It's okay to be a glowstick: Sometimes we have to break before we shine."

Are we bragging on God enough?

Just yesterday I was reminded of this.  It's Dr. Seuss Week and Elizabeth was to wear a hat to school. Well we all know when you need something you can't find it.  She has two that are hers and her size, but no where to be found.  So her dad gave her one to wear and that lasted about 5 minutes and she decided that wasn't good enough.  So here comes big brother to the rescue telling her that he will get her one of his.  Never-mind, the fact that his head is as big as his dad's and the hat is still going to be boy colors.  It's the point of it's her "Big Bubba" coming to her rescue.

Many days they fight like cats and dogs and drive us crazy but then there are moments like these.  Moments you can't get back.  Moments when she is his biggest fan.  He was her biggest fan before she was ever born.  Praying constantly to God for her arrival.  Make no mistake, he wanted a boy but God knew he needed a baby sister to protect.  He knew his heart because he created him.  He knew he was going to be a great protector.  He knew he was going to be a God Fearing young man.  He knows everything about him.  He knows things about him that even us as parents don't know; it's in the Book of Life.  

So after dropping Big Brother off this morning I continued to drop Elizabeth off and she proceeded to tell one of the teachers, "look at my hat, my bubba let me borrow it."  She stated it so proudly, so boldly.  I'm sure by the end of the day everyone will know that her bubba let her borrow that hat.  So I'm sure this afternoon she will be stuck to him like glue because this made her day.  

 

Are we like this?  Do we do this enough?  Do we brag on God when he let's us borrow things/people?  Do we praise him enough for the things he gives us?  Do we brag on him enough for the blessings we have?  Do we shout it proudly and boldly?  Do we make it known to everyone? 

                                                                                                              G. P. W. L.

                                                                                                            Melissa Harris

Unspoken Prayers

Everyone doesn't have to know.  They work just like any other prayer.  Sometimes I feel they are more powerful than any other prayer.  It's between you and God only.  No one else knows except you and him.  He sees your desperate plea for this person/people.  He sees your sincere concern for them.  He sees your heart; he hears your heart.  

Just like any other prayer we ask of him it happens in his time, not our own.  So don't give up.  Don't ask it once and stop.  Continue asking over and over again.  Continue asking with a sincere concern.  Continue allowing him to see your heart and to hear your heart.  It will happen in his time and then we have to remember to praise him and thank him.  

Today I am grateful for an answered unspoken prayer that I've been praying for awhile now.  I knew it would happen in his time and not mine.  I knew I had to be patient but patience isn't something I have, I will admit.  But I am grateful that he heard my heart and he knew I was sincere.

                                                                                                           G. P. W. L.

                                                                                                        Melissa Harris

To Go Plate?

Everyone is not for you.  Everyone is not against you.  Everyone is not in your corner.  Everyone is not on the side lines cheering you on.  The people that truly have your back will always be in your corner, always be on the sidelines and always be for you.  Those that are not, we still have to show love for.  We can love them from a distance if that's what it takes.  

God tells us to feed the hungry.  Feed everyone.  You can fix someone a to go plate!  You can be a good Christian and do as he tells you without having them sit at your table.  Even if they are not for you, you can still show mercy, grace and love just as Jesus did.  It's growth for yourself as well and power over Satan.  

So go ahead and fix them that heaping to go plate and show them some love even if they aren't showing you love.  Have Faith that what your doing will open their eyes to a much bigger picture than just the two of you.  Have Faith that they will see the new you and what to be a part of it.  Even just a portion of it.  

                                                                                                         G. P. W. L.

                                                                                                       Melissa Harris