Dear Mr.President

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could, and should, do for themselves.

-Abraham Lincoln

Life is Beautiful

It's not an easy Road.

A good friend of mine from Denham Springs, along with his youth group, were at Lookout Mtn. this week for Student Life. Josh invited me and the cuz's to come up and see them for the evening and I got the privilege to accept the invitation. We had a great time, plenty of laughs in the car tryin to read directions (and didn't miss a turn thank you), we got to see some familiar, but greatly missed, faces.
We sat in on the message, but like any message there was worship to start with and one song in particular stuck with me...the chorus basically says that If we say we Love God, then don't we need to do what he says to do, and if we call Him our Friend don't we need to keep his commandments? Isn't that something?... so many times we get caught up with just saying I love you Lord and leave it at that. But a relationship takes so much more than that.
Later in the message the speaker talked about how so many times we as Christians keep up with what we DON"T do that we aren't suppose to and feel good about it...we don't take the time to think of what we are SUPPOSE to do. He told us that we were not sent here to sit around and wait for Heaven, we are here to chase the sin out of the earth..."...thy Kingdome COME, thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in HEAVEN..." we are filled with the power of Christ to use against sin in this world. Yes, there are things that we aren't suppose to do, and there are rules we follow as Christians. But we also need to start winning souls, and it isn't easy. Salvation isn't a ticket to a perfect, nothing-can-harm-us-now kind of life, but it is a decision, it is a gift, and it is also a lifestyle that we are to live. "Christ like", isn't that what we are taught the word Christian means? Christ didn't have a bed to call his own, Christ was critized, mocked, questioned, ridiculed, and ultimately BEAT and Crucified. That, the life of Christ, the One that we are made to follow, is not an easy life. It isn't easy and sometimes it isn't going to make sense or be fun, but in the end it is worth every mockery and every hardship.
Once we as humans accept Christ into our lives He is IN US. He is always with us and he will never leave us nor forsake us. The speaker tonight told us that once we ask God to use us in His Way, it also puts us on the radar of our enemies. How true is that? But we have on our side the One thing that our enemies lack...and that One thing is the ONLY thing we need. Christ. His strength. His Mercy. His Wisdom. His Love. His Protection. God provides for us an armor against Satan and our enemies because He expects us to fight. We are to go out and be fishers of men. Reaching out for lost souls. It isn't easy and it isn't safe but it is worth it and it is what we are meant to do. So please, pray for me and I will pray for you. Pray that as brothers and sisters in Christ we make a stand in the world today and fight the sin and corruption that is falling all around us in this great Country. Everywhere we turn there is a dark place in need of a light. Be that light, it doesn't always take much, sometimes no more than a smile...but we have got to Stand. Stand in the name of the Lord and chase the sin out and tell Satan to stand aside.

Thank you for reading this, and please remember that being a Christian is never a promise for an easy life...but it is a mission that we must work at. And it is Worth everything we will go through.

~*~Easier said than done~*~

As a person with a very controlling personality, I have been struggling mainly over the past two or three years with the thought of where my life was headed and where I needed to be. I would pray "Lord, I am giving you control over my life, take and do with it as You want" and I would feel relieved for a day, a week, and sometimes even a month...until something went wrong and I, by myself, wanted to and still try to, fix it on my own. The idea of handing God the reigns sounds wonderful, and I know that "He will never leave me nor forsake me" but actually doing it is easier said than done. I want to have peace about college, the degree I am studying and the dreams that I am working towards. And in the deep corners of my heart, I DO have peace. But my controlling personality wants to know how everything is going to end up, but that's not part of life.

~*~"For I know the plans I have for you" -[this is] the Lord's declaration - "plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you ..." (Jeremiah 29:11-14)~*~

How many times do we go to sit down in a chair, but before sitting we inspect the chair, testing to stability? I, for one never do, I TRUST that that chair is going to do it's job and support me when I sit. The same goes for God though, but with God He will NEVER 'collapse' under the weight of our burdens. We just have to TRUST Him to take it. I have to continuously remind myself of this day in and day out.

~*~"Look, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?"(Jeremiah 32:27)~*~

A dear friend, and soon to be family member, told me the other night that "God is the one true friend that when He says tell me your worries and let me carry the burden HE MEANS IT." He wants to hear our problems and hear our praises, He wants to heal our pain and rejoice in our success. He is the Ultimate Father, the Bestest Best Friend, and the ONLY ONE that can truly relieve us of our burdens, and He does it willingly. So worrying is really not even necessary. And I say all this in regard to my self. I know this is all true and I believe in His strength and power and I am trying to put a stop to the worrying, and to begin Loving Life and everything it has to offer.

~*~So don't worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)~*~

It has been a while, but I AM still here!
I just recently got back from an Amazing trip to Denham Springs, LA. It was a wonderful trip and it was so hard to leave. We (with God's help) finished all that we went to accomplish and more. Our God is amazing and is evident in everything everywhere. I also met some amazing people there and got to see some old friends. It was wonderful to go and spend a week fellowshipping and workin' for the Lord. Sorry for the briefness of the post, I just wanted to say how much fun I had on this trip and how blessed I am to be a part of the Carpenters For Christ group.

Greater Love

Greater Love

Alas,

Listen and look,

Here they are.

The soldiers of our land,

Home from places so far,

and now their families can,

Rejoice!

They are strong and determined,

standing eye to eye with death.

Our homes are protected, our rights secured,

Thanks to their devotion

Our boys become men, and

our hearts feel like breaking,

at each and every departure.

But they leave with honor and return,

Heros!

Soldiers, Soldiers,

Their lives are so important

but to them home and country are life.

And fighting is only natural.

What would life be without freedom?

That we don't want to know.

So thank you to those who fight,

and God Bless the families who,

unselfishly so,

watch their soldiers leave.

They will return and when they do,

love them, hug them, be proud and know,

Who THEY are, allows us to be what we want to be.

Army, Navy, Marines alike,

are heros in my book.

So be sure to thank them, pray for them,

and remember,

They lay down their lives,

in order for us, strangers,

to live free and safe.

Greater love hath no man than this.

-Lacie Smith

Exactly One Month to go:)

I looked at my calendar today cause I was a little down in the dumps that work won't let me off the weekend I wanted to come home, and I realized that my last exam is on May the 2nd, which entails that I, Lacie Smith, will be Rome bound, on Friday, May the 2nd. That is only 4 weeks. I am going to start a count day to that day...lots of studying and prayers are going to be going on in Tifton these next four weeks, but when I am in Rome for good till August all the studying will have been worth it. I am telling work TODAY that the 26th will be my last day to work for them. I am extremely bummed that I don't get to come home till May, but the next time I do come home, the trips to Tifton will be to see Jamie and the friends I have made...not to come to school, not to work, and not to be down here for weeks on end!!! I am so excited. Please keep me in your prayers...I miss everyone at home and can't wait to be back. Love and miss everyone!:)

The End of a great Spring Break!

I took my monthly trip home this past week. Yes, a week, most of the time it is a weekend at a time. Lucky for me I was granted the entire Spring Break off and I took advantage of it and went home to see everyone! It was wonderful to be back home and see familiar faces again. I was able to go to Antioch twice and listen to Pastor Gregg. He is a wonderful man with a heart for God. I enjoyed the sermons and the Easter Sunday music special. Like all things though, the week had to come to an end and I had to return to Tifton. The more I go home and the longer I am there, the harder it is to return to Tifton. But my trip home has made me realize that I want to be at home this summer. I have just put in my transient application for summer classes at Highlands, and I pray that I am accepted in time to reserve myself a spot in the Chem.II class they are offering. Another blessing is that they are offering two different Chem.II courses, one is 4 days a week 2 hours long the entire month of July. With this course I would be able to attend the annual Carpenters for Christ trip...YaY!!! However, I would be cramming a lot of information into a short period of time. And I would have no time for a job. On the other hand, they are also offering a summer long course that is only two days a week...it is at night so I would be able to work during the day, but I would miss the C4C trip...If you read this, please send up a small prayer that 1. I am accepted in time to reserve my spot and 2. that the Lord shows me the best "course" of action. I hate being so far from home, friends and family, but I have to finish what I started. And like Daddy kept pointing out this weekend, only five more weeks. Hopefully, these five weeks will go by super fast:)

Just a few thoughts I thought I'd share!

Well today was a good day. School was school and work was work. But I had a better attitude towards school and work because I knew and could feel God here with me. I have recently met someone that relates to me and agrees with me on so many different aspects of religion and he has shared with me things that have re-opened my eyes to the power of our Lord. The God I serve is an awesome God. NOTHING can compare to Him and NO ONE can compare to His Love and miraculous grace.
He is so willing to wipe the "slate" clean time and time again, as long as we are truly repentant. As humans, however, once or twice is enough and depending on the person three or four times, but with God...HE forgives EVERYTIME with EVERYONE!!! How amazing is that?
God is also still in the miracle business, and business is booming. I have experienced miracles from tiny minute things to actually being able to step back and realize that God does have my life in order and i just need to relax and let Him lead me.

Just a Little Lonely

Well it is well about 2:30 a.m., just another night in the college life.
I just finished all i could take of my Chemistry, and my head is swimming. I have been going at it for over 2 hours now and I am glad to say I only have one section to go before I am done with Chapter 2. There are so many conversions and numbers to Chemistry and it has been so long since I have done any math I am a little rusty. But it is coming back to me slowly but surely. I am not particularly looking forward to the rest of Chemistry, but I can't back out now, now can I? So might as well make the best of it.
Tonight was the first night I had to decline a invitation from friends to go hang out because of school work. This dang Chemistry actually is making me study. haha. but I think i deserve a little 'pat on the back' so to say for buckleing down.
But I was just about to put my computer up for the night when I got a overwhelming sence of loneliness. I don't know where it came from or why, but I just got very lonely. I know God is here with me, and I feel bad when I'm not happy all the time because God has blessed me with enough that I should never feel anything less than LOVED. But I am thankful for ALL God has blessed me with, and I know he will never leave nor forsake me. And I know that someone out there is waiting for me and God knows when, where and how it will all work out, I just need to 'hold my horses' and wait for God's timing.

Our God Is Amazing.

The God I serve is still in the Miracle business. My dear brother Cody was concerned enough about Chad that he inquired about him to Chad stepbrother, Casey, and Casey told Cody that Chad is paralyzed from the waist down but, here's the miracle, he has some feeling in his toes and can move them some. How unbelievably amazing is our God? I have been praying so hard and diligently for Chad and his family. He still needs our prayers but it has been such a blessing to hear the news that he has some feeling. Thank you God for all You do for Your children.

Pray for Chad

I found out Sunday morning that a friend of mine from highschool was in a motorcycle accident Friday afternoon. After not seeing or hearing from Chad for close to a year, God chose three weeks ago to cross my path with Chad. We have been talking back in forth over the internet for three weeks. Talking about everything from school to future plans. It was good to be able to reconnect with a friend after so long from hearing from them, and this news was devastating to me. I had last talked to him just hours before his accident and it seems surreal to think that instead of working and hanging out, Chad is laying in a hospital bed away from home with the danger of never walking again. The doctors are telling his parents that he will not walk again and if he does it is only a one percent chance. I believe that God doesn't see percentages and statistics, He isn't bound to the medical knowledge of a doctor. God is all powerful and if He sees fit to heal Chad completely then He will. I pray daily, more than once a day actually, that God heals Chad. I find myself thinking about him all day and every time I think about Chad, I send up a prayer for him and his family. Please pray for his also. He is only 21 years old, just finished up with his associates and is an extremely sweet guy. My heart breaks at the pain that his family and friends are going through. So as you finish reading this blog, I sincerely hope that you find time to send up a prayer of healing, hope, strength, and determination for Chad and his family.