Angels Among Us (inspired by Alabama"s song)

Oh i believe there are angels among us.

Sent down to us from somewhere up above.

They come to you and me in our darkest hours.
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give.
To guide us with a light of love
(from song recorded by) Alabama

I know for a fact this is true! I also know that some of the angels are just people who live their faith everyday. They are God's presence reflected by acts of charity and faith they do every day. Whether it's helping with money, or lending a hand when family is not or cannot be there. They not only talk the talk but walk the walk of believers. They hold out a hand to the weary, the downtrodden, the lost and the found. They don't discriminate based on color of skin, income level, or even belief or disbelief.
Every time I feel like my God has forsaken me, He sends a fresh shower of love from His people. I don't know the name of this person, and if I did, I would not choose to expose them. They don't help me for who I am OR who they are. They help whenever and wherever they can because they are called to by God. I WILL not belittle their acts of charity by trying to find out who they are. Instead I will thank God, from whom all blessings flow. Had they not experienced the richness and fullness of God's blessings, they would not have the means or desires to help me when I am in need.
I know that when I was able to contribute in the Father's name, I did. It is part of human nature to crave gratitude, but I conquered my own human nature that time. I remember Pastor saying, "God does not let His true believers willingly go hungry". I didn't really comprehend. Much of God's ways are not meant for us to comprehend here in this life. We are merely meant to choose, Life over Death, Faith over disbelief, Grace over Sin. There will come a day when the scales will fall away and all will be revealed.
For today, let me thank my Father God, for the blessing of the means to get my daughter to her doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and food enough for our household to eat. Yes that included our pets. They have been part of our family since before times got hard. They do not deserve to go hungry either. I could no more give any one of them up than I could Ralph or Julia. I saved 50% on the little amount of food I bought Oreo and the kitty girls are settling for A $1 box of food from the dollar store. As for the groceries, I save 54% on the total bill. That included milk, bread, meat, vegetables, all the staples. I didn't need paper products because I had stocked up when I was able to get 12 double roll packs of tp for $3.50 after coupon.
Thank You God, for the angel you have watching over me and my family. Please bless them with the knowledge that their act of charity was gratefully received, prudently managed, and that You got all the glory! AMEN!

Where Were You When The World Stop Turning?

Today is 9/11/09, it's been eight years since that fateful September morning in 2001. There's a song by Alan Jackson, 'Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?' and I realize that world really did stop turning on 9/11, but the American people gathered an amazing strength and kept on living. I'll never forget that day, so now I'm gonna tell my story, why don't you tell me yours too?
I was in 4th Grade at Mary Raber Elementary in my tiny Indiana Town. Nothing bad ever happens here, it's safe. When we got to school at a quarter til 8, everything was still normal. We made our way through the previous nights homework, I think we reviewed some Indiana History. Then Mrs. Reith took us down to Art with Mr. Bailey. He had the TV on and we all were transfixed by it. There was fires in New York, something had struck the Trade Centers. I didn't even know what the Trade Centers were.
Mr. Bailey said we could have the TV on as long as we kept doing our work. There was no protest, I don't think any one of us could even remember how to speak. It was the most hauntingly silent I've ever heard a bunch of ten year olds. I sat at one of the lunch style tables and worked on my geometric shape project. It was green, purple, and blue and it looked uncannily like camo.
Then I heard a gasp and my head snapped up, the towers were falling. My hand covered my mouth and I watched it unfold before my eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen, this is America, we doing the ass kicking.
When we got back to our classroom, the Principal had ordered that all TV's be shut off for the remainder of the day. I'm not sure, but I think we're the only ones who saw it. While a lot of the other teachers tried to keep peace and go on with their daily lessons, I think Mrs. Reith did the best thing she ever could've done for us.
We talked about it.
We talked about it for Lord knows how long. We sat there and talked for most of the day and then she had us take out our Writer's Journals and we wrote about it; what we were feeling, what we thought was happening... We shared our thoughts and it was the most binding act for a class that had been rather divided.
I got home that afternoon and mom snapped the TV off and I informed her I already saw it.
9/11 made me become rather patriotic, walking in the Memorial Day Parade became something that I had to do. Getting to carry the American Flag the following year for the parade made my heart swell. I love America.
There's a song by Darryl Worley called 'Have You Forgotten?' and I don't think we have. We may try to push it to the back of our minds, but there is no way to forget what happened. But there's a line I love from that song: "People say this country's just out lookin' for a fight, well after 9/11 man, I'd have to say that's right."
Toby Keith's Angry American [Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue]: "We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way"
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
To Marcus Mullins & Ron Betts, thanks for protecting our country.

Thoughts & Prayers to America.
-Julia