It has been awhile since I posted.   Do I need to reintrodue myself to you?  I hope not.

I could sit here and justify not posting cause I haven't really had anything I felt worthwhile sharing; or I had so much on my mind that I could not decide what to post; or just really admit it--I've been avoiding writing.  I guess like everyone else, I am not sure of what to say....and I certainly don't want  to waste anyone's time.

I have something for today's blog but would really like any of you with a question for me--about something you would like to hear my stance/belief/feelings/or off the wall reasoning--to ask me and  I will try and respond.  And wow, I think I just set myself up for ..who knows what??? This will either be fun or be the undoing of me.

Recently I volunteered to speak at Carol's high school during their chapel time.  Why, would you ask???? Because those kids, teachers, and administrators have a special place in my heart.  I started out thinking about how Daniel was a godly example of devotion to his God,  but never really felt good with how I was trying to present a focal point from it.   So, thanks to a cousin who let me practice on her, I changed my topic.

Now, I am not one who can speak extemporaneously.  (don't you just love big long words like that..and hey, I spelled it right the first time.!?)  I have to work at writing out my thoughts and then work on presenting them without reading too much.  And of course, being nervous doesn't help.  I refocused my presentation based on something I saw on the internet and my feeling of how the current generation of young people does not seem to have as many 'connections' with others around them who aren't in their 'circle of friends or  influence'.  So I spoke to them about three individuals who I felt had left a great mark on others for Jesus's glory.  I'm not going tell my talk to you here again, but just wanted to share a really cool thing about the title called "Making your Mark on this world".

It was not more than a week later at church, our youth leader was mentioning the title of an upcoming youth event that our church has sponsored the last 3 or 4 years. He mentioned the title was
"Make your Mark."  I wasn't quite sure I had heard him right so I spoke to him a few days later on the phone and asked him what the title was for the RELATE conference this year.   He told me I had heard right and it was Make your Mark.  I then told him that I had not heard the title for the conference but it was almost the same as what I had finally decided on speaking during the chapel time at Carol's old  school.

I have no idea why  or what may come from this commonality, but I know it cannot be just coincidental.   God wants to get some young people's attention.  And if He can't then I have a feeling our next generation of community and public leaders will not have the same values that we have held as special and as ones that set our country and communities apart from the rest of the world.   And I feel the first step these young people will have to take is to find the courage just to speak out, to show what His love is about, and to love without prejudice to change the minds of the lost and dying world we are living in.

I would urge you  to pray for the next generation.  We need some leaders/speakers/examples who will make an impact on us and our world!!!  And if you have some influence on some young peoples' lives then I pray you will be a great example to them and encourage them to step up and take up the banner of Christ's love for all people to the people.

And lastly, young people, if you are reading this:  please, please, please pay attention to God's calling on your life and seek to follow it.  Seek out a mentor to help you model how you can be Christ's light in this world;  don't expect to change the world--sometimes you just need to start close to home;  and know that even when things don't work out the way you think they should, don't give up.  You have the Man with a Plan for Your Life in Your Corner ....and He's got your back, front, side and every moving part of you.  Remember the scripture "if God be for me, who can stand against me?".

That's my pep talk for today!! Have a great one!!!  And don't forget to send me a question to ponder.

Judy