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

I Wrote a Book About My Girl: "Carol's Smile- The Life and Legacy of Carol Hensley Singletary"

Well I finally did it.  Wrote a book about my daughter, Carol, who died at the age of 19 in February 2013.   It has forever changed not only our lives but the lives of many others.  People that knew her and even people who didn't.  They told us.  They came and stood in line for hours to tell us what a special young lady Carol was.  Not that we didn't already know that;  it's just that we didn't know to what extent her life impacted people.

In today's environment, it seems like there is no way that the All-American girl or guy can still exist.  That is one of two reasons I wrote the book.  I want people to know that if you have your priorities right, like Carol did, you can succeed and exceed expectations of many in this world.  And you can succeed at academics, sports, have a healthy social life, and have time to still do church, work and care about your family....and still find the guy of your dreams.

 The other reason I wrote it is that I am selfish and want memories of her to be here even if I am gone.  And I believe her legacy of happiness and loveliness is worth telling.  She was a gift from God to her dad, Cooper and I.  The only way i know how explain how we manage to get through the times without her is by taking hold of God's amazing peace and promises that is offered to me.  If you don't know them, let me tell you I think Carol would tell you that you should.  And I know I would.  I have to keep reminding myself that God gave her to me for a season for a very good reason and He will be here for me and with me and He will see me through even the darkest of times.  My good friend Sherri Woodbridge wrote this on one of her excellent blogs:

In her own strength (and she will tell you this herself) Judy has not survived but it has been only by the merciful compassion of a heavenly Father working through His presence in her personally or through the outreach of others toward her. And it’s because of His relentless mercy that she is learning to sing in the night hours. The times that are so incredibly dark and the sun seems it will never shine again. You know – the times when you feel imprisoned to the pain of this world and it feels as if it will never let up. Songs in the night are miracles of praise because when you least feel like singing is when you need to do it most.

One night when I was up in the middle of the night, a friend sent me a link to song that I still believe could have been written just for me.  It is called "The Hurt and the Healer" by Mercy Me.  As I listened to it that night it was through tears.  Each time I listen I cry less and  each time it gets a little easier.  Here are some of the lyrics: 

So here I am --what's left of me
where glory meets my suffering,.
I'm alive... even though a part of me has died.
Lord, Take my heart and breath it back to life
as I fall into your arms open wide
where the Hurt and the Healer ..collide.

Breathe....sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
pain so deep that I can't move,
Lord, keep my eyes completely fixed on YOU

Jesus, come and break my fear, 
awake my heart 
and take my tears,
find Your glory
,,,,,,,,,,,, even
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, here.
                            by Mercy Me

And that is why I can praise HIM with all my heart, with my loudest song, and with a humble honor that He has shown me that is mine to be Carol Hensley Singletary's mother. (10/28/93-2/27/13) 
Claiming John 16:22  : Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy!

In memory of Freddy Chase....December 2, 1931 January 15,2015

For as long as I can remember, Freddy Chase,

 My second cousin.. by the way

He has loved to tease people about... anything.... anytime.... anyway…

He must have thought it was his life’s mission to tease you into a smile or at least a major blushing syndrome that lasts for awhile.

It didn’t matter if you were his cute  ‘lil cousin like me, his daddy or momma, the preacher or the mayor, a butcher or a banker

He would do his darnest to make you grin and blush Oh! how many times did you want to tell him to “HUSH!” 

And if you did not fall into his ”I’ve got one up on you” banter,

He would crank it up a notch until he got a smile,

     and that is the truth…believe it or not.

Now his wife and daughter must have some memories of when they turned the tables on him,

Oh how I wish we could hear those stories now and laugh….

Laugh so hard that our sides would hurt.  A  hurt that would remind us that we need to find a cancer cure and not lose another family member this tragic way,.

WE are only human if we wonder why one who brought so much joy to others ……would have to go away from here

But if you know Freddy, you know he loved the LORD, and he loved the LORD’s people.

And I am convinced that Freddy and his Heavenly Father would want us to know this right now…and to have a special peace…

 If we believe in Jesus,  then it won’t be long before we will be joining them…forever more in a place so filled with light..a new and glorious  place we can  call HOME.

There in heaven I believe we will see Freddy Chase laughing and singing and praising God on his celestial throne.  And  don’t be surprised to see Freddy teasing and laughing with some angels as a praise and worship all his own!

Until then we will just have to be jealous of him beating us there
…and  I have no doubt he will remind us of this fact as he  introduces those of us who believe
 as such:  "Where ya been cuz....can't ya keep up with me?”

Anna Lou and Lisa:

Thank you for sharing this wild and wacky man with us!

It had to be some ride with him on board, but I hope you will smile more in the days to come and when you can’t …

 you will feel God’s thumb softly wipe that tear off your face and you will feel his hug as he whispers “girl..no more cryin for you today”.

 And it will sound just like Fred or your dad…….

and you’ll know there is a special angel in heaven watchin’ over you….   

waiting until the day when you’ll be HOME again.

That’s the best part of today…to know there is a hope and a place for each of us if we love JESUS like Freddy Chase did.

 But until then, we can think of him and be grateful that he is, .....where.... he is.

 We can only imagine what kind of tease Freddy has for JESUS…come on now,… we can be honest here…you know he has one!

 I can’t wait to hear what is it …

or what JESUS will say!                 Judy Hensley 1/19/2015