Thu, Feb 2nd - 9:59PM

Happy Birthday!

Tue, Jan 31st - 10:06AM

A Graduation Day Poem and Memories to Cherish

There are people here from all walks of life. The graduates’ spirits are in a state of blithe. Celebrate, guests, the graduates have lived through it all. With lots of hard work, they’ve still had a ball.

When will we graduate? In kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, trade school, graduate school? Regardless where we come from, we have special memories floating around in our heads. Our first star Miss Brown put on our crayon drawing, or the pride of wearing a safety patrol badge. How about being nominated class president -- or earning a degree, completing a desired career program, getting a master’s degree.

All of these precious moments are significant life achievements that make us smile, cause us to tear up, and give us a sense of respect for who we are and what we have accomplished.

Some graduations mean more hard work and perseverance than others. But all of the occasions for graduation observance are invaluable times that will stay with us throughout our lives.

Observing graduations are very common throughout the world that we live. Holding and attending a commencement or graduation ceremony means so much to the family and friends of the honored graduate, because the guests have frequently worked with or supported the individual along the way.

Graduation cards and gifts are often given to the graduate to express the giver’s pride for the individual, and as a means of expressing congratulations. They wish the graduate well. It’s an applause, a cheer, a pat on the back, an expression of love and honor.

Graduation Day is also a time to be nervous, because of facing change. No more teachers? Maybe. No more books? Maybe. Perhaps a sense of relief is experienced, but there’s a bit of uncertainty waving in the horizon, as the graduate faces a new day coming with no anticipated structure in their lives. So what’s next? They may not know.

Kindergarten graduate, what’s new? Perhaps leaving home to attend a new strange school, which can be scary.

College graduate, what’s new? The uncertainty of what school they will be attending in what state could be filling their mind with anxiety.

Graduation Day is a time for pride, and uncertainty. It’s an observance that many plan to attend, because it is a day to remember.

God blessed us with Graduation Day as an opportunity, among many, to give thanks to Him for all we have become.

Sun, Jan 29th - 9:45PM

National Day of Prayer

First Thursday in May

One Nation Under God:

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV

America, we need prayer, now. It’s so easy to blame our problems on Washington or Hollywood, or whoever we think is responsible for the those events that haunt us. But sisters and brothers, isn’t it true that pointing fingers offers no solutions? It merely stirs contention, escalates the stress, and adds more trouble to our society, leaving nothing solved.

Thank you, God, for a very special day in America, the National Day Of Prayer -- the first Thursday in May of each year.

It started in 1775: the Continental Congress called for a Day Of Prayer, asking the colonies to pray for wisdom in their work of establishing a new nation. In 1863, President Lincoln announced a Day Of Prayer. Then in 1952, President Truman signed a proclamation for the Day Of Prayer. Later, in 1982, the National Day of Prayer Committee was implemented, with the goal to commemorate a day of prayer. And finally in 1987, President Ronald Reagon proclaimed that the National Day of Prayer would be a designated time to pause, come to God, pray for our hurting country, pray for others, and pray for ourselves.

Now, on this dynamic day, the first Thursday of May of each year, people come together through conferences and events, extending prayers across the lands of America. This national act of Congress encourages Americans to pray for their Nation. The government-sanctioned Day Of Prayer focuses on the healing of the United States, as our national level, our states’ task forces, and churches join in making the National Day Of Prayer an opportunity for spiritual renewal in the U.S. Thousands of hearts of all faiths unite to pray for the welfare of our nation and ask God to heal our country’s wounds.

Live music, prayer circles, praise and worships. The moral rebirth of America –- we pray.

Some of us open our homes on the National Day Of Prayer, decorating our houses in red, white, and blue. We may invite our family, friends, and neighbors to come by to join us in this Day Of Prayer. And everybody can bring a covered dish, too.

But God, why should we limit this special day to 24 hours a year when trouble brews daily?  

Let us pray daily...

The original article was published June 15, 2001 at suite101.com and has been edited.

Sun, Jan 29th - 9:05PM

Welcome to your Blog!