Which Came First The Chicken or The Egg?

Remember that age old question. Let's find out the answer!

Which came first "The Chicken"? or

"The Egg"?

Let's get to the Truth!

Genesis 1:20-23 "Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” So the evening and the morning were the fifth day."

There you have your answer. The chicken was created first by our CREATOR! So the next time someone asks, you can give them the correct answer.

What is Peace?

What is peace?

Many people see or experience peace as different things.

Here are a couple of the definitions that Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary has:
Peace -
* In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

* Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven.

Then there is the actual symbols of peace. Within the last few years as our girls have gotten bigger and we have been able to shop in some "big girl" sections or even specialty stores I have noticed that the peace sign is on almost everything. I have never been a personal fan of the peace sign. Either the sign itself or holding two fingers up signifying peace. When I see either I think back on a day where it represented disrespect and immoral actions by millions of people.

A few months back I even emailed one girl's specialty store commenting on how almost every item in their catalog had a peace sign of some sort emblazzened on it. The reply I got back was this:

"The use of the peace sign is simply a trend in fashion that is happening within the retail industry. The peace signs used in our clothes and accessories are a fashion statement with no particular meaning. "The Store's" use of the peace sign does not in any way reflect the company’s political point of view." (Along with an apology to our family that they weren't meaning to be offensive.)

I wanted to reply back - if it doesn't reflect your views then why use it so much! But I accepted their apology and we will just choose to shop elsewhere.

God's Word warns us to: "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23

Not that the peace sign itself is evil. But in my opinion it has symbolized evil in the past 50 years and we personally don't want to represent something that has done that.

I believe that if something has been used as a symbol in a time era that depicted sin in the most foulest form and complete disregard to service men and women during their time of war and service to our blessed nation that it should not be glorified today. Needless to say we don't wear any peace signs at our house.

When I think of peace something completely different comes to mind. I think of calmness and assurance. No fighting. Growing up in a home where there was constant arguing going on I found that my peace could not come from my family. But I am so very thankful that I found my true peace in the Only One that can give it. From God. We will only know peace when we realize that we need that relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Then we'll have peace because no matter what happens to us in this passing world we'll have an eternity secure in heaven with Him!

Here are some of my favorite verses regarding peace:

Psalm 119:165
"Great peace have those who love Your law,...."

Isaiah 26:12
"LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us."

Romans 8:6
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."

Ephesians 2:14-16
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."

Philippians 4:6-8
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."


Colossians 3:15
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

1 Peter 3:11
"Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it."

Mission Trip to Pass Christian, MS

During the summer of 2008 we went on a building mission trip to Pass Christian, Mississippi with the Bethel Baptist Builders from Alabama to help with some projects after Hurricane Katrina.

Here is most of the crew!



Here are some pictures of the First Baptist Church of Pass Christian, MS that had massive damage from Hurricane Katrina. The sanctuary was washed away when the storm surge was pushed back to the ocean. BBB was able to put the studs up for the walls and put steel beams in. Also they were able to frame up the bathrooms and get the electric installed.









The men's bathroom.







The ladies bathroom.







This is a lady's home they worked on across the street from the church.




There was only two things left from her house that was destroyed.
This bathtub and this window.

This is where she has been living. It is a trailer provided by the state of Mississippi.


They were able to get the inside walls ready for drywall, the roof ready for the metal, the windows put in, and all the electric was complete.

The couple that we go to church with and also went on this mission trip with went back last summer and took these pictures of the church and house once they were finished:

This area is still in much need of help to rebuild. I praise God for the opportunity to be able to go and meet such precious brothers and sisters in Christ. It is awesome when God's children can come together in one accord and get some work done!!! The fellowship with these people was just wonderful and is something our family will cherish forever.



While we were in Pass Christian there was a church group from West Virginia that had come to the park right beside the church to hold a morning VBS each day! They also had a group out working on houses. This was such a blessing because both groups had no idea that the other group was going to be there, but God did!!! I Praise Him for His awesome Providence!!! There were several local kids that came and our group had about 7 there. This church had some really precious ladies and teens that put a lot of work into this couple of hours each morning.










Our girls also met some sweet girls from Alabama that we still keep in contact with through cards and letters.


Holly's hat that she made all by herself!



Sunset in Pass Christian

This summer Brian and I are planning on going to Panama on a mission trip with a group from our church. We'll be working with International Mission Board missionaries there. This is Brian's second foreign mission trip and my first, so I am a bit excited about going. I keep imagining precious little faces that we'll be ministering to and sharing Jesus with!

Brian went to the Philippines in 2004 with our best friends that just got back from serving in South Asia for the past two years.

Acts 1:8

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Taxes and Jackson County

Last week we headed up to Jackson County to have our taxes done. We found a great CPA up there that my dad and brother have told me about for years and we used her last year for the first time and now we love her! This made our third attempt to go. With the snow we had in February and then our trip to Texas we kept having to reschedule. But finally we made it and they are finished!!! Now that I am no longer a Realtor, next year should be a breeze! :D

We stopped by Mama's grave on the way back home.

I need to make/buy her a spring arrangement soon. They usually don't last very long in the winter months.

This is her grand-father that is buried very close to her.

This is her grand-mother that is close by also. They are the reason that she wanted to be buried in this cemetery. She always said her best memories of being little were of spending time in Birch Lick with her grandparents. It is in a beautiful location.


Saturday we got to watch Isabella most of the day to give Mommy and Daddy a break! We enjoyed her so much.

She is absolutely precious!

Tonight at church the girls are going to perform a skit called, "Beautiful You" that they have been practicing so hard for. We are excited!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Favorite Ministries

One of our favorite charities/ministries is the Samaritan's Purse. It is ran by Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham. They provide relief and aid to tragedy stricken areas in the USA and in many countries right after the disaster hits.

They also have a ministry called Operation Christmas Child and every year before Christmas they gather millions of shoeboxes filled with goodies. Then in the months to come they deliever them to children all the way around the world that have never received a gift. Not only do they give them a shoebox filled with gifts, but they share the greatest gift of all ~ the Salvation of Jesus!


Their MISSION STATEMENT:
Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Being a Southern Baptist girl there is another ministry that is near and dear to my heart ~ The International Missionary Board. Our best friends just came back from South Asia where they served 2 years on the mission field. The IMB has around 5,000 missionaries all around the world. Their main source of income for these missionaries is during the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. To hear first hand the stories that our friends share with us, this ministry truly shares the gospel of Jesus with the world!

Sweet Isabella's Birth

Our nephew, Ryan, and his fiance, Amber, had their baby yesterday (3/5/10).

She is an absolute beauty and so very precious!

Introducing Isabella Nancy Grace

7 lbs 10 oz.

20 3/4 in.

Such a sweet blessing!!!

Psalm 139:14

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well."