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Archives For May 2011

A Memorial Day Prayer

May 30, 2011 — Leave a comment
©iStockphoto/Rick Hyman

While there is no way to adequately say thank you to the families who have lost so much, I do hope in the midst of your celebration today you take a few minutes to pray two prayers.

-First for those families who have lost a son or a daughter, a Dad or a Mom, a Husband or a Wife…may they find strength, comfort, and peace in the prayers being prayed on their behalf.

-Second for those who currently serve and keep our country safe, may God keep protect them while in harms way and guard their families while they serve. Continue Reading…

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Faithful To Believe – Worship Wednesday

May 24, 2011 — Leave a comment

Worship Wednesday is a feature on Leveraging Life where I hope someone finds a message in a song that they need to hear. A song offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope in the moment they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.

Faithful To Believe

Byron Cage

I have loved Byron Cage’s Faithful To Believesince the first time I heard as I was driving home from Buckhead Church last year. I have yet to find the story behind the song, but for me this song speaks to what we all are asked to do in the midst of a trial or adversity…

Stop Worrying and Start Worshipping!

Continue Reading…

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Fragile

May 23, 2011 — Leave a comment

 

© iStockphoto/dem10

 

Life is fragile.

Relationships are what makes for a rich life.  

Friendships are the dividend of an investment in those relationships.

Therefore

Take nothing or no one for granted by making every moment count.

Recognize the influence you have and the difference you can make.  

Life is precious.

——

Continue Reading…

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Let The Waters Rise – Worship Wednesday

May 18, 2011 — Leave a comment

Worship Wednesday is a feature on Leveraging Life where I hope someone finds a message in a song that they need to hear. A song offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope in the moment they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.

I recently learned of the song Let The Waters Rise when it was mentioned by someone I follow on Twitter, which for me has become a great resource to learn more about subjects I’m interested in and for topics I try to stay current on. I had never heard of the group Mikeschair or of any of their music, but I’m so glad to have found this song. Mike Grayson himself tells the story behind the song:

There are going to be times in all of our lives where we don’t understand the situation that God has us in, or we feel like He is no where to be found when we need Him most. These are the times when our faith is truly tested. Jesus never promised that our lives down here were going to be perfect, in fact, in John 16 Jesus says “In this world you will have troubles…” In this life we are going to experience death, we are going to experience loneliness, disappointment, and heartache, but Jesus doesn’t leave us there!! That same verse in John is finished by Jesus saying “but take heart! For I have overcome the world”. One of the hardest things we are going to have to do as believers is choose to follow even with a raging sea is right in front of us. Our prayer is that this song encourages you in those times of struggle to “take heart!” and follow God no matter what the situation. – Mike

I think this song and the message it represents speaks clearly to what I’ve tried to share in my Cancer Confessional series.

Continue Reading…

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Prayers In Play

May 12, 2011 — 4 Comments
iStockphoto credit © Sean_Warren

Monday was a pivotal day in my cancer battle as I had my first PET scan since beginning Chemotherapy in March. Early on my team of doctors prepared me for two initial cycles of chemo to see how the cancer would react to the “cocktail” they prescribed and this scan would be used to measure the progress. Funny thing was as the PET scan was being  scheduled, my third cycle of chemo was already set to begin without having the results of the scan, which became yet another cancer lesson learned.

Assume Nothing and Question Everything!

That being said, Shari and I figured there were more chemo treatments on the horizon and I’d better stop in at the local drug store to stock up on more….”sunscreen” for my now bald head. Continue Reading…

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Cancer Confessional – Why Me and Why Now

May 5, 2011 — 3 Comments
iStock photocredit © Lise Gagne

Why Me and Why Now is the second installment in a series of posts called My Cancer Confessionals, where I lift the mask on how I “try” to leverage my faith in the midst of adversity. I outlined earlier my concern that my optimistic and encouraging attitude might lead readers to believe I somehow never have doubts, fears, or concerns…all of which couldn’t be further from the truth.  For me, trusting God period is a day-to-day challenge, and some days are just harder than others. But thanks to my personal relationship with my Heavenly Father, on those tough days when I don’t have what I need, He is there to bridge the gap and that relationship grows deeper.  

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Truth be told, my world, my life, and yes, even my faith has ebbed and flowed in the midst of all the sub-plots in my life and was what I was referring to in my post entitled Paradigm Shift.  As one dream was coming true, Shari and I deciding to get married and were signing up for our church’s 2:1 pre-marital mentoring program, a nightmare re-emerged as I learned my merkel cell cancer had metastasized. What was thought to be remote and isolated had now taken on a “popcorn” effect (one doctor’s term) and popped up in multiple areas of my body.

Continue Reading…

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Help Ringgold Georgia Today

May 1, 2011 — Leave a comment

 

From My FOX Atlanta.com:  

Ringgold Residents Get First Look at Damage After Tornado

Updated: Friday, 29 Apr 2011, 8:40 PM EDT  Published : Wednesday, 27 Apr 2011, 10:34 PM EDT

By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF/myfoxatlanta

RINGGOLD, Ga. – Residents in Ringgold were allowed to look over their homes and businesses on Friday following deadly storms that hit the area Wednesday night.

During a briefing for reporters held early Friday morning, Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers said they plan on allowing residents and business owners to survey their property damaged or destroyed by the violent EF-4 tornado Wednesday night.

Ringgold residents staying at a shelter in Fort Oglethorpe took a bus Friday to Ringgold to get a first look at their property or business after the tornado struck. Red Cross officials say 86 people stayed in the shelter Thursday night, and they plan to stay as long as necessary to help the victims.

Summers said the tornado started at Interstate 75 and went along the road, and then jumped over a ridge line before hitting the Ringgold area. He said the twister was about a mile in diameter.

Excerpt from Ledger-Enguire.com by AP Reporter Ray Henry:

About 30 volunteers mustered by the Poplar Springs Baptist Church helped Lambert and her husband saw through downed trees and stack the wood near the street. After that crew left, two members of a Tennessee church showed up to continue the work. Lambert said those were the only people who had offered to help and said the community needs more assistance. “We’re on our own, totally on our own,” she said.

Continue Reading…

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