The Difference

Alesya - An Angel

2009-05-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Felicia gave me this great example of one person making a difference. Alesya was like an Angel. I did have the privilege of meeting this young girl before she left this earth. Words can't do her justice! She was truly an example for us all! She kept the sweetest spirit despite all she was going threw. I never heard her complain and never heard of anyone else saying she complained. But rather everyone would leave her presence in awe at how she was such an angel. Enjoy! Thanks Felecia for sharing!

There is one person that has made a HUGE difference in my life. Of course, there is One greater than all that can make a difference in any life and has in mine- Christ Jesus. But I am speaking of a person here on this earth. A beautiful girl, more like and angel- a friend, yes, but one that was only given as a gift to me for but a short time- Alesya. I and my best friend c- met Alesya when we were just young girls. Her family came in to church, and C- wanting to meet them, dragged me along. way back then I didn't know it, but later on our lives would come together in close contact and this girl Alesya would make a lasting impression on my heart.

Through there following years my dear friend C- kept up communication with Alesya. I met her a few more times after that. I knew who she was, just not in a personal way.

In January of 2007, C- was informed by Alesya's younger sister that she was very sick and the doctors didn't know what was wrong. After some testing they found a brain tumor that had to be removed through emergency surgery and turned out to be cancerous. Brain Cancer! Poor Alesya was only 16 and now was having to face cancer and all that goes with it... Chemo therapy and whatever else came up.

During this time, I and my family were carrying Alesya before our Heavenly Father in prayer and our church was praying as well. We were all hoping and praying for a miracle- praying that God would see fit to heal her. Around May it seemed that things were improving. She was in remission and the 'Make-A-Wish' foundation sent Alesya and her family to Hawaii. We thanked God for His answer to prayer... or at least, we thought that was the answer. But God had a different plan. His ways are higher than ours and past finding out. Alesya never really got better and started actually getting worse. We kept hearing reports of how she was getting weaker and weaker and was having seizures. Finally, in August C-'s family and I went to visit her. Oh the shock of that first visit!!! I don't know what we expected, but it shocked us all and brought such feelings of grief for her. Seeing Alesya propped up there on the couch, one side of her body paralyzed, hardly being able to talk! Yet through all of it, there is one thing that stands out and that was her smile and her radiant spirit!

Through the following six months or so, I visited Alesya almost every week. In so short a time, she made such a lasting difference in my life, such a lasting impression that I can never forget. Through it all she was RADIENT!

Yes, it was HARD for her.

Yes, she wanted to be HEALED!

Yes, she wanted to have her own LIFE so badly!

BUT, she submitted... she submitted so sweetly to God's plan.

I don't know that I ever heard Alesya complain once! She stayed as sweet as ever through it all, kept such a valiant spirit! She almost ALWAYS smiled!

On April 21, 2008 ( just one year ago) Alesya passed away at home with her family surrounding her. Alesya has been gone a entire year now-yet... Alesya will never be forgotten! She never can be! Alesya was such a beautiful example set before us of BEAUTY, of SWEETNESS, of SUBMISSION to God, and of LOVE!

All who where privileged to meat Alysea even just once or twice would tell you how she left a lasting impression! That Alysea made a difference. Just one girl, her life so short- only 17 years- yet in that time what a difference Alesya made in SO many life's!

Jesus makes a difference in Priscilla's life

2009-04-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

Priscilla is my niece. She has been saved for quite a few years. She stated that Jesus made a difference in her life by saving her. She has never lied again! Thank the Lord. How many people out there lie about things every day. I have heard so many people say that "everyone" lies. But out of the mouth of a babe comes the testimony that Jesus can make a difference and give us an experience where we will never lie again. Thank God for victory in Jesus!

Paying it forward with a smile!

2007-12-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

I got this off of my Fly Lady e-mails. It struck my attention because so many people in the world today do seem to be unhappy and I think that grumpiness is very contagious. In all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season people forget that it really takes away from it when we get so caught up in busyness that we can't even smile. Well this is a "Pay it forward" story about how one smile can make a big difference, not just to those around you, but also for yourself! Merry Christmas...

I have been reading the pay it forward emails and loving them so much.But at the same time, I was sitting here a little sad because we are in a tight spot this year and I can't do the giving I normally do in the community. Then it occurred to me that it doesn't take money to pay it forward, it takes love and kindness.

I started really paying attention to the people around me when I've been out running errands. It seems that people this time of year tend to be stressed and in a rush. Very few people were smiling. "Where's the Christmas cheer?" I thought to myself. I decided right then and there, that any time I actually made eye contact with someone I would smile and wish them a Merry Christmas. To my surprise, the whole mood
of my shopping trips has changed. People look so surprised and happy just to hear a kind word. I'm actually looking forward to all the last minute shopping I have to do this week instead of dreading the crowds.

Anyone can pay it forward in some small way. It all counts.

Thanks for the reminder,

Heidi in Michigan

Apostle Paul

2007-09-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

Saul whom we all know as the apostle Paul was very high up in the the Jewish religion after the death of Jesus Christ. We find in the book of acts a recording of the first church that God established after Christ was resurrected from the dead. In that book we hear of Saul who is persecuting the church of God - Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

So we see that Saul was blindly going around persecuting Christians while believing he is doing Gods will. How often I have seen this done were people go around and use the name of God to do the work of the devil. They are blinded. Not having the truth in them. But praise God we can come to that truth through or Lord as you see later on Saul came to when Jesus came to him and revealed himself to Saul. Acts 9:3-6 And as he(Saul) jorneyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

How many of us have heard that still small voice from Jesus saying to us "why persecutest thou me"? If you have heard this voice from Jesus have you responded as Saul did and humbled yourself and ask the Lord "what wilt thou have me to do"? Can you Imagine all the souls that might not ever been saved if Saul just decided to keep going his own way instead of yielding to the voice of Jesus? I for one am glad that he yielded and as a result he later became the apostle Paul who died preaching the gospel of Jesus. Thank the Lord he yielded to that voice. One person yielding to the voice of God made a HUGE difference in the kingdom of God. WOW! Thanks Joy for your great example!

The Golden Rule

2007-09-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

My sister Jennie made a very good point about how every one of us makes a difference whether we mean to or not. I grew up really believing in the Golden rule which is "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". Each one of us makes a huge difference. God has shown me how every step in my life has not only effected me but also my children, my family, my friends ex. Sometimes it has been for the better and sometimes it hasn't. But I believe that with putting God first in my life that from here on out it will be for the good because that is what the word of God says> Romans 8:28 And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Praise God! I am so thankful that I know that because I have given my life to him and love him that I can be assured that even my mistakes will work for good according to his purpose! Have you given your life to God so that you can also have this assurance? If not then now is as good of time as any. Just go to him in prayer. Ask him into your heart, ask him to help you live your life according to his plan. Ask him to be your father. Ask him for forgiveness. The bible says in Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Then it says in John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. All you need to do is believe, open the door of your heart that God is knocking on and invite him in and he promises that he will come in and have that fellowship with you. He promises you Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one that opens the door to our heart. Please, invite him in today.

A Faithful Steward of God ' Faith Stewart '

2007-09-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

Faith Stewart is a women of God who through many afflictions of the body and through other peoples doubts and fears was persecuted. She managed by keeping her eyes on the Lord's will and not the will of others or her own will for that matter, to go to India and rescue hundreds of Indian babies and little girls from a life of slavery to the Indian Temple Gods. She also, through Gods direction started a home for Indian boys. She was able to travel to Cuba as well and do Gods work in teaching the gospel to lost children. She was only ONE person and although it seemed that everything was against her she marched on as a faithful steward in the hands of God. She is a great example to us all of what can be accomplished when we are willing to put our own self aside and do the will of God. If you would like to read more about this amazing women of God, who against all odds, but trusting fully in the Lord went to India with no where to stay but knowing that God had called her to rescue these children from a life of heathenism then please click on the link below. Thank you Chelsea for the great example of how one person can make a BIG difference for the good in the world!
click below
FAITH STEWART

The church that God led Faith Stewart to
The Church of God

THE DIFFERENCE

2007-08-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

What kind of difference can one person possibly make. Well that question is just what I want to dedicate this blog to. If you have any true stories about just one person making a big (or little for that matter) difference for the good I would like you to send it to my e-mail sherryd846@yahoo.com and if I like it I will post it.