My Little Ladies

I just wanted to post a picture of the two prettiest little ladies in the world. Yes, of course they're mine! ;) Sarana and Kaitlyn really are the lights of my life. I can't believe how fast time flies. "Savor each moment like you would a last meal, fore just like the last meal, once the moment is swallowed, one can never relive it." -SJM

A Pearl in His Hand

“A Pearl in His Hand”

One day
I sat and talked
with a man that held a
pearl in the palm of his hand.
He talked of life, and love, and the sea.
I knew that the words he spoke were
of me. For I was the pearl he held
in his hand. I was the jewel,
and not as I am. I was the
hope that carried
him on.
I was the luster that inspired his song.

He
spoke
of a
gem
that
was
precious
and rare.
He said
that
the search
had brought
him to there.
He opened his hand, in His palm was a scar.
“The price,” He said, “has brought me this far.”
I stand
here
today,
and
all
that
I am,
Is a
pearl
that
God
can
hold
in His hand.

By Steven J. McDaniel

My Twin Brother

I have never formally introduced my twin brother. Don't we look alike?

Not really, right? Well, he is not really my twin. Big surprise, huh? This is my brother, Jimmie Charles McDaniel, Jr. He is three years older than me, and I try to never let him forget it. (He never let me forget it when we were growing up, so I thought I would return the favor. :)

In all seriousness, this is one great guy! He looks mean, but he is a big teddy bear. I can call on him anytime, and I know that he will be there for me. I thank God for him every day.

Sometimes we lose sight of the most important things in our lives. We find ourselves chasing the wind, thinking that we have to make another dollar, get something else done, or impress people that really don't matter. I want to make sure that the most important things in my life are not neglected, because I found out that all too soon, those precious things slip away.

Thanks for being the best big brother that I could ever ask for.

Playing in the mud

These are some pics from our recent trip to California City. We played in the mud with the Jeep and the GMC truck. It was fun!

It was all fun and games until the Jeep rolled off the mountain!

This is the jeep still in the ravine. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

My Calendar

At the first of the year, I usually think about things that are going to happen during the year. I start thinking about special services, youth events, jr. camps, and promotions. It doesn’t take long for the calendar to fill up. Suddenly, I find myself rearranging to accommodate “unplanned” circumstances.
But today, I stopped to ask myself if I had written into my schedule any time for Jesus. I went back through my calendar and found that there was not one entry titled “Prayer time” or “Study God’s Word.” I also noticed that I had not set aside any time to spend with my family. I came to realize that prayer time and time with family are often things that happen as a result of little “gaps” in our calendars.
How much greater would our relationship with God be if we penciled Him into our calendars, and then kept those appointments? In 2009, let’s write Jesus into our datebooks. I think we will find those will be the most valuable moments of the year.

Just a little thought...Steven J.

A New Leaf

The beginning of a new year normally prompts folks to change. We often refer to this as “turning over a new leaf.” We tend to make New Year resolutions, start diets (God forbid), and make promises to exercise get in shape. As I said, we “turn over a new leaf.”
Something that occurred to me the other day is that simply turning over a new leaf is not enough. We must be certain that we are turning over the right leaf, and the right leaf only comes from the tree of life.
Prov 3:18
[Wisdom] is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

In turning over that new leaf, remember that God is the giver of wisdom. Make sure that your new leaf is a godly leaf.

Jim C. McDaniel, Sr.

Jim C. McDaniel, Sr.

Sept. 7, 1950 - Oct. 15, 2008

What does it mean to have a "blessed life?" I know the popular opinion is that one has a lot of material possessions and a large bank account. But the Bible says in Proverbs 10:22 "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." I have known many rich people that lived lives of sorrow. Their wealth simply could not fill the voids in their hearts. I must then appeal that the blessings are the things in our lives that are not temporal, but foundational. They are the things that do not fade in a moment, but are deeply impressed into one's being.

I thank God that he did not give me superficial things, but gave me true blessings such as a father and a mother that instilled in me a love for Truth. My father was a apostolic minister for 42 years. He made sure that the foundation of my faith was the Oneness of God, Jesus name water baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. He never wavered from the Apostolic Doctrine. I want to take this opportunity to thank God for the real blessings that I have been given.

My parents are both gone now. My mother passed away May 9, 1985 and my father passed away on Oct. 15, 2008. At the young age of 35, I am left with a tremendous responsibility as spiritual "Elder" to my family. I am in no way prepared or deserving of such a position. However, the job has been left vacant, and requires replacement.

To my cherished friends that will read this post, I would like to say that each moment is a blessing from God, not the things, but the moment. It would be easy to focus on the losses that I have encountered, but I choose to focus on the moments that I was blessed with. I cherish this moment that you, my friend, are taking the time to read this. God bless.