Everyday There Is A Story To Be Told

The 21st of April started out like most days when I'm getting ready to take a trip. Get up early, have something to eat and give my ride a call to determine there destination. We make it to the airport on time, I check in ok, everything was going as planed; I knew this was going to be a good day. What I didn't know is what all was in store for me.

We had a late departure from Atlanta (one of the busiest airports in the US), understandable and a late arrival in MN. Sometimes, as in this instance being late is being right on time, God's time. My seat was in the back of the plane, all the way in the back (last seat), so I was the last one to get off. Moving towards the exit, thanking the attendants’ for their service and the pilot for a safe flight and receiving the normal responds "thanks for flying with us and have a great day", didn't seem so normal. For some odd reason I felt somewhat special and extra appreciated this flight, as if I were on my own private Jet lol. I knew this was going to be a good day, nothing could go wrong and if so who cares right.

As usual when I get off a flight I tend to be hungry, most people that know me would say that I'm hungry all the time, but I'm not the one to argue lol. So I decide to get a couple burgers from the McDonalds which had an extra long line, but like I said nothing could bother me at this point. The lady in front of me was complaining so much about everything, I looked at her and said, it's going to be ok and smiled. She smiled back and stopped complaining and took her frown and turned it upside down :). Smiles are contagious and can change the attitudes of individuals who may be unhappy.

I get my food, and look for a place to sit and eat. Most seats are taken and the others don't realy look appealing with my bag. So I decide to take an empty chair that was unlike all the rest. This chair looked like a narrow long up right exercise chair with wheals on it. Sitting on its lonesome on the side of a long, wide hallway leading to baggage claim, this was my chair.

I began to eat when I was approached by a young man who said "You play football", he said it in a way that I couldn't tell if he was telling me I play or asking if I played. I responded with a yes and a smile. This wasn’t the first time I've been asked if I play ball but usually it's when I'm standing and individuals can see my stature, but in this situation I was sitting when approached. He began to talk to me about God and how we football players need some guidance. How he would like to be that guy one day for athletes, a spiritual leader of some sort.

I continued to listen, putting in a couple words when possible, but for the most part I was listening. He quoted scripture to me, told me to glorify the Lord and don't forget to pay my tithes. I was under the impression that he was flying like me but he later informed me that he worked at the airport, shining shoes. I thanked him for his words of encouragement, shook his hand and Robert (His Name) before we departed said I'll pray for you. Now many say that to me, and I believe just the act of them saying I'll pray for you is actually a prayer but this time was different.

I placed my trash in the garbage, refilled my water and as I moved toward baggage claim I looked to my left and Robert was on his knees praying at the airport. This was unlike anything I have experienced before. This 24 year old was speaking to me and bout things as if he had known me for years. He actually start praying before I left the building or rather immediately after our conversation, I don't know what to say about this. I mean like I said I have had people ray for me before but not like this.

I'm very thankful and excepting of all that the lord has to offer. I pray that I continue to grow in my faith, stand by it and keep my ears and eyes open for whatever the Lord has to say. Wow, still pretty amazed at what happened but it's time to go workout, just wanted you to know what I've experienced.

Thanks for reading
Culpepper

WHAT A NIGHT

So I'm sitting here at my part time job bored as ever. It's so slow here at Fatsos Bar and Grill tonight, I don't get it, i mean it's the weekend. Now I have to sit here and think about football, the Draft and what special team gets a special guy like me. This has been an interesting weekend and I look forward to whats next.

My sister and I had an interesting conversation about my plane B and the what if question. The only answer I could give her is what if I didn't try? Everyone seem to have the answers to what I should and shouldn't be doing. Right now I'm doing what I have to do so I can do what I want to do. You know why? Because if it is to be, it's up to me. I believe that and I believe in me. Good night reader.

Don't Forget

"Don't forget what God has said to you in the light when you are in the dark." So I'm sitting here on the computer listening to Eddie Long of New Birth Church and following up on emails that I missed out on during the day. The statement above is what he said during the sermon and it means a lot to me. In my life at times just like in yours, I have moments where I feel like nothing is going my way and things aren't progressing the way I think they should. This is the time when I need to remember what God has said to me in the light and continue to move forward in the dark.

When there are dark times, I fret the most. I feel like I'm stuck for some reason, not moving at all. This is where I'm increasing and strengthening my faith daily. When things get tough and it seems like I'm not progressing, that's when I need to display the most faith. It's easy to trust in the Lord when things are going your way and you can see progression, but faith is when you trust and believe in the unseen. Soon these things again will come to the light.

Continue to remind yourself that the Lord will never leave you and all things are possible through Him. You will never be stuck simply moving forward through the grace and mercy of God.