Monday, December 20, 2010

Just DO something!

I’m no stranger to pain. This week I’m facing yet another surgery that will fix a broken part of my body. I’ll not bore you with details of the past but I’m telling you this to make you aware that our ‘light affliction’ as Paul calls it in II Corin. 4:17, is for a moment. When I have surgery I know that in just a matter of time things will get better. I’ll be out of pain, my bones, muscles and incision will heal and life will go on. This isn’t so true of everyone.

All over the world the pain of God’s creation groans without relief. I see it daily in the newspapers and on TV. The whole world is suffering! It hurts me so when I see little ones without food or injured in a war. Not to mention those living on the streets without homes or enough clothes. Then there is the persecution of our Christian youth. Just this week I heard the news of a 15 year old girl being murdered for her faith. Dear God, my heart breaks when I hear this!

It’s so easy for us to sit in our comfortable homes, with adequate food and heat, and say, “Oh, that’s so sad but what can I do? I’m just one person!” My dear friend there is so much to do that even one little action on your part will help. I know, I know, I sound like a commercial. But I want you to know that your little action, whatever it is, is helping! Whether you give to a local charity so a child will get a gift for Christmas, buy gifts and take them to a needy family, or actually serve in a foreign country where help is needed. Any action on your part will help!

Just as my pain can be healed so can the pain and suffering of our world with the Good News of Jesus Christ! This whole season is about giving, not just to one another, but to the world in it’s need. Compassion shown to just one person can make a difference. So, pick yourself up off that sorry couch, get into your car and go DO at least one thing to be Jesus to someone today!

Friday, December 10, 2010

There's that scent...

There are times when I’m wandering through stores filled with Christmas decorations and smiling people that I smell his fragrance. Some man will pass by me wearing that wonderful cologne that always sent my heart flying when it wafted through our house. Funny how something strange like a scent can instantly bring back a memory.

When I was a child I remember my Grandmother always smelling like lilacs. I love that smell to this day! Of course, her purple-tinted hair added a little to the visual that helped keep the memory intact. I remember smelling the donuts she used to make in her kitchen, too. YUM! I love cake donuts with nothing on them!

Lots of us have memories of loved ones at Christmastime that we cherish and hold on to like precious diamonds. It’s always during the holidays that you miss loved ones the most because you want to share the joy of the season with them, buy presents with them, give presents to them. But if they knew Jesus as Savior and King, they have received the best present of all, being in His presence for Christmas. Can you imagine what that must be like? Do they celebrate it or is every day such a celebration?

Memories are great and I’m glad I have them to remind me of my life that is past. Staying in the past is not good though. Looking forward to what God has planned for the New Year is exciting. Every single day we have on earth should be considered a blessing, an adventure, a joy! Who knows what each day will bring? I think that is what keeps me going—the surprise of what will happen next. I love it! I love the Lord for allowing me to experience it, too.

So this Christmas, fondly remember the past and all the joy it has brought, but meet the future with excitement and expectation. Where will God take you in 2011? What does HE have planned for you and your family? Greet it with open arms and embrace His grace on your life. And remember, leave a good scent as a memory!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Transparency

I recently commented on a  CEO's post about leadership. I think it's something that might fit into ANY person's life, not just leaders. Maybe you can glean something from it, too. I pray so.

All of the things you mentioned in your post are about transparency. Leaders need to be transparent. When your employees see you succeed and fail they also see how you react to these events in your life. If they see you succeed and become proud, what do they learn about your character? If they see you succeed and give credit to where credit is due (God, employees, other helpers) then they call you a great leader!

Failing can work the same way. When we fail as leaders we need to admit when it was our fault and not place the blame on everyone else. A great leader takes the proverbial bull by the horns and does what’s right, not what’s best for themselves. Employees see that and realize you have integrity and character that they want to imitate. By sharing your failures and your successes with those you lead you bring transparency into the picture. They should be able to see God right through you.

So, been transparent lately? Try it. It doesn't hurt and it may help whatever situation you're in right now. Leaning on God in the ups and downs of life is what should be seen in your life. So lean and then look. Can people see God in you?

Monday, November 29, 2010

It’s all in the background…

I love animated movies. I sometimes get lost not in the story, but in watching how they put together what’s happening in the background. Yeah, I know, I’m weird!

The next time you go to the movies don’t watch the main character. Watch everyone and everything else that’s happening in the show. You’ll notice that all the background stuff is pointing you to the main character. There’s a wind blowing the trees in the direction the character is travelling. There are animals running in the direction the main character is running, only they’re smaller and in the background more. There is a color change going on from cool to hot which is right where the main character is! It’s a whole conglomeration of movement, color, and size that’s happening that brings the main character into focus but you really never even notice it.

Isn’t it amazing to realize that same concept is exactly what’s happening all around us in the body of Christ? God, Jesus Christ is the main character and He’s moving in us and through us to reach the world. He is the focus of all we do. We, the body are animated but in the background; bringing in the lost, telling His story, being His legs and feet here on earth. We’re the moving trees and the color changes that don’t need to be noticed. Oh, did you get that last part? We don’t need to be noticed! We’re not the main character here. Only God our creator and LORD should be getting everyone’s full attention.

Sadly, when God quits being the focus of all you do and Y-O-U become the centerpiece, you may as well close up shop and go home. Nobody is going to want to buy any tickets to your show. Get my drift? Too many people are trying to become main players in God’s plan. They want the attention, the focus, and the accolades and actually are doing it under the auspices of God’s name. It’s a prideful thing and usually ends in failure every single time.

So take a good look at what your part is in this thing called life. Do you have to be the front running main character or is God first? As for me, I’d much rather have the one who put it altogether as the lead guy with me in the background…following, running after Him, in a supporting role. Just give that thought a minute during this post-Thanksgiving week.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Give it UP with THANKS!

Picture the scene . . . the name cards are made and set at each place on the table. The children’s handmade feather turkey decoration placed directly in the center. The smell of cooking turkey and dressing is driving me crazy. Then. . . the first group arrives. Hugs and love are spread all around. “So glad you’re here!” “Love you, Grandma and Grandpa.” “Are the other kids coming?” I love it!

Thanksgiving at our house was an amazing event. The bird had cooked all night in the roaster, and the dried cornbread stuffing and pumpkin and apple pies filled the countertops! Oh, it was grand. My favorite part was having everyone around the table thank God for something that had happened that year.

My husband always offered the most precious prayer at Thanksgiving. He had a compassionate heart and there were many people he loved and prayed for. That first Thanksgiving after his sudden death was very hard. I could actually hear him praying and thanking God for each of our children, their individual mates, and all the grandkids by name. But now these responsibilities fall on me. I tend to be a bit emotional when it comes to my kids. I love them dearly and want God’s best for their lives, but it’s harder to say out loud without breaking down. But we get through. There is not a dry eye in the house.

It’s tender times like these that I’d love to see around my great-grandkids’ tables someday. Will the heritage of prayer and thanksgiving be passed on? How does that happen in families?

I truly believe it happens by seeing and hearing their grandparents and parents doing the same thing over and over. Repetition is a great teacher. They need to hear your voice being genuine in the prayer. Do you really mean what you say and do you really care? Are you really talking to Jesus this way? A fast, hurried prayer just so we can eat is not sufficient. We need to see the face of Jesus when we pray. We need to picture kneeling before Him and casting our prayers for each family member at His feet. God knows when we’re genuine and so do kids. They are the best deciphers of someone being true or false in their statements. Ask any kid! They’ll tell you.

So, this THANKSgiving pray up! Give Jesus your full attention when you offer prayers for your family members. Mention them individually even if it’s hard. All of our family members may not be saved but they know that you praying for them individually becomes a very powerful thing. It will make a lifelong impact on them.

“Father, we praise You for all those reading this post. For their commitment to You and their families. I thank you for their love for others, believers or not. I thank you for giving us all of yourself. For making a place for us in Your heaven and preparing it even now. I pray that our Thanksgiving praise may be to You and You alone for every breath we breathe and step we take. Amen!”

Thursday, November 4, 2010

It comes with age

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit and draw with my five-year-old grandson. He wanted to draw ships…so we drew. His had two big smokestacks and puffs of black smoke and no sails. There were lots of pirates and pirate flags, too. My ship had air-filled sails, exploding canons, and powerful waves hitting the ship.

After we were done he took our creations and gazed at them for a long time. Then he looked up at me and said, “How come you can draw so much better than me?” I said it’s not better, we just draw differently and it happens because I practice and I’m older. He didn’t fully understand that but the look on his face was priceless! It made me laugh.

Lots of things come with age, like knowing when to stop talking and start listening. I listened to a lot of conversations these past few weeks. I can say with exactness that it’s pretty interesting to just listen. You really begin to ‘hear’ what people are saying if you’re not worried about responding while they talk. You can actually understand their concepts and listen for little innuendos of pain and suffering or joy and peace. It’s amazing what you can hear in some voices.

Another thing that comes with age is being happy with who you are. I remember as a young mother worrying about what other mothers thought of my mothering skills. Was I a good mommy? Did I do everything right? But then, whose version of right was I seeking? Now I don’t worry about any of those things. I’m happy with who I am and who God is making me become. I’m happy about the joy and peace I’ve found in Christ and how He gives me opportunities to encourage others with that joy.

So, being one of the aged doesn’t have to be a negative thing. It can be powerful if you look at your life, experiences, loves, liberty in Christ, and living as wonderful things! I do, and I thank God every day for whatever He has planned for me. You might know that kind of peace too if you find the time to rest in Him. It comes with age.

Friday, October 15, 2010

I’m gonna shake your cage a little…are you ready?

This morning alone I had these prayer requests cross my desk:

• “Pray for my brothers because two of them are going to war.” Madison
• “My friends make fun of me a lot so I need new ones. You are my only chance, and I need help and assurance. Please!” Anonymous
• “My uncle only has 5% of his heart working and he’s not saved. He did a lot of bad stuff but I want him to go to heaven.” Noah

These are little kids writing to CBH Ministries for help. They are laying out what’s on their hearts in prayer requests to perfect strangers. The requests come over the Internet, through snail mail, and sometimes via a phone call.

I find it truly amazing how many children have concerns for their parents’ salvation. Parents probably aren’t even aware of the little guy’s desire to see them saved. Then there are kids who are so unselfish as to ask prayer for a grandpa or grandma. Some of these grandparents are dying, some are sick from diseases, and others aren’t saved. They write to us about friendships, fights, and failure in school. They tell us their hearts’ desires to be a better Christian. There’s a lot of this going on every day!

Sometimes, when I read these requests and they’re about kids who are hurting, I just want to reach through that letter and grab them out of the home and take care of them myself! Yes! I think about that a lot! Other times, I’m responding with teary eyes to children feeling unwanted or unloved. They just want a friend. There are kids like this all over our world today. But you’re only one person you say, so, what can you do to change this situation?

Get involved! Some way, somehow get involved! Turn off that TV, get up off that couch and reach out to the kids in your neighborhood, your church, your local young kids club. Teach a back yard Bible club, mentor a child, donate to a mission that focuses on kids, and if all that is not your style…then pray unrestrained! Prayer always works. But don’t use prayer as a cop-out instead of actually DOING something physically with kids. Don’t be afraid…they don’t bite and you’re not too old!

So if I got you riled up—good! You need to be rattled about the state of kids today. I won’t go into all the research about what’s happening with children in our culture because it would more than raise the hairs on the back of your neck. (Google: abused kids and see what you find!) All I’m trying to say is, get involved. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Your time is God’s time. He gives you every moment to do His will. Make some time for kids today!

Whew! My heart is racing. I think I’ll go hug a kid!

Friday, October 8, 2010

It's final

Long, drawn-out illnesses, tremendous costs, strain on the family. These are all devastating events we never want to talk about but know may happen to us or someone we love.

Today, a very dear friend passed away. She was a Southern belle, a thoroughly gracious person who exuded charm from her head to her toes. She walked with the stature of fine royalty and had the intelligence of someone well-read and schooled. I will deeply miss her.

She was once my children’s principal, once my boss, and my pastor’s lovely wife. She held all these positions and touched so many people with her elegance and great humor. Oh yes, she had a wonderful humor that fit her Georgia peach accent well. She has stood behind the pulpit in our church doing a meaningful reading and in the course left the audience bursting with laughter with her dry wit.

She was my boss while I taught at a local Christian college; she was highly respected for her knowledge of the educational system and love for teachers in training. When I left my position to become a director of a local children’s ministry she dryly said, “If you were leaving for any other reason, I would not let you go.” That was so like her to say!

As a pastor’s wife, she set her boundaries quickly. We knew that church did not come between her husband and his family. That was great to hear. She told us soon after arriving that she did not play the piano like so many other pastors’ wives, but she could tell a joke with the best of them! It sort of set us back on our heels, looking at this elegantly dressed lady and hearing those words! She was a gem.

She cherished every breath taken and thanked God for her life. Having one lung removed in her early years she pushed on with one working lung which later became a labored lung. In her final days she was relying on oxygen to take every breath. It was painful for her family to watch her slip away with every visit! Her salvation was their only peace in the violent storm of death.

So it’s final. She’s gone. Those few short, labored breaths and then…the last. What does the mind think of during that time?  Does it see the faces of loved ones? Is it steeped in regret? Does it have a longing for a look at the Savior they accepted years ago? I won’t be able to answer that until it’s my time. But for my friend Maxine, I’m sure she did what this song suggests:

"Just think of stepping onshore and finding it Heaven,
of touching a hand and finding it God's
of breathing new air and finding it celestial....
of waking up in glory and finding it home..."

Maybe you need to take inventory of your life today. Will you leave a legacy like Maxine did? Will anyone know you were a believer by your actions, your life, or your care? Don’t take that last breath with regrets. Live for the King today so when you step onshore, there will only be GLORY!

Monday, October 4, 2010

I confess!

I confess!  I was in kindergarten when I kissed my first boy. But I have to tell you he was the cutest little thing with red hair and lots of freckles! Since I’d grown up with only sisters I had no idea you weren’t supposed to kiss boys. I’m sure I never thought about the ramifications when my teacher and my parents found out either. But after all, I was only five!

Ah, confession. It’s good for the soul. I remember when my oldest son was sitting around the table with our family one day when he was about 28 years old and confessed to doing something in high school that absolutely floored me.

We had an old fire extinguisher that you could fill up and pressurize. One day he and his friend filled it up with water, pressurized it and went for a ride. They went to a well known hamburger joint in our town and ordered take-out. When they got to the take-out window they pulled up the fire extinguisher and let ’er rip, as he said. They completely blew all the food off the counter inside and the girl who took their order was soaked to the bone. Then they took off squealing their tires. Now, let me tell you, it was funny when he told me this, but it would have been his undoing if I’d known about it back then! I’m amazed he never got arrested!

Another confession came from my brother-in-law. When he got his driver’s license he did some wild things. One thing he did he never told anybody about until it was too late.

My father-in-law took impeccable care of his cars. This one was a brand new 1969 Chevrolet station wagon that we took to Florida pulling a pop-up camper. There were seven of us traveling in that station wagon and it got pretty crowded, but we had a great time. Once we got to Florida the car started acting up and all of a sudden it just quit! This is a brand-new car we’re talking about here.

We parked our little camper next to the repair garage and actually had to stay there for three days! We didn’t have money to rent another car to pull the camper so we were stuck. It was some sort of vacation, believe me! Not until the repair man told Dad that something big broke underneath the car, it would cost $1,500, and they fixed the car did my brother-in-law Mike confess.

Mike had taken the car into town the night before we left on vacation and ran over a PIG! Yes, you read correctly, a pig—a sow, to be exact, that had escaped from a local farm. Probably weighing in at 800 or 900 pounds! Wow, that would break just about anything! The consequences from that confession lasted, I believe, until Mike could pay off the debt he owed his father. It was a long, long trip home for Michael.

Confessing our sins should be nothing new to us if we’re believers. God is an avid listener and One who always forgives. This doesn’t give us a license to sin, but gives us a way out of our old nature’s sinful habits. It frees us to worship as we unload our burden of sin at His feet.

So got something to confess today? Maybe a wrong you did to your mate or something you have held against a friend or relative? Or maybe you need to confess to something done to you and you find that it’s difficult to give it up and live in peace. Forgiveness is a part of confession. Let Christ clean up your soul today. Confess to those sins and ask Jesus to take them from you. It says in His Word that he removes our sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). And I confess, that’s an inconceivable distance!

Monday, September 27, 2010

What If I Give All I Have?

This old Ray Boltz tune always makes me cry. When he sings about the Son talking to His Heavenly Father with the words, “What if I give all I have? What will that gift do? My child, a gift like that could change the world, it could feed a multitude.” Whew, that’s pretty powerful when you think of what Christ gave up for us. It surely feeds my soul and multitudes of others, too.

But…what if we did give all to Him? I mean really give Him all of ourselves and what we have. Would it feed a multitude? I’ve got to tell you that I held some things pretty close over the years and didn’t want to give them up, but when I finally did the multitudes were fed.

Which brings me to a story about my only daughter, Leah. When she was around 7 years old she began telling us she wanted to be a missionary some day. I guess she’d seen and heard plenty of them in our church and even in our home as we entertained and had some stay with us for a while. She learned they were just normal people with different hearts tuned in to where God would send them to serve. Little did I know…she was serious.

As she grew up and graduated from high school I could tell she was praying for a plan. She had a boyfriend and I thought that would be the end of the missionary idea. She would settle down, get married, and have kids right here in the US of A. But she was praying for something different. As she left for college she turned her attention to earning a teaching degree. She had been on a mission trip to the Philippines and really took it all into her heart and mind. I think even then, she was praying for God to use her in a way no one else could.

Now as I think back on how God’s plan unfolded over the following years, I know it was perfect for her. She married a wonderful young man who went to seminary in our town. They began to pray about where God could use them best. Taking the initiative to go on camping adventures as campers then as leaders in Canada, they developed a love for the concept. After they served as camp programmers for two summers at a Christian camp, I thought, Ah, this is where they’ll land. But no, that wasn’t the final destination either.

Through much prayer and research, they became convinced that God wanted them on the foreign mission field—in Romania. OK, Lord, that’s a little too far away! I thought to myself when I heard the news. That wasn’t MY plan for them. Man, I was holding on tighter than ever. I was also thinking about my daughter’s three lovely children who were such a blessing to us. How could God take them away to a foreign place? Where’s the manual that goes with this part of parenting?

Eventually, my husband and I had to realize WHOSE they were. We only had parenting rights for a few short years; they were really God’s kids. Letting go was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I kept praying they’d change their minds; after all, this was my only daughter! But realizing the impact they would have on the thousands of kids they’d touch as camp directors in Romania, we knew we had to let go and let God! It was quite a trip coming to that conclusion, but four years later I can see the Lord in it all as the master planner. We learned how to let go and it taught them to do the same. It wasn’t any easier for them to leave all of us. It was a two-way street.

So what if you gave all? Maybe it’s a child, or a mom and dad, and maybe it’s all of you. God doesn’t ask us to give what we have left, He ask us to follow Him, pure and simple. Are you willing to give it up for Him? All of it?

Thank you, Lord, for opening our eyes up to free our kids for service. Thank you for giving them the hearts to serve. Thank you for being the One who comforts in times of need and loss. Thank you for showing us how to give our all!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Laugher...is my secret weapon

Have you ever laughed so hard you’ve cried? I have many times! I love to laugh whether it’s at a good joke, a funny comedian, my grandkids, or my own kids telling stories from when they were young. There are so many things in which to find humor.

Like the story about when one of the women who works for me went hunting with her husband for the first time. He put her in a tree stand and said he’d be back to get her in a few hours when he was finished hunting. She waited until the sun went down and then waited until it was about 9:00 at night! She was petrified to get down from the tree stand by herself! After he went home, read the newspaper and finally remembered his wife, she could hear him calling over and over, as he ran through the woods, “Honey, I’m sorry! I’m so very, very sorry!” The first time I heard that story I laughed until I cried.

Another time was when our church’s pre-school kids were singing Away in a Manger on the platform. When the singing finished there was a slight pause where one precocious little boy said, “When you like somethin’ you’re supposed to put your hands together and clap, like this!” He brought the house down, believe me.

Old-time comedian Milton Berle said, “Laughter is an instant vacation.” Then there’s Woody Allan who once said, “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose!” Doctors have proven that laughter is a great physical healer…except when you have stitches in your tummy—then it just hurts!

So find something to laugh about today. Tell your coworkers a funny story or listen to someone else tell one. Google a few good clean jokes to get your spirits up, it will do your soul good! Be glad you have someone to laugh with today!

Monday, September 20, 2010

This is Your Life!

As a 17-year-old co-op student in high school, I worked half a day and went to school the other half every day. I loved it. I could make money, finish school, do my homework, and even have a boyfriend all at the same time. What a life.

But the job, well, it left a little to be desired—actually, a LOT. I worked in a hospital doing dictation and typing, but that wasn’t the worst and most unusual part. I worked in a Pathology Lab at Pontiac General Hospital for a little known man named Dr. Jack Kevorkian. You remember him, don’t you? Dr. Death! Yes, it was my job to type up lab reports for him and I even went to the morgue to take dictation while he did autopsies. Oh heavens, what was I thinking? I have stories only my family will hear of that experience. If my parents had known what I know now…I’m sure they would have flipped for sure.

We all have stories like this in our past. Some of them are funny, strange, and even down-right weird of places we’ve worked and people we’ve worked with. That’s the part on your résumé that goes under experience, you know, that part you always need so you can get the job you want! I love listening to other people tell their life stories. Whether I’m sitting on a plane going overseas, meeting someone new at a party, or even reading a biography, I enjoy learning about others’ experiences.

When the end of life comes and I pass on to Heaven’s gates, I’d sure love my family, friends, and business associates to think of me as part of their life experiences. What have I given to them? What have they poured into my life that has made me who I am? Have you ever thought about that?

So today make an impact on someone with your life. Whether you tell them about your jobs and family or you ask them about theirs, you make an impact. Be known as the person who gave and who cared, not the person who didn’t have the time and didn’t think it worth the effort to share with anyone. It’s all part of enjoying your time on this earth and you’ll grow from listening and sharing. That’s what Jesus did, didn’t he?

Friday, September 17, 2010

Ever feel like the Lone Ranger?

“Hi-ho, Silver! Away!” Yes, The Lone Ranger! I loved that show. Black and white television was great to me because I didn’t know what color looked like—and I had no idea what HD or Blueray was. Black and white was all I needed to escape for an hour.

The tall, dark stranger in white, riding into town, rescuing the damsel in distress, and saving the bank from robbers by capturing the thieves! All of it done on the back of a white stallion. Ah, my hero! Although, I truly believe I just loved the horses best…so much for heroes.

We often think of the Lone Ranger as one guy by himself, but the greatest thing about the show was his side-kick, Tonto. Tonto and the Lone Ranger also had very well-trained horses that answered their whistles and commands. I don’t think life could get much better than that, do you?

Lots of single people sometimes feel like the Lone Ranger. Their lives consist of work and long weekends and evenings alone. They become depressed and almost like hermits as they sequester themselves inside the four walls of their homes. Here’s what I have to say about that…GO DO LIFE! You’re only a hermit because you choose to be. There is so much of life to experience as a single. I know, because I am one.

Four years ago my beloved husband of 40 years was finished with his mission on this earth and took the early train to heaven. I could sure sit around and be upset about that. I could pout and cry and even stomp my feet at God if I chose to. But the day he died I stood in his hospital room looking out the window onto the hospital roof covered with large stones. There were so many it was hard to count and they were all touching each other somehow. I thought to myself, Those stones are like my family. We’re all touching each others’ lives and however I react to my husband’s death is going to affect them all. Will I be upset, sure. Will I grieve, you bet. Will I be mad at God for doing this? I couldn’t do that to my kids and all our connected family. I choose to take the road less traveled and rejoice in all Tom was able to accomplish in his life, rather than focusing on the negatives of his passing.

So I’m the Lone Ranger now and I am choosing to travel through this mission called life with God by my side and with a peace that couldn’t be found in regret, pouting or being mad. I’m not alone, I’m looking for God’s leading and to be amongst the living until my mission is over. There’s nothing black and white about that. And I sure would love to finish my ride on a horse! Hi-ho, Silver! Away!

Monday, September 13, 2010

How do you love a proud person?

My dad says there are two kinds of pride. There’s the good kind of pride in your work or doing the best of your ability to accomplish a job well done. Then there’s the pride of life, that smug little sneering smile you see on some people that says, “I’m better than you.”

You’ve all known one or two people like this. The person who walks into a room and expects everyone to take notice and are a little put out when they don’t. This kind of person spends an enormous amount of time looking in the mirror. Life, more or less, revolves around them. The Bible calls them arrogant and says that arrogance is evil (James 4:13-15).

The people I’ve known who possess pride and arrogance are usually the saddest people I know. Outward appearances mean everything to them whether it’s the latest fashion, the best car, or even the smoothest skin. They’re perpetually late because they come just to be noticed. They accept the credit for everything good that happens in their life.

You might be thinking I’m being too critical. Maybe so, but sometimes we just need to take a good, solid look at ourselves and see if we possess any of these evil traits such as pride. Something we don’t do often enough, I’m afraid.

I can speak from experience on this subject. Growing up with two older siblings who excelled in everything, I was often told I would never amount to anything. I was too chubby, I possessed no talent, and I had few friends. What could anyone do with all of that? Nothing, from what I could tell.

Then I found Jesus. He told me just the opposite of what I’d been hearing. He told me He had given me gifts, talents, and abilities, and I could use these things to show people His love and compassion. He encouraged me and gave me a mate that was an extreme encourager, too. Going from one extreme to the other was great, but also a little troublesome for someone who had been told all her life she would never amount to a hill of beans!

But then I became prideful with the talents God gave me. I was prideful in my up-front position as a ministry leader and haughty in my attitude toward others. I used my talents in a way that brought glory only to me and God was not pleased. In one instance I was doing Vacation Bible School at a church for a week and absolutely nobody was getting saved. I thought, Man, what kind of a group is this? They’re just not listening. Then my best friend took hold of my shoulders, turned me around, and asked me this simple question, “You do realize that you’re not giving God any credit for anything this week, don’t you?”

The hammer came down…hard! All my prideful nature shattered to the floor with a resounding CLANG! I saw myself for what I had become and it wasn’t pretty. If I didn’t like myself then surely God didn’t like me either. How could I be acceptable in His sight the way I was? I started to pray. I asked God first of all to forgive me for being so prideful and wasting my talents building myself up. I asked Him to forgive me for accepting all the praise that belonged to Him! I gave myself back to God and asked Him to use me in a way that would honor His name and give Him glory.

The following summer, I did my first Vacation Bible School since the new me was born. I went into it with fear and trepidation but also with the knowledge that God was once again in control of my life. I should have known. He did the most amazing thing that week and I’ll never forget where I was or what happened. That week 31 kids came to know Jesus as their personal Savior! AMEN! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I was thrilled, fulfilled, and humbled to the core.

How do you love a prideful person? You tell them the truth. You turn them around and hold them by their shoulders to help them face their pride head-on. You love them enough to tell them what a difference their life could make by putting Jesus first and themselves last. The truth may hurt for a while, but if the person has an open heart to God’s will for their life, they’ll see how they’ve missed the mark. Let them know you love them enough to confront them with the truth. A true friend will be glad you did!

Friday, September 10, 2010

That's a piece of cake!

This English language we use is a strange bird sometimes. The colloquialisms we say are regional for sure and are pretty much created within individual families.

While in Romania, my husband told a young professional that raising the money for a project would be a piece of cake. Startled, the young man looked him right in the face and said, “And why would we want to raise a piece of cake when we need money?” HA! I think my husband laughed so hard he busted a gut!

We often use the phrase: “Those folks are going to nickel and dime me to death.” Or this one: “If you’ve got the money, honey, I’ve got the time.” Is it possible that you could phrase yourself right out of the true English language if you tried hard enough? If you believe that, I’ve got land in Florida to sell you…

Those phrases may seem funny but have you ever noticed how we’ve brought that same style into our local church? I know you’ve heard this one: Baptists have food at every function and it isn’t a function until they take an offering. Ouch! So people that go to Baptist churches eat too much and don’t donate enough. Hmmm, I wonder what the kids are picking up from this one.

How about, “If you sit in somebody else’s pew you have to pay twice.” Yeah, that’s really friendly to a newbie. Then there’s “Pastor preached so long I thought I’d have to shave twice today!” Now, that’s a comment that will urge your kids to keep coming to worship!

Watching what you say may be more important than you know. You may think it’s just a simple joke and that it doesn’t mean anything, but little ears have a way of listening when you don’t think they are. If you’re riding home from church this Sunday, remember that you’re not alone. Whatever you say about the preacher, the worship service, or the congregation just might get imprinted on some little mind to hold for future reference! Button it up and watch your words!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Have you divested your Stuff Mart?

I loved Veggie Tales when they first came out. My absolute favorite was Madame Blueberry and the Stuff Mart. It showed all the stuff she kept buying and taking into her tree house. Pretty soon the tree house began to bulge and bend and finally blew up with all the stuff in there! It was funny…until you applied the message to your own life.

I recently moved from a house where I’d raised my family for 36 years. It wasn’t a move I’d planned on. God moved me because I needed moving. My kids planted a dumpster outside on the driveway and said very nicely but firmly, “Fill it.” Since my home was being rented and I was moving to a condo, I knew I needed to divest as much as possible. Some of it was very difficult to go through because of a loss in our family, but the rest of it really needed to go.

I’m not a collector of any one thing, just a lot of little things that were all in tubs in my basement waiting to be…ah…well…I’m not quite sure what I was waiting to do with them. They just seemed like something I should keep. You know, hang on to until the rapture!

Then I got to thinking. What other things am I holding on to that maybe can’t be dumped in a dumpster? You know what I’m talking about. Those things that a relative said to you that hurt and upset you, or something a friend did to you that you can’t get out of your head. All that stuff that’s just hanging around waiting to come up again somewhere down the road in your subconscious and upset you again. Why do we hang on to that stuff? Why can’t we just let it go, divest it like garage sale leftovers? I don’t ever want to be compared to a Madame Blueberry who keeps imputing and never divests anything.

How about you? Are you holding on to something pretty tightly right now? Something that you think you can’t let go of but know you should? Just give it up and hand it over to God, the one who can help you get rid of it. He knows where a good dumpster is and will even lead you right up to the edge with a good hefty throwing arm. Just do it!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

No, is not the right answer!

In early 1997, my husband, a very compassionate leader type person, took his first trip overseas. He was on a mission to Romania to scope out an area for Life International, a pro-life ministry, to start a crisis pregnancy center. He had no idea what he was doing or where he was going. He just knew someone had asked for help from that nation and since he was the board chairman and had the funds to make the trip, he was selected.

When he returned home, he slapped his passport on the kitchen counter and said, “There, that’s done and I’m not going again!” Whoa! He told me he had experienced a wonderful trip but didn’t like the international travel part of it. He wanted to be on American soil and made up his mind that was where he could be used best.

Well, when he said “No” to God’s plan for his life, I don’t think God was very happy about it because after that day, it seemed the desire, the need, and the urgency for Tom to go back just grew. Within just a few months he was packing again, wondering just what the purpose of this trip would be. He was on his way to a pro-life conference in Hungary instead of Romania.

Little did he know that God was using this ministry trip to change his life forever. In the conference he was introduced to a young lady named Ana. Ana was just over twenty when they met and her story turned Tom inside out. Ana’s father was a drunk and a wife-beater. He had raped his beautiful daughter and put the fear of men in her. She didn’t trust any man. When Tom saw that scared rabbit look in her eyes as he listened to her story, his heart broke. He wanted to help her but didn’t know how, so he began praying that God would use him.

Ana had come to the conference because she wanted to start a crisis pregnancy center in her town, up in the northern region of Romania. She had some college training in counseling but needed more information. Tom took her under his wing and there began our first experience with Romania’s hurting women. When he came home from this trip I could see he was changed. I could see what God was doing in him and wondered where it would lead.

Years later, now that Tom is gone, I see the path God chose for him so clearly. He needed to be a father to the fatherless and show a father’s love to Europe’s lost daughters. Ana was not the only daughter; there’s Rosie and her three children—Ana, Raluca, and Innes. There’s Felicia from Romania, Olesea from Moldova, and Laryssa from Ukraine. Ana, Felicia, and Olesea were eventually brought to the USA and attended Christian universities. Ana and Felicia are married to wonderful Christian men and each has two lovely children I call my grandchildren. They are happy and have learned how to trust God in trusting their husbands, all because one man was willing to show them the Father’s love.

So are you saying “No” to God about something right now? Have you looked beyond your current circumstances and wondered where saying “Yes” could take you? With the finality of saying “No” you might be missing the greatest blessing of your life!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Do you know a stately lady?

I’ve known a few stately ladies in my time. They were ladies with an air about them that set them apart from everyone else. The first is my former pastor’s wife from Georgia. She was not only respectable and gracious in every way, but she was a true Southern belle. Her speech was a beautiful Southern drawl that drew you into her presence. Everything was said in such a comforting way that you immediately felt at home. Her name is Maxine.

Another lady who exuded stateliness was a volunteer in our ministry. Her hair was always done to perfection in that beautiful gray beehive. She walked and talked with eloquence only seen in movies. She held herself in a manner that spoke volumes of her experiences and depth of character. If she could hear this explanation of her she would probably blush with embarrassment and say I was more than a little off my rocker! Her name is Bea.

The last lady was a church member under my father-in-law’s pastorate. She always looked perfect. She had a smile that would melt your heart and eyes that sparkled in a way that invited you in. I remember always looking for her on Sunday because I knew she would lift my spirits by just being present. Her name was Mrs. Gray.

There was something about the way these women walked and talked that made me want to be like them. Was it the way they dressed? No. Was it their smiles and comforting words? No. I never even realized what it was until I became an older woman myself. It was their Christ-like reactions to everything around them. They held wonderment at God’s grace to them. They walked in confidence that whatever happened in their lives He would be in control and they knew whose they child they were.

Maxine was a circuit-riding preacher’s wife for a while. She knew what it was like seeing her husband pastor three different churches trying to balance all it involved. She moved to wherever God was placing her husband and she was content. There weren’t many close friends for a pastor’s wife, but she was an educated woman who had a take-charge attitude and used her calm voice to smooth the ruffled feathers of many a church-goer and parent . She was also the principle of a Christian school. The past few years have seen her health decline and lose some of that sharpness, but the smooth Southern drawl will never go away. Even as her life ebbs toward the end, she still maintains her soothing ways as she speaks with her family.

I don’t know much about Bea other than she’s still the way I’ve always known her. She’s compassionate, loving, kind, and caring.

Mrs. Gray, however, has gone on to glory to receive her eternal reward! Every child in our church adored her. I called her Sunshine because she just looked like a glow of yellow gladness whenever I saw her. She was a simple farmer’s wife. She worked hard raising her family and keeping her home while growing in her faith. She taught Sunday school and worked in Awana and anything else her church needed. I will always remember her as a willing worker who never complained to others about all she had to do. It was just another part of her Christianity that God expected her to fulfill.

All three of these stately women have left a lasting impression on me. They were each different but somehow the same.

So who are the stately ladies in your life? Is one a mother, an aunt, a grade school teacher? Maybe it’s time you checked your stately status to see if you qualify. After all, if you’re a child of the King, you have a right to the status!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Ever taken off your mask?

I’ve met someone like this before, haven’t you?

Walking down the sidewalk in town you meet Mrs. So-and-so from church. She’s a friendly sort and you start up a conversation. You stand in wonder as everything always seems to be perfect in her life. She has the perfect family with a husband who has a perfect job. She never seems to have problems with her teenage children and she’s never on the prayer request chain at church so she must never need help. How can that be? Doesn’t she ever have problems like I do? Is there never any stress or strain on her personal life? Don’t her kids ever cause her any problems at all? What’s up with this lady?

Last year in our Bible study group, we talked about the masks we wear to church and out in public. Through the weeks we studied together it become pretty clear that the real people coming to our study were not the same ones we all saw in public. The people at this table were dealing with bad relationships, children in trouble, deaths of a spouse and a ton of stress in their personal lives—but you’d never know it. So what’s with the mask of everything-is-just-fine-in-my-life when you’re out in public?

We decided during that Bible study to take off our masks whenever we met each other in church, in town, wherever. If we had a bad night, a bad week, or things in general weren’t going well and someone asked us the usual question, “Hey, how are you doing?” we would lay it on ’em, be truthful, and not hold anything back. We made a pledge that whatever was shared in our meetings wouldn’t go any further. Maybe you can imagine how close this group got over the course of a year. We learned about aging parents, troubled teens, hurting husbands and wives, all the stuff we stuff behind our everyday masks. It was a humbling experience for someone like me who was a stuffer.

Quite a few of our ladies didn’t know what to say at first, but soon I heard them talking to other people in the same fashion. I was floored! They were actually opening up to each other and bearing one another’s burdens! That’s what God commands us to do in Galatians 6:2. With this opening up came the assurance that they would be prayed for; knowing someone is praying for you is an emotional lifter, an encouragement, and a joy! If that’s what happens when you take off your mask why have we waited so long?

So are you brave enough to take off your mask today? Open up and share what’s on your heart with a trusted believer. Pray for each other. Get involved in each other’s lives by being a good listener and don’t hold anything back when it comes to being REAL!

Accomplished anything great lately?

Accomplished anything great lately?

A small, bent-over, aged woman once said, “We can do no great things—only small things with great love.” That woman was Mother Teresa, a powerhouse for God who gave her life helping those who were the unloved and forgotten of the world.

Mother Teresa was born the daughter of a grocer. When she was a young woman she joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Lareto, a Catholic order that did charity work in India. She studied nursing for a while and then the slums of Calcutta began tugging at her heart strings. There she served the blind, the old, the disabled, and the dying. In 1979 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her unselfish work loving and caring for these people.

I remember seeing her for the first time on TV and realizing just how aged and wrinkled her face was. As a young adult I wondered what had happened to her to create those lines. Then, as I began to read about her work and how her heart was reaching out to the unloved, she became the most beautiful lady I’d ever seen.

Her beauty was not without but within. I remember wanting to draw her wrinkled face because of the wealth of love I saw there. Her smile was infectious and her words…my…her words were certainly God-given. The phrase quoted above was copied from an email I recently received and it once again reminded me of my love for this beautiful woman.

Her statement about us not being able to do great things but “small things with great love” is so true. I’ve watched people who have assumed greatness in their own right. They seek to do things in their own strength and to get the glory themselves and the only great thing they accomplish is failing. Mother Teresa’s strength was in God’s grace and His hand on her life. She sought after securing help for others, not her own comforts or safety. Her life was a testament to God’s care and she was able to accomplish many small things with His great love.

So what great thing are you trying to accomplish? Who will benefit from it? Who will get the glory? Is being known for this “great thing” more important than actually doing great things for others? It’s a soul-searching question.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

What have you done?

When I say these words my mind goes back to when my kids were little and learning right from wrong as a matter of experience.

One time my youngest son, Phil did something that will go down in the annals of family history as a huge mistake. He was three years old and for some odd reason he wanted to see what would happen if he flushed my husband’s official timepiece for his railroad job…you guessed it . . . down the toilet! We looked all over for that watch the evening of its mysterious disappearance. Finally, my son said he had done the dastardly deed.

What can you say to a three year old? He had no idea it was a very expensive piece of jewelry that his Dad used to keep the trains on time. He just knew it was big and he wondered if it would go down that drainpipe. It was just a new experience in his life. That’s all!

Another time I used that phrase was when my oldest son, Matthew was four. I took him and his younger brother Jonathan shopping. I had Jonathan in a backpack for kids. It was time for the annual sidewalk sales in the mall so I thought this was a good time to get them some new clothes. Our mall had a few fountains in it at that time and my kids loved to watch and listen to the water.

One of the sidewalk sales was right next to a fountain so I told my son to stay right by me and hold on to my pant leg while I looked through the rack of clothes. Well, as you can guess, that didn’t happen. I was only two or three hangers into the clothes rack when I realized I didn’t feel his tug on my pant leg. I looked up and there were his shoes and socks neatly placed on the side of the fountain. My son had climbed in and was knee deep in water. He had a huge smile on his face and his cargo pants pockets were full of the pennies he had collected during his 45 seconds of freedom. “What have you done?” was used again but this time with a little more embarrassment on my part!

Sometimes I wonder if I need to turn that phrase on myself. I can hear God saying it to me. What have you done…with that opportunity I gave you to witness? What have you done…with that voice I gave you to speak for me? What have you done…to that person with your hurtful words and smugness? Boy, that’s painful. It takes some soul searching and Scripture reading to bring my focus back to where I should be. In Psalm 15 it says, “…a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” I sure want to be known for speaking good words, not bad ones or no words at all.

So the next time you get ready to shout, “What have you done?” to someone else, remember that someday you will have to face an Almighty God who will ask you that same question! And the answer will be…?

That's not just a light at the end of the tunnel...

There’s not just a light at the end of the tunnel; watch out for an explosion of atmospheric proportions!

There is this little thing that God keeps telling us to look at, inquire about, and seek. It’s a tiny word compared to some and it links us finite beings to the absolute mind-blowing, existing God! It’s called…hope.

I have watched people I know and love go through some awful, painful circumstances in life. They suffer, they have heartache, and extreme agony and they survive these intense emotions without an ounce of hope. They say there is nothing left for them to live for and that life is not worth living.

They don’t know my God.

Because I do know God and have His Son as my personal Savior, I have hope. I carry with me the knowledge that my Savior died for a purpose and that purpose was to give me the freedom to hope. What is my hope in? It’s in knowing that all the sickness, death of loved ones, and trouble I experience here on this earth is done in God’s perfect timing and knowledge. He knows what character tests I need to go through. He knows that trouble will show my true colors as a Christian. He knows that hope and victory will always be mine and never lost because of circumstances I get in.

That short word hope tells me that when my meager existence is over, I will go to heaven and I will see Jesus. I will see all that He has been preparing for me since before I was born! I will never experience pain or loneliness again. I will never cry another tear or have bad thoughts or stand in judgment about something. No sin will be allowed in heaven at all. There will be no need of lamps or electricity because the glorious light of heaven will come from God alone. For eternity I will praise the God of all creation! That’s where my hope lies and it keeps me going on a daily basis.

These friends and loved ones I’ve watched go through trauma in life seem lost. There is no spark of life or light at the end of the tunnel for them. I’ve bombarded the doors of heaven with prayer that they would not commit suicide to end their struggles. I’ve prayed for my hope to be seen as a witness to them that they can make it through and they can have that bud of hope grow in them.

Do you have hope? Not in yourself but in a Holy, reverent God who loves you more than anyone else does here on earth. Do you know that He has a place reserved for you in heaven where you will be safe, protected, loved, and cared for forever? If you don’t have that hope today, seek it out. Begin by looking for answers in His Word, the Bible. Start by reading through the book of John first, then Romans. God will lead you the rest of the way. Email me if you want and I’ll try to help you through the tunnel so you can see that blast of eternal light at the end!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Are you experiencing The Great Adventure?

Life is such a complex physical and spiritual thing. It fuses our actual being, like the way we live and our family connections with our spiritual minds, our character and our soul. When we consider how we affect the space we live in or those around us, it becomes even more complex!

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song a few years ago that certainly stated what our lives should be. The words to the song are: “Saddle up your horses, we’ve got a trail to blaze, through the wild blue yonder to God’s amazing grace. Let’s follow our Leader into the glorious unknown. This is a life like no other. THIS is the Great Adventure!” OK, I’m standing up singing those lyrics right now because they get me all fired up and ready to take on the world. That’s what adventure is all about, right?

In Jim Cymbala’s book Fresh Power, he makes these statements, “How we live is more important than how long we live. What is the sense of living a long life just to hang around and take up space?” If there’s one thing I don’t want to be known for it’s just taking up space. I want to pounce on life like a bucking bronco and experience it all. Sure, I’m aware that they’re not all going to be good experiences, but aren’t those the times when you grow the most? Those times when a trial comes along and you make a decision in your heart and mind to forge ahead and cover ground—because if you don’t you’ll end up hanging back, waiting to see how others do it for fear of how it will turn out. Those are called missed opportunities—and I truly believe some of them are more like missed steps of faith.

What are you accomplishing with the space God’s given you? I’ve know people who think constantly ”Life will never get any better than this. It’s all just work, work, work, and then you die.” Is that what life’s all about? I don’t think so. I’ve always considered this life an adventure like the song mentioned above. Every single day is something new to explore, do, or go to. Even going to the mailbox can be an adventure!

Opening God’s Word is another adventure. How can I read that book so many times and get something new out of it every single time? I have thousands of books but I’ve never read any book as many times as I’ve read the Bible. I’ve never, ever opened the pages without finding something I didn’t know before or some encouraging words I needed to read. Just try to name another book with as much adventure and as many thought-provoking words as the Scripture.

What’s your adventure going to be like today? Is it merely work, work, work, and then you die or is it more like…Let’s take this day by the horns and ride’ em, cowboy?

Friday, August 13, 2010

The secret places...

The secret places…
When I was a young child and things happened that upset me I often retreated to my secret place. I’m not even going to tell you where that was, but it was a place where I felt protected, cared for, and loved. It was a safe, quiet, peaceful place.

In that secret place I created things. Sometimes those things were only in my mind and other times I physically created things to work through whatever had happened to me. Somehow, physically working through those problems helped me concentrate on making good and right decisions. It all fell into place after creativity happened.

As an adult I’ve realized there is only one secret place I want to be. You can read about it in Psalms 27:5. To think of a God who personally takes time to protect me, hide me in the secret place of His tabernacle is very comforting. I can’t physically go there but in my heart I’m right there next to God, the ultimate creator. We talk things out together. We sing praises and shout, cry or whatever it takes. I listen to Him and for Him, and He always listens to me. It’s exhilarating, peaceful and a stress reliever at the same time. I can never explain it with the right words.

Do you have a secret place where you find comfort and peace? God can be that for you today. Look for Him right outside the perimeter of your busy life. Seek Him out and go with Him to a secret place only you and He know about. Pour out your heart to Him about your cares, concerns, troubles. Praise Him for all He’s done in your life. Ask Him what you need to do to have peace. You’ll never find another spot so sweet as your secret place with God. He’s your protector, your shepherd, and the One who loves and cares for you most.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Are you engaging or disengaging?

I’ve caught myself in this predicament one too many times. Sitting across the table from a good friend having a wonderful dinner and they’re talking in a soft, familiar voice. I don’t understand how it happens but from out of nowhere…I completely zone out! I totally disengage and put a white noise space between myself and them. The curtain comes down, the next act starts and I’m off in another world solving a problem at work or running errands or who knows what! There is no way in this world I can tell you what the person across from me has just said over the past few minutes…or more! I really don’t like it when that happens and I'm upset when people do it to me.

Where is that world we go to when we zone out? Why can’t we be better listeners? Are we so caught up in the busyness of our own lives that others become insignificant? I surely hope not.

To find out about a good listener I’ve gone to the Scriptures, Psalms specifically. Can you imagine what David’s prayers would have sounded like if God had not listened? This is what Psalm 61 would have said: “Well, I cried to God and he never, ever heard me. He never answered my prayers when I cried from the end of the earth and my heart was overwhelmed. Why should I go to the rock if He never hears?” Now, there would be a discouraging Scripture! But what David thought was not what the Scriptures say. The Bible says God heard David’s prayers because He was listening! He wasn’t listening a little, not partially, not preoccupied, but listening to David’s every word. That’s my example for what I need to do.

I’ve come to realize that to be a good listener I have to totally involve myself with whomever is talking to me. If I really want to be known as a good listener I have to engage in their life to the point of undivided attention. Then, and only then, can I be given the right to reply or comment or help them in any way. My opinion lacks commitment or credence if I am not involved in the listening part of their story. I’m up for the challenge.

So how about you? Isn’t it about time you engaged yourself fully as a listener?

Sunday, August 8, 2010

I'm a dreamer...

Ever since I was a little girl I can remember dreaming about what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I remember thinking about being a famous artist, or musician, or...something renown! Because of the God-given makeup of my character, I've achieved one of my most valued dreams.  To become a growing believer, learning more and more about Christ and His plan for me every day. Now...on to those other dreams!

Life often gets in the way of letting us achieve our dreams.  We grow up, go to school, get a job, start a family and those things seem to take precedence over our dreams.  Why is that? Can't the dream live on while we're doing all that other stuff?  I've never considered my family an obstacle in the way of my dream. They've been more like the cheerleaders alongside of me, urging me on to accomplish all I can with my life. But there are obstacles in the way of achievement.  They're called doubts, naysayers and ridicule.  These three tend to pull you back into dreamlessness faster than anything I know.

If you have doubts about achieving your dream then you need to begin a closer contact with the dream giver, God.  He's the best encourager I know.  Doubts can creep into any dream and cause you to second guess everything you're trying to achieve.  Stop, re access and press forward!

Naysayers are those outer edge friends who tell you it can't be done.  They haven't achieved much in their lives and they don't want you to succeed either.  You can kindly listen to them but you need to press their advice up next to God's.  You'll see an amazing contrast!

Ridicule by someone close to you can stop you dead in your tracts.  You begin to second guess yourself. Maybe I can't achieve this goal.  Maybe they are right and I don't have what it takes to go ahead.  Let me ask you this.  Did you ever hear God ridicule anyone in Scripture?  Did he ever make backhand comments to people that discouraged them from being what He created them to be and achieving the dream He placed inside them?  Take a little advice from His book and become an Encourager.  Ridicule is a lost cause and never produces winners. 

So...dream.  BIG!  He has created that little something inside of us that we've always wanted to do. That little spark that makes us smile whenever you think about it.  That warm glow that makes your heart just know it's what will make you happy.  That's God-given.  Listen to it.  Seek after it.  Find encourager's along the way who will help you achieve it.  Give God the credit for the dream in the first place, then, run toward it!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It'll cost you a dollar!

We have a policy around our office that we don't talk about work during lunch.  I know it sounds crazy but it really allows us to know each other on a more personal level than just 'working together'.  We've become entwined as a group in a unique way through these conversations.  I know when people are going on vacation or where they've been.  I know what hurts and pains their children are going through.  We've experienced the birth of a new grand baby with all the pictures. All of these things draw us closer together then if we just talked more about work!

Along with the pleasure of knowing each other better is the threat of owing a dollar.  Yeah, this is the part that's not so fun.  Long ago one of our employees got tired of talking and hearing about work at lunch so she set up the policy that if you start talking about work anyone can say, 'That'll be a dollar'.  Then, you have to put a dollar in a cup (supposedly).  Somehow, that cup has never surfaced but the conversation stays away from anything work oriented!  I think it's just the threat of owing a dollar these days that keeps things going.  Or maybe it's the gal who invented the idea glaring at you with piercing eyes!

Give this a try at your work place and see what the reaction is.  Being a part of people's lives is so much more gratifying then owing a dollar!